Showing papers by "KIMEP University published in 2018"

A gender perspective on entrepreneurial leadership: female leaders in Kazakhstan

Abstract: The paper proposes a conceptual model to understand female entrepreneurial leadership through an exploration of the perceptions and experiences of women entrepreneurs within their leadership roles. The paper addresses an existing knowledge gap on entrepreneurial leadership by bringing together three key constructs of gender, leadership and entrepreneurship. We apply Stewart’s (1982) model of role Demands-Constraints-Choices (DCC) to women entrepreneurs in Kazakhstan in order to understand their perceptions of the demands, constraints and choices they experience within their leadership roles. The results of in-depth interviews with women entrepreneurs present deeper conceptualisation of their leadership enactment as a co-developing, co-constructed relational activity between leaders and others in their wider business environments and context.

Employee Turnover in the Garment Industry in Bangladesh: An Organization-level Perspective:

Abstract: The main objective of this study is to identify the root causes of employee turnover in the garment industry in Bangladesh. The study employed a combination of case study and documentary re...

Rethinking the Prevailing Security Paradigm: Can User Empowerment with Traceability Reduce the Rate of Security Policy Circumvention?

Abstract: Information leakage is a major concern for organizations. As information travels through the organization's eco-system, perimeter-based defense is no longer sufficient. Rather, organizations are implementing data-centric solutions that persist throughout the information life-cycle regardless of its location. Enterprise rights management (ERM) systems are an example of persistent data-centric security. ERM defines specific access rules as an instantiation of organizational information security policies and has been suggested as means of role-based access permissions control. Yet, evidence shows that employees often circumvent or work around organizational security rules and policies since these controls hinder task-performance. In this exploratory case study, we use the theory of workarounds as a lens to examine users' workaround behavior. We introduce an empowerment-based ERM system highlighting users' permission to override provisionally assigned access rules. The concept of empowered security policies is novel and presents a shift in the current security compliance paradigm. Subsequently, we compare users' compliance intention between empowered ERM users and conventional ERM users. Our descriptive results indicate that circumventing intention is lower while perceived responsibility and task-performance benefits are higher for the empowered ERM users than for the conventional ERM users. Compliance intention is higher for conventional ERM users than for empowered ERM users.

Implementing the Silk Road Economic Belt: from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation to the Silk Road Union?

Abstract: The concept of the Silk Road Economic Belt put forward by the Chinese President Xi Jinping in September 2013 has two major dimensions: “the Road” and “the Belt”. This article examines the background, the legal status, values, institutional framework and major areas of cooperation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO). In doing so, it argues that building “the Road” may lead to the following: (a) the transformation of the SCO from hitherto primarily security-oriented alliance into “the Belt”, i.e. an organisation pursuing also deep economic cooperation, and (b) the establishment of a Silk Road Union based on partnership between SCO and the Eurasian alliance, constituted by two most important regional integration groupings created in the post-Soviet area, the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union.

Prospects for European sustainable rail freight transport during economic austerity

Abstract: Purpose Economic growth is defined as growth in the capacity to meet individual and collective consumption demands. Decline in economic growth for a longer period (i.e. recession) occurs as a part of the “The Limits of Growth” concept. During such an economic crisis, three policy concepts can be implemented: “austerity”; “business as usual”; and “fiscal stimulus”. The purpose of this paper is to examine the economic response to the 2008 recession, in the area of sustainable transport system development, in Europe. Design/methodology/approach The study assesses and identifies the need for investments in transport infrastructure, in particular rail, to remove barriers to developing a sustainable multimodal transport system. Towards this, by analysing secondary data collected from relevant online sources, the paper explores the prospects for sustainable rail freight transport development in Europe, during the recession period. For this, eight EU countries were selected, based on the length of railway lines in use: France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Findings Investment in five transport infrastructures were examined – road, rail, IWT, maritime ports and airports – and the research finds that overall, the “austerity” policy was implemented for investment in rail infrastructure, whereas a modest “stimulus” policy can be observed for investment in road infrastructure. The average investment in IWT infrastructure had a “stimulus” policy, whereas the average investment in Maritime port and Airport infrastructure suggests a “business as usual” policy. Of the various approaches taken in the recent recession period, European rail transport appears to have fared least well. Research limitations/implications To some extent, the research is limited by lack of some data (e.g. data unavailability on the UK airport infrastructure investment from year 2006). Practical implications The findings of the research will encourage policy makers in national government to invest in sustainable transport infrastructure. Originality/value The study suggests that there is a lack of uniform policy response to the recession, in terms of investment in transport infrastructure, and that there is a significant difference between the policy goals set by the EU – modal shift from road to rail and/ IWT to develop a sustainable transport system – and their practice. The author argues for an integrative, common and action-oriented approach to sustainable rail freight system development, by European countries, to develop effective, Europe-wide rail freight corridors, under schemes such as Horizon 2020 and Shift2Rail.

