Business Commons^™

The Effectiveness Of Monetary Policy In Malaysia In The Light Of Financial Liberalization, Farizah Ahmad

Student Works (2000-2009)

Financial liberalization had caused instability in the money demand function as well as in the velocity of money. As a result, money supply is no longer reliable as the main intermediate target and there appeared to be a shift in the technique of monetary control towards greater reliance on interest rates as the main operating instrument. Developing countries that continue to emphasize on quantitative method in their monetary framework while at the same time implement financial refom1s may face the problem of a loss of monetary control and hence, monetary policy may possibly not be effective in influencing income or …

Disaster Recovery Planning : Local And Remote Data Backup System, Chin Seng Low

Student Works (2000-2009)

This dissertation studies about the disaster recovery planning focusing on data backup and which there is a data recovery capability in the event of a sudden, severe and unplanned disruption in an organization with network computing environment. The planning must ensure continuity of all the critical data and functions with minimum disruption and recover quickly during such calamity. The elements of a comprehensive and complete disaster recovery planning must include risk analysis, business impact analysis in order to recommend a suitable disaster recovery strategy. Hence, Local and Remote Data Backup System is the designed strategy based on the literature review …

An Empirical Analysis Of The Critical Determinants Affecting Commitment And Performance Of The U. S. Firm In The South African Market: Apartheid Versus Post-Apartheid, Sonja Pollard Mitchell

Theses and Dissertations in Business Administration

Recognized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as one of the world's Big Emerging Markets (BEMs), South Africa has received vast attention from potential foreign investors (IRRC 1994) and has been recognized by scholars as an excellent base for research (Hofmeyr, Templer and Beaty 1994). Unfortunately, little is known about the export behavior of the foreign firm in South Africa (Calof and Viviers 1995) given the country's history of political, social and economic instability.

This dissertation is an effort to increase the understanding of the factors that contribute to the commitment and overall market performance of U.S. firms in South …

The Market And Ethics: The Case Of The 1994 Decision By The Clinton Administration To Delink China's Human Rights Record From Most-Favored-Nation Status, Susan C. Morris

Graduate Program in International Studies Theses & Dissertations

Amid the globalization of markets and the interdependence of states, human rights violations throughout the world still persist. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the economic interdependence of nations and the moral responsibilities of nations by examining the case of the 1994 decision by the Clinton administration to delink China's human rights practices from most-favored-nation status.

The annual 1997 Freedom House world survey of human rights rated China at its lowest point and quoted that “the regime continues to have one of the worst human rights records in the world.”1 Yet despite China's ongoing human …

A Leadership Model And Supervisory Skills Perceived By Production Employees, Supervisors, And Managers As Important To The Improvement Of Employee Performance In Manufacturing, Douglas R. Hotek

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The purpose of this research was to provide to industry and education a better understanding of what makes a supervisor a good supervisor of today's educated and technically skilled work force. Manufacturing firms that depend on advanced technologies and employee-technology relationships have made an impact on the role of supervision. The modern supervisor has a new role in managing production operations. The role has changed from that of directing and controlling employees to that of effectively leading the improvement of employee performance. This study builds upon previous research in an effort to further identify and authenticate a leadership model with …

A Comparison Of Web-Based And Conventional-Based Training Methods In A Leading Midwestern Company, Hani Aljadaani

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

The primary purpose of this study was to compare trainees' perceptions of learning in a web-based delivery and conventional-based delivery in a leading Midwestern Electronics Company. This study examined trainees' perceptions of learning environment differences and related demographic and attitudinal perception variables. Due to the nature of human beings, interactivity is a key element in the learning process.

