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Showing papers in "Contemporary Management Research in 2008"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, three proposed models were tested by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using the multi-data source of 138 cases, and the overall fit of the nine-correlated factor model, on its second test, was statistically significant and that indicated that the Full Leadership Model (nine correlated leadership model) could be the most appropriately and adequately capturing the factor constructs of transformationaltransactional leadership.
Abstract: Most previous research on transformational leadership involved the use of the “Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire” (MLQ) to measure various aspects of transformational-transactional leadership. Although the MLQ is widely used, the instrument has been criticized in some areas of its measurement factors. In this study, three proposed models were tested by Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using the multi-data source of 138 cases. Results revealed that the overall fit of the nine-correlated factor model, on its second test, was statistically significant and that indicated that the Full Leadership Model (nine-correlated leadership model) could be the most appropriately and adequately capturing the factor constructs of transformational-transactional leadership. Keywords: Transformational leadership; Structural validity, Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire; Confirmatory Factor Analysis

256 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the long-run and short-run relationships among tourist arrivals to Malaysia and tourism price, substitute price, travelling cost, income and exchange rate for Asian7.
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to investigate the long-run and short-run relationships among tourist arrivals to Malaysia and tourism price, substitute price, travelling cost, income and exchange rate for Asian7. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds test approach developed by Pesaran et al. (2001) is employed in the analysis, and the data cover the period 1970 to 2004. The empirical results show that in the long-run and short-run the tourism price, travelling cost, substitute price and income are the major determinants of Malaysia's tourism demand. The results also show that word-of mouth effect, world economic crisis (1997-98) and the outbreak of SARS (2002-03) significantly affected the demand for Malaysia's tourism in the short-run. The findings are consistent with the economic theory and the model passed all the diagnostic tests. Keywords: Tourism Demand, Cointegration, ARDL Model, Bounds Test, Asian7

55 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The public enterprises reform was an integral part of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986 as discussed by the authors, and it has been replete with varying contradictions in the performance of public enterprises.
Abstract: Public enterprises in Nigeria were established to propel socio-economic development and to guard against the control of the economy from foreign domination and exploitation. This accounts for why a larger proportion of the national budget has been voted for the creation and sustenance of public enterprises. In spite of this, the performance of public enterprises has been replete with varying contradictions. The public enterprises reform was an integral part of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986. This paper tries to review the public enterprises reform and make suggestions for the sustainability of the reform in Nigeria. Keywords: Public, Enterprises, Reform, Privatization, Commercialization

48 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a conceptual model based on a literature review is presented, followed by an Internet survey of 226 K-retailers from the Finnish K-alliance, and the effect of market-sensing capability on their business performance is investigated.
Abstract: This study aims to shed light on the market-sensing capabilities of retail entrepreneurs and the effect of these capabilities on their business performance. A conceptual model based on a literature review is presented, followed by an Internet survey of 226 K-retailers from the Finnish K-alliance. Structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to test the conceptual model and to investigate the effect of market-sensing capability on growth and profitability. The study reveals that most of the studied retail entrepreneurs have relatively well-developed market-sensing capabilities. A weak positive relationship is found to exist between market-sensing capability and company growth. However, no positive relationship is found between market-sensing capability and profitability. Factors other than market-sensing capability were not considered in the present study. However, other factors that might affect business performance in the present research context are identified and discussed. The article sensitizes practitioners to think how entrepreneurs’ market-sensing capabilities should be conceptualized and developed in the retail chain context. The paper presents a novel and distinctive empirical investigation of the relationship between entrepreneurs’ market-sensing capability and firm performance in the retailing context. Keywords: Market-Sensing, Capability, Profitability, Growth, Retail Entrepreneurs

41 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss on the importance of intellectual capital management to an organization strategic management process and propose a typology that explains the linkage between business strategy and intellectual capital.
Abstract: An organisation’s intellectual capital is said to be a source of competitive advantage and there is evidence that business success can be partly explained by its intellectual capital. Previous literature argues that the difference between the organisation’s market value on the stock exchange and its book value is depends on its intellectual capital. This is a conceptual paper and it discusses on the importance of intellectual capital management to an organisation strategic management process. This study uses case study method in order to examine whether there is a linkage between an organisation’s business strategy and its intellectual capital management. This study argues that intellectual capital management should be injected in an organization’s strategic management process at the implementation parts. At the end of this paper, this study proposes typology that explains the linkage between business strategy and intellectual capital management. Keywords: Intellectual Capital, Business Strategy, Intellectual Capital Management, Competitive Advantage, Knowledge-Based Economy

