Showing papers in "Journal of management science in 2014"

Effect of ethical leadership on employee performance in uganda

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of ethical leadership on employee performance in the public sector in Uganda. A target population of 160 employees was surveyed. A structured questionnaire was selfadministered to the employees to collect the data. Regression analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient were used to explain the nature of the relationship between ethical leadership and employee performance and the effects thereof. Results of the study reveal that employee performance is greatly influenced by ethical leadership. These have both policy and managerial policy which is discussed here. This study is limited by being cross-sectional in nature and considered only one sector in one country and therefore cannot be generalized to other sectors and countries. Practical implication is that ethical leadership in public sector needs to be promoted at a top level and leaders have to behave ethically. This is the first study of this nature conducted in Uganda focusing on the effects of ethical leadership on employee performance.

Proposed model for the successful implementation of management information systems in yemeni organizations

Abstract: In information systems era, data have become one of the most important resources to organizations .Management information system one of the most important tools in any organization , which aims to provide reliable ,complete ,accessible, and understandable information in a timely manner to the users of the system .In addition increase the organizational performance and labor productivity .There are several characteristics to the success or failure of the implementation of management information systems in organizations. Most of existing model focus heavily on technology characteristics or compared to organizational characteristics and human characteristics . This study will focus on all the characteristics for MIS success. This study combines four theories namely as technology acceptance model ,information system success model , computer usage model ,and personal computing acceptance model .The aim of this study to develop proposed model for successful adoption of MIS in Yemeni organizations.

Management research: To understand the role of epistemology in management research

Abstract: From last several years epistemology and its principle plays vital role in the development and enhancement of social science research activity at different level. The different views of positivism are united by the epistemological principle that warranted knowledge. There are a diversity of different epistemological arrangements which decriminalize their own distinct ways of engaging with management and doing management research. Present study focused on the meaning and processes of management research as well enlighten the importance of epistemology and its role in the management research. The present work will explain the significance of relevance and rigor in management research. The main objective of this paper is to provoke debate and reflection upon the different issues in which we engage, when academician and organization doing research. Management researches and practitioners undeniably accepted that there is a gap exists between management researchers and management practitioners. This gap is main hurtles if researchers wants to implement their research findings into practice. But we know that management research always looks betterment of life through the enhancement of management process.

Effect of cowpea on growth and yield parameter in a maize-cowpea intercrop

Abstract: An experiment was carried out during the raining season of the year 2011 at the Teaching and Research Farm of Oyo State College of Education (Now Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo), Lanlate Campus, to investigate the effect of geometric row arrangement on the growth and yield of cowpea in a maize-cowpea intercrop. There were 1:1, 1:2 and 2:1 maize/cowpea row arrangement with a sole crop of cowpea as control. The experiment was laid on out in a Random Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates, No significant difference among the growth parameter (plant height, number of leaves and number of branches) intercropped and the sole cowpea plants (p<0.05). However cowpea intercropped with maize at 1:1 row arrangement recorded highest grain yield per plant and consequently per hectare than those of 1:2 and 2:1 row arrangement, through not significantly difference from them. It is hereby recommend that cowpea and maize should be planted at 1:1 row arrangement.

Green supply chain management and the induced performance changes of companies in the Yangtze River delta of China

Abstract: Corporate environmental management in China has been expanding from the efforts of individual companies to various cooperative practices improving environmental performance of the supply chain, which may be classified as green supply chain management (GSCM). Using the data collected from 165 companies in the Yangtze River delta of China, this paper analyses the driving mechanisms of GSCM of the companies with different practice levels. The valid respondents are classified as laggard companies and advanced practitioners by a cluster analysis of the scores presented to the pre-defined 12 GSCM activities. Multivariate regression analyses indicate different driving models for these two groups of companies. GSCM of laggard companies are driven by the regulatory pressures and the client’s demands but restricted by the company’s capacities. The GSCM levels of advanced companies may be attributed to the company’s business strategies for development. The business competitor’s performance and top management support are identified as influential factors. This paper also confirms that GSCM practices help the improvement of environmental performances of the companies especially in terms of the reduction of pollutant emissions and the increase of employee’s environmental awareness.

