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Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review

ISSN: 2223-5833

Open Access

Volume 6, Issue 6 (2016)

Research Article Pages: 1 - 5

Multi Attribute User Profile Inference Model for Improved Customer Relation Management

Karthikeyan KK, Ramani Gopal CS and Palaniappan G

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The market analysis has become more important where the organizations has the responsibility to maintain the relation with their customers. The marketing organizations have different customers from various part of the country. The customers have different type of interest and to maintain the bond with them, the organizations must find statistical solutions. There are number of approaches available for the detection of user interest but suffers to achieve the performance. To overcome the problem, a multi attribute user profile inference model has been proposed. The method identifies the user set who has purchased in earlier times and identifies the related items purchased by others. For each user from the user group, the method identifies their profile like finance, education, frequency of product purchase, and job profile. Using all this information the method identifies a subset of users to produce recommendations. Finally the method identifies the list of similar interested user groups and propagate the recommendations. The method improves the performance of customer relation management and improves the market growth.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 7

Dynamics Obstructing Public Financial Management, Good Governance and Accountability in South Africa

Zonke NM

Delivery of Services, reduction of poverty, economic development and sustainability depend on availability and prudent management of financial resources. Sound, ethical financial management is crucial in the public sector: without public funds to ensure functioning and capital costs, and without appropriate personnel, no public institution can render adequate services. This paper analyses dynamics that obstruct public financial management in South Africa. Several dynamics hamper public financial management, good governance and accountability: such as high turnover rate of accounting officers, parliamentary committees like the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) or a lack of political will. Although South Africa has suitable oversight bodies, policies, procedures and Acts, the poor state of financial management in South African government departments is evident from the low number of objective qualified audits that meet the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act, Act 1 of 1999, the legislative oversight bodies and the wider legal framework governing public finances.

In this study, a mixed method approach using both qualitative and quantitative instruments was employed to collect data. Data collection comprised in-depth focus groups, interviews and questionnaires. This study defines which dynamics obstructed Public Financial Management, Good Governance and accountability in South Africa, using a triangulation and a mixed method design. In this design, the researcher collects both types of data at the same time about a single phenomenon in order to compare and contrast different findings, and to produce wellvalidated conclusions.

This study looks at the high turnover rate of directors general and implications for public finance. This study provides guidance to government on possible interventions available to counter the negative consequences of turnover. Findings show an unacceptably high turnover rate: adequate accountability is not provided by departments. Global trends suggest that South Africa is not unique in this turnover rate: as in other countries encountering similar difficulties, rigorous intervention is required to ensure that there is greater continuity of office.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 9

How Working Capital Affects the Profitability of Commercial Banks: Case of Afriland Cameroon

Serge Piabuo Mandiefe

This study seeks to assess the effect of working capital management on the profitability of Afriland First Bank Cameroon. Time series data from 2002 to 2013 was extracted from the financial statement of the bank, Correlation analysis and ordinary least square regression was used to determine how working capital affect profitability. The findings of this study show that working capital management effectively influences the performance of Afriland First Bank. The analysis show that customer deposits, the size of the bank, outstanding expenditure and return on assets all have a positive impact on bank profitability and are statistically significant, however, an increase in reserves leads to a reduction of profitability while other factors such as leverage have a positive effect on bank profitability.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 9

The Effect of Corporate Cash Holdings on Stock Returns

Muhammad Khalil ur Rashid, Sabeeh Ullah and Shaukat Ali

In this research work the effect of corporate cash holdings on stock return is analyzed in which panel data is used from Pakistani listed firms which are listed in KSE for the period 2007-2013, the firms are selected randomly having sample size of 120 which is then is divided into sixty small and large firms on the basis of their total assets respectively, the nature of our data is panel for which we have used panel data regression, panel data regression involve three models which are pooled ols, fixed effect model and random effect model, in order to find out the most appropriate model we have used three tests including chow test, Breusch-pagan test and Hausman test, based upon the p-values of the tests it is suggested to use the fixed effect model. White test is used to find out the presence of heteroscedasticity, VIF is used to find out the presence of multicolinearity in the data, As small and large firms are parts of this research. In the case of large size firms there is negative relationship between the return on stock and holding liquid assets and which usually enforce them to prefer internal financing rather than external financing because of various costs associated with external financing. In case of small size firms positive association is shown which is based on the fact that small size firms usually have poor credit ratings and have no easy access to the capital markets therefore they held more cash which has a positive effect on their stock return. And the overall effect again shows positive relationship between cash holdings and stock return, so this is a situation in which the firms usually face an equilibrium position between the payment of dividends and also to keep cash in the form of retain earnings.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 5

