IJSM, Volume 9, Number 2, 2009

ISSN: 1555-2411

ABSTRACTS
1. DYANMIC CAPABILITIES AND SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: AN EMPIRICAL
EVIDENCE FROM THAILAND
Phichai Tangpinyoputtikhun, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
Phapruke Ussahawanitchakit, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
ABSTRACT
There have been several paradigms, in the field of strategic management, pointing to how firm can attainsustainable competitive advantage. Dynamic capabilities are seen as the recent paradigm of the field.
This study examines dynamic capabilities of exporting firm in Thailand. Data collected by questionnaire,regression statistic technique is chosen for analyzing. The study finds that dynamic capabilities haveenhanced firm capability development in terms of marketing capability development; entrepreneurial
capability progress, network capability expansion and knowledge management capability improvement,
all have an effect on sustainable competitive advantage. Furthermore, the study indicates situationalchange strategy as a mediator to the effect of dynamic capabilities on firm capability development.
Besides, market dynamism and firm resources as the antecedents have positive influences on dynamiccapabilities. However, firm resources have greater influences on dynamic capabilities than marketdynamism. Theoretical and managerial contributions are also discussed. Directions of the future researchand conclusion are also presented.
Keywords: Dynamic Capabilities; Market Dynamism, Firm Resource, Marketing Capability Development,
Entrepreneurial Capability Progress, Network Capability Expansion, Knowledge Capabilities
Improvement, Situational Change Strategy, Sustainable Competitive Advantage

2. CONCEPTUALIZING A CONFIGURATIONENTREPRENEURSHIPAPPROACH-BASED MODEL OFSTRATEGIC

Sascha Kraus, Helsinki University of Technology, FINLANDIlkka Kauranen, Asian Institute of Technology, THAILAND
ABSTRACTThe purpose of this article is to structure and synthesize the existing scholarly works in the young andemerging field of “strategic entrepreneurship” as well as to develop a theoretical model, thereby contributing to further theory-building. For this, four different elementary domains of strategic entrepreneurship
could be identified: 1) the strategy, 2) the entrepreneur, 3) the environment, and 4) the structure and resources of the firm. It has been shown beforehand that the configuration approach is suitable for strategic
management as well as for entrepreneurship in the sense of new venture creation, and we argue that it
can be transferred to the larger level of SME strategy as well. This article is the first to model strategic
entrepreneurship by using the configuration approach, thereby providing a solid theoretical foundation forfuture research.
Keywords: strategy, entrepreneurship, strategic, configuration approachIJSM, Volume 9, Number 2, 2009

ISSN: 1555-2411

3. TEAM-WORK TRAINING: THE ROLE OF STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT SIMULATION
Natalia Martín Cruz, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
Víctor Martín Pérez, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
Celia Martín Sierra, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
Pilar Pérez Santana, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
Juan Hernangómez Barahona, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
ABSTRACTThe growing importance of teamwork in the business world has obliged both companies as well as higher
educational centers (universities, business schools, etc.) to invest in a type of training specialized in teamwork. In particular, it deals with the teaching of certain knowledge, skills and abilities (KSAs) which allows
the work teams to be more effective, as Chen et al. (2004) or Ellis et al. (2005) have demonstrated intheir research. Along the same lines, Stevens and Campion (1994) classify the KSAs into two groups:
those of self-management and interpersonal ones and link them to different company human resource
practices - among others, that of training.The aim of the present work, following the path initiated by thepreviously cited authors, is to study the positive influence of teamwork training on the results of the work
teams and, also, to compare the effectiveness of the training aimed at team self-management, and thetraining centered on the internal processes of these teams, based on interpersonal variables.
In order to verify the previous relationships, an experiment was carried out with students from the second
cycle of Business Administration and Management who participated in a strategic decision simulation inteams, offering diverse kinds of teamwork training. The results confirm that training aimed at teaching towork in teams has a positive influence on the performance of the work teams. In particular, greater
effectiveness is achieved by those teams trained for the self-management of their tasks than thosetrained for obtaining interpersonal skills which favor the group processes.
Keywords: Team-work Training, Team Self-management KSAs,
Team Outcomes, Strategic Management Simulations, Learning by DoingTeamInterpersonal