Forces impacting on ebook business model development

Abstract: In an earlier paper, we drew attention to a range of forces both external and internal that in combination were helping to shape the direction and structure of business models for eBooks. Most of these forces remain in play today although the balance between them has shifted with some being less powerful and others more so. This paper looks in detail at key forces including market competition, customer power, regulation, technology and internally at business strategies and business models. While technology, especially mobile technology, is clearly a major force, conflicts exist between technology potential and publisher-reader interface, with continuing interventions by regulators around the world. Competition is still led largely by non-publishing players, such as Amazon and Apple with overlaps between social media and mobile telephony becoming increasingly significant. The paper reconsiders the nature of ‘eBooks’, their major producers and users, market trends and the implications for business models. KeywordsDigital Publishing; Business Mode; ebook; Internal Forces; External Forces

A study on financial performance of pharmaceutical industry in india

Abstract: The Indian Pharmaceutical sector is highly fragmented with more than 20,000 registered units. It has expended drastically in the last two decades. The pharmaceutical and chemical industry in India is an extremely fragmented market with severe price competition and government price control. The Pharmaceutical Industry in India meets around 705 of the country‟s demand for bulk drugs, drug intermediates, pharmaceutical formulation, chemicals,tablets, orals and injectibles. There are approximately 250 large units and about 8000 small-scale units, which form the core of the Pharmaceutical Industry in India (including 5 central public sector units) Looking ahead, the worldwide pharma market is estimated to more than double to $1.3 billion by the year 2020.The Indian Pharmaceutical Industry is developing drastically every year. Hence an attempt has been made to analyze the profitability position of the industry withthe help of mean, standard deviation, co-efficient of variation, multiple regression, and analysis of variance. The increase in profitability will not only yield greater efficiency but also improve financial performance in future.

Insurance Premium Optimization: Perspective of Insurance Seeker and Insurance Provider

Abstract: The paper proposes a utilitarian and newfangled design of life insurance premium payment. Insurance companies provide insurance to the policy holders and in turn the policy holders have to pay insurance premium periodically. In this paper, we study the important factors to be considered at the time of selecting the term of premium payment of insurance. The intention is to extend this study to a method which can machinate and assist users in deciding the term and amount of premium payment. Our aim here is twin-fold; one, to evoke a novel way to policy holder to decide the least premiums to be paid and second, to devise a manner for insurance provider to collect maximum premiums. With this twofold aim, we propose a hybrid soft computing optimization model using Neuro-Fuzzy approach and Particle Swarm Optimization.

Women's Status and Early Childhood Mortality in Bangladesh

Abstract: In this article , an attempt has been taken to focus light on the status of women in Bangladesh and also see its effect on early childhood mortality controlling the effect of other associated determinants. This paper examines the proposition that constraints on women's status adversely affect the survival of their children. BDHS 2007 data have been used to construct indices of women's household autonomy and authority , which are then linked to longitudinal data on survival of their neonates. Infant mortality rate (IMR) indicates the number of deaths of babies less than one year of age per 1,000 live births. The rate in a given region, therefore, is the total number of newborns dying under one year of age divided by the total number of live births during the year, then all multiplied by 1,000. Talking about neonatal mortality, early neonatal mortality refers to a death of a live-born baby within the first seven days of life, while late neonatal mortality covers the time after 7 days until before 28 days. The sum of these two represents the neonatal mortality. Neonatal mortality and post neonatal mortality (covering the remaining 11 months of the first year of life) are reflected in the Infant Mortality Rate. The child mortality rate or under-5 mortality rate is the number of children who die by the age of five, per thousand live births. The term "status" includes not only personal and proprietary rights but also duties, liabilities and disabilities. In case of Bangladesh, women's status means her personal rights, proprietary rights, her duties, liabilities and disabilities vis-a-vis the society and her family members. The status of women is an important factor affecting the overall development of a country. The total development of Bangladesh will undoubtedly be hampered if the status of women, constituting about fifty percent of the country's population, remains as low as it is today.

