bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An empirical model of international student satisfaction
Authors: Arambewela Rodney , Hall John 
Published: October 2009

PurposeBased on the theoretical framework of expectancy‐disconfirmation paradigm, the purpose of this paper is to examine the differences in student perceptions of the level of satisfaction related to educational and non‐educational services among four groups of international postgraduate business students from China, India, Indonesia and Thailand undertaking study in Australia.Design/methodology/approachThe data used in this study were derived from a mail survey conducted among international postgraduate business students from Asia studying at five universities in the state of Victoria, Australia. A total of 573 usable responses were received. Analysis using structural equation modelling, multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was undertaken.FindingsThis study develops and tests a model of international postgraduate student satisfaction. Findings indicate that the importance of service quality factors related to both educational and non‐educational services varies among nationality groups and, therefore, has a differential impact on student satisfaction.Practical implicationsThe study provides insights into seven constructs related to educational and non‐educational services that are perceived as important by postgraduate business students from Asia in satisfaction formation. Universities should develop a diversified strategic marketing plan that incorporates the differential needs of international postgraduate business students according to the educational and non‐educational constructs developed in this paper.Originality/valueThis study makes a contribution by filling a void in academic research in the area of satisfaction in relation to postgraduate international business students from four nationality groups in Asia.
The impact of market orientation and corporate social responsibility on firm performance
Authors: Qu Riliang 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the joint effects of market orientation (MO) and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on firm performance.Design/methodology/approachData were collected via a questionnaire survey of star‐rated hotels in China and a total of 143 valid responses were received. The hypotheses were tested by employing structural equation modelling with a maximum likelihood estimation option.FindingsIt was found that although both MO and CSR could enhance performance, once the effects of CSR are accounted for, the direct effects of MO on performance diminish considerably to almost non‐existent. Although this result may be due to the fact that the research is conducted in China, a country where CSR might be crucially important to performance given the country's socialist legacy, it nonetheless provides strong evidence that MO's impact on organizational performance is mediated by CSR.Research limitations/implicationsThe main limitations include the use of cross‐sectional data, the subjective measurement of performance and the uniqueness of the research setting (China). The findings provide an additional important insight into the processes by which a market oriented culture is transformed into superior organizational performance.Originality/valueThis paper is one of the first to examine the joint effects of MO and CSR on business performance. The empirical evidence from China adds to the existing literature on the respective importance of MO and CSR.
Identifying and managing low money laundering risk
Authors: de Koker Louis 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate Financial Action Task Force (FATF)'s risk‐based guidance to combat money laundering and terrorist financing to determine its approach to the identification and management of low‐risk providers, products and transactions.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyses the relevant FATF recommendations and its guidance notes and reflects on key questions for regulators and financial institutions.FindingsFATF has not defined “risk” for purposes of the risk‐based approach. The absence of a clear definition complicates the identification of low‐risk products. FATF do provide an example of a risk matrix that can be used to identify low‐risk banks, but the example is based on assumptions and generalisations that are not sustainable. In addition, it identifies certain low‐value transactions as “low risk” transactions. The paper reflects on the role of value as an indicator of risk and concludes with a number of suggestions to clarify the conceptual framework.Originality/valueLow‐risk products and transactions are often overlooked because the risk‐based approach focuses attention on high‐risk matters. Low‐risk products are however crucial to the efforts to increase financial inclusion. The paper identifies gaps in the current conceptual framework and indicates ways in which they can be addressed.
Corporate crime and the dysfunction of value networks
Authors: Dion Michel 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe concept of “value network” makes clear that the mission of business corporations cannot be isolated from three basic elements: making profits, responding to customers' needs, reacting to competitors. Too often, value networks are seen as neutral factors in the way corporate crimes are committed. Value networks are usually considered as morally neutral conditioning factors, while it is not the case. The purpose of this paper is to explain how value networks should be closely linked to any crime prevention system.Design/methodology/approachChristensen's notion of value networks will be used in order to see if corporate crimes constitute a dysfunction of value networks. The most important “traditional” antecedents of corporate crime will be analyzed.FindingsBoth financial performance and growth rate are reflecting a deep concern for profitability. The level of market concentration not only reveals the structure of the market itself but also the way competitors react one to each other (particularly, through mergers and acquisitions). In both cases, what is unveiled is the capacity of value networks to enhance ethical as well as unethical practices. The way competitors react one to another, as component of the industry concentration, actually reveals how value networks are morally unsettled when such reaction could influence organizations to commit corporate crimes.Originality/valueThe originality of this paper is to reveal how changing corporate culture could redefine the moral boundaries of value networks within the organization.
