Showing papers in "American Journal of Industrial and Business Management in 2015"
TL;DR: This study examines the use of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) as a decision-support model for contractor selection and implements a multi-criteria AHP approach, which is a new method for analyzing and selecting the best contractor.
Abstract: One of the key activities of any client is contractor selection. Without a suitable and precise method for selecting the best contractor, the completion of a project will likely be affected. In this study, we examine the use of the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) as a decision-support model for contractor selection. This model can assist project management teams in identifying contractors who are most likely to deliver satisfactory outcomes in a selection process that is not based simply on the lowest bid. In this study, an AHP-based model is tested using a hypothetical scenario in which candidate contractors are evaluated. Six criteria for the primary objective are evaluated. The criteria used for contractor selection in the model are identified, and the significance of each criterion is determined using a questionnaire. Comparisons are made by ranking the aggregate score of each candidate based on each criterion, and the candidate with the highest score is deemed the best. This study contributes to the construction sector in two ways: first, it extends the understanding of selection criteria to include degrees of importance, and second, it implements a multi-criteria AHP approach, which is a new method for analyzing and selecting the best contractor.
46 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors evaluated the competitiveness of major ports in the West African region based on criteria selected by experts and found that the Port of Abidjan emerged the most competitive port in West Africa with its strongest links being its efficiency and performance, infrastructure and political stability outlook.
Abstract: In the last decade, inter-port competition in West Africa has become fiercer as captive hinterlands of ports continue to overlap and become contestable or shared. This is due to door-to-door supply chain services being offered by shipping lines and third party logistics service providers through inter-modalism. In addition, as cargo becomes more concentrated in the region, there have been calls for the selection of a hub location for shipping lines serving the region in order to exploit economies of scale. This paper therefore aims to evaluate the competitiveness of major ports in the West African region based on criteria selected by experts. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, port competitiveness was evaluated and ports ranked according to the total weights obtained based on the different criteria used. The Port of Abidjan emerged the most competitive port in West Africa with its strongest links being its efficiency and performance, infrastructure and political stability outlook in spite of recent political turmoil. The Lagos Port Complex, West Africa’s largest port in terms of scale and throughput, emerged fifth falling behind the Ports of Lome, Tema and Dakar respectively owing largely to its political stability outlook. The least competitive port was the Port of Cotonou in Benin.
43 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a price reduction in the amount of money versus percentage on products was investigated to investigate how the underlying mechanism (anticipated regret) influences likelihood to impulse buying compared with percentage-off presentation.
Abstract: Previous research has shown that personal qualities and shopping situations affect choice of consumer impulse buying behavior during sales promotion When implementing a price reduction, retailers tend to favor one practice over the other Yet how different implementations of a price promotion influence consumer impulse buying behavior has been insufficiently studied Here, we framed a price reduction in the amount of money versus percentage on products to investigate how the underlying mechanism (anticipated regret) influences likelihood to impulse buying Compared with percentage-off presentation, the findings indicate that presentation shown at the amount of money leads to higher anticipated regret and consumer impulse buying intention We also find that the price level of product is the boundary condition, which plays a moderating role
39 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a conceptual and theoretical framework is designed to guide the preparation of data collection instruments to suit the study, which reveals that MSMEs are dominated by youth and female operators usually with low level of education.
Abstract: Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute immensely to job creation, income generation and poverty reduction in emerging economies like that of Ghana. These positive contributions notwithstanding, most MSMEs in these economies have been performing poorly. This study therefore seeks to identify and analyze the challenges faced by MSMEs and proposed by appropriate measures that will enhance and sustain the vibrancy of MSMEs in order for them to perform their expected roles in the economic development process of Ghana. To be able to delve into the challenges of MSMEs in Ghana, a conceptual and theoretical framework is designed to guide the preparation of data collection instruments to suit the study. This involves a combination of survey and case study methods of data collection and analysis. The present study reveals that MSMEs are dominated by youth and female operators usually with low level of education. A further revelation is that majority of MSMEs lack qualified personnel; has poor access to credit and are usually self-financed. Based on the above, the study recommends the establishment of a common board to oversee the activities of support institutions for MSMEs. The study again proposes for the creation of MSMEs fund at all district, municipal and metropolitan areas to support MSMEs activities. Furthermore, the study is proposed for Bank of Ghana to create MSMEs bank to provide funds specifically for MSMEs development. Finally, effective implementation of the recommendation can lead to growth of MSME’s sector in Kumasi metropolis and eventually results in creation of employment as well as poverty reduction.
