The promotion and adoption of new technologies within the context of sustainable development

Includes bibliography

Adoption and application of information technology in the Caribbean and its contribution to scientific, technological and human resource development

Includes bibliography

Some implications of adoption of CARICOM Common External Tariff (CET)

Analiza los problemas planteados por la incorporacion de Haiti a la Comunidad del Caribe (CARICOM) y especialmente al Mercado Comun. Destaca las implicancias que derivan de la adopcion del Arancel Externo Comun de CARICOM

ICT adoption and diffusion patterns in Latin American agriculture

Includes bibliography

Principal barriers to the adoption of ICTs in agriculture and in rural areas

Includes bibliography

Mixed methodology to analyze the relationship between maturity of environmental management and the adoption of green supply chain management in Brazil

The aim of this research is to verify the relationship between the maturity levels of environmental management and the adoption of green supply chain management (GSCM) practices by electro-electronic companies in Brazil. In this work a two-phase research was conducted, with one quantitative and the other qualitative. The quantitative phase aimed to test whether a relationship between the maturity levels of environmental management and GSCM exists, while the qualitative phase tried to detail the characteristics of this relationship. The quantitative phase was conducted through a survey with 100 Brazilian electro-electronic companies and the collected data were processed using Structural Equation Modeling. For the qualitative phase, a multiple case study was conducted with three companies located in Brazil. The results indicate that: (1) The main hypothesis was confirmed and considered statistically valid, indicating that, indeed, the maturity level of environmental management influences the adoption of GSCM practices; (2) a coevolution tends to occur between the environmental maturity and the GSCM practices; that is, the more developed is the company's environmental management, more complex GSCM practices are adopted; and (3) the GSCM internal practices tend to present a greater relative adoption than the external practices; these external practices of GSCM tend to be adopted when the company is inserted in a higher environmental stage and/or operates under a scenario of stronger normative environmental pressure. By the way, this is the first research mixing survey and case studies on GSCM in Brazil. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Implications of the Adoption of BISAC for Classifying Library Collections

We analysed the written statements of libraries that have adopted the bookstore model for coherence or lack of coherence with common public library guidelines. We used a text-based Foucauldian genealogical discourse analysis to investigate the written statements used by libraries that have adopted BISAC and other aspects of the bookstore model. Libraries adopting bookstore models such as BISAC should consider the potential consequences of adopting a commercial model for a public entity. This paper has practical implications for libraries considering adopting any aspect of the bookstore model, but especially the BISAC system, as it examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of the bookstore model popular in some libraries with respect to the purposes and goals of public libraries. BISAC application in libraries seems to be part of a trend of applying commercial practices, values and terminology in libraries, perhaps not with the purpose of replacing libraries with bookstores, but with the aim for both systems to converge into a new kind of commercial entity and context. The influence of one kind of system over the other does not seem to be totally reciprocal, since the application of library practices, values and standards in bookstores has not had the same effects and resonance as has occurred in the opposite direction.

Green Manufacturing: Relationship between Adoption of Green Operational Practices and Green Performance of Brazilian ISO 9001-Certified Firms

The present work aims at analyzing how the adoption of a proactive environmental management via green operational practices (GOPs) correlates to the Green Performance (GrP) of a given set of ISO 9001-certified firms in Brazil. To this end, we elaborated a conceptual framework about environmental management, GOPs, and GrP Such theoretical foundation supported the development of empirical research through quantitative analysis. For the analysis, 75 questionnaires were collected from ISO 9001 certified companies. Data was analyzed by with statistical tools such as descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results demonstrate that the adoption of GOPs, in fact, exerts a positive impact on the GrP of the firms. This work contributes to a better understanding of green manufacturing in Brazil's industrial sector

Adoption of lean thinking practices at Brazilian auto part companies

The objective of this study is to analyze the adoption of lean thinking practices at Brazilian auto part companies. For such, a survey was conducted at 75 sector companies. The results reveal that among all practices, the “systematic search for continuous improvement" obtained the highest implementation average. In terms of correlation, interdependence was observed among all Lean Manufacturing variables, most especially between LM5 (Kanban) and LM6 (Just-in-Time). This correlation can be explained by the importance of Kanban systems when implementing Just-inTime.

Electronic Government Interoperability: Identifying the Barriers for Frameworks Adoption

Interoperability is a crucial issue for electronic government due to the need of agencies' information systems to be totally integrated and able to exchange data in a seamless way. A way to achieve it is by establishing a government interoperability framework (GIF). However, this is a difficult task to be carried out due not only to technological issues but also to other aspects. This research is expected to contribute to the identification of the barriers to the adoption of interoperability standards for electronic government. The article presents the preliminary findings from a case study of the Brazilian Government framework (e-PING), based on the analyses of documents and face-to-face interviews. It points out some aspects that may influence the establishment of these standards, becoming barriers to their adoption.

"Evaluating the model of classification and valuation of disabilities used in Brazil and defining the elaboration and adoption of a unique model for all the country": Brazilian Interministerial Workgroup Task

The President of Brazil established an Interministerial Work Group in order to “evaluate the model of classification and valuation of disabilities used in Brazil and to define the elaboration and adoption of a unique model for all the country”. Eight Ministries and/or Secretaries participated in the discussion over a period of 10 months, concluding that a proposed model should be based on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities, the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, and the ‘support theory’, and organizing a list of recommendations and necessary actions for a Classification, Evaluation and Certification Network with national coverage.