An Alleged “Genocide of Russian-Speaking Persons” in Eastern Ukraine: Some Observations on the “Hybrid” Application of International Criminal Law by the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation

Abstract: In 2014, the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation instituted a criminal prosecution of a number of Ukrainian nationals of charges of genocide of “a national group of Russian-speaking persons” in eastern Ukraine. It appears that here, in addition to instituting prosecutions in the absence of jurisdiction with respect to such alleged acts committed on the territory of Ukraine, Russia also abused the notion of genocide in that it included within the range of groups protected by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, and by its own Criminal Code, a group that is not covered by the definition of genocide. It is submitted that both factors void the entire prosecution exercise, and make it a manifestation of “hybrid law enforcement”.

The Snow Leopard and Cultural Landscape in Contemporary Kazakhstan

Abstract: The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is commonly seen in the cultural landscape within the Republic of Kazakhstan. This contrasts rather starkly with the endangered species’ presence on the natural landscape there. Three contemporary cultural landscape sightings of the snow leopard in Kazakhstan—the Almaty zoological park, the Kazakhstan 2030 strategy initiative, and the 2011 Asian Winter Games—are explored here. The positive imagery and symbolism linking the snow leopard to the Republic of Kazakhstan cements the non-human animal’s status as an unofficial state symbol. The borderlands of snow leopard landscapes, those spaces of cultural and natural environmental overlap, are vital for conservation efforts. Reincorporating non-human animals into social science research offers the opportunity for cultural landscape investigations. For the snow leopard, cultural landscape research may prove as important as traditional natural landscape research in Kazakhstan and throughout this majestic non-human animal’s territorial range.

Ethnic identity of kazakhstani young people in relation to language

Abstract: This paper explores the ways Kazakhstani young people define themselves ethnically. For this purpose, the survey was conducted among bachelor students of a Kazakhstani university to find out personalinformation about respondents, their linguistic competence, their religious and ethnical belonging, andtheir choice of ethnicity in case they had a chance to choose at birth. The results of the survey showedthat participants mostly refer themselves to ethnicity of their parents in ethnically homogeneous families,and to ethnicity of fathers – in ethnically mixed families. The study did not reveal any dependence ofethnical identification on place of birth, language competence and religious attachment. The goal ofthis paper is to contribute to understanding of the situation in Kazakhstan and to proper elaboration ofadequate national programs.

On Fraïssé’s Theorem for Uncountable Classes of Finitely Generated Structures

Abstract: We prove a weak version of Fraisse’s theorem for uncountable classes of finitely generated structures.We also solve Hodges’ problem on failure of the complete analog of this theorem for uncountable classes of finitely generated structures.

A Central Asian View of E-Government Services Adoption: Citizens' Trust and Intention to Use E-Services

Abstract: Results of survey from a snowball convenient sample of Kyrgyz respondents (N = 216) showed that employees of private sector are more likely to use government websites than those of government employees themselves and level of knowledge about security issues directly related to intention to use of Kyrgyz government websites. Specifically, higher level of knowledge about security issues leads less likely to use government websites. Factors such as ease of use and usefulness, relative advantage of using web sites, and compatibility with respondents’ lifestyle have also great impact on intention to use government web sites. Image, given by using internet technologies to communicate with government also has a direct relation on people’s intention. The findings also suggest about the gender role in if and under circumstances men and women tend to use government websites. The findings are explained via the investigation of diffusion of innovation model and technology acceptance model in relation to use of government websites in the context of Kyrgyz Republic. A Central Asian View of E-Government Services Adoption: Citizens’ Trust and Intention to Use E-Services