36 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the relationship between tangible rewards, intangible rewards and organizational commitment with the mediating role of collectivism in the textile sector of Pakistan and found that tangible and intangible rewards had a significant impact on the organizational commitment.
Abstract: This study explores the relationship between tangible rewards, intangible rewards and organizational commitment with the mediating role of collectivism in the textile sector of Pakistan. In total, 250 questionnaires were distributed. The response rate was 81%. Data were analyzed by using SPSS (20.0) software. Results showed that collectivism was negatively correlated with tangible and intangible rewards and positively correlated with organizational commitment. Further results showed that tangible and intangible rewards had a significant impact on the organizational commitment. Moreover, mediating role of collectivism has also been proved. Theoretical & managerial implications, recommendations and limitations for future research have been discussed.
35 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors interviewed two HRIS managers in the hospitality industry in Greater Region (Ghana) to identify the benefits, contributions and challenges of HRIS, and concluded that HRIS played a major role in the management of human resources.
Abstract: The evolution of technology has encouraged organizations to use human resource information systems (HRIS). HRIS is perceived to contribute to the effectiveness of manpower activities (human resources planning) in organizations. This paper interviewed two HRIS managers in the hospitality industry in Greater Region (Ghana) to identify the benefits, contributions and the challenges of HRIS. It was revealed that HRIS identified unfilled positions, accurately analyzed each job position and its job title in the organization, providing insight into organizational training needs, selected the right persons to be trained at the right time, evaluated the effectiveness of training programs and made faster and better decisions about successor ranking. It was therefore concluded that HRIS played a major role in the management of human resources. Organizations should integrate HRIS with other organizational systems to facilitate speedily sharing of information and decision making.
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors applied the DEA method in assessing efficiencies of major ports in West Africa, and selected six ports based on their container throughput levels, and the DEA model was used to determine their relative efficiencies and their efficiencies over time through window analysis.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to apply the DEA method in assessing efficiencies of major ports in West Africa. Six ports were selected based on their container throughput levels, and the DEA model was used to determine their relative efficiencies and their efficiencies over time through window analysis. The DEA model was applied to a number of inputs of port production and a single output (container throughput). It was determined that the Port of Tema in Ghana was the most efficient West African port under study. Although Tema exhibited some inefficiency in its operations, the port was found to make good use of its resources for production. On the other extreme, the Port of Cotonou in Benin was found to be the least efficient port obtaining the lowest average efficiency rating over a seven year period. It was determined that the port exhibited a substantial waste in production. Generally, ports in West Africa could be said to exhibit high levels of efficiency con-sidering that four out of six ports had an average efficiency score of 76% or higher for the period under study.
28 citations
TL;DR: In this article, it was hypothesized that increased social interaction and social norm compliance would lead to a higher willingness to pay for a travel mug in a pay-what-you-want situation.
