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A Comparison Of Group-Based Research Methods, Melanie Randle, Hugh Mackay, Dorothy Dudley Jan 2014

A Comparison Of Group-Based Research Methods, Melanie Randle, Hugh Mackay, Dorothy Dudley

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

In the modern era, group-based methods have come to largely dominate qualitative research, particularly in the commercial arena of market research. The most commonly used method is the "focus group" technique, which involves a group of strangers being directed to discuss a pre-determined set of topics. In reality, in many parts of the world, including Australia where this study was conducted, focus groups are often employed as the default technique without systematically questioning the appropriateness of methodological characteristics or the impact they have on the resultant data. This empirical study compares two different group-based methods - the "focus group" approach …


Macintyrean Virtue Ethics In Business: A Cross-Cultural Comparison, Mario Fernando, Geoff Moore Jan 2014

Macintyrean Virtue Ethics In Business: A Cross-Cultural Comparison, Mario Fernando, Geoff Moore

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This paper seeks to establish whether the categories of MacIntyrean virtue ethics as applied to business organizations are meaningful in a non-western business context. It does so by building on research reported in Moore (Organ Stud, 33(3): 363-387, 2012) in which the application of virtue ethics to business organizations was investigated empirically in the UK, based on a conceptual framework drawn from MacIntyre's work (After Virtue 2007). Comparing these results with an equivalent study in Sri Lanka, the paper finds that the categories are meaningful but that there are both similarities to and considerable differences in the content of these …


Comparison Of Real-Time Elastography And Multiparametric Mri For Prostate Cancer Detection: A Whole-Mount Step-Section Analysis, Daniel Junker, Georg Schafer, Conrad Kobel, Christian Kremser, Jasmin Bektic, Werner Jaschke, Friedrich Aigner Jan 2014

Comparison Of Real-Time Elastography And Multiparametric Mri For Prostate Cancer Detection: A Whole-Mount Step-Section Analysis, Daniel Junker, Georg Schafer, Conrad Kobel, Christian Kremser, Jasmin Bektic, Werner Jaschke, Friedrich Aigner

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

OBJECTIVE. The purpose of this study was to compare prostate cancer detection rate of real-time elastography (RTE) with that of multiparametric MRI to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Thirty-nine patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer underwent both RTE and multiparametric MRI to localize prostate cancer before radical prostatectomy. RTE was performed to assess prostate tissue elasticity, and hard lesions were considered suspicious for prostate cancer. Multiparametric MRI included T2-weighted MRI, diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI), and contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) with an endorectal coil at 1.5 T. After radical prostatectomy, whole-mount step sections of the prostate were …


A Comparison Of Supply Integration And End-To-End Communication Theory And Practice - An Australian Perspective, Fadi Kotob, Lee Styger Jan 2013

A Comparison Of Supply Integration And End-To-End Communication Theory And Practice - An Australian Perspective, Fadi Kotob, Lee Styger

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

The concept of supply chain integration and end-to-end communication are well established in supply chain theory. Typically, because of the depth of publications, an axiom has developed that all supply networks are fully integrated and have end-to-end communication protocols. Recent research into Australian supply networks has highlighted a somewhat different scenario, where many networks are fragmented and lack the connectivity that would be expected. This paper offers a comparison of theoretical supply chain management and the actual practices found in Australian businesses. As a result of this grass root research, a scenario is offered that suggest there is a significant …


Measuring The Technical Efficiency Of Thai Manufacturing Smes: A Comparison Of Parametric And Non-Parametric Approaches, Teerawat Charoenrat, Charles Harvie, Wannapa Naburana Jan 2013

Measuring The Technical Efficiency Of Thai Manufacturing Smes: A Comparison Of Parametric And Non-Parametric Approaches, Teerawat Charoenrat, Charles Harvie, Wannapa Naburana

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This study applies stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) and data envelopment analysis (DEA) approaches to measure and explain the technical efficiency of Thai manufacturing SMEs in 2007. The empirical results from both SFA and DEA revealed that the overall simple average technical efficiency in 2007 is relatively low, which can potentially reduce their output contribution. Therefore, specific policies are required to improve the technical efficiency of SMEs and these include easier access to financial services, credit facilities, equity in terms of the political operation, educational system, extensive infrastructural development, and technological upgrading, marketing and management.


