Showing papers in "Contemporary Management Research in 2010"
TL;DR: Findings from the study reveal that the area chosen for the study exhibit slum condition that has undenied impact on the socio-economic lifestyles and the health of the residents, as well as the general outlook of the environment.
Abstract: This paper examines the importance of housing to man as an essential need and a prerequisite for the survival of man after food. It equally recognizes profound influence it has on the health, behaviour and efficiency of man and the nation as a whole. The study was carried out with the aid of questionnaire administration, building and facility survey Using random sampling technique, every 5th houses in the five district areas was picked for interviewed. Also, data were collected from related government ministries and departments to particular find out government’s intervention in this area. Findings from the study reveal that the area chosen for the study exhibit slum condition that has undenied impact on the socio-economic lifestyles and the health of the residents, as well as the general outlook of the environment. Recommendations were proffered to guide the policy makers towards enhancing the lives of the residents of the area. Some of which include upgrading programme through the provision of urban basic services and improved sanitation strategies for sustainable management of the area, Public enlightment campaign is also recommended so that the residents will know the importance of good living condition to their health and as well to know the danger of abusing their environment.
Keywords: Housing, Life-Style, Slum, Income, Health
40 citations
TL;DR: Results of the multi-case study showed that the ITIL downsides were: 1) incongruence between quality improvement and customer’s expectation, 2) inefficiency in meeting customer's needs, 3) conflicts between standardized processes and unanticipated requests, 5) lack of autonomy and calcified learning scope, and 6) people lacking integrative capability.
Abstract:
This paper reports the findings of a multi-case study on three service-based companies. It intends to highlight the difficulties that the customer service centers of these companies had in their attempt to implement IT infrastructure library to improve organizational efficiency. The study was designed to collect data related to the barriers to investment in information technology infrastructure library (ITIL) across service and process. The main research method involved interviews in the organizational settings. The framework of balanced scorecard (BSC) was used to collect the data. Results of the multi-case study showed that the ITIL downsides were: 1) incongruence between quality improvement and customer’s expectation, 2) inefficiency in meeting customer’s needs, 3) conflicts between standardized processes and unanticipated requests, 5) lack of autonomy and calcified learning scope, and 6) people lacking integrative capability.
Keywords: Total Quality Management, IT Service, ITIL
39 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify emerging patterns of reasons for employee misconduct consistent with agency theory and psychological contract theory and identify the main themes of misconduct as social norms, process loopholes, small scale dishonesty and pressure for performance.
Abstract: Of the recent trends in corporate governance, the ethical conduct of managers is one of the most challenging tasks facing business enterprises. This research identifies major themes in order to understand reasons for employee misconduct. From eight large size business enterprises, in-depth interviews were conducted among human resource managers who investigated severe unethical conducts in companies which results in employee termination. The findings indicate that the main reason of employee misconduct was identified with personal or financial gain. The main themes of misconduct are identified as social norms, process loopholes, small scale dishonesty and pressure for performance. The qualitative research findings identify emerging patterns of reasons for employee misconduct consistent with agency theory and psychological contract theory.
Keywords: Business Ethics, Compliance, Corporate Governance, Corporate Social Responsibility, Human Resource Management, Thailand
28 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors look at the innovation capacities across all metropolitan regions in the U.S., and the extent to which they determine economic growth in these regions. But they do not consider the impact of innovation capacity on economic growth.
Abstract: The knowledge economy represents an intangible economic configuration whereby knowledge is valued as a key factor in production. Economic growth in leading world economies is increasingly based on knowledge, in addition to tangible assets such as capital and labor. Knowledge work involves creation, and can therefore be operationalized by innovation for empirical analysis. Under this definition, this study looks at the innovation capacities across all metropolitan regions in the U.S., and the extent to which they determine economic growth in these regions. Using industry data on U.S. metropolitan regions from 1988 to 2007, the research findings show that the impact of innovation capacity on economic growth has significantly increased after the dot com era. However, the magnitude of increment was small. This can be explained by the wide variations in the U.S. in industry bases, and their region-specific contextual factors. To explain these findings, the study concludes with a literature review on a contextual approach to study the economic impact of innovation capacity on a region’s economic performance. The researcher proposes taking a more focused and less aggregated approach to study and compare regions, so as to account for various contextual factors.