Abstract: Since Pay-What-You-Want is a relatively new field of study, the influence factors during the pricing process are not sufficiently explored. It was hypothesized that in a hypothetical Pay-What-You-Want situation, increased social interaction and social norm compliance would lead to a higher willingness to pay for a travel mug. In a laboratory experiment, 79 German students were randomly assigned to three groups which varied in the degree of social interaction. Social norm compliance was assessed with a questionnaire. A 3 × 3 between-group factorial ANOVA showed a significant main effect for social interaction (p = 0.025, η2 = 0.08), whilst social norm compliance was slightly not significant (p = 0.067, η2 = 0.03). Follow-up comparisons were calculated and the results discussed. The findings implicate that especially the degree of social interaction should be regarded, both by researchers and practitioners, as an important situational factor influencing the price in a Pay-What-You-Want situation.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a case study was conducted at a manufacturer of packaging machines and could be used as an example for other companies that worked within a highly innovative work field, where employees perceived the current dominant culture as a market culture and were convinced they could improve their innovative work behavior as shown by the higher average scores on preferred innovative work behaviors than the current level of innovative work behaviour.
Abstract: Companies need to occupy a unique market share to survive in a highly competitive business world. One of the possibilities to create a unique market share is innovation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the level of innovative work behavior, type of organizational culture and the relation between innovative work behavior and organizational culture. This case study was conducted at a manufacturer of packaging machines and could be used as an example for other companies that worked within a highly innovative work field. The employees perceived the current dominant culture as a market culture and were convinced they could improve their innovative work behavior as shown by the higher average scores on preferred innovative work behavior than the current level of innovative work behavior. The preferred organizational culture was a family culture. Even though the literature confirms that family and market cultures will enhance innovative work behavior, the results from the questionnaire only show a significant correlation between the market culture and innovative work behavior in the organization. It is concluded that a transition of the current market culture towards a more family culture is needed, but in the meantime the market culture should be preserved.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined and compared the influence of different dimensions of organizational justice (of distributive, procedural, interpersonal (or relational), and informational justice) on work-related outcomes of job satisfaction and organizational commitment with special reference of healthcare professionals.
Abstract: The notion of the fairness or justice has become an increasingly important construct in behaviour and management over the last two decades because of its serious personal and organizational consequences. Despite considerable research on job satisfaction and organizational commitment of employees, various types and forms of employees’ justice perceptions have not been adequately examined. Studies of organizational justice in the area of health-care professionals are especially limited in the Indian setting. Because of higher expectations and demands on Indian hospitals, the issues of organizational justice and its associated work-related outcomes are quite relevant to employees working in them. With this background, the purpose of present study is to examine and compare the influence of different dimensions of organizational justice (of distributive, procedural, interpersonal (or relational), and informational justice) on work-related outcomes of job satisfaction and organizational commitment with special reference of healthcare professionals. Participants of the present study consisted of 100 health-care professional working in a government hospitals located in Varanasi (U.P., India). They were classified into three ranks: Doctors (N = 36), Nurses (N = 44), and Technicians and Hospital Administrative Staff (N = 20) and were mainly recruited from four major clinical departments—cardiology, gastroenterology, obstetrics & gynecology, and ENT. The statistical analyses of data included the descriptive statistics, coefficient of correlation and hierarchical regression analysis. The results of regression analysis revealed that among the four dimensions of justice, only procedural justice and relational justice significantly positively predicted job satisfaction of employees. Distributive and informational justice did not predict job satisfaction. Findings further indicated that informational justice was the only dimension that had significantly and positively predicted organizational commitment. Despite the significant zero-order correlations, distributive, procedural, interpersonal or relational justice did not predict organizational commitment. Implications of the study and avenues for future research were discussed.
26 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, a descriptive correlation survey was employed to find out the relationship between organizational commitment and demographic variables (gender, age, qualification, experience and marital status) in Ghana.
Abstract: Organisational commitment is very important for employees of every organisation. The construct has been much researched because of its impact on performance. The objective of the current study was to find out the relationship between organizational commitment and demographic variables (gender, age, qualification, experience and marital status) in Ghana. A descriptive correlation survey was employed in the study. Questionnaire was the main instrument used to gather the data for the current study. A total of 206 employees were randomly selected from 10 branches of a commercial bank in Ghana. The results showed that majority of the employees were moderately and highly committed with male workers recording the highest level of commitment compared to their female counterparts. The study further indicated that, there is evidence of significant relationship between organizational commitment and demographic variables (gender, age, qualification, experience and marital status). In conclusion, some of the organisational policies should be geared towards the improvement of employees’ commitment in order to enhance their performance.
TL;DR: The development of technologies in big data analysis and storage is described and the trends and different values in commercial applications, manufacturing, biomedical science and other applications are analyzed.
Abstract: In the era of big data, large amounts of data affect our work, life and study, even national economic development. It provides a new way of thinking and approaches to analyze and solve problems, which gradually becomes a hot research. Based on describing the concept and characteristics of big data, this paper describes the development of technologies in big data analysis and storage and analyses the trends and different values in commercial applications, manufacturing, biomedical science and other applications. At last, the authors sum up the existent challenges of big data applications and put forward the view that we should deal with big data challenges correctly.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors sought to unearth the views and concerns of the local communities about the CSR activities of mining companies in the Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions of Ghana and found that most people especially in the Eastern region and the Western region had concerns about the lack of frequent medical screening by the mining companies.
Abstract: Mining companies in Ghana seem to have responded somehow over the years to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) call but some still face open resistance from members of the communities who see them (mining companies) as socially irresponsible. The research sought to unearth the views and concerns of the local communities about the CSR activities of mining companies in the Ashanti, Eastern and Western regions of Ghana. The sample was drawn from the catchment communities of gold mining companies who had commercial membership, level A, with the Ghana Chamber of mines. The research established that there was indeed the existence of some health, education, community aid, and livelihood related CSR activities in the communities. The research revealed that most people, especially, in the Eastern region and the Western region had concerns about the lack of frequent medical screening by the mining companies. They are of the view that the operations of the mining companies have a negative effect on them (local community). The research concluded with some recommendations on how local community concerns could be addressed.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the association among bank credit to private sector and economic growth in Pakistan and found that bank credit had extensive relationship with economic progression; in short term the relationship was also significant.
Abstract: Bank credit plays an important role in the economy of any nation. The current study examined the association among bank credit to private sector and economic growth in Pakistan. Economic growth was taken as dependent variable, while bank credit to private sector, interest rate, inflation, investment to GDP and government consumptions were taken as independent variables. Secondary data were collected from World Bank Indicator, ranging for the period 1973 to 2013. Descriptive research and correlation were used to check the normality of data. Unit root test was used to check the stationarity of variables. Co-integration VECUM and Granger Casuality test were statistically used to test the variable relationship and casuality effect of the variable. Regression analysis was used to analyze the impact of bank credit on economic growth. The findings of the study showed that bank credit had extensive relationship with economic progression; in short term the relationship was also significant. Regression analysis showed that there was adverse impact of bank credit on economic growth in Pakistan. However, problem associated with bank credit facility is the constraint and regulation imposed by SBP on the percentage of credit to be given to the Entrepreneurs. For solitary in the meantime bank lending has a casual influence on economic growth, there is a policy need to give devotion to liberalization the monetary sector.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the factors that influence consumer intention to adopt e-commerce in Jakarta and Taipei, and found that trust, cost, social in?uence, and variety of services, perceived usefulness and trialability have significant influence to Jakarta consumer decisions to adopt E-commerce.
Abstract: The number of people using internet has increased due to advances in information technology, and the growth of electronic commerce (e-commerce) is increasingly growing. This study aims to investigate the factors that influence consumer intention to adopt e-commerce in Jakarta and Taipei. In this paper, additional variables such as trust, costs, social influences, various services, and control variables such as age, educational level, and gender of consumers become work extension of traditional model of technology acceptance (TAM) and the diffusion of innovation (DOI) models. By comparing consumers from both Jakarta and Taipei, this research is able to form a comparison model based on two different cultural settings. Data are collected from 192 Jakarta consumers and 184 Taipei consumers, and ANCOVA is employed to test the research model. The results show that trust, cost, social in?uence, and variety of services, perceived usefulness and trialability have significant influence to Jakarta consumer decisions to adopt e-commerce. All of variables except variety of services have significant influence to Taipei consumer decisions to adopt e-commerce. Demographic profile such as age, gender and education level have no significant influence to both cities consumers. Results from this study will be useful for online companies in formulating marketing strategy, especially for companies that will operate in Indonesian market, since Indonesia is a huge and growing market.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyzed the relationships among organizational justice, psychological empowerment, organizational citizenship behaviour, and perceived organizational performance, and found that organizational citizenship behavior partially mediated the relationship between organizational justice and organizational performance.