Investor protection by securities regulators in the primary share markets in Australia and Bangladesh
Authors: Solaiman S.M. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to discover the weaknesses of initial public offering (IPO) regulation in Bangladesh in the light of the relevant law and practice in Australia.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative analysis of archival materials has been carried out to achieve the objective of the paper. Two different sets of legal provisions dealing with some selected issues relevant to the regulation primary share markets have been compared and contrasted. The level of market development, composition and performance of securities regulators and the level of investor sophistication have been critically in this paper in discussing aspects of regulation.FindingsThis paper finds that the IPO regulation in Bangladesh is weaker than that in Australia. The major weaknesses may be attributed to different factors such as the adoption of the disclosure philosophy prematurely by discarding the previous merit regulation in 1999 for a pre‐emerging securities market, lack of experienced and well‐trained people in the composition of securities regulators, lack of regulatory authority to sue for compensation on behalf of investors in the absence of shareholders class action, lack of authority to regulate auditors and lawyers who play significant roles in preparing defective prospectuses for public consumption. Findings also suggest that adequate investor protection cannot be ensured by regulatory measures alone, investors should be educated to protect themselves in the first place against the cupidity of issuers.Originality/valueIt provides an insight into an effective IPO regulatory regime. An immediate implementation of the recommendations made in this paper may contribute to improving the legal and regulatory regime for the primary share market in Bangladesh which may set a good example for others.
Political will in combating corruption in developing and transition economies
Authors: Abdulai Abdul‐Gafaru 
Published: October 2009

PurposeIn recognition of corruption as a major obstacle to the development processes of poor countries, the search for effective strategies in combating the phenomenon in developing countries has become a major preoccupation of the international donor community, particularly since the early 1990s. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of “political will” in combating corruption in Hong Kong, Singapore and Ghana with the view to drawing significant lessons for all developing and transition countries in their anticorruption crusades.Design/methodology/approachThe findings in this paper are based on an extensive review of relevant literature and personal experiences in Ghana.FindingsThis paper concludes that controlling corruption in a sustained manner requires a consistent demonstration of genuine commitment on the part of the top political elite towards the eradication of the menace. Where the commitment of the top political leadership to the goal of eradicating corruption in a country is weak, as has been the case in Ghana, governments are only likely to engage in “zero tolerance for corruption” talk but continue to play a “tolerant corruption” game. Anticorruption reforms, in this regard, are bound to fail.Practical implicationsThe paper highlights a number of lessons from the successful anticorruption crusades of Singapore and Hong Kong that are significant for Ghana and other developing countries in their fight against corruption. These include the need for anticorruption reform initiatives to be participatory and inclusive of all stakeholders including public and private sectors as well as civil society; the need to provide adequate budgets and staff for specialized anticorruption agencies and grant them independence in the execution of their mandates; and the need to establish effective mechanisms for: providing positive incentives for those who comply with anticorruption laws; and exposing and sanctioning compromised individuals and institutions.Originality/valueWhilst studies on the role of political will in combating corruption in developing countries abound, most of these have either not provided in‐depth country experiences or relied on single country cases. One major departure of this paper from extant literature is its cross‐country comparative nature.
Handling conflicts of interest within financial innovation
Authors: Kattan William , King Wendy , Ramella Marcelo 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to describe the experience of a financial services regulator, the Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA), in identifying and dealing with conflicts of interest in innovative financial markets and involving sophisticated counterparties.Design/methodology/approachThe paper draws on Bermuda legislation and regulations in force, on corporate records, produced by the BMA, documenting its structure, policies, and procedures in place to identify and manage conflicts of interest, as well as on observation of current corporate practices in this respect. In addition, background and contextual information on Bermuda reinsurance market relies on secondary sources describing and analyzing it.FindingsThe paper argues that the BMA has approached the issue of identification and treatment of conflicts of interest within a highly innovative environment involving sophisticated counterparties through two key strategies. First, it has concentrated its regulatory and supervisory efforts and resources at the “entry” stage of the process (e.g. licensing of financial entities). Second, the BMA has drawn on its knowledge of, and partnership with, the close‐knitted network of financial services stakeholders operating in Bermuda.Originality/valueThis paper is of value to those wishing to explore and better understand conflicts of interest involving sophisticated financial counterparties, and the role of the regulator in identifying and managing them, especially within the dynamics of innovative markets.
Lean supply chain and its effect on product cost and quality: a case study on Ford Motor Company
Authors: Wee H.M. , Wu Simon 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address “how Toyota can continuously and consistently achieve its dramatic success through its competences ‐ continuous waste elimination and the objective of long term philosophy”; the paper aims to summarize some solid suggestions and comprehensive ideas for those industries planning to implement lean production.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology used is the case based approach (CBA), which described lean supply chain (LSC) through value stream mapping (VSM) using a case study from the Ford Motor Company in Chung Li, Taiwan. The paper follows a four‐step problem solving process to demonstrate how lean supply chain affects product cost and quality.FindingsUsing VSM case study to demonstrate LSC, all the measurable indices helpful for cost reduction, quality enhancement and lead time reduction are shown. The paper also provides some recommendations and basic principles to implement VSM successfully through P‐D‐C‐A improving cycle.Research limitations/implicationsSince a comprehensive demonstration of VSM implementation is likely to be both expensive and time‐consuming, this study provides a case study from the Ford Motor Company in Taiwan.Practical implicationsVSM through lean process is considered to be one of the best practices in supply chain management. It has been shown to be successful for implementing lean production in Toyota Production System (TPS). However, other competitors struggle despite adopting similar principles. It seems that there is a special ingredient within TPS that Toyota's competitors do not fully comprehend.Originality/valueThis paper not only shows the value of VSM as a supply chain tool in implementing lean production; but also provides industrial insight for enterprising companies to follow a four‐step problem‐solving process to effectively develop their lean supply chain.
Is the offshore outsourcing landscape for US manufacturers migrating away from China?
Authors: Kumar Sameer , Medina Jennifer , Nelson Mark T. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThe motivation for this study is triggered by the fact that lately contract manufacturers in China have to deal with a number of unprecedented cost pressures such as currency fluctuations, the VAT rebate reduction, and minimum wage enforcement. As cost pressures in China continue to mount, this paper aims to analyze whether the US manufacturing outsourcing pendulum is swinging away from China and back to nearby Mexico, or towards emerging low‐cost countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey or Argentina.Design/methodology/approachAnalysis consists of comparing major cost drivers such as labor, currency, freight, and raw material and determined per unit price and the potential impact of currency fluctuations over the next five years. An example of Easle Pads (paper‐based non‐adhesive coated) is used to present the detailed analysis.FindingsThe outsourcing landscape today may change again in the near future as the VAT rebate is further reduced or eliminated or the impact of the Olympic Games finish. Assumptions will need to be updated to reflect any changes in the future. Though other countries such as Vietnam appear to be viable options, managers will need to take other factors into consideration when making outsourcing decisions. They will need to identify specific suppliers in a country and obtain quotes in order to finalize their decision.Research limitationsThe data analysis is supposedly very high‐level. Many assumptions were applied lacking full detail, and duties and customs were not specifically addressed for each country. However, this organized approach is useful as a strategic decision tool in performing supplier searches to identify potential countries.Practical implicationsThe paper helps shed light on the opportunities that exist in the emerging low‐cost countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia. Other countries, such as Turkey and Argentina, also offer low labor costs, but may be better considered as regional sources of supply, rather than US outsourcing destinations.Originality/valueThe majority of studies on manufacturing outsourcing in relation to China concentrate on the reasons why one should choose China. The paper looks at manufacturing outsourcing away from China and identifies possible alternatives for contract manufacturing.
