Digital Commons Network^™

Smes And Virtual R&D Teams: A Motive Channel For Relationship Between Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

This paper explores potential advantages and barriers of virtual teams toward making an interrelation between small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) with a comprehensive review on different aspects of virtual teams in SMEs based on authentic and reputed publications. The purpose of the state-of-the-art literature review is to provide an overview of what is known about the structure and dynamics of virtual collaboration in SMEs which they are the back bone of the world business. This study seeks to address some of the advantages of virtual R&D team in the existing extensive literature on the increase SMEs interrelations. Besides of identify …

Determinants Of Foreign Direct Investment In Iran: An Empirical Study Using Structural Equation Modeling, Ahmad Jafarnejad, Arash Golnam, Nader Ale Ebrahim

Nader Ale Ebrahim

This paper examines the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Iran by applying the structural equation modelling (SEM). Using the annual time series data for the 1991-2006 period, two models were developed. In the first model the correlation between 12 determining factors and FDI in Iran were analyzed and in the second model the 12 factors were fit into five categories of determinants namely: Business, Economic, Infrastructural, Oil and Science and Technology and the impact of each of the mentioned groups of factors was investigated. The results derived through the first model indicated that openness of trade and Gross …

User-Generated Content (Ugc) In Tourism: Benefits And Concerns Of Online Consumers, Stephen Burgess, Carmine Sellitto, Carmen Cox, Jeremy Buultjens

Carmen Cox

This paper examines the views of travel consumers that search for information online in relation to the specific benefits and concerns identified with user-generated content (UGC). Real contrasts in relation to views about UGC content were identified in the literature. For instance, UGC is perceived as being ‘credible’ or ‘not credible’ as an information source depending upon the view of the user. The paper reports research that examined the use of UGC by online travel consumers, sourced from an Australian tourism organisation’s online subscriber database. The study highlighted a similar range of areas that were seen as benefits and concerns …

The Distributed User Modeling Shell System (Dumss): A Conceptual Framework For Eliciting User Models, Thawatchai Piyawat, Monica Adya, Anthony F. Norico

Monica Adya

With the advances in communication technology, large volumes of information can transfer across continents within a fraction of a second. Nevertheless, computer users still suffer from unpleasant situations when they interact with systems and are required to adapt to systems rather than the other way round. User modeling aims to overcome this problem by enabling computer systems to interact with users according to the users’ models, i.e., goals, knowledge, and preferences of users. Although, user modeling has shown invaluable benefits, methods of capturing user information to build precise and useful user models are still in their early states. This paper …

The Case For Actively Seeking Startup Companies For “Technology-Push” Inventions From Universities: A Research Agenda, Paul Swamidass

Paul Swamidass

Google Inc. began as a startup when all the large players in the industry turned down the opportunity to license the technology from Stanford University; Google has since become the leader in the industry with nearly 20,000 employees and a market value of about $150 Billion as of August 2009. Startup companies, using university technologies, have the potential to become a major economic force in the economy. But, it takes additional skills and effort on the part of University Offices of Technology Transfer (UOTT) to license an invention to a startup company compared to the effort needed to license to …

Unpacking The Rfid Investment Decision, Byron W. Keating, Tim R. Coltman, Samuel Fosso Wamba, Valerie Baker

Dr Byron W. Keating

Mandates aside, there are many reasons why firms decide to move forward with or delay investment in RFID technology. In this paper we use a theoretically based, easy to implement methodology to empirically derive a relative importance scale of those factors that influence the decision to invest in RFID technology. More specifically, we compare the factors that matter most and least to a sample of firms that have adopted RFID technology with a sample of firms that have yet to embrace RFID technology. The theoretical and practical implications are that both RFID adopters and non adopters are driven by the …

Innate And Discretionary Accrual Quality And Corporate Governance, Pamela Kent, James Routledge, Jenny Stewart

James Routledge

The empirical analysis presented in this paper provides further insight into the important issue of the association between corporate governance structures and the quality of reported company earnings. The analysis uses the measure of accrual quality developed by Dechow and Dichev (2002) which provides a direct measure of the quality of current accruals. We derive measures of the innate and discretionary components of accrual quality following Francis et al. (2005), and subsequently include these measures in regressions against corporate governance characteristics. The results show that sound governance structures have a positive association between the innate and discretionary components of accrual …