Abstract: The present research analysed the relationships among organizational justice, psychological empowerment, organizational citizenship behaviour, and perceived organizational performance. For this purpose, the data was collected from 260 employees working in different banks in Pakistan. Baron and Kenny’s regression approach was used to test the mediation effect. In addition, Sobel test by Preacher, K. J. & Hayes, A. F. was also used for bootstrapping in the SPSS. All the alternate hypotheses of the study were accepted. The results of the study revealed that organizational citizenship behaviour partially mediated the relationship between organizational justice and perceived organizational performance. It was also found that organizational citizenship behaviour fully mediated the relationship between psychological empowerment and perceived organizational performance.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on the accessibility of the informal financial systems, with much emphasis on family and friends, their effectiveness, and how to meet the criteria for accessing the finance.
Abstract: It has been established that Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs) play significant roles in the economic development of most countries in terms of job creation, innovation of new ideas, contribution to Gross Domestic Product and welfare, but the ability of SMEs to implement growth and developmental programs highly depend on access to external finance among other factors. Against this backdrop, the persistence citing of limited access to finance by SMEs in the Sub-Saharan African countries which places impediments on their business activities is worrisome to both the entrepreneurs and the State. In spite of several efforts by various governments and relevant institutions in rolling out support policies and initiatives in making access to external finance by SMEs more accessible, the problem still persist and SMEs maybe are yet to reap the full benefits from such initiatives. This research work does not rule out the fact that there exist alternative ways of financing SMEs outside the formal financial system, but this research focuses on the accessibility of the informal financial systems, with much emphasis on family and friends, their effectiveness, and how to meet the criteria for accessing the finance. The results show that SMEs that meet the requirements (trust, reputation, relation (family affiliation), religious affiliation,) of the lenders have easy access to alternative external finance, but the major challenges SMEs face when accessing the funds are the limited size of the loan and how to meet the demands of the lenders. On the lenders side, high defaulting rate is their major challenge. With careful modification without compromising the traditions involving the system, informal financial system will play significant role in providing the financial needs of SMEs.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors highlight poor project conception and definition, poor budget and stakeholder management, as well as inadequate monitoring and evaluation as major causes of infrastructure failures, which can be minimized through the integration of good project management principles in the planning, design and execution of projects.
Abstract: A link exists between the level of investment in infrastructure and economic growth. However, it has been shown that in spite of huge amounts earmarked for infrastructural projects, the desired outcome/benefits are not attained in many cases. This has been attributed to poor adherence to project management principles in the conception, design, and execution of these projects. This paper highlights poor project conception and definition, poor budget and stakeholder management, as well as inadequate monitoring and evaluation as major causes of these failures. This can be minimized through the integration of good project management principles in the planning, design and execution of projects, supported by a robust monitoring and evaluation procedure.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the effects that contractual and relational governance models exert on family firm financial performance, from a survey of 2432 management and non-management employees of family businesses across China and Ghana.
Abstract: Financial performance of firms is a key to long-term survival and profitability. Investors will only invest in firms whose financial performance is creditable; and family businesses are no exception. Perhaps, the performance of family businesses could be attributed to their unique characteristics, which shape their governance. Contractual governance and relational governance are corporate governance structures used to manage the relationships between parties to a transaction and reduce opportunism. Governance models of family firms are often more complex because of the need for two systems (the family and the firm) to interact positively and efficiently despite their different aims, values, institutional structures, etc. In this study, we explore the effects that contractual and relational governance models exert on family firm financial performance, from a survey of 2432 management and non-management employees of family businesses across China and Ghana.
