Showing papers in "Journal of Asia-pacific Business in 2013"

Market Mavens in Social Media: Examining Young Chinese Consumers' Viral Marketing Attitude, eWOM Motive, and Behavior

Abstract: A paper survey of 835 Chinese college students was conducted to examine young Chinese consumers' social media use, market mavenism, viral marketing attitude, and product recommendation behavior. Structural model testing results showed that young Chinese consumers' perceived pleasure, affection outcome expectation, and subjective norm of viral marketing affected their market mavenism while their subjective norm and pleasure influenced their viral marketing attitude. More importantly, young Chinese consumers' frequency of product recommendations on social networking websites was determined by their social media use, viral marketing attitude, and electronic word of mouth motive to help the company and market mavenism.

Corporate Social Responsibility–Oriented Compliances and SMEs Access to Global Market: Evidence from Bangladesh

Abstract: The convergence of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate governance has immense impact on the participants in global supply chains. The global buyers and retailers tend to incorporate CSR in all stages of product manufacturing within their supply chains. The incorporated CSR thus creates the difficulty to small- and medium-sized manufacturing enterprises (SMEs). Incompetence in standardized CSR practices is an important issue that causes SMEs either losing their scope to access global market directly or serving as subcontractors to large enterprises. This article explores this issue by focusing on Bangladeshi SMEs under the CSR requirement of the important global buyer.

Do Trust and Security Matter for the Development of M-banking? Evidence from a Developing Country

Abstract: This article empirically examines the factors that affect customers' intention to use mobile banking (hereafter referred to as m-banking) in a rapidly developing economy. Psychological and behavioral determinants such as value added, promotion, preference for human interface, trust, and security related to banking transactions are used to explain the growth of m-banking in Malaysia. The empirical results show strong evidence that interface design, trust, and security have significant effects on the adoption of m-banking. Results from this study enhance the efficacy of m-banking strategies and assist the Malaysian banking sector to achieve economies of scale for global competitiveness.

The Services Internationalization Process: An Exploratory Investigation of Australian Service Company Internationalization to China

Abstract: Service companies possess different characteristics from non-service-based companies, affecting their process of internationalization. This article examines the internationalization of service organizations using case studies of 23 Australian service organizations internationalizing to China. It finds that the internationalization process is influenced by the type of service the organization produces. The Uppsala internationalization model partially explains internationalization for companies producing exportable services but did not explain internationalization for companies, which produce nonexportable services (services that must be located within the market). International experience, government regulations and capital intensity were influential for internationalization. The findings develop a model for service organization internationalization.

Exchange-rate volatility, exchange-rate regime, and trade in OIC countries

Abstract: The authors examine the impact of exchange rate volatility on trade in the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) countries from 1995 to 2008 using panel estimations to distinguish differences between disaggregate trade, and examine its threshold effects. Results reveal that exchange rate volatility generally has significant negative effect on export and import with lag. However, exports of OIC with flexible exchange rate regime have significant positive exposure to exchange rate volatility. The authors also document a threshold effect for countries with trade value constitutes more than 30% of the real gross domestic product, and the exchange rate volatility becomes significant positive for export but significant negative for import with lag.

Perspectives of Accountability in Charities in New Zealand

Abstract: This study identifies three perspectives of accountability in charitable organizations: agency, stewardship, and stakeholder in relation to the availability of financial information. To examine current accountability practices, 75 interviews and informal conversations were undertaken with participants in charities in New Zealand. Many of the interviewees operated under some form of stewardship milieu. They regarded the need to discharge accountability by providing financial information as a low priority. Education may provide a way to resolve this issue by advancing stakeholders’ perspectives of accountability. This could result in reduced support for charities that do not uphold a certain standard of financial information.

Value chain analysis across borders: the case of Australian red lentils to Sri Lanka

Abstract: This research examines the creation and distribution of consumer value in the most important supply chain of lentils between Australia and Sri Lanka. This adopts a value chain analysis approach applied to a case study, using a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Intercept surveys of consumers in Sri Lanka revealed that quality, size, and price as the most important value-creating factors. A very strong communication and relationships triad exists among the trader, indenting agent, and processor, but the flow of information from consumer to producer is weak. Opportunities lie in improved genetics, better-informed growers, and continued production efficiencies.

Time Orientation and Attitudes toward Advertising in a High-Context Culture: An Empirical Study of Macau

Abstract: Each culture has its own dominant construct of time that influences the value placed on the use of time by individuals. This empirical study examines how time orientations influence attitudes toward advertising in a high-context culture of an Asian economy. Data was collected through surveys in Macau. Findings show that Macanese are more future orientated but less enthusiastic towards advertising; they switch to another channel and engage in other activities during commercial breaks. Results also show that past orientation has the strongest impact on advertising avoidance. The authors offer managerial implications for the development of effective advertising programs in this emerging market.

