Case Study
Omar Mahmoudi
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1141-1160
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between E-government and agility in Marivan state-owned banks. The research methodology is survey and correlative. Through Cochran formula 120 employees of state-owned banks were selected. Classification sampling method was used to select staffs. ...
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The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between E-government and agility in Marivan state-owned banks. The research methodology is survey and correlative. Through Cochran formula 120 employees of state-owned banks were selected. Classification sampling method was used to select staffs. To collect research literature library method was used and for gathering research data two questionnaires were used, E-government and organizational agility questionnaires. To measure questionnaires validity a group of experts' ideas were used. Also, KMO & Bartlett's test was used to determine questionnaire Validity. Result showed that validity of questionnaires is sufficient. For the reliability of study tools, Cronbach's alpha method was used which its value was 0.825 for the questionnaire of organizational agility and 0.798 for the questionnaire of E- government, indicating the questionnaires’ reliability. To analyze data Pearson correlation and liner regression test were performed .In addition confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm research model. Research data were analyzed by SPSS and LISREL software's. Result shows that there is a significant relationship between e-government and organizational agility. Results indicated that G2G and G2E in E-government had the biggest impact on Banks agility.
Original Research
Rajneesh Mehra
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1161-1190
Abstract
Organised retail industry is at a nascent stage in India. Industry of private label branded products, though evolving, is rapidly growing. Majority of the organised retail firms are still offering products under national and local brands. However, many of them are enabling the availability ...
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Organised retail industry is at a nascent stage in India. Industry of private label branded products, though evolving, is rapidly growing. Majority of the organised retail firms are still offering products under national and local brands. However, many of them are enabling the availability of some products under private label brands. It is to be noted that most Indian customers in urban areas are habituated towards buying products under national or local brands, irrespective of whether purchase is being made from an organised outlet or a stand-alone store. This could be because of various reasons such as customer’s familiarity with national brands, lack of faith in private label brands, product availability, promotion of national brands, etc. Nevertheless, many existing stand-alone retail outlets have been selling many product categories under private label brands. Cue theory has been extensively cited to explain the proneness to buy products and brands. The present study examines the effect of product cues on the proneness to buy private label brands of food products from the organised retail stores amongst customers in Chandigarh. It is an exploratory study based on data gathered using questionnaire. It has been concluded that the effect of the product cues is not favourable on the proneness to buy private label brands of instant noodles and milk and milk products sold by the organised retail outlets.
Original Research
Saira Ishfaq Ishfaq; Imran Khan; Tazeem Ali Shah; Raja Ahmed Jamil
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1191-1199
Abstract
This study analyzed the impact of micro finance and macroeconomic variables on poverty at three levels. The paper covers the time period of 08 years from 2005 to 2012. A panel of 06 selected SAARC countries was taken including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Panel data regression ...
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This study analyzed the impact of micro finance and macroeconomic variables on poverty at three levels. The paper covers the time period of 08 years from 2005 to 2012. A panel of 06 selected SAARC countries was taken including India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Bhutan. Panel data regression model was used in the study. A key finding is that microfinance reduces extreme poverty and literacy also plays a major in poverty reduction. Other findings and recommendations are discussed in the paper.
Original Research
Ganganee Chandima Samaraweera; Qing Ping
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1200-1217
Abstract
Consumer based brand equity (CBBE) is a complex, multi-faceted concept and the facets of CBBE capture consumers’ brand related beliefs. From a managerial perspective, it is imperative to know the most damaging facet of CBBE in order to launch appropriate management strategies to safeguard that ...
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Consumer based brand equity (CBBE) is a complex, multi-faceted concept and the facets of CBBE capture consumers’ brand related beliefs. From a managerial perspective, it is imperative to know the most damaging facet of CBBE in order to launch appropriate management strategies to safeguard that particular facet. Therefore, the purpose of the present study is to examine the effect of product harm crisis on facets of CBBE, with special reference to Chinese and Sri Lankan young consumers. Results based on independent samples t test, correlations and a series of one sample t tests showed that product harm crisis has a detrimental impact on facets of CBBE and country significantly shape consumer perceptions in this regard. Further study showed that out of main facets considered in the study, i.e., brand attitude, brand trust, perceived quality of the brand, perceived quality of the products of the brand and brand desirability; brand attitude is more detrimentally affected by the crisis in both countries. Therefore, from managerial perspective, in particular from multinational company’s perspective, current study showed that it is more worthwhile to consider CBBE as separate facets rather than as a composite variable in a product harm crisis situation, as the overall picture of CBBE may not reflect the economic significance of CBBE.
Original Research
Mousa Yousefi; Ali Asghar Farajzadeh; Alireza Nasirpour
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1218-1229
Abstract
The current research is studying the role of ownership structure and cash holding on the accepted companies' value in Tehran Stock Exchange. The sample of the research includes 62 corporations within 2008 to 2013.The ownership structure can direct the corporate toward better performance and increasing ...
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The current research is studying the role of ownership structure and cash holding on the accepted companies' value in Tehran Stock Exchange. The sample of the research includes 62 corporations within 2008 to 2013.The ownership structure can direct the corporate toward better performance and increasing its value and has remarkable importance for increasing the company's success and society's economics. According to the results based on variance analysis, there is positive and significant relationship between ownership structure and corporate value while there are not significant relationships between other independent variables such as the size of the board of directors, power of the board of directors and cash holding with dependent variable (corporate value). Regarding the controlled variables of the research, which are financial leverage, dividend payout ratio, Q Tubin, there is a positive and significant relationship between the corporate value and financial leverage, while the other controlled variables do not have significant relationship with corporate value.
Original Research
Hamidreza Mahboobinejad
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1230-1243
Abstract
This paper firstly introduces the Probiotec Ltd as a case study to analyze the financial situation and performance of the company through ratio analysis. Following this, using literature, it will be then argued that Probiotec Ltd should use two systems of accounting to have its financial performance ...
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This paper firstly introduces the Probiotec Ltd as a case study to analyze the financial situation and performance of the company through ratio analysis. Following this, using literature, it will be then argued that Probiotec Ltd should use two systems of accounting to have its financial performance developed. The limitations of financial statements will be finally discussed in the last part of this paper. The main aim of this paper is to promote the liquidity position of the company and therefore enhance the company’s financial performance through applying appropriate ratios and providing some effective recommendations accordingly. This paper also aims at maximizing the usefulness of the information derived utilizing two systems of accounting. To this end, secondary data were gathered from scholarly articles, together with a financial paper of Probiotec Ltd. The results illustrate that the company does not have an appropriate liquidity position so that it is hard for the company covering the short term liabilities through the liquid assets. Moreover, it is clear that one system of accounting cannot do the job regardless of how large or small the entity is. From this paper, a conclusion can be drawn that although Probiotec Ltd has some positive ratios which indicate the acceptable performance of the company, the liquidity ratio of the company is not reliable to the shareholders. Hence, it is advisable that the company should increase its sale, along with reducing the period of credit being taken. Further to this, the company should use some methods to decline the risk of liquidity.
Case Study
Saeed Yazdani Parsa; Tooraj Sadeghi
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1244-1260
Abstract
Word of mouth is of critical importance for marketers and many scholars believe that word of mouth is one of the most effective and efficient advertising ways. Moreover, relationship marketing causes the costs of attracting new customers through long-term relationships with current customers and in this ...
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Word of mouth is of critical importance for marketers and many scholars believe that word of mouth is one of the most effective and efficient advertising ways. Moreover, relationship marketing causes the costs of attracting new customers through long-term relationships with current customers and in this way increases firm profitability. Indeed, relationship marketing leads to customer satisfaction and loyalty through creating commitment and trust. Loyal customer also influences company’s word of mouth. Thus, this research conducted focused on studying the effect of relationship marketing on life insurance word of mouth. This is an applied research; and is a descriptive, filed study. Research statistical population was life insurance clients of Karafarin Insurance Agents in Mashhad. 384 individuals selected as research sample through simple random sampling method. Data collected through questionnaire. Questionnaire reliability measured through using Cronbach alpha. Research hypotheses also were tested by structural equation modeling (SEM). The results of analyzing research hypotheses indicated that relationship marketing directly influences life insurance word of mouth. In addition, customers’ trust also influences their satisfaction of buying life insurance. Customers’ commitment influences their satisfaction of buying life insurance; furthermore, customers’ satisfaction influences customers’ loyalty to buy life insurance. And finally, customers’ loyalty influences life insurance word of mouth.
Review Article
Shanika Dilanthi
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1261-1277
Abstract
The Sri Lankan apparel industry serves the country’s economy in various ways. Creating employment opportunities, exporting products to the international market and earning foreign exchange are some of major contributions of the apparel industry. Literature and the annual statistical reports on ...
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The Sri Lankan apparel industry serves the country’s economy in various ways. Creating employment opportunities, exporting products to the international market and earning foreign exchange are some of major contributions of the apparel industry. Literature and the annual statistical reports on Sri Lanka’s industrial performance provide evidence for this significant contribution. Though the apparel industry could serve international markets with branded products, it has to face the competition in the world apparel markets. This competition has been created by removing tax benefits of Multi Fiber Agreement and GSP Plus, China becoming the key player in the US and EU apparel imports and increasing the imports to the world apparel market by other countries. Therefore this study describes the current profile of the Sri Lankan apparel industry and hence identifies challenges the industry faces. Reduction in the US and EU apparel imports, labour becoming expensive and scarce resources, poor product and regional diversification, high lead time and dependency on imported raw materials are identified as key challenges to the Sri Lankan apparel industry and hence, this study argues that the industry should find new ways to enter to international markets, identify suitable systematic and structured strategy to improve the industry performance, rethink its positioning in international markets with competitors, incorporate backward integration and further improve the raw material requirement base and the lead time. Also this study underscores the value of diversifying into the fashion industry, signing a new Free Trade Agreement with China, focusing on ethical manufacturing and implementing the “Green Garment Factory” concept and other productivity improvement strategies as emerging trends to successfully meet those challenges.