Two training programs were selected, one of which was Web-Based Training (WBT) and the other one was classroom based. The two have been chosen with the respect to the achievement of concepts and skills. The training programs were beginning Microsoft Word 97 …

A Competitive Analysis On The Metal Packaging Coatings Industry In Malaysia, Mee Lin Yang

Student Works (2000-2009)

Numerous studies had been carried out in the past, on various industries in Malaysia, but none could be found with regards to the metal packaging coatings industry. The market environment and size of the industry have remained broadly unknown. Statistical reports by the statistic department often include the output of this industry under the paints and varnish production category. This research was an attempt to study and consolidate as much information as possible, pertaining to the market environment and market size of the metal packaging coatings industry in Malaysia. In order to achieve this, a market survey was conducted by …

The Impact Of The Real Exchange Rates On Exports : The Malaysian Case, Lay Lian Chuah

Student Works (2000-2009)

Many studies have yielded contradicting results on the impact of real exchange rate volatility on exports. Therefore, this paper attempts to examine the relationship between real exchange rate volatility and Malaysian exports. The model of this study is adapted from Caballero and Corbo's ( 1989) paper. In this respect, this paper also uses the same standard calculation for real exchange rate (RER) volatility. However, a minor adaptation was made whereby the standard deviation, the measurement of real exchange rate volatility is refined by using trade weighted settlement in its computation. This would be a more accurate way of measurement, as …

Afghanistan's Economic Potentials And Malaysian Entrepreneurs' Perceptions, Abdul Sattar Murad

Student Works (2000-2009)

Afghanistan is a country that has started its economic development after the World War II, one of the very early beginners in launching its economic development programs; it is one of the least developed countries in Asia. This study reviews the economic potentials of Afghanistan including mineral, water, land resources and perception of Malaysian Investors. These two aspects of the study highlight the causes of low economic development and factors responsible for it. This study attempts to examine four logically linked questions, i.e. (i) what are the trade potentials of Afghanistan? (ii) What are the mineral potentials of Afghanistan? What …

Seasonality Effects Of Finance Stocks On The Kuala Lumpur Exchange, Foon Lee Ng

Student Works (2000-2009)

The primary objective of this study is to investigate the seasonality effect or calendar anomalies of Finance stocks on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) over the period of January 1992 to June 1999. Among the calendar anomalies investigated in this study are the day-of-the-week effect, the pre-holiday effect, the end-of-the-month effect and the firm size effect. Empirical results reveal that there is an existence of the day-of-the-week effect in the financial stocks for the entire sample period. The results are consistent with those previous studies in which Monday's returns are significantly negative whilst Friday's returns are positive. In particular, …

Relationship Between Risks And Return In The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange, Keat Chye Khoo

Student Works (2000-2009)

Results of empirical tests on the relationship between stock returns and arious risk factors of sixty stocks in the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange over the eriod 1979-1998 are presented in this study. Overall the applicability of the capital sset pricing model in Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange using monthly data is absent. 1arket risk alone or with another risk factors are unable to explain the variation in verage returns. However, there is a significant non-linear relationship between verage returns of individual stocks and market risk in two test periods 1983-86 and 995-98. This study also finds that other risk factors are …

Forecasting Tea Production In Malaysia, Tamil Selvan. Krishnan

Student Works (2000-2009)

Forecasting is an inevitable part of production planning. Forecasting of future production is an essential Input to decision making as knowledge of this has always promised advantages and opportunities of many kinds. The forecaster's goal is to find a useful way to express a time-structured relationship so that predictions of future production can be incorporated into the decision making process. Fluctuations and variations in the production of tea in Malaysia is affected by uncontrollable and controllable factors. These factors cause fluctuations, trend, seasonality, cycles and irregular patterns in the yield series. These fluctuations create uncertainty and this makes decision making …

Children Influence In Family Decision-Making, Siew Ling Lim

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study has attempted to examine the distinct factors that may he said to characterize the children purchase decision-making style. Concentration is centered on an analysis of the influence of the children for various selected products in an attempt to determine whether there exists a particular pattern according to the different family background Children's income and saving patterns were also observed to investigate the relationship between financial resources and their influence pattern. The analysis had been carried out on the basis of a survey of 446 families in Peninsular Malaysia Respondents included "marketing housewives" and children who were asked to …

Behaviour Of Trading And Non-Trading Stock Returns In The Malaysian Stock Market, Lay Khong Tan

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study examines the stock returns and volatilities of trading and non­trading day for seven KLSE indices from January 3, 1994 to November 26, 1999. Six return series are computed. They are the overnight, open to close, morning, afternoon, close to close and open to open series. There is consistently positive overnight return throughout Monday to Friday. The weekend effect or Monday effect is significantly positive. The returns of the morning, open to close, close to close series are negative particularly on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday. Except for Monday, other weekdays have positive afternoon return. Mean and variance return are …

