Showing papers in "International Journal of Business Economics and Management Research in 2012"

A study on job satisfaction among the employees of state bank of India in Coimbatore city

Abstract: The banking sector has undergone a sea-change over the years, which has put new pressures and realities in front of the bank employees. Bank employees have perhaps felt the maximum heat. Bank employees form a delicate link between the management and the clerical staff. The success of the bank to a large extent depends upon the coordination, synchronization and cooperation of the Bank Officers with these two very divergent entities. Through this research study an attempt has been degree of overall job satisfaction prevailing among the Bank employees but also to bank employee's views on the different factors contributing to their job satisfaction, in the light of current realities. The aim of this study was to examine job satisfaction level of bank employees in Punjab Province. A structured questionnaire survey conducted. Five components of job satisfaction; work, pay, promotion, salary and recognition, were examined besides overall job satisfaction.

Effects of empowerment on student educational satisfaction and commitment to continue studies: A study among Indian commerce students

Abstract: The trends of “for-profit organizations” in the education sector have started taking place in India. It is important to improve the student retention because it has a negative impact on the revenues and the bottom lines of the educational institutions. Empowerment holds a great promise for colleges and universities because it can be used to improve students’ perceived educational satisfaction and commitment to continue their studies at the same college/university. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of empowerment on students’ educational satisfaction and commitment to continue their studies at the same college/university. This study consists of a population of undergraduate students enrolled in the business management programs at colleges and universities in Punjab and Delhi areas of India. A survey research (a non-experimental field study design) was utilized. A convenience sampling method was applied to select and recruit the research participants. Data were collected using questionnaires. To test the hypotheses, p <. 05 significance level was used to accept or reject a null hypothesis. Positive relationships between i) students’ perceived empowerment and students’ perceived educational satisfaction and ii) students’ perceived empowerment and students’ perceived commitment to continue their studies at the same college/university were found. This study contributes to the literature on the factors that affect students’ educational satisfaction and commitment to continue their studies at the same college/university. The findings may be useful for the colleges/universities and instructors/professors.

Work life balance among women

Abstract: Working women are perpetually juggling the demands of a career and a personal life.Achieving the elusive “work-life balance” can often feel like an impossible goal, especially for those who strive to give their best to every thing they do. In today's “do more with less” competitive reality, managing careers and families, and feel satisfied with both can be a herculean task. In a life filled with conflicting responsibilities and commitments, work life balance has become a predominant issue in the workplace. The present study attempted to identify the work life balance among women employees in education and banking sector in Ludhiana city. It also attempted to identify the various factors that contribute to work life imbalance. It was found that there was a significant difference in work life balance among women working in education sector and banking sector. Though the work life imbalance was not prevalent among school and college women teachers, the working women in private banks experienced work life imbalance as compared to the working women in public banks.

GDP, railway freight, inflation & population density: An econometric quadrangular study in Indian context (1960–2009)

Abstract: The main purpose of this study is to ascertain the existence of a relationship (if any) between GDP, Inflation, population density and freight carried by Indian railways. The paper explores the nexus between Indian GDP, Railway freight, inflation and population density, with a view of understanding the causality relationship in the backdrop of Indian economic growth over a period of fifty years (1960–2009) using cointegration and Granger causality test. Detection of stationarity in the series was carried out using the Augmented Dickey-Fuller test (ADF) and Phillips-Perron(PP) Unit root test and stationarity outcomes indicated GDP & Inflation data to be stationary and Population density & Railway Freight to be non stationary at 5% level of significance. The paper reveals unidirectional causality from GDP to Population density and also from GDP to railway freight, whereas bidirectional causality is found to exist between railway freight and population-density. Thus, these test findings confirm the existence of a positive relation between GDP and Indian railway freight for the period (1960–2009).

A study on investment patterns of stock market investors – A case study with reference to Anantapur district in A.P.