Keywords: Innovation Capacity, Knowledge Economy, Economic Growth
12 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated significant determinants of VoIP adoption in the top 500 export-import enterprises in Taiwan and used logistic regression to examine four variables: top management support, environment competition, cost and business size.
Abstract: Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a critical innovation technology in the globally oriented business world, which emphasizes flexibility and efficiency as means to reduce operation cost and improve service quality. Yet there is little research in the organization behavior literature investigating what factors affect enterprise decision to adopt VoIP. This study investigated significant determinants of VoIP adoption in the top 500 export-import enterprises in Taiwan. Logistic regression was used to examine four variables: top management support, environment competition, cost and business size. Specifically, the characteristic comparison of VoIP adopters and non-adopters were presented. We concluded by discussing weight ratio of VoIP adoption factor, characteristics of potential adopters and its managerial implications.
Keywords: VoIP, Adoption, Logistic Regression
10 citations
TL;DR: The purpose of this paper is to implement DBR based on the proposed modeling methodology, and the advantages of the system are demonstrated with the case study of the Locomotive Maintenance’s Business (Rules).
Abstract: Business Rules are operational rules based on data that business organizations follow to perform various activities. Regarding problem domains in the organization, business rules (BR) are classified into two groups: Static and Dynamic. A static business rule is a constraint (integrity) or derivation rule that applies to each individual state of the business, taken one state at a time. Dynamic Business Rules (DBR) are concerned with the invocation of actions in response to events.
Although a lot of modeling languages and approaches for business rules modeling and different technologies and tools for business rules implementation have been proposed by researchers and practitioners in the past ten years, there is no consensus yet on technology standard and logical relationship between the modeling and the implementation of the proposed methods.
The purpose of this paper is to implement DBR based on our proposed modeling methodology. In this study, DBR System architecture is developed using Java and Prolog+CG, a CG-based logic programming language which integrates Prolog, the manipulation of conceptual graphs, Java and object-oriented constructs. The advantages of our system are demonstrated with the case study of the Locomotive Maintenance’s Business (Rules).
Keywords: Business Rules Approach, Dynamic Business Rules (DBR), Conceptual Graphs (CG), Mineau’s Approach, Prolog+CG
7 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors apply the lens of power to the understanding of progressive discipline in Australian workplace contexts using data from the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, they analysed the outcomes of 78 unfair dismissal cases across 17 industries over a four-year period (1997-2000).
Abstract: The aim of this exploratory study is to apply the lens of power to the understanding of progressive discipline in Australian workplace contexts Using data from the Australian Industrial Relations Commission, we analysed the outcomes of 78 unfair dismissal cases across 17 industries over a four-year period (1997-2000) We found that the application of progressive discipline on employees is concentrated around industry and occupational class Specifically, it shows that occupational classes such as unskilled, skilled, and sales staff are more susceptible to disciplining by employers It raises the awareness of the immense power the employer derives from the use of progressive discipline over employees and implications in the new environment of on-going labour deregulation and the lack of statutory intervention to ameliorate the growing power imbalance Given that the research focuses on progressive discipline, the data provides strong grounding for theory building and telling a story on the industrial relations environment where power is becoming increasingly oriented towards employers, especially as union density declines As such, we hope the simplicity of our research inspires further research that uses more advanced statistical analysis and modelling The paper has implications for managers/supervisors involved in formulation of progressive discipline policies and for employee advocates who champion employee welfare It demonstrates that power determines employee performance outcomes, which may not necessarily be in the interest of the employer and to a greater degree the employee When applying current theory in power, one can challenge the
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors applied extreme value theory to the Taiwanese rice loss caused by typhoons to demonstrate how these new statistical tools can be used to improve quantitative risk management, and evaluated the appropriateness of the upper tail fitting to loss data by comparing with standard parametric modeling that is based on lognormal and gamma distributions.