Evidence On The Convergence Of Per Capita Income: A Comparison Of Founder Members Of The Association Of South East Asian Nations And The South Asian Association Of Regional Cooperation, Kankesu Jayanthakumaran, Shao-Wei Lee Jan 2013

Evidence On The Convergence Of Per Capita Income: A Comparison Of Founder Members Of The Association Of South East Asian Nations And The South Asian Association Of Regional Cooperation, Kankesu Jayanthakumaran, Shao-Wei Lee

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This paper investigates the per capita income convergence patterns of a set of Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries. We obtained a time-series analysis for stochastic convergence by applying unit-root tests in the presence of two endogenously-determined structural breaks. We then supplemented the results by tests that produced evidence for b convergence. The evidence shows that the relative per capita income series of ASEAN-5 countries were consistent with stochastic convergence and b convergence, but this was not found for SAARC-5 countries. For the ASEAN-5 countries, the structural breaks associated with …


Emergency Service Volunteers: A Comparison Of Age, Motives And Values, Julie E. Francis, Michael Jones Jan 2012

Emergency Service Volunteers: A Comparison Of Age, Motives And Values, Julie E. Francis, Michael Jones

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Understanding why volunteers join an emergency service and why they stay is critical to developing more effective recruitment and retention strategies. Subsequently, this study examines the roles of age, motivations and values in satisfaction among New Generation (aged below 35 years) and Traditional Generation (aged 35 years and above) volunteers. The research conducted an online survey of 252 State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers. The results indicate a mix of similarities and differences across the generations. First and foremost though, the primary reasons for joining and staying with the service are the same for both age groups - and those reasons …


A Comparison Of Theory And Practice In Market Intelligence Gathering For Australian Micro-Businesses And Smes, Pauline Ross, Carol Mcgowan, Lee Styger Jan 2012

A Comparison Of Theory And Practice In Market Intelligence Gathering For Australian Micro-Businesses And Smes, Pauline Ross, Carol Mcgowan, Lee Styger

Sydney Business School - Papers

Recent government sponsored research has demonstrated that there is a gap between the theory and practice of market intelligence gathering within the Australian micro, small and medium businesses (SMEs). Typically, there is a significant amount of information in literature about "what needs to be done", however, there is little insight in terms of how market intelligence gathering should occur. This paper provides a novel insight and a comparison between the theory and practices of market intelligence gathering of micro-business and SMEs in Australia and demonstrates an anomoly in so far as typically the literature does not match what actually occurs …


A Comparison Of Supply Integration And End-To-End Communication Theory And Practice - An Australian Perspective, Fadi Kotob, Lee E J Styger Jan 2012

A Comparison Of Supply Integration And End-To-End Communication Theory And Practice - An Australian Perspective, Fadi Kotob, Lee E J Styger

Sydney Business School - Papers

The concept of supply chain integration and end-to-end communication are well established in supply chain theory. Typically, because of the depth of publications, an axiom has developed that all supply networks are fully integrated and have end-toend communication protocols. Recent research into Australian supply networks has highlighted a somewhat different scenario, where many networks are fragmented and lack the connectivity that would be expected. This paper offers a comparison of theoretical supply chain management and the actual practices found in Australian businesses. As a result of this grass root research, a scenario is offered that suggest there is a significant …


Influence Of Consumers' Online Decision-Making Style On Comparison Shopping Proneness And Perceived Usefulness Of Comparison Shopping Tools, Young Park, Ulrike Gretzel Jan 2010

Influence Of Consumers' Online Decision-Making Style On Comparison Shopping Proneness And Perceived Usefulness Of Comparison Shopping Tools, Young Park, Ulrike Gretzel

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Applications to support online comparison shopping are expected to become increasingly available to consumers. However, not all consumers equally engage in online comparison shopping and, thus, would not necessarily benefit from such tools. The study proposes that the perceived usefulness of comparison shopping tools depends on consumers‟ comparison shopping proneness, which in turn is influenced by consumers‟ online decision-making styles. An online survey using a consumer research panel was conducted to test the hypotheses in the context of travel comparison shopping tools. The results suggest that some consumer decision-making style dimensions influence comparison shopping proneness while others have no influence. …


A Comparison Of Factual/Low Context Versus Emotional/High Context Message Appeals: Persuading Chinese Smokers To Ring The Chinese Quitline, Michael Camit, Gary I. Noble, Jennifer Ann Algie Jan 2009

A Comparison Of Factual/Low Context Versus Emotional/High Context Message Appeals: Persuading Chinese Smokers To Ring The Chinese Quitline, Michael Camit, Gary I. Noble, Jennifer Ann Algie

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study does not support the notion developed from cross cultural advertising literature that members of a particular cultural group will prefer a particular message advertising appeal if it reflects values that are congruent to its culture. An experimental design is applied to examine whether emotional/ high context appeals (n=120) are more persuasive than factual/ low context appeals (n=124) among target groups from collectivist cultural backgrounds. Analysis of Chinese smokers’ pre-and-post intentions to contact the Chinese Quitline after viewing print advertisements determined that there was no difference between the two ad groups’ shift scores. The common use of direct translations …


Explaining Intention To Use An Information Technology Innovation: An Empirical Comparison Of The Perceived Characteristics Of Innovating And Technology Acceptance Models, Sam Jebeile, Robert Reeve Jan 2007

