The Business Review

The primary goal of the journal will be to provide opportunities for business related academicians and professionals from various business related fields in a global realm to publish their paper in one source. The journal will bring together academicians and professionals from all areas related business fields and related fields to interact with members inside and outside their own particular disciplines. The journal will provide opportunities for publishing researcher's paper as well as providing opportunities to view other's work. All submissions are subject to a double blind peer review process. The journal is a refereed academic journal which publishes the scientific research findings in its field with the ISSN 1553-5827 issued by the Library of Congress, Washington, DC. No Manuscript Will Be Accepted Without the Required Format. All Manuscripts Should Be Professionally Proofread Before the Submission. You can use www.editavenue.com for professional proofreading / editing etc...The journal will meet the quality and integrity requirements of applicable accreditation agencies (AACSB, regional) and journal evaluation organizations to insure our publications provide our authors publication venues that are recognized by their institutions for academic advancement and academically qualified statue.

The journal is published two times a year, December and Summer. The e-mail: jaabc1@aol.com; Website: BRC Requests for subscriptions, back issues, and changes of address, as well as advertising can be made via our e-mail address.. Manuscripts and other materials of an editorial nature should be directed to the Journal's e-mail address above.

Business Opportunities Arising from Smart Grid Virtual Power Plants

Dr. David Wright, Professor, Telfer School of Management, University of Ottawa, Canada

ABSTRACT

Virtual power plants are a major component in the smart grid for balancing supply and demand for electric power. They consist of distributed energy resources for increasing supply, demand side management for reducing demand at critical times, and electric vehicle batteries as a buffer between supply and demand. The electric power industry is projected to spend $180bn on the smart grid over the next ten years and government stimulus funding and environmental subsidies for renewable power are also available. This paper identifies business opportunities arising from deployment of virtual power plants and classifies them into seven types. The generation, transmission and distribution of electric power is a highly capital intensive operation in which business and residential customers expect power immediately they demand service. Customer demand varies throughout the day, week and year, resulting in peaks in demand that sometimes strain the capacity of the grid. Capacity can be expanded at additional capital cost, or alternatively the grid can be made “smart” so as to match supply and demand. McGowan (2008) estimates that in North America, the cost of meeting demand by increasing capacity will be $900bn over the next ten years, whereas the cost of a “smart” grid is $180bn. That is a capital saving of $720bn to the electric power industry and a revenue opportunity of $180bn for those who contribute to building and operating the smart grid. In addition, $7bn of government stimulus funding is available for smart grid projects in USA. Environmental legislation also provides subsidies for smart grid projects that reduce carbon emissions.

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Motives and Consequences of Investment Decisions: Evidence from Factual Movie Projects

Dr. Wayne J. McMullen, Pennsylvania State University, PA

Dr. Raj Varma, University of Delaware, Newark, DE

ABSTRACT

Despite much theoretical work on how managers make project choices, empirical studies on capital projects remains largely restricted to the firm-level as data is typically only available for the entire portfolio of the firm’s projects rather than a specific project. Our analysis of factual projects in the movie industry indicates that that these projects are selected by powerful managers and provide managers with substantial private benefits from prestige. Our results are consistent with explanations wherein projects are purposefully chosen to match with managerial motives. Investment policy or decisions concerning the kind of projects in which a firm should invest its cash, are widely recognized as one of the most important financial decisions made by the firm’s CEO. A considerable body of research has evolved on project-specific theories on investment decisions. See, for example, Stein (2003) for an extensive review of theoretical research on investment policy decisions. Yet, empirical evidence on investment policy remains limited to the firm-level as data is typically only available at the aggregate-level for the entire portfolio of the firm’s projects. In this paper, we empirically examine the effect of individual projects on firm performance by examining investment policy decisions in the motion picture industry. Specifically, we examine factual movies which are based on a true story and compare these to fictional movie projects based fictional characters.

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Market Integrity, Market Efficiency, Market Accuracy

Dr. Donald Margotta, Northeastern University, Boston, MA

ABSTRACT

Market integrity, market efficiency, and market accuracy are related, but distinctly different concepts which are often misunderstood or misused in public policy debates, especially with regard to corporate takeovers and corporate governance issues. This paper discusses the differences in these terms. It also attempts to clarify and differentiate them and thereby help inform the often heated debate over what these terms mean. Examples are discussed which demonstrate how misuse or misunderstanding of these terms can affect corporate decision making and public policy related to corporate governance issues and hostile takeovers. Market integrity is a legal concept with a long history in securities law. The U.S. Securities Acts of 1933 and 1934 and the 1968 Williams Act were enacted primarily to promote market integrity, with an emphasis on disclosure as the key mechanism to achieve that goal. Market efficiency, in contrast, is a more recently developed finance concept, with its modern usage dating from about 1970. Although more recently developed, and although extensively researched in the modern finance literature, it is nevertheless often debated and often misunderstood. Market accuracy is a separate concept from both market integrity and market efficiency. It is an infrequently used term and an elusive concept, but market accuracy is what public policy makers and investors most seek in public securities markets. Market integrity exists when stock prices are set in a market free from misinformation. It is a widely used concept in the legal literature and is discussed here primarily to serve as a point of reference and contrast for the remainder of the paper, which focuses more on the relationship between market efficiency and market accuracy.

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Ten Common Misconceptions About Implementing Continuous Improvement Efforts in Health Care Organizations

Dr. Stewart L. Tubbs, Eastern Michigan University, MI

Brock Husby, The University of Michigan, MI

Laurie Jensen, Henry Ford Health System, MI

ABSTRACT

Modern health care organizations are under tremendous pressures to improve value. This paper discusses the ten most common myths about implementing continuous improvement efforts in health care organizations. Recommendations for alternative methodologies are included. In 2010, Toyota experienced, what one source called, "The worst crisis in its history." (Welch, Naughton and Helm, 2010), p. 38. This case dramatically illustrate the complexity and difficulty of successfully implementing continuous improvements in organizations. (Gardner, 2010; Gardner and Hyde, 2010; Hyde, 2010A; Hyde, 2010B; Linebaugh, Searcey and Shirouzu, 2010; Philips, 2010; Welch, 2010). Toyota's methods have long been considered the gold standard for such activities. So, "...no one could have predicted that Toyota, the company that invented kaizen, or continuous improvement, would flame out over quality."(Welch, Naughton and Helm, 2010), p. 40. The accusations being levied against Toyota demonstrate a clear example of Toyota leadership diverging from their own principles and therefore can actually be viewed as validating of the Toyota Production System, rather than discrediting it. Given the fine work accomplished by millions of dedicated health care workers throughout the country, one might reasonably ask, why is it even necessary to have continuous improvement efforts in health care organizations? According to Dr. Craig Feid, emergency medicine specialist at Washington (D.C.) Hospital Center, "...over 98,000 patients die from causes other than what brought them into the hospital...Wrong diagnoses (the result of carelessness, hubris or cognitive bias); medication errors (based, far too often, on sloppy handwriting); technical complications (reading an x-ray backward, for instance); and bacterial infections (the deadliest and most pervasive problem). " (Quoted in Leavitt and Dubner, 2009), p. 68-69.