Privacy Issues In Location-Aware Mobile Devices, Robert P. Minch

Robert P. Minch

Location awareness, the ability to determine geographical position, is an emerging technology with both significant benefits and important privacy implications for users of mobile devices such as cell phones and PDAs. Location is determined either internally by a device or externally by systems and networks with which the device interacts, and the resultant location information may be stored, used, and disclosed under various conditions that are described. Thirteen specific privacy issues are enumerated and discussed as examples of the challenges we will face as these technologies and their associated products and services are deployed. Regulation by governments, standards organizations, industry …

Financial Market Contagion: Evidence From The Asian Crisis Using A Multivariate Garch Approach, Ahmed M. Khalid, Gulasekaran Rajaguru

Gulasekaran Rajaguru

Recent trends of globalization and financial market internationalization have exposed the vulnerability of many emerging financial markets to external shocks and spillover effects from regional crisis. It is believed that similar spillover effects were the root cause of the 1997 financial crisis that faced many emerging economies in Asia. This study attempts to investigate the spillover effects of the 1997 Asian financial crisis using data from a sample of selected Asian countries. For empirical estimation, we use high frequency data (daily observations) on exchange rates from 1994 to 2002, construct a multivariate GARCH model and apply the Granger causality test …

The Global Impact Of The Russian Financial Crisis: Evidence Using Granger Causality And Impulse Reponses In A Var Model, Ahmed Khalid, Gulasekaran Rajaguru

Gulasekaran Rajaguru

This study attempts to investigate the financial market contagion in a global perspective. We use a large sample of 26 countries representing different regions in the world and focus on the spillover effects of the 1998 Russian crisis. We use daily observations on three financial market indicators namely, the exchange rates, stock prices and interest rates. We construct a VAR to test the interlinkages among different market and different regions using the Granger causalfiy. Later, we perform impulse response analysis by introducing a shock in each of the Russian market and observe the impact and duration of this shock on …

Derivative Markets And Economic Growth: Is There A Relationship?, A. Baluch, Mohamed Ariff

Mohamed Ariff

The spread of capital markets during the half century to-date is a notable global phenomenon in economic development. Derivative markets spread globally in the last quarter century spreading form just two to some 50 in 2007. But the role of derivative markets to economic development has yet been studied. This paper reports new findings on the relationship between derivative market development and (a) economic growth and (b) spot market factors. The results provide very scant support to a positive functional contribution hypothesis by some scholars about derivative markets. However, a negative relationship between the liquidity level of derivative markets and …

Innate And Discretionary Accrual Quality And Corporate Governance, Pamela Kent, James Routledge, Jenny Stewart

Pamela Kent

The empirical analysis presented in this paper provides further insight into the important issue of the association between corporate governance structures and the quality of reported company earnings. The analysis uses the measure of accrual quality developed by Dechow and Dichev (2002) which provides a direct measure of the quality of current accruals. We derive measures of the innate and discretionary components of accrual quality following Francis et al. (2005), and subsequently include these measures in regressions against corporate governance characteristics. The results show that sound governance structures have a positive association between the innate and discretionary components of accrual …

Corporate Governance And Disclosures On The Transition To International Financial Reporting Standards, Pamela Kent, Jenny Stewart

Pamela Kent

For reporting periods ending on or after 30 June 2004, Australian companies were required to disclose the expected impact of applying Australian equivalents of International Financial Reporting Standards effective from 1 January 2005. The objective of this paper is to examine the association between the level of disclosure and corporate governance quality. Using a sample of listed companies with 30 June balance dates, we find that the quantity of disclosure was positively related to some aspects of superior corporate governance, such as the frequency of board and audit committee meetings and the choice of auditor.

