Department of Decision Sciences

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https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14078/22

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Academic integrity as ethical culture: Institutional responsibility and moral order
(2026) Enstroem, Rickard; Benson, Lyle
This paper conceptualizes academic integrity culture as an institutional moral condition constituted through the alignment of regulative–structural arrangements and normative–cognitive expectations across organizational levels. Drawing on the literature on ethical culture and moral order, it develops an account of academic integrity as sustained through the coupling of formal governance structures and informal peer-regulatory processes and reproduced over time through routinized practice and socialization. The paper develops a conceptual measurement model that treats academic integrity institutionalization as a latent construct and specifies its observable indicators. It further articulates a verification logic that clarifies the inferential conditions under which such indicators can support claims of cultural institutionalization. An institutional illustration shows how convergent, longitudinal, and multi-level indicators may be interpreted in relation to processes of stabilization and norm reproduction. The paper concludes by outlining the methodological and ethical implications of treating academic integrity as a cultural property of universities and clarifying the institutional responsibilities that such claims entail.
Academic misconduct
(2026) Enstroem, Rickard; Benson, Lyle
This chapter provides an overview of common forms of academic misconduct and examines the personal, institutional, and systemic factors that contribute to such behaviors. It explores strategies for detecting and preventing misconduct, with a focus on the role of technology, faculty oversight, and cultural initiatives. The broader impact of academic misconduct on students, institutions, and society is also addressed, highlighting the importance of creating a culture of academic integrity through comprehensive policies and educational interventions.
The adoption of mobile commerce service among employed mobile phone users in Bangladesh: self-efficacy as a moderator
(2011) Hossain, Muhammad Muazzem; Islam, Md. Aminul; Khan, Mohammad Aktaruzzaman; Ramayah, T.
Mobile commerce or better known as M-commerce is a fairly new phenomenon in the wake of the second technology wave from the famous E-commerce (electronic commerce) in the 21st century. As the Internet started to proliferate in many parts of the world, the mobile phone penetration in terms of voice communication started to grow rapidly. This simultaneous rapid growth has caused a new phenomenon of convergence of Internet computing and mobile communication where M-commerce has its root. M-commerce has the potential to enhance the work-life within the employed mobile phone users in Bangladesh. The purpose of this study is to examine whether awareness and knowledge, convenience of Mobile devices and WAP/GPRS enabled handsets, pricing and cost, security and privacy, rich and fast information, and perceived usefulness have any influence on the adoption of M-commerce among employed Mobile phone users in two major cities in Bangladesh – Dhaka and Chittagong. A survey method was used to collect data. The findings suggest that pricing and cost, rich and fast information, and security and privacy are significant predictors of the adoption of M-commerce. Self-efficacy is found to be a moderating factor for the adoption of M-commerce services.
Agriculture-based offsets for voluntary carbon markets: review of current state, extent of markets, smallholder and gender concerns, and addressing research gaps
(2023) Jindal, Rohit; Vardhan, Mamta
Agriculture and forestry are responsible for 22% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, which makes them crucial for meeting the ambitious carbon reduction targets under the Paris Climate Agreement. While there exist several papers on forestry-based emissions reduction projects, relatively little is known about similar projects in the agricultural sector. Indeed, the last major report on agriculture-based carbon offset projects was published in 2011. We bridge this gap in current knowledge by exploring carbon mitigation efforts in agriculture, especially the growth in the Voluntary Carbon Markets. Our review is based on a careful selection of peer-reviewed literature, international databases, and websites of carbon registries. Voluntary carbon markets have grown rapidly, transacting 493.1 million tCO2-eq in 2021, valued at nearly $2 billion. Of these, agricultural offsets contributed about 1 million tCO2-eq at an average price of $8.81 per tCO2-eq. There are currently 720 agriculture projects that generated voluntary carbon offsets in the recent past or are still active. Of these, the main ones are methane reduction (331 projects with 16.8 million tCO2-eq emissions reductions), followed by 277 projects on rice cultivation (4 million tCO2-eq). Methane reduction projects have the highest average size of 50,625 tCO2-eq per project, followed by improved irrigation management (28,322 tCO2-eq), solid waste separation (20,322 tCO2-eq), and rice cultivation (14,298 tCO2-eq). Over 90% of projects (648) are 'reduction' projects, while less than 10% (71) combine carbon removal with carbon reduction. China leads with 333 projects, followed by the US (207) and India (59). North America leads in emission reductions (11.1 million tCO2-eq), followed by Asia. Africa has 345,825 tCO2-eq reductions from one project - the Kenya Agricultural Carbon Project. Among carbon registries, 65% of all agricultural offset projects are registered through Verified Carbon Standard, followed by Climate Action Reserve (22%), the Gold Standard (9%), and the American Carbon Registry (4%). Smallholder farms contribute nearly 32% of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions and are highly susceptible to climate change risks. Carbon offset projects in agriculture have varying local impacts, including positive and negative outcomes. Gender equality is often overlooked in these projects, even though most stakeholders acknowledge its importance. Despite their impressive growth, agricultural carbon offsets represent a small fraction of the overall carbon market, with only 1% of the voluntary and 2.3% of the compliance markets. This is due to the perceived high risks, including concerns about additionality, leakage, permanence, monitoring, and transaction costs. To address these issues, we recommend that projects follow standardized methodologies, collaborate with research institutions, and adopt monitoring innovations. In conclusion, despite its small size, the voluntary carbon market in agricultural offsets plays a vital role by allowing experimentation, enabling participation in jurisdictions without climate regulations, and encouraging smallholders to engage in mitigation efforts.