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The Concept of Internationalization and its Relevance to Small and Medium Service Enterprises (SMSEs)

Dr. John Stanton, University of Western Sydney, Parramatta, Australia

Dr. Patricia Stanton, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia

ABSTRACT

This paper challenges the narrow concept of internationalization widely used by international business researchers, that potentially excludes a growing array of different types of SMSEs that have the potential to become involved in the international exchange process. After reviewing the growing scope for different forms of international services exchange and how this tends to not be reflected in measurement, the paper proposes a widened and more dynamic view of the internationalization process SMSEs may pursue. The core argument is that a restricted view of the internationalization process underestimates services involved in this process and neglects opportunities for encouraging SMSEs to internationalize. This paper challenges a narrow approach used by international business researchers in studies of the internationalization process, an approach that potentially excludes a growing array of different types of SMSE firms that have the potential to become involved in the international exchange process. Examination of relevant research is used to identify research gaps pertaining to services varying widely both in their tangibility characteristics and in their mode of international supply. Following Gronroos (1999, p.203), there is an underlying premise that “the type of service will affect the degree to which internationalization is possible”. Rather than a restriction, this paper argues that ongoing changes in the global regulatory and technological environment are changing the types of services in which internationalization is possible, expanding opportunities for SMSEs.

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Does Firm Size Matter? The Relationship between Firm Level Volatility, GDP Volatility and Capital Structure Decisions for Firms of Different Size Groups

Dr. Deniz Ozenbas, Montclair State University, NJ

Dr. Luis San Vicente Portes, Montclair State University, NJ

ABSTRACT

Recent academic literature shows that the capital structure decisions of the firm depend on the volatility of that firm’s stock prices and its earnings. Additionally, the effect of the performance of real economy and more specifically the effect of economic slowdowns and expansions on such firm level decisions is an important empirical question. In this study we provide an empirical assessment of the effect of higher idiosyncratic risk on that firm’s capital structure decisions and the firm’s borrowing rates, while controlling for the slowdowns and the expansions in the economic cycle. We perform this analysis separately for firms that belong to different size groups (four different quartiles according to market capitalization) since we expect that the effect of any slowdowns would be felt differently for firms of different sizes. We find a statistically significant negative relation between firm risk and debt ratios, and a positive one between firm risk and the cost of external financing. The former effect is stronger during slowdowns than in normal times. These findings are more pronounced for small and medium sized firms which are more likely to face borrowing constraints compared to larger firms. Finally, we pay particular attention to the firms in the financial services industry, and look for any implications for more efficient financial services regulation. As firms face idiosyncratic, industry and aggregate risks, they must determine their capital structure policy. While industry level risk has not exhibited any trend in the recent past, firm-level (idiosyncratic) risk has trended upwards (Campbell et al. 2001).

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Consumer Protection in the Context of Global Financial Market Regulation: The Australian Position

Carlo Soliman, Solicitor, New South Wales, Australia

Phillipa Kerr, Barrister, New South Wales, Australia

ABSTRACT

This research paper examines the effectiveness of consumer protection as a regulatory measure of the Australian financial system in the context of the Financial System Inquiry (‘FSI’). It is postulated that regulation has contributed to the economic stability of the Australian financial system and placed this economy in a strong position to resist the economic fluctuations witnessed during the Global Financial Crisis (‘GFC’) and its aftermath. Recent legislative reforms have resulted in stronger consumer protection laws which continue to build upon and encourage a culture of compliance. It is argued that the use of a single regulator has been effective in the promotion of uniformity and consistency in the application of the law. The Financial System Inquiry (‘FSI’) into the banking and finance industry was the product of three inquiries, (1) which culminated in the Wallis Report in 1997. The objective of the FSI was to facilitate and promote economic efficiency, accountability, transparency and assist business to adapt to change in the financial climate. These aims were achieved by a series of reforms to the regulatory environment which would stimulate economic activity and place the Australian financial system in a strong position to meet the challenges of a globalised world economy. The central aim of financial regulation is to promote an efficient and competitive financial system through effective regulation and the prevention or minimisation of the consequences of market failure. (2)

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Improving Employee’s Organizational Commitment, Self-Efficacy, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior

Through the Implementation of Task-Oriented and Relationship-Oriented Leadership Behavior

Dr. Pieter Sahertian, Kanjuruhan University, Malang, Indonesia

Dr. Budi Eko Soetjipto, State University of Malang, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

This study is aimed at analyzing the effect of the worker perception about the relationhip-oriented and task-oriented leadership behavior by leader or the supervisor on work through organizational commitment and self-efficacy and OCB. Explanatory research is conducted in correlational research. The sample consists of 125 respondents from the workers of PT. Bank Central Asia Tbk. District VII Malang, who are supervisors (SPV) or chief managers (CM). The data were taken from questionnaires and interviews and analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results of the research shows: 1) The leaders tend to apply relationship-oriented and task-oriented leadership, self-efficacy, organizational commitment, and extra-role (OCB) performance. 2) The effect of relationship-oriented and task-oriented leadership behavior on extra role performance (OCB) is not significant. The correlation among those variables changes after the variables are moderated by self-efficacy and organizational variables. 3) The self-efficacy variable mediates the influence of relationship-oriented leadership behavior on extra-role performance (OCB), but task-oriented leadership behavior does not. Organizational commitment mediates task-oriented leadership behavior’s effect on extra-role (OCB) performance, but not its effect on the employment of OCB. The leadership role is one of the most interesting roles in the organization because the leader plays a central role in determining objectives, allocating scarce resources, focusing attention on the goals of the company, coordinating changes in the organization, making personal contacts with the followers, and determining the most appropriate or correct direction to take in case of failure.

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Beliefs About and Attitudes Towards Online Advertising

Dr. V. Aslihan Nasir, Bogazici University, Turkey

Dr. Meltem Ozturan, Professor, Bogazici University, Turkey

Selcuk Kiran, Istanbul Kavram MYO, Turkey

ABSTRACT

With the increased usage of Internet and high penetration of electronic devices, online advertising begin to receive great attention from the business world as well as academic environment. The main purpose of this study is to examine Turkish consumers’ beliefs about online advertising, and investigate the relationship between beliefs about online advertising and attitudes towards online advertising. Secondly, we’ve explored whether there is a relationship between consumers’ attitudes towards online advertising and their behavioral responses. After conducting a factor analysis, it is found that Turkish consumers’ beliefs about online advertising can be grouped under four main dimensions, respectively, functionality, customization, credibility, and controllability. Results of the correlation analyses indicate that attitudes towards online advertising are found to be positively correlated in a statistically significant manner with all four belief factors. It is also discovered that there is a statistically significant positive relationship between Turkish consumers’ attitudes towards online advertising and their behavioral responses. The advances in technology, particularly in digital media, cause a significant growth in the market share of online advertising. It was the only advertising format that didn’t go backwards in 2009, despite the challenging economic conditions that severely influenced almost every advertising market (IAB-Europe, 2010). Online advertising’s virtues of being transparent, innovative, accountable and flexible are among the reasons of its being an attractive ad format even in recession periods (ZenithOptimedia, 2009).

