Strategic Control Research Articles

Study of calf health and management problems in urban and per-urban dairy farms of selected districts of East Wollega Zone of Oromia Regional State, Western Ethiopia

Calf care is not only essential for the sustenance of the dairy industry but is also essential for preserving and maintaining good-quality of germplasm. On the contrary, high levels of calf mortality have limited dairy herd expansion and genetic improvement in the study area. Therefore, the study was developed to evaluate the existing calf health and management problems and to assess the level of farmers’ knowledge and calf health and management practices in the study areas. Thus, a cross-sectional study design was used and the study districts and peasant association were selected purposely where as the individual household was selected randomly using a systematic random sampling method. A total of 50 households were selected from the three districts and a detailed questionnaire survey format was designed to generate baseline information related to the calf health management system and major calf health problems. As the study result indicated diseases like blackleg, pneumonia, and internal and external parasites were the most dominant calves’ health problems. About 50% of the respondents informed that most calf mortalities occurred due to pneumonia, blackleg, starvation, heartwater, diarrhea, and bloat. Even though all calves were getting access to colostrum feeding, they do not access the optimum level, and regarding calves’ feed natural grass is categorized in the first rank where as concentrated feeds (ground maize, grain, noug cake) and food left over (local brewery by product and straw) were placed in the second and third rank, respectively. And all farmers in the study area have access to veterinary services, however, the accessibility is not uniform among the farmers. In general, as the study revealed there has been poor management practice regarding both feeding and housing of calves in the study area. Therefore, identifying economically important animal diseases and designing strategic preventive and control measures and improvement of calf management practices through awareness creation among farmers is valuable.

Strategic Controls and Organizational Performance in Rwanda. A Case of Duterimbere IMF PLC

Strategic Controls and Organizational Performance in Rwanda. A Case of Duterimbere IMF PLC

THE EFFECT OF HYBRIDIZATION ON THE GOVERNANCE OF A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) IN THE CONSPECTUS OF MANDATORY AND VOLUNTARY FINANCIAL REPORTING

In the conceptualization and theoretical framework of hybrid organizations and in the construction of a role of key performance indicators, Alter (2004), and Ponte et al. (2017) refer to hybrid organizations as the result of hybridization, between the entities with and without profit. These hybrid organizations operate on the border between the non-profit (or public) and for-profit (or private) sectors and are both market-oriented and mission--oriented. The research project presented in this work shows how a hybrid organization faces the problem/challenge of managing, measuring, and reporting financial information, as well as the tools it uses to prevent possible deviations from mission or revenue. Through a systematic review of the literature, the author intended to contribute to the identification and characterization of performance measurement tools, which allow the control of both objectives, social and financial performance, in the hybrid organizational context, to reduce the risk of unwanted deviations. The performance of a PPP is measured from at least three perspectives: (1) the private aspects, such as a return of investment, (2) the public aspects, such as improvements in quality of life, and (3) the partnership itself, as an organization and management capacity. As a hybrid organization, the company cannot simply look for financial performance, social responsibility issues are also at stake, as well as a set of non-market aspects, such as: ethical behavior, contribution to social development, as well as improving the quality of life of the workforce and their families (Ponte et al 2017). Bearing in mind that performance management is only as effective as its measurements (Grossman, 2012), the measurement tool proposed matches the strategic challenges and control needs of hybrid organizations. The identified model, SBSC, provides a better understanding of the company’s sustainability strategy, inside and outside, associated with a holistic view of the aspects of social responsibility, as well, tracking its impact on the other key performance factors.

The Effects of Strategic Goods Control on Productivity: The Case of Korea

The Effects of Strategic Goods Control on Productivity: The Case of Korea

Awareness of Disease and Its Domains in Young-onset and Late-onset Dementia: The Role of Executive Function.

Executive function (EF) involves a general cognitive process linked to strategic organization and control of complex goal-oriented tasks. In young-onset dementia (YOD), especially Alzheimer's disease, the symptoms that stand out in the initial stage are deficits in attention, visual-spatial function, praxis, and language. The present study aims to investigate what components of EF differ in young and late-onset dementia (LOD) and its impact on awareness and its domains. Using a cross-sectional design, we included 44 people with YOD and 70 with LOD. We assessed awareness and its domains, cognition, dementia severity, EF, functionality, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. The YOD group was more impaired in general cognition ( P =0.017) and had a worse performance in Wechsler Digit Span Backward (DSB) ( P =0.007) and Phonemic fluency task (FAS) ( P =0.046) tests. In the LOD group, deficits in EF had a greater impact on awareness and on most domains (awareness total score, cognitive functioning and health condition, functional activity impairments and social function). Our study findings support the heterogeneity of awareness, not only with regard to the difference between the domains and the measures of EF, but also to the groups studied.

Effect of Strategic Leadership Practices on Institutional Performance. A Case of Christian Bilingual University of Congo

The study sought to examine the effect of strategic leadership practices on institutional performance – a case of Christian Bilingual University of Congo. The independent variable of the study includes strategic control, human capital, ethical practices, and balanced strategic control while institutional performance constitutes the dependent variable. The study used a quantitative research design. The accessible population was 32 employees of Christian Bilingual University of Congo. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires. The study found that human capital development affects institutional performance insignificantly. Christian universities do not achieve their optimal institutional performance. However, Strategic Control promotes Institutional Performance, and the work plans address the organization’s objectives, targets, indicators, strategies, timelines, monitoring, and budget. The study concluded that Christian universities are not carefully evaluating openly the capacity required for their programs, services, and activities. They lack known procedures for selection and prioritization of training components based on the defined assumptions. The study has recommended that the Christian universities in Congo should re-engineer their approach to human capital development so that they may meet their objectives and mission and have qualified and better-equipped people who will move forward as they have the knowledge and they can use it for the advancement of the institution.

Implementation of Strategic Management towards Competitive School Development (Multisite Study at Smp Negeri 1 and Smp Negeri 6 Banjarmasin)

This study aims to describe how the implementation of strategic management towards competitive schools. This research uses a case research approach and is also called descriptive research. Data collection by observation, interviews and documentation. Data analysis uses data analysis, data collection, data condensation, triangulation, data presentation and data inference or verification. The results obtained that a strategic environmental analysis was carried out at SMP Negeri 1 and SMP Negeri 6 Banjarmasin to identify the strengths and weaknesses possessed as well as the opportunities and challenges faced by the school. The strategic formulation in SMP Negeri 1 and SMP Negeri 6 Banjarmasin begins by clarifying the vision and mission to be achieved and determining long and short term goals. The School Development Team will formulate a strategy by identifying Human Resources, funds, and available facilities and infrastructure, then designing a strategy. The principal's policy supports strategic formulation. Strategically implemented on the program with clear procedural and financial support. Strategic evaluation and control are carried out by assessing the overall strategy that has been implemented in the program. The strategic plan made becomes a benchmark for success. School Development Team can make decisions based on the results of strategic evaluation and control. The conclusion of this study shows that strategic implementation is carried out in SMP Negeri 1 and SMP Negeri 6 Banjarmasin in the development of eight National Education Standards. Education units are expected to maintain existing strategic management and improve strategies that are more innovative, emphasize the quality of education, and are oriented towards fund efficiency.

Load Profile and Load Flow Analysis for a Grid System with Electric Vehicles Using a Hybrid Optimization Algorithm

As they become more widespread, electric vehicles (EVs) will require more electricity to charge. It is expected that a range of grid transportation solutions that complement one another and considerable transmission infrastructure changes will be needed to achieve this goal. Strategic planning and control, including economic models and strategies to engage and reward users, can reduce energy loss on the power network. This would eliminate grid upgrades. Bidirectional charging of EVs can help transmission systems cope with EV allocation. Power loss and voltage instability are the transmission network’s biggest issues. Adding EV units to the transmission network usually solves these problems. Therefore, EVs need the right layout and proportions. This study determined where and how many radial transmission network EVs there should be before and after the adjustment. To discover the best EV position and size before and after the dial network modification, a hybrid genetic algorithm for particle swarm optimization (HGAIPSO) was utilized. Electric vehicles coordinated in an active transmission network reduce power losses, raise voltage profiles, and improve system stability. Electric vehicles are responsible for these benefits. The simulation showed that adding EVs to the testing system reduced power waste. The system’s minimum bus voltage likewise increased. The proposed technology reduced transmission system voltage fluctuations and power losses, according to the comparison analysis. The IEEE-30 bus test system reduced real power loss by 40.70%, 36.24%, and 42.94% for the type A, type B, and type C EV allocations, respectively. The IEEE-30 bus voltage reached 1.01 pu.

Environmental Management Control Systems and Environmental Performance: Direct and Indirect Effect

Purpose: This study aims to examine the effect of environmental management control systems on environmental performance. Testing is carried out directly or through the environmental strategy mediation role. Theoretical framework: In contrast to previous studies, this research focuses on managerial activity processes that enable, encourage, ensure how a company and facilitate practices that achieve environmental performance and strategies to achieve it. The research model is built on the basis of stakeholder theory and contingency theory. Design/methodology/approach: The research was conducted through an online survey of hotel managers in Makassar City, Indonesia. Data analysis was performed by regression, path analysis and Sobel test. Findings: The results of the study prove that the environmental management control system has a positive and significant effect on environmental strategy and environmental performance. The Sobel test also proves that environmental strategy mediates the influence of environmental management control systems on environmental performance. Research, Practical & Social implications: This research covers hotels in Makassar, not all of them in Indonesia; therefore, generalizing the findings of this study should be exercised with caution. Secondly, this study assumes hotel homogeneity and does not consider hotel type. The findings of this study also provide recommendations on public policy and business practices to integrate environmental issues into managerial processes and decision-making as well as corporate control. Further research can expand this research by considering contextual and other contingency aspects. In addition, future research may use a larger sample and longitudinal data which allows to investigate changes in strategic environmental management control system policies over time. Originality/value: Improvements in research on environmental management control systems have become a very important issue in supporting the themes of sustainability in business practices globally. The originality of this research focuses on managerial processes to support sustainability practices in business, especially business practices in hotels.

Analisis Dampak Manajemen Strategis terhadap Kinerja UMKM di Provinsi Lampung

This study aims to analyze the impact of strategic management on the performance of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in Lampung Province. MSMEs have a significant role in regional and national economic growth, but the challenges faced by MSMEs often affect their overall performance. This study uses a qualitative approach by collecting data/information through interviews with several MSME actors/owners operating in Lampung Province. The in-depth and structured interviews focused on strategic management aspects, including strategic planning, strategy implementation, control and performance evaluation. In addition, MSME performance data is also collected, such as sales growth, profitability, operational efficiency, and market share. The results of this study indicate that MSMEs that implement strategic management well tend to achieve better performance than those who focus less on this aspect. Good strategic planning allows MSMEs to have a clear long-term vision and goals, while effective strategy implementation helps them to better face market challenges. Tight control allows SMEs to respond quickly to changing situations, and regular performance evaluations allow them to improve weaknesses and capitalize on existing potential.
 Keywords: performance, strategic management, SMMEs.

Morphological and molecular characterization of Haemonchus contortus isolated from the small ruminants of south Gujarat, India.

The successful design of strategic control measures against the blood-sucking gastrointestinal nematode, Haemonchus contortus in small ruminants can be facilitated by revealing its general features from morphology to the molecular level. In the south Gujarat region of India, a total of 2408 H. contortus were collected from 84 slaughtered sheep's abomasum, consisting of 347 males and 2061 females (1:6 ratio) (p<0.05). Furthermore, 726 H. contortus were collected from 61 goats, comprising 145 males and 581 females (1:4 ratio) (p<0.05). The male worms were approximately 12±0.06 mm long, while female worms were about 20±0.09 mm long. The vulvar morphotypes of the female worms were found to be 17.7% linguiform, 76.6 % knobbed/button (p<0.05), and 5.7 % smooth type, demonstrating common features of H. contortus. The nucleotide sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS-1) of 165 bp or ITS-2 plus of 256 bp were aligned, and it was found that the genotypes of male and female specimens of either sheep or goat origin were identical, with a 100 % match. The present isolates shared >95 % and >94 % homology with published sequences of ITS-1 and ITS-2 plus of H. contortus, respectively, with more nucleotide transitions than transversions in the aligned sequences. The reconstructed phylogram of either ITS-1 or ITS-2 plus revealed two major clades, one for H. contortus and another for other nematodes, with Haemonchus placei showing its proximity with the clade of H. contortus. The study established the role of morphological and molecular features in identifying and differentiating H. contortus parasite at the local level.

Emission forecasting from open burning of crop straw and policy analysis: The case for China

The open burning of crop straw releases greenhouse and harmful gases, and pollutants, which hinder the reduction of carbon emissions and attainment of environmental protection commitments in China. In this study, based on the fractional discrete grey model (FDGM (1,1)) and the new information priority discrete grey model (NIPDGM (1,1)), an alternative weighted hybrid discrete grey model (WHDGM (1,1)) coupled with a particle swarm optimization algorithm was developed to forecast the total crop straw production, quantity of crop straw open burning, and burning emissions in China. The results have shown that the proposed WHDGM (1,1) had the highest simulation accuracy compared to NIPDGM (1,1) and FDGM (1,1). Based on the WHDGM (1,1), predictions for annual crop straw production, crop straw open burning, and induced CO, CO2, NOx, and PM2.5 emissions are conducted, respectively. By 2025, crop straw production and crop straw open burning will increase by 10.5% and 7.2%, respectively. Relevant CO, CO2, NOx, and PM2.5 will be augmented by 7.4%, 7.7%, 5.6%, and 9.6%, respectively. Countermeasures for controlling crop straw open burning and relevant policy suggestions have been discussed. This study offers practical insights and guidance for the strategic control of crop straw open burning, therefore, ensuring the achievement of carbon neutrality and supporting environmental commitment.

Strategic control of location and ordinal context in visual working memory.

Working memory (WM) requires encoding stimulus identity and context (e.g. where or when stimuli were encountered). To explore the neural bases of the strategic control of context binding in WM, we acquired fMRI while subjects performed delayed recognition of 3 orientation patches presented serially and at different locations. The recognition probe was an orientation patch with a superimposed digit, and pretrial instructions directed subjects to respond according to its location ("location-relevant"), to the ordinal position corresponding to its digit ("order-relevant"), or to just its orientation (relative to all three samples; "context-irrelevant"). Delay period signal in PPC was greater for context-relevant than for "context-irrelevant" trials, and multivariate decoding revealed strong sensitivity to context binding requirements (relevant vs. "irrelevant") and to context domain ("location-" vs. "order-relevant") in both occipital cortex and PPC. At recognition, multivariate inverted encoding modeling revealed markedly different patterns in these 2 regions, suggesting different context-processing functions. In occipital cortex, an active representation of the location of each of the 3 samples was reinstated regardless of the trial type. The pattern in PPC, by contrast, suggested a trial type-dependent filtering of sample information. These results indicate that PPC exerts strategic control over the representation of stimulus context in visual WM.

Russia’s approach to arms control: caught between asymmetry and the desire for strategic stability

ABSTRACT This paper analyses Russia’s approach to strategic arms control with a particular focus on two central yet largely paradoxical principles: strategic stability and asymmetry. A rise in asymmetries in the capabilities of the United States and the Russian Federation, global shifts in power, and a proceeding deterioration of U.S.–Russia relations have marked the post-Cold War era, challenging traditional arms control regimes based on strategic stability understood in terms of parity in the nuclear arsenals of the two most potent nuclear powers. Somewhat counterintuitively, the developments in the military-technological sphere that undermine the very principle of parity concurrently incentivise Russia to invest in asymmetric solutions to counterbalance these tendencies and maintain strategic stability. By analysing the views of Russian military experts, the article takes a look at the INF Treaty, New START and hypersonic weapons to examine the past, present and future challenges to the U.S.–Russian arms control architecture. It arrives at the conclusion that Russia’s home-grown solution to its security conundrum is a perplexing mix of a desire for strategic stability-cum-parity in strategic arms control and a pragmatic emphasis on asymmetries while it tries to preserve its position, which is symptomatic of the paradoxical nature of strategy itself.

Strategic Planning Model and its Impact on the Development of Micro-Enterprises in the Services Sector in Mexico

Purpose: The aim of this study is to offer the design of a strategic planning model for micro-enterprises from services economic sector in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico and measure its impact on their growth and development.&#x0D; &#x0D; Theoretical framework: The research reviewed a variety of strategic planning models, which contributed in the design of this new model tailored to Hidalgo’s micro-enterprises from services sector, the main objective is to contribute to their growth and development. Larios (2016), refers to the strategic process sequential model as the set of activities which are conducted in a specific sequence in order to project the future of the organization and achieve their vision, Larios (2016), establishes that this model is made of three stages: designing, implementing and evaluating which is completed by adding conclusions and recommendations. On the other hand, the strategic planning model proposed by Stanton, Etzel and Walter suggests a logical sequence that combines strategic and marketing planning, establishing the specific route that the marketing department needs to follow (Chávez, 2017). A detailed description of the models reviewed during the research work is presented in the literature review section.&#x0D; .&#x0D; Design/methodology/approach: The study applies a quantitave methodology with a non-experimental and transactional – correlational. A questionnaire with Likert scale of five points from totally agree to totally disagree, was given to managerial staff from the sample companies. The sample subject of study consists of 174 micro-enterprises from the services sector located in the State of Hidalgo, Mexico. The quantitative analysis conducted is based on inferential statistics, specifically multiple correlation analysis where the dependent variable is strategic planning and the independent variables are corporate philosophy, key internal factors, key external factors, SWOT analysis, situational diagnosis, objectives and strategic control (Hill y Jones 2015).&#x0D; &#x0D; Findings: The research findings are that the dimensions that have a positive effect on strategic planning are; philosophy, internal factors, external factors, and strategic objectives. This was obtained after validating the multiple regression equation;

Gamification of social practices

Gaming practice is today the cutting edge of the formation of the future society, the period of global digital transformation of which can be fixed by the moment of total public involvement in digital reality in 2016, when augmented digital reality was massively introduced. Thus, completing the period of post-post-modernity, the expression of which was a person who is at a loss, and not in front of the “brave new world”, but in front of the elusive old one. To date, the grounds for forecasts have been accumulated, the way for which, the authors of the presented article will try to open with this material.The authors argue that the most striking manifestations of the effects of digitalization affecting social reality hide the totality of their influence on many aspects of everyday life. The hidden restructuring of social practices that comes with every multiplayer game released comes through the game world of involved players and business structures that use the psychological, tactical, strategic achievements of the developers for their own commercial purposes. Will the gamification of social practices become a new “bottleneck” for civilization or will we be able to integrate a humanitarian approach and humanistic expertise into strategic control centers for the development of digital technologies.

Strategische Handelspolitik 2.0

Abstract The theory of strategic trade policy came into being in the early 1980s. It addressed the question of how a country can increase its own economic welfare through state intervention in the case of oligopolistic world markets. Today, there are many reasons that justify government intervention in foreign trade: Cluster risks in importing raw materials and intermediate inputs, different responses to the negative externalities of greenhouse gas emissions, monopolies in the digital economy, and the growing importance of geopolitical considerations. These developments are likely to lead to a renaissance of strategic trade policy interventions, i.e. subsidies, investment controls and trade restrictions, to name only the most important ones.

Artemisia vulgaris anthelmintic activities to ova and adult stages of Fasciola gigantica in vitro.