Abstract: This paper applies extreme value theory to the Taiwanese rice loss caused by typhoons to demonstrate how these new statistical tools can be used to improve quantitative risk management. The application of the extreme value theory to statistics allowed us to test models with data from the upper tail of a distribution. Using the block-max and peak-over-threshold approaches to extreme value modeling, we matched generalized extreme value distribution (GEVD) and generalized Pareto distribution (GPD) to agricultural losses caused by natural disasters, with Taiwanese data from 1971 to 2005. We then evaluated the appropriateness of the upper tail fitting to loss data by comparing with standard parametric modeling that is based on lognormal and gamma distributions. The extreme value theory outperforms classical parametric fits for the largest observed historical losses. Finally, we draw particular attention to issues related to agricultural disaster and calculate the 90th, 95th, and 99th percentile of VaR and expected shortfall. These results could help the authorities or agriculture risk managers to check the applicable loss-compensation regulations.
Keywords: Generalized Extreme Value Distribution, Generalized Pareto Distribution, T-Year Return Level, Value-at-Risk, Expected Shortfall
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigate the potential moderating impact of three common foreign direct investment characteristics (years of operation, size and role) on the market orientation of MNE subsidiaries located in Greece.
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to extent internationalization theories by investigating the potential moderating impact of three common foreign direct investment (FDI) characteristics (years of operation, size and role) on the market orientation of MNE subsidiaries located in Greece. By developing hypotheses based on existing literature, our findings indicate that market-seeking FDI and import substitution strategies correlate with an increased importance for the focal, and those markets which are characterized by geographical proximity and similar structural elements (Balkan countries). Strategic-seeking FDI and subsidiaries’ mandate to extent MNEs’ original product line mainly targets at supplying integrated economic areas (EU) and global markets. Subsidiaries which are relatively smaller and more recently established tend to focus on more geographically dispersed markets. In the main, the results meet our expectations for a middle-income peripheral European economy, where foreign operations show strong elements of static and immediate competitiveness, but also emerging potentials to upgrade their roles into more sophisticated regional representatives of their respective network.
Keywords: Internationalization Strategies, Subsidiaries, Greece
6 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the design and implementation of a decision support system (DSS) based on the fund dispatching decision viewpoint from the financial division of a business group.
Abstract: This paper describes the design and implementation of a decision support system (DSS) based on the fund dispatching decision viewpoint from the financial division of a business group. An integrated data warehouse is established and the technique of online analytical processing (OLAP) is applied to analyze daily transaction data of an enterprise resource planning system with determined management goal. We adopt the Business Dimensional Lifecycle approach to accomplish the system design and development. The DSS system developed is to provide latest and timely information of financial asset and liability positions in each company within the case business group so that decision makers can have a clear decision support in fund dispatching. While most related researches on fund dispatching focused especially on efficient banking capital management and few studies were done for general financial department of traditional enterprise let alone for the business group, this study has made a progress in this issue and the resultant system is applicable to the similar business group.
Keywords: Financial Asset and Liability, Fund Dispatching, Decision Support Systems, OLAP, Data Warehouse
6 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the use of supply chain management (SCM) principles is described as an effective strategy to attain competitiveness for these so-called “Enterprise Systems education” institutions.
Abstract: The U.S. and other developed nations are experiencing competitiveness in offering higher educational degree programs. Due to the rise of more private and online educational institutions, existing traditional class room teaching institutions are facing the impact of intensifying competition in recruitment and graduation. This created the so-called “Enterprise Systems Education” at large. Many strategies are designed and developed internally to attain competitiveness. One should consider adopting the systems concept of close collaboration and integration efforts with the industries which the commercial enterprises have deployed successfully for decades to attain competitiveness. This paper describes the use of Supply Chain Management (SCM) principles as an effective strategy to attain competitiveness for these so-called “Enterprise Systems Education” institutions.