Determinant of the Post Adoption Behaviour of Small Scale Farmers: Evident of System of Rice Intensification (SRI) Practices in Indonesia

Palmarudi Mappigau, Yunus Musa and Amraeni

The purpose of our study is to determine post adoption bahaviour of small scale farmers in practicing SRI. A method conducted surveys on 125 small scale farmers who adopted SRI at two regencies of South Sulawesi Province in Indonesia. The binary logit regression used to examine factors that have determine influence on the post adoption behavior. The factors included in the study are benefits of SRI, the ease of use SRI, skills and the knowledge and experience, entrepreneurship attitude, resources endowment, and social cultural. Our findings demonstrate that benefits of SRI, ease of use SRI, skills and knowledge and experience, and social culture were important determinant; and entrepreneurship attitude was very important determinant influencing post adoption behavior. While resources endowment was less important determinant. Thus, farmers who perceive gained benefits from SRI, eased of use SRI, needed skills and knowledge and experience, needed willingness to take risks and selfconfidence (entrepreneurship attitude), and needed social and culture supported to SRI practices have increased their propensity to continue with SRI. While farmers who perceive needed resources endowment from government support has increased their propensity to stop with SRI. This study makes some valuable contributions to the empirical study of post adoption behavior of small scale farmers in utilizing a technology continuously.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 4

Investigation the Effect of Income Smoothing and Auditor�¢����s Opinion on the Financial Bankruptcy of Companies Listed in the Tehran Stock Exchange

Fadaee M and Chashmi NA

The aim of study is to investigate the effect of income smoothing and auditor’s opinion on the financial bankruptcy of companies listed in Tehran stock exchange. In the analyses was used data of 70 companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange in the period 2006 to 2013 and research hypotheses were analyzed with the help of statistical method of logistic regression. Significant variable coefficients and the model was confirmed in 95% confidence level. The research results showed that there is significant relationship between income smoothing and auditor’s opinion with financial bankruptcy of companies.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 3

Is 49% FDI is Sufficient in Insurance in India

Chandra Mohan S and Ramana DV

Human life in general strives to get the minimum necessities like basics of life like food, shelter and clothing along with minimum education and socio economic profile. The very known fact through studies from the nations that, still in 21st century many deprived struggling a lot even to have some minimum. The rising concerns from the environment due to urbanization, industrialization and changing civilization causing many natural calamities like draught, drought, tsunamis, quakes and diseases. The movement certainly awakes the areas like social security and standard. Being the species of society it has become hard to get standard of life. The one prime area insurance plays major role in bringing standard and strength to the life. The present scenario of insurance coverage and the business trend is in positive and with good potential. The status of India and Indian population are at bottom level with least number of insured and coverage. The recent initiation taken by the central government to hike FDI limit from the existing 26% to 49% has been welcomed by many industrialists. The decision is even more time based and more indeed. At the same time it alarms’ many concerns like system efficiency, strategy, execution and transparency. This initiative tried explaining some of those concerns with the support of reports and releases.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 9

Study the Impact of Change Management on Neyshabour Municipality

Hasan Bakayian

Change management can be of varying scope. From continuous improvement, that involves small ongoing changes to existing processes, to radical and substantial change involving organizational strategy. Change management can be reactive or proactive. It can be instigated in reaction to something in an organizations external environment, for example, in the realms of economics, political legislation, or competition, or in reaction to something within the processes, structures, people and events of the organizations internal environment. Neyshabour municipality is an urban administrative division having corporate status and powers of selfgovernment or jurisdiction. The mayor is the head of this organization who were appointed by the city council. The purpose of the study is thus to analyze the use of change management control systems as organizational change strategies in development, employing a change perspective on management control and it’s Impact on Municipality of Neyshabour.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 5

