Advances in Social Sciences Research Journal

Popular Culture Embodying Modernity-Treatment of Popular Culture in Kolatkar's "Chirimiri"

Jayashri Balasaheb Aher — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 16:06:32 +0000

Abatract:

The article investigates the treatment of popular culture in a slender collection of poems in Marathi by Arun Kolatkar titled ‘Chirimiri’ (meaning a small amount given in bribe) which was published in 2003, by Ashok Shahane’s Prass Publication, Mumbai. Arun Kolatkar , an important bilingual poet composed poetry in Marathi and in English. Most his post 1970^s poems in both the languages are an important document of contemporary social, cultural and literary happenings. In his own idiosyncratic, objective and ironic fashion, Kolatkar depicts with maximum subtlety, the people, places, events and happenings in the metropolis of Mumbai. This article is a modest attempt to see the reflection of popular culture with all its popular and political aspects. The basic argument of the article is that any civilization in its embodiment of modernity brings total metamorphosis in the forms of popular culture. Many times altogether new forms of popular culture emerged with advancement of technology and its socio-cultural impact on that society. A very few old forms of popular culture survive but they adopt many changes in all its aspects including the psychology of the audience. The book ‘Chirimiri’ records the contemporary state and status of the most powerful cultural and religious movement, the ‘bhakti’ movement of the ‘warkari’ sect in Hinduism. The forces of urbanization, industrialization and globalization have corrupted the ways and means of this important non-brahminic movement only besides ‘Mahanubhav Movement’ by Chakradhar. Despite its spiritual deterioration the ‘wari’ (pilgrimage to Pandharpur on foot) can still be viewed as an as an important religious-cultural phenomenon with maximum public participation. But embodying modernity of urban pilgrims has changed their attitude towards this pilgrimage.

Assessment of women food vending and local soap making micro enterprises in Temeke Municipal: A Costs Benefit Analysis approach

Christina Shimba, Kepha Luvinga, Simon Augustine Kilasara — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 16:07:28 +0000

This paper was designed to assess the contribution of women entrepreneurship in improving household livelihood at Temeke municipal council in Dar es salaam region, specifically the study aimed to identify the types and attributes, analyse sustainability of the selected enterprises and assess the contribution of women enterprises to household livelihood in the study area. A sample of 60 women were selected randomly from a list of women entrepreneurs' groups dealing with food vending (40) and local soap making who were 20. Data were collected using structured interview and were coded and entered into computer software. Cost benefit analysis and Sustainable Livelihood Index were used to analyse the viability and contribution of food vending and local soap making enterprises. Results show that the two enterprises were viable, but local soap making is more viable than food vending. Thus it is concluded that innovative enterprises are sustainable and can improve the household livelihood. The paper recommends that the government and other stakeholders should facilitate and motivate women to embark more in innovative enterprises for enhancing their livelihoods.

Discovery Driven Innovation: The Case of Oman Entrepreneurship

Maria Teresa Matriano — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 16:08:18 +0000

Businesses around the world fail or succeed because decisions good or bad were made out of assumptions of the unknown. In the context of discovery-driven innovation, business decision can be made with the aid of available information based from passed attempts, the current market situation, and consumer dynamics. The discussion involves examining the importance of discovery-driven innovation in business growth. Oman ha a young SME sector in which several entrepreneurs succeed and failed due to a common cause, which is the lack of drive to discover what works for their business and the lack of innovation applied to their operational strategies. Discovery-driven innovation in the case of Oman encompasses the limitations faced by entrepreneurs in reinventing their business ideas based from data about the past and existing enterprises. In discovering what works, what did not work, and why it didn’t, entrepreneurs would be able to make evidence- based decision that can assist them in innovating the way they do business.

Keywords: Commercialization, Consumer Market, New Products, Business Process/strategies

Open Innovation for Business-IT Academic Institution: Case of Oman

Maria Teresa Matriano — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 16:08:58 +0000

Oman’s economic activities are often centered on oil production and export with very limited focus given towards enhancing its private sector. The more traditional approach to business also inhibits the growth of some of the business organizations in the country because of the lack of attention to innovation. However, finding new opportunities through innovation can be also made possible through a mutually beneficial partnership with the academic sector through open innovation. The cooperation between the business IT academic institutions and the business sector is key in achieving success in innovation on an economic level. The shared knowledge between the two sectors is crucial in ensuring that new ideas and technologies are delivered to the end consumers in a form of an innovative product of services. In the case of Oman, several challenges are facing both the academic and the private sector in terms of establishing an open innovation partnership. In this discussion, the concept of open innovation for business IT will be highlighted with emphasis given to the current state of open innovation partnerships in Oman. In addition, the discussion will also explore the advantages of open innovation in business IT in terms of fostering innovation through research and development.

Keywords: Open Innovation, Business IT, Institutional Partnership, Research and Development

Oman Entrepreneurship Highlights: A Case Study of Nawa International

Maria Teresa Matriano — Tue, 18 Jun 2019 16:09:41 +0000

Entrepreneurship in Oman is still relatively on the premature stage of development considering the current conditions within the Omanis business policies and structure that hinders the full potential of the SME sector in the country. Amidst the challenging SME business environment in Oman is a thriving company proving that there is room for growth for entrepreneurs in the country. The discussion will highlight Nawa International and its key entrepreneurial leader and Managing Director Mr. Khalid Al Suleimany in terms of analyzing how the company’s entrepreneur and their outlook enabled the organization’s growth. Both the challenges and achievements will be highlighted in the discussion with analysis done on the factors affecting the success or failure of the SMEs in the country. In here, the business overview will provide relevant insights regarding the company followed by a discussion on the key characteristics that the organization’s entrepreneur have that enables positive output. Furthermore, the discussion will also highlight assumption about the business and the SME sector in Oman as a whole, which also includes discussion on the key issue and analysis of the described factors that drives the failure and success of the SME businesses in the country including that of Nawa International.