Showing papers by "KIMEP University published in 2009"
TL;DR: It is suggested that organizations should have a long‐term focus towards realizing the benefits from investments in leadership development programs and use a systemic approach in order to address the current leadership crisis.
Abstract: Purpose – It is important that organizations embark on leadership development programs that will enhance leadership effectiveness. The purpose of this article is to identify some leadership development initiatives.Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses a review of the literature to offer some leadership development practices.Findings – Leadership development should be comprehensive and systematically integrated into the organizational culture in order to produce leaders who can deal adequately with organizational challenges.Practical implications – Organizations and leadership developers should use a systemic approach in order to address the current leadership crisis. This paper emphasizes a global perspective and an organizational commitment to leadership development. It is suggested that organizations should have a long‐term focus towards realizing the benefits from investments in leadership development programs. The article offers a number of approaches to the selection and development of leaders...
191 citations
TL;DR: Although Kazakhstan's civil service reforms have the explicit objective of depoliticizing administrative personnel, they have had limited success in achieving that end as discussed by the authors. Contrary to the formal objective, they make the worlds of political and administrative executives all but indistinguishable.
Abstract: Although Kazakhstan's civil service reforms have the explicit objective of depoliticizing administrative personnel, they have had limited success in achieving that end. Contrary to the formal objective, they make the worlds of political and administrative executives all but indistinguishable. A considerable gap between formal rules and their informal understanding creates loose boundaries of permitted behavior and allows discretionary enforcement and influence. The failure to reach the stated policy objective underscores the paradoxical coexistence of two political environments: one marked by its de jure centralized political structure and another by its de facto decentralization at various levels of civil service.
35 citations
TL;DR: The authors investigated how equity in a rainwater harvesting program is understood and practiced in two Rajasthani communities, and found that the symbolic capital accrued from contributing to the project is as central to community understandings of equity as the distribution of benefits from the project.
33 citations
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the contracting out strategy and the inherent asymmetric information in the process and suggest that an appreciation by public managers of the information asymmetry in the contract process would enhance contracting out outcomes in terms of cost reduction and quality.
Abstract: The private delivery of public services is an essential component of the New Public Management movement that seeks to make government agencies more efficient. However, proponents of the contracting out strategy who support the virtues of competition must also acknowledge the potential asymmetric information between government and vendors in the contracting out process. Such asymmetric information can impact both efficiency and quality outcomes. This paper discusses the contracting out strategy and the inherent asymmetric information in the process. It suggests that an appreciation by public managers of the information asymmetry in the contracting out process would enhance contracting out outcomes in terms of cost reduction and quality.
28 citations
TL;DR: The Google Online Marketing Challenge as discussed by the authors is an ongoing collaboration between Google and academia to give students experiential learning, which gives student teams US$200 in AdWords, Google's flagship advertising product, to develop online marketing campaigns for actual businesses.
Abstract: The Google Online Marketing Challenge is an ongoing collaboration between Google and academics, to give students experiential learning. The Challenge gives student teams US$200 in AdWords, Google's flagship advertising product, to develop online marketing campaigns for actual businesses. The end result is an engaging in-class exercise that provides students and professors with an exciting and pedagogically rigorous competition. Results from surveys at the end of the Challenge reveal positive appraisals from the three—students, businesses, and professors—main constituents; general agreement between students and instructors regarding learning outcomes; and a few points of difference between students and instructors. In addition to describing the Challenge and its outcomes, this article reviews the postparticipation questionnaires and subsequent datasets. The questionnaires and results are publicly available, and this article invites educators to mine the datasets, share their results, and offer suggestions for future iterations of the Challenge.
26 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that power of test statistic essentially depends on the quantity of Fisher's sample information this statistic uses, and some recommendations on implementing modified chi-squared type tests are given.