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Tax Incentives to Foster Green Investments Under the Spotlight of State Aids’ Prohibition

Dr. Maria Luisa Fernandez de Soto Blass, University CEU San Pablo, Madrid, Spain

ABSTRACT

The article 107 of the Treaty of Lisbon establishes the elements of State, Autonomous and Local aids: 1.- Assistant´s institution that gives the grant: State, Autonomous Community, City Council 2.- Sources of the State, Autonomous, Local Aids: grants, interest, tax reliefs, tax deductions, guarantees; 3.- Economic profit; 4.- Distorsion of the competition in trade between Member States; 5.- Incompatible with the Common Market; 6.- Recipients´s institution of State, Autonomous, Local Aid: companies and people. In the situation where a regional or local authority adopts, in the exercise of sufficiently autonomous powers in relation to the central power, a tax rate lower than the national rate and which is applicable only to undertakings present in the territory within its competence, the legal framework appropriate to determine the selectivity of a tax measure may be limited to the geographical area concerned where the infra-State body, in particular on account of its status and powers. A company which receives government support obtains an advantage over its competitors. Therefore, The Treaty of Lisbon amending the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty establishing the European Community, signed at 13 December 2007 generally prohibits State Aid, unless it is justified by reasons of general economic development. To ensure that this prohibition is respected and exemptions are applied equally across the European Union, the European Commission is in charge of watching over the compliance of State aid with EU rules (European Commission, 2011):.

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Development of Corporate Governance by Expanding the Corporate Responsibility of EU Member Countries

Dr. Niculae Feleaga, The Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Romania

Dr. Liliana Feleaga, The Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Romania

Dr. Voicu Dan Dragomir, The Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Romania

Abstract

A modern interpretation of corporate governance would not be achieved without considering the various issues of accountability, sustainability and business ethics. In the range of definitions of governance one should also note the following formula: corporate governance is a system of control procedures and equilibrium states, internal and as well as external to any enterprise, which results in discharging corporate responsibilities in relation to various stakeholders, with an impact in all developmental areas of business. The evolution of corporate governance is the consequence of major changes in recent decades in the context of sustainable development, with the aim to improving the quality of life for all people worldwide. Sustainability engages exponential integrated actions in three areas: economic growth and equity, conservation of natural resources and environment and social development. In this paper, we ask the question on how corporate governance can be reformed in a pragmatic, in a context where its growth is significantly influenced by the responsibility of companies, on the axes of social, economic and environmental responsibility. The present research is built on a mixed methodology, using qualitative, comparative and critical tools. On the backdrop of the developments in European economies, which are have been recently faced with the phenomena of economic and financial crises, businesses in many countries are looking for new models of corporate governance. In modern scientific studies aggregating a set of assumptions involving organizational theory, these entities are often considered as a nexus of contracts. In such a conceptual framework of organizations, significant differences are emerging. We are interested in two theoretical models of development: the agency theory, i.e. an approach which is relevant in the context of ownership, and stakeholder theory, which has been extremely successful after being integrated by Edward Freeman into strategic management.

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What Controls the Australian Airspace Ticketing Prices?

Caleb Lye, Singapore Polytechnic

Dr. Simon Lye, Holmesglen Vocational and Higher Education

ABSTRACT

The research documented in this paper shows an analytical technique which is used to study the relationship between the air distances travelled by the Australian airlines and its ticketing prices. The parameters of the problem were selected so as to gain an insight into the effects that occurred within the Australian airspace ticketing pricing system with a thorough understanding of the airspace ticketing fares and the distances between cities of the world. Data was taken from the Australian leading airliners serving the major cities of the world. The regression analysis and measures of association were used where a mathematical model was identified and used for prediction. The Excel’s regression tool was employed to perform all calculations. Good results were achieved using this model. In the past, the air fares only include prices of the tickets and the airport tax. Flying is no longer cheap. Nowadays, the fares paid by most commuters include a number of miscellaneous expenses such as fees paid to air traffic marshals because of threats due to terrorism, rising fuel prices, higher maintenance costs and taxes. The ticketing prices of most airliners are based on some criteria. These may include distances between cities, location where the airline departs, brand of airliners, competitions, types of food and beverages, weights of baggage, etc. The main objective of this research is to find a link between a set of bivariate data such as the airspace ticketing prices in Australia and the distances between cities beginning from Australia. In doing so, this paper will look at formulating a mathematical model [6], [8] that will determine its relationship and the strength of this relationship is assessed so as to determine whether it can be used for future prediction/forecasting. This paper will use a probabilistic model where the relationship was first approximated with a deterministic model, and then a random term is added to measure the error of the deterministic component [8]. Here the regression analysis is utilised where one variable is used to predict on the information of the other variables.

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Strategic Import Tariffs, Managerial Delegation, and Social Welfare in a Quality Differentiated Market

Dr. Ya-Chin Wang, Kun Shan University, Taiwan

ABSTRACT

This paper explores motivations for an importing country imposing discriminatory or uniform tariffs on quality differentiated imports. The purpose is to examine how the import policy and quality choice respond to managerial incentive in turn. In comparison to free trade, both interventions increase average quality and consumer surplus by a greater amount than the decrease in tariff revenues; accordingly, it increases the domestic welfare. The highest welfare is obtained by practicing a discriminatory tariff, where a high-quality firm pays zero-tariff and a low-quality firm gets quality subsidy. This result brings meaningful support to the WTO initiative for tariff elimination. According to the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) World Trade Report 2009, the value of world merchandise trade totaled approximately $32 trillion in 2008, a 52 percent growing from 2003. Although merchandise trade is decline about 10 percent in 2009 because of the global financial crisis, the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) World Economic Outlook (2009) predicts that international trade will increase 2.7 percent in 2010. In international trade theory, import protection and export competition have always attracted considerable attention by less-developed country (LDC) and developed country (DC). Zhou et al. (2002) explored strategic trade policy and welfare maximizing incentives towards investment in the quality of exports by a LDC and a DC. Toshimitsu and Jinji (2007, 2008) further indicated that social welfare and the appropriate strategic trade policy depends on the form of market competition and the assumptions of marginal production costs. In the aforementioned papers, firms have been treated as simple profit-maximizing entities. However, in viewing the separation of ownership and management that prevails in most modern managerial enterprises, the owner seeks to maximize profit, but the manager may be more concerned with performance, market share, or revenues rather than profits only.

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Knowledge workers in Croatian Companies

Dr. Danica Bakotic, University of Split, Faculty of Economics, Croatia

ABSTRACT

Knowledge workers are generators of company’s growth and development. Most knowledge workers have spent their lifetime as all other employees who have a job, receive a salary, and could be fired. However, unlike other workers, knowledge workers are the owners of the resource, which is their knowledge. Leaving the company, industrial workers leave machines and equipment, but when knowledge workers leave the company they take the most precious resource, the knowledge. So, the key investment of today's companies is not investing in facilities, equipment and devices, but in knowledge or knowledge workers, because without them, no matter how sophisticated and advanced technology company has, it will not be effective and efficient. Knowledge workers and company they work for are interdependent. It is extremely important that knowledge workers understand what the company in which they work expects from them. But the company must know the needs, requirements and expectations of knowledge workers as well. Specifically, the company provides knowledge workers with resources (Alverson, 2000). Only knowledge without organizational support and resources is worthless. On the other hand, company depends on knowledge workers, precisely on their ability to synthesize theoretical and empirical knowledge and to apply it to design adequate solutions. In this sense, company must meet the aspirations and expectations of knowledge workers. This should result in knowledge workers being dedicated to the achievement of company's objectives. In this context, it is extremely important to stress the role of management, whose primary objective is to make knowledge workers productive.

