Sustainability as an Ethical Aspect of the Theory-Practice Gap in Business Schools

This paper aims to reframe sustainability as an ethical aspect of the theory-practice gap in business and management education for sustainable development,which should be viewed as an integral part of knowledge produced and disseminated in business schools.The paper adopts a narrative approach to review the relevant literature on two streams of research,namely,the theory-practice gap and sustainability in reforming business schools.The synthesis and discussion of the existing literature suggest that while sustainability is frequently viewed with an ethical sentiment,the existing research overlooks its significance in bringing together knowledge and practice in business schools.This paper highlights the potential of sustainability as a theoretical lens in bridging the theory-practice gap in business schools;proposing to rethink the conceptual space that lies in ethics for further theoretical developments.The author urges business and management scholars to engage in burgeoning debates on business school reforms relating to the theory-practice gap and sustainability with an emphasis on ethics.The author contends that the neglected theoretical linkages between the theory-practice gap and sustainability provide fruitful directions for future research.Through a moral lens,business schools can move toward responsible management education for a more sustainable future.

Trustworthy semi-supervised anomaly detection for online‐tooffline logistics business in merchant identification

The rise of online-to-offline(O2O)e-commerce business has brought tremendous opportunities to the logistics industry.In the online-to-offline logistics business,it is essential to detect anomaly merchants with fraudulent shipping behaviours,such as sending other merchants'packages for profit with their low discounts.This can help reduce the financial losses of platforms and ensure a healthy environment.Existing anomaly detection studies have mainly focused on online fraud behaviour detection,such as fraudulent purchase and comment behaviours in e-commerce.However,these methods are not suitable for anomaly merchant detection in logistics due to the more complex online and offline operation of package-sending behaviours and the interpretable requirements of offline deployment in logistics.MultiDet,a semi-supervised multiview fusion-based Anomaly Detection framework in online-to-offline logistics is proposed,which consists of a basic version SemiDet and an attention-enhanced multi-view fusion model.In SemiDet,pair-wise data augmentation is first conducted to promote model robustness and address the challenge of limited labelled anomaly instances.Then,SemiDet calculates the anomaly scoring of each merchant with an auto-encoder framework.Considering the multi-relationships among logistics merchants,a multi-view attention fusion-based anomaly detection network is further designed to capture merchants'mutual influences and improve the anomaly merchant detection performance.A post-hoc perturbation-based interpretation model is designed to output the importance of different views and ensure the trustworthiness of end-to-end anomaly detection.The framework based on an eight-month real-world dataset collected from one of the largest logistics platforms in China is evaluated,involving 6128 merchants and 16 million historical order consignor records in Beijing.Experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms other baselines in both AUC-ROC and AUC-PR metrics.

Innovative Practice of Intelligent Business Models in the Field of Communication

As a service format to meet spiritual needs, fashion culture industry is often synchronized in its creation, production, dissemination, display and consumption. In order to explore how artificial intelligence provides technical means, platforms, channels and space for intelligent formats in the field of communication, and how to provide intelligent services for cultural creation, communication, display and consumption. This paper discusses the application and innovation of artificial intelligence in all aspects of communication field, analyzes the problems and puts forward corresponding countermeasures and suggestions.

Opinion dynamics in finance and business: a literature review and research opportunities

Opinion dynamics is an opinion evolution process of a group of agents,where the final opinion distribution tends to three stable states:consensus,polarization,and fragmentation.At present,the opinion dynamics models have been extensively studied in differrent fields.This paper provides a review of opinion dynamics in finance and business,such as,finance,marketing,e-commerce,politics,and group decision making.Furthermore,identified research challenges have been proposed to promote the future research of this topic.

Equipping the Public Primary Schools in Puebla： The Case of the Enciclomedia System in the State of Puebla, Mexico

The primary school system in Mexico is affected by serious shortfalls in the installation of related information and communication technologies resources in the teaching-learning process. This lack of resources has an impact of the context of the digital divide as well as in joining the knowledge society. The present article will deal with the outfitting of classrooms with the enciclomedia system in the 5tb and 6th grade in the State of Puebla. It will demonstrate important findings, demonstrating the deepening digital divide between the state capital and the rest of the municipalities in this state. In fact, the furthest （300 km far away from Puebla city） the less primary school equipped with the enciclomedia system. We will also demonstrate the resource distribution by school-type and inhabitants. Another finding is the influence in resource distribution by political party. This study should provide public policy decision-makers with valuable information for the apportionment of resources in all municipalities of the State of Puebla.

