‘You’re being watched. You give us five minutes before leaving here. Five minutes. “If you want Laidlow back, don’t blow it.”' An important British diplomat is abducted in Pakistan. What appears to be a terrorist outrage may be the result of a vendetta by a powerful tycoon. Crime and mystery novel Rendezvous with Death follows the story of Nick Dyson, a young barrister in London, who accepts the appointment as personal assistant to his friend Robert Laidlow who is a Special Envoy to the Middle East, based in Islamabad. Nick, Robert and Robert’s wife, Emma have made a bitter enemy of Gerald Macbeth, now an influential tycoon in Islamabad. When Robert disappears and his security guard is beheaded, Nick begins to suspect that Macbeth is behind the crimes. He tries to persuade Emma to leave Pakistan with him. She refuses and dies in a speedboat acciden. Robert is executed by terrorists. Nick flees to London with over a million dollars of bribe money paid to Robert. Rendezvous with Death will appeal to those who enjoy crime and mystery novels plus fans of Gil’s former novels.
Young Ellen Colbert 'deserts' her paralysed husband when she can no longer bear caring for him. She takes work as part of the kitchen staff at the Marchmont mansion, where she meets the charming John Marchmont, who whisks her off to Australia. For months John and Ellen enjoy their lives at Mirabilly, a vast cattle station in the north owned by the Marchmonts, until a lawyer's letter arrives for John. They discover that by an accident of family deaths and a destroyed will he has inherited the bulk of the Marchmont wealth. John sets off immediately for London, leaving a jilted Ellen behind. John returns to Mirabilly four years later to discover that Ellen has married the head stockman and has a young son, Paul, who was born soon after John left for London. When Paul's father is tragically drowned, he begins to hear rumours about his true parentage… his mother denies it, but could he be Marchmont's son? This contemporary novel deals with the importance of knowing your paternity. Filled with romance and family issues, The Unforgiving Shore is a gripping read for fans of romantic fiction, as well as those who enjoy a family saga.
The Happy Humanist is a simple book for ordinary people who want to find greater enjoyment and peace in their lives. Happiness depends on who we think we are. We often get this wrong because it's difficult to know ourselves or other people. The self remains a mystery despite all the work of scientists and psychologists. That's why human relationships can be a problem for each of us. If we take this to heart we can appreciate that we may be asking for more than we're entitled to. Result? Strife and unhappiness. Happiness is a state of mind where we create an environment of enjoyment and calm; it's ours to create. The reality of life is that it is changing in every week, day and moment. It's unpredictable! Disappointment comes easily. Acceptance of this reality and an attitude of detachment are the tools to create the environment we seek. Freedom, justice and a life we think is meaningful are vital parts of that environment. We can't hide in our own back-yard. The Happy Humanist has been influenced by the work of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, and will appeal to thoughtful people, interested in human values and concerns, and those who enjoy reading about self-help and popular psychology.
My application to join the secret service was tongue-in-cheek. I was in no desperate need of another job, but the opportunity arose and I thought it would be interesting to test my skills against this world of deceit. Roger Conway is a daring liar who has invented a new identity for himself and bluffed his way into M16. He carries out an audacious mission for the ‘Disciples’, a secret cell of Oxbridge and Ivy League academics who are the masterminds behind the security services. Roger’s adventures in Cuba, during a new Cuban Missile Crisis, save the US from imminent rocket attacks, but frustrate the Disciple’s political plot against the president. Aided by his assistant, Herbert Yarham, Roger emerges as the top Anglo-US spy, a brilliant deceiver in a world of deceit.
Loren Stamford and her husband have prosperous jobs and a secure life in New York with their two adopted children. However, Loren’s comfortable world is shattered by the appearance of Bucky Chadwin, the man who escaped conviction for her rape many years before.Chadwin, a successful executive himself, is set to join Loren’s community, where social circles intersect at the golf and country clubs. How can Loren reach an understanding with Chadwin that enables them to ignore each other? Should she reveal her secret to her husband? Should they simply leave town?Chadwin blocks the possibility that they can ignore each other, and perversely blames Loren for the pain of his trial. Loren cannot resolve the tortured relationship and as distorted rumours about the past leak out, she sees her reputation and her life in ruins. A final meeting at the Stamfords’ remote summer house ends in tragedy, but there is a twist in the tale.
Set in Hong Kong at the time of the Cultural Revolution riots in 1967, Blue Lantern is a story of sex and police corruption. Mike Brodie a young police inspector from Glasgow is caught between two women. Helen is a talented and virtuous doctor, whom he can't match. Vanessa is a sordid temptress whom he finds it hard to resist. He needs more money than he earns to maintain his lifestyle, and finds himself drawn into a world of corruption and bribery.