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Ecosystem’s Analysis Using Econometric Techniques

Assoc. Prof. Giani Gradinaru, Academy of Economic Studies, Bucharest, Romania

ABSTRACT

The economic approach to nature has its origins in a number of theories developed since the eighteenth century. By contrast, the notion of ecosystem services is of relatively recent origin, close to the beginning of coherent environmental concerns, namely the 1970s. In order to analyze the evolution of structural-qualitative characteristics of environmental elements in Romania, data were organized using the pressure-state-response conceptual framework. By applying econometric models of simple and multiple regression, models for error correction, VAR model (vector auto-regression) there were studied 20 statistical linkages. Using the constructed econometric models, ecosystem degradation rates are developed. Information provided by degradation rates regard the behavior of result variable than the cause variables are modified, thereby showing the direction and size of the modification for the result variable. There are analyzed air quality degradation rates, soil quality degradation rates and biodiversity degradation rates. The concept of ecosystem services is of relatively recent history, as originally proposed in the form of environmental services. Its rationale is the need to create a conceptual link between ecosystems and the human welfare state that allows quantitative expression of the value of ecosystems and the change propagation mechanism. This link has been reported long ago by the renowned naturalists and ecologists such as George Perkins Marsh, Aldo Leopold, Fairfield Osborn and Paul Sears. In general, natural sciences and environmental signals about the state of society and suggests that essential elements of life in general, and thus human life, are dependent on proper functioning of the components of nature. The Economic approach to nature has its origins in a number of theories developed since the eighteenth century.

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Strategic Decision Making: Empirical Findings from Croatia

Dr. Ivana Pavic, University of Split, Croatia

ABSTRACT

A path one business organization will take, and where that path will lead, depends on a broad range of decisions made by managers in the managerial structure of an organization. Of course, the importance of all managerial decisions is not the same. Strategic decision making is a key organizational process, and strategic decisions are the most important decisions made in an organization. They deal with high-stake problems, and whose solutions have long-term implications. They target business areas essential for organizational growth, prosperity, and survival. Therefore, it is not surprising that there is a growing interest in this topic among researchers all over the world. The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of strategic decision making by describing its main characteristics in a different context, namely in Croatia. After the list of twelve successfully implemented strategic decisions is created, the importance of different phases in decision making process, the level of decision making decentralization, decision makers’ attitude toward risk, and their tendency toward the use of decision making techniques and methods has been analyzed. Based on research results this paper reports the following empirical findings: in cases of successfully implemented strategic decisions the most important decision phase is intelligence phase; lower levels decision makers are participating, in greater or lesser extent, in the activities during all decision making phases; women have greater propensity towards risk when making decisions than men; decision makers use different kind of decision making techniques and methods.

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Which colour is better? The Influence of Website Photo Colour on Consumer: The Incongruity Viewpoint

Dr. Shao-Cheng Cheng, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan

Yu-Huan Kao, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan

ABSTRACT

Colours have been existed in the human world for ages. Many marketing scholars research the influence of colours on consumers. The recent rise of the Internet to bring E-Commerce changes the traditional shopping model. More and more consumers purchase travel products online. However, the researches about the colours of the copywriting on the travel websites are limited and there is no research applying the congruity theory to explore. Therefore, this study tends to apply the congruity theory to understand the influence of different colours on the travel websites on consumers. Within this research, we conducted the survey through advertising scenarios formed 2 x 2 experimental grids (beach and city; cold and warm colour). Result shows that under the tourism website’s advertising, the incongruity theory is statistically unsupported. Which indicated that the advertising effectiveness and consumption willingness is better when the ad’s subject and its trait of colour are in congruity than in incongruity. Finally, the academic and managerial implications of the study for global product advertising are discussed. The human eye is the only sensory organ that can receive information almost simultaneously as the material is presented; visual perception is the only method that can be used to distinguish among the vast array of colours in life. Since human judgment and acceptance of goods often rely on visual experience, the use of colours assigned to products is often regarded as one of the most important aspects in marketing. Consumers’ preference of colours will likely affect their purchase decisions (Geboy, 1996; Grossman and Wisenblit, 1999).

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Integrated Marketing: Success Story of Crystal Gallery

Dr. K. Prakash Vel, University of Wollongong in Dubai

Usha Ramesh Goplani, University of Wollongong in Dubai

Tehzun Sura, University of Wollongong in Dubai

ABSTRACT

The choice of a well planned integrated marketing strategy becomes vital for the success of an organisation. This paper is a case study based description of how Crystal Gallery, a company manufacturing crystal products with eighteen years history in the UAE and rest of the world understood the customer expectations and used integrated marketing to structure the marketing efforts revolving around the customer’s needs. The company is a market leader in the industry. With changing times, the areas of trade and commerce have witnessed a rise from the point it was first introduced. There has been a shift from a manufacturer focused market to a consumer focused market these days. As a result, one of the most important functions in an organization today is the ‘Marketing’ function. As opposed to the other business functions such as finance or accounting which deal with the figures and amount of wealth generated by the investors, marketing emphasizes on how to attract and retain more and more customers as well as consumers, which in the long term means huge returns. Corporate vision is an essential investment for a long term strategic marketing thinking. It is important for organizations to understand the customer expectations as well as structure the marketing efforts revolving around the customer’s needs. It is essential to be an integrated marketer in terms of effective product management, being a value pricer, a focused distributor, a targeted communicator, a carefully thought out administrator and a non-myopic marketer to the end users.

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Critical Success Factors in Russian Industrial R&D Projects

Vladislav Andreev, Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, RF

Abstract

The paper is devoted to improving the commercial performance of innovations in the real economy in Russia. The paper defines basic criteria of efficiency of R&D projects and establishes critical factors of the innovative environment that determine the success of new product development. It also proposes logistic regression models with high forecasting accuracy for assessing the probability of commercial success of industrial innovations, taking into account the specific features of large enterprises and SMEs. Application of mathematical models is appropriate when R&D projects are selected and when forming project portfolios. Despite the intensification of government support measures and the widespread opinion that the return on investments in innovations is high, the majority of Russian businesspeople are not ready to invest in R&D projects. This hesitancy makes identifying the factors that promote and hinder commercial success in new product development (NPD) in Russia difficult. The high level of creativity of Russian innovators is demonstrated at competitions and exhibitions, but new ideas attract very little investment, and innovation’s effect on firm performance as a whole remains low. The lack of tools for objective and validated analysis of the commercial potential of innovations delays their development in Russia, since it is easier for businesspeople to raise money using familiar methods than to venture on an untraveled road. Still, the opportunity to maximize profit attracts capital investment, so identifying the success factors for new product development will facilitate the development of the innovative sector of the Russian economy.

