Digital Commons Network^™

Migrant Remittances, Financial Sector Development And The Government Ownership Of Banks: Evidence From A Group Of Non-Oecd Economies, Arusha Cooray

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study investigates the influence of migrant remittances on two dimensions of the financial sector, namely, size and efficiency in a sample of 94 non-OECD economies. Evidence suggests that migrant remittances contribute to increasing the size and efficiency of the financial sector. The study, in addition, examines the impact of remittances on financial sector size and efficiency through their interaction with the government ownership of banks. The results suggest that remittances lead to larger increases in financial sector size in countries in which the government ownership of banks is lower, and increases in efficiency in countries in which the government …

Infrastructure And Economic Development, Cassey Lee

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The importance of the infrastructure sector to the process of economic growth and development has long been recognized and understood by scholars and policymakers. Without adequate infrastructure, modern commerce characterized by production specialization and exchange across markets would grind to a halt. Economic globalization would not take place without the reduction in communication and transportation costs brought about by the progress achieved in the development of infrastructure within and across countries. Thus, any attempt at understanding Malaysia’s past experiences in economic development thus requires an analysis of the role that the infrastructure has played. The purpose of this chapter is …

The Role Of The Government In Financial Sector Development, Arusha Cooray

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study examines the impact of two dimensions of the government, namely, size and quality, on two dimensions of the financial sector, size and efficiency, in a cross section of 71 economies. The study finds that increased quality of the government as measured by governance and legal origin positively influences both financial sector size and efficiency. The size of the government proxied by government expenditure and the government ownership of banks has a negative effect on financial sector efficiency, and a positive impact on financial sector size, particularly in the low income economies.

Migrant Remittances, Financial Sector Development And The Government Ownership Of Banks, Arusha V. Cooray

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study investigates the influence of migrant remittances on twodimensions of the financial sector, namely, size and efficiency. Evidence suggests thatmigrant remittances contribute to increasing the size and efficiency of the financialsector. The study, in addition, examines the impact of remittances on financial sectorsize and efficiency through the government ownership of banks channel. While theresults suggest that remittances lead to larger increases in financial sector size incountries in which the government ownership of banks is lower and increases inefficiency in countries in which the government ownership of banks is higher, thegovernment is found to play an important role in promoting …

Collective Learning In The Development Of Innovative Local Organizations And Regions, Samuel Garrett-Jones

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The paper discusses the specific problems of constructing local advantage in the regional innovation setting in Australia. Focusing on ‘nontraditional’ intermediary organizations and their role in promoting learning it reviews a novel approach to accelerating the performance of a local council in New South Wales, Australia and its associated regional development organization.

The Development Of Private Businesses In China, Guibin Zhang, Zhong Qin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

China’s economic development since 1978 has been fuelled largely by a new private sector that has depended on entrepreneurship. In 1978 the private sector virtually did not exist. In 2005 it was estimated that about one-quarter of gross domestic product (GDP) was produced by the domestic private sector. However, the academic discourse on China’s private sector is lagging behind the sector’s actual development. Before the market reforms introduced by Deng Xiaoping in 1978, China relied on state entrepreneurship. When the model of state entrepreneurship began to run out of energy, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) turned to private entrepreneurship as …

The Institutional Legacy And The Development Of An Australian National Innovation System, Simon Ville

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Institutions are the rules of the game that help to shape the long-term historical development of societies. They mediate human interaction and can be more or less formal (or tangible) in nature ranging from systems of government to common modes of behaviour. Most formal institutions can be distinguished as economic, social, political or cultural in nature although such distinctions are more difficult to make for informal institutions. What is certain is the pervasive impact of all types of institutions on a country’s multifaceted development. Thus, economic performance may be shaped as much by a nation’s legal system as by its …

Cross-Cultural Differences In The Development Of Trust In Relational Service Exchange - An Empirical Analysis Of The Moderating Role Of Uncertainly Avoidance, Jan H. Schumann, Florian Wangenheim, Zhilin Yang, Sandra Praxmarer, Fernando Jinenez, Marcin Komor, G Shainesh

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Customer trust is of high importance for customer relationship management in services.

While service providers increasingly provide their services globally, little is known about cross-cultural differences in the way customers develop trust in their service providers. The present paper fills this void by providing a research model that builds on the idea that cross-cultural differences in the development of trust can be explained by moderating effects of uncertainty avoidance. This view is supported by results of an empirical analysis conducted in the banking context in six countries. Managerial implications are derived and directions for further research are proposed.

Computer Play, Young Children And The Development Of Higher Order Thinking: Exploring The Possibilities, Irina M. Verenikina, Janice A. Herrington

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The aim of this paper is to explore and review current understanding of the potential of computer play to enhance young children’s cognitive development, as compared to the developmental value of traditional make-believe play in which children spontaneously engage during their early childhood years. Theories of play have identified many ways in which traditional play may advance children’s cognitive, social and emotional development. Recently, much traditional childhood play is being replaced by time spent on computer play, and often from a very early age. To produce software that is appealing to young children, designers aim to present content in a …

Communication And Conflict Between Marketing And R&D During New Product Development Projects, Graham R. Massey, Elias Kyriazis

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Effective cross-functional working relationships (CFRs) between Marketing Managers and R&D Managers are a key factor in successful new product development (NPD). Empirical evidence suggests however, that this CFR is often problematic. This article adds to our knowledge about Marketing/R&D CFRs during NPD by examining the effects of three forms of communication (communication frequency, bidirectionality, and quality) on two forms of conflict (dysfunctional and functional conflict). A hypothesised model of Marketing/R&D CFRs is tested using a sample of 184 NPD projects conducted in Australia, using R&D Managers as key respondents reporting on their relationships with the relevant Marketing Manager. Our findings …

The Effects Of Structure, Communication And Trust Between Marketing And R&D During New Product Development, Elias Kyriazis, Graham Massey

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The ability to effectively manage cross-functional working relationships (CFRs) during innovation is a key success factor in developing successful new products. However, empirical evidence suggests that CFRs during new product development are often problematic, resulting in extremely poor relations between managers, and the development of unsuccessful new products. This paper adds to our existing knowledge on the Marketing/R&D CFR by examining the effects of structural factors, communication behaviours, and interpersonal trust on the dependent variable perceived relationship effectiveness. Our findings reveal that trust has potent positive, direct effects on this CFR. Further, bidirectional communication and quality of communication also have …

A Contextual Approach To Design And Development Of Interfaces For Search Engines, Using Activity Theory As The Basis For Informing Design Decisions, Joseph A. Meloche, Li Cheng

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The goal of this study is to support the design of more effective search engines. The research presented in this chapter investigates the design of search engines in the context of information seeking
activities. This study is also informed by Activity Theory and considers Information Seeking to be a Keystone Activity. This improvement in search engine design takes into consideration the context of users, and elicits and captures users' explicit and implied requirements. The study uses Q-methodology to elicit the subjective understanding of the participants thought the phases provided by the methodology. This entails collecting, sorting and analysis of detailed …

The Influence Of Infrastructural Trust On Electronic Commerce Development In Indonesia, Mira Kartiwi, Robert C. Macgregor

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The advent of E-commerce opens an opportunity for fostering an environment that promotes the globa/isation of markets throughout the world, especially those in developing countries /ike Indonesia. The importance of trust as a key facilitator of E-commerce is increasingly being recognized in academic and practitioner communities. However, empirical research in this area has been overwhelmed by contradictory conceptions of the trust construct, while inadequate attention is paid to the influence of trust constructs on E-commerce development in different cultural environments and settings. It is, therefore, the aim of this paper to address the gap by providing an exploratory study on …

Developing A Climate Of Trust During New Product Development: A Conceptual Framework, Janette K. Rowland

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

A gap exists in our understanding of the role that “trust” plays within organisations that produce new products. Recent organisational research suggests that trust may play a more significant role in modern organisational structures than previously thought. Trust encourages efficient information sharing, limits defensive behaviours, encourages citizenship behaviours, leads to co-operation and teamwork, and encourages collaboration. The NPD literature has traditionally focused on “integration methods” which promote information sharing and interaction among participants with trust often being viewed as a “by product” of these approaches. A conceptual framework is proposed, with several research propositions, which highlights the importance of understanding …

A Campus Portal Development Methodology To Match Stakeholder Activity, Tharitpong Fuangvut, Helen M. Hasan

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Although introduced less than seven years ago, a Campus Portal (CP) can be considered as an emerging technological innovation within higher education institutions. A large number have already adopted the concept and are currently implementing some type of portal to extend the services of their Web site and information systems to support the activities of institutional stakeholders, especially students. There is some literature recommending sets of characteristics and functionality for successful CPs, in particular personalisation and customisation. However there is a lack of evidence on which aspects of core attributes lead to the failure of a portal to satisfy user …

The Development Of A User Self-Help Knowledge Management System For Help Desk: Deployment Of Knowledge Management Approach And Software Agent Technology, Kar Yin Leung, Sim K. Lau

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Most help desks have admitted their call volume has increased in the past decade while “help unavailable when needed” is the major reason for service delivery failure and user dissatisfaction. The habit of calling help desk for simple problems has prompted the investigation of transferring part of first-level troubleshooting duty from help desk to user. This research proposes the development of user self-help knowledge management system that allows user to solve simple and routine technical enquiries. The proposed approach incorporates software agent to allow autonomous handling of enquiries so that the most appropriate solution and user communication can be facilitated.

