January 2012
Interpretive and critical research: Methodological blasphemy!
Critical and interpretive research styles are often qualitative and more subjective than statistically-based positive techniques. As such, critical and interpretive methodologies are less highly regarded by the academic establishment and are often relegated to the footnotes of postgraduate courses. After all, is there really a need to train prospective accountants and managements in ‘softer skills’?...
January 2012
Organization theory and poetry: A not so elusive link
Since the times of Western modernity, knowledge is compartmentalized as different fields. This has however, not mitigated the influence of natural science model of theorizing on social sciences. As a result the discipline of organization theory has grown without the influence of abstract, ephemeral and metaphysical fields such as; religion, history, mystic philosophy, arts and literature. With the rise of organizational...
January 2012
Life-time portfolio selection model
In the field of financial economics, many researchers have developed optimal portfolio selection models. Unfortunately, those models cannot be implemented directly by investors since the coefficient of risk aversion is an exogenous variable. However, even if investors have no idea about their attitudes toward risk, investors might specify a maximum probability of failing to reach a specific portfolio threshold....
January 2012
Spheres of responsibilities: An assessment of community assistance issues in Ghanaian mining communities
Business assistance to communities remains an important component of corporate social responsibility (CSR) because the notion we carry today is that, being a responsible corporate citizen means participating as an active member of the community in which they do business. However, the concept of community assistance confronts difficult balances and demands a lot of tactfulness and moral judgement. The article talk about...
January 2012
The survival conditions of SMEs in Guangdong Province of China: An empirical research under the global economic crisis
This study makes a detailed analysis of the survival conditions of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), based on a sample of 403778 domestic and 28446 foreign owned new-registered SMEs founded during the period from 2000 to 2009 in Guangdong province of China. By adopting the accelerated failure time model, this study confirms that various disadvantage factors emerging in 2008, especially the global economic crisis,...
January 2012
Institutional investors and corporate value: An emerging market scenario
Nowadays, the institutional investors play more and more important roles in the financial market. Institutional investors have substantially grown matured markets globally in the last two decades parallel with the increase in their impact. They seek to own large proportions of equities; as a result they have become influential on the performance of companies in which they invest. The aim of this study is to create the...
January 2012
Regulation, forecast errors and corporate governance: Evidence from Taiwan
This paper examines the relation between the regulatory threshold on mandatory disclosure of financial forecasts and the detachment of control rights from the cash flow rights of controlling shareholders. Using data for 2,628 forecasts issued by Taiwanese listed corporations, where the ownership structure is analogous to that of most East Asian countries, we find that the firms’ initial earnings forecasts tend to...
January 2012
Optimal production policy with investment on imperfect production processes
The imperfect production processes always result in imperfect products and decrease the profit of the business. Improving the production processes by increasing the investment cost will decrease the percentage of defective items. The trade-off between the investment cost and the marginal improvement on products is a key problem. In this study, we develop an EPQ model of deteriorating items with investment on imperfect...
January 2012
The ageing pilgrimage tourist: Role of local accessible tourism development
The proportion of people aged over 60 years is growing faster than any other age group because of both longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates. However, research has rarely considered the associations between pilgrimage tourism, companionship with friends, neighbours and family, and ageing persons’ psychological health. This article proposes meaningful strategies, based on a survey of 690 valid...
January 2012
Understanding resistance to cell phone banking adoption through the application of the technology acceptance model (TAM)
The resistance to the adoption of cell phone banking poses a challenge to managers in banks. Previous research on the adoption of cell phone banking did not examine how the barriers to the adoption of technology influence the behaviour of clients. This article observes how the barriers of technology adoption influence perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The population of the study reported in this article...
January 2012
Effect of sales promotion on consumer behavior based on culture
Sales promotions have become a vital tool for marketers and its importance has been increasing significantly over the years. Studies that strive to understand the impact of sales promotions on consumers’ behavior are very important. As well as culture has profound implications on the psyche of the consumers’ behavior, adaptation to cultural values leads to marketing effectiveness. So to this study,...
January 2012
Mediating effect of constructive controversy: Team personality composition and team performance
The purpose of this study is to find out the effectiveness of team personality design over team performance. Team performance is also affected by the relationship of team members on how they help other members to do their work. With extensive data support, the significance of this relationship was discussed. Evaluation of the results explains that there is a positive relationship among team personality design,...
January 2012
Self-leadership: The way forward for African managers?
Upon examination of African history, changes, controversial issues, new directions and difficulties are typical life events that every person in Africa should adapt to. Self-leadership among African leaders is one method of coping with difficult circumstances. A comprehensive leadership contingency model is described. In this model, important leadership approaches are described, and the application possibilities and...