Abstract: Some recent results in the theory and applications of modified chi-squared goodness-of-fit tests are briefly discussed. It seems that for the first time power of modified chi-squared type tests for the logistic and three-parameter Weibull distributions based on moment type estimators is studied. Power of different modified tests against some alternatives for equiprobable fixed or random grouping intervals, and for Neyman–Pearson classes is investigated. It is shown that power of test statistic essentially depends on the quantity of Fisher's sample information this statistic uses. Some recommendations on implementing modified chi-squared type tests are given.
24 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the concept of standardisation of products and marketing communications in an emerging market and introduce a logical connection between product attributes and consumers' perceptions of product quality.
Abstract: Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the concept of the standardisation of products and marketing communications in an emerging market The paper further aims to introduce a logical connection between product attributes and consumers' perceptions of product qualityDesign/methodology/approach – Relationships between the product attributes of characteristic‐, benefit‐, image‐ and perceived‐product quality are hypothesized The empirical data, which collected via a consumer survey in Almaty, Kazakhstan, are utilized to test hypotheses using structural equation modeling methodFindings – This study finds that product attributes affect differentially to consumers' evaluation of product quality For products with higher symbolic meanings such as the automobile in Central Asia, consumers are more sensitive to the benefit attribute of the product rather than the product characteristic attributeResearch limitations/implications – This study uses a single product category and a single segment Results need to
11 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the importance that successful entrepreneurs in Mauritius attach to marketing in operating their business and how marketing is actually practised or is prevalent in their enterprises.
Abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the importance that successful entrepreneurs in Mauritius attach to marketing in operating their business and how marketing is actually practised or is prevalent in their enterprises.Design/methodology/approach – This paper forms part of a broader study undertaken by the authors. The survey instrument is a personally administered semi‐structured questionnaire. A sample of 30 successful entrepreneurs for this paper is drawn judgmentally from the broader study.Findings – The results indicate that entrepreneurs surveyed use marketing to a large extent although some apply it unknowingly. Respondents tend to emphasize product development rather than improving product offering based on customer needs and wants. The results also reveal that some of the entrepreneurs practice marketing in mostly unconventional ways although there is evidence of convergence with traditional marketing in many respects. On the whole, the results of this survey indicate that entrepren...
10 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined customers' perception of using internet banking in Qatar and found that a significant number of customers are either not aware of the IB services or do not trust the IB as a channel to conduct their banking transactions.
Abstract: Information technology plays a major role in shaping industries all over the world. Obviously, banks rely heavily on IT in conducting their businesses and spend huge amounts of money on such technology to reduce operation costs and gain competitive advantage over their rivals by offering customers better services through ATM machines, telephone banking and more evidently in the last decade internet banking (IB). Researchers have found that a significant number of customers are either not aware of the IB services or do not trust the IB as a channel to conduct their banking transactions. Researchers also have found that customers may adopt IB technology only if they perceive the technology to be useful. This research paper examines customers' perception of using IB in Qatar. This paper can be a very useful reference for the banking industry to improve the level of IB services and for further future research.
9 citations
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: In this article, the role of trade liberalization and regional economic cooperation for sustainable economic growth of the Central Asian countries was discussed, where an economic research paradigm was used to obtain a macro view from the perspectives of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries.
Abstract: This study debates the roles of trade liberalization and regional economic cooperation for the sustainable economic growth of the Central Asian countries. An economic research paradigm was used to obtain a macro view from the perspectives of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries. In general, factors that enhance regional trade development and regional economic integration include improving business environment, increasing trade policy coordination, accelerating trade liberalization, and increasing economic cooperation. Selected policies and practical implications are identified, which facilitate enhancing free trade agreements and regional economic cooperation, coordinating WTO accession, and creating a systematic monitoring organization.
9 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a cross-national comparative analysis of mandated private pensions suggests that the market orientation of their design is generally ambivalent and that the privatisation of pensions has not been informed, universally or comprehensively, by the core values of neo-liberalism.