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Profitability of Technical Analysis Indicators: A Study of an Adjustable Technical Indicator, ABZ', on the Malaysian Futures Markets

Dr. Noor Azlinna Azizan, University Malaysia Pahang, Pahang, Malaysia

Dr. Ibrahim Mohamed, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Jacinta Chan Phooi M'ng, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

This paper presents empirical evidence of the usefulness of technical indicators like moving average and standard deviation to generate powerful trading signals that result in net abnormal returns after after taking into transaction costs. It studies futures markets on Malaysia's stock index futures (FKLI), Malaysia's Crude Palm Oil Futures (FCPO), Korea's stock index futures (KOSPI), Singapore's stock index futures (SiMSCI), Soyoil and Corn Futures. This study presents evidence of abnormal returns for these futures. In particular, it shows a profitability of 316 index points for FKLI compared to a buy-and-hold policy of -562 index points in 2008 using a new adjustable technical indicator called Adjustable Bands Z-Test-Statistics (ABZ'). Markets generally exist in 2 conditions: trending and ranging. One of the most baffling things that confronts market technicians daily is the critical definition when market is ranging and when the market is trending. Applying a trending algorithm to a ranging market will result in whipsaws (false entry signals) that yield losses. To avoid some of these false entry signals, this study proposes to vary moving average and standard deviation bands to avoid some of these false entry whipsaws and yet capture a new trend early. Findings from this research interest market investors worldwide, especially the professional model trading desks of large financial institutions because it addresses this common problem baffling traders for over a century objectively with quantitative methods in technical analysis. Technical analysis is the study of historical prices and volume to identify trends for trading purposes. In many large financial institutions, some professional traders depend entirely on technical analysis and mechanical technical trading systems to trade in financial instruments.

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Consumers’ Beliefs About Companies Using Online Advertising

Dr. Meltem Ozturan, Bogazici University, Turkey

Dr. V. Aslihan Nasir, Bogazici University, Turkey

Selcuk Kiran, Dept. of Computer Programming, Istanbul Kavram MYO, Turkey

ABSTRACT

Due to the increase in the share of online advertising out of total advertising market, beliefs about online advertising, especially about the companies using it, have become important for assigning marketing strategies. The main objectives of this study are to explore Turkish consumers’ beliefs about the companies using online advertising, to seek whether there are relationships between consumers’ demographic characteristics and these beliefs, and to examine the effects of these beliefs on consumers’ behavioral responses. Results indicate that beliefs of Turkish consumers about companies using online advertising a) are more favorable as compared to companies not using it, b) have relationships between consumers’ personal monthly income and Internet usage experience, and c) are different for consumers with different online ad clicking frequencies. Information technology penetration is continuously growing especially due to the new comer technologies and is affecting the lifestyles of consumers by introducing various online opportunities. On the other hand, advertising is an encouraging strategy designed to promote the purchasing behavior of consumers by developing attitudes and creating awareness. Hence, providing informative, credible, reliable and effective ads for consumers by companies becomes an important issue which can be enriched and facilitated by using information technologies. As the Internet has become an important communication channel, many companies nowadays are using online advertising which is synonymous with Internet advertising and web advertising in this study.

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Income Tax Incentives on Renewable Energy Industry: Case of USA, China, and Indonesia

Yunita Anwar, BINUS University, Jakarta, Indonesia

Martin Surya Mulyadi, BINUS University, Jakarta, Indonesia

ABSTRACT

Renewable energy is derived from natural processes that are replenished constantly. In its various forms, it derives directly from the sun, or from heat generated deep within the earth. Included in the definition is electricity and heat generated from solar, wind, ocean, hydropower, biomass, geothermal resources, and biofuels and hydrogen derived from renewable resources. USA and China is market leader and the most attractive market for renewable energy investment. Moreover, they also lead in wind energy sector. Tax incentives are also given in favor to developing this renewable energy industry. Indonesia as a developing country could learn and review incentives given by USA and China specifically in wind energy industry. Our study show that Indonesia might consider give a reduction on income tax rate rather than reduction on net income amounted 30% of investment allocated during six years. Reduction in income tax rate create higher shareholders’ value than reduction on net income based on investment. Besides, Indonesia can also consider giving tax credit for personal and corporate taxpayer who install a renewable energy system in their office or residence. This tax credit will indirectly boost sales of renewable energy industry and increase the attractiveness of Indonesia as a place of investment. This two option can be considered as Indonesia has a huge potential for investment in renewable energy industry.

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Fairness in the Workplace: The Relative Effects of Distributive and Procedural Justice on Incentive Satisfaction

Dr. Kalayanee Koonmee, Assoc. Professor, Graduate School of Human Resource Development

National Institute of Development Administration, Bangkok, Thailand

ABSTRACT

The two Thai parliament secretariat offices, i.e. the secretariat office of the House of Representatives and the secretariat office of the Senate have implemented the new performance management system comprised of goal setting, performance appraisal, and incentives for performance since 2006. The ultimate objectives were to improve standards in services and to continually improve the efficiency of their officers. This research investigates the relative importance of distributive and procedural justice in predicting satisfaction in incentive allocated for performance. Data were collected via self-administered questionnaires from those two secretariat staff. They were random sampling with 305 usable samples (92.4% response rate) from the secretariat office of the House of Representatives and 282 usable samples (94.0% response rate) from the secretariat office of the Senate. A hierarchical regression was used to analyze the relative effects of distributive and procedural justice, and to prove the previous studies of fairness investigated the conditions under which either distributive or procedural justice is more important to employees. The findings are: (1) Both distributive justice and procedural justice have significant positive relationships with incentive satisfaction. (2) Distributive justice plays a more important role in incentive satisfaction than procedural justice. However, because of a limited budget for incentive allocation in the public sector, therefore, procedural justice will come to have more importance. Some managerial implications and recommendations are also included.

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Enterprise Resource Planning Systems’ Impact on Accounting Processes in Turkey:

A Research on the Largest 500 Industrial Firms

Dr. Raif Parlakkaya, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

Huseyin Cetin, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

Halil Akmese, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

ABSTRACT

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) is an approach to the provision of business support software that enables companies to combine the computer systems of different areas of the business – production, sales, marketing, finance, human resources, etc. - and run them off a single database. This single database is the simple core of the concept: it enables different divisions and departments to easily share information and communicate with one another. Advances in information technology, expansion of the Internet and electronic business as well as an ever-growing global competition have made running a successful business more difficult than ever before. To remain successful and to be competitive, managers of manufacturing and service organizations must use technology to improve information flow, reduce costs, streamline business processes, offer product variety, establish linkage with suppliers, and to reduce response time to customer needs and expectations. A questionnaire survey is conducted and research frame is selected from the Turkish manufacturing sector. A final list of 500 Turkish manufacturing companies was prepared and the responses received were 75, representing a response rate of 15%. This study examines, via an exploratory survey of 75 companies, the underlying reasons why companies choose to convert from conventional information systems (IS) to ERP systems and the changes brought in, particularly in the accounting process. The empirical evidence confirms a number of changes in the accounting process introduced with the adoption of ERP systems.