KSAs,

4. A DESIGN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING INFORMATION SYSTEM
Alin Ionel Ienciu, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca. Romania
Dumitru Matis, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca. Romania
Sorin Achim, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania
Nicoleta Cioara, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj Napoca, Romania
ABSTRACTThe environmental accounting faces a number of problems, such as, the lack of support of information,
specialised personnel as well as the absence of proportional international accounting models. The
connection between natural-environmental and financial accounting, can be achieved by adoption ofenvironmental management and information systems which more and more are essential in order to link
the environment and the economic performance of an enterprise.
In this study we present a design of the environmental accounting systems within an organisation andanalyse environmental benefits and costs, the interaction between the environment and the economic
performance as elements provided by implementing the environmental accounting system.
Keywords: environmental accounting system, environmental costs, environmental performanceIJSM, Volume 9, Number 2, 2009

ISSN: 1555-2411

5. THE PROCESSING OF ADVERTISEMENTS THROUGH INVOLVEMENT ROLES, SOURCE CUES,AND AFFECT INTENSITY
Iksuk Kim, California State University Los Angeles, California, USA
Freddy Su Jin Lee, California State University Los Angeles, California, USA
Joseph Richards, California State University Sacramento, California USA
ABSTRACTOur goal in this paper is to offer propositions that can motivate empirical research pertaining to the factorsthat influence how advertisements are processed. The research proposal is to investigate the Role ofInvolvement, Source Cues and Affect Intensity in the processing of advertisements. The background to
the inquiry of the role of peripheral cues in the persuasion of high and low involvement subjects are firstreviewed and a research design is then proposed based on three independent variable measures:
Affective Intensity, Source Cues and Involvement. A 2x2x2 factorial design is proposed as the basis forfuture empirical studies.
Keywords: advertising, peripheral cues, persuasion, affective intensity, source cues, involvement
6. CAN HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN A SMALL COMPANY?
Gergana Markova, Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas, USAABSTRACT
Human resource management (HRM) practices in small businesses are different than practices of larger
companies. In this paper, we describe five unique characteristics relevant to HRM practices of small firms
and link these HRM activities to firms’ successes. Using survey data from 45 business owners and theiremployees, we found that small businesses tailoring HRM practices to capitalize on their uniquecharacteristics are more likely to have perceived favorable financial outcomes.
Keywords: small business, HRM practice, employee relations

7. THE ECONOMIC STRATEGY IN ROMANIAN ENTERPRISESRadu Pop, Vasile Goldis University, Arad, Romania
ABSTRACTIn the market economy the enterprises have to establish their strategy concerning with the lastdevelopments in the world economy. That’s why, in this paper I try to establish the roots that every
Romanian entity and other foreign companies have to follow in this complex process.
Keywords: mission, strategy, objectives, resources

IJSM, Volume 9, Number 2, 2009

ISSN: 1555-2411

8. THE ROLE OF FIRMS, INDUSTRY AND MACROECONOMIC FACTORS IN FIRMS’ HEDGINGPOLICIES
José Luiz Rossi Júnior, Ibmec São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
Marcelo Leite de Moura e Silva, Ibmec São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
ABSTRACTThis paper analyzes the impact of firm, industry and macroeconomic factors on companies’ decisions
concerning the use of derivatives for a sample of non-financial Brazilian companies from 1996 to 2006.
The results show that besides the traditional firms characteristics advocated by the optimal hedging
literature, industry and macroeconomic factors also exert an impact on companies’ hedging policies.
Among industry characteristics, corroborating Adam, Dasgupta and Titman (2007), the paper indicatesthat competition, financial constraints, the size of the market, the elasticity of demand, and theconvexity of production costs are important determinants of differences in companies’ hedging policies.
Keywords: Hedging; Derivatives; Competition; Industry