Abstract: For a growing number of social policy analysts, the privatisation of pensions should be understood as an integral element of welfare retrenchment. Driven by the core values of “neo-liberalism”, it is intended to diminish collective responsibility for retirement income futures. We take issue with this characterisation of pensions privatisation. A cross-national comparative analysis of mandated private pensions suggests that the market orientation of their design is generally ambivalent. While the architects of these arrangements have embraced market principles, they have also accepted the principle of collective responsibility. The privatisation of pensions has not been informed, universally or comprehensively, by the core values of neo-liberalism.
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the probable effect of the February 2009 devaluation of the Tenge on the Kazakhstan economy and concluded that a second devaluation is inevitable, unless strategic reforms are implemented.
Abstract: This article examines the probable effect of the February 2009 devaluation of the Tenge on the Kazakhstan economy. Conventional wisdom holds that currency devaluation increases exports, protects domestic production, and preserves foreign exchange currency reserves. While the latter states the obvious, the causal relation between currency devaluation and increased export revenue and increased domestic production, though logically valid, requires the passage of time to measure. In the context of Kazakhstan, the question of devaluation and its effects also must be examined within the 'Dutch Disease' model, as Kazakhstan is an oil dependent country. History teaches that devaluing the Tenge is unrelated to restoring the economy to stable growth and reversing the consequences of recession. Devaluation, without implementation of deep structural economic reforms, is an ineffective panacea, as demonstrated by the 3000% decline in the value of the Tenge since its 1993 introduction. The current economic malaise is likely to be corrected, neither by a manipulation of the currency exchange rate, nor by an increase in the price of oil, but by diversification of the economy, regulation of the money supply by an independent central bank, and a re-organisation and recapitalisation of the banking sector, including renegotiation of domestic credit institution foreign debt. A second devaluation is inevitable, unless strategic reforms are implemented. The question of successive devaluations is not if but when and how much.
TL;DR: The estimated results revealed that the variable radioiodine uptake level at 24 hours play the significant role for reducing arsenic level.
Abstract: The impacts of urinary arsenic level on simple diffuse goiter was studied in Bangladeshi population. A correlation of urinary iodine, radioiodine uptake, thyroid stimulating hormone (THS) and free thyroxin (FT 4 ) levels was made on urinary arsenic level using a case-control analytical study. Out of 85 subjects 45 were considered for experimental group with simple diffuse goiter and rest 40 were considered for healthy control group without any thyroid disease. From the experimental results it has been found that iodine deficiency is not only the factor of causing simple diffuse goiter, but arsenic level is also one of the most important factors of causing simple diffuse goiter. It has also been found that the radioiodine uptake levels at 2 hours and 24 hours and the serum FT 4 have negative impacts on arsenic levels for both the experimental and control group. Their impacts are not statistically significant except the variable radioiodine uptake levels at 24 hours. The serum TSH has positive impact on arsenic level for both experimental and control groups but not statistically significant. The estimated results revealed that the variable radioiodine uptake level at 24 hours play the significant role for reducing arsenic level. Key words: Urinary Arsenic, Iodine Deficiency, Simple Diffuse Goiter, Urinary iodine, Thyroid Stimulating Hormone, Free Thyroxin and Radioiodine Uptake Level doi: 10.3329/dujps.v7i2.2173 Â Â Â Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 7 (2): 161-168, 2008 (December)
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the investor protection provisions of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) and concluded that the style of investor protection envisaged within MFID is likely to impose substantial costs upon investors to the benefit of investment firms, while probably falling short of fulfilling the promises of the risk/reward equation.