How to design the right supply chains for your customers
Authors: Collin Jari , Eloranta Eero , Holmström Jan 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to present an approach that two leading supply chain companies have used to identify and design alternative supply chain solutions according to their customers' demand chains.Design/methodology/approachThe paper describes industry best practice.FindingsThe supplier of telecommunications equipment found that by deploying three different supply chains that corresponded to three types of customers' demand chains it could simultaneously improve customer satisfaction and effectiveness. The supplier of fasteners found it could serve its different industrial customers with essentially two supply chain designs.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a practical best practice description and does not aim to contribute to academic research. However, there are no academic contributions on procedures for supply chain re‐design according to customer demand chains. Thus, the best practice described in the paper implies a need for research on this type of supply chain customization.Practical implicationsCustomer requirements and collaboration capabilities can be systematically taken into consideration in supply chain designs.Originality/valueThe paper presents a practical approach for taking both product characteristics and customer differences into account in supply chain re‐design.
Public procurement strategy for accelerating the economic recovery
Authors: Gordon Murray J. 
Published: October 2009

PurposeThis paper aims to consider the problem of public procurement's contribution in moving from the current global economic downturn and accelerating the economic recovery.Design/methodology/approachA literature review is used to establish perceived local government procurement best practice. Secondary research is then drawn upon to establish local government procurement's response to the current economic recession. The paper is set within the context of English local government. The paper's contribution is in highlighting that perceived best public procurement practice may well, in the short‐term, be inappropriate and perhaps delay economic recovery. Suggestions for more radical short‐term procurement strategic interventions are set out and justified as accelerating the economic recovery. The suggestions are considered appropriate, not only for the current crisis, but also for future economic downturns or indeed any country facing such a situation.FindingsThe analysis suggests that English local government procurement strategy generally remains unaltered from that adopted prior to the economic recession. It is then argued that current best practice may well hinder an economic recovery and a short‐term shift in procurement strategy is required.Research limitations/implicationsThe economic recession is a current phenomenon and the secondary research could well suffer from self‐selection bias, nevertheless the review of current policy documents suggests that a short‐term shift in procurement strategy is justified.Practical implicationsThe paper identifies the weaknesses in current procurement strategy prior to setting out a short‐term alternative procurement strategy that could help public procurement managers accelerate a viable economic recovery.Originality/valueThe current global economic downturn represents a major challenge to public sector organisations, yet there remains an assumption that English local government procurement strategy developed during a period of economic boom, is appropriate during the recession. This paper challenges that assumption and sets out a procurement strategy that could accelerate economic recovery. The strategy advocated can be tested and the lessons learnt utilised in other countries or during future periods of economic downturn.
Factors influencing internet shopping behaviour: a survey of consumers in Thailand
Authors: Laohapensang Orapin 
Published: October 2009

PurposeAn exploration of factors influencing internet shopping is conducted using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as the theoretical base. The theory holds that a potential customer's attitude towards the behaviour and the customer's subjective norm and perceived behavioural controls can influence the intention and its eventual realisation. This paper aims to address the factors influencing internet shopping by Thai consumers in order to answer the question of how well TPB explains online shopping intentions in Thailand. Then, comparisons are made between theoretical predictions and the current situation of the use of online services by consumers in Thailand.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on a questionnaire survey asking participants what factors influence their use of the internet for shopping. Subjects are drawn from 400 graduates at four major universities in Thailand. To test the validity and reliability of the measurement models using the corrected item‐total correlations, Cronbach's α and correlations among constructs in the path model are used. Assessment is made of the importance of variables in the path model with the application of the conventional regression. All multiple items of the measures are assessed for their internal consistency by computing the corrected item total correlation and coefficient α for each composite measure.FindingsThe empirical analysis suggests that the difficulty of shopping online is seen as the factor most influencing customers' intention to shop online. In this survey and that of the NECTEC, online technology is seen as the principal barrier to using the internet for online shopping. In contrast, it is found elsewhere that a potential customer's attitude is the factor having most influence on the intention to shop.Originality/valueThe results of a survey of 400 consumers in Thailand showed that the factors of opinions of people around consumers and the environment of online shopping can affect their intention to shop online, and its realisation.