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1 – 10 of 103Woon Kian Chong, Mathew Shafaghi and Boon Leing Tan
The purpose of this paper is to critically explore business‐to‐business critical success factors (B2B CSFs) for small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the Chinese…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to critically explore business‐to‐business critical success factors (B2B CSFs) for small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the Chinese B2B marketplace, evaluate the findings, and use the generated CSFs to propose a framework to assist in the marketing management of B2B in China. The proposed framework provides a guideline for academics and practitioners and highlights the significant role of each factor in developing and sustaining effective B2B electronic commerce (B2B e‐commerce) practice for SMEs.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed framework is constructed by combining the empirical findings and B2B literature. The quantitative (online survey) was targeted at, proprietors, chief executive officers, managing directors, general managers, sales/marketing managers and export managers in selected SMEs that participated in B2B electronic marketplace (B2B e‐marketplace) in China. The data received from the recipients were processed on SPSS to conduct factor analysis to identify whether a factor structure underlies the correlations between a number of variables.
Findings
The findings are indicative of two sets of internal and external critical factors, including: successful customer relationships, supply chain facilities, global competition, information system/information technology (IS/IT) infrastructure and performances, information visibility, top management support and commitment, government encouragement and commitment, security and trust, and cultural consideration.
Practical implications
SME managers can derive a better understanding and measurement of marketing activities that appropriately balance between traditional and B2B e‐commerce practice. At the same time, the CSF can be integrated into the companies to determine the level of marketing performance in B2B e‐marketplace.
Originality/value
The paper's findings provide new theoretical grounds for research into B2B relationships in the digital business environment. The paper also provides an empirical assessment of the essential components in B2B e‐commerce adaptation, and implications for the means to prioritize CSF.
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Chi‐Yih Yang, Hung‐Neng Lai and Boon Leing Tan
This study examines the relation between managerial ownership structure and earnings management. Unlike previous research which treats insiders as a homogeneous group, we further…
Abstract
This study examines the relation between managerial ownership structure and earnings management. Unlike previous research which treats insiders as a homogeneous group, we further classify insiders into executives, outside directors, and blockholders to conduct an in‐depth study. Earnings management is captured by discretionary accruals that are estimated using the modified Jones model. For a large sample of Taiwanese listed firms over the period 1997 and 2004, we find that discretionary accruals first increase and then decrease with executive ownership, forming an inverted U‐shaped relationship. However, discretionary accruals are positively affected by director ownership and blockholder ownership. The results suggest that equity stake owned by top officers of a firm should be encouraged in order to reduce agency cost, thus enhancing information content of earnings.
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Chi‐Yih Yang, Boon Leing Tan and Xiaoming Ding
The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically whether corporate governance mechanisms have an effect on income‐smoothing behavior in the People's Republic of China.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine empirically whether corporate governance mechanisms have an effect on income‐smoothing behavior in the People's Republic of China.
Design/methodology/approach
The sample comprises 1,358 companies listed in the Shanghai Stock Exchange and the Shenzhen Stock Market during the period 1999 to 2006. By comparing the variability of income to the variability of sales, an income smoother can be identified if income is less variable than sales.
Findings
The authors' empirical results show that income smoothing is more severe when the state is the controlling shareholder of the Chinese listed firm. Firms with more independent directors are more likely to engage in income smoothing. The governance mechanisms such as board of directors, supervisory board, audit committee, external auditors, and shareholders' participation are not effective in curtailing income smoothing in China.
Practical implications
For Chinese firms and especially government‐linked enterprises, the way in which they present themselves may be significant, since the image they present to potential strategic partners may be marred by suspicions of income smoothing.
Originality/value
The paper presents the current development of China's corporate governance system and indicates that agency conflicts between controlling shareholders and minority investors account for a significant portion of earnings management in China.