Keywords: Supply Chain Management Competitiveness Enterprise Systems
TL;DR: This paper used survey questionnaires and interviews to identify the criteria that Taiwanese enterprises use to select executive candidates for overseas assignments, including integrity, loyalty, tenacity, crisis management, decision-making ability, execution, independence, professional skills and knowledge required for the foreign assignment, working performance, willingness, self-confidence, resilience, ambition and prior work experience.
Abstract: The increasing trend toward corporate globalization has generated much research on expatriate management but little on the criteria used to select executive candidates. This study used survey questionnaires and interviews to identify the criteria that Taiwanese enterprises use to select executive candidates for overseas assignments. The result identified 15 key criteria including integrity, loyalty, tenacity, crisis management, decision-making ability, execution, independence, professional skills and knowledge required for the foreign assignment, working performance, willingness, self-confidence, resilience, ambition, and prior work experience. Those selected for overseas assignments were mostly male managers with over ten year’s employment in the company, with the majority taking up marketing positions. Another important finding was that Taiwanese companies prefered to hire local executives in more developed markets (North America, Europe, and Northeast Asia), but less so in developing and underdeveloped markets (Latin America, Mainland China, and Southeast Asia).
Keywords: Corporate Globalization, Expatriate Management, Selection Criteria
TL;DR: The findings from this study can provide valuable insights to external auditors in designing a cost-effective and high-quality audit decision support system to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Abstract: The major purpose of this paper is to find the financial and nonfinancial variables which would be useful in identifying companies with Sarbanes-Oxley Act internal control material weaknesses (MW). Recently, three research papers have been published on this topic based on different variables. Using the decision tree model of data mining, this paper examines the predictive power of the variables used in each paper in identifying MW companies and compares the predictive rates of the three sets of the variables used in these studies. In addition, an attempt is made to find the optimal set of the variables which gives the highest predictive rate. Our results have shown that each set of the variables is complementary to each other and strengthens the prediction accuracy. The findings from this study can provide valuable insights to external auditors in designing a cost-effective and high-quality audit decision support system to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
Keywords: Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Internal Control Material Weakness, Data Mining
TL;DR: In this article, the authors show that management, process innovation, and resource infusion play a major role in the performance of Taiwanese SMEs to implement e-business, and therefore have the potential to promote e-Business growth.
Abstract: The adoption and implementation of e-business by small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Taiwan has become increasingly important in order to stay competitive. Due to the disparities between industries and the differing maturity levels of e-business, SMEs must apply diverse strategies and activities to deploy their e-business projects. Employing questionnaire surveys and interviews, this study demonstrates that management, process innovation, and resource infusion play a major role in the performance of Taiwanese SMEs to implement e-business, and, therefore, have the potential to promote e-business growth. Results revealed that implementation of cost reduction along with revenue increments during the midterm of the e-business project had good benefits. The factors of management, process innovation, and resource infusion were statistically significant and this implies that they have positive influences on e-business when applied in different industries.
Keywords: E-Business, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
TL;DR: In this article, an analytical network process (ANP) framework was used to select the entry mode for a photoelectric lens company in Taiwan looking to invest in the Vietnamese or Thai markets.
Abstract: Entry mode selection is an important and practical task for an enterprise when entering a foreign market. No method in the literature applies directly. The aim of this paper is to discuss and develop an entry mode selection model. Based on an Analytic Network Process (ANP) framework, the model is for a photoelectric lens company in Taiwan looking to invest in the Vietnamese or Thai markets. The ANP is a general theory of relative measurement used to composite-priority-ration scales from individual-ration scales that represent the differential influence of factors that interact to control determinants. Based upon the theories of Transaction Cost Economics and Institutional Approach, four determinants are significant: general transaction costs, asset specificity, internal environmental institutions, and host-country environmental institutions and the 12 indicators embedded in them. Because some portions of the data are inaccessible, hypothetical numbers supplement the actual data to illustrate the processes. The paper also illustrates how a group of judges comprised of company stakeholders can implement the ANP model for selecting entry modes.
