Uncertain Times Research Articles

Humanizing Higher Education: A Path Forward in Uncertain Times

Humanizing Higher Education: A Path Forward in Uncertain Times

Trading with Friends in Uncertain Times

Trading with Friends in Uncertain Times

Finding common ground in uncertain times: assessing the prospect of multilateralism in transatlantic climate change policy

Climate change policy stands out as a highly salient issue in European and in American public opinion. This article contends that a significant transatlantic consensus supports multilateral action on climate change. Leveraging a broad review of survey data in our time series, the analysis identifies a clear pattern of increasing agreement in public opinion. Yet progress in joint transatlantic climate change action has been rather slow and fragmented. To explain this puzzle, we connect these findings to pitfalls for transatlantic cooperation by weighing partisan polarization and regional differences in the U.S. and country variations in the EU as plausible hurdles to policy consistency. We argue that, beneath broader trends in shared concerns, roadblocks on the national level inhibit the implementation of coherent and effective transatlantic climate change policies.

Technologische Souveränität: Begriff und Voraussetzungen im transatlantischen Kontext

Abstract In uncertain geopolitical times, demand is high for political concepts to grasp the unfolding change and give direction. To Europeans and Germans, the presidency of Donald Trump, the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine have all demonstrated how dependent they are from other states and regions in the world. This is particularly true for technology in sectors such as health, energy, defense and digital. In order to reduce these dependencies,”technological sovereignty“ has become a key concept - some say a buzz word - in the political debate in Europe. In this article, we analyse prominent views of technological sovereignty particularly in Germany, and suggest a definition and three-pronged analysis framework to understand the key political challenges in implementing the concept. In today‘s highly connected world order, there is no sovereignty without a measure of interdependence. For Germany and Europe, this translates into a “transatlantic sovereignty“ in close alignment with the USA as a principal partner.

A cooperative iterated greedy algorithm for the distributed flowshop group robust scheduling problem with uncertain processing times

A cooperative iterated greedy algorithm for the distributed flowshop group robust scheduling problem with uncertain processing times

Policy Advisory Systems in Times of Crisis: A Case Study of Slovak Advisory Committees during Covid-19

Abstract This paper aims to fill a gap in the understanding of policy advisory systems (PAS) during the Covid‐19 crisis. As governments rely on PAS in uncertain times of crisis, the state of PAS directly impacts the quality of policymaking. This paper studies the changes within Slovak Advisory committees (AC) at the executive level concerning the changes of government during the Covid‐19 pandemic. Slovakia had relatively good results in the first wave of the pandemic but did not utilize any ofthat experience in the second wave, where deadly infection and death rates were higher. The case of Slovak ACs demonstrates a shift towards a more politicized PAS – the new committees, established by the prime minister, were meeting at the expense of already functioning committees at the beginning of the crisis, and their expertise was more political in character.

Post-truth, conspiracy, and fake news in the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic in Morocco

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the truth about the virus and its implications were at issue and were the object of a heated debate, nationally and globally. Because of the novelty of that experience, convergent truths emerged in Morocco, exacerbating the uncertainty that was already prevailing. This article examines these convergent truths, their epistemological bases, claims, and resources. This analysis shows the existence of different powers and strategies to which different truths are linked. The creative truth upheld by the existing dominant power, drawing, for legitimacy, on empirical scientific knowledge and claiming control over the situation. The esoteric truth based on conspiracy theories, political conflict, or the religious doctrine of fatalism and popular culture was supported and diffused through social media and gained traction among the public, already distrustful of the dominant narrative and of the scientific expertise. While other forms of truths existed in this post-truth era, this article focuses on these two kinds of truth, and examines how both were constitutive of two antagonistic discourses that used different kinds of propaganda including even fake news or alternative facts to provide (false or emotional) grounds for their claims. The scrutiny of the interactions between these discourses through media texts showed that while the government used propagandistic (pseudo)scientific messages to control the population and reinforce its authority, with little regard for people’s doubts, worries, and fears, the social media users formed different clusters of like-minded people and resisted the dominant narrative taking advantage of the growing distrust of the government among the population and the communication blunders of some public policy officials.

‘Anthropological Enough?’

Abstract In this article, we discuss how fieldwork completed ‘at home’ in the USA presented challenges and resulted in our work being considered not ‘anthropological enough’. Centring our article around our individual projects for which primary data collection was completed prior to COVID-19, we explore a variety of issues related to methodology and structural constraints we experienced as graduate students in anthropology and now as junior scholars. Drawing on our experiences conducting research in the USA, we posit how anthropology might move forward in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and foster a more inclusive discipline. By challenging the notion of ‘anthropological enough’, we reimagine ways of conducting anthropology that are better suited for increasingly uncertain times, which call for collaborations rooted in social justice.

Relationship Between Business Communication and Business Sustainability in Times of Uncertainty. A Case Study of Greece

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship that exists between business communication and business sustainability in uncertain times. Theoretical framework: The study utilized the stakeholder theory which helps in explaining business sustainability in times of uncertainty and how it is influenced by different aspects such as communication. Design/methodology/approach: The questionnaire was used to collect data was from a sample of 138 business owners or employees of SMEs in the manufacturing sector of Kozani Greece. Findings: The results of this study shows that internal business communication has a positive effect on sustainability of a business during uncertain times. The results also show a positive effect of horizontal and external business communication on business sustainability during times of uncertainty. Since human interaction is the cornerstone of service providers' operations, this transfer assumes a great impact in business, most especially in the service industry. A sustainable strategy or plan must incorporate excellent communication. In order to effectively plan and consequently construct sustainability as well as sustainable plans, people must communicate themselves both internally as well as externally using the appropriate form(s) of communication. Therefore, managers in reputable organization ought to communicate with the receiver in a clear, direct, and accurate manner whether utilizing oral communication to enhance business continuity during times of uncertainty. Research, Practical & Social implications: The results are of great importance to the field of business management especially concerning the relevance of business communication in supporting sustainability of businesses during crises or times of uncertainty. Originality/value: The study provides is original knowledge on business communication in supporting sustainability during the different uncertain times.

OER as a certain solution for uncertain times: A reflection on the initiatives undertaken in Morocco during the covid-19 period

The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a high degree of uncertainty about the state of education. During this critical period, the entire educational landscape was in need of relevant educational resources that could be shared between and within educational networks. In this regard, open educational resources (OER) and open educational practices (OEP) have played an important role in ensuring educational continuity. Research has shown that open approaches will help make the higher education ecosystem more resilient to future crises and the sustainability of this ecosystem can be fueled by the widespread use of OER and OEP. However, additional work is still needed in this area either at the personal, organizational, or institutional level. In this paper, we discuss the potential of OER and OEP, as certain solutions, to improve quality and widen access in uncertain times such as the COVID-19 crisis, we also present an analysis from an OER perspective of the initiatives undertaken at the Cadi Ayyad University (UCA) in Morocco as example in order to assess the extent to which they can be considered as OER. On the other hand, we highlight the benefits of this experience, as well as identify the barriers that hinder the adoption of open solutions in order to propose some recommendations and guidelines to foster the implementation of these solutions.

Make Way for Beauty

The pandemic has plunged us into a liminal situation and led us into an unknown situation. In this article, I propose an apophatic approach to cultivating spirituality in response to this prevailing uncertainty. Within the Christian spiritual tradition, two major approaches exist, i.e. the cataphatic (via affirmation) and the apophatic (via negation). While religious education often leans heavily towards the cataphatic approach rather than apophatic, I argue that in the face of uncertainty, religious education would benefit greatly from embracing the apophatic approach. One way to achieve this is by creating more space for artistic practices. Contemplative artistic practices, which yearn to find beauty apophatically, play a significant role in navigating religious education through uncertain times. The inclusion of artistic practices in religious education can deepen spirituality, help individuals navigate uncertainty, and enable them to find beauty amidst unknowing paths.

Holistic Approach in Design Research

Holistic Approach in Design Research

One-stop autologous breast reconstruction: A safe and effective cost-saving pathway

Patients undergoing autologous breast reconstruction usually require further operations as part of their reconstructive journey. This involves contralateral breast symmetrization and nipple-areola complex (NAC) reconstruction. Restrained access to elective operating space led us to implement a one-stop breast reconstruction pathway. Patients undergoing contemporaneous contralateral breast symmetrization and immediate NAC reconstruction with free nipple grafts between July 2020 and June 2021 were identified. A retrospective review of our prospectively maintained database was conducted, to retrieve surgical notes, postoperative complications, and length of inpatient stay. A cost analysis was performed considering savings from contralateral symmetrization. A total of 50 eligible cases were identified, which had unilateral one-stop breast reconstructions. Complication rates and length of stay were not affected by this approach, with only one free flap being lost for this cohort. This approach resulted in £181,000 being saved for our service over a calendar year. A one-stop breast reconstruction pathway has proven to be safe and effective in our unit. During these uncertain times, it has streamlined the management of eligible patients, while releasing capacity for other elective operations. Patients avoid having to wait for secondary procedures, finishing their reconstructive pathway earlier. We plan to continue providing this service which has shown to be beneficial clinically and financially.

Oral health inequalities-Developments in research, policy and practice over the last 50 years.

At times of major geopolitical conflict, macroeconomic crisis and the 'aftershocks' of the COVID-19 syndemic still having a global impact, it is the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in society who undoubtedly suffer the most. During these turbulent and uncertain times, it is essential that sufficient policy attention is given to tackling the persistent and stark health inequalities that exist both between and within countries. This commentary aims to critically reflect on developments in oral health inequalities research, policy and practice over the last 50 years. Despite often challenging political contexts, progress has undoubtedly been made in our understanding of the nature and underlying social, economic and political causes of oral health inequalities. A developing body of global research has highlighted patterns of inequalities in oral health that exist across the lifecourse, but less progress has been made in implementing and evaluating policy interventions to tackle these unfair and unjust inequalities in oral health. At a global level through WHO leadership, oral health is at a 'tipping point' with a unique window of opportunity for policy change and development. Transformative policy and system reforms co-produced with community and other key stakeholders are now urgently needed to tackle oral health inequalities.

Handling uncertainty in the quay crane scheduling problem: a unified distributionally robust decision model

AbstractQuay cranes are among the most important resources in port terminals, and their efficient use is crucial for port terminals to remain competitive in the market. The problem of determining the sequence of tasks performed by the quay cranes that minimizes the turnaround time of a vessel is an NP‐hard problem known as the quay crane scheduling problem (QCSP).In this paper, we consider the unidirectional QCSP under uncertain processing times, where the cranes are only allowed to move in a specific direction. We start by presenting the first distributionally robust optimization (DRO) model for this problem and an exact decomposition algorithm to solve it. The proposed DRO model makes it possible to derive a stochastic programming model and a robust optimization model for the unidirectional QCSP by an appropriate choice of the risk‐averse parameter of the model. Through extensive numerical results, we compare these three approaches—stochastic programming, robust optimization, and DRO—to investigate whether significant differences among the solutions obtained exist. Finally, we propose a new method for helping practitioners to determine a representative set of different DRO solutions.

Lawyers as infrastructures: mediations, blockages, and new possibilities in grassroots movements

AbstractWhat roles do lawyers play when their own subaltern communities are mobilizing for justice? Drawing on the case of anti‐eviction mobilization on the island of Al‐Warraq in Egypt, this article investigates the infrastructural roles of community lawyers in grassroots movements. As their profession transformed into an underpaid and undervalued occupation, masses of lawyers became precarious professionals living subaltern lives. Living among the poor with the elite knowledge of the law enabled community lawyers to forge new relations between the grassroots and the elites, the streets and the courtroom, and farmers and the national media. Drawing on an ethnography of the movement, I posit that community lawyers operate as social infrastructures: liminal subjects in uncertain times, capable of generating new possibilities and social relations. As social infrastructures within their communities, they shape the opportunities for action, facilitating new modes of resistance while blocking others.

Information sharing in the presence of retailer's risk aversion and altruism

AbstractIn highly uncertain times, firms are increasingly exhibiting risk aversion to uncertain demand and altruism to supply chain partners to reduce risk and maintain stability. To deal with high demand fluctuations, numerous firms are adopting information‐sharing strategies. We study how a retailer's risk aversion and altruism affect her demand information‐sharing decision by constructing game‐theoretic models. We first show that information sharing makes double marginalization (DM) stronger and hurts the retailer and generates an information‐sharing DM effect. The retailer's risk aversion strengthens this effect, while her altruism weakens the effect. Meanwhile, information sharing generates an uncertainty reduction effect on the risk‐averse retailer by reducing volatility and an altruism improvement effect on the altruistic retailer by increasing the manufacturer's profit. Whether information sharing benefits the retailer depends on her level of risk aversion and altruism. The retailer prefers voluntary sharing when both her risk aversion and altruism are high.