Role of Constitution in Women Empowerment in Corporate Sector

Kumar TNS, Mahathi K and Thirthala S

India is the largest democratic country in the world, with a population size of 125 crores. The Indian women, however, face innumerable problems at home and in society since their childhood. The most common and unfortunate trait of Indian society is that the girls need only basic levels of education and awareness so that they teach their children after their marriage. The girls in India are encouraged to learn dance, music, child education and an art of cooking at home. The hidden talents of the Indian women are buried under the disguise of House Wife. The present study explores the factors which inhibit the growth and the prospects of women in India. It urges the strong need of the constitutional amendments which facilitate the growth of the women in the areas of education, sports, industry, science and technology. A conceptual model is developed to boost up the Indian economy through the women empowerment. The statistical methods used in the study include Percentages and Mean and Weighted Averages.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 5

Effect of Major Macroeconomic Determinants on the Progress of Pakistan

Rabia Najaf and Khakan Najaf

After studying all of the papers, we have considered that stock market of all the countries known as the predictor of economy. Future economic activates can be changes with the change in the economic activities. From the last few decades, most of the observers criticized the stock exchange of Pakistan because it is not depend upon on the true fundamentals. From the last few decades, it is seen that stock market was decline on the different occasions. The vital role of our study is that to explore the impact of stock exchange on the economy of Pakistan. We are also explaining those variables, which have influences on the stock exchange of Pakistan. The basic purpose of this study is to explain the stock exchange ability to predict about the economy position of Pakistan. We have taken the stock prices as the dependent variable and import and export goods and services as the independent variables. We used the regression analysis for testing the hypothesis. We have collected the data from 2006-2010.There is a lot of stock exchange, which are working as the predictor of the Pakistan but our focus is Karachi stock exchange, which is known as the oldest and largest stock exchange of Pakistan. Our results suggested that there is no association between stock market and changes of the stock prices.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 6

The Relationship Between Physical Exercise and Job Performance: The Mediating Effects of Subjective Health and Good Mood

Jacob Drannan

This study gives an insight into to the relationship between physical exercise and job performance as well as mediating effects of the physical exercise-job performance relationship such as increased subjective health and good mood. At the present time, health care costs for companies are drastically increasing. Complications arise with individuals not being physically active. Obesity has now become the fourth largest cause of death in the world. In order for companies to think about ways to reduce costs, perhaps management can look to exercise as a way to improve employee performance, mood and subjective health. For the purpose of this study, physical exercise is defined as planned, structured, and repetitive activities aimed at improving physical fitness and health. Job performance is defined as employee behaviors that contribute to organizational goals. Mood is defined as particular feeling or state of mind experienced by the participant. Subjective health is defined as the perception of their own health. The questionnaire was conducted among 413 respondents working in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The participants received a structured questionnaire to assess demographic information as well as variables such as physical exercise, job performance, good mood and subjective health. The results of the data analysis supports the researcher’s hypotheses and mediational model whereby physical exercise had a significant relationship with job performance, and the mediating effects of good mood and subjective health were statistically significant to the physical exercise and job performance relationship.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 5

The Five Competitive Forces of the Insurance and Pension Funds Industry for the Angolan Case

Eduardo Gando Manuel

This article aims to analyze the five forces of Michael E. Porter, professor at Harvard Business School in the case of Insurance and Pension Funds Industry in Angola. We concluded that the five competitive forces of the insurance and of Angola pension funds industry are always subject to change according to the evolution of both markets. The level of insurance, involves changing the habits of insured within the insurance underwriting, the insurance underwriting obligation by the Government and also the supervisory measures to be taken in the future that may allow or not the permanence of current insurance in the domestic market. Already the level of pension funds, the changes of the five competitive forces of this industry will depend on the willingness and needs of individuals, public and private institutions to guarantee income for the future without relying on National Social Security Institute (INSS).

Research Article Pages: 1 - 5

The Effect of Strategic Leadership, Organization Innovativeness, Information Technology Capability on Effective Strategy Implementation: A Study of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria

Palladan AA, Abdulkadir KB and Wen CY

This is a literature-based paper. The paper has conceptualized a simple model comprising of four variables, namely strategic leadership, organizational innovative, information technology capability and effective strategy implementation. Because previous studies have only concentrated in profit oriented organization, especially in Europe, America and Asia. This paper is an attempts to move outward the frontier of knowledge concerning the relationship strategic leadership behaviors (SLP), organizational innovativeness (OiV), information technology capability (ITC) on effective strategy implementation (ESE) by looking at it from different context namely, Nigeria. A survey study of cross-sectional nature will be conducted fourteen (14) in tertiary institutions located in Kaduna State. The institutions located in the state are major element in Nigeria’s educational sector, the sector that is currently experiencing serious and major reforms targeted toward enhancing its service delivery and quality. Contextual performance in the form of strategic leadership behaviors, organizational inn ovation attitude (innovativeness) and IT capability promotes the effectiveness of the institutions. This is because of their positive relationship with organization effectiveness in its strategy implementation. This paper proposes that having strategic leaders in place couple with innovation attitude and IT capability of the institutions will increase the efficiency of the overall institutions due proper implementation of good and reputable strategies. In today’s world were knowledge economy strives, tertiary institutions have great role to play in socio economic and political growth, especially in developing country like Nigeria.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 6