Abstract: The year 2008 is a propitious time to evaluate systems of investor protection in financial markets as global bank losses exceed the 1 trillion mark The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive [MiFID] is the regulatory equivalent of the deregulatory 1987 "Big Bang" that shaped the current European financial markets It also applies to one of the world's largest trading regions MiFID and its Level 2 implementing Directive are complex, comprehensive, and challenging for interpretive construction, given the novelty of the Directive, the absence of judicial decisions, and its opaque language In Lamfalussy terms, MiFID is a Level 1 document containing "high principles" of governance The level 2 Directive provides "concrete organisational requirements and procedures for investment firms" performing activities governed by the Directives This article selects certain investor protection provisions of MiFID for examination, within the larger context of the macroeconomic function of financial markets, and the theoretical underpinnings of investor protection in the United States and in Europe, as well as the practical track record of enforcement of investor protections in Europe to evaluate the effectiveness of investor protection under the new instruments The conclusions reached indicate that the style of investor protection envisaged within MFID is likely to impose substantial costs upon investors to the benefit of investment firms, while probably falling short of fulfilling the promises of the risk/reward equation The effectiveness of investor protection, which depends exclusively upon the quality of enforcement, is questionable given the European Union's passive enforcement style toward financial market misconduct In addition, as the recent global financial crisis has demonstrated a fundamental assumption of MiFID is false: the need to interpose a "professional investment advisor" between the investor and the markets Countless examples from history related to scandals and market crashes support this contingent truth MiFID, if successful, will achieve its economic objectives of financing the markets with investor savings, and thereby achieving the conventionally accepted theory of the macroeconomic function of financial markets Nevertheless, the question remains are the investor protection provisions of MiFID an investor blessing or an investor execution
TL;DR: A reanalysis of the classical Rutherford's experimental data on alpha decay is done and tests used show that the data contradict to both Poisson and binomial distribution and do not contradict to a precise “binomial” approximation of Feller's distribution.
Abstract: Modified chi-squared and some newly developed tests for the Poisson, binomial, and an approximated Feller's distribution are discussed. A reanalysis of the classical Rutherford's experimental data on alpha decay is done. Previous analyses of the data were not correct from the point of view of the theory of statistical testing. Tests used show that the data contradict to both Poisson and binomial distribution and do not contradict to a precise “binomial” approximation of Feller's distribution that takes into account a counter's dead time. This gives a plausible statistically correct confirmation of the well-established exponential law of radioactive decay.
TL;DR: In this paper, some properties concerning homogeneity and the existence of small extensions proved earlier for models of superstable theories, are proved for the theory of linear ordering for linear ordering.
Abstract: Some properties concerning homogeneity and the existence of small extensions proved earlier for models of superstable theories, are proved here for models of the theory of linear ordering.
TL;DR: In this paper, conditions are found under which homogeneity of a model M = ω-stability of the theory of M is not preserved under such a passage, and examples are constructed of superstable theories under such conditions.
Abstract: Conditions are found under which homogeneity of a model M implies homogeneity of the modelM eq. One of these conditions is ω-stability of the theory of M. Examples are constructed of superstable theories for which homogeneity is not preserved under such a passage.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used the time-varying volatility in backward looking measures of inflation for Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia.
Abstract: The present research works with yearly data on backward looking measures of inflation i.e. GDP deflator series for Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia. Because of the data limitations in the transition economies annual series are converted to smooth quarterly series before they are employed for inflation prognosis using state space models. The results show statistically significant evidence of time-varying volatility in Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, and Slovakia using critical values obtained from χ
3
2
distributions. The results also show that the non-normality hypothesis cannot be rejected in all the series using critical values due McCulloch (J Bus Econ Stat 15:74–81, 1997). The efficiently estimated inflation forecast range between 0.925 for Bulgaria to 99.106 for Latvia. The estimated value of the characteristic exponent α of 2.000 for Hungary, and for the other countries having α equal to 1.999 shows tendency toward normal behavior in exception of Bulgaria, where α equals 1.861.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the relationship between personality traits and service quality perceptions of the employees of logistics organizations and make recommendations for the strategic integration of marketing and human resource management practices.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between personality traits and service quality perceptions of the employees of logistics organisations. This study administered the Big-Five scale to derive the measurements of personality traits and the SERVQUAL (RATER) scale to measure service quality perception. Data for this study were collected through an online (web-based) survey from personnel of many logistics organisations in South Korea. The results of this study confirm that correlations between these variables are statistically significant. This study provides additional insights about the relationships and practical applications of these variables. Recommendations are made for the strategic integration of marketing and human resource management practices.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The intricacies of the algorithm and the GA operators used in previous work are discussed, and the implementation of a new GA operator which was not included in earlier reports is reported on.