Fasciolosis due to Fasciola gigantica is endemic to tropical countries and Fasciola hepatica in temperate climates, highly detrimental to livestock and known as foodborne zoonotic diseases. The strategic control of the disease is mainly the use of chemical anthelmintic. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic properties of Artemisia vulgaris extract on the ova and adult stages of F. gigantica. Samples were collected from the Ampel Abbatoir, Boyolali District, Central Java, Indonesia. The ova from 20-gallbladders of cattle which were naturally infected with F. gigantica and 270 living F. gigantica worms were used in this study. The ovicidal assay was performed by incubating the ova with A. vulgaris in different concentrations, that is, 5%, 2.5%, and 1.25% for 5, 9, 11, 14, and 16 days. The efficacies were evaluated by quantification of ova degeneration during developmental stages in different time points and egg-hatch assay. The flukicidal effects were observed by mortality assay in 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160, 320, and 640 min incubations followed by scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology and histology of the fluke's transversal sections. The concentration of 5% A. vulgaris showed the strongest ovicidal activities. The percentage of hatching ova on day 16 at concentrations of 5%, 2.5%, and 1.25% were 3.33%, 6.67%, and 16.67%. These ova hatch assay showed a significant reduction (p < 0.001) compared to untreated control. The flukicidal effect was significant (p < 0.001) at a concentration of 20%, with a mortality rate reaching 66.67% in the 40 min of incubation time. The surface properties of the adult worms, including the spine, tegument, acetabulum, intestine, and vitelline follicles, were disintegrated. The results showed that A. vulgaris has the potential ovicidal and flukicidal properties to F. gigantica. The active compounds remained necessary to be elucidated further and its modes of action would be interesting to be predicted by molecular docking modeling.

Strengthening Inter-Agency Cooperation and Coordination in the Implementation of the Strategic Trade Management Act With a View to Enhancing Trade Facilitation: A Philippine Customs Perspective

This paper provides insights into the state of play of inter-agency cooperation and coordination among government agencies in the Philippines involved in the implementation of the Strategic Trade Management Act, such as the Philippine Bureau of Customs, the Strategic Trade Management Office, and Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), which exercise control and supervision over registered enterprises in the freeport and economic zones in the Philippines. It will identify the challenges faced by customs officers in the facilitation of exports of potentially strategic goods requiring referral to the licensing agency for technical reachback, the complexity of commodity identification, which impacts frontline officers’ ability to identify strategic goods, and the non-integration of export declaration systems utilised by exporters in the freeport and economic zones with customs’ export declaration system. The paper also outlines recommendations and solutions to the challenges that confront Customs in the Philippines in effectively implementing strategic trade controls and facilitating legitimate trade in a timely manner.

STRATEGY AS A TOOL FOR ENSURING THE EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING OF THE ENTERPRISE

The real sector of Ukraine’s economy is currently characterized by crisis phenomena that hold back the pace of its recovery. In this regard, focusing on short-term development programs, the absence or wrongly chosen strategy leads only to the localization of losses and to a decrease in the efficiency of enterprises in the long term. In turn, this necessitates the implementation of strategic management, which provides an opportunity for enterprises to ensure economic growth and get out of a crisis state. The article presents developments in the field of strategic management, highlights methodological problems of strategizing. Theoretical approaches to the formation of enterprise strategies are considered. It was established that the process of strategic management in Ukraine requires the use of modern technologies and tools. That is why there is a need to deepen research into the theoretical and methodological foundations of strategic management at all levels. The necessity of using the strategizing system as a tool for mobilizing internal reserves, taking into account external factors, forming and implementing strategies, promoting the development of the enterprise in the long term, is substantiated. By considering the stages of the process and strategizing tools, it is possible to conclude that the chosen strategy meets the goals, opportunities, and requirements of the enterprise’s external environment. To characterize the real (initial) strategic processes taking place at enterprises, it is necessary to take into account the peculiarities of different types of enterprises, their branch affiliation and competitive status. The initial strategic processes determine the individuality of the strategic choice of business processes for their further optimization, and the criteria for their selection are formed. Timely detection of problems and implementation of measures to adjust the process or content of strategy implementation, review of goals, is impossible without the use of strategic control, the key element of which is the system of indicators. This system should contain indicators that are control points for evaluating the effectiveness of strategy implementation at each stage. The presented control indicators are differentiated according to the main classification features.