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A Methodology for an Evaluation of the Impact of the Minerals and Petroleum Resources

Royalty Act on the South African mining Industry

Pieter van der Zwan , North-West University, South Africa

ABSTRACT

The Minerals and Petroleum Resources Royalty Act (MPRRA) became effective in South Africa on 1 March 2010. This legislation may have a significant impact on employment, foreign investment and future exploration in the South African mining industry. This article reports on proposed research, specifically the methodology to be followed, to be conducted to perform a critical evaluation of the MPRRA in order to identify aspects that may impact adversely on the South African mining industry. The article concludes by identifying certain pre-implementation concerns regarding the provisions of the MPRRA as well as by recommending a methodology for conducting research to evaluate the impact and provide alternatives to areas of concern. Globally no type of mining tax has caused as much controversy as mineral royalties (Otto, Andrews, Cawood, Doggert, Guj, Stermole, Stermole & Tilton, 2006). The introduction of legislation to impose mineral royalties in South Africa is no exception. The inauguration of the new political dispensation in South Africa in 1994 initiated a dynamic shift in the ownership, management and development of the country’s mineral heritage (Cawood, 2004). An overall transformation of the national mineral and mining policies resulted in the enactment of the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (28/2002) (MPRDA) in 2002. In accordance with the MPRDA the country’s mineral and petroleum resources are the common heritage of the people of South Africa. The State acts as the custodian of these resources for the benefit of all people.

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Geopolitics and Accounting

Oana Adelina Floricioiu, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Romania

Loghin Radu-Daniel, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, Romania

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to prove that political factors are no less influential on accounting practices than economic or cultural factors. We have identified various ways in which political influence is expressed when accounting practices have to be chosen at a national or international level. The three main ways are “pressure,” “political ideology” and various “key players.” In order to illustrate our point, representative examples have been taken from international cases, and we then shifted our focus to the Romanian accounting experience. It is important to understand individual actions in the context of group dynamics. Geopolitics provides the concepts and deals with the terms necessary to understand this issue. Since Romanian elites are trying to establish their homeland as a regional power in South-Eastern Europe, and because Moldova is placed at the borders of EU and CIS (Community of Independent States), it is clear that this power is likely to be exerted on Moldova in the near future, including its accounting standards. From the perspective of key players related to foreign trade and investment, the situation is uncertain and depends on the international game between France and Germany. As can be illustrated with a mathematical function, control, options and disclosures in accounting are interconnected in a meaningful way.

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IFRS Consciousness and Adoption: A Research on the Turkish Corporations Listed on Istanbul Stock Exchange

Dr. Raif Parlakkaya, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

Halil Akmese, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

Huseyin Cetin, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

ABSTRACT

This research examines the degree of consciousness and adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (hereafter IFRS) within a sample of Turkish corporations and is derived from the PhD dissertation of Huseyin Cetin. Research sample constitutes 79 Turkish corporations from different industries which are listed on Istanbul Stock Exchange. Especially the corporate managers in charge of accounting policies and decisions were selected as the participants of this study. After the literature review and background studies’ evaluation, a research methodology and research questions are developed. In the first section of the research five considerations relating to the problems that might be faced during the initiation of adoption process are evaluated by IFRS adopters or potential adopters. In the second section of the study ten suggestions relating to the advantages of adopting IFRS are evaluated on a scale ranging from “Strongly agree” to “strongly disagree”. As a result of globalization, the volume of economic relations increased sharply and led to the formation of new entities called “multinational corporations” (MNCs). Multinational corporations might be evaluated as the initiators of international accounting standards. All countries have their own regulations regarding to the accounting policies and applications within their jurisdiction area. However, the requirements developed for multinational corporations forced them to a greater extent of regulatory exposure. This exposure increased the need for standardized financial reports from the perspectives of investors. Need for standardized financial information and financial reports facilitated the convergence and harmonization of financial reporting standards all over the world gradually.

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Influence of Ethics Education on Management and Entrepreneurship Students Attitude Toward Ethical Behavior: Case of Croatia

Ivana Bilic, University of Split

Ivona Sustic, University of Split

ABSTRACT

In a modern society business ethics has become very important and emerging issues especially as a characteristic of company’s management. The complex and dynamic modern business environment driven by globalization of economy and supported by technology has launched a new era of disclosure of companies in terms of companies ethical behavior. The advent of the Internet has changed the way how companies do their business and how they communicate with all interested stakeholders. Ability of stakeholders to communicate with one another, social networking etc. make companies more vulnerable than ever before. In response to the ethically oriented conscious environment, companies need to assure that theirs employees; especially company’s management does their business with respect of high ethical standards. The aim of this paper is to provide evidence of influences of education process on students’ ethical attitudes, furthermore we try to find out how integration of ethics into the academic business curricula influences on students’ ethical behavior. In this research observed students will be students of second year of business school and undergraduate students on Faculty of Economics University of Split. The sample was chosen from the students who attended Management and Business Communication class where business ethics is integrated into curricula. We can assume there is a positive link between gender and ethical attitudes. Second assumption is that there is a positive link between higher students’ ethical attitude and having previous working experience. Statistical methods will be used to argument this hypothesis and to research previously mentioned correlations between working experience and gender and students ethical attitudes.

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Experience of Workplace Regulations in a Multi-National Construction Organisation

Dr. H. M. Linde, North-West University

Prof. J. C. Visagie, North-West University

ABSTRACT

Employment regulations as a collective term include all forms of legislation or negotiated rules that guide the employment relationship. The purpose of this article is to focus on the primary relationship and the workplace regulations regulating this relationship. The emphasis will be on the employment contract, the disciplinary code and procedure, the grievance procedure and the performance appraisal system as part of employment regulations. A random sample of 50 participants was drawn from the population (N=180) of permanent staff or staff classified as administration, qualified tradesman or management as authorised by the management of the engineering and construction organization where the research has been done. The ‘’Experience of Employment Regulations Questionnaire’’ was distributed to gather the data and measure the employees perceptions of the applied employment regulations in the participating organization. Employees’ experience of workplace regulations a in multi-national construction organisation. The desire for justice is central to the human existence. It can be accepted that justice or fairness would be one of the core values in any group of people (Nel, Swanepoel, Kirsten, Erasmus & Tsabadi, 2005). In striving towards universal fairness, the need for rules and regulations is inevitable although not always achievable. According to Basson, Christianson, Garbers, Le Roux, Mischke and Strydom, (2002), humans in any given society have become accustomed to their lives being regulated by rules and regulations. Organisations or companies are smaller groups within the wider society and within these groups the accepted systems are just as valid (Nel et al., 2005).