35 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine current international investment regime and their relation with telecommunications as an influence in developing countires, and find a new poisition for telecommunications in a formingly integrated global market.
Abstract: During the past few decades, foreign investment has rapidly increased worldwide and has enhanced economic growth in developing countries. Although foreign investment brings huge economic benefits, many developing countries fear that by opening up markets to competition and foreign investment without restriction, they will lose control of their strategic industries. Among those industries, telecommunications is a sector with substantial impact and influence on national security, social stability and economic development. Therefore, the balance between economic gains from foreign investment and national telecommunications sovereignty presents a challenging task. Is foreign investment a necessary mechanism for developing countries to promote their economic growth? With different developmental models and a myriad of different economic difficulties, is current foreign direct investment on telecommunications suitable to meet the different demands for developing countries? This article will examine current international investment regime and their relation with telecommunications as an influence in developing countires. Assessing these crtitical issues, this article hopes to find a new poisition for telecommunications in a formingly integrated global market.

26 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The paper illustrates the migration method and process, surveys the current migration products, and discusses managerial issues for making the migration process effective.
Abstract: In this review, migration refers to the process of moving from non-relational to relational without manually rewriting all existing applications. The paper illustrates the migration method and process, surveys the current migration products, and discusses managerial issues for making the migration process effective. The discussion of these issues will help the practitioner in planning migration projects. Keywords: Relational Migration, Relational Data Bases, Legacy Systems, Data Conversion, Language Transformation, Data Propagation

19 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explored the modulation effect of involvement level and subculture in the relationship between service recovery and perceived justice, and provided a new shape of the relationship among involvement, subculture and three perceived justices.
Abstract: The purpose of this work is to elucidate how service recovery and perceived justice are related, and explores the modulation effect of involvement level and subculture in this relationship. Samples were collected using the questionnaire, which had been assessed the quality of our measurement efforts by investigating reliability and validity. Under high involvement level, perceived justice is found to be affected mainly by atonement and empowerment, whereas communication, feedback, explanation and tangibles influence perceived justice under low involvement level. Moreover, under city subculture, perceived justice is found to be affected mainly by communication, feedback, explanation and empowerment. Furthermore, under country subculture, perceived justice is found to be affected mainly by atonement and tangibles. Finally, for three dimensions of perceived justice, under high involvement level, distributive justice is found to be affected by service recovery, whereas service recovery influence interactive justice under low involvement. Under city subculture, processing justice is found to be affected by service recovery, whereas service recovery influence distributive justice. For future research, other modulation effect of service recovery may influence perception of perceived justice should be discussed. In practice, hotel managers can hone the relevant variables to raise the effect of service recovery on perceived justice. Finally, this study provides a new shape of the “structural” relationships among involvement, subculture and three perceived justices.

18 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper presents a case study on how to apply ITIL availability management best practice to assess the end-to-end service availability in a tiered web service delivery environment and helps pinpoint the road blocks to the required service level and provide cost-effective solution for improved service delivery.
Abstract: This paper presents a case study on how to apply ITIL availability management best practice to assess the end-to-end service availability in a tiered web service delivery environment. It also helps pinpoint the road blocks to the required service level and provide cost-effective solution for improved service delivery. An overview of basic ITIL availability management concept is provided along with the introduction to two key parameters, mean time between failure (MTBF) for reliability and mean time to repair (MTTR) for maintainability. Then a block diagram modeling approach for the overall information system availability assessment is presented. The block diagrams are used to describe the interrelationship among the components or subsystems to define a system model. The ITIL best practice approaches for availability management are discussed in detail in the case study. It demonstrates that the overall service availability is affected by the availability of information systems as well as applications and operational processes. The modeling approach is capable of gaining visibility on root cause of the service availability degradation, identifying risks in the existing information system, and providing support to future application development and infrastructure upgrade for high availability business services. Keywords: Service Availability, Information System Availability, ITIL, Availability Modeling