TL;DR: In this paper, a deteriorating inventory model with ramp-type demand pattern under stock-dependent consumption rate is presented, where the deterioration of the product is considered as probabilistic to make the research a more realistic one.
Abstract: This paper describes a deteriorating inventory model with ramp-type demand pattern under stock-dependent consumption rate. The deterioration of the product is considered as probabilistic to make the research a more realistic one. The proposed model assumes partially backorder rate which follows a negative exponential with the waiting time. The effect of inflation and time value of money are incorporated into the model. The purpose of this study is to develop an optimal replenishment policy so that the total profit is maximized. We provide a simple solution procedure to obtain the optimal solutions. Numerical examples along with graphical representations are provided to illustrate the model. Sensitivity analysis of the optimal solution with respect to key parameters of the model has been carried out and the implications are discussed.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors developed an aggregate air quality index to help prepare decision makers, which could rank a state according to the different levels of multiple air pollutants, and then applied it to the US transportation sector using data on five air pollutants (CO, NOx, PM, SO2, and VOCs) in 2008.
Abstract: For the past couple of decades, the transportation sector has made efforts to preserve and improve air quality for public health and sustainable growth between current and future generations. An easily understandable tool to measure the level of air pollution in the transportation sector by considering multiple air pollutants together might raise awareness about clean air to the public, practitioners, state policy planners, and the government. For this reason, this study develops an aggregate air quality index to help prepare decision makers, which could rank a state according to the different levels of multiple air pollutants. The index is developed for use with principal com-ponent analysis and an algebra about a line segment, and then applied to the US transportation sector using data on five air pollutants (CO, NOx, PM, SO2, and VOCs) in 2008. This study finds that some states were less polluted or more polluted in terms of the index, although their GDP levels for a transport mode were similar to each other. Thus, this finding implies that the necessary actions for stricter air quality standards must be taken in their boundaries.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examined the relationship between job and life satisfaction in Southern Saudi Arabia and found that older employees were more satisfied with their jobs than younger employees, while the results of Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis revealed a statistically significant relationship between life satisfaction and job satisfaction, even after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic variables.
Abstract: Organizational literature has demonstrated remarkable attention to the relationship between job and life satisfaction. Approaching the relationship between job and life satisfaction from an attitu-dinal perspective, the present study was conducted to examine the relationship between job and life satisfaction in Southern Saudi Arabia. It also aimed to investigate the contribution of demo-graphic and socioeconomic variables in predicting job and life satisfaction. The results of Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis revealed a statistically significant rela-tionship between job and life satisfaction, even after controlling for demographic and socioeconomic variables. The results also suggested that job satisfaction and life satisfaction were positively and reciprocally related. Having controlled for demographic and socioeconomic variables, the age variable was uniquely predicted job satisfaction. Additionally, Tukey’s post-hoc test showed that participants whose age ranged from 40 to 50 were more satisfied with their jobs (M = 3.73; SD = 0.35) than those from 18 to 28 and from 29 to 39. That is, older employees were more satisfied with their jobs than younger employees.
TL;DR: Based on the research articles about the strategic emerging industries in China of Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index (CSSCI) on http://www.cnki.net/ from 2010 to 2014, the authors analyzed the research literature from quantitative and qualitative perspective and prospect the future research directions of the strategic emergent industries.
Abstract: Based on the research articles about the strategic emerging industries in China of Chinese Social Sciences Citation Index (CSSCI) on http://www.cnki.net/ from 2010 to 2014, we analyze the research literature from quantitative and qualitative perspective and prospect the future research directions of the strategic emerging industries in China. The research data shows that the studies on strategic emerging industries in China have developed rapidly these years, the high-level research results are increasingly abundant, but some problems should be further studied. And we believe that the researchers should focus on the empirical studies based on the development of the practices, and make efforts to construct a whole systematic research framework and pay more attention to the studies on strategic human resources.