Characteristics Determining The Efficiency Of Foreign Banks In Australia, Jan-Egbert Sturm, Barry Williams

Barry Williams

The factors determining foreign bank efficiency are investigated using a three stage research method. It is found that host market incumbency reduces efficiency of foreign banks in Australia, resulting in over use of inputs. Factors underlying the limited global advantage hypothesis of Berger, et al. (2000) are identified, in that nationality specific factors represented by dummy variables are not significant once other relevant effects are controlled for. Parent profitability is not fomad to result in increased host nation efficiency, while parent credit rating effects are mixed. Some evidence is presented that banks from more financially sophisticated nations are more efficient. …

Financial Market Contagion: Evidence From The Asian Crisis Using A Multivariate Garch Approach, Ahmed M. Khalid, Gulasekaran Rajaguru

Ahmed Khalid

Recent trends of globalization and financial market internationalization have exposed the vulnerability of many emerging financial markets to external shocks and spillover effects from regional crisis. It is believed that similar spillover effects were the root cause of the 1997 financial crisis that faced many emerging economies in Asia. This study attempts to investigate the spillover effects of the 1997 Asian financial crisis using data from a sample of selected Asian countries. For empirical estimation, we use high frequency data (daily observations) on exchange rates from 1994 to 2002, construct a multivariate GARCH model and apply the Granger causality test …

The Global Impact Of The Russian Financial Crisis: Evidence Using Granger Causality And Impulse Reponses In A Var Model, Ahmed Khalid, Gulasekaran Rajaguru

Ahmed Khalid

This study attempts to investigate the financial market contagion in a global perspective. We use a large sample of 26 countries representing different regions in the world and focus on the spillover effects of the 1998 Russian crisis. We use daily observations on three financial market indicators namely, the exchange rates, stock prices and interest rates. We construct a VAR to test the interlinkages among different market and different regions using the Granger causalfiy. Later, we perform impulse response analysis by introducing a shock in each of the Russian market and observe the impact and duration of this shock on …

Critical Thinking, Ronald L. Dearinger

Ronald L Dearinger

Critical thinking analysis is an eight step process to legal decision making that can be applied to ethical business issues. This paper includes a general plan for executing the critical thinking process and a practical application to an ethical issue dealing with a breach of regulation in business protocol within health care administration.

Middletown Loses Childrens Science Center, Melanie Shapiro Esq, Donna M. Hughes Dr.

Donna M. Hughes

A Conceptual Model Of Virtual Product Development Process, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

In today’s dynamic marketplace, companies are under strong pressure to introduce new products for long-term survival with their competitors. Besides, every company cannot cope up progressively or immediately with the market requirements due to knowledge dynamics being experienced in competitive milieu. Increased competition and reduced product life cycles put force upon companies to develop new products faster. In response to this pressing need there should be some new approach compatible in flexible circumstances. This paper presents a solution based on the Stage-Gate system, which is closely linked with virtual team approach. Virtual teams can provide a platform to advance the …

Innovation Process Is Facilitated In Virtual Environment Of R&D Teams, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

Innovation is becoming the most important key issue for company's success in the 21st century. In the competitive environment it is necessary for the enterprises to put together different capabilities and services with the goal. It is widely accepted that innovation can be better achieved by working in team particularly in the virtual environments. The employed web services technology, although very popular nowadays but it is still not mature enough, so dealing with it can bring new findings. Virtual teams base on information technology are formed to facilitate transnational innovation processes and it should be noted that innovation has a …

Championing Family Business Issues To Influence Public Policy: Evidence From Australia, Justin B. Craig, Ken Moores

Justin B. Craig

This paper proposes a strategy for the family firm sector to gain the attention of policy makers. The strategy builds through influencing social expectations, creating political issues, developing legislative actions which are subsequently implemented and regulated. To achieve this, we suggest that the family business sector must achieve salience as a community's definitive stakeholders in which capacity they possess, or are perceived to possess, attributes of power, legitimacy and urgency. Propositions are advanced consistent with developing these attributes that collectively build a policy pathway from the societal benefits that family firms can provide by suggesting the building and management of …

Virtual Teams For Npd – An Innovative Experience For R&D Engineers, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

New interaction tools such as internet allows companies to gain valuable input from research and development (R&D) engineers via virtual teams. Consequently engineers also get more expertise in diminutive timeframes. Virtual R&D teams present the key impetus to the technology acquisition process. The present knowledge-economy era is characterized by short product life-cycles. Virtual R&D teams may reduce time-to-market, make available a large pool of new product know-how and provide greater flexibilities which are the key success factors in a competitive market. This comprehensive review contains almost 100 references and covers the recent literature with emphasis on topic. The review has …

Virtuality, Innovation And R&D Activities, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

