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Full-Text Articles in Business

What Motivates Consumers To Write Online Travel Reviews?, Kyung Hyan Yoo, Ulrike Gretzel Jan 2008

What Motivates Consumers To Write Online Travel Reviews?, Kyung Hyan Yoo, Ulrike Gretzel

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The Web provides a fertile ground for word-of-mouth communication and more and more consumers write about and share product-related experiences online. Given the experiential nature of tourism, such first-hand knowledge communicated by other travelers is especially useful for travel decision making. However, very little is known about what motivates consumers to write online travel reviews. A Web-based survey using an online consumer panel was conducted to investigate consumers' motivations to write online travel reviews. Measurement scales to gauge the motivations to contribute online travel reviews were developed and tested. The results indicate that online travel review writers are mostly motivated …


From Hatred To Genuine Peace: A Dynamic Formulation Of Conflict Resolution, Amnon Levy Jan 2008

From Hatred To Genuine Peace: A Dynamic Formulation Of Conflict Resolution, Amnon Levy

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper highlights the role of hatred and its evolution in determining the nature of peace between groups, or nations, after reaching, and while implementing, truce. It proposes that weak inertia, diminishing memory of hatred and low propensity to reciprocate hatred are essential for reaching a genuine and stable peace. In the case of mutual abstinence from violence, genuine peace process prevails if both groups have sufficiently weak inertia and strongly diminishing memories of hatred and low proponsities to reciprocate hatred. When these conditions are not satisfied, genuine peace may still be reached if one of the groups has weak …


Regional Integration In Asia And The Contribution Of Smes: A Review Of The Key Issues And Policy Imperatives, Charles Harvie Jan 2008

Regional Integration In Asia And The Contribution Of Smes: A Review Of The Key Issues And Policy Imperatives, Charles Harvie

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Over the past decade the economies of East Asia and APEC more generally have beenincreasingly opening up their markets, and in the process have achieved significantgains in exports and economic growth. In conjunction with this increased economicintegration, there has been increased recognition by regional governments of thepotential for a substantial increase in the participation by small businesses in thegeneration of regional income, employment, exports, investment and expandedeconomic growth. Advances in information and communications technology addcredence to this potential. In addition, developing economies are especially seeingsmall businesses as potential instruments for the alleviation of poverty and regionaldevelopment. While in developed economies …


The Case Study Methodology In Place Management Research And Practice, Gregory M. Kerr, Gary I. Noble, John Glynn Jan 2008

The Case Study Methodology In Place Management Research And Practice, Gregory M. Kerr, Gary I. Noble, John Glynn

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to assist those in the relatively new field of place management to undertake sound and appropriate research for which there is a current need. Approach: This paper identifies and provides an interpretation of key terms associated with research in the social and behavioural sciences and then recommends the case study methodology as being appropriate for research in place management. Findings: Based on a review of the literature this paper offers a viewpoint about the meaning and application of the terms ‘methodology’, ‘methods,’ ‘ways’, ‘strategies’ and ‘approaches’ when they are applied to research. Research …


Government And Family Guanxi In Chinese Private Enterprises, Guibin Zhang, Zhong Qin Jan 2008

Government And Family Guanxi In Chinese Private Enterprises, Guibin Zhang, Zhong Qin

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Domestic private enterprises have dramatically re-emerged in China's unique transition from a planned to a market-oriented economy, where the private sector plays an increasingly important role. Over the last quarter of a century, there has been a decline in 'red-hat' enterprises and an increased dominance of family businesses among private enterprises.This paper employs the concept of trust, which stems from traditional culture and comprises two important components (government and family), to investigate the changing patterns of corporate governance. The core argument of this paper is that family trust is replacing government trust within Chinese private enterprises. The study of the …


Wineries' Involvement In Promoting Tourism Online: The Case Of Texas, Leslie Rasch, Ulrike Gretzel Jan 2008

Wineries' Involvement In Promoting Tourism Online: The Case Of Texas, Leslie Rasch, Ulrike Gretzel

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Wine tourism has become an important driver of business for wineries in many regionsaround the world, while Texas wine regions are only starting to emerge as important tourism destinations.A study was conducted to investigate how effectively Texas wineries market tourism to their ownestablishments as well as in a regional context. A specific focus was placed on indications of collaborativewine tourism marketing practices on winery websites. The results indicate that wineries providebasic visitor information but are missing out on strategic opportunities to market wine tourism to theirareas.