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Xiangmeng Huang, Boon Leing Tan and Xiaoming Ding
The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the pressures and drivers that have been experienced by Chinese manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in terms…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the pressures and drivers that have been experienced by Chinese manufacturing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in terms of green supply chain management (GSCM).
Design/methodology/approach
The research framework and hypotheses are examined by a questionnaire survey through e-mails conducted in China in 2011. The empirical analysis is based on the data from 202 SME manufacturers in China. Validity and reliability of the items employed in the research is assessed through Cronbach’s α test. Hypotheses for the identification of GSCM pressures and drivers to SMEs as well as the differences that exist among different industrial sectors are tested by adopting descriptive statistics analysis and analysis of variance test.
Findings
This study finds that Chinese manufacturing SMEs have been under pressures from a variety of sources, including regulations, customers, suppliers and public awareness in terms of GSCM. Besides, internal drivers are also an important encouragement for SMEs to consider GSCM. Moreover, Chinese manufacturing SMEs from different industrial sectors show some differences in experiencing pressures or being motivated by drivers.
Research limitations/implications
The main limitations to this paper are the relatively small sample of SMEs and the potentially overlooked variables.
Practical implications
Chinese manufacturing SMEs and their larger customers, as well as governments, are likely to obtain some implications from this study if they are willing to consider any GSCM initiatives throughout the supply chain.
Originality/value
The paper clearly explores the GSCM pressures and drivers faced by the Chinese manufacturing SMEs where the results may differ from the findings through the studies on large enterprises or SMEs in other national context.
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Yaw A. Debrah and Ian G. Smith
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on…
Abstract
Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on work and employment in contemporary organizations. Covers the human resource management implications of organizational responses to globalization. Examines the theoretical, methodological, empirical and comparative issues pertaining to competitiveness and the management of human resources, the impact of organisational strategies and international production on the workplace, the organization of labour markets, human resource development, cultural change in organisations, trade union responses, and trans‐national corporations. Cites many case studies showing how globalization has brought a lot of opportunities together with much change both to the employee and the employer. Considers the threats to existing cultures, structures and systems.
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Lai-Wan Wong, Garry Wei-Han Tan, Keng-Boon Ooi and Yogesh Dwivedi
The deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in travel and tourism has received much attention in the wake of the pandemic. While societal adoption of AI has…
Abstract
Purpose
The deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in travel and tourism has received much attention in the wake of the pandemic. While societal adoption of AI has accelerated, it also raises some trust challenges. Literature on trust in AI is scant, especially regarding the vulnerabilities faced by different stakeholders to inform policy and practice. This work proposes a framework to understand the use of AI technologies from the perspectives of institutional and the self to understand the formation of trust in the mandated use of AI-based technologies in travelers.
Design/methodology/approach
An empirical investigation using partial least squares-structural equation modeling was employed on responses from 209 users. This paper considered factors related to the self (perceptions of self-threat, privacy empowerment, trust propensity) and institution (regulatory protection, corporate privacy responsibility) to understand the formation of trust in AI use for travelers.
Findings
Results showed that self-threat, trust propensity and regulatory protection influence trust in users on AI use. Privacy empowerment and corporate responsibility do not.
Originality/value
Insights from the past studies on AI in travel and tourism are limited. This study advances current literature on affordance and reactance theories to provide a better understanding of what makes travelers trust the mandated use of AI technologies. This work also demonstrates the paradoxical effects of self and institution on technologies and their relationship to trust. For practice, this study offers insights for enhancing adoption via developing trust.
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Tri-Quan Dang, Garry Wei-Han Tan, Eugene Cheng-Xi Aw, Keng-Boon Ooi, Bhimaraya Metri and Yogesh K. Dwivedi
The surging entrance of new mobile payment merchants into the growing market has prompted the need for an in-depth understanding of loyalty formation to retain customers. This…
Abstract
Purpose
The surging entrance of new mobile payment merchants into the growing market has prompted the need for an in-depth understanding of loyalty formation to retain customers. This study examines customers' loyalty generation process in mobile payment services by exploring the serial effect of cognitive drivers (i.e. brand awareness, perceived quality, brand image, perceived value and layout) on affective response, satisfaction and loyalty.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey using self-administered questionnaires was conducted. The data was collected from 370 consumers who have experience using mobile payment services in Vietnam. The data were submitted to partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and artificial neural networks (ANN) analysis.