Research on Financial Targets Sequence of Impacting on Business Value—— Based on Data Analysis from Chinese High-tech Listed Firms of Unmodified Auditing Opinions

The high-tech listed firms are not only representative for mainstream of nongovernmental businesses, but also afflux new livingness into the capital market development in China. By considering our country＇s high-tech listed firms as study object, we have disclosed different degree between diverse financial targets and business value, built a financial targets sequence model of impact on business value. The study supplies a certain extent reference to valid supervising and exalting of firms＇ financial core.

Construction of an evaluation system for the service capabilities of government to business (G2B) web portals

On the basis of analyzing both domestic and foreign evaluation systems for the e-government and also taking into account of the current situation of government portals in urban centers,the paper is aimed to construct an evaluation system primarily for the measurement of the service capability of business-oriented G2B portals of local governments in general and those G2B portals of the new development zones in particular.This system is composed of 6 first tier indicators,18 second tier indicators and 90 third tier indicators.And the weight of each indicator is determined by Delphi Method and Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) Method.Subsequently,we used this system to evaluate the government portals of Tianjin Binhai New Area and Shanghai Pudong New Area and proved to have the desired practicability.

Panel Random Analysis of Credit Risk in Business

Market economy is a kind of credit economy. The survival and development of an individual in the society are closely related with his credit. Without credit, market economy can not continue, the society can hardly run in good order and good health. This paper defines the basic concept of trade credit risk with its manifestation and brings forward the basic mode quantitatively analyzing the credit risk. The data structure of information is analyzed, the decomposition model of credit risk is structured and with the aid of statistical analysis, including regression analysis, analysis of variance, test of hypothesized, the description, classification, certification and confirmation of credit risk model are completed, then, we can describe and control the credit risk with the model to provide basis when building credit support system in today＇s society.

Regulatory constraint and small business lending:do innovative peer-to-peer lenders have an advantage?

This paper investigates whether innovative Peer-to-Peer lending by FinTechs’has a regulatory advantage over the big banks in respect of small business lending.We do this through the lens of the regulations imposed by the Dodd-Frank Act,using a difference-in-difference methodology.The Act tightened traditional bank credit standards on business loans,especially for small firms.However,the new FinTech lenders were not subject to the same regulatory burden.We find that traditional banks significantly reduced their lending to small businesses,as compared to their FinTech competitors.Our results suggest that while the Dodd-Frank Act constrained lending to small businesses,innovative new lending models gained a regulatory advantage and the Peer-to-Peer lenders capitalized on this.

Analysis of Factors That Affect the Long-Term Survival of Small Businesses in Pretoria, South Africa

The paper is based on a 5-year follow-up study (2007 to 2012) of a random sample of 349 small business enterprises that operate in and around the city of Pretoria in South Africa. Data weregathered from each of the businesses on socio economic factors that were known to affect the long-term survival of small businesses. The objective of the study was to identify and quantify key predictors of viability and long-term survival. Pearson’s chi-square tests of associations, binary logistic regression analysis and the Cox Proportional Hazards Model were used for screening of variables, and for estimating odds ratios and hazard ratios of key predictors of viability and long-term survival. The study found that 188 of the 349 businesses that took part in the study (54%) were not viable, and that the long-term survival and viability of small businesses were adversely affected by lack of entrepreneurial skills, lack of supervisory support to newly established businesses, and inability to operators running newly established businesses to acquire relevant vocational skills.

Making Business of a Revolutionary New Technology The Eckert-Mauchly Company, 1945-1951

The paper analyzes John Presper Eckert and John William Mauchly＇s endeavours to design, sell, and build the revolutionary new technology of the first-large and commercial computers. It discusses how Eckert and Mauchly＇s conceptualization of the computer grew out of their Electronic Numerical Integrator and Calculator （ENIAC） and Electronic Discrete Variable Automatic Computer （EDVAC） projects at University of Pennsylvania. They incorporated their own business to gain profit from production and attain the freedom needed to develop their revolutionary new computer technology through a series of small and separate computer projects with private and government customers. The paper approaches innovation as a chaotic process and uses uncertainty to conceptualize the basic relations between actors and organizations.