The Effectiveness Of Malaysian Personal Income Tax Policy (1977-1997), Saidatulakmal Mohd

Student Works (2000-2009)

This research aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Malaysian Personal Income Tax Policy for the year 1977 - 1997. The areas of concentration are tax burden, poverty level, savings incentives, progressivity index and Inland Revenue Board's objectives. The methodologies to accomplish the mission are regression analysis, mathematical calculation, and index of progressivity. The research concludes that there is no significant relationship to explain any kind of relationship between the tax rates and the poverty level. Another finding shows that Malaysian personal income tax policy seems to be a good policy to induce private savings. Regression analysis, both under the …

Participation Of Female Hawkers In Economic And Family Activities, Yoke Yien Leong

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study focuses on time use study to analyse participation of women in the hawking communities in various types of activities. Time use study is able to account for the time female hawkers spent on their daily activities. lt has the added advantage of not requiring the women to interpret what constitutes economic and family activities. Generally, female hawkers are not highly educated. They are mostly involved with selling non-food items. It is found that female hawkers spend long hours on economic activities and family activities. Many of the female hawkers work seven days a week. Participation in interactive activities …

Long Run Determinants Of Malaysia Trade Balance : A Cointegration Study, Lok Sin Kuar

Student Works (2000-2009)

This paper aims to study the long run determinants of Malaysian trade balance the cointegration method by using quarterly data from 1973 1Q to 1998 4Q. In order to study the long run equilibrium relationship, trade balance is tested against other macroeconomic variables which resembles monetary policy, exchange rate policy and fiscal policy. The final results is that interest rate is the only variable found to be cointegrated with the trade balance. As such, it implies that interest rate may be an effective policy instrument to rectify the problem of trade imbalances in Malaysia. On the other hand, other policies …

Analysing Random Access Memory Chip Yield Performance, Choy Sar Kam

Student Works (2000-2009)

Despite advances in integrated circuits (IC) equipment and fabrication techniques, there still exist random fluctuations or statistical disturbances in any IC manufacturing facility. which can adversely affect the production yield. Actually devices and circuits are being designed with increasingly tighter parameter and performance margins. As a result, chip performance becomes even more sensitive to the statistical variations, and this may result in low production yield. One of the significant detractors of cost in a manufacturing line is yield loss due to contamination and the time required to increase the yield to profitable levels. Yield loss in a manufacturing line is …

Comparison Between The Economic Fundamentals Of Malaysia And Singapore Prior To The 1997 Southeast Asian Currency Crisis, Mun Chow Lai

Student Works (2000-2009)

This research paper makes a comparative study on the economic fundamentals of Malaysia and Singapore prior to the 1997 Southeast Asian Currency Crisis (SACC). The overriding objective here is to determine the structural economic characteristics of Malaysia and Singapore prior to the SACC and to explore the possibility that underlying fundamentals might have contributed towards or exacerbated the SACC. The analysis begins with an overview of the economics of Malaysia and Singapore using graphical and tabular analysis of broad indices. This is followed by the formulation of simultaneous equation models, one for Malaysia and another for Singapore. Besides service balance …

The Impact Of The Recent Currency Crisis On Malaysian Exports, Deivanai Kaliappan

Student Works (2000-2009)

Since the outbreak of East and Southeast Asian financial crisis, a lot has been said and done to explain currency crisis that started with floatation of Thai baht. Economists and policymakers from all over the world gathered to discuss the causes of the main agenda in global economic as well as the action to be taken in bringing the affected countries in the East and Southeast Asian region back to recovery path. However, it is already 17 months since the crisis erupted, still there is no well defined measures that can be adopted by the ailing economies to improve their …

A Study Of Stock Market Efficiency In Malaysia, Shook Chern Lee

Student Works (2000-2009)

This study examines the behaviour of the stock market in Malaysia and its implication on the weak form efficiency of the Efficient Market Hypothesis. Daily data of the number of stocