In order to study the importance of climate comfortable conditions of urban public open spaces in marginal season of winter cities for people's outdoor activities, first, the…
Abstract
In order to study the importance of climate comfortable conditions of urban public open spaces in marginal season of winter cities for people's outdoor activities, first, the paper ascertained the specific times of Harbin's outdoor and marginal seasons based on meteorological data from 1984 to 2013. Second, this paper conducted field survey, which includes in situ measurement and structured interview, in three typical urban public open spaces in marginal season. The calculated results show that Harbin has an outdoor season from Apr 25th to Oct 1st, and the spring marginal season is from Apr 4th to Apr 24th, the fall marginal season is from Oct 2nd to Oct 24th. At the same time, the results of in situ measurement show that there is great room for the improvement of climatic conditions of urban public open spaces in the marginal season of winter cities, especially the public open spaces near to the high-rise buildings and waterfront, and the apparent temperature in these two open spaces is about 3°C lower than the air temperature simultaneously. The results of structured interview show that people would like to do some outdoor activities when it is nice weather outside in marginal season, and the regression analysis results show that people's outdoor activities time are severely affected by climate comfortable conditions in marginal season. They feel that fine microclimate is much more important for a person than enough facilities and green landscape of urban public open spaces in marginal season. The paper suggested that the specific times of outdoor and marginal seasons should be added to some urban design guidance as a specification in urban planning practice, and this paper advanced some urban planning strategies related to urban design to improve climatic conditions of urban public open spaces in the marginal seasons of winter cities.
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Irene H.S. Chow and Bee‐Leng Chua
Focuses on the managers′ external career patterns; internal careerbeliefs about career goals, career tactics, career plans, satisfactionand motivation related to careers, and…
Abstract
Focuses on the managers′ external career patterns; internal career beliefs about career goals, career tactics, career plans, satisfaction and motivation related to careers, and organizational practices which influence the careers of these managers. Also important is the political and economic climate affecting their career decisions beyond 1997. Includes as key findings a perceived lack of formal human resource planning in the companies, except the Government. Also present was the lack of consideration given to career planning among these managers. Suggests that companies in Hong Kong can do more for their managers in facilitating their career development. Managers should in turn be more proactive in managing their career growth.
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Norhidayah, Dom, Narimah Kasim and Alina Shamsudin
Human resource planning (HRP) is important during workforce supply to help organizations appoint the right people in the right job. However, few studies have considered the role…
Abstract
Purpose
Human resource planning (HRP) is important during workforce supply to help organizations appoint the right people in the right job. However, few studies have considered the role of HRP practices for local workforce supply in the Malaysian construction industry. The purpose of this paper is to identify the implementation of HRP and framework development of HRP influencing factors for local workforce supply in the Malaysian construction industry.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed method was adopted to interpret the data of semi‐structured interviews and questionnaire survey. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with ten interviewees from government and non‐government organizations. Questionnaires were distributed to a random selection of contractors in the urban areas of Malaysia. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and the Matrix Table.
Findings
The findings revealed that economic changes were dominant HRP influencing factors. Only organization strategy; nature of work; economic changes; and demographic (social) changes are significant HRP influencing factors for local workforce supply in the Malaysian construction industry.
Research limitations/implications
Future research should try to adapt the HRP framework in the suitable HRP model to explain the HRP practices in construction organization.
Originality/value
The paper offers insight into HRP implementation in construction firms and HRP influencing factors for local workforce supply, focusing on the construction industry in Malaysia.
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Chee Yoong Liew and S. Susela Devi
This paper examines the relationship between the number of domestic banks that the firm engages with and firm value and how this relationship is moderated by ownership…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the relationship between the number of domestic banks that the firm engages with and firm value and how this relationship is moderated by ownership concentration at low and very high level on a sample of Malaysian family and non-family firms.
Design/methodology/approach
For hypotheses testing, panel data analysis using the fixed effects model (FEM) is used because the FEM can address any endogeneity problems effectively (Chi, 2005). The panel data regression is conducted on both family firms and non-family firms.
Findings
We find that there is a significant negative relationship between the number of domestic banks engaged by family firms, operating in industries where these firms do not have absolute monopoly, and firm value. However, there is no evidence that this significant negative firm value effect is stronger in family firms compared to non-family firms. Furthermore, the significant positive moderating effect of ownership concentration on this relationship within family firms in such industries is evident only at low level of ownership concentration. Interestingly, at very high level of ownership concentration, this significant positive moderating effect becomes negative. There is no evidence that these significant moderating effects are stronger in family firms compared to non-family firms.
Research limitations/implications
This research has focused only on family and non-family firms.
Practical implications
An implication of this research is that there is a need for the capital market regulators to introduce appropriate policies to deter family firms from having a close relationship with domestic banks as well as monitor the number of domestic banks engaged by such firms. There may be policy implications for consideration by the Central Bank of Malaysia as well.
Originality/value
This research provides some insights to both academia and industry regarding the consequences of domestic banking relationship and different levels of concentrated ownership in family firms in an emerging market. These insights can help improve the corporate governance as well as ownership structure of Malaysian public-listed family firms which dominate the capital market. Our findings refute the argument by Peng and Jiang (2010) by demonstrating that corporate reputational effects may be a substitute for institutional deficiencies.
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Wen-Yung Tseng, Weisheng Chiu and Ho Keat Leng
This study aims to compare the purchase intention of counterfeit outdoor products between Taiwan and Hong Kong consumers.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to compare the purchase intention of counterfeit outdoor products between Taiwan and Hong Kong consumers.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 584 respondents from Hong Kong (n = 247, 42%) and Taiwan (n = 337, 58%) were recruited for the study. Data analysis was performed by using structural equation modelling techniques.
Findings
The results showed that consumers' perceived risk had a negative influence on attitude and intention to purchase counterfeit outdoor products. Moreover, attitude towards buying counterfeit outdoor products, perceived behavioural control and subjective norm had positive impacts on purchase intention. Brand consciousness, however, had a negative influence on purchase intention. The multi-group analysis identified significant differences between Hong Kong and Taiwanese respondents.
Originality/value
This study provides a better understanding of how these factors affect purchase intention of counterfeit outdoor products across different cultures.
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I study a series of restructuring activities undertaken by Guoco Group Limited in recent years and the implications on minority shareholders. The divestment of Dao Heng Bank Group…
Abstract
I study a series of restructuring activities undertaken by Guoco Group Limited in recent years and the implications on minority shareholders. The divestment of Dao Heng Bank Group to DBS Group reaped substantial benefits for Guoco, including an enormous cash reserves to fund future investments. However, the cash hoard was not implemented to the best use by Guoco’s managers. Subsequently, Guoco was involved in a number of share buybacks schemes. The share‐buybacks met strong resistance from the minority shareholders and eventually forced out the second largest shareholders. Guoco was also engaged in related party transaction involving its subsidiaries in the property development business. Overall, I find evidences suggesting that corporate restructuring activities enhance the controlling owner’s grip on the group at the expense of the minority shareholders.
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Weisheng Chiu, Doyeon Won and Ho Keat Leng
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between sport involvement, perceived event prestige and attendance intention of annual sporting events. In addition, it…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between sport involvement, perceived event prestige and attendance intention of annual sporting events. In addition, it examines the moderating effects of gender and past experience on the proposed model.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected, using an on-site survey, from spectators (n=349) who attended the men’s or women’s basketball tournaments of the 2016 William Jones Cup held in Taiwan.
Findings
The results showed that perceived event prestige partially mediated the relationship between sport involvement and attendance intention of sporting events. Moreover, the moderating effects of gender and experience were found in the proposed model. Specifically, male spectators’ involvement had a significantly stronger influence on perceived event prestige, and, in turn, their perception of event prestige played a more significant role in influencing attendance intention. Also, sport involvement was more important in predicting attendance intention for experienced spectators whereas the prestige of the event was more important for first-time spectators.
Originality/value
This study suggests that sport event organizers need to employ different strategies in developing the subsequent editions of the event and retaining fans’ interest in the sport. Specifically, event organizers need to enhance the prestige of the sporting event through effective marketing communication to attract first-time spectators to the event.
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A.Y.M. Atiquil Islam, Magdalena Mo Ching Mok, Qian Xiuxiu and Chin Hai Leng
In this age of exponential knowledge growth, where wireless internet is playing a dominant role, the concerned authorities of higher education have to ensure that this tool…
Abstract
Purpose
In this age of exponential knowledge growth, where wireless internet is playing a dominant role, the concerned authorities of higher education have to ensure that this tool remains within the reach of the students. However, there has been as yet little research indicating its success in China. This paper aims to examine factors that influence students’ satisfaction (SAT) in using wireless internet in higher education for the purpose of learning. The second aim of this study is to identify if gender has a moderating effect on students’ SAT in using wireless internet in higher education.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from a total of 283 students from five colleges of a comprehensive public university in China (Foreign Language Studies, Business, Education, Biology and Chemistry, and Mathematics and Engineering) were collected for this study. The reliability and validity of the measurement scale were established through a Rasch model using Winsteps version 3.94. The technology satisfaction model (TSM) was validated applying structural equation modelling (SEM) using AMOS to test the causal relationships among the constructs.
Findings
The results of this study revealed that students’ SAT was directly influenced by perceived usefulness (PU) and ease of use of wireless internet. Besides, students’ perceived ease of use (PEU) and usefulness were directly affected by their computer self-efficacy. On the other hand, students’ computer self-efficacy had an indirect effect on their SAT mediated by ease of use and perceived usefulness, respectively. The findings also discovered that gender did exert effect as a moderating variable towards students’ SAT in using wireless internet in higher education.
Practical implications
The TSM was shown to be a useful model to measure students’ SAT in using wireless internet in a different culture.
Originality/value
To achieve this aim, a TSM on the potential factors contributing to student SAT was developed from the literature and validated in this study. Whereas, the TSM has been developed and validated in Malaysia.
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The purpose of this paper is to build on both the theoretical work concerning the co-creation of experiences, and the need for micro-businesses to adopt a consumer-friendly…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to build on both the theoretical work concerning the co-creation of experiences, and the need for micro-businesses to adopt a consumer-friendly orientation. The researchers examined the compatibility of vendors’ views of their visitors’ perspectives and the visitors’ own assessments of two Hong Kong night markets. Using a large sample survey with over 1,900 tourists and 120 vendors, and examining the data through mean difference testing and factor analysis, the comparability of the views was examined. Key findings were that vendors consistently overestimated the positivity of the visitors’ views. Value for money, trustworthiness of the vendors and product variety were items indicating strong differences where vendors assumed visitors perceived night markets more favorably than did the visitors themselves. The work challenges some assumptions of service design logic and speculates that the durability of night markets is at risk without better vendor understanding of the visitors’ perspectives.
Design/methodology/approach
The study builds on both the theoretical work concerning the co-creation of experiences, and the need for micro-businesses to adopt a consumer-friendly orientation. The researchers examined the compatibility of vendors’ views of their visitors’ perspectives and the visitors’ own assessments of two Hong Kong night markets. Using a large sample survey with over 1,900 tourists and 120 vendors and examining the data through mean difference testing and factor analysis, the comparability of the views was examined.
Findings
Key findings were that vendors consistently overestimated the positivity of the visitors’ views. Value for money, trustworthiness of the vendors and product variety were items indicating strong differences where vendors assumed visitors perceived night markets more favorably than did the visitors themselves. The work challenges some assumptions of service design logic and speculates that the durability of night markets is at risk without better vendor understanding of the visitors’ perspectives.
Research limitations/implications
For the present work, it would be desirable to ascertain that the figures reported apply to other night markets in Hong Kong and China. Further, the generalizability of the results for different market types, those that offer food or cater to specific interests needs examination. The possibility exists that the general night market will fold as specific tailored options, such as craft, art, flower and homewares themed spaces replace the basic all-purpose format.
Practical implications
The implications from this work are that vendors may have to form new group alliances to understand and then deliver the overall atmosphere, quality of goods and service interactions prized by tourists. Vendors need to sustain their appeal and sales through maintenance of these overall night market characteristics. The vendors may be able to escape individual censure and rejection for a while due to the transient customer base, but broader destination and attraction image concerns are likely to be a longer-term force requiring attention.
Social implications
The implications from this work are that vendors may have to form new group alliances to understand and then deliver the overall atmosphere, quality of goods and service interactions prized by tourists. Vendors need to sustain their appeal and sales through maintenance of these overall night market characteristics. The vendors may be able to escape individual censure and rejection for a while due to the transient customer base, but broader destination and attraction image concerns are likely to be a longer-term force requiring attention.
Originality/value
The broad aim of the study can be identified as the desire to examine the compatibility of vendor and tourists’ views, and the more specific aims of this broad agenda will be articulated after reviewing the core conceptual ideas driving the work.
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This paper, based on forty in‐depth interviews with teachers and principals in Hong Kong, utilizes the insights of feminist organization studies to explore the persistence of…
Abstract
This paper, based on forty in‐depth interviews with teachers and principals in Hong Kong, utilizes the insights of feminist organization studies to explore the persistence of gender inequalities in primary school teaching. Two common practices, namely the assignment of women and men to teach lower and higher grades respectively and the monopoly of men in positions of disciplining and authority, are centered. The data suggest that schools and teachers actively construct and reproduce gender inequalities by trivializing teaching of young children as babysitting, naturalizing women as natural caregivers, and normalizing the use of threat in disciplinary control. My analysis also argues that these routine and pervasive gendering processes are not often acknowledged or challenged, which have the effects of marginalizing caring work, overlooking the emotional labor of women, valorizing a masculine view of authority, encouraging men and boys to compete for power via aggression, and hence producing a masculinist workplace.