The Seasons of a Man's Life

Abstract There is a growing acknowledgement that micro-credit programs have potential for equitable and sustainable development. However, my anthropological research on the micro-credit program of the Grameen Bank shows that bank workers are expected to increase disbursement of loans among their members and press for high recovery rates to earn profit necessary for economic viability of the institution. To ensure timely repayment in the loan centers bank workers and borrowing peers inflict an intense pressure on women clients. In the study community many borrowers maintain their regular payment schedules through a process of loan recycling that considerably increases the debt-liability on the individual households, increases tension and frustration among household members, produces new forms of dominance over women and increases violence in society.

Micro-credit initiatives for equitable and sustainable development : who pays?; a case study of the Grameen Bank Program in rural Bangladesh

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between total quality management (TQM) practices and customer satisfaction and also to investigate the association between TQM practices and service quality within the context of Malaysia's small service organizations.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses data from the perceptions of sales and marketing managers in 108 small service organizations in Malaysia. Data were analyzed by employing correlation and multiple regression analysis to test the relationship between TQM practices, customer satisfaction and service quality.Findings – The results showed that TQM practices are significantly and positively linked to customer satisfaction and service quality of the small service business firms. It was further confirmed that the dimensions of customer focus and information and analysis were strongly linked to customer satisfaction and service quality.Practical implications – The results of this paper can be used by marketing/sales manage...

Are TQM practices supporting customer satisfaction and service quality

In this age of modern era, the use of internet must be maximized. Yeah, internet will help us very much not only for important thing but also for daily activities. Many people now, from any level can use internet. The sources of internet connection can also be enjoyed in many places. As one of the benefits is to get the on-line designing virtual worlds book, as the world window, as many people suggest.

Designing Virtual Worlds

Purpose – This study seeks to examine the relationship between market orientation, service quality, and their impact towards organizational performance.Design/methodology/approach – A total of 175 sets of structured questionnaires were distributed to managers of 175 service organizations in the northern region of Malaysia, and only 57.71 percent of it, which is 101, was returned.Findings – The results show that market orientation has a significant effect on organizational performance and service quality. Also, service quality has a significant effect on organizational performance. Interestingly, this study found that service quality partially mediates the relationship between market orientation and organizational performance.Research limitations/implications – In order to be more generalized to the service industry, a wider sample with multiple responses from different individuals and management levels can be used for any future study. The same study can also be done by including other mediating or even m...

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Market orientation, service quality and organizational performance in service organizations in Malaysia

This study investigates the impact of political instability, macroeconomic and bankspecific factors on the profitability of Islamic banks in the context of Yemen. The study used two common measures of profitability, namely, Return on Assets (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) as dependent variables. Seven key independent (internal and external) variables are also used. There are five fully-fledged Islamic banks (IBs) working in Yemen. The study selected only three out of five IBs due to the availability of data for the period ranging from 2010 to 2014. The descriptive and multiple regression analyses were done. The results of the study indicate that operating efficiency and financial risk have negative and significant relationships with ROA and ROE. The findings also show that capital adequacy has a negative and insignificant relationship with ROA and ROE. Furthermore, the study reveals that assets size (LogA), assets management, liquidity and deposits have a significant and positive impact on banks’ profitability. GDP, Inflation rate (IR) and Political instability have positive and significant impact on Yemeni banks’ profitability. Based on the best knowledge of the authors, this study is considered one of the first and pioneering studies that determine the factors affecting the profitability of Islamic banks of Yemen. Therefore, the study gives good insights for the policy makers, regulators and interested parties for enhancing the profitability of Islamic banks in Yemen. Ali T. Yahya (India), Asif Akhtar (India), Mosab I. Tabash (United Arab Emirates) BUSINESS PERSPECTIVES LLC “СPС “Business Perspectives” Hryhorii Skovoroda lane, 10, Sumy, 40022, Ukraine www.businessperspectives.org The impact of political instability, macroeconomic and bank-specific factors on the profitability of Islamic banks: an empirical evidence Received on: 3rd of September, 2017 Accepted on: 16th of November, 2017