Everybody at Butchers’ Row in Southwark has something to hide... Described as ‘London noir’, Night Shelter, the 9th novel from thriller writer Gil Hogg, delves deep into the seedy underground world of drugs, prostitution and corruption in Britain’s capital. Jimmy Morton, a supervisor at the Night Shelter for the homeless, finds himself unwittingly involved in the murder of Eva, a local prostitute found in a tenement in Butchers’ Row. The director of the Night Shelter and his guest Arnold Catesby have had a boys’ night out, a drug-fuelled sex party at a nearby pub close to where Eva’s body was discovered. Cynical and self-protective CI Dan Hamish from the Yard finds that Eva was at the party, but believes that Catesby and his friends are too big to touch. As the group are interrogated one-by-one, they assure Hamish that they have solid ‘insurance’ – but will it pay off? Night Shelter is a fast-paced detective novel that encapsulates the gritty, sardonic nature of London’s underground crime network. This book will appeal to fans of Peter Ackroyd and Mark Billingham, as well as fans of Hogg’s previous titles.
Lieutenant Bob McDade volunteers for the Vietnam War instead of becoming a school teacher. He made the wrong decision. When Lieutenant Bob McDade witnesses an officer ordering the execution of villagers while on an operation to gather intelligence about the Viet Cong, he questions his role as a seasoned veteran. Conflicted, he argues with his commanding officer and is court martialled as a result. McDade is found guilty and is facing disgrace, but his lawyer wins a plea that he is a victim of 'battle stress'. He is sent to a veteran’s psychiatric hospital in the US while the army happily closes down the issue of a war crime. Meanwhile, Gail is dedicated to her work in another veteran’s home in the US. She met McDade in Saigon while she was working as a nurse, although the couple knew each other from high school, and they fell in love. Uncertain of whether he is sane or not, McDade eventually walks out of the hospital. He plans to leave, and he wants to take Gail with him. Will he persuade her to leave her job and nurse elsewhere, or will Gail be destroyed by the very madness she is trying to cure? Focusing on battle stress and exploring the difficult issue of front line soldiers under stress who kill civilians, Don’t Cry for the Brave is an intriguing novel for those who enjoy military and crime fiction.
This title concerns a simple exercise you can use to solve your problems. It's about calming the mind, and dealing with the uncertainties of life. What we want for ourselves, and what we get, are usually very different things. How we deal with the emotions which arise from not getting what we want is crucial to our enjoyment.
The glacier on the virtually unclimbable peak of Mt Vogel in the southern alps of New Zealand has yielded a secret, a notebook which casts doubt on the achievement of Ernest Ashton a wealthy landowner who has for many years basked in the fame of being the first person to reach the summit. His son Stuart has built a reputation as a fine mountaineer and TV personality very much boosted by his father’s achievement. Now the son sees his own reputation jeopardised by his father’s disgrace. The smouldering animosity of lifetime is reignited. At this time, Tom Stavely, a close friends of Stuart’s, returns from England for the wedding of the rather neglected daughter he had with Stuart’s sister from whom he is now divorced. Tom stays with the Ashton’s on the sheep station and is inevitably involved with the family as the disaster unfolds at the wedding. He has to search his own heart about how far he should help Stuart, and finds himself the prime suspect in a murder.
A man without a past and a woman without a future. This is the story of a friendship between a young musician, David, who has lost his memory in a car accident, and an older woman, Cathy, who is dying from Huntington's disease. Both are confined to Denby Hall, a pleasant, unconventional neurological nursing home near Brighton. The home does not allow dogs, so David takes it upon himself to help Cathy to see her dog occasionally. In Cathy's words, she and David are "marooned on an island of misunderstanding." As David's efforts stir up trouble at the home, the nature of Cathy's relationships with those closest to her are revealed in this light hearted look at the horrors of degenerative disease and its effect on those who care.
The glacier on the virtually unclimbable peak of Mt Vogel in the southern alps of New Zealand has yielded a secret, a notebook which casts doubt on the achievement of Ernest Ashton a wealthy landowner who has for many years basked in the fame of being the first person to reach the summit. His son Stuart has built a reputation as a fine mountaineer and TV personality very much boosted by his father’s achievement. Now the son sees his own reputation jeopardised by his father’s disgrace. The smouldering animosity of lifetime is reignited. At this time, Tom Stavely, a close friends of Stuart’s, returns from England for the wedding of the rather neglected daughter he had with Stuart’s sister from whom he is now divorced. Tom stays with the Ashton’s on the sheep station and is inevitably involved with the family as the disaster unfolds at the wedding. He has to search his own heart about how far he should help Stuart, and finds himself the prime suspect in a murder.