Identifying The Pattern Of International Stock Return Co-Movements, Abbas Valadkhani, Surachai Chancharat, Charles Harvie Jan 2008

Identifying The Pattern Of International Stock Return Co-Movements, Abbas Valadkhani, Surachai Chancharat, Charles Harvie

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper investigates the relationships between stock market returns of 13 countries based upon monthly data spanning December 1987 to April 2007. SpecifIcally, the principal component (PC) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods are used to examine any discernable patterns of stock market co-movements. Factor analysis provides evidence that stock returns in a number of Asian countries are highly correlated and, based on the resulting robust frictor loadings, they fbrm the first well-defined common factor. We also find consistent results (bused on both the PC and ML methods,) suggesting that the stock returns of all global developed economy stock markets are …


Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting Of Two Note-Issuing Banks In Hong Kong, F. Hui, G. Bowrey Jan 2008

Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting Of Two Note-Issuing Banks In Hong Kong, F. Hui, G. Bowrey

Faculty of Business - Accounting & Finance Working Papers

The environmental performance and management disclosure of organisations has over the past decade come under increased scrutiny due to a number of factors including, in particular, the impact organisations have had on the world’s environment and the corresponding rapid change in the world’s climate. These concerns have made organisations, including financial institutions, review the level of their environmental performance and management disclosures to demonstrate, amongst other objectives, their level of social responsibility. Financial institutions due to the nature of their business are not generally seen to contribute directly to the degradation of the environment however they do provide the funds …


Selective Marketing For Environmentally Sustainable Tourism, Sara Dolnicar, Friedrich Leisch Jan 2008

Selective Marketing For Environmentally Sustainable Tourism, Sara Dolnicar, Friedrich Leisch

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The natural environment represents the main resource for many tourism destinations and tourists are increasingly interested in spending their vacation in unspoilt natural areas. Consequently, destination managers are under increased pressure to implement ecologically sustainable practices. Selective targeting of tourists has been proposed as one approach to sustainable destination management, but the feasibility of this approach remains untested. Therein lies the contribution of this study. Results from a survey of 1000 Australians indicated that market segments based on past environmentally friendly behaviour at the destination represent distinct groups with respect to psychographic, behavioural and socio-demographic personal characteristics. These explanatory variables …


Keeping Up Appearances: The Quest For Governance Legitimacy, Graham Bowrey Jan 2008

Keeping Up Appearances: The Quest For Governance Legitimacy, Graham Bowrey

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

An effective corporate governance structure is as crucial to a public sector organisation as it is to a private sector organisation. This paper reviews the profile of directors on governance boards of government controlled organisations and finds that, while the governance structures are similar with those in the private sector, the real power to set the strategic, financial and operational directions of these organisations is not in the hands of the directors, as it is in the private sector, but in the hands of the responsible ministers. This de-coupling, it is argued, is due to the perception that private sector …


Biotechnology Integration As A Sociology Of Innovation, L. J. Daniel, Patrick Dawson Jan 2008

Biotechnology Integration As A Sociology Of Innovation, L. J. Daniel, Patrick Dawson

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Understanding the sociological process by which innovations are developed and adopted provides an interesting challenge for managers and marketers. In practical terms, recognizing the various intangible social influences that modulate innovation development and uptake requires a flexible framework which enables the variable stakeholder contributions to be taken into account. Research into the Australian biotechnology industry has provided valuable insight into the social processes in the development and integration of these innovations. Evidence from the industry reveals integration was a dynamic social process directed by the multiple agendas of participating stakeholders. The social foundation of integration activities was strongly reliant on …


Lost And Found: Social Innovation And Occupational Health And Safety In Organizations, M. Zanko, Patrick Dawson Jan 2008

Lost And Found: Social Innovation And Occupational Health And Safety In Organizations, M. Zanko, Patrick Dawson

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Despite the wealth of material on occupational health and safety (OHS) there remains an ongoing tragic toll on workers. Governments of the more industrialised economies have sought to address this problem through launching a raft of legislative changes. However, implementation of these mandates generally rests with management and whilst procedural regulations are broadly adhered to, more innovative solutions to OHS issues at work have been absent. In this paper we provide a brief overview of developments, debates and studies in OHS and through drawing on the concept of social innovation toward a more holistic organizational model of OHS management.