Impact of Corporate Governance on Firm's Financial Performance (A Comparative Study of Developed and Non Developed Markets)

Muhammad Ali

The study has been conducted to compare the impact of corporate governance on firm’s financial performance between USA (Developed Country) and Pakistan (Developing Country). The corporate governance is measured by Board’s Ownership, Effectiveness, Size and Structure, Its Independency, CEO Duality and Board’s education and Experience whereas the firm’s financial performance is measure by the Return on Asset and Return on Equity. A sample of 100 listed companies from Karachi Stock Exchange of Pakistan and New York Stock Exchange of USA has been investigated to analyze the relationship during the period 01 Jan 2010 to 31 Dec 2015 regarding their comparative firm’s financial performance in respect of Corporate Governance. The impact of corporate governance in the 100 listed firms that are taken in the sample from Pakistan and USA were analyzed through collection primary data by floating the questionnaire physically in Pakistan and online for USA. The internal and external performance of firm’s for both countries was measured by taking Return on Asset (ROA) and Return on Equity (ROE) as internal performance measure and Market to Book Value Ratio, of Tobin’s Q and Marris, for measuring the external performance. From the study it has been found that corporate governance codes are being followed in both countries but it is better in the developed countries. In Pakistan, due to most family owned business there exists some conflicts exists between the corporate governance codes drawn by SECP with their already drawn already set procedure whereas in USA strict Corporate Governance codes are being followed. The variables like Board ownership, Board Education and Experience, effectiveness and CEO Duality has positive relationship with the firm’s performance but Board Size has negative correlation. The study also found that there is no relationship between independency of director with firm’s performance.

Review Article Pages: 1 - 9

The Deceptive and Unwanted Gas Liberalization Process in Russia

Jeylan Mammadova

This paper argues that this perception of the gas liberalization process in Russia is far too rosy. The analysis of the gas liberalization process in Russia demonstrates that there have been very few changes made in the legislative framework that would favor the opening of the market and the involvement of all independent gas players. We find that many of the gas “reforms” undertaken are still such that favor Gazprom and the Kremlin’s control over the sector. We find that the changes in market share are not an outcome of the gas liberalization process, and that many of the reforms (i.e., liberalization of the export market and more favorable regulatory conditions) only apply to two purportedly “independent” gas companies (Rosneft and Novatek) that are in reality owned by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s close circle of friends.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 9

The Causes of Tunisian SME Failure

Madiha Zammel and Walid Khoufi

Failures that affect different-sized firms in different sectors are on a constant rise. Many endogenous and exogenous factors led to this situation. The aim of this research is to study the various elements of the internal and external environment that may affect the financial situation of the Tunisian companies. The study is conducted through an overview of the existing literature as well as on the basis of a field investigation. The achieved results led us to conclude that the company’s internal factors, such as the management quality, the characteristics of the management team as well as the company’s resources, affect its existence more than its external items do.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 6

Determinants of Consumer Attitude towards E-Tailing in Indian Retail Sector: A Study on Factors of Technological Acceptance Model (TAM)

Altaf Ahmad Dar and Shabir A Bhat

This research papers studies and investigate the determinants of consumers attitude affecting the E-purchase in retail sector. This current study developed the theoretical model based on Technological acceptance model (TAM) by incorporating the variables such as perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, compatibility, privacy, security, capability (Self-efficacy) and trust. The study collected the data from a sample of 374 users of E-tailing. The data collection tool was a structured questionnaire. The reliability of the tool was confirmed by Cronbach’s α coefficient which was above the threshold (0.7) for all variables. The data were analyzed by correlation and regression to determine the relationship between dependent variables and independent variables. The results revealed that Perceived Usefulness, Ability to use (Self Efficacy), Relationship building and Trust have a positive effect on use of internet for E-purchase (E-tailing) whereas privacy and security have negative relation with use of internet for E-purchase (E-tailing). However, the value of impact varies slightly from variable to variable. Therefore retailing companies should build and devise trust worthy strategies that would reduce insecurity in consumers and more and more consumers can be attracted to e-purchase.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 6