Lieutenant Bob McDade volunteers for the Vietnam War instead of becoming a school teacher. He made the wrong decision. When Lieutenant Bob McDade witnesses an officer ordering the execution of villagers while on an operation to gather intelligence about the Viet Cong, he questions his role as a seasoned veteran. Conflicted, he argues with his commanding officer and is court martialled as a result. McDade is found guilty and is facing disgrace, but his lawyer wins a plea that he is a victim of 'battle stress'. He is sent to a veteran’s psychiatric hospital in the US while the army happily closes down the issue of a war crime. Meanwhile, Gail is dedicated to her work in another veteran’s home in the US. She met McDade in Saigon while she was working as a nurse, although the couple knew each other from high school, and they fell in love. Uncertain of whether he is sane or not, McDade eventually walks out of the hospital. He plans to leave, and he wants to take Gail with him. Will he persuade her to leave her job and nurse elsewhere, or will Gail be destroyed by the very madness she is trying to cure? Focusing on battle stress and exploring the difficult issue of front line soldiers under stress who kill civilians, Don’t Cry for the Brave is an intriguing novel for those who enjoy military and crime fiction.
A man without a past and a woman without a future. This is the story of a friendship between a young musician, David, who has lost his memory in a car accident, and an older woman, Cathy, who is dying from Huntington's disease. Both are confined to Denby Hall, a pleasant, unconventional neurological nursing home near Brighton. The home does not allow dogs, so David takes it upon himself to help Cathy to see her dog occasionally. In Cathy's words, she and David are "marooned on an island of misunderstanding." As David's efforts stir up trouble at the home, the nature of Cathy's relationships with those closest to her are revealed in this light hearted look at the horrors of degenerative disease and its effect on those who care.
‘You’re being watched. You give us five minutes before leaving here. Five minutes. “If you want Laidlow back, don’t blow it.”' An important British diplomat is abducted in Pakistan. What appears to be a terrorist outrage may be the result of a vendetta by a powerful tycoon. Crime and mystery novel Rendezvous with Death follows the story of Nick Dyson, a young barrister in London, who accepts the appointment as personal assistant to his friend Robert Laidlow who is a Special Envoy to the Middle East, based in Islamabad. Nick, Robert and Robert’s wife, Emma have made a bitter enemy of Gerald Macbeth, now an influential tycoon in Islamabad. When Robert disappears and his security guard is beheaded, Nick begins to suspect that Macbeth is behind the crimes. He tries to persuade Emma to leave Pakistan with him. She refuses and dies in a speedboat acciden. Robert is executed by terrorists. Nick flees to London with over a million dollars of bribe money paid to Robert. Rendezvous with Death will appeal to those who enjoy crime and mystery novels plus fans of Gil’s former novels.
Loren Stamford and her husband have prosperous jobs and a secure life in New York with their two adopted children. However, Loren’s comfortable world is shattered by the appearance of Bucky Chadwin, the man who escaped conviction for her rape many years before.Chadwin, a successful executive himself, is set to join Loren’s community, where social circles intersect at the golf and country clubs. How can Loren reach an understanding with Chadwin that enables them to ignore each other? Should she reveal her secret to her husband? Should they simply leave town?Chadwin blocks the possibility that they can ignore each other, and perversely blames Loren for the pain of his trial. Loren cannot resolve the tortured relationship and as distorted rumours about the past leak out, she sees her reputation and her life in ruins. A final meeting at the Stamfords’ remote summer house ends in tragedy, but there is a twist in the tale.
My application to join the secret service was tongue-in-cheek. I was in no desperate need of another job, but the opportunity arose and I thought it would be interesting to test my skills against this world of deceit. Roger Conway is a daring liar who has invented a new identity for himself and bluffed his way into M16. He carries out an audacious mission for the ‘Disciples’, a secret cell of Oxbridge and Ivy League academics who are the masterminds behind the security services. Roger’s adventures in Cuba, during a new Cuban Missile Crisis, save the US from imminent rocket attacks, but frustrate the Disciple’s political plot against the president. Aided by his assistant, Herbert Yarham, Roger emerges as the top Anglo-US spy, a brilliant deceiver in a world of deceit.
This book concentrates on the restatement of the law contained in Part 5 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993. It sets out the law and practice governing the commission of the criminal offence of insider dealing (and of certain other securities market offences) in the United Kingdom. In doing so, it also places the relevant legislation into the context of securities law as a whole. The historical background is explained and there is discussion of the way in which securities business is effected in the City and how it is presently regulated. The book is practical in its approach and will therefore appeal to experienced practitioners and compliance officers.