January 2012
Inter-organizational Learning: A study of small-firm networks in Southern Brazil
This article intends to deepen the understanding about the factors that moderate the learning in horizontal small-firm networks (SFNs). Through a qualitative study with interpretative epistemological approach, in-depth interviews were made with eight entrepreneurs of SFNs in Southern Brazil. The results show that the effective participation of the entrepreneurs in network activities is essential for the learning to take...
January 2012
Assessing service quality, satisfaction, and performance on implementing maritime policy in Taiwan
The main purpose of this paper is to assess the relationships among policy service quality, policy satisfaction, and policy performance after Taiwan government’s implementation of maritime policy. We use some statistical tools through descriptive statistics, factor analysis, and hypothesis testing of regression analysis to investigate this issue. The main results show that: policy service quality has positive...
January 2012
Does inclusion or exclusion from the IBEX 35 affect stock performance?
There is no agreement on the possible abnormal returns of stocks included or delisted from the stock exchange indexes. The existence of positive returns for inclusions and negative for exclusions has been found in some research, but others deny it. In the Spanish case, most studies have shown this trend, but they might be obsolete as they are too old and focus in the years before financial crisis started. This paper...
January 2012
Quality assurance policy frameworks and mechanisms in former technikons
Opportunities to study and explain the quality assurance policy framework and mechanisms in former technikons in response to the growth in programme re-accreditation have become an isolated territory. Conceptually, this was a legacy study looking at the extent to which quality structures and practices were already entrenched in Universities of Technology as a result of their association with a prior QA regime under...
January 2012
Post hoc segmentation combining conjoint analysis and a two-stage cluster analysis
Tourism contributes to GDP and employment; therefore, several countries manage tourism resources using an R&D + I strategy (research and development of innovative methodologies). Thus, market segmentation adjusts tourism offer to consumers’ needs/preferences. Post hoc segmentation strategy has important advantages over a priori segmentation, allowing better adjustment of supply to tourists’ preferences....
January 2012
Compulsory insurance for dwellings in Romania between mitigating the impacts of natural disasters and giving rise to social inequities
Over the time, the whole Europe was affected by disasters, to a greater or lesser extent; therefore, each country tried to mitigate the impact of disasters adopting different protection systems. Most parts of the European countries faced difficulties adapting to climate change. Nevertheless, Romania is the only country in Europe which has recently adopted a compulsory insurance for dwellings against natural disasters,...
January 2012
Economic benefits of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption in Romania: Has the cost of equity capital decreased?
The purpose of this paper is to identify a possible economic benefit of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption in Romania. Among the economic benefits of their adoption, the IFRSs increase transparency, diminish information asymmetry and risk and consequently reduce the cost of capital. In order to determine whether the cost of equity capital decreased as a result of IFRS adoption in Romania, we...
January 2012
Fuzzy multi-criteria decision making method for facility location selection
Facility location selection is a multi-criteria decision problem and has a strategic importance for many companies. The aim of this study is to propose a fuzzy approach for facility location selection. This paper is based on a fuzzy extension of the technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) method. In this method, the ratings of various alternatives versus various subjective criteria and...
January 2012
A knowledge network production: Ten years of information security research
This study explores and maps the intellectual structure of information security studies from 1998 to 2007, by analyzing 3059 cited references of 223 articles from information security in ssci and sci databases, bibliometric, multivariate analysis and social network analysis techniques used to map the important publications and most influential scholars, as well as the correlations between publications through analysis...
January 2012
Exploring branding associations in festival branding
Arts festivals in South Africa are growing tremendously and it has become more important for these types of tourism products to position themselves competitively. Branding plays a major role in positioning and the associations made with the brand. It is necessary to understand these associations as well as factors influencing the associations. Therefore, the purpose of this research is to explore brand associations in...
January 2012
Re-investigating the effect of individual determinant, external factor and firm characteristics on small firm performance during economic downturn
There have been inconsistencies with regard to the different entrepreneurial factors that influenced firm performance, particularly in normal time. However, during economic downturn or turbulence, it is believed and expected that the three major characters (entrepreneur, environment and firm) in the economy that are actively involved in entrepreneurial activities would be badly and negatively affected. Despite this, an...
January 2012
Feasibility assessment of investments in waste incineration facilities: Case study of Bucharest-Ilfov region
The regulators of the waste management sector should pay close attention to the investments made in the field. In addition to environmental impacts, economic analysis can provide policy makers with valuable information for proper decision. Taking into account this requirement, the aim of the present paper is to evaluate the economic efficiency of an incinerator with energy recovery investment, located in Bucharest-Ilfov...