On the E-Valuation of Certain E-Business Strategies on Firm Performance by Adaptive Algorithmic Modeling： An Alternative Strategic Managerial Approach

This paper describes an innovative adaptive algorithmic modeling approach, for solving a wide class of e-business and strategic management problems under uncertainty conditions. The proposed methodology is based on basic ideas and concepts of four key-field interrelated sciences, i.e., computing science, applied mathematics, management sciences and economic sciences. Furthermore, the fundamental scientific concepts of adaptability and uncertainty are shown to play a critical role of major importance for a （near） optimum solution of a class of complex e-business/services and strategic management problems. Two characteristic case studies, namely measuring e-business performance under certain environmental pressures and organizational constraints and describing the relationships between technology, innovation and firm performance, are considered as effective applications of the proposed adaptive algorithmic modeling approach. A theoretical time-dependent model for the evaluation of firm e-business performances is also proposed.

Financial Management in New Types of Agricultural Businesses——A Case Study of Farmer's Cooperatives in Weixian County

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China( CPC),with the help of state policies,the new types of agricultural businesses have been flourishing. As one of the important forces of new types of agricultural businesses,the farmer's specialized cooperatives grow up rapidly in the development of the rural economy because of their characteristics which are consistent with the current rural economy. financial management is the core of the operation of farmer cooperatives,which directly affects the long-term sustainable development of cooperatives. Through the survey and analysis of the financial management of many farmers' cooperatives in Wei County,Hebei Province,this paper puts forward the deficiencies in the existing financial management of cooperatives. It also brings some reasonable suggestions to regulate and improve the financial management of cooperatives,in order to enhance the market competitiveness of farmers' cooperatives and realize better sustainable development of farmers' cooperatives.

Sustainability in Business:A Millennials’Perspective

The detrimental effect mankind has on the planet continues,with its ability to produce far more than it can be consumed,resulting in unmanageable effects to the earth.Achieving a performance advantage while not causing destructive effects is the new challenge.Consequently,considering the UN’s sustainable development goals(SDGs),this study investigated how environmental,social,and governance(ESG)factors could contribute to a better financial performance for multinational companies.Due to the ecological,economic,and social consequences of business,it has never been more important for society to lean towards sustainable practices.As new challenges emerge,new concepts of how to deal with them evolve,including the concept of“sustainable development”as a foundation to management-thinking and decision-making.Private businesses are a key component in achieving the UN’s desired sustainable view,as they can help to fill the$3tn annual investment gap expected to be needed across the next 15 years.As a generation,millennials have a critical role to play in achieving a sustainable future.Millennials are the next group of business-thinkers and decision-makers.Based on research conducted by this study,eight out of 10 London-based millennials acknowledged the private sector has a critical role in helping to achieve a sustainable future for all.However,fewer than three in 10 millennials actually believe that private businesses will take action,instead continuing to place their short-term profitability mindset ahead of sustainability.With a world population of 50%under the age of 30,and with millennials continuing to become more conscious of trends which affect the planet and their future,the expectation of businesses to act sustainably seems to be rising.This study confirmed a multitude of ways to increase business performance sustainably,such as driving sales by targeting consumers’increasing willingness to pay a premium for sustainable goods.A questionnaire supported this approach by confirming that nine out of 10 millennial Londoners acknowledged that action on climate change should be the responsibility of both individuals and private businesses.However,a smaller amount,only four out of 10 millennials surveyed,were willing to contribute by shifting their purchasing-behaviour,to more sustainable products,if prices were higher.Further to this,if a product was found to be unethical,the data collected showed 75%of millennials would take action by looking for a competitor or leaning towards an alternative(30%of those surveyed).Consequently,the results suggest millennials expect the private sector to step up and deliver sustainable products at competitive prices in order to truly help.

Appeal of 3 ＋ 4 Program： Good Students are Few but Growing at Secondary Vocational Schools in Shanghai

Secondary vocational education in Shanghai continues to experiment in an attempt to find ways to solve the decline of student enrollment and adjust to rapidly changing social and economic environments. The 3 ＋ 4 Pilot Program （three-year secondary vocational education and four-year undergraduate education） has been under experiment since 2014. It has attracted more and more academically good junior middle school graduates to secondary vocational schools with the national and local favorable policies and laws. Except the three-year’s hand-on practice, what appeals most to the junior middle school graduates is the academic transfer under the Program, a breakthrough in history of vocation education in China. However, only initiating a new program is not enough. Shanghai government should map out a long-term plan to set up promotion to increase the public awareness to change the long prevailing outdated ideology in order to add more to its appeal of the Program. There is still much work to be done before expanding the scope of the Program.