This research-level reference provides a review of the morphological techniques that have become a primary method of anatomical study correlating structure and function in lung physiology and pathology. Detailing the evolution of anatomy as a research discipline, it explores general structural techn
Young Ellen Colbert 'deserts' her paralysed husband when she can no longer bear caring for him. She takes work as part of the kitchen staff at the Marchmont mansion, where she meets the charming John Marchmont, who whisks her off to Australia. For months John and Ellen enjoy their lives at Mirabilly, a vast cattle station in the north owned by the Marchmonts, until a lawyer's letter arrives for John. They discover that by an accident of family deaths and a destroyed will he has inherited the bulk of the Marchmont wealth. John sets off immediately for London, leaving a jilted Ellen behind. John returns to Mirabilly four years later to discover that Ellen has married the head stockman and has a young son, Paul, who was born soon after John left for London. When Paul's father is tragically drowned, he begins to hear rumours about his true parentage… his mother denies it, but could he be Marchmont's son? This contemporary novel deals with the importance of knowing your paternity. Filled with romance and family issues, The Unforgiving Shore is a gripping read for fans of romantic fiction, as well as those who enjoy a family saga.
This book investigates the macroacquisition of Chinese – its large-scale acquisition and adoption for various purposes by individuals, governments and organisations – and the implications of this process for the future of English as a global language. The author contextualises the macroacquisition of Chinese within the global ecology of languages, then analyses the factors responsible for the macroacquisition of Chinese, showing, in contrast to most academic and popular commentary, that a character-based writing system will not stop Chinese from becoming a global language. He then articulates three possible future scenarios: English remaining a dominant global language, English and Chinese both being global languages, and Chinese becoming a global language instead of English. The book concludes by outlining directions for further research on the acquisition and use of Chinese around the world. It will be of interest to students and scholars with an interest in English as a global language, Chinese as a second/foreign language, language education policy, and applied linguistics more generally.
Buffalo, the county seat of Johnson County in northeastern Wyoming, began in 1878 as an army town adjacent to Fort McKinney (18771894). Since that foundation was laid, Buffalo has been witness to gold prospectors and settlers as a waypoint along the Bozeman Trail, nearby battles during the ensuing Indian Wars, and the Cattle War of 1892. Those events and their associated hard times helped forge the towns unique heritage and culture and made its place in American history significant. It was recently referred to as an epicenter of Western frontier history by local museum educator Bob Edwards. Buffalos site, at the boundary between the Big Horn Mountains and the Northern High Plains, is not only historic but particularly beautiful, and it also provides superb grasslands for cattle and sheep ranching. Those industries, plus mining, lumbering, and tourism, make up the communitys present-day economy.
Grandparents. - what would we do without them? They come in all shapes and sizes but with their wise words and kind ways they can be a source of inspiration and encouragement like no other. Here Britain's national treasures share their personal anecdotes about grandparents. Some recollect fond childhood memories of their Granny or Granddad, while others share with us their own experiences of what it is like to be a grandparent. Both hugely entertaining and heart warming, this wonderful celebration is the perfect gift for a much-loved grandparent.
Expatriation-enhanced competencies: A multiple case study of technology-based entrepreneurs Abstract PURPOSE: Facing the research gap of entrepreneurial learning by self-expatriated technology-based entrepreneurs, the purpose of this research is to explore those entrepreneurs’ beliefs and experiences across expatriation to identify the enhancement of their competencies. METHODOLOGY: Within a qualitative and exploratory multiple case theory-building approach, data was collected from twelve technology entrepreneurs from Brazil, Mexico, Germany, and Israel that went to the following destination countries: Spain, United Kingdom, United States, Germany, Ireland, Turkey, and the Netherlands. With interview data as the primary source, the data analysis rests on a qualitative content analysis. FINDINGS: Data allows structuring techpreneurs’ experience of expatriation along the following steps: (a) arrival in the destination country and initial process of socialization, (b) engaging in activities to get familiar with the culture of the destination country, (c) the gradual comprehensive understanding of the new context, and (d) comparisons between the home and destination country. Expatriation had an evident impact on the technology-based entrepreneurs that materializes in three groups of competencies: entrepreneurial competencies, knowledge and innovative competencies, and international competencies. Entrepreneurial competencies relate to relational and behavioral skills and the learning of doing business in different contexts. Concerning knowledge and innovative competencies, creativity, learning new techniques and international innovation environment stand at the fore. Finally, international competencies relate to the acceptance of different cultures (multicultural learning and perception of cultural differences), developing a sense of an international community and an international innovation culture. IMPLICATIONS: This study evidenced the influence of expatriation experiences on the training of skills of technology-based entrepreneurs, in a specific approach to entrepreneurial, innovative, and intercultural competencies. The research portrays self-expatriation as an opportunity for technology-based entrepreneurs to develop different competencies being helpful to innovate, to manage business and to operate in international markets. Universities and innovators may recognize their discretion to develop programs for people like former students who want to self-expatriate. In the same vein, government can design policy to attract self-expatriate in innovations hubs, considering that local inhabitants can benefit from the cultural exchange. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: This study contributes to better understanding the influence of self-expatriation experiences on the development of skills of technology-based entrepreneurs. Compared to previous studies, it advances research through providing a wider range of learning from expatriation experiences beyond the effect of internationalization on market knowledge and cultural aspects. Furthermore, this study focuses the process, not the results of self-expatriation to understand entrepreneurs’ learning. Keywords: technology-based entrepreneurs, innovation, entrepreneurs, skills, competencies, expatriation A phenomenological exploration of technology start-up failure in Sri Lanka PURPOSE: The main purpose of this qualitative study was to explore tech start-up failures in Sri Lanka to emerge themes that explain the critical factors that are impacting failures of Sri Lankan tech start-ups and also to identify recommendations that could help evade those factors. The paper also presents the finding to enrich tech entrepreneurs to build their strategies with an understanding of factors that leads to failure and to make well-educated decisions. METHODOLOGY: The study is based on a qualitative research approach that helps to present findings in a theoretical way. A phenomenological analysis has been used to identify, understand, and analyze the phenomena of tech start-up failures. Twelve start-up leaders participated in this study and shared their lived experiences of tech start-up failures in Sri Lanka. Interviews were conducted with them based on twelve interview questions and twelve core themes emerged based on the participants’ lived experiences. In analyzing data, the modified Van Kaam approach was used, utilizing a seven-step framework that considers the structural and textual aspects of experiences, as well as the perceptual characteristics of the phenomenon. FINDINGS: The themes answered the key research question of the study: What are the critical factors that are impacting on failures of tech start-ups in Sri Lanka? The cause of tech start-up failures according to the current study varied including, financial uncertainty, no market research, no product–market fit, paranoid behaviors of innovators, lack of timely response to changing conditions, and location of the venture. IMPLICATIONS: The paper concisely presents twelve critical reasons for tech start-up failures. The results of the research will enable Sri Lankan tech start-ups to identify key factors of failure for the growth of their surviving strategies. Identifying secret obstacles in the industry helps entrepreneurs prepare for pitfalls and provides guidelines for policymakers to make informed choices when implementing national policies. More importantly, it has been discovered that the major areas that require more attention are leadership, funding, marketing, and innovation. Finally, four groups of recommendations have been discussed under financing, market research, leadership, and inventors. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The comparison of the current study themes with the findings of related studies is inconclusive because the literature on tech start-up failures in other countries and in Sri Lanka is minimal. Some of the themes align with the findings of research conducted in other countries, although there were some themes that were explored uniquely. Keywords: entrepreneurship, tech entrepreneur, start-up failure, critical success factors, software start-up, survival strategies, technology start-up Going green to keep talent: Exploring the relationship between sustainable business practices and turnover intention PURPOSE: This study explores the association between sustainable business practices (SBP) and turnover intention (TI) to understand the role of sustainability initiatives in influencing employee retention and organizational commitment. METHODOLOGY: The present study conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement. From an initial selection of 326 articles, a rigorous double-blind screening process identified 31 key papers for in-depth analysis. FINDINGS: The systematic review provides compelling evidence that SBP have a robust positive association with employee outcomes, especially in reducing TI. This relationship is notably mediated by job satisfaction and organizational commitment and moderated by psychological safety and ethical leadership elements. Further, key gaps were discerned, including the necessity to explore the varied impact of SBP across industries, the enduring effects of SBP on TI, the influence of cultural and contextual facets, and the urgency for methodological advancements in cross-cultural research. In response to these gaps, four hypotheses were conceptualized to provide deeper insights into the complex interplay between SBP, TI, and overarching cultural/contextual variables. IMPLICATIONS: Theoretically, this research adds to the existing literature by empirically validating the relationship between SBP and TI, highlighting critical mediators and moderators, and suggesting avenues for future research. Incorporating the identified gaps and proposed hypotheses provides a structured direction for subsequent investigations. The findings emphasize the importance of integrating SBP into organizational strategies to promote sustainability while enhancing workforce well-being and retention. Organizations can align with sustainability goals and boost employee satisfaction by focusing on organizational commitment, open communication, and leadership grounded in ethical and sustainable principles. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: This research provides a comprehensive overview of the interplay between SBP and TI, integrating insights from various studies. By emphasizing understudied mediators and moderators, identifying research gaps, and outlining derived hypotheses, the study sets the stage for future inquiries. Its practical recommendations are essential for organizations that balance sustainability goals with workforce stability, benefiting organizational performance and employee satisfaction. Keywords: sustainable business practices, turnover intention, TI, job satisfaction, employee engagement, organizational commitment, employee involvement, employee empowerment, systematic literature review, PRISMA, future research directions, hypotheses, research gaps, green HRM What are the real motivations and experiences of silver entrepreneurs? Empirical evidence from Poland PURPOSE: Along with demographic changes, it is increasingly frequent that many mature people resign from their full-time jobs and decide to start their own businesses at a later age. Entrepreneurial activity among this group of so-called silver entrepreneurs can be caused by many motives, but these factors usually remain unknown to current employers or do not constitute a valid reason for understanding and keeping a mature person in the workplace. The purpose of this paper is to present new scientific results concerning entrepreneurial motivations, both internal and external, and the previous experiences of silver entrepreneurs from Eastern Europe based on an example from Poland. METHODOLOGY: We analyzed a unique sample of 1,003 owners of micro and small enterprises from Poland. The sample included only people over fifty. Our empirical study used a survey to explore the motivations and experiences of silver entrepreneurs that influenced their decision to start a business later in life. We linked attitude toward the behavior with motivation and utilized the “pull” and “push” factors. We utilized logistic regression to determine the factors related to starting a business above fifty. We also used the ordinary least square regression to determine the relationship between the explanatory variables and the age of starting a business by the respondents. FINDINGS: We found that the main “pull” factor positively influencing the start of business activity by silver entrepreneurs is the fulfillment of dreams as a broadly understood need for self-realization. However, the “push” factors (such as the occurrence of ageism in the workplace, as well as the loss of employment and lack of other opportunities on the labor market) significantly reduced the probability of starting a company at the age of over fifty. On the basis of the positive impact of a “pull” factor, it can be concluded that entrepreneurial activity at a later age is the result of opportunity-based entrepreneurship. Due to the negative impact of the job-loss factor, people made redundant started their business activity at an earlier age, before the age of fifty. Regarding external entrepreneurial motivations, the support received from family is the most important factor related to the individual’s environment affecting starting a business by silver entrepreneurs. However, the support from friends and the support from government bodies were not significant factors influencing starting a business at a later age.IMPLICATIONS: Findings from our study have implications for both employers and groups who support entrepreneurship. First, from the point of view of employers, the occurrence of ageism in the previous workplace could have resulted in resignation from full-time employment at an earlier age and a faster start of business activity. It is surprising that negative behavior towards older employees may also be associated with resignation from work by younger people. From the point of view of government bodies and other stakeholder groups related to the development of entrepreneurship, it is interesting that the support received from government bodies in conducting business activities was statistically insignificant for each group of respondents. This suggests the need to identify effective support and to design a comprehensive strategy for the development of silver entrepreneurship. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The vast majority of previous studies used secondary data or focused mainly on Western Europe, in particular the United Kingdom, Finland, and France. Our contribution is to provide empirical evidence about the silver entrepreneurs from Eastern Europe, especially Poland. Our research included individuals who actually run their own businesses, opposite to previous studies that take into account people who are just considering starting a business. This is particularly important in relation to research on the entrepreneurial intentions of mature people to undertake entrepreneurial activities at a later age, and the real motivations of silver entrepreneurs. Keywords: silver entrepreneurs, ageing, entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial motivations, push/pull factors Team members’ direct participation in decision-making processes and the quality of decisions PURPOSE: Do teams manage to reach better decisions than those made by individuals? Numerous studies have delivered inconclusive results. Meanwhile, participation in decision-making can take various forms and is not limited to consensus group decisions, and the influence of the various forms of participation on the quality of decisions has been less frequently examined. The aim of the research was to determine the effect on decision quality of changing the form of direct participation in the decision-making process in the case of complex, multi-stage problems. METHODOLOGY: The article presents the results of a long-term experiment in which 598 teams of 2,673 people took part. The participants were asked to solve a decision problem using three decision-making styles: autocratic, consultative, and group. The participants played the role of members of a newly established project team that must plan its own work. The task concerned a problem that requires the analysis of a number of dependencies between sub-problems, in contrast to eureka-type problems. The decision problem was new to the participants, making it impossible to apply known solutions; a creative approach was therefore required. The decision was then compared with the optimal solution established by experts. Decision quality was based on the deviation of the proposed solution