The Impact of a Major Financial Event on the Value Relevance of Financial Instruments Fair Value

Abstract: In this erratically changing environment, it is important to recognize how the value relevance of accounting information adopts to changes. This study investigates how the incremental explanatory power of fair-value accounting information on financial instruments was affected during the 2008 financial crisis in Taiwan. Results suggest that during the financial meltdown, the value-relevance of fair-value accounting information decreased significantly. Furthermore, the value relevance of part of fair-value accounting information ceased to exist. The results suggest that the value relevance of fair-value accounting information on financial instruments varies with the environment but is not affected by company characteristics.

Toward a Fine Balance: Cross-Cultural Comparison of Work–Family Identities

Abstract: This study investigates the differences in the salience of work and family identities between samples of employees in the United States and India. The authors hypothesized the effects of cultural differences on these workers' salient identities. Additionally, the authors hypothesized that across cultures a balance in the importance of family and work identities achieved by an individual would lead to greater job and life satisfaction and fewer intentions to turnover. Structural equation modeling tests support the authors' hypotheses. This article contributes toward an understanding of cross-cultural differences and even some similarities in work–family identity issues and the outcomes a balance in them engender.

Joint Venture Formation and Internationalization: A Japanese MNEs' Perspective

Abstract: This article investigates the dynamics of joint venture formation and performance during the internationalization process, using data on the international joint ventures formed by the 22 largest Japanese multinational enterprises (MNEs) over a 16-year period. Three themes emerged: (a) large multinational enterprises do not necessarily seek a controlling equity holding in their subsidiaries, (b) the number of partners is affected by the risk profile of the targeted host country and previous international experience, and (c) controlling equity ownership and the greater the number of partners in the joint venture increase the likelihood of survival but do not significantly influence financial performance.

The Priming Effect of News Context on Chinese Attitudes toward Foreign Brands

Abstract: This article investigates the priming effect of news context on Chinese college students' brand attitudes. The first experiment examined the effects of domestic news topics and news negativity and found that exposure to positive Chinese product news led to lower attitude scores for Nike. The second experiment employed a news piece on China–U.S. trade relations and tested whether different news sources (the Chinese press, the U.S. press, and a combination of Chinese and U.S. press) had the same effect on Chinese brand attitudes. It located a significant effect of news source on Chinese attitudes toward Coca-Cola and Nike.

Are Consumers Hesitant to Purchase National Brands Manufactured in Other Countries

Abstract: This study, conducted in Thailand, examines consumers' evaluation and purchase preference of high-equity versus low-equity Thai fashion labels of sophisticated and standard apparel outsourced to three Asian countries of varying manufacturing competence. Field data was analyzed through a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial design and the influence of a particular factor over the others in specific scenarios was observed. Minor brands of multifaceted products confront lesser country-of-origin (COO) concerns than more reputed brands of complex items. Sophisticated products of reputed brands made in developing economies also attract greater consumer circumspection about their COO than the brand's standard items.

Malaysian Multinational Firms and the Management of their Subsidiaries

Abstract: There are limited studies on multinational enterprises from lesser developed and smaller Asian countries and even less attention given to the area of subsidiary management in Asian firms. This article contributes to this knowledge gap with empirical evidence from a study of nine case studies of firms from Malaysia, a rapidly developing country. Differences as well as commonalities in the management of their subsidiaries were found among sample firms. These findings are discussed in relation to the literature on management of subsidiaries in other Asian and developed countries’ firms. Implications for research and limitations of the study are covered.

The Middle-Income Trap: Implications for the Chinese Economy

Abstract: A March gathering in China, organized by the China Development Forum, brought together leading global economic and business experts, as well as leading Chinese party members and technocrats. There ...

Why Do Local South Korean Market Leaders Supply Retailer Grocery Brands

Abstract: This article examines why many of the leading South Korean brand manufacturers produce retailer brand products within their major product categories. The reasons identified include pressure from retailers, protection of other national brand product ranges, maintenance or improvements in working relationships, protection of other distribution channels, savings in marketing budgets, diversification of product lines, and changing competitive structures. Evidence is also provided of the dynamic nature of decision making relating to retail brand supply across the whole portfolio of brands which the manufacturer offers, rather than in respect of individual product brands or markets, the focus of much existing work.

Doing Business in the New Myanmar by Myint, T., Janviroj, P., Thu, A. M., Neal, L., Matthew, I., & Sukdinunt, Y.

Abstract: Myanmar has been known for many years in international circles as a pariah state for its well-documented Orwellian governmental policies, human rights abuses, and cause celeb house arrest of politi...

Investigation of Directional and Functional Relationships of Australian Dollar Exchange Rate, Steam Coal Export, and Steam Coal Price

Abstract: The interesting finding in this article is that the Australian coal exporter's loss, which occurs due to a strong Australian dollar, is less than the profit from increasingly higher prices of Australian steam coal. For this reason, Australian steam coal exporters choose to export more when the price is high. The empirical results of this analysis confirm that for each one cent increase in Australian dollar value against the U.S. dollar, the Australian steam coal price increases by 0.8182 U.S. dollars and for each additional one million tons export of Australian steam coal, the Australian steam coal price increases by 1.752 U.S. dollars.