Abstract: This paper discusses the development of a new GA for layout design. The GA was already designed and reported. However the implementation used in the earlier work was rudimentary and cumbersome, having no suitable Graphical User Interface, GUI. This paper discusses the intricacies of the algorithm and the GA operators used in previous work. It also reports on implementation of a new GA operator which was not included in earlier reports. The software was then used to conduct a series of experimentations to establish the best configuration of the operators for better results. The paper is also demonstrating a comparison of the new GA results and results from the literature. In addition the results show the solution of two new problems by various methods from the author’s own layout developments in industry. The results demonstrate that in most cases the new GA is superior to the existing methods. In particular the speed of the new GA is achieving a reasonable solution is significantly low.
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this article, the role of trade liberalization and regional economic cooperation for sustainable economic growth of the Central Asian countries was discussed, where an economic research paradigm was used to obtain a macro view from the perspectives of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries.
Abstract: This study debates the roles of trade liberalization and regional economic cooperation for the sustainable economic growth of the Central Asian countries. An economic research paradigm was used to obtain a macro view from the perspectives of Kazakhstan and neighboring countries. In general, factors that enhance regional trade development and regional economic integration include improving business environment, increasing trade policy coordination, accelerating trade liberalization, and increasing economic cooperation. Selected policies and practical implications are identified, which facilitate enhancing free trade agreements and regional economic cooperation, coordinating WTO accession, and creating a systematic monitoring organization.
01 Jan 2009
TL;DR: The survey results so far suggest that employers could force a dramatic change in mass communication education education in American universities with the right catalyst as mentioned in this paper, and that a second wave that undoubtedly will have a dramatic impact on education over the next decade will be the convergence of media on an increasingly powerful Internet.
Abstract: This paper blends two lines of research I have been pursuing for nearly 30 years - 1) Employer dissatisfaction with college graduates (specifically mass communication graduates) and their demand for more practical, hands-on education, and 2) The rise of multimedia (thus multi-sensory) education, especially with the development of increasingly sophisticated personal computer and the enhancement of the World Wide Web. the quality of mass communication graduates from America's universities. In a series of surveys, 35% of daily newspaper editors, 43% of weekly newspaper editors, 57% of magazine editors and 56% of broadcast news directors agreed or strongly agreed that graduates were unprepared or poorly prepared to assume a position with their respective organizations. And on a 5-point scale, with 5 representing "strongly agree" and 4 "agree," the media executives' overall median response was over 3.9 to the statement (varying slightly from medium to medium): "Journalism students need to serve a professional internship before entering the job market." My current survey, conducted in conjunction with Mathew Manweller, Ph.D, of Central Washington University in the United States, is still under way, but 340 responses so far suggest that media executives are becoming increasingly impatient with American higher education institutions. The results of this survey may be seen as part of the post- modernist movement that some so-called experts suggest is becoming an anti- institutional trend amplified by the failures of both business and government institutions in preventing or dealing with the current economic crisis. The current survey is of a broader cross-section of media executives, including weekly newspaper, daily newspaper, and magazine executives; TV, radio and cable news executives; Internet-based "new media" news executives; and public relations executives. The survey results so far suggest that employers could force a dramatic change in mass communication education in American universities with the right catalyst. A second "wave" that undoubtedly will have a dramatic impact on education over the next decade will be the convergence of media on an increasingly powerful Internet. My simultaneous exploratory research in Internet-based education suggests ways in which these two trends could merge with yet a third trend toward globalization and