AI and VR: shaping the next generation of adaptive learning and development programmes
(2024) Enstroem, Rickard; Bhawna, Bhawna; Kumar, Dinesh; Suthar, Nidhi; Taherdoost, Hamed; Madanchian, Mitra
This chapter explores the transformative potential of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) with Virtual Reality (VR) in developing adaptive learning and development (L&D) programs. Traditional L&D methodologies are increasingly inadequate in the face of rapidly changing business environments. AI and VR technologies offer unprecedented opportunities to personalize learning experiences, enhance engagement, and improve outcomes. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of current trends, applications, challenges, and future directions of AI and VR in L&D. Key findings emphasize the role of these technologies in fostering continuous learning cultures, addressing individual learner needs, and enhancing organizational effectiveness. Practical insights and case studies are included to guide HR professionals in leveraging AI and VR for innovative and effective L&D programs.
An analysis of patterns of retail gas price variations in Canada
(2022) Ghosh, Subhadip; Islam, Shahidul
This paper intends to study the patterns in retail gasoline price variations in Canada. In particular, we examine the following questions. First, we determine whether retail gasoline prices are higher on certain days of the week. Specifically, are the retail prices higher during the weekends than the weekdays in Canada? Second, we investigate specific differences in the retail gasoline prices over various days of the week across different Canadian cities and provinces. Finally, we compare the average retail gasoline prices across different provinces in Canada.
Are performance explanations credible or strategic? Evidence from a large sample of MD&As1
(2024) Gong, Sabrina; Hao, Yamin; Wang, Xiaojia
This paper examines managers’ explanations of firm performance (i.e., management attributions) in a large sample of the Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) section of annual reports. We find that managers of poorly performing firms tend to attribute firm performance to external factors. We further propose a prediction model to decompose management external attributions into a credible part and a strategic part and find that both components are negatively related to firm performance. This evidence suggests that management external attributions partially reflect the actual impact of external conditions on firm performance and are not entirely subject to managerial opportunism. Additionally, we find that investors react more strongly to firm performance when managers provide credible external attributions, especially for firms without a bad reputation for strategic external attributions. We also show that executive compensation is less sensitive to firm performance when managers make more strategic external attributions.
Blockchain for business: understanding the core principles and implications of blockchain technology in a new decentralized world
(2023) Bilodeau, Victor
Begins by providing a solid foundation in blockchain technology, elucidating its underlying principles and mechanics. This foundation enables readers to grasp the core concepts, such as decentralization, consensus mechanisms, and cryptography. With this knowledge, readers can appreciate the profound implications of this technology on data security, transparency, and efficiency across various sectors. To provide a broader context for the rise of blockchain, the book delves into the history of money and the evolution of monetary systems. By exploring the development of currencies and their role in shaping human societies, the reader gains a deeper appreciation of the potential impact that blockchain and cryptocurrencies can have on the global economy. This historical perspective is essential to understanding the true value and significance of blockchain’s potential in transforming how we conduct business and exchange value. The book’s final section is dedicated to cryptocurrencies, the most well-known application of blockchain technology. It covers the inception of Bitcoin, the first successful cryptocurrency, and discusses the growth of the cryptocurrency ecosystem, including various types of digital currencies, exchanges, wallets, and regulations. This section provides readers with a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges presented by cryptocurrencies, enabling them to make informed decisions regarding their adoption and integration into business strategies.
