Positive Psychology and Indian Psychology: Birds of the Same Feather

Positive psychology and Indian psychology share similar concerns regarding human life. But Indian psychology has more to offer towards our understanding of happiness and well-being than what Positive psychology can at this point of time, because of latter’s paradigmatic limitations. This commentary draws attention to certain shortcomings of the target article: (a) in presenting the contemporary Positive psychology perspective; (b) in conceptualizing IP with reference to its epistemological position; (c) and in equating certain concepts from PP and IP and their implications.     

The Five‐factor Model of Personality and Knowledge Transfer in the United Arab Emirates

Knowledge transfer has emerged as an important criterion in organizations for achieving a sustainable competitive advantage. While research has examined contextual determinants of knowledge transfer, very little research has considered the role of individual differences. In the present study, we addressed this issue by testing the relationship between the five‐factor model of personality and supervisory ratings of knowledge transfer in a sample of employees from the United Arab Emirates (N = 294). Our findings indicated that the extraversion (r = .22), conscientiousness (r = .18), and openness (r = .14) were significant predictors of knowledge transfer. Implications for knowledge management practices are discussed.     

The Significance of Three Errors in the First Chapter of Bhagavadgītā

The recognition of three errors in verses 1.10, 11, and 36 of Bhagavadgītā and the truth behind it is essential to grasp the beginning of the tread of thought developed by Vedavyāsa from the first to the last verse of the entire text spanning over 18 chapters. Generally, only the first error in verse 1.10 has received recognition, but as soon as the error is recognized there was attempt either to interpret the verse violating its syntax and semantics to make its meaning consistent with epic facts or to redraft the verse taking it as an error of a copyist, who has exchanged Bhīṣma with Bhīma and vice versa while copying the original. But, the attempt to remove the errors by interpretation or redrafting makes the interpreters ignore the significance of the errors in development in the argument and the readers become blind to the logic of thought as it is developed in Bhagavadgītā spanning over the entire text of Bhagavadgītā.

     

Reversible phase transition in vanadium oxide films sputtered on metal substrates

Vanadium oxide films, deposited on aluminium (Al), titanium (Ti) and tantalum (Ta) metal substrates by pulsed RF magnetron sputtering at a working pressure of 1.5 x10^?2 mbar at room temperature are found to display mixed crystalline vanadium oxide phases viz., VO₂, V₂O₃, V₂O₅. The films have been characterized by field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and their thermo-optical and electrical properties have been investigated. Studies of the deposited films by DSC have revealed a reversible-phase transition found in the temperature range of 45–49 °C.     

A new method for automated reconstruction of pre-transformation microstructures

A new method, referred to as the cluster method, is proposed and tested for the reconstruction of pre-transformation microstructure in Ti–6Al–4V alloy. The cluster method begins by constructing clusters of daughter grains (room-temperature hcp α-phase) that have a high probability of being transformed from the same parent grain (high-temperature bcc β-phase). These clusters are then grown, and back-transformed to the parent grain orientations using the ‘summation of mutual misorientation angle method’ (SMMA method). The cluster method is validated by comparing the obtained results with the results of the SMMA and triplet methods.     

Twice Migrants in Canada: Who Are They and How Do They Perform Economically?

Immigrants known as “twice migrants” are those who arrive in Canada via an intermediate country, that is, not directly from their country of birth. With a focus on large contemporary immigrant groups in Canada—South Asians, Chinese and Filipinos in particular—this study develops socio-economic profiles of twice migrants and assesses their economic performance in comparison to that of direct migrants. The study uses custom tables of multiple national level datasets as well as qualitative interviews with a selected group of twice-migrant families to arrive at its findings. The results show that relative to direct migrants, twice migrants were older, more likely to speak a Canadian official language, slightly more educated and more skilled. These human capital characteristics did not however fully translate into economic success. Political and economic situations both in the country of birth and the country of last place of residence affect the flow of twice migration. Lack of job opportunities in Canada forced many twice migrant families to split between two countries.     

Preface

Dr. Siegfried Streufert devoted a considerable part of his career to designing and developing assessment and training technologies based on his theory of Behavioral complexity. The underlying emphasis in the design of his methodology called the Strategic Management Simulations (SMS), was on understanding “real world” productivity in an objective manner. This methodology focuses on the demonstrated decision-making capacity of an individual in various situations and its impact on human productivity and well-being. The SMS methodology compliments other evaluation tools that focus on individual “preferences”, “aspirations” and basic problem-solving skill sets. The following commentary provides a brief overview of well-used methodologies and describes the SMS comprehensive assessment which is focused on real world productivity and is constructed using Behavioral complexity theoretical paradigms.     

Behavioral complexity theory: Seven decades and beyond

This paper provides a synopsis of the origins and subsequent development of behavioral complexity theory (BCT). First, the foundational contributions of personal construct theory, conceptual systems theory, and the conceptual complexity theory are described. Second, the diversification of BCT via integrative complexity theory, Strategic Management Simulations, and Metacomplexity Simulations is outlined. Next, the discussion emphasizes the contemporary relevance and importance of BCT, suggests that more scalable assessment and development technologies should be created (especially of integration), and ends by calling for enhanced interaction within the BCT community.     

Ranking of Drivers for Green Manufacturing Implementation Using Fuzzy Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution Method

The governments are under tremendous pressure to sustain high manufacturing growth in emerging economies. Unfortunately, the manufacturing sector consumes much energy and other resources and emits a large amount of green house gases, which increases environmental problems such as climate change and global warming. One possible solution to this problem is green manufacturing (GM) implementation in industry. However, GM implementation faces many challenges. Various motivating factors named as ‘drivers’ should be facilitated by the government and industry to make this change possible. This paper investigates the drivers for GM implementation and their ranking based on fuzzy technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution method using government, industry and experts perspectives. The study concluded that competitiveness, incentives, organizational resources and technology are top ranked drivers and should be facilitated by the government and industry to help implement GM. The ranking of these drivers is expected to help the government and industry to focus on few important drivers to facilitate the GM implementation with limited resources. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On Quine’s Philosophy of Mind

Philosophia - In this paper, I offer a systematic account of Quine’s philosophy of mind. In doing so, I respond to an interpretive problem of reconciling Quine’s admission of...