January 2012
Have gender differences in job satisfaction disappeared? A study of Turkish universities in North Cyprus
The main purpose of this study is to provide empirical evidence to establish whether gender differences exists in relation to the job satisfaction of male and female university teachers in Turkish universities in North Cyprus. The study will also demonstrate whether gender is a reliable predictor of their job satisfaction. The study instrument used was the short form Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) which...
January 2012
Analysis and evaluation of alumni’s entrepreneurial potential: A comparative study of public and private universities of Tehran
Regarding the important role of universities in entrepreneurship education (as the economic development engine) and their changing role, in this study the capabilities of both public and private universities for entrepreneurial education across the city of Tehran are compared by a survey study. A questionnaire designed for measuring the entrepreneurship potential (EP) (defined as the extent of knowledge, attitudes and...
January 2012
Islamic house financing: Comparison between Bai’ Bithamin Ajil (BBA) and Musharakah Mutanaqisah (MM)
Bai’ Bithaman Ajil (BBA) house financing concept was introduced in Malaysia by Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) upon its establishment in 1984. The product is an alternative to the conventional housing loan offered by most conventional banks as it is said to be Shari’ah compliant and free from the elements of riba’, gharar and maisir. Since its introduction, many views, studies and comments have been...
January 2012
Exploring the link between Kirkpatrick (KP) and context, input, process and product (CIPP) training evaluation models, and its effect on training evaluation in public organizations of Pakistan
In the awake of performance gap detected in public organizations of Pakistan, this paper proposes a training evaluation framework to ensure training transfer. This study is based on theoretical perspective of literature review and finds a link between Kirkpatrick (KP) and context, input, process and product (CIPP) training evaluation models to enhance efficacy of training in Pakistan. This study reiterates that...
January 2012
Impact of human capital on economic growth with emphasis on intermediary role of technology: Time series evidence from Pakistan
This study examines the impact of education sector of Pakistan on economic growth for the recent data. We have taken technology as dynamic variable, instead of taking it as exogenous to study the impact of human capital on economic growth through technology. So, impact of human capital is studied in detail with technology, both as exogenous and endogenously taken into account. Johansen co-integration test establishes a...
January 2012
Innovation in services: Cases of Brazilian manufacturing industries
The service sector is currently being transformed in the face of economic, technological and social change and is expanding its markets and increasing the complexity of its activities. Innovation process in services is new in academic literature and is still largely debated. The goal of this study is to analyze the service innovation process in two large manufacturing industries, associating the service innovation...
January 2012
A gap analysis of service expectations and perceptions in private general practice
Customer satisfaction is an issue of special importance to any business wanting to be competitive in the market place. Ensuring this requires among other things a good understanding of what drives customer satisfaction as well as measuring how one is doing as a service provider in those important areas. This study aimed at investigating private general practice patients’ service quality expectations and...
January 2012
Managing supplier relationships to improve public procurement performance
The study sought to determine the strategies of managing supplier relationships that engender value for money in public procurement. An extensive literature study was conducted to examine the key converging and diverging views of different authors in terms of supplier relationship management strategies and trends in public procurement. The study revealed that long term relationships with few suppliers are the best way...
January 2012
A comparative analysis of major enterprise resource planning (ERP), SAP financials lifecycle implementation, management and support issues in manufacturing organizations around Chennai City
This paper reports on a study on enterprise resource planning (ERP) life cycle, major issues from the perspectives of individuals with substantial and diverse involvement with SAP financials in manufacturing organizations around Chennai City. A survey was conducted on 117 ERP system project participants in five closely related manufacturing organizations. A modified Delphi technique identified, rationalized...
January 2012
Impact of human resource practices on employee perceived performance in banking sector of Pakistan
The main endeavor of this study is to examine the relationship and nature of relationship between the employee perceived performance and human resource (HR) practices (compensation, performance evaluation, and promotion practices) in the banking sector of Pakistan. Survey of 235 banking personnel was conducted through personally administrated questionnaire to investigate the impact of HR practices on employees’...
January 2012
Joint determination of lot-size and shipment policy for a vendor-buyer system with rework and an improving delivery plan
This paper studies a vendor-buyer integrated system with rework and an improving delivery policy for lowering both vendor and buyer’s stock holding costs. The objective is to derive the optimal production lot size and number of deliveries that minimizes total costs for the proposed vendor-buyer integrated system. This study extends the work of Chiu et al. (2011) by incorporating an improving n+1 shipment policy...
January 2012
Designing model of human resources empowerment in Iran's Ministry of Interiors
Human force is the most valuable factor among the factors of production (land, technology and capital). Given that human resources have a key role in empowerment, this study was aimed to determine causal model of human resources empowerment in Iran's ministry of interiors which is carried out in 2011. This is applied study and its methodology is correlation. The statistical population...