Book review: Organization Development Today: How individuals, groups and organizations can flourish in today’s volatile world
(2026) Enstroem, Rickard
Organization Development Today (Isbouts, 2025) is most usefully read as a contemporary statement of organizational development’s ambition and its predicament. The volume brings together 10 practitioner–scholar chapters from Fielding Graduate University’s Organizational Development and Change doctoral program and advances a humanistic vocabulary of learning and connection in which development unfolds through sensemaking and relational engagement with uncertainty. Its contribution to Management Learning readers lies equally in the tension between these humanistic ideals and the institutional realities in which “development” is authorized, narrated, and put to work. The volume offers practice-near illustrations of organizational learning and invites reflection on how developmental discourses position actors within managerial and institutional rationalities. The edited volume examines leadership, learning, and professional practice in diverse contexts, including healthcare, education, technology, and community-based organizations. Many chapters adopt narrative, case-based, and interpretive approaches that foreground how individuals and groups interpret complexity, navigate transition, and construct meaning in practice. The volume does not advance a single theoretical framework but presents a series of situated explorations that collectively portray organizational development as a relational and reflective field concerned with sensemaking, identity work, and learning through organizational challenges. In this sense, the volume can be read as a collection of reflective practitioner studies and as an illustration of how professional learning and development are constituted in contemporary organizational and institutional contexts.
Book review: Small states in a global economy: crisis, cooperation and contributions
(2015) Enstroem, Rickard
This book is devoted to a bouquet of topics related to if, when, and how small states can play a role on the global arena and how they economically benefit from—or are impeded by—cooperations and linkages with other nations and international organizations. Although not signalled by the title, the scope of the analysis is limited primarily to Iceland and Latvia, typically by using the Scandinavian countries Denmark, Norway, and Sweden as a comparison group.
Bridging the gap: a systematic analysis of circular economy, supply chain management, and digitization for sustainability and resilience
(2024) Kang, Parminder Singh; Bhawna; Sharma, Sanjeev Kumar
The primary objective of this research paper is to conduct a comprehensive and systematic literature review (SLR) focusing on Sustainable Supply Chain Management (SSCM) practices that promote Circular Economy (CE), sustainability, and resilience through adopting emerging digital technologies. A SLR of 130 research articles published between 1991 and 2023 was used to analyze emerging trends in CE, supply chain management (SCM), and digitalization. This study meticulously examined research publication patterns, the intricate themes explored, influential scholars, leading countries, and substantial scientific contributions that have shaped this multifaceted domain. This paper contributed to the collective understanding of how SSCM practices, driven by the principles of CE and empowered by the adoption of digital technologies, foster sustainability, resilience, and innovation within contemporary SCs. The research findings presented herein are primarily based on an analysis of the current literature from only Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases, which may restrict the generalizability of implementing these results. Based on this study, organizations and practitioners can assess the maturity of their SCM practices, gauge the resilience and digitalization levels of their SCs, and align them with academic literature trends. This enables practitioners to bridge the gap between scholarly advancements and real-world SCM implementation. Through its systematic review, the study provides a structured literature review that offers a collective understanding of SSCM practices driven by CE principles and empowered by digital technologies. This understanding enables sustainability, resilience, and innovation within contemporary SCs, benefiting academicians and practitioners.
Can space syntax help us in understanding the intraurban office rent pattern? Accessibility and rents in downtown Stockholm
(2008) Enstroem, Rickard; Netzell, Olof
The effect of accessibility upon rent is investigated for office properties located in Downtown Stockholm. Starting from the firm’s cost minimization problem, a translog hedonic model is derived. The results suggest the model has good predictive power in explaining the variation in the log of the rent. A negative rent gradient is obtained with a base approximately 90 m from the postulated focal point. It appears as if Space Syntax adds important information to the understanding of the intraurban office rent pattern.
Canadian agriculture technology adoption
(2024) Easher, Tahmid Huq; Enstroem, Rickard; Griffin, Terry; Nilsson, Tomas
Objectives Statistics Canada administers the Agricultural Census every 5 years, and this paper presents unsuppressed data from the 2016 and 2021 Census. The data set encompasses detailed information on farm types, sizes, technology choices, and a demographic profile of farm operators from the 2021 Census. Data on farm characteristics and operator demographics is crucial for understanding innovation in agriculture and formulating evidence-based policies. Data description The data sets cover the two most recent agriculture censuses of 2016 and 2021, presenting data on the number of farmers by region, farm type, size, and the adoption of technologies. Additionally, a third data set lists the number of farm operators by age and sex. The census questionnaire inquires about using different technologies, varying the types across the two census periods. Notably, there is no data suppression in these data sets, and they cover all 10 provinces in Canada, excluding the three territories. Farm types are categorized based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and farm size is measured in acres.
Cash assist or shark loan? In quest of doing well while doing good
(2022) Taleb, Ali; Ghosh, Subhadip
Jim Kamal, 24 years, was a socially-conscious entrepreneur at hart. He just completed his undergrad studies in Accounting and was exploring the opportunity of starting a Payday Loan business. While doing market research, he came across various information that made his decision difficult. On the one hand, the opportunity appeared to have great potential for superior return on investment. On the other hand, the industry clearly suffered from a bad image due to what the press and government representatives qualified as unethical commercial practices. This was in contradiction with Kamal's personal values and professional objective - doing good while doing well.