Abstract: Stock markets play a crucial role in the acceleration of the pace of growth in a developing economy like India. Today the stock markets in India are scaling new and all-time highs. The Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) and the domestic investors, mainly the mutual funds, appear to have been showing their persistent faith and unshaken confidence in Indian stock markets. The investors’ confidence and faith in stock markets is an essential prerequisite for the smooth, steady and stimulating performance of the stock markets in any country. Moreover, the spread of investment culture among the small and retail investors, especially among the rural investors also goes a long-way in the sustained development of stock markets and helps in capital formation in the country.

M-Banking services - A milestone for customers

Abstract: In the present day banking, total automation of banking operations is an imperative need for all banks to attract more customers, provide efficient services, and survive in the emerging new competition, apart from the profit motive which is the primary objective of the business. In order to achieve these goals of business, various channels have been developed through technology. ‘Mobile Banking’ is one of the best alternative channels available to customers for quick, correct and efficient service at anytime & anywhere. The present paper is devoted to explore the extent of Mobile banking in Indian banking industry where cell phone users are increasing at unexpected rate. Time period taken for study is 2000–01 to 2006–07 because this period is the eye-witness of infant condition of IT & during the same period IT became mature. Simple statistical tools like average, standard deviation, co-efficient of variation are used to calculate the efficiency of various bank groups providing the service of M-banking. On the basis of analysis, the paper concludes that the private sector banks are on the top in providing the M-banking services to their customers and have high profitability as compared to other bank groups under study except foreign banks. The paper also highlights the benefits of M-banking to customers as well as to bankers and suggests some strategies with their possible solutions like to spread awareness regarding M-banking and to increase its area & scope to enhance M-banking services in India, particularly in rural & semi-urban areas.

Does ownership structure affecting ipo underpricing: A case of indian stock market?

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: The initial public offering (IPO) is an important life cycle of a firm and has significant effects on the firm’s ownership structure. Ownership structure plays a dominant role in shareholding pattern in initial public offerings. PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: This paper investigates the association between ownership structure and level of underpricing at Indian stock market. We make use of a large sample of 319 firms for listed on Bombay stock exchange during 2000-2011. It is argued that higher underpricing induces investor’s participation. Shareholding patterns divided into four categories i.e. Indian promoters, foreign promoters, institutional non-promoters and non institutional non-promoters. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: Using a sample of Indian IPOs of 319, we provide evidence of statistically significant relationship between ownership structures i.e. Indian promoters, foreign promoters, institutional non-promoters and non institutional non-promoters and level of underpricing. FINDINGS: Overall, our analysis suggests that only Indian promoter’s and non institutional non-promoters has significant affected the level of underpricing. There is negative relationship between Indian promoters holding and level of underpricing. There is positive relationship between non institutional non-promoters and level of underpricing. There is no significant relationship between foreign promoter and institutional non-promoters holding and level of underpricing.

The effects of corporate strategy and capital structure on firm performance: Evidence from Canada

Abstract: The corporate strategy and capital structure decisions are important because of the need to maximize shareholders’ wealth, and because of the impact such decisions have on the firm's ability to deal with its competitive environment. The purpose of this study is to test the relationships between corporate strategy, capital structure, and firm performance. This study also seeks to extend the findings of Su and Vo (2010). A sample of 91 Canadian manufacturing firms listed on Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) for a period of 3 years (from 2008–2010) was selected. This study applied co-relational and non-experimental research design. The findings show that both the corporate strategy and capital structure effect the performance of Canadian manufacturing firms. This study contributes to the literature on the factors that affect firm performance. The findings may be useful for the financial managers, investors, and financial management consultants.

Constraints of women's empowerment though self-help groups: A case study in lakhimpur district of Assam

Abstract: Almost half of the country's population is women. Women also plays a significant part in a household as well as in the economy. But till today women are found to be backward in comparison to men. Several efforts have been taken by the government for the socio-economic development of women in our country and Self Help Group (SHG) has gained prominence as a successful strategy for women empowerment in India since 1980. Present study focuses on, review of various literatures relating to women empowerment and find out research issues. Moreover the study examines various socio-economic and institutional constrains relating to women empowerment of different social groups under SHG through microfinance. This study was conducted in the Lakhimpur district of Assam. Data collected from different social groups of selected development blocks of the district under purposive sample method and total 200 sample respondents (SHG members) were taken for the study. The study found various constrains of women empowerment through microfinance and suggested to overcome the constraints.