January 2012
The single-allocation hierarchical hub median location problem with fuzzy demands
Although, many papers have appeared in the literature of hub location problem, most of them deal with the problem in a crisp environment. In this paper, the single-allocation hierarchical hub median problem (SA-H-MP) with fuzzy demands is addressed. The structure of the model is derived from Yaman (2009) and consists of a three-level network of demand nodes, non-central hubs, and central hubs. It has been assumed that...
January 2012
The evaluation of the market share of an insurance company: An econometric approach
The society development involved the increased effort and endeavor of humans to protect and to defend their properties against undesirable events. Considering that whatever the care given by people to protect property, some events cannot be avoided and loss of profit can occur. For those reasons the insurance concept had been developed as a way of protection of people against the hazardous events and the history of...
January 2012
The influence of entrepreneurial orientation on technology commercialization: The moderating roles of technological turbulence and integration
Commercialization of new technologies within the new product development process helps firms streamline production, increase efficiency and revitalize industries. Technological entrepreneurs, as technology adopters and developers, play an important role in initiating, developing and commercializing the technologies in several fields. Accordingly, cultivating entrepreneurial orientation to enable such a technology...
January 2012
Super-leadership: An approach to maximize idea generation and creative potential for creative culture
This paper investigates the relationship between super-leadership and creative culture. As creativity needs self-regulated competencies and skills, a model based on certain dimensions of super-leadership behaviour that affects creative culture in organization was tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). To investigate this issue, 132 employees, working in the different departments from 24 leading TV channels,...
January 2012
A three-dimensional searched-based algorithm for an imperfect production System
This paper deals with the production and inventory problems under partial backlogging, trade credit and reworking of imperfect quality items. The objective is to determine the optimal production lot size and maximum backlogging level simultaneously while still minimizing the total cost. The problem is modeled as a four-branch function with dual variables. A three-dimensional searched-based algorithm was developed to...
January 2012
The impact of areas of multiple intelligence on entrepreneurial behavior
This study examines the formation of entrepreneurial behavior through areas of multiple intelligence. The problem addressed by this research is, “do the multiple intelligence skills of entrepreneurs have any impact on their entrepreneurial ideas?” A quantitative research method was employed in this study. The universe of this study is comprised of 880 SME (Small and Medium Size Enterprises) owners operating...
January 2012
Investments in dairy farms enlargement in Serbia: A tool for poverty reduction in rural areas
Production is one of the most important economic activities in Serbian rural areas, which faces significant problems regarding unemployment and poverty. To increase income and employment, family farms have to enlarge dairy operations, modernize production process, buildings and equipment. The goal of this paper is to determine economic effectiveness of investments in two possible dairy farm developing models. It was...
January 2012
The use of institutional measures for business ethics implementation in family and non-family businesses: Does a family matter?
The case study research methodology in combination with quantitative methods was applied to explore the influence of a family on the emergence and presence of informal and formal institutional measures of business ethics implementation. For the empirical testing, we have selected Slovenia, one of the most developed European post socialist transition countries. Our research reveals that the role modeling is presented to...
January 2012
A study of the optimal competitiveness management model for the semiconductor manufacturing supply chain
In recent years, as the Integrated Device Manufacturers (IDM) outsource different manufacturing processes to Integrated circuit (IC), Original equipment manufacturing (OEMs), also since many IC design companies are set up, professional OEMs of semiconductor industry in Taiwan are developed rapidly, thus, a complete manufacturing supply chain is created. Therefore, semiconductor suppliers’ (IDM or IC design...
January 2012
FIFA World Cup 2010: Implications for and effects on the entrepreneurial performance of South Africa’s informal sector
It is well established that so called ‘mega events’ have a marked impact on the socio-economic trajectory of a host nation. Research on the merits of mega- events is fairly substantial, and indeed, derived implications for entrepreneurship in a host country are a recurring theme. Yet, little has been done to investigate the potential impact of these events on the entrepreneurial performance of the informal...
January 2012
Comparison of the REMBRANDT system with the Wang and Elhag approach: A practical example of the rank reversal problem
Analytic hierarchy process (AHP) has been considerably criticized for possible rank reversal phenomenon caused by: i, when new alternatives are added or old ones deleted; and ii, when new criteria are added or old ones deleted with the caveat that the priorities of alternatives would be tied under these criteria and hence argued that the criteria should be irrelevant when ranking the alternatives. While in many cases...
January 2012
Information security and mutual trust as determining factors for information technology outsourcing success
Information security and mutual trust have been the major stumbling blocks in the adoption of information technology outsourcing (ITO), clients were skeptical about possibilities of ITO as a mean of bridging the gap between information technology (IT) and business community. This development had made it difficult for ITO to be practiced in isolation. Business transaction is done between two or more interested...
Advertisement
Advertisement