12 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide some insights into the organizational culture and how it might assist in increasing organizational performance in the context of rapidly growing foreign subsidiaries, where the appropriate organizational culture for the efficient deployment of resources and consequently for an encouraging outcome on the business performance would appear to be an imperative consideration for business expansions.
Abstract: Bearing in mind the rapidly growing foreign subsidiaries, the appropriate organizational culture for the efficient deployment of resources and consequently for an encouraging outcome on the business performance would appear to be an imperative consideration for business expansions. Internationalization of business may perhaps force not merely the restructuring of cultural values but to consider the overture of different cultural practices which perhaps leads to a superior organizational performance. One could note that the organizational culture literature reinforce that culture is imperatives for organizational change efforts, deployment of human resources and on the whole sustaining competitive edge. Thus leaders are challenged to determine the most valuable culture for their organization and revolutionize the organizational culture as to address the business world mutiny. This paper attempts to provide some insights into the organizational culture and how it might assist in increasing organizational performance. Future research direction been highlighted.

10 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors illuminate the current reform efforts in Nigeria in a bid to demonstrate its home-grown character, its prospects as well as its challenges, highlighting the inconsistency in policy implementation and corruption.
Abstract: Reforms, especially in Nigeria’s economic sector had always been an integral aspect of Nigeria’s political economy since independence in 1960. From time to time, the way and manner in which the business of the State is conducted as well as the benefits accruing to citizens in the process have had to undergo reviews depending on the exigencies of the time. At several occasions, some of the reform policies implemented included the deregulation of interest rates, exchange rate and entry into banking business. Other measures implemented included, the establishment of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, strengthening of the regulatory and supervisory institutions, an upward review of capital adequacy standards, capital market deregulation and introduction of indirect monetary policy instruments. Nevertheless, a peculiar feature of past reform programs in Nigeria is the associated International Monetary Fund /World Bank external influence and directive, inconsistency in policy implementation and corruption. The thrust of this paper therefore is to illuminate the current reform efforts in Nigeria in a bid to demonstrate its home-grown character, its prospects as well as its challenges. Keywords: Service Recovery, Perceived Justice, Involvement, Subculture

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the effectiveness of information systems and information technology education for developing work-ready graduates was analyzed by comparing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills that students acquire throughout their course of studies with skills identified by the ICT industry as being crucial for ICT job sector.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the effectiveness of information systems and information technology education for developing work-ready graduates. It compares Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills that students acquire throughout their course of studies with skills identified by the ICT industry as being crucial for the ICT job sector. The critical skills as seen by ICT workplaces were identified by investigating a sample of 205 randomly selected ICT roles and their associated skill requirements. Our first impression of what students learn and their views of crucial ICT skills were established through a case study of a focus group of graduating ICT students. The outcome of the two studies are compared and reflected upon in this paper. Keywords: Information and Communication Technology (ICT), Information Systems and Technology, ICT Education, ICT Education Effectiveness, Crucial ICT Skills