Aquarium Service Design for Innovating Customer Value Constellation-Using Grounding Theory (QSR NVIVO)

Sankaran A

Aquarium business service design is an emerging field of business in India. This study aimed to explore the current practices and the customers’ experience, expectation, perception and view of aquarium keeping with regards to the service design. A qualitative research approach has been selected as appropriate for this particular research area. A grounded theory approach and service design tools such as brainstorming, blueprinting has been adopted in the study.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 17

An Evaluation of Government Policies on Poverty Eradication: A Case Study of NAPEP in Ogbadibo LGA of Benue State

Agbara Williams

This study started with the foresight of the entire study comprising the introduction of the subject matter of the research work which is "An Evaluation of Government Policies on Poverty Eradication. A case study of NAPEP in Ogbadibo LGA. In the review of literature, it was discovered that there are various opinions to the explanation of poverty in Nigeria. While some see poverty as the lack of basic amenities, others see poverty as poor investment in human capital on the whole; there was a convergence among different authors that Nigerians are poor. The survey study shows that the awareness level of NAPEP and her programmes are quite okay, but the implementation level remains very minimal in Ogbadibo LGA. Hypotheses were tested at 0.05 significance level with a degree of freedom (R - 1) (C - 1). The study revealed that National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) has not impacted significantly on poverty reduction or eradication in Ogbadibo LGA. This conclusion was drawn from an empirical analysis using chi-square which led to rejecting the alternative hypothesis that National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) has impacted significantly on poverty eradication in Ogbadibo LGA.

Case Study Pages: 1 - 2

Reconnection to your Ancestral Origin: A Case Study of Bimbia Slave Trade Village

Evaristus Nyong Abam

Slave trade and Slavery in Africa has not only existed throughout the continent for the past decades but it is still being witnessed today in different forms. Slave trade and slavery are both a crime against Humanity and a deep moral error. It has destroyed the lives of millions of Africans and the effect has continued to be felt by their descendants even today and all of those affected have lost their history. Some companies in the United States of America have been carrying out DNA test in an effort to try and unite those affected with their ancestral root. Motherland Facilitations Africa, a non-profit making organization in Cameroon and the Government of Cameroon through its Ministry of Culture have been working together to see the successful reconnection of these African- American with their families. Bimbiam, the slave trade port has seen the rehabilitation of the port through the collaboration of Cameroon’s Ministry of Culture and the American Embassy in Yaounde.

Case Study Pages: 1 - 2

The Negative Environmental Effect of the Guinness Mount Cameroon Race: A Case study of Buea Subdivision

Evaristus Nyong Abam

Tourism depends on the quality of the environment; indeed the quality of an environment or some particular feature of it is frequently the primary attraction for tourist. And today, tourists of all kinds are becoming more sensitive to polluted or environmental degraded conditions at their different travels destinations. An area of picturesque beauty attracts a good number of visitors so more and more of the landscape is lost to development of visitors infrastructures. The Guinness Mount Cameroon race is one of the most covered sporting events in the country and prior to the start of this race, sportive and cultural events vibrates the South West Region for a week. There is environmental pollution as the grass and shrubs along the footpath is cut off and burnt to give the athletes and visitors a clearer visibility and this will also help the organisers to be able to keep track of all the athletes. Careful planning and management of tourism in relation to the need to preserve the natural environment and to attract a repeat visit by tourists is therefore necessary.

Research Article Pages: 1 - 7

Strategies for Long Term Investment by Non-Life Insurance Companies in India

Husain Ashraf S and Nikita Kumari

The aim of this paper is to study major determinants of long-term investment of the non-life insurance industry of India. The annual financial statements of nineteen non-life insurance companies covering a period of 5 years (2011-2015) were sampled and analyzed through panel regression. The findings indicate that, as expected, highly liquid, highly profitable and large size insurance companies have invested more in long term than lowly liquid, lowly profitable and small size companies. The researcher also find that insurance companies with higher risk retention ratio and higher leveraged ratio have invested less in long term than insurance companies with lower risk retention ratio and lower leveraged ratio.

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