Explaining Intention To Use An Information Technology Innovation: An Empirical Comparison Of The Perceived Characteristics Of Innovating And Technology Acceptance Models, Sam Jebeile, Robert Reeve

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This study examines the issue of technology acceptance in a multi-campus secondary college in Sydney, Australia. Seventy-five teachers across two campuses were surveyed as to their perceptions regarding technology acceptance. Regression analysis was used to compare the explanatory power of the perceived characteristics of innovating model (PCIM), and the technology acceptance model (TAM). Both models explained a substantial amount of variation in technology acceptance. However, our findings suggest that it is preferable to use the PCIM, rather than the TAM, to explain intention to use an information technology innovation. Implications for both future research and practice are discussed.


Explaining Intention To Use An Information Technology Innovation: An Empirical Comparison Of The Perceived Characteristics Of Innovating And Technology Acceptance, Sam Jebeile, Robert Reeve Jan 2007

Explaining Intention To Use An Information Technology Innovation: An Empirical Comparison Of The Perceived Characteristics Of Innovating And Technology Acceptance, Sam Jebeile, Robert Reeve

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This study examines the issue of technology acceptance in a multi-campus secondary college in Sydney, Australia. Seventy-five teachers across two campuses were surveyed as to their perceptions regarding technology acceptance. Regression analysis was used to compare the explanatory power of the perceived characteristics of innovating model (PCIM), and the technology acceptance model (TAM). Both models explained a substantial amount of variation in technology acceptance. However, our findings suggest that it is preferable to use the PCIM, rather than the TAM, to explain intention to use an information technology innovation. Implications for both future research and practice are discussed.


Call Centres And The Quality Of Work Life: A Public/Private Sector Comparison, Zeenobiyah N. Hannif Jan 2007

Call Centres And The Quality Of Work Life: A Public/Private Sector Comparison, Zeenobiyah N. Hannif

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The quality of work life is a traditionally under-researched area where call centres (CC) are concerned. Similarly, much of the existing call centre research is based on the private sector despite the public sector emerging as a large user of CC operations. This paper is based on empirical research conducted in two Australian CC’s to explore whether and how the quality of work life varies between the two sectors. Findings relating to three quality of work life elements are reported: job content, working hours & work-life balance, and managerial/supervisory style and strategies. Public sector call centre Govtcall emerges as being …


Are The Standard Drivers For E-Commerce Adoption In Regional Smes Really Standard: A Comparison Of Australian, Swedish And Us Regional Smes, Robert C. Macgregor, Lejla Vrazalic, Deborah Bunker Jan 2005

Are The Standard Drivers For E-Commerce Adoption In Regional Smes Really Standard: A Comparison Of Australian, Swedish And Us Regional Smes, Robert C. Macgregor, Lejla Vrazalic, Deborah Bunker

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The sluggish pace of E-commerce diffusion in the SME sector is well documented. In response to this, one area that has given rise to continued research is the development of criteria (drivers) for Ecommerce adoption in the SME sector. This research has given rise to a 'standard' set of drivers that has become the basis upon which research into E-commerce adoption in SMEs is carried out. While a number of studies have attempted to develop models of E-commerce adoption, little has been done to discover whether, indeed, these criteria are universal to the sector. This paper presents the findings of …


A Comparison Of Viewers' Cognitive And Psychophysiological Responses To Threat-Appeal Tv Advertisements, Jennifer Ann Algie Jan 2005

A Comparison Of Viewers' Cognitive And Psychophysiological Responses To Threat-Appeal Tv Advertisements, Jennifer Ann Algie

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study examines the emotional reactions experienced by viewers during threat appeal anti-speeding TV advertisements using both a cognitive continuous response measure of fear and a psychophysiological response measure of arousal. Static, postonly, self-report methods are typically used to obtain ad responses, however this study uses dynamic continuous response measures to gain a better picture of how viewers are responding throughout the entire ad. A comparison of the two different types of continuous response measures is made to determine if both measures produce similar or different results. Participants for the study watched one of four anti-speeding ads, with 20 participants …


Learning Within And Across Projects: A Comparison Of Frames, Marc Antoni, Andrew J. Sense Jan 2001

Learning Within And Across Projects: A Comparison Of Frames, Marc Antoni, Andrew J. Sense

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

In a world of global markets and fast changing competitive environments organizations need to embrace flexibility and adaptability in response to these environmental challenges. One organizational response to these conditions is that the classical functional structures of organizations are now more and more complemented by temporal organizations or projects. Projects are used to accomplish a diverse and often complex set of organizational goals or changes that would otherwise be less obtainable by the organization, or, that would overstrain the ability of the permanent organization to achieve successful outcomes. The diverse raft of projects that organizations do pursue can comprise projects …