from the optimal solution. FINDINGS: The results of the experiment confirm the significant synergistic potential of increasing direct participation in decision-making for complex, multi-stage problems. A significant proportion of teams made better decisions as a result of increasing direct participation – replacing autocratic decisions with consultative and group decisions. The quality of consultative decisions was roughly in the middle of autocratic and group decisions. By using group decision-making, teams made better decisions than the average individual decision and came closer to the decision quality achieved by the best team members. This effect was universal, observed both in the strongest and weakest teams. It should be remembered that, while group decision-making has the potential for synergy, it is not always achieved. Group decision-making markedly reduced the risk of making highly misguided decisions, and it can be reasoned that direct participation protects against serious mistakes more than it guarantees the best possible results. IMPLICATIONS: Team leaders should be familiar with different decision-making styles, their advantages and disadvantages, and the scope of their application. This research suggests that increasing team members’ participation to a consultative role and even better, a full participatory role, increases the quality of the decision. With the growing complexity of organizations that have to deal with accelerating change, technology development and increased competition, creating structures that can flexibly respond to the challenges of the environment requires the participation of team members at all managerial levels. The use of consultative and group decision-making styles for complex and multi-stage problems supports this process. The group decision-making style can bring better quality, but it has its limitations and it is not always possible to use it. It requires a team of highly competent people who identify themselves with the interests of the organization. Otherwise, the consultative form will bring better results. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: For the first time, an empirical study analyses the case of consultative decision-making, in which the team leader consults the individual opinions independently to finally come up with a final “team” decision. This approach is widely used by team leaders and managers in the field. This study shows that this approach constitutes an improvement over the individual (autocratic) one but still falls short of the group decision-making approach. Finally, this study which has been done with the largest number of participant teams (598 teams, 2,673 individuals), professionally active post-graduate students and over a 24-year period allows a sound statistical confirmation of the proposed decision quality improvement when moving from individual to consultative and group decision-making styles. Keywords: participation in decision-making (PDM), decision quality, consultative decision-making, group decision-making Bankers' job stress, job performance, and job commitment trajectories during the COVID-19 pandemic PURPOSE: The global COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted multiple sectors across industries and regions, including medical services, financial institutions, and others. The escalating global pandemic in both emerging and developed nations has resulted in the implementation of stringent lockdown measures and unparalleled disruptions to economic activities. Consequently, individuals have become accustomed to relying on banking operations as a routine aspect of their lives, regardless of the circumstances. Learning how bankers engage with customers in response to the given circumstances would be intriguing. Hence, the study aimed to unearth the relationship between bankers’ job stress, job performance, and job commitment, as well as the stress-based job performance and its impact on job commitment during the second to third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in an emerging market. METHODOLOGY: A number of 287 data (response rate 71.75 percent) were collected by online platforms due to the COVID-19 pandemic through the simple random sampling technique. The exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling were run to test the proposed research framework with the help of MS Excel 2007, SPSS 22.0, and AMOS 23.0. FINDINGS: The findings showed that bankers’ work-related stress has a positive impact on job performance but no relationship with job commitment; acute stress has a negative impact on job commitment but no significant relationship with job performance; and stress-based job performance has a significant positive impact on job commitment during the COVID-19 pandemic. IMPLICATIONS: The outcomes of this study provide value to the field of behavioral science by introducing the phenomena of COVID-19 in the context of bankers and emerging economies. The demographic variables and the revealed relationships of bankers’ job stress, job performance, and job commitment trajectories would help policymakers rethink stress management practices and policy building in the bank job and the long-term relationship building with their existing employees. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The novelty of the research is the COVID-19 phenomenon and an emerging economy’s bankers’ context. Keywords: work-related stress, acute stress, job performance, job commitment, bankers, COVID-19 pandemic Entrepreneurship education for women through project-based flipped learning: The impact of innovativeness and risk-taking on course satisfaction PURPOSE: The primary aim of this research is to explore the correlation between learners’ characteristics and the perceived value and satisfaction associated with Project-Based Flipped Learning (PBFL) methodologies. A secondary objective involves investigating how these PBFL methodologies can be employed to enhance the quality of entrepreneurship education for women. METHODOLOGY: During the first semester of 2018, a total of 80 students enrolled in the Communication Society class were engaged in a longitudinal study, involving bi-weekly online surveys prior to the semester’s conclusion. The survey instruments utilized