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Voluntary Internet Financial Reporting in Croatia - Analysis of Trends and Influential Factors

Dr. Ivica Pervan, University of Split, Split, Croatia

Marko Sabljic mag. oec., University of Split, Split, Croatia

ABSTRACT

The basic purpose of this study is to explore trends and influential factors of voluntary Internet reporting for the listed companies in Croatia. Today, Internet represents the main communication media and many listed companies across the world utilize Internet for investors' relations. Studies conducted in the countries with developed capital markets show that vast majority of companies extensively use Internet for financial reporting. In Croatia, emerging market country with undeveloped capital market, the usage of Internet for voluntary financial reporting has been very limited as reported in previous research. Yet, measurement of voluntary Internet disclosure, which was conducted in 2010 has shown that extent of voluntary disclosed information has significantly increased in comparison with early research. Also, regression analysis has identified market capitalization and official listing as factors that positively influence the level of voluntary Internet disclosure (measured with IFR Score). Other variables included into research: profitability, ownership and stock activity were statistically insignificant in explaining IFR Score. In the Internet era many listed companies have decided to use Internet as a communication tool for investors' relations. Internet has got many advantages over classical "paper reporting" since information can reach almost every part of the world very quickly and with low cost. Furthermore, processable formats of financial reports can be used in order to make easier calculation of different ratios that are used in financial analysis. Usage of mailing lists and information alerts can contribute to timelines of information.

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Stakeholder Orientation and Firm Performance: Value Generating Strategy or Sophisticated

Entrenchment Strategy? - Empirical Evidence from Croatia

Dr. Darko Tipuric, University of Zagreb, Croatia

Marina Lovrincevic, University of Split, Croatia

ABSTRACT

Stakeholder theory of the corporation was developed as an alternative to the prevalent system of corporate governance with shareholders being the only group managers are responsible to. Top management’s responsibility goes far beyond shareholders alone, because corporation is not merely an instrument for maximizing shareholders’ wealth, but also is a social entity with broader and more complex purpose and role. Stakeholders, at least in what is commonly regarded, are defined as those groups and individuals who can affect or are affected by the achievement of the organization objectives. Stakeholder groups’ involvement in strategic decision making or stakeholder participation in corporate governance processes has its normative, but also its instrumental argumentation. Stakeholders participate in the decision making process because it is ethical and socially responsible (normatively right) but also because stakeholder participation in organization objectives and strategy formulation process will facilitate strategy implementation and achievement of organizational goals (instrumental, strategic argumentation). Stakeholder management or stakeholder orientation has rarely been quantified. In this paper we use survey methodology and perceptual measures of stakeholder orientation and empirically test the relationship between stakeholder orientation and performance measures on a sample of large Croatian companies.

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Changes of Market Structure and Competition in the Croatian (Non) Life Insurance Industry

Dr. Maja Pervan, University of Split, Split, Croatia

Tomislava Pavic Kramaric, University of Split, Split, Croatia

Dr. Ivan Pavic, University of Split, Split, Croatia

Abstract

Until the nineties of the last century, the Croatian insurance market used to be highly concentrated. However, with the entrance of foreign capital and private investors, market structure and level of competition significantly changed. From former almost monopolistic situation with only one (or a few) state owned insurance companies operating on it, insurance market has developed into more competitive structure – oligopoly. The purpose of this article is to analyze the degree of competition and market structure as well as to determine whether the presence of dominant company is still one of the (non)life insurance market characteristics. In order to determine the degree of competition and the concentration level (as a basic indicator of market structure) the concentration ratios, Herfindahl-Hirschman index and entropy index were computed separately for the life and non-life insurance industry for the period from 1998 till 2010. The results reveal that Croatian non-life insurance market is highly concentrated and characterized by the presence of “tight oligopoly“ and dominant firm existence. However, moderate to low concentration and the presence of “loose oligopoly“ is detected on the life insurance segment. Development of insurance market is an indicator of the degree of economic development of a certain country. As a rule, this market is most developed in the most developed countries (USA, UK, Japan etc.). Because of relatively stable economic development in Croatia, the progress recorded in insurance sector ranks this business among the sectors with highest development potential. It wasn’t always like that.

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Aligning Industry Needs With Skill Development at Educational Institutions

Deepesh Tiwari, Assistant Professor, Institute Industry Interaction Cell, MNNIT, Allahabad

Prerna Kaushik, Guest Faculty, Computer Science and Engineering Dept, MNNIT, Allahabad

ABSTRACT

Globalization of economic activities, high rate of technological development and ever evolving demands of society have changed the rules of the game for the industry which in return has created a new challenge for the educational institutions. The challenge is to match the pace of developmental changes by providing human force well equipped with desired skill sets and aptitude. This challenge has strengthened the need for fostering interdependence of educational institutions and industry. This demands a long term strategic thinking on part of institute and industry while framing curricula and designing programs. Equipping our students with the skills required for industry needs puts the learning function at the centre of the issue. A diagnostic study based on responses of students pursuing post graduate programs in engineering and management has been conducted to propose a strategy to do the needful. Outcome of the study shows that there is need to change the traditional educational processes, training and research work to orient the same to the skill needs of the industry. Rapid evolution of technologies [2] and diverse education landscapes demands for institutes and industry to join hands. The global nature of business requires institutes to play a vital role to impart a quality education and skills in the students to be competitive on the leading edge of technology. Indian education model of four year technical degree programs followed by a two year specialized master’s program is the typical system of training and skill development. This is often supported by various training and certification programs by various companies.

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A Comparative Study of the Relationship Between Working Capital Management and

Profitability of Listed Companies in Tehran Stock Exchange

Dr. Mohsen Zayanderoody, Islamic Azad University-Kerman Branch, Kerman, I.R of Iran

ABSTRACT

This research is a comparative examination of the relationship between working capital management and profitability of food, mineral, and automobile companies Tehran stock exchange from 2005 to 2008. Managers can satisfy their share holders’ desire for profits by reducing accounts receivable and inventory. Managers should consider approaches that can improve company profitability. Working capital is important in making financial decisions because it is a segment of capitalization in properties. The decision making process is the basis of solving problems in capitalization of properties. Capital structure and the working capital management are studied in many universities. Working capital management can be applied in different operational ways, so some researchers have evaluated the effect of inventory optimized management and others have studied the relationship between receivable management and profitability; therefore the different parts of working capital (means payables, receivables and inventory) should be taken into account. The method of capital working management has an undeniable role in a company’s profitability. There is a direct relationship between cash management and a company’s scale; large companies that focus on cash management have less cash sale and this causes problems with cash flow; in smaller companies with less of a focus on stock and profit management, the methods of credit management receive more attention. In most companies, working capital management is one of the main challenges in financial management.

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A Comparative Study of Job Satisfaction in the Malaysian Services and Manufacturing Sectors

Dr. Kartinah Ayup, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia

Lillian Lim, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Malaysia

ABSTRACT

This study examined the factors influencing job satisfaction by using employees in the automobile retailing and hardware manufacturing companies as case studies. The influential factors investigated are pay, the work itself, promotion opportunities, and supervision. The choice of these two sectors was motivated by the researcher’s concern to see whether the differences in the industry’s dynamics greatly influence the level of job satisfaction between the two different industries. The collected data was analyzed using two types of inferential statistic: correlation and hierarchical multiple regression. The result of the study showed that all four tested work-related variables were important factors influencing job satisfaction levels in the sample population. Based on the findings, implications for companies are discussed and further research is suggested. High quality employees are the cornerstone of a successful industry, and attracting and retaining high quality employees is a primary necessity for all industries in any country. Over the last decade, organizations of all types and sizes have increasingly realized the importance of employees’ job satisfaction towards this end. High levels of employees’ job satisfaction can lead to enhanced productivity, efficiency, reduction in overall cost, customer satisfaction, employee retention, loyalty and business profits (Oshagbemi, 1999; Lok and Crawford, 2004; Okpara, 2006, McCausland et al., 2005). On the other hand, low levels of job satisfaction have been linked to negative behaviours such as low productivity, absenteeism and higher turnover (Morgan et al., 1995; Koustelios, 2001; Lambert et al., 2002; Sutherland, 2002; Okpara, 2006, McCausland et al., 2005).