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present key findings from the study focussing on the Chinese market and highlight that there is still much room for increasing the value of the country's fruit exports and that export markets are regarded as alternative sources of sales during times of oversupply in the domestic market.
Abstract: While Thailand is recognized as a country that produces a variety of unique and great-tasting fruits, it has not been very successful in penetrating overseas markets. This suggests there is still much room for increasing the value of the country’s fruit exports. Up to now, export markets are regarded as alternative sources of sales during times of oversupply in the domestic market. This approach ends up creating problems related to product quality, low bargaining power and poor brand recognition. These factors have hindered the ability of Thailand’s fruit growers to achieve high market shares when compared with their competitors elsewhere in the region. To date many organizations, both public and private, are aware of the situation and have attempted to enhance Thailand’s competitive position as a fruit exporting country. The National Research Council (NRC) of Thailand has initiated an integrated research program that aimed at strengthening the competitiveness of Thai fruit exports. This article presents key findings from the study focussing on the Chinese market.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the relevance between upward influence tactics and the media selection behaviors in specific circumstances like benevolence and conflict in asymmetric interpersonal relationships between a manager and the employee.
Abstract: In asymmetric interpersonal relationships between a manager and the employee, the media selection behavior under formal or informal context is likely influenced by the upward influence strategy of an employee. According to increasing the usage of online communication media such as electronic mail, internet bulletin board, and chat software and so forth, the styles of media selection have been also changed. Although many studies related to the usage of offline-oriented communication methodologies in organization, have been performed, there must not be enough studies for media selection behavior in online and offline circumstances. This study investigates the relevance between the upward influence tactics and the media selection behaviors in specific circumstances like benevolence and conflict. The research findings indicate the rational strategy person usually prefers FTF(face-to-face) communication to others under benevolent and informal/formal context. On the other hand, the soft strategy person more often makes choices the documented communication, as one of asynchronous media. But, under the conflict context, there were no difference between groups in media selection behavior. We conclude that the media selection behavior will be affected by the personal upward influence strategy and the interpersonal relationship. This implication can give contribution to the organizations considering how to improve the effectiveness in upward and downward communication. Keywords: Upward Influence Strategy, Media Selection Theory, Formal/Informal Communication, Synchronous/Asynchronous Media

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the focus group method was adopted to drill into various perceptions from business managers to reveal the gap between the commonly presumed and the actual knowledge creation practices, and the overall objective is that, through better understanding the qualitative ideas of KM, more effective strategies for KM development, adoption, and implementation can be devised.
Abstract: As more managers realize that knowledge within their organizations is an imperative asset to leverage their organizational core competencies and competitive advantages, effective knowledge management (KM), in particular—knowledge creation—becomes a crucial practice for their business success. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of knowledge, many organizations find that their KM initiative diffusion is slow, and with diverse contemplation of what KM is and how KM could and/or should be incorporated in their business processes. To address the problem, this study adopted the focus group method to drill into various perceptions from business managers to reveal the gap between the commonly presumed and the actual knowledge creation practices. The overall objective is that, through better understanding the qualitative ideas of KM, more effective strategies for KM development, adoption, and implementation can be devised. Keywords: Knowledge Management, Knowledge Creation

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, an exploratory investigation into the relationship between a PEO's capabilities, its client's ability to assess these accurately, and the decision to outsource HRM in a multinational context is presented.
Abstract: This paper is an exploratory investigation into the relationship between a PEO’s capabilities, its client’s ability to assess these accurately, and the decision to outsource HRM in a multinational context. The literature review highlights that while the capabilities of a PEO are a known factor in successful outsourcing decisions, there has been little discussion of an organisations ability to identify such capabilities. Thus it is argued that not all PEOs possess the ‘full spectrum’ of HRM capabilities, and furthermore, that a contracting firm is more unlikely to be aware of this when the relationship is transacted across international boarders. This hypothesis is supported by case study investigations of two international PEOs and six of their clients, carried out during 2006. The paper discusses significant ramifications for organisations, which are in growing numbers, deciding to outsource some or all of their HR function. Keywords: Outsourcing, Human Resource Management, Multinational Corporations, Case Study

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the literature on multisource feedback and comparative culture is reviewed based upon practices suggested by recent literature, a research was conducted at the two large-size organizations in Thailand.
Abstract: As performance appraisal method known as multisource feedback (MSF) or 360° feedback was popular in Western organizations for decades, it is questionable if the practice will offer similar benefits at international level. In this article, the literature on multisource feedback and comparative culture is reviewed. Based upon practices suggested by recent literature, a research was conducted at the two large-size organizations in Thailand. This research found that managers can accept the multisource feedback for development purpose. Negative cultural implications can be avoided while maintaining the merits of multisource feedback for employee development. Keywords: Human Resource Management, Performance Appraisal, Human Resource Development, culture, Thailand