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The impact of political instability, macroeconomic and bank-specific factors on the profitability of Islamic banks: an empirical evidence

Several research studies have demonstrated the positive impact of total quality management (TQM) on information and communication technology (ICT) industry performance. Given the growing prominence of TQM in ICT industry, this study is aimed to identify and rank the key practices of TQM and develops a reliable and valid instrument necessary for the successful implementation of TQM program in Indian ICT industry. To achieve these objectives, a survey using self-administered instrument was conducted among the top and middle level managers and administrators of select Indian ICT companies. Using empirical data obtained from 84 Indian ICT companies, results were analyzed and findings were reported. The empirical data was analyzed using descriptive statistical and factor analyses. Further, the measures of the instrument were tested for reliability and validity. The analysis revealed ten TQM practices to be most important out of 17 practices identified from literature. Also, the instrument measures were found to have satisfactory psychometric properties. Managers and practitioners can use the instrument to guide TQM activities in their respective companies and researchers can use it to build models to relate facilitating practices to quality performance.

An Instrument for Measuring the Key Practices of Total Quality Management in ICT Industry: An Empirical Study in India

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key dimensions of service quality of an Islamic bank. A modified SERVQUAL scale based on five dimensional approach is administered to determine the perception of Islamic banks customers towards service quality. The basic purpose of the study is to develop a scale for this purpose. A mail survey with the help of online questionnaire is carried out. Non probability sampling especially snowball and judgmental sampling techniques for sample size 185 has been used. The responses were collected from the 7 Islamic banks located in the Gulf countries mainly the U.A.E. and the K.S.A. Data analysis is done in the form principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to validate the scale. Independent sample T test and One Way ANOVA are used to validate the hypotheses. Results from structural equation modeling (SEM) of relationship between multidimensional service quality scale and one-dimensional customer satisfaction are validated. By the ANOVA results, the differences in the service quality dimensions of the banks with respect to demographic variables, has also been ascertained.

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Service Quality Dimensions of Islamic banks: A Scale Development Approach

An instrument for measuring the key practices of total quality management in ICT industry: an empirical study in India

This study aims at identifying a set of determinants that affect halal food purchase intention and measures the relative ranks of these determinants in purchasing halal food among Muslim consumers in India.,Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) approach has been employed in the research, which is an expert opinion-based approach. The opinions of experienced academicians and marketing professionals have been recorded for reaching to the conclusions. Matrice d' impacts croises multiplication applique an classement (MICMAC) analysis has also been applied to examine the driving and dependent power of these determinants.,Driver power–dependence matrix reveals that although knowledge of halal and attitude are weak drivers, yet they are strongly dependent upon other determinants. These two variables are at the top of the ISM digraph hierarchy. Food safety and halal labeling have strong driving power, as well as strong dependence. Three determinants, namely brand origin, religiosity and price, have strong driving powers and weak dependence. These variables lay at the bottom level of the ISM model.,This study provides a better understanding of the determinants of halal food purchase intention. This will help the marketers for making appropriate and effective product design and other marketing strategies suited to the needs of the consumer.,This is the first study that examines the interrelationships between determinants and relative rank of these determinants in halal food purchase, using ISM approach and MICMAC analysis.

Asif Akhtar

Papers

The impact of political instability, macroeconomic and bank-specific factors on the profitability of Islamic banks: an empirical evidence

An Instrument for Measuring the Key Practices of Total Quality Management in ICT Industry: An Empirical Study in India

Service Quality Dimensions of Islamic banks: A Scale Development Approach

An instrument for measuring the key practices of total quality management in ICT industry: an empirical study in India

Enablers of halal food purchase among Muslim consumers in an emerging economy: an interpretive structural modeling approach