‘Primary Care' Presentations At Emergency Departments - Rates And Reasons By Age And Sex, Peter M. Siminski, Andrew J. Bezzina, L. P. Lago, Kathy Eagar Jan 2008

‘Primary Care' Presentations At Emergency Departments - Rates And Reasons By Age And Sex, Peter M. Siminski, Andrew J. Bezzina, L. P. Lago, Kathy Eagar

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

'Primary care' presentations at Emergency Departments (EDs) have been the subject of much attention in recent years. This paper is a demographic analysis of such presentations in New South Wales EDs and of self-reported reasons for presentation.


Segmenting Tourists Based On Satisfaction And Satisfaction Patterns, Sara Dolnicar, H. Le Jan 2008

Segmenting Tourists Based On Satisfaction And Satisfaction Patterns, Sara Dolnicar, H. Le

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Market segmentation has a long history in empirical tourism research. So does satisfaction research. Yet, little work has been done at the cross-roads of these two areas. This chapter makes a step towards filling this gap by (1) reviewing prior work in data-driven market segmentation with a specific focus on satisfaction, (2) analysing managerial recommendations resulting from these studies, and (3) providing empirical examples of how commonsense and data-driven segmentation studies could be conducted using satisfaction as discriminating criterion between tourists.


Cross-Cultural Comparisons Of Tourist Satisfaction: Assessing Analytical Robustness, Sara Dolnicar, Bettina Grun, Huong Le Jan 2008

Cross-Cultural Comparisons Of Tourist Satisfaction: Assessing Analytical Robustness, Sara Dolnicar, Bettina Grun, Huong Le

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Response styles can distort survey findings. Culture-specific response styles (CSRS) are particularly problematic to cross-cultural and empirical tourism researchers using multi-cultural samples because the resulting data contamination can lead to inaccurate conclusions about the research question under study. This is particularly the case when constructs such as satisfaction are measured, which are difficult to operationalise. Nevertheless, possible culture-specific response style effects are typically ignored, thus jeopardizing the validity of reported findings. This chapter raises awareness of the problem, illustrates the problem empirically and presents a method that enables researchers to assess the robustness of empirical findings on cross-cultural differences in …


Social Capital Renewal And The Academic Performance Of International Students In Australia, Frank V. Neri, Simon Ville Jan 2008

Social Capital Renewal And The Academic Performance Of International Students In Australia, Frank V. Neri, Simon Ville

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

Many believe that social capital fosters the accumulation of human capital. Yet international university students arrive in their host country generally denuded of social capital and confronted by unfamiliar cultural and educational institutions. This study investigates how, and to what extent, international students renew their social networks, and whether such investments are positively associated with academic performance. We adopt a social capital framework and conduct a survey of international students at a typical Australian university in order to categorise and measure investments in social capital renewal, and test a multivariate model of academic performance that includes social capital variables, amongst …


Real Interest Rate Interdependence Among The G7 Nations: Does Real Interest Parity Hold?, Bruce Felmingham, Arusha V. Cooray Jan 2008

Real Interest Rate Interdependence Among The G7 Nations: Does Real Interest Parity Hold?, Bruce Felmingham, Arusha V. Cooray

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

We evaluate the extent of real interest rate interdependence among three month treasury bill rates of the G7. Monthly data over the period 1970(1) to 2003(12) is subjected to recursive estimation of a cointegrating equation. The evidence suggests a high degree of interdependence between the G7 interest rates with the degree of integration increasing over the sample period. Tests for parameter constancy highlight the disruptive effects of the first oil price shock although the impacts on financial markets of the September 11 and the attack occurrence of the Asian crisis have limited impacts. The evidence for the presence of a …


The Distinction Between Tax Avoidance And Tax Evasion Has Become Blurred In Australia: Why Has It Happened?, John Mclaren Jan 2008

The Distinction Between Tax Avoidance And Tax Evasion Has Become Blurred In Australia: Why Has It Happened?, John Mclaren

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

The distinction between tax avoidance and tax evasion has been well established in the Australian taxation system. However, for some time the Australian Government has ignored the difference between the two concepts when it comes to Australians using tax havens and being investigated as part of 'Project Wickenby'.1The Australian Government is deliberately labelling all attempts to minimise income tax through the use of tax havens and offshore financial centres (OFCs) as tax evasion and therefore a criminal act. There have been examples quoted in the press where the Australian Crime Commission, conducting investigations as part of 'Project Wickenby', have gained …