Keywords: entry mode selection, Analytical Network Process (ANP), Analytical Hieratical Process (AHP)
TL;DR: In this article, a typology and evaluations of inter-firm relationships in the telecommunications industry are discussed, and three hypotheses are proposed and examined regarding general market responses and the difference in responses between each defined type of relationship and market.
Abstract: This paper discusses a typology and evaluations of inter-firm relationships in the telecommunications industry. The authors define inter-firm relationships as a broad range of relationships including strategic alliances, joint ventures, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A) or other equity-based relationships. Forming relationships and selecting partners are the two most important issues for managers when arranging inter-firm relationships and these are also important subjects for research in this area. The authors empirically analyzed inter-firm relationships by evaluating short-term stock-market responses to announcements about the formation of such relationships. These evaluations follow typologies previously proposed by the authors, which are explained in this paper. Three hypotheses are proposed and examined regarding general market responses and the difference in responses between each defined type of relationship and market.
The results from evaluations revealed that market responses were generally not favorable in the short term in contrast to general understanding of market responses. However, the authors found significant differences in responses between the relationship categories of the framework. Practical implementations were obtained where managers in the industry had to take into account how the stock market responded to the formation of inter-firm relationships when they developed their corporate strategies. The results also demonstrated the validity of the proposed framework and suggested it should be useful to enable further analysis of this industry.
Keywords: Telecommunications, Alliances, M&A, Typology, Evaluation
TL;DR: In this article, the authors proposed a "singing lottery ticket" pricing mechanism that might give the users the incentive to pay a small subscription fee to download the music, which is the same as the one proposed in this paper.
Abstract: Given its increasing impact on the economy, e-commerce has attracted attentions of scholars from a broad range of disciplines. One of the questions that still remain is: “How to determine prices for digital products and services?” When some products that used to be sold in the regular market with a price tag, and now they are distributed free over the Internet, then, pricing these products becomes a challenging issue. We have proposed a “singing lottery ticket” pricing mechanism that might give the users the incentive to pay a small subscription fee to download the music.
Keyword: Pricing, Electronic Commerce, Lottery
TL;DR: In this article, the authors apply a multiple perspective approach to explore theories of transaction cost, third party agent, resource-reliance, cooperative relationship, and performance efficacy of personal wealth management.
Abstract: Despite the fact that several finance case studies have investigated the performance to personal wealth outsourcing, little is known about how specific performance of personal wealth management illustrate with multi-theories. We apply a multiple perspective approach to explore theories of transaction cost, third party agent, resource-reliance, cooperative relationship, and performance efficacy. Our results indicate that most of these factors indeed significantly influence the degree of integration in cooperation relationship to lead the performance of personal wealth management. In particular, our study offers a theoretical rationale for why reactions to personal wealth outsourcing may occur, while providing practitioners with several means by which they can increase the value of outsourcing service.
Keywords: Transaction Costs Theory, Agency Theory, Resource-Dependence Theory,
Wealth Management, Cooperation Relationship, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
TL;DR: A new authentication protocol is proposed adding two levels of protection and providing users with a trustworthy trading environment through stronger identification and authentication functions.
Abstract: This research takes a two-pronged approach, identifying and then proposing a solution for the basic problem keeping many potential users from engaging in online auction trading, and discouraging those who do use these sites from buying or selling high-value items. The problem? ---The absence of a reliable user registration process. To remedy this situation, this study proposes a new authentication protocol adding two levels of protection and providing users with a trustworthy trading environment through stronger identification and authentication functions.
Keywords: Online Auction, E-commerce Trust, User Authentication, eBay Reputation