Likert-scale measurements, with a 5-point scoring system. The data acquired was subsequently analyzed using structural equation modeling, which facilitated the examination of both the pre- and post-change scores and the structural properties of their relationships with overall course satisfaction. In terms of statistical evaluation, the study employed Generalized Structured Component Analysis (GSCA), a powerful component-based SEM technique, thus ensuring a robust and academically rigorous interpretation of the data. FINDINGS: Our research sought to understand the effects of learners’ characteristics, specifically innovativeness and risk-taking, on course satisfaction in Project-Based Flipped Learning (PBFL). We found that female learners’ innovativeness positively influenced their perception of the project’s entertainment and educational value, which in turn increased preference for PBFL and course satisfaction. Interestingly, risk-taking did not significantly influence perceived project value, which provides insights into the role of personality traits in learning outcomes. IMPLICATIONS: Our study invigorates entrepreneurship education theory by highlighting the key role of learner innovativeness in PBFL course satisfaction, urging a nuanced examination of personality traits in educational contexts. Further, we question the established importance of risk-taking, necessitating a critical reassessment in this domain. These pivotal theoretical contributions challenge prevailing assumptions, enrich scholarly discourse, and open new avenues for research. On the practical side, our findings emphasize the imperative of fostering innovativeness in women’s entrepreneurship education. These insights underscore the need for a strategically tailored, creative learning environment, with the potential to enhance learner engagement and satisfaction significantly. In sum, our research generates transformative theoretical insights and provides actionable strategies for improving the practice of entrepreneurship education. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: Our research presents a novel approach to fostering women entrepreneurs in the media sector through PBFL. This unique focus on the intersection of gender, media entrepreneurship, and PBFL distinguishes our study from existing literature. Furthermore, our findings offer educators invaluable guidance for enhancing female entrepreneurship education, thereby enriching the pedagogical landscape of this domain. Keywords: entrepreneurship education, women entrepreneurship, project-based flipped learning, innovativeness, risk-taking, course satisfaction
This study by the University of Basque Country Gluten Analysis Laboratory analyzes the gluten free diet from different perspectives. The authors provide background information on gluten, celiac disease, and other pathologies related to gluten intake. Later chapters cover topics such as techniques for gluten detection in foodstuffs and additives, as well as techniques used in complex matrices. Given that the only effective treatment for celiac disease is a strict, lifelong, gluten-free diet, and that the ingestion of small amounts of gluten can cause major symptoms in gluten intolerants, in recent years there has been an increasing interest in gluten free foodstuffs. In fact, the gluten-free product market has become one of the most prosperous in the field of food and beverages. The book provides a detailed analysis of the nutritional composition of gluten-free foodstuffs and a comparison with their gluten containing analogues. While targeted towards clinicians and science professionals, such as those working to develop gluten-free foods, it also discusses the energy and nutrient content of a gluten-free diet and offers different nutritional education strategies to improve the eating habits and nutritional status of those living with celiac disease.
The Happy Humanist is a simple book for ordinary people who want to find greater enjoyment and peace in their lives. Happiness depends on who we think we are. We often get this wrong because it's difficult to know ourselves or other people. The self remains a mystery despite all the work of scientists and psychologists. That's why human relationships can be a problem for each of us. If we take this to heart we can appreciate that we may be asking for more than we're entitled to. Result? Strife and unhappiness. Happiness is a state of mind where we create an environment of enjoyment and calm; it's ours to create. The reality of life is that it is changing in every week, day and moment. It's unpredictable! Disappointment comes easily. Acceptance of this reality and an attitude of detachment are the tools to create the environment we seek. Freedom, justice and a life we think is meaningful are vital parts of that environment. We can't hide in our own back-yard. The Happy Humanist has been influenced by the work of Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, and will appeal to thoughtful people, interested in human values and concerns, and those who enjoy reading about self-help and popular psychology.
Everybody at Butchers’ Row in Southwark has something to hide... Described as ‘London noir’, Night Shelter, the 9th novel from thriller writer Gil Hogg, delves deep into the seedy underground world of drugs, prostitution and corruption in Britain’s capital. Jimmy Morton, a supervisor at the Night Shelter for the homeless, finds himself unwittingly involved in the murder of Eva, a local prostitute found in a tenement in Butchers’ Row. The director of the Night Shelter and his guest Arnold Catesby have had a boys’ night out, a drug-fuelled sex party at a nearby pub close to where Eva’s body was discovered. Cynical and self-protective CI Dan Hamish from the Yard finds that Eva was at the party, but believes that Catesby and his friends are too big to touch. As the group are interrogated one-by-one, they assure Hamish that they have solid ‘insurance’ – but will it pay off? Night Shelter is a fast-paced detective novel that encapsulates the gritty, sardonic nature of London’s underground crime network. This book will appeal to fans of Peter Ackroyd and Mark Billingham, as well as fans of Hogg’s previous titles.
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