TL;DR: In this paper, a survey links the cosmos' destiny to men's wherewithal, that is, the ability of agentive and rational choice of controlled life-quality behavioural traits occurs because of suited "anthropic principles".
Abstract: The “progress” is the outcome of the intentional alteration of the wild surrounds to establish enhanced friendly life conditions for men. The swop entails the earth inhabitants, matching extant peoples by the “social breakthrough”, leading to “collective orders” or human civilization political endings. This identifies as the public range relational setup, by which the men enable planned progress, via culture/ethics artifacts, inventing authority, legality and management, to support trade and business, in view of plus-value arrangements. This “social breakthrough” entails hierarchic arts to assign sovereignty rules, with acknowledged leadership. In basic construal, the survey links cosmos’ destiny to men’s wherewithal, that is, the ability of agentive and rational choice of controlled life-quality behavioural traits occurs because of suited “anthropic principles”. The legality arts, on the political endings, here, confine into split-sovereignty outfits.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used a personality trait classification method called the Big Five personality traits to perform an empirical analysis of the way that the five dimensions of personality traits4 influence purchase intentions for each brand.
Abstract: Fujiwara and Nagasawa [1] verified differences in the degree of effect of the four psychological factors1 that constituted Japanese people’s preference for luxury brands on the development of purchase intentions for luxury food and car brands. This study is related to the study mentioned above and verifies the effects of consumers’ personality traits on purchase intentions for these luxury brands. It uses a personality trait classification method called the “Big Five personality traits” to perform an empirical analysis of the way that the five dimensions of personality traits4 influence purchase intentions for each brand. As a result, it suggests 1) that the purchase intentions of emotionally unstable consumers with a high dimension of Neuroticism for FERRARI and PORSCHE are significantly lower than those with a low dimension of Neuroticism and 2) that the purchase intentions of consumers who are highly devoted to art and have a high dimension of Openness to Experience for DOM PERIGNON, FERRARI, ROLLS-ROYCE and PORSCHE are significantly higher than those with a low dimension of Openness to Experience.
TL;DR: Wang et al. as mentioned in this paper examined the effect of corporate philanthropy on employees' organization commitment and job performance through the angle of workplace spirituality, and found that corporate philanthropies had a positive effect on organization commitment, meanwhile workplace spirituality played a mediating role.
Abstract: The article is aimed at examining the effect of corporate philanthropy on employees' organization commitment and job performance through the angle of workplace spirituality. For this purpose, the data were collected from 347 employees working in different corporations in Beijing. By regression analysis, we found that corporate philanthropy had a positive effect on organization commitment and job performance, meanwhile workplace spirituality played a partly mediating role. All the alternate hypotheses of the study were accepted. According to these research results, it is suggested that corporations should engage in philanthropy activities and take some other measures for promoting employees’ workplace spirituality.
TL;DR: Based on the perspective of service employees psychological capital, the authors adopts questionnaire survey, with every 218 employees of service industry of Jilin province as samples, to examine the Chinese services employees' psychological capital influence on counterproductive work behavior, and explore the mediation role of emotional labor (surface and deep acting) and the moderating role of leaders emotional intelligence.
Abstract: Based on the perspective of service employees psychological capital, this study adopts questionnaire survey, with every 218 employees of service industry of Jilin province as samples, to examine the Chinese services employees’ psychological capital influence on counterproductive work behavior, and explore the mediation role of emotional labor (surface and deep acting) and the moderating role of leaders’ emotional intelligence The results show that the service sector employees’ psychological capital is significantly negative correlated with counterproductive work behavior, deep acting plays the mediation role between the two, and that leaders’ emotional intelligence plays the moderating role between deep acting and the counterproductive work behavior This study provides valuable theoretical bases and feasible solutions for preventing and controlling staff’s counterproductive work behavior caused by psychological capital timely and effectively
TL;DR: In this article, a study was carried out to determine the ways business education can contribute towards poverty alleviation in Enugu State by using a descriptive research design that made use of 24 item structured questionnaire.