Blogging Gratifies Engagement Need for Internet Users in Media-Constrained Environment

Abstract: Results of survey from a snowball convenient sample of Kyrgyz bloggers (N = 263) showed that internet users are motivated primarily to blog for information, recreation and engagement needs. The information motivation was the strongest motivation among the survey participants while engagement was the strongest factor in predicting the frequency of their blogging activities. The results revealed a negative relationship with recreation motivation and blogging, suggesting internet users with recreation motivation tend to blog less compared to others. The data also revealed no gender difference among bloggers of Kyrgyzstan contradicting existing scholarship. This finding is a surprising in a context where women are excluded from decision making processes. The results are explained via uses and gratifications theory.

A Link between Oil Price and Stock Market Index: The Case of Three Countries

Abstract: This study empirically explores the causal relationship between the stock market development and oil price in Russia, UK and Kazakhstan. With this aim, the data between 2000 and 2017 was used. This data was obtained from Bloomberg. The data includes Index KASE, RTS Index, FTSE Index and oil price. In order to find out the dependence between oil price and indexes of United Kingdom, Russian Federation and Kazakhstan (FTSE 100 index, RTS index and index KASE respectively) it was necessary to collect the data first of all. For the analysis it was decided to choose, as variables, the prices and trade volumes of chosen instruments. As it was mentioned previously, I looked through the 17-year period starting from January 1st, 2000 lasting January 1st, 2018. Monthly data was retrieved from Bloomberg. The purpose of the empirical analysis is to determine what kind of relationship, if any, exists between oil price and such stock indices as KASE Index, RTS Index and FTSE Index.This study investigates the interaction between the oil price and three indices. Quite an interesting fact is that there are no any significant relationships between oil price and indexes studied. Among all indices studied, Index KASE is the most dependent on oil prices. The least dependent index is FTSE index. It is important to understand that every country has its own research environment and special features, which also could be researched independently. Taking into consideration the importance of oil export earnings to the growth profile of the Kazakhstani economy, higher oil export revenues would result in the growth of Index KASE. Majority of companies listed in Kazakhstani index are export oriented. Thus, the study can serve as a promising avenue for further research. For example, for Kazakhstan, some new research indicators can be added, such as weight of export and import.

Semantic analysis of kazakh idioms with components of body parts and colors

Abstract: In the Kazakh language, there are idioms that combine components of body parts and color denominations in their structure. Moreover, there are variations of them, in the way that one and the same bodypart component can be accompanied by various color denominations, or one and the same color termcan be a component to different body parts. The meaning of such idioms varies depending on the coloror body part components that form their structure.The study examines the semantic structure of idiomswith components of body parts and color denominations in the Kazakh language. It aims to find out ifthere are transformations in the semantic structure of body part components under the influence of theircolor components, or vice versa, and, if there are any, which kind of changes occur. The frame referentialanalysis has been applied, and it revealed that semantic changes mostly take place under the impact ofcolor terms on body part components. The study also showed that color denominations evoke a biggerdiversity of frames in comparison to body parts.

Foreign Direct Investment and Gross Domestic Product in Kazakhstan

Abstract: The study explores a relationship between foreign direct investment and gross domestic product in Kazakhstan. It was found that, in general, Kazakhstan remains the leader in the sphere of investment attracting among the Central Asian countries. The risks of investing in other countries of Central Asia seriously exceed the risks of investing in Kazakhstan. The capital and investment, along with human resources, is an important development center. Foreign direct investment played an important role in the economic growth of developed countries. Almost every developed country has assisted foreign financial institutions in addition to its own small savings in the early stages of its development. Kazakhstan is known as a developing country in the center of Eurasia, which attracted over 151 billion of USA dollars since its independence. The aim of the study is to find out the relationship between foreign direct investments and Gross Domestic Product. The study proved the fact that foreign direct investment does significantly positively affect Gross Domestic Product in Kazakhstan. Thus, we can make a practical conclusion that these results can be helpful as a base for the new researches as well as for the practical implementation and potential government’ use in Kazakhstan. The further research may employ such variables as exchange rate, inflation rate. Some new methods can be employed such as Ordinary Least Squares. Practically, policy makers should take into consideration the fact that foreign direct investment positively and significantly affects Gross Domestic Product.