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This paper proposes to introduce e-collaboration intermediary which is in charge of supporting that SMEs with the different system each other can form the collaborative business relationship while they use their own unique systems.
Abstract: Latest e-business trends are collaborations as alternatives to extreme competition and strategies for cost-saving and growth. But e-collaboration among SMEs(Small and Medium Size Enterprises) has too many constraints. Because SMEs are feeble in utilizing IT technology and lack driving force and concentration for informatization. In this context, we propose to introduce e-collaboration intermediary which can promote e-collaboration among SMEs. It is in charge of supporting that SMEs with the different system each other can form the collaborative business relationship while they use their own unique systems. We also show e-collaboration intermediary's system architecture which can be adoptable. Lastly, we think about expected effect in technical and business aspects. In the technical aspect, its application can be justified in its open, horizontal, and result-oriented characteristics. And in the business aspect, its application can be justified in making the business activities efficient or creating the new business. Keywords: E-Collaboration Intermediary, E-Collaboration Platform, Horizontal Collaboration

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the most important publications and the most influential scholars as well as the correlations among these documents by analyzing 33,132 citations of 1,267 articles published by SSCI journals in human resource management area between 1996 and 2005.
Abstract: To map the intellectual structure of human resource management studies in the past decade, this study investigated the most important publications and the most influential scholars as well as the correlations among these documents by analyzing 33,132 citations of 1,267 articles published by SSCI journals in human resource management area between 1996 and 2005. This study further mapped the invisible network of knowledge of human resource management using co-citation analysis. Such a mapping can help identify the paradigm shift of human resource management research, and provide a valuable tool for researchers to access the literature in this area.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors provided a conceptual framework for the development of a student recruitment agent management system for private universities and colleges in Malaysia based on the balanced scorecard methodology proposed by Kaplan and Norton in the 1990s.
Abstract: The objective of this paper is to provide a conceptual framework for the development of a student recruitment agent management system for private universities and colleges in Malaysia. There is a need for such system especially in a maturing (competitive) international education market life cycle as competition intensifies. The availability of such system could provide private universities and colleges with the opportunity to develop competitive advantage through the control of the marketing channel of the international education market. This system is developed based on the balanced scorecard methodology proposed by Kaplan and Norton in the 1990s. The paper, first, analyses the nature of competition in the international education market, the role of the recruitment agents in the industry, the behaviour of the international students, and the behaviour of the recruitment agents. Next, it discusses the principal-agent theory and power theory to explain the behaviour of the agents. Apart from that, the management control theory will be used in conjunction with balanced scorecard to outline conceptual framework for the development of the student recruitment agent management system. It is hoped that this conceptual framework can be applied and tested empirically in future research. Keywords: Student Recruitment Management System, Balanced Scorecard, Performance Management and International Education.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors define team learning as one which is complete when the team encounters and drives environmental constituents towards the path of achieving its assigned goal, and propose four types of team learning: synergistic, isolated, alienated, and destructive.
Abstract: This study defines team learning as one which is complete when the team encounters and drives environmental constituents towards the path of achieving its assigned goal. Based upon fit to both external and internal environments, four types of team learning are proposed: synergistic, isolated, alienated, and destructive. Case studies of team projects in Korean and Japanese companies show that team projects with high evaluation from the top manager and/or customer succeed in dealing with both external and internal environmental factors, while team projects with low evaluations fail to meet the demands of internal environmental constituents. Some theoretical and practical implications are suggested in the conclusion. Keywords: Team Learning, Environmental Fit, Team Project

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results of this study indicate that companies should consider the changes necessary to support fully integration; the total relevant cost within the supply chain can be significantly reduced when compared with a typical partial-integration.
Abstract: Few previous researches have considered the integration of three echelons, which is the central focus of this paper. This study focuses specifically on the decisions of frequent deliveries of an order, under a three-echelon distribution system of multiple manufacturers, one distribution center (DC), and several retailers. The authors develop a fully-integrated model by multiple objective decision making method. The main goal is to find solution of the model which optimizes both objectives functions simultaneously. In addition, typical partial-integrated model is defined as quantity of products by which manufacturers produced and transported according to the result that achieves the minimum total cost of the DC and the retailers. Compared with fully-integrated model, the total relevant cost is significantly less than the total cost of a typical partial-integrated policy. The results of this study indicate that companies should consider the changes necessary to support fully integration; the total relevant cost within the supply chain can be significantly reduced when compared with a typical partial-integration. Keywords: Supply Chain Management, Multiple Objective, Integration, Distribution Center, Three Echelons