Conceptual Paper
Fatemeh Joharianzadeh; Kamal Sakhdari; Babak Ziyae; Mohsen Azari Aghviyeh
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1278-1289
Abstract
Franchising is a growth strategy in which franchisors grant other parties the right to use their brand, processes and value propositions in different geographical places. Consistency in products and services across different branches is considered as a prominent feature of this business model. This; ...
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Franchising is a growth strategy in which franchisors grant other parties the right to use their brand, processes and value propositions in different geographical places. Consistency in products and services across different branches is considered as a prominent feature of this business model. This; however, may diminish the firm’s ability to adapt to local preferences. Accordingly, one of the main challenges franchisors are encountered is how to achieve a decent balance between adaptation and standardization activities. While the literature of franchising provides less insights into the way franchisors can mitigate this tension, building on the literature of organizational ambidexterity this research theorizes potential factors enabling franchisors to be the so-called ambidextrous firms. We propose that plural form, portfolio network management, diversity in target markets, and strategic orientations can enhance a franchisor's ability for adaptation-standardization duality. This opens novel paths for research aiming to enhance our understanding of the way franchisors can improve their performance.
Case Study
Zeynab Hakimi; Mohammad Heidari
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1290-1298
Abstract
Considering significance of life insurance and as these insurance policies are regarded as a development criterion in many countries worldwide, as well as lack of knowledge about the existence, recognition, features and advantages of such insurance policies, advertising plays a critical role in ...
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Considering significance of life insurance and as these insurance policies are regarded as a development criterion in many countries worldwide, as well as lack of knowledge about the existence, recognition, features and advantages of such insurance policies, advertising plays a critical role in marketing and selling these policies. Therefore, this research studies the effect of advertising on public awareness with comprehensive life and Endowment insurance based on Dagmar model. It is an applied research in term of objective and a descriptive-survey research in term of methodology. Research statistical population consisted of 750 policyholders of life and endowment insurance in Dana insurance Company. Data collected through questionnaire. Sample size was estimated 254 individuals according to statistical Morgan’s table of sample size. Finally, 300 samples were tested for better validation of obtained data and results. Regarding disparity of insurers in different urban areas, Mashhad city insurers selected through cluster random sampling method. Data analyzed using SPSS software. In addition, advertising effect on Public awareness and familiarity with life insurance examined by Pearson correlation coefficient, Binominal test and t-test. Research results showed that advertising positively influences people knowledge and recognition of saving and life and endowment insurance. In other word, the higher the advertising is informative, the more the people are aware of such policies. More advertisements about benefits and characteristics of insurance policies leads to increased knowledge of people on such policies so that they tend to purchase more insurance policies.
Conceptual Paper
Maryam Abdullahi Habib
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1299-1311
Abstract
The main reason for the existence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives is to facilitate the move towards development where needed. CSR in developing countries and in particular, West African economies have been lagging behind the ‘Best in class’ practices such as those in ...
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The main reason for the existence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives is to facilitate the move towards development where needed. CSR in developing countries and in particular, West African economies have been lagging behind the ‘Best in class’ practices such as those in the western world. In this context, this study aims to explore on CSR already in existence in this region and the updates on developments brought about as a result of the various contributions made with regards infrastructural developments there in. Sources from secondary data—internet, books and articles—were collected with varying views from expertise in the area of concern. The contents gathered will give an overview to MNCs, government bodies—local or foreign—, development agencies, and individuals and what is expected to facilitate the bridging of the huge gap between what is practiced and what is expected. The theoretical paper will also create an insight to how a double sided CSR can be embarked on which will maximise wealth, elevate organizational reputation, contribute to infrastructural developments in West Africa and anywhere else and at same time fulfilling its objectives.
Review Article
Wong Mun Whye; Rashad Yazdanifard
Volume 2, Issue 10 , October 2015, Pages 1312-1318
Abstract
This article is about how duality theory is perceived by leaders and how we should focus on its element. It is important because organization tend to underestimate the importance of dualities. This research will show that duality thinking provides us the knowledge to handle opposing values and appreciating ...
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This article is about how duality theory is perceived by leaders and how we should focus on its element. It is important because organization tend to underestimate the importance of dualities. This research will show that duality thinking provides us the knowledge to handle opposing values and appreciating the concept on utilizing it. It is a paradox that needs identifying and explaining in an attempt to understand how to mediate between two opposing poles. This article will provide a basic understanding on how paradoxes are managed and by balancing the duality tension what possible effectiveness will occur.