Sme Development Programs: A Critical Review, Charles Harvie, Boon-Chye Lee

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper reviews and examines the arguments for government intervention in markets with the purpose of providing assistance to SMEs in a range of activities.

Location Quotients And Shift-Share Analysis: A Low Cost Approach To Regional Development Planning, Ann Hodgkinson

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Location quotient and shift-share analysis are traditional and somewhat old fashioned methods for regional development analysis.

The Development Of An Industry Specific Performance Measurement Model For Service Organisations Within The Small Business Sector, Vicki Baard, Edmund W. Watts

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The role of small business, as part of the value adding chain in any economy, should never be understated. In Australia small business represents 96% of all private sector business, accounts for 47% of all private sector employment and the majority fail within three to five years of establishment. Despite this contribution the small business sector, and in particular the service sector component, appear to be underrepresented in the development of specific performance measurement models, which, within the academic and professional literature appear to focus on their larger firm counterparts. Given the unique position of small business service organisations the …

The Effects Of Organisational Structure, Interpersonal Trust And Communication During New Product Development Projects, Elias Kyriazis, Graham R. Massey

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study examines the antecedents of effective working relationships between Marketing and R&D managers during NPD projects. Adopting both a structural and individual-level perspective, we examine the impact on relationship effectiveness of formalisation, centralisation, communication frequency and bidirectionality, and interpersonal trust between Marketing Managers and R&D Managers during NPD product development projects. Our hypothesised model is tested using a sample of 184 product development projects conducted in Australia, and our findings reveal two dimensions of interpersonal trust (cognition- and affect-based trust) are potent factors driving effectiveness during product development projects. We also reveal differential effects of the two communication behaviours, …

Development Of A Web-Based Student Enquiry System: Integration Of Ontology And Cbr, Sim K. Lau, Seung Hwan Kang

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper discusses the development o f a web-based student enquiry system using techniques in case-based reasoning combined with advances in ontology. The system functions as an online enquiry front-desk to allow prospective students to fin d out if they are eligible for admission to a post-graduate course in an Australian University. Ontology is applied in the system to ensure explicit specifications of concept and definition of terminology can be achieved in the web-based system. The system applies case-based reasoning technique to handle the query.

Public Policy And Sme Development, Charles Harvie, Boon-Chye Lee

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Policies to promote the development of SMEs are common in both developed and developing countries (Storey,1994; Levitsky, 1996; Hallberg, 2000) .

Accelerating New Product Development: The Experience Of Concurrent Engineering In Australia, Paul Couchman

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Concurrent engineering (CE) is a distinctive approach to the organisation and management of new product development (NPD) which seeks to achieve cross-functional integration, product life cycle design integration and high levels of project task concurrence in order to reduce development lead times. To address the limited research to date on CE in the Asia-Pacific region, the paper presents findings from a survey of Australian manufacturers (n = 150) and from five in-depth case studies on the application of CE in Australia. The survey found that just over one-half (54%) of the companies surveyed used CE to some extent and that, …

Development And Validation Of An Australian Video Speed Test (Avst), Jennifer Ann Algie, John R. Rossiter

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Anti-speeding educational campaigns (in television commercials, print ads, and outdoor ads, mostly) are constantly being tried but it is difficult to determine which ads are effective in reducing speed. A promising solution to this problem is to use a behavioural simulation such as the Video Speed Test, the VST (Horswill and McKenna, 1999). The driving simulation test involves getting drivers to view video excerpts of a person driving a vehicle in real driving situations. The drivers then are asked to estimate the speed that they would use in the same situations, that is, how many kilometres/hour slower or faster they …

The Role Of Interpersonal Communication In The Development Of Client Trust And Closeness In A Sme Professional Services Context, Les Kirchmajer, Paul Patterson

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study develops and tests a model of effective interpersonal communication as an antecedent to client trust and closeness amongst small to medium enterprise (SJ\1E) professional services providerspersonal fmancial planners. A new multidimensional scale for interpersonal communications is developed and tested, resulting in the identification of three dimensions : Communications clarity (5 items),Social communications (4 items), and Information provision (7 items). Client trust is investigated also as a multidimensional construct with credibility trust and benevolence trust being the two dimensions used. Closeness is investigated as a unidimensional construct. The results suggest that there is a positive relationship between communications clarity …

Paths Of Corporate Development: Directions And Methods Of Growth, Simon Ville

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

In Scale and Scope Chandler explained the typical directions of growth followed by large scale American corporations who sustained their industry leadership. I This involved phases of horizontal and vertical integration to capture economies of scale and throughput, followed by product diversification in response to new scientific research, and internationalization to exploit their competitive advantages in foreign markets. This has not been a universal experience of all countries; successful British firms, for example, have been less vertically integrated and Japanese firms were for long reluctant to expand overseas. Typical methods of growth - internal expansion, mergers, and interfirm ventures - …