Findings
The results indicated that all the proposed cognitive drivers show significant impacts on affective response, which, in turn, translates into satisfaction and loyalty. The post-hoc analysis revealed enjoyment as the vital affective response in determining satisfaction. Moreover, the multigroup analysis indicated that the relationship between affective response and satisfaction is stronger for the female group. In addition, the ANN's nonlinear result revealed complementary insight into the importance of cognitive drivers.
Originality
The current study revealed both linear and nonlinear mechanisms that explicate the roles of cognitive drivers and affective responses in fostering loyalty toward mobile payment merchants. The findings add to the existing literature that emphasizes consumers' initial mobile payment adoption.
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Jeffrey Boon Hui Yap and Hui Min Toh
Knowledge management (KM) is crucial to ensure construction organisations effectively take advantage of existing expertise, engendering faster and more effective decision-making…
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge management (KM) is crucial to ensure construction organisations effectively take advantage of existing expertise, engendering faster and more effective decision-making. Most importantly, it helps organisations to learn from past experiences. Despite its increasing academic attention, the implementation of KM is still relatively slow across the construction industry. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to gain a renewed understanding of the extent of KM practices in construction.
Design/methodology/approach
Quantitative approach using a questionnaire survey was used to prioritise the 15 critical factors and 9 enables of knowledge creation. Finally, an exploratory factor analysis is used to determine the principal elements of successful KM implementation in construction.
Findings
KM in a construction organisation is significantly influenced by knowledge sharing, collaboration, learning from mistakes, employee training and knowledge strategy. On the other hand, knowledge is created mostly through project mistakes, individual constant self-improvement, challenging barrier, review session and brainstorming discussion. With factor analysis technique, three underlying factors impacting KM practices are capacity and capability improvement, long-term commitment and innovation and synergetic working culture.
Research limitations/implications
Questionnaire survey was used as the single data collection instrument. The findings of the current study shed light on the salient issues affecting KM practices in construction but may not generalise to organisations operating in other industries.
Practical implications
These findings can support first-order KM implementation decision-making and enable the exploitation of existing knowledge assets towards achieving sustainable development and competitive advantage.
Originality/value
Effective KM practices are about finding the best ways to deliver the right knowledge to the right person at the right time, enabling informed decision-making and improving operational efficiencies. The contribution of this study is built upon the examination of the underlying factors of KM implementation; the findings provide insights into the core aspects of KM practices, facilitating managers in prioritising KM strategies that are really going to make a difference.
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Ming‐Yu Cheng and Hui‐Boon Tan
Maintaining a low and stable inflation rate has become one of the challenges in the macroeconomic management of most countries. Among others, Malaysia has a very unique experience…
Abstract
Maintaining a low and stable inflation rate has become one of the challenges in the macroeconomic management of most countries. Among others, Malaysia has a very unique experience in terms of inflation. The economy has experienced episodes of high (1973‐1974, 1980‐1981) and low (1985‐1987) regimes of inflation, and was able to contain low and stable inflation during the high economic growth period of 1988‐1996. The objective of this study is to identify important factors that contribute significantly to inflation in Malaysia. This study also aimed to examine the possible existence of international and intra‐ASEAN inflation transmission to Malaysia. The analysis is carried out based on the time‐series approach of multivariate cointegration, vector error‐correction modeling, impulse response functions and variance decompositions. The empirical results of this study show that external factors such as exchange rate and the rest of ASEAN’s inflation are relatively more important than domestic factors in explaining Malaysian inflation.
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