Evaluating and selecting hospital locations using fuzzy multicriteria decision making

Abstract: The hospital location evaluation and selection process is complex and challenging owing to the multi-dimensional nature of the process and the presence of uncertainty and imprecision inherent in the decision making process. To ensure effective decisions are made, this paper presents a new approach for evaluating and selecting hospital locations. The evaluation problem is formulated as a multicriteria decision making problem, and a fuzzy multicriteria decision making algorithm is developed for evaluating and selecting hospital location alternatives. Linguistic terms approximated by fuzzy numbers are used to represent the subjective assessments of the decision maker. To avoid the complex and unreliable process of comparing fuzzy numbers usually required in fuzzy multicriteria decision making, a new algorithm is developed based on the concept of ideal solutions. A hospital location selection problem is presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach.

Study of the management of publicly supported R&D projects, considering the essential meanings of success factors

Abstract: The management of leading R&D projects into success is extremely important. In a system to publicly support R&D projects of private companies, not only adequate project management but also proper programme management, considering success factors, is highly required. Here, the factors determining the success or failure of R&D projects are thought to be related to various parameters. For R&D projects supported by public funds in particular, it has been difficult to clarify what makes R&D projects successful, because such projects were caught in the idea that they must naturally succeed. In this study, surveys and interviews were conducted for past publicly supported projects, and success factors were extracted. After streamlining the success factors together with further examination of each of them, proper programme management as well as project management was suggested for a system to support R&D projects.

New product development operational performance and its influential factors: cross-national comparison between Japan and China

Abstract: This research intends to explore the influential factors which constitute the successful new product development (NPD) in Japan and China. In order to investigate it, the new product development scorecard (NPDSC) has been utilised as a self-evaluation tool for participated companies in these countries. There are 454 data samples from Japan and 99 from China. The scores in each assessment area are compared between Japan and China. The result shows that Japanese NPD performance level is better than Chinese. Subsequently, factor analysis has been conducted by using the result of NPDSC in order to identify the significant factors which establish the operational performance of NPD in each country. The result of factor analysis indicates that the NPD structures in Japan and China are considered differently. Finally, correlation analysis has been conducted between extracted factors and financial bottom, which indicates that improving NPD performances brought a positive impact on financial outcomes.

An Empirical Study of Thai Manufacturing SMEs: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA)

Abstract: This paper applies a stochastic frontier production function and technical inefficiency effects model to measure, compare and explain the technical efficiency of Thai manufacturing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the pre and post 1997 Asian financial crisis periods. Crosssectional firm-level data from industrial censuses conducted in 1997 and 2007 are utilized. Average technical efficiency levels in all categories of manufacturing SMEs analyzed in the pre and post crisis periods are found to be low, indicating a high degree of technical inefficiency in the production process. Only medium sized SMEs are found to have improved their technical efficiency and export intensive SMEs have maintained their technical efficiency in the post crisis period, despite reform measures aimed at improving firm performance. Manufacturing SMEs have remained predominantly labor intensive in both periods with no apparent improvement in firm productivity and innovation. The technical inefficiency effects model reveals that small sized enterprises are found be more technically efficient than medium sized enterprises. Firm age, skilled labor, location, ownership type, foreign investment and exporting are key factors contributing to firm technical efficiency in both the pre and post crisis periods. The paper concludes that government policy in the post crisis period have been largely ineffective and should place more attention on creating an enabling environment to foster SME growth, enhance technology and innovation capability, and encourage the development of an environment, infrastructure and facilities conducive to enhancing the business operation of SMEs to enhance their technical efficiency.