Abstract: The study was carried out to determine the ways Business Education can contribute towards poverty alleviation in Enugu State. Two research questions and two null hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted a descriptive research design that made use of 24 item structured questionnaire. The population for the study comprised 93 lecturers comprising 46 university lecturers and 47 polytechnics/colleges of education lecturers. The questionnaire was face validated by three experts. Split-half reliability method was used to determine the reliability of the items and a coefficient of 0.85 was obtained. The questionnaire was administered on 93 respondents by the researchers with the help of two research assistants. The entire 93 copies of the questionnaire were returned. The data collected were analysed using mean, standard deviation and the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings were that business education provides good citizenship through preparing students to become intelligent and productive wage-earners, and also train people to acquire skills and knowledge for employment in business related occupations, and help individuals to set up small scale businesses which can alleviate poverty. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that Federal Government of Nigeria should set up monitoring agency to track implementation processes of the various poverty alleviation programmes it has introduced.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured the air quality of the surrounding areas near the limestone quarries close to Sammad area/Irbid province at two station areas: Shatana and Rahma.
Abstract: Jordan has huge limestone reserves which are used to produce aggregates for construction purposes. These reserves are very important economic sectors in Jordan, but many of these reserves belong to quarries that are located near urban territories. The mining operation type is mainly open cast and this activity has fugitive dust sources that contribute to increasing air quality levels in the urban areas around the quarries. Many of the biggest quarries in Jordan surrounded with urban territories are located in the north of Jordan district Irbid (Sammad area). Due to the quarrying activities, especially those from limestone quarrying (e.g. drilling and blasting, excavation, and transportation) in North Irbid, it is noticed that there is a primary source of an increased level of particulate matter (PM10), which leads to a potential representing pollution to the surrounding areas. PM consists of very small liquid and solid particles floating in the air with a diameter less than 10 microns that are subject to be inhaled into the deepest parts of the lung, and subsequently cause harmful health problems for population. PM10 dust re-suspension factors of the surrounding areas near the limestone quarries close to Sammad area/Irbid province were measured for different seasons at two station areas: Shatana and Rahma. To obtain data and assessment of the impact from this source, measurements included PM10 mass, particle size distributions, wind speed, and wind direction. The results showed that PM10 concentrations could be as high as 130 μg/m3, and that most of the airborne PM was in the coarse fraction. The results revealed that in winter season during the workday, the concentration of PM10 was equal to or below the Jordanian standard, while in summer season during workday the concentration of PM10 was over the Jordanian standard. However, forward trajectories showed that pollutants were attributed to the mining activities inside the quarries and distributed outside the mining area surrounding with urban territories.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors classified the Fraunhofer cluster approach with regard to the academic literature as project clusters compared to simple communication networks and drew practical implications for policy makers and industry regarding the support of regional innovation clusters.
Abstract: Regional innovation clusters are spatial concentrations of interconnected firms, suppliers, service providers, state institutions, and research organisation in a particular field of innovation. The stimulation and support of clusters are important agendas for governments and other public actors. Cluster development initiatives are actually an important direction in economic policy, building on earlier efforts in macroeconomic stabilization, privatisation, and market opening, and reducing the costs of doing business. The purpose of this paper is to look on a specific type of innovative clusters in Germany, which are supported by the Fraunhofer Society, one of the leading, partly public-funded organisations for application-oriented research in Europe. Based on an overview over current issues in cluster literature—beginning with Porter 1990 to the point of actual global-value-chain-approach and the concept of knowledge hubs—the particular cluster approach of the German Fraunhofer Society is classified with regard to the academic literature. Fraunhofer clusters are, in the first instance, project clusters compared to simple communication networks. The case study presented in this paper is a valid example for a long-term and well-established industry cluster, which actually opens out in a project-oriented cluster approach. Finally, it is possible to draw practical implications for policy makers and industry regarding the support of regional innovation clusters.