Causal latent semantic analysis (cLSA): an illustration
(2011) Hossain, Muhammad Muazzem; Prybutok, Victor; Evangelopoulos, Nicholas
Latent semantic analysis (LSA), a mathematical and statistical technique, is used to uncover latent semantic structure within a text corpus. It is a methodology that can extract the contextual-usage meaning of words and obtain approximate estimates of meaning similarities among words and text passages. While LSA has a plethora of applications such as natural language processing and library indexing, it lacks the ability to validate models that possess interrelations and/or causal relationships between constructs. The objective of this study is to develop a modified latent semantic analysis called the causal latent semantic analysis (cLSA) that can be used both to uncover the latent semantic factors and to establish causal relationships among these factors. The cLSA methodology illustrated in this study will provide academicians with a new approach to test causal models based on quantitative analysis of the textual data. The managerial implication of this study is that managers can get an aggregated understanding of their business models because the cLSA methodology provides a validation of them based on anecdotal evidence.
Chapter 1 - Introduction to operations management
(2013) Orchard, Ryan
Outline: What is Operations Management: Operations, Operations Management, This Course. Business Strategy: Performance Dimensions and Competitive Priorities. Operations Strategy: Production/Inventory Strategies, Equipment and Labour, Facility Layout. Strategic Alignment.
Clone resistant mutual authentication for low-cost RFID and contactless credit cards
(2007) Lemieux, Stephane; Tang, Adrian
With Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags being used to secure contactless credit cards, great benefits but also serious security and information privacy issues have arisen. Recently many attempts have been made to resolve these issues. In particular, attempts have been made to provide a means for authentication between tag and reader. However, none have yet have been able to provide resistance to cloning attacks. Furthermore, authentication on lowest range of low-cost RFID tags, also remains a challenge. We propose a clone resistant, mutual authentication scheme that requires only 32 bits of read write memory, 90 bits of read only memory and can be deployed using as few as 300 logic gates. We also propose a stream cipher with the same memory constraints and magnitude of logic gates. These systems may also be scaled to provide a high level of security, using relatively little computational resources, on larger hardware platforms.
Competitive product positioning and pricing under brand loyalty
(2016) Enstroem, Rickard; Ghosh, Subhadip
We analyze the pure strategy equilibrium in prices and the corresponding equilibrium product differentiation in a two-stage linear spatial competition duopoly model with quadratic transportation costs. Both firms have segments of brand loyal and non-brand loyal consumer segments, with the two firms primarily competing on the brand switching segment. A comparative statics analysis is undertaken, looking at the impact of a change in size, presence, and asymmetry of the brand loyal segments.
Constraints to adopting soil fertility management practices in Malawi: a choice experiment approach
(2019) Krah, Kwabena; Michelson, Hope; Perge, Emilie; Jindal, Rohit
Though problems related to low and declining soil fertility continue to impede agricultural production and food security in Sub-Saharan Africa, smallholder farmers in this region – those cultivating two hectares or less – have shown reluctance to adopt practices at scale that help conserve or enhance soil quality. Employing a discrete choice-based experiment, we find evidence that farmers’ propensity to adopt soil fertility management (SFM) practices increases with improved access to mineral fertilizers, and when farmers receive relevant technical training on soil fertility improving technologies. A unique aspect of our study is our focus on understanding how smallholders’ stated SFM preferences relate to their perceptions of recent local climatic variation. We find that farmers who perceive that rainfall amounts are decreasing are less willing to adopt crop rotations to improve soils. Our findings suggest that policies designed to increase adoption of SFM practices are more likely to succeed when they provide farmers with inputs that farmers perceive as complementary to SFM, including mineral fertilizer, and when they are built around an understanding of farmers’ perceptions of climatic variability.
Consumer acceptance of RFID technology: an exploratory study
(2008) Prybutok, Victor; Hossain, Muhammad Muazzem
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is used in numerous applications and offers a plethora of interesting potential new applications. However, this potential raises issues that require addressing to achieve its widespread acceptance by consumers. This paper investigates the factors that affect consumer acceptance of RFID technology. The purpose of this effort is to develop and test a theoretical model that contextualizes the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) within the context of RFID technology. The research model proposes that convenience, culture, privacy, regulation, and security are the principal factors influencing the consumers’ acceptance of RFID. However, the results show that convenience, culture, and security are significant predictors. This study is the first in the RFID literature to use the technology acceptance model for explaining consumer acceptance of RFID technology. The findings suggest that (1) higher perceived convenience of RFID technology leads to greater acceptance of this technology, (2) societal beliefs, value systems, norms, and/or behaviors influence the extent of consumer acceptance of RFID technology, and (3) higher perceived importance of and less willingness to sacrifice personal information security lead to lower intention to use RFID technology. Contextualization of TAM to RFID technology makes this study relevant to practitioners because the results can provide insight to organizations using or exploring the use of RFID technology.

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