9. SMALL-MEDIUM SIZED HOTELDEVELOPMENT: CASE STUDYEMPLOYEES’CORECOMPETENCIESAND

THEIR

Ausra Rutelione, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
Asta Savaneviciene, Kaunas University of Technology, Lithuania
ABSTRACT
Because of the strong competition in the tourism market and increasing number of big hotels, the small andmedium sized (SMs) hotels must find their place in the market and strengthen their position. From one part,features of the hotel as a services rendering enterprise and from other part, specifics of a small- medium
sized enterprise, are raising particular requirements for hotel employees’ competencies. The article deals
with small-medium sized (SMs) hotels employees’ core competencies and their development possibilities
in Lithuania.
Keywords: Competencies, competencies development, small and medium sized hotels, hospitality

10. A CONCEPTUAL MODEL: THE EFFECTS OF INTERNATIONAL BANKS’ BUSINESSSTRATEGY ON LOCAL EMPLOYEES’ MOTIVATION AND PERFORMANCE
Gamon Savatsomboon, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
Annette Wilkinson, CHESD, University of Free State, Republic of South Africa
Jindarat Peemanee, Mahasarakham University, Thailand
ABSTRACTThis paper proposes a conceptual model to measure the effects of business strategies (throughmediating variables) on motivation and performance of employees of domestic banks acquired byinternational foreign banks. Based upon existing literatures, much attention has been devoted on
measuring the financial performance of acquired banks. However, employee variables (e.g.
motivation and performance) are overlooked. Thus, there is a gap in the literature. This paper attempts
to fill this void. This paper develops a conceptual model for measuring the effects of businessstrategy of international foreign banks on employee variables. The development of the proposed
conceptual model draws upon existing literature. Overview of local banks’ takeover in the context of thisstudy is discussed. Critical variables as building blocks of the proposed conceptual model were identified
through literature. The proposed conceptual model was built based upon these building blocks.

IJSM, Volume 9, Number 2, 2009

ISSN: 1555-2411

Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) method is strongly recommended for data analysis of theproposed conceptual model. How to develop research instrument and collect data to test the proposed
conceptual model were also discussed. Critical paths were drawn to identify the relationships of thecritical variables included in the proposed conceptual model. Hypotheses were developed based uponthese hypothesized relationships. The paper also discusses how to test these proposed hypotheses. In
addition, the paper also discusses how to conduct a model fit (validating whether the empirical data fit
the proposed conceptual model). Empirical researches are also proposed based upon the proposed
conceptual model. These empirical researches could help answer critical managerial questions. Finally,theoretical and practical contributions are discussed.
Keywords: Acquisitions, Business strategy, International Foreign Banks, Domestic Banks, DomesticEmployees

11. WOMEN ENTREPRENEURIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN SMEs IN MAURITIUS
Rojid Sawkut, University Mauritius, Mauritius
Ramessur Shalini University of Technology, Mauritius, Mauritius
Seetanah Boopen, University of Technology, Mauritius, Mauritius
ABSTRACTThe objectives of the study are to assess the performance and constraints faced by women
entrepreneurs in Mauritius and to look at capacity in employment creation in enterprises run by women.
Some of the findings during the course of this study are: The level of educational attainment is higher for
male entrepreneurs than female entrepreneurs; for male entrepreneurs, the only reason to start a job
was to earn an income and support their families. For female entrepreneurs, the reasons were to earn aliving, to get the family out of financial distress, lost of their paid jobs and to keep themselves busy; The
survey showed that 25 % of entrepreneurs use their own saved money, while out of the remaining 75%,
46% approached banks for a loan facility while only 22% borrowed from family, relatives and friends; Forboth the male female entrepreneurs lack of credit facilities seem to be the major problem. It is moredifficult for female entrepreneurs to obtain loans from financial institutions: Male entrepreneurs are
unsuccessful to obtain loans because they lack asset to place as guarantee. Female entrepreneurs are
unsuccessful for reasons related to lack of guarantee, low capacity of repayment and the purpose forwhich the loans were requested.
Keywords: Women Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship skills, Gender