Paragons And Dysfunctions: A Report On The First Asia Workshop On Institutional Analysis Organised By The Ronald Coase Institute, Alfredo R. Paloyo Jan 2008

Paragons And Dysfunctions: A Report On The First Asia Workshop On Institutional Analysis Organised By The Ronald Coase Institute, Alfredo R. Paloyo

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

In January 2008, the Ronald Coase Institute conducted the First Asia Workshop on Institutional Analysis, in partnership with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and the Asia Competitiveness Institute of the National University of Singapore. This report highlights the general theme of the workshop: that well-functioning institutions are fundamental to development. This is shown by summarising two studies presented at the workshop and by contrasting two countries from Southeast Asia, i.e., the Philippines and Singapore.


Method Variation In Calculating Perceived Change, Antonis C. Simintiras, Nina Reynolds Jan 2008

Method Variation In Calculating Perceived Change, Antonis C. Simintiras, Nina Reynolds

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Motivated by findings in the literature suggesting that error attributed to measures used in generating retrospective reports are excessive, this study explores error attributed to methods that individuals use for calculating change retrospectively. Preliminary findings indicate that method variation is present which, in turn, affects the reported change scores (i.e., the scores varied as a function of the calculation method used). These findings suggest that the accuracy and comparability of retrospective reporting might be improved if one controls for inter-individual calculation method variation. A brief discussion of the implications of the results along with suggestions for future research is provided.


The Role Of Knowledge Management In An Organisation's Sustainable Development, Rosemary Van Der Meer, Sukunesan Sinnappan Jan 2008

The Role Of Knowledge Management In An Organisation's Sustainable Development, Rosemary Van Der Meer, Sukunesan Sinnappan

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

This paper intends to study the role that Knowledge Management has in development of sustainable organisations. Particularly, the researchers propose to examine key factors in the use of Knowledge Management and sustainable development that could be used to provide a measure in achieving sustainability. The research project is an exploratory study using a case study approach due to the limited amount of literature available on the use of Knowledge Management in sustainable development. The significance of this study is the opportunity to see how much impact Knowledge Management can make in the process of re-engineering an organisation along sustainable goals. …


Connectedness In Work Relationships And Quality Of Working Life: Evidence From Australian Call Centres, Zeenobiyah Nadiyah Hannif, Mario Fernando Jan 2008

Connectedness In Work Relationships And Quality Of Working Life: Evidence From Australian Call Centres, Zeenobiyah Nadiyah Hannif, Mario Fernando

Faculty of Business - Papers (Archive)

Although empirical studies examine how employees perceive their relationships with their coworkers, these studies fail to explain how the quality and strength of co-worker relationships determine the workers' overall quality of working life. Drawing from the growing workplace spirituality literature identifying connectedness at work as a key attribute of strong co-worker relationships and well being, in this paper, we examine the place of connectedness in the quality of co-worker relationships in two Australian call centres. Using the case study approach, we draw similarities and differences between two Australian call centres. Two quite different approaches to people management are found alongside …


Adoptability Of Japanese Management Practices In Sri Lankan Industry, Anura De Zoysa, Siriyama Kanthi Herath Jan 2008

Adoptability Of Japanese Management Practices In Sri Lankan Industry, Anura De Zoysa, Siriyama Kanthi Herath

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The effectiveness of Japanese management practices (JMPs) is often referred to as a major reason for Japan's economic miracle. In recent years, several countries also have achieved remarkable results by adopting some JMPs in their manufacturing organisations. Through the overview of an Indian experience, this paper attempts to examine how Sri Lankan industrialists can benefit from adopting JMPs in their organisations. It is suggested that JMPs, if properly adopted, can accelerate industrial development in Sri Lanka by contributing effectively towards achieving low cost, superior quality and high productivity.