The world of signs and symbols: An english teacher's dilemma

Abstract: Semiotics, the most vital and innate part of communication, has ironically not received so far, its share of attention by the language theorists. Semiotics is that branch of knowledge which deals with the study of signs and symbols that give a concrete shape to the abstract ideas. Semiotics is the study of signs, which obviously may consist of language, pictures, body language etc. Semioticians study how people interpret and construct a meaning of a particular sign, based upon their previous cultural or personal experiences. The Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure (1857–1913), a founder of linguistics initiated the idea of semiotics in his renowned book ‘Course in General Linguistics’, in 1916. A few more noteworthy contributors to this field along with Saussure are Charles Sanders Peirce, Charles William Morris, Roland Barthes, Algirdas Greimas, Yuri Lotman, Christian Metz, Umberto Eco and Julia Kristeva.

Core competencies in the retail sector of the financial services industry

Abstract: The combination of these rapid structural changes has forced retail service providers to develop new managerial capabilities and technical competencies. Financial service providers must be sure to differentiate their managerial capabilities: service (customer interface), intellectual capital and infrastructure management. Instead of focusing on end-users (customers) a firm may change its strategy to develop economies of scale in transaction execution. This allows new entrants to become aggregators and interface with the customer. At is point the firm has become a commoditized service provider, furthest from the points of sale. The transaction execution component is the domain of Sales, IT and Operations. The transaction component accepts the inputs from the customer interface and processes the data. Once the processing is competed, the results are forwarded to the customer through an appropriate interface. The skill sets of the transaction and customer interface converge on data processing, CRM-data mining and systems integration. This skill set is especially important for customized products.

Holiday effects and index returns: Evidences from the Indian stock market

Abstract: The Holiday Effect Anomaly in stock returns is well-documented in financial literature. When a Calendar Anomaly is detected in stock returns, it is not always necessary that a trading rule, resulting from that anomaly, will be advantageous to the investors because of the impact of increased transaction costs. The Holiday Effect indicates that Pre-Holiday returns generate substantial percentage of the total return of the stock market while exhibiting below-average variation in returns. For the purpose of this study, the S&P CNX 500 Index data were collected and analyzed for a period of ten years. This study found that there was highest and insignificant Pre-Holiday Returns recorded during the study period.

Problems of rural women entrepreneurs: An empirical study in periyapatna taluk

Abstract: In recent years, women have shown an inclination toward taking self oriented jobs and professions with their family support, financial assistance and industrial guidance. Unequal access to education restricts women from acquiring even functional levels of literacy required to learn skills. In terms of skill development, women are impeded by their lack of mobility, low literacy levels and prejudiced attitudes towards women.The present paper is an attempt to analyse the problems of Rural entreprenures in Periyapatna Taluk

A behavioral study of pattern of investment with reference to selected financial products

Abstract: Investment pattern of investors are changing with the changing scenario of investment alternatives available. This research paper is an attempt to explore the investment pattern of various investors. This is a primary data based exploratory study and descriptive in nature. Data has been collected through questionnaire method. The results of the study are based upon percentage and graphical method, also resulting useful guidelines and investment trends for the future investors.

Study on influence of demographic factors on job stress of textile mill workers

Abstract: The textile industry, which accounts for a predominant part in southern India, is facing a crisis. Many mills have closed down and many more are running at reduced capacities, working fewer shifts. Workers have been retrenched or laid off. They face the even more serious prospect of losing their jobs as the danger of several units closing down in the immediate future appears to be real. This condition might influence job stress among these workers. Thus, it is important to have valid measure of job stress. The study focuses on level of job stress and demographic factors that influence job stress. Descriptive research design is adopted and the universe is the workers of the selected textile mills registered under South Indian Mills Association (SIMA). The researcher adopted random sampling for selecting the sample and sample size of was 328. The researcher used Job stress Scale developed by Srivastava A. K. and Singh A. P. The data were analyzed using various statistical tools like mean, standard deviation, t-test, coefficient of correlation and ANOVA. The study concluded that textile mill workers had moderate level of job stress and found that demographic variables do influences the level of job stress.

A study on the women employees in information technology industry

Abstract: Digital technology has revolutionized the world as never before. In the global scenario it undergoes transformation with undreamt rapidity. India is no exception and has witnessed an unprecedented growth in the field of Information Technology. This sector has emerged as one of the largest employers in the country. It is to be noted that this sector has not only created plentiful job opportunities but has also resulted in new types of challenging careers. As this sector gives more emphasis to knowledge alone it is non-discriminating in nature. It provides opportunities for the educated, middle class women to build their own dreams and excel in fields, which were earlier perceived to be male domains. Though they are not the majority, Indian women professionals are definitely on the rise and are paving the way for future generations. Indian women are becoming increasingly visible and successful in the professional and public sphere. The present study explores aspects like measure the level of satisfaction as perceived by the respondents - women employees on the varied determinants of work performance; identify the major factors that influences the work performance among various categories of women employees in Information Technology. Industry; measure the overall work performance of women employees irrespective of cadres. The conclusion has been given.

Governance structure, upgrading and the role of institutions in the value chain of rubberwood industry in Kerala

Abstract: Value chain describes the full range of activities which are required to bring a product or service from conception through different phases of production, delivery to final consumers, and final disposition after use. The value chain concept has several dimensions like the input-output structure, the geographical spread, the chain governanc, the role of institutions and upgrading in value chains. The present study analyses the governance structure, upgrading and the role of institutions in the rubber wood industry in Kerala based on the primary data that was collected through a systematic sample survey on the plywood industry (30 units) and a census survey of SPRWP units in Kerala. Rubber wood industry is a ‘sunrise industry’ as far as Kerala is concerned. The analysis about the aspects of governance leads to the conclusion that the value chain is producer driven. The upgrading in the rubber wood industry is not hierarchical or captive network but a balanced network where enterprises cooperate and have complementary competencies but no control over each other. The buyers and institutions have a limited role in upgrading. Both process upgrading and product upgrading is found.

Financial aspect of municipal basic services in India: A study of Haryana state

Abstract: This paper deals with the status of Municipal Finances and Municipal Services in India. An attempt has been made to: define urban local governments; present a brief historical perspective; and assess main municipal services being provided by the municipal councils and municipal committees in Haryana. The paper examines the financial needs for upgrading core infrastructure and services in India. Key issues in the municipal finance, as also the reforms and innovations in the urban management are discussed in this paper

Performance of odisha's public sector banks and private sector banks: A comparative study

Abstract: The Banking Sector Reforms were initiated in India as part of the overall structured reforms aimed at improving the productivity and efficiency of the economy. Odisha, one of the less developed states in India is situated in the southeast of India. The state is endowed with a vast area under forest, a long coastline and rich mineral deposits. The state has been struggling hard to achieve economic prosperity through its various plans and programmes. Agriculture is the mainstay of Odisha's economy and substance of the life of the people. At the same time efforts are being made to transform Odisha in to a vibrant industrialized state. The study about my state Odisha examines trend of NPAs, deposit mobilization, lending and overdue. The data has been analyzed by percentage method. The study is based on the secondary data retrieved from State Level Banking Committee. Private Sector Banks in Odisha has performed well in respect of reducing NPA during the period in 2002 to 2009. Private banks were not interested to open branches in Odisha. The reason is in an agricultural dominated area the people had hardly any surplus to deposit in banks. There has been a constant increase in total deposits of both Public and Private Sector Banks in Odisha,but the rate of increase is found to be more in urban areas. Although Private Sector Banks do not show uniform performance in respect of recovery of loans in every year but it has performed well in reducing NPA during this period.