Relationship between R&D investment and business performance from the perspective of environmental regulation: Takeing the heavy-polluting industries from 2011 to 2016 as an example

In recent years, China has promulgated many laws and regulations of environmental protection, gradually forming an environmental regulation system, and most enterprises are under the dual pressure of environmental protection and business performance. It would be a significant way that enterprises undertake R&D activities for a change. This paper is based on the Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed heavy pollution enterprises in 2011-2016, which is based on the review and summary of research results of former researchers, combining with current environmental regulation situation of our country, raising the relevant hypothesis between environmental regulations, R&D investment and business performance against heavy pollution industry. Adopting the method of empirical research, it also built the linear regression model which employs the relevant financial data of heavy-polluting enterprises in China as the statistical research sample. The relationship for heavy-polluting enterprises affected by environmental regulations between environmental protection R&D investment and enterprise business performance was tested. The results show that there is a positive influence on the environmental R&D investment and business performance, and a lag effect upon the R&D investment of enterprises to business performance. Finally, the research results were used to evaluates problems existing in the R&D investment on pollution industry in China as well as business performance and we put forward some suggestions on improving environmental regulation standards and technology innovation consciousness as well as optimizing the structure of R&D investment.

Exploring the Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Employee Recognition:An Analysis of Recognition Practices in Chinese Businesses

This research investigated the existing employee recognition methods in Chinese businesses and assessed their effectiveness.An in-depth interview was conducted in a commercial bank and a telecommunication company in China.Data was collected from thirty managers who were asked to share their opinions on employee recognition effectiveness and then analyzed using the thematic analysis method.The findings indicate that an effective recognition scheme included increased job satisfaction,employee motivation,work performance,and employee commitment.Furthermore,it suggested that organizational culture,the various forms of recognition practices,awareness of giving recognition,communication,and managerial skills,can all influence recognition effectiveness.This study adds to the development of a theoretical model to help understand what makes employee recognition more effective and to clarify the value generated by effective recognition.It also contributes to the understanding of employee recognition in the Chinese workplace.Practically,this study gives recommendations to managers regarding how to better evaluate their employee recognition systems and how to improve their effectiveness.

Development Strategy of Intermediate Business of Commercial Banks—Take Bank H as an Example

At the beginning of this paper,the development process of intermediate business of commercial Banks in China was introduced.Taking bank H as the research object,the annual report data of bank H in the past 8 years(2010-2017)were collected as the basic data.First,it analyzes the growth rate and trend of the development of intermediary business of bank H,finds out the problems existing in the development of intermediary business of bank H and explores the reasons for the problems.Then,PEST analysis method and porter's five forces model are respectively applied to analyze the development environment of intermediate business of bank H.Finally,based on the above analysis,the author proposes substantial and individual solutions to the existing problems,such as channel extension strategy,market segmentation strategy and market independent pricing strategy.

Application of Data Mining Technique in Business to Consumer Electronic Commerce

In B2C e-commerce activities, it is involving vast amounts of customer data information. Introducing data mining technology to the electronic commerce, it provides a large number of valuable business information to electronic business enterprise, enhances the core competition of the electronic commerce enterprise. This paper starts from the model of data mining, analyzes the steps of the data mining and puts forward the application of data mining technology in B2C e-commerce.

Artificial Intelligence Education in Primary and Secondary Schools from the Perspective of Thinking Quality

With the vigorous development of social economy in China,various advanced technologies and equipment have emerged,among which artificial intelligence(AI)has rapidly developed and achieved remarkable results when applied to many fields.Therefore,leaders and teachers in primary and secondary schools should pay more attention to AI education and explore effective measures to optimize the effectiveness of this education.Among them,carrying out artificial intelligence education and teaching from the perspective of thinking quality,with an aim to improve students’technical ability and effectively cultivate their thinking skills,may improve students’learning efficiency and teachers’teaching efficiency.How to carry out AI education from the perspective of thinking quality is an important issue that teachers need to address urgently.Through in-depth research,we focus on this issue,in hope to benefit primary and secondary school teachers.