Community Valuations Of Environmental Quality In Coastal Lakes: Lake Illawarra Case Study, Ann T. Hodgkinson, Abbas Valadkhani Jan 2008

Community Valuations Of Environmental Quality In Coastal Lakes: Lake Illawarra Case Study, Ann T. Hodgkinson, Abbas Valadkhani

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This study illustrates how the hedonic pricing method can measure the value of environmental assets in an urban setting. A HPM valuation, utilising relatively easily accessible secondary data, and a semi-logarithmic regression form, is used. The value achieved was substantially greater than either expenditures to date or the actuarial valuation of Lake Illawarra. The study demonstrates the applicability of the technique and recommends its further development and use for this type of public decision-making. A range of other data was also generated that adds to the usefulness of this approach for general planning purposes.


The Development Of Private Businesses In China, Guibin Zhang, Zhong Qin Jan 2008

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 …


Perceptions Of Business Challenges Facing Malaysian Smes: Some Preliminary Results, Ali S. Saleh, Peter Caputi, Charles Harvie Jan 2008

Perceptions Of Business Challenges Facing Malaysian Smes: Some Preliminary Results, Ali S. Saleh, Peter Caputi, Charles Harvie

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper develops an instrument to measure perceptions of business barriers facing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) based upon a sample of 138 Malaysian businesses. An exploratory factor analysis yields five key factors covering: perception of government policies; perception of human capital; perception of availability of infrastructure; perception of business competition; and perception of financial issues. Reliability and item analyses provide support for the internal consistency of the factors and the discriminatory power of items that constitute the factors. In particular, this study finds that perceptions of government policies and infrastructure availability have the highest mean scores, suggesting that …


Disruptions In Information Flow: A Revenue Costing Supply Chain Dilemma, Albert Munoz, Michael D. Clements Jan 2008

Disruptions In Information Flow: A Revenue Costing Supply Chain Dilemma, Albert Munoz, Michael D. Clements

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

The integration of supply chains as a mechanism for value creation is largely dependent on continuous flowof real time accurate information from the customer back upstream to the manufacturer. This ideal is oftenunachievable when disruptions in the flow of information and materials are known to regularly occur in somemanufacturing supply chains. This paper focuses on quantifying the potential lost sales revenue attributed toinformation and material delays in a supply chain using discrete event simulation of the Beer Distribution Game.Results indicate a direct relationship between lost sales revenue and delay times. When exposed to severallevels of delay such disruptions will cause …


Ict Devices As Ubiquitous Tools For Information Seeking Activity, Joseph A. Meloche, Helen M. Hasan Jan 2008

Ict Devices As Ubiquitous Tools For Information Seeking Activity, Joseph A. Meloche, Helen M. Hasan

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper investigates the use of current and developing ubiquitous digital devices and the way that they impact on, and are integrated into, use by groups within the community for information seeking. Three cases are presented involving ubiquitous use of the mobile phone, USB memory devices, and a wireless groupware system. The study considers the need for ongoing research to inform, direct and study the innovative use, appropriation and development of such tools. The primary methodological framework that is applied is activity theory, as it allows dasiatoolpsila to be examined in light of purposeful activity in the context of their …


What Determines The Research Output Of Australian Universities?, Abbas Valadkhani, Simon Ville Jan 2008

What Determines The Research Output Of Australian Universities?, Abbas Valadkhani, Simon Ville

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper develops and estimates a cross-sectional model for forecasting research output across the Australian university system. It builds upon an existing literature that focuses either on institutional comparisons or studies of specific subjects, by providing discipline-specific results across all of the ten major disciplinary areas as defined by Australias Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). The model draws upon four discipline-specific explanatory variables; staff size, research expenditure, PhD completions, and student-staff ratios to predict output of refereed articles. When compared with actual averaged output for 2000-2004, the results are highly statistically significant.


Enabling Authentic Cross-Disciplinary Learning Through A Scaffolded Assignment In A Blended Environment, Anne Abraham, Hazel J. Jones Jan 2008

Enabling Authentic Cross-Disciplinary Learning Through A Scaffolded Assignment In A Blended Environment, Anne Abraham, Hazel J. Jones

Faculty of Commerce - Papers (Archive)

This paper reports on the development of a scaffolded learning assignment with blendedcomponents in a cross-disciplinary setting. The assignment has been developed in a socioculturalcontext, based on a Vygotskian approach and this paper details the design anddevelopment of the assignment. The five stages of the assignment have been carefullyscaffolded and include elements of individual and group tasks, finishing with an individualreflection on the process. Formative assessment and associated feedback are importantelements of the scaffolding and suggestions for further applications for the learning designof the assignment are suggested.