Innovation plays a central role in economic development, at regional and national level. In the competitive environment companies are obliged to produce more rapidly, more effectively and more efficiently in new product development which is a result of research and development (R&D) activities. It is necessary for them to put together different capabilities and services with the goal, through cooperation between suppliers and customers, service providers and scientific institutions to achieve innovations of high quality. Depending on the type of industry, the type of business, the type of innovation and the strategic objectives that have been set, firms will regularly …

Consideration Of The Virtual Team Work And Disabled Citizens, As Promising Opportunity Providers For The E-Government Infrastructure's Formation, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Sumsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

The Information area has revolutionized the workplace. Douglas Kruse, a professor of human resources and the director of the program for disability research at Rutgers University, states that 7% of employed persons with disabilities work 20 hours or more a week from home. While some modern countries have established “virtual teams”, which are said to be comprised of people who are geographically scattered and who work across boundaries of space and time using computer driven communication technologies, it is also true that many developing countries remain structured around conventional face-to-face teams. A motive toward virtual team working may be cost …

Sino-Turkish Relations In A Globalising Asia-Pacific, Rosita Dellios, Nadir Kemal Yilmaz

Rosita Dellios

Relations between China and Turkey are quiescent. In a globalizing Asia-Pacific, however, they are unlikely to remain so. High economic interdependence in the presence of the rise of Asian and Eurasian powers suggest that China and Turkey as multiregional states have a common interest in regional cooperation. It is within this context that bilateral relations are likely to develop. China’s rapid rise means that its impact will not be confined to Pacific Asia. Increasingly, with the quest for energy security, China is setting its diplomatic compass westward to Eurasia and the Middle East. With Russia - another multiregional state - …

Virtual Teams And Management Challenges, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

As a result of globalization and advances in information and communication technologies, the increased use of virtual teams in business has become prominent. In the competitive environment companies are obliged to produce more rapidly, more effectively and more efficiently. It is necessary for them to put together different capabilities and services with the goal, through cooperation between suppliers and customers, service providers and scientific institutions to achieve firm’s objective with high quality. Nowadays shift from serial to simultaneous and parallel working in entity has become more commonplace. Literatures have shown that collaboration is as a meta-capability for companies. This article …

Homeless Abroad, Homeless At Home: The Conundrum Of Globalisation, Sudhir H. Kale, Sangita De, Robin Pentecost

Sudhir H. Kale

Forces of globalization have brought about profound changes in the way consumers the world over view their identity. For many, consumption becomes one of the key avenues through which they can reterritorialize themselves. Consumption for the purpose of reterritorialization has interesting implications for marketers. Goods and services designed and promoted to restore consumers’ sense of identity will resonate well with today’s deterritorialized consumers. This premise has macromarketing and micromarketing implications.

Virtual R&D Teams: Innovation And Technology Facilitator, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

Innovation is becoming the most important key issue for company’s success in the 21st century. In the competitive environment is necessary for the enterprises to put together different capabilities and services with the goal. It’s a widely accepted that innovation is better achieved by working in team. The employed web services technology, although very popular nowadays but it is still not mature enough, so dealing with it can bring new findings. Virtual teams base on information technology are formed to facilitate transnational innovation processes and it should be noted that innovation has a positive impact on corporate performance. Information and …

Virtual R&D Team: Technology Transfer Facilitator, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Mohammad Ali Shafia, Hamid Tahbaz Tavakoli

Nader Ale Ebrahim

A conceptual model is proposed which facilitate the process of technology transfer by applying a virtual R&D team. The underlying hypothesis is responded to competitive challenges, the complex customer requirements and the high instability on the market. The context of the knowledge-based economy introduces a major shift from serial to simultaneous R&D activities in the way technology transfer is conceived. The traditional model of R&D team work is relies on the visual and face-to-face teams. The complexities involved in organizing face-to-face interactions among team members from one side, and the rapid developments of electronic communication technologies from the other ,caused …

An Information System Design Theory For And Rfid University-Based Laboratory, S. F. Wamba, Katina Michael

Professor Katina Michael

RFID technology is defined as a wireless automatic identification and data capture (AIDC) technology and is considered as “the next big thing” in the management and “the next revolution in supply chain”. Recently, the topic has attracted the interest of the industrial community as well as the scientific community. Following this tendency, this paper applies an Information Systems Design Theory (ISDT) for an RFID-based University Laboratory. For practitioners, the paper provides some insights into the set-up and use of RFID laboratory in university settings, and at the same time, it offers a set of hypotheses that can be empirically tested.