Strategic leadership as contributory factor for engineering project success

Abstract: In the current turbulent times of global economy with no clues in sight yet to resolve the Euro zone crisis, every nation is facing the need for competent leaders to set the tone right for the future. Project management is a complex profession as each project environment is unique in itself. Leaders in the field of project management share many of the same characteristics as leaders in operational or functional roles. However, the unique nature of projects with their set budgets, timeframes coupled with other constraints often results in failure of projects causing greater concern to the resulting decline in the organisational image and team fatigue. There is an urgent need to address this dominant issue to involve strategic leadership of choice to enhance engineering project success to meet the expectations of the project stake holders. The available literature on the impact of leadership on project management challenges is scant. Over the years, the rate of project failures has far exceeded the rate of project successes. The author has attempted to combine his own practical experience in project management with an exhaustive review of published literature in this work. In this study, typical leadership strategies that would enhance project outcomes are addressed.

Next Big Thing: Collaborative Planning Tools accelerating Supply Chain Management

Abstract: The purpose of this research is to study the impact of collaborative planning tools on supply chain management. Method adopted in this study is to conduct a review of different surveys, case studies, paper and articles collected from authentic resources. The outcome of the review is a table indicating the "name of references" and relevant "drivers". Supply chain collaboration is continuing to emerge as a fundamental change toward new methods of conducting business. Closely united partnerships with emphasis on greater supply chain visibility and proactive response to changing market conditions are going to be the requirements rather than the Goals placed on businesses. Today"s technologies are accelerating the race toward the development of new business models and collaborative solutions. This trend is encouraging heavy investments in Technology infrastructure as businesses prepare to be part of this new business environment. Companies preparing for this new economic model are faced with several key challenges: • Support of multiple technologies • Support of multiple collaborative business models • Scalability of collaborative solutions Disparate systems and processes present challenges to businesses looking to execute on the supply chain collaboration vision. As business transactions that have historically been internally focused now need to become external to the organization, your ability to succeed will be based on your ability to provide an integrated view across your business processes. Organizations that rely on human intervention or lack integrated systems will run into scalability issues as the business world begins to transact at an accelerated pace. Response times expressed in days will no longer be an acceptable measure as the business world continues to move towards the real-time exchange of information. The emergence of trading exchanges for specific business transactions such as procurement and transportation adds additional complexity to the underlying infrastructure challenges. Very few companies will have the luxury of dealing with a single exchange. Most businesses will need to comply with the specific business process and data requirements of multiple trading exchanges. This will again force issues of infrastructure flexibility to the forefront in order to support multiple business channels and trading partner relationships. Internet-based communications technologies surrounding the transfer of XML-formatted data will continue to evolve. Many

An empirical analysis of entrepreneurial perception among the post graduate arts college students with reference to coimbatore district in tamil nadu

Abstract: An Entrepreneur is a person who responsible for his growth, who is responsible for his employees, who is responsible for his customers, who is answerable to himself, who has possession of a new enterprise, venture or idea and is accountable for the inherent risks and the outcome. Who are Risk-taking individuals who take actions to pursue opportunities and situations others may fail to recognize or may view as problems or threats?. Who takes the risk of converting a new idea in to reality? Who shifts resources from areas of low productivity to areas of higher productivity? The field study has gain importance in the minds of students‟ community in the recent years. The research Studies reveals that develop the entrepreneurial perception among the students in the global environment because of the global economy attracting the new ventures. It is to note that students especially from management do posses an aim of becoming entrepreneurs. Hence the study is focused on this paper. The main objectives of the study is to know the socio and economic condition, Entrepreneurial Perception, Skills, financial assistant from Government and others side, Administration and how much does the management Institutions contributes towards the entrepreneurial Perception and skill to the students aspirants

Insider Trading, Information Asymmetry, and Corporate Governance

Abstract: This paper investigates the problem of information asymmetry and agency cost in the context of insider trading as well as the mechanism to mitigate the insider trading abnormal return among Thai Listed Firms. By examining both internal and external mechanisms, the researcher found out that better auditor firm and more frequent auditing committee meetings are associated with reducing insider trading abnormal return. Additionally, the corporate governance measurement in terms of Corporate Governance Report (CGR) developed by Thai Institution of Directors showed no significant relationship with the insider trading abnormal return. However, despite that the corporate governance index showed no results, board effectiveness and ownership concentration which have been linked to more effective monitoring of management in prior research still play an important role in reducing the profitability of insider trading. Furthermore, foreign institutional investors play a more active role on mitigating the insider trading profit when comparing with domestic investors.