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Cross Cultural Management: An Indian Perspective

Agam Nag, Professor, Institute of Management Technology, Nagpur, India

ABSTRACT

The fast growing markets of India and the competitive cost structure combined with the high caliber workforce has made India a preferred destination for multinational corporations (MNCs). MNCs that set up operations in India or do business with Indian companies find that managing Indian workforce requires understanding Indian work culture that has evolved over several centuries. This paper discusses the observations made by practitioners and the studies conducted by researchers on Indian work culture and analyzes them in the contexts that have elements from the Indian perspectives. Management assumptions, organizational structure and functions are influenced by national culture (Hofstede, 1980). Indian work culture is different from those in Europe and North America. Indian work culture is driven by a value system that hinges on family and personal relations. The behavior at the workplace is influenced by the religious and spiritual traditions. Sensitivity to Indian work culture and relating to the strengths of the Indian value system will help organizations manage their Indian operations successfully and make most of the opportunities offered by India. India with a healthy growth rate and an unsaturated market for a billion people and a preferred destination for high quality cost efficient outsourcing has been attracting attention from businesses for right reasons. Today India boasts of the presence of almost all major MNCs. They are in India to participate in the market or to leverage the benefits of outsourcing to remain competitive in their host markets. Participating in the Indian growth story requires managing operations in India.

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Stereotype, Image, and Reference Others As Predictor of Buyer Behavior; An Empirical Investigation

Dr. Edward Vitale, Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to investigate the impact of the Reference others scores, the American stereotype, and the country of origin effects (image) on buyers behavior. The study was conducted in Beirut, Lebanon on Lebanese respondents. The result showed that a negative American stereotype did not carry on to the market place, and country of origin effect showed a generally favorable image of the label made in USA, and had no relation with the negative stereotype. Prediction of buyer behavior has preoccupied researchers for the past decades. During that period of time, a number of variables such as income, social class, attitudes and self-concepts have been suggested with varying degrees of success as predictor variable of buyer behavior. This research was designed to test the relationship between consumer stereotypes, images, and reference others and consumer buying behavior. This represents the first attempt to link these three variables to buyer behavior in Lebanon. Lebanon, where this study was conducted in Fall 2010, is a tiny republic about the size of Connecticut (4,000 miles). It follows a laissez-faire economic policy; also it is located in a region dominated by rigid economic controls on all kinds of investments, both private and foreign. This has brought Lebanon one of the most remarkable economic upsurges in modern times, and has lifted it from the ranks of underdeveloped countries. Economic liberalism and a political democracy in Lebanon date back to 1861, have attracted a wide range of foreign investors. Lebanon is also the center of education for the entire Middle East. Not only is the population literate, but English and French are also spoken by large segments of the population. English serves as the official business language.

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Leadership Styles Correlate of Learning Organization In a Non-Western Culture

Angela Mahseredjian, Lebanese American University, Lebanon

Dr. Silva Karkoulian, Lebanese American University, Lebanon

Dr. Leila Messarra, Lebanese American University, Lebanon

ABSTRACT

Attention to the idea of learning organizations has been gaining intensity and leaders are needed to aid with the process. Although there are a number of styles in the way leaders lead, nevertheless, the purpose of this study was to assess the impact of subordinates’ perception of their managers’ leadership style (Transactional, Transformational, or Laissez-faire styles) on the learning organizational dimensions in a non-western environment. 200 participants from ten medium-sized companies operating in the retail sector in Lebanon participated in the study. The results suggest that transformational leaders have a more profound influence in cultivating a learning organizational environment than transactional leaders do. However, Laissez-faire leaders may slow the process down. Over the course of the last few years, the idea of learning organizations has been drawing more and more attention (Starkey, 1996). As employees and managers makeup an integral element of organizations, it is likely that they play an essential role in learning organization. Organizations can then except to gain knowledge from these individuals (Kanter, 1983; Kim, 1993). A learning organization is an organization which possesses a strong capacity to acquire, utilize, and share knowledge as well as continuously aim for corporate success (Garvin, 1993). Yet, employees may be hesitant to share the knowledge they have acquired, so leaders are needed to aid the process. In the conventional perception of the world, leaders run organizations; they have a great influence on the behavior of others through various ways. Previous studies have shown strong correlations between leadership styles, individual motivation, satisfaction, effectiveness, performance and values within the workplace (Bass and Avolio, 1990).

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The Labor Market’s Flexicurity in the Romanian Bank Sector

Dr. Costin Daniel Avram, The University of Craiova, Romania

Dr. Veronel Avram, The University of Craiova, Romania

Dr. Marioara Avram, The University of Craiova, Romania

ABSTRACT

The concept of flexicurity has appeared after 1990 in Holland and represents the political strategy that attempts, in a synchronic and deliberated manner, to raise the flexibility on the labor market, in organizing the labor and the work relationships on one hand and the social security and the security of the employment on the other hand. The present international financial crisis compels the banks to increase their social responsibility and to change the behavior of their top management, because when the banks were racing in spectacular performances the state was not forced to intervene, but today, when the European states put on the shoulders of the contributors such huge burdens, the banks must show some signs of recovery from within. The first reaction of recovery from within in the Romanian bank system will be the reduction of the personnel that will lead to the decrease of personnel’s security in the bank system. The balance is achieved in the bank system through differentiated personnel strategies leading to the growth of flexibility for the youngsters and the growth of work security for the more experienced personnel categories. The creation of the two leveled banking system has proved to be an important moment in regard to our country’s alignment to the good practices existent worldwide but also a reviving of the traditional role the R.N.B have assumed before the nationalization made in the post-war period.

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The Significance of Leaders in Modern Business

Dr. Dragica Tomic, Higher School of Professional Business Studies, Novi Sad, Serbia

Dr. Radovan Tomic, Academician, Higher School of Professional Business Studies, Novi Sad, Serbia

ABSTRACT

In this paper we deal with the relationship between leaders and employees as well as the extent of significance and influence of the leaders to motivate the employees. The paper will try to respond to the questions whether everyone can be a leader, whether leaders should have other qualities along with their qualifications, whether every leader can motivate the employees and what impressions the employees have about their leader and so on. Since we are from Serbia, we will try to explain the relationship between the leader and employees in Serbia from our point of view. In the backdrop of global economic crisis, business operations have declined and most companies are fighting to survive on the market; therefore, leaders have to work out the solution which will be the best escape from the ongoing situation. It is known that during crises people become closer and they more rely on one another so the leader and employees must act as an efficient team. All are aware that everyone should do their part of job, that there is a good communication in the relation leader – employee, that leader talks to the employees and then makes the best decisions based on the right information, because the leader is also responsible. It is very important for the leader to observe the ongoing events and adapt to the current changes which develop fast because those who can face and adapt to changes are able to survive.

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