A hazard-based model to derive travel time under congested conditions

Increasing congestion levels and their elusive impact warrants the development of congestion mitigation strategies. Quantifying congestion and analyzing the spatiotemporal variations is imperative to achieve this target. Travel time is being explored as a measure of congestion with the advent of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) and the deployment of related technologies. Researchers identified congested conditions when the average travel time exceeds 1.33 or 1.66 times free-flow travel time (FFTT). It is well known that travel time under congested conditions (Tc) is more sensitive to land use, road geometry, and traffic control characteristics than the FFTT. Therefore, the extension of FFTT to derive Tc may not be appropriate. This study focuses on developing a hazard-based model to derive Tc. Travel time is modeled using a parametric accelerated failure time (AFT) model. The applicability of the proposed methodology is justified using empirical and simulated datasets. The Tc derived from the AFT model is close to the travel time for the level of service (LOS F). Based on the Tc, a new measure of congestion, termed congestion index (CI), is proposed. The proposed index can quantify the frequency and intensity of congestion on a link or network. The traffic states identified based on CI were mapped on the fundamental diagram (FD) and the macroscopic fundamental diagram (MFD). It was concluded that if travel times are uncertain and unstable under low-density conditions, then the ascending leg of the FD or MFD can be marked congested. Uncertain and unstable travel times indicate that traffic flow is unstable, and therefore, it can be concluded that traffic instabilities significantly affect congestion.

The future of work: A hybrid work model in a public sector organisation

Subject area of the teaching case: This teaching case covers aspects of leadership development, strategy, change management, organisational behaviour, and people management. The case explores the following themes: Workplace transformation and culture: the challenges and opportunities of remote/hybrid work in large government enterprises and maintaining the culture when moving remote Leadership and change: the different perspectives that a leader can take into consideration when leading the business during turbulent and uncertain times and managing the change process in large organisations Strategic decision-making: the application of analytical skills by senior management when making strategic decisions in a business Student level: The primary audience for this teaching case is management education programmes including: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), specialist Masters in Management, and certain Executive Education programmes. Brief overview of the teaching case: This case deals with a public-sector entity that collects taxation revenue for the South African government. In 2020, the operations of this public entity are severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The mandatory shift of the workforce from in-office to a remote work-from-home set-up, results in the entity switching to a hybrid work model in order to achieve its goals as an essential service. Protagonist Dr Zanele Twazi, executive head of the public entity's research department, is tasked by the commissioner to conduct a review on the hybrid work model. As the commissioner is also in the process of reviving the organisational culture to regain public trust following multiple corruption scandals, the pandemic adds to this pressure. Dr Twazi must share employee feedback on the remote work option. Meanwhile, the leadership team has to decide if the work model will serve this public entity in achieving its strategy, and from an organisational culture viewpoint, if it is the best fit for the future. Expected learning outcomes: The key learnings from this case include the following: Organisational work model: A suitable work model is dependent on the organisational mandate as well as its culture. Culture and organisational goals: An organisational work model additionally impacts the future sustainability of the organisation and its ability to achieve its short- and long-term goals. Change management framework: For teams to effectively adapt to a hybrid work model, managers have to be empowered to lead and be able to facilitate the change.

The future of work: A hybrid work model in a public sector organisation

Subject area of the teaching case: This teaching case covers aspects of leadership development, strategy, change management, organisational behaviour, and people management. The case explores the following themes: Workplace transformation and culture: the challenges and opportunities of remote/hybrid work in large government enterprises and maintaining the culture when moving remote Leadership and change: the different perspectives that a leader can take into consideration when leading the business during turbulent and uncertain times and managing the change process in large organisations Strategic decision-making: the application of analytical skills by senior management when making strategic decisions in a business Student level: The primary audience for this teaching case is management education programmes including: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip), specialist Masters in Management, and certain Executive Education programmes. Brief overview of the teaching case: This case deals with a public-sector entity that collects taxation revenue for the South African government. In 2020, the operations of this public entity are severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The mandatory shift of the workforce from in-office to a remote work-from-home set-up, results in the entity switching to a hybrid work model in order to achieve its goals as an essential service. Protagonist Dr Zanele Twazi, executive head of the public entity's research department, is tasked by the commissioner to conduct a review on the hybrid work model. As the commissioner is also in the process of reviving the GSB: 2023-1 The future of work: A hybrid work model in a public sector organisation 2 organisational culture to regain public trust following multiple corruption scandals, the pandemic adds to this pressure. Dr Twazi must share employee feedback on the remote work option. Meanwhile, the leadership team has to decide if the work model will serve this public entity in achieving its strategy, and from an organisational culture viewpoint, if it is the best fit for the future. Expected learning outcomes: The key learnings from this case include the following: Organisational work model: A suitable work model is dependent on the organisational mandate as well as its culture. Culture and organisational goals: An organisational work model additionally impacts the future sustainability of the organisation and its ability to achieve its short- and long-term goals. Change management framework: For teams to effectively adapt to a hybrid work model, managers have to be empowered to lead and be able to facilitate the change.