Exploiting Witness for Traffic Simulation

Abstract: Traffic congestion in urban cities is an increasing problem. Not only does it lead to an increase in pollution, but the time spent waiting in traffic queues wastes valuable time in addition to causing frustration. A system that can control and manage traffic efficiently is one way that this issue can be reduced. A specific road traffic intersection in South Manchester, UK, was selected for investigation as it experiences high levels of traffic flow through it during the evening peak time. This has led to large queues and long waiting times due to the fixed timings of the traffic lights. This paper explores strategies to better control the traffic flow through it. A model of the selected traffic junction has been built using Witness simulation software. Data for this junction has been obtained partially from observations and mostly from traffic surveys enabling a simulation of the traffic flow. Analysing the results allowed two alternative scenarios to be developed and simulated. Results from one of the scenarios showed noticeable reductions in the average queue waiting times at the traffic junction.

An assessment of socio- economic effect of tiruchengode agricultural producers cooperative marketing society with reference to namakkal district in tamil nadu (tcms): an empirical study

Abstract: Marketing societies have been creating, maintaining and enhancing the economic development among the community. They seek to raise agricultural output, create employment and eradicate poverty by providing market accessibility to farm producers, securing reasonable and remunerative prices, supplying adequate inputs like seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, agricultural implements at reasonable prices, implementing effective linking of credit with marketing, distributing consumer articles at reasonable prices through fair price shops, etc. They help to promote the growth and development even in the most remote rural areas. An attempt is made to analyze the demographic indicators (age, gender, education, community and family size), social indicators (social participation, exposure to mass media and contact with change agents) and economic indicators (occupation, family annual income, assets, size of land holdings and debts) influencing individuals. As regards to farmers categories, big farmers have high perception towards the economic contributions of marketing cooperatives, farm income, assets, occupation, knowledge about cooperative management, and participation in cooperative management have greatly effected to realize the economic contributions of marketing cooperatives. Thus the marketing cooperatives in the study area have made imprints on the economic lives of the farming community in the region. This study indicates the existence of significant level of differences among farmers in their socio, economic profile as well as cooperation indicator variables such as knowledge about cooperative, cooperative management and services availed

The black and white political paradigms

Abstract: Instead of observing from a black perspective, we think in terms of the dominant paradigm and blame blacks and the Third World for lagging behind the USA, for they are the problem for not “doing like we do.” Why do Third World countries have such difficulties? The article “The Responsibility of the Black Political Scientist to the Black Community” suggests a black-white adversarial relationship, particularly in the USA, with black interests unfairly represented and the white, Western European, capitalistic point of view dominant. Dr. Mack Jones perceives the black paradigm's development is largely ignored by current political science approaches. Jones states: “...few areas of politics today...reflect the plight of blacks, especially in the United States, and we must change our approaches to political science” Some Western European theories relate little to black problems because whites are in power, stereotypically approaching African-American problems, surfacing the dilemma of applying a Euro-Centric viewpoint to black problems. A black perspective can show gaping holes in these theories, pointing out negative aspects of the prevailing white paradigm. The core argument is that there is no black paradigm that is perceived as being equally comparable to the white paradigm. The black paradigm can serve as a useful tool in that it can point out the many faults of the capitalist, European-American system. Furthermore, a black paradigm serves an important function in getting to the heart of black issues, seeking to empower blacks in their struggles for equal status. When one thinks of how the black paradigm is perceived as being subordinate to the white one, we are puzzled to understand that such a paradigm is even different from the current American foundations in political science. Who says that there is a dominant paradigm that reflects mostly white, Western European ways of thinking? The current paradigm may explain and solve the mystery of an emergent black paradigm in the USA. To me, there is no perfect theory or paradigm. Perhaps even the black paradigm can be applied to issues facing Asian or Hispanic communities, or even those of whites in certain aspects. How do we resolve this black paradigm issue? Across the board, adding black scholarly material strengthens alternative viewpoints. We think this assists us, as students with diverse backgrounds, to understand issues surrounding the black community, not only in the USA, but Africa as well.

Pricing and financing of infrastructure projects; the challenge before the indian policymakers

Abstract: Ever since the economic reforms started two decades ago, India has been trying to lead the developing nations in terms of building their infrastructure. The challenge of government‟s fund constraint has been tried to put behind by allowing flow of funds from private sources with regulatory control in government own hand. However, with the global economic crisis that had knocked heavily at the doors of Indian economy too during last couple of years, it was found that developmental bottlenecks for infrastructure sector has escalated in spite of the best efforts by the government. Arranging of Debt and equity capitals are major financial investment concerns for infrastructure developers today. While studies reveal that issues like land acquisition, utility shifting, discrepancies in DPR, state support agreements, dispute resolutions are still considered to be critical for an infrastructure development projects, more recently the loose ends at the financial structures of many projects are posing as more vulnerable threats. Especially in the period of economic recession, the financial organizations have tightened their hands and as a result project cash flows are affected at halfway round. As the investment retrieval periods are going to be prolonged, the investors are facing uncertainty on their assured return. The commercial banks which had already reached their sectarian limits; still tried to backed promoters with decent track records, with clearances in place and well defined business plans. However, very few projects could achieve financial closure during past two years. The participation rates in recent biddings of PPP projects are also not encouraging, especially in Highway sector. More recently, there have been reports of NHAI favoring for moving back to the old EPC mode. Salient features of few case studies of Indian projects have highlighted that there is no project specific debt equity ratio and it may differ from project to project. Study by the authors also reveals that availability of debt in India is Sector specific and projects are still being supported with generous government grant varying upto 70% in case of Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM) schemes. However, the principal concern remains for retrieval of at least 20% return on the investment by the private party. A fair bidding, a robust agreement and the well planned pre-constructional activities can be beneficial to all the stack holders of the infrastructure development project. But whatever be the planning, with the complexity of multiple issues involved for choice of funds, one has to keep in mind that investments in infrastructures are non-recourse in nature. At the same time the sharing of responsibilities in a pre-framed manner proves to be successful in many occasions for the participants concerned and reflect a win-win situation for all.

A framework of consumer participation in the energy management of a smart community

Abstract: This study aims at modelling a dynamic price-based management of the electrical energy needs of a community. A smart community we envision operates a portfolio of power generating facilities including renewable sources. A challenge is how to meet volatile and fluctuating demands via the dynamic pricing. We design a framework to implement the principle: ‘Let the consumer be part of the optimiser’. We attempt to capture consumers’ responsiveness to the price reflecting the tightness of demand and supply balance. An example here of the model community demonstrates that the dynamic pricing via a complementarity-based modelling approach invites consumers to respond and participate in enhancing efficiency in line with their own preferences.

Inventory distribution problem via stochastic programming

Abstract: Previous research on inventory distributions between local warehouses or retailers (bases) has focused separately on either of two types of stock transshipment policies: preventive lateral transshipments or emergency lateral transshipments. Each of these has its advantages and disadvantages, and combining these policies may well enable merchandisers to achieve higher service levels. Thus, the combined use of these policies is the focus of the present study. A stochastic programming problem is formulated with demand as a stochastic variable, and the policy of using both preventive and emergency lateral transshipment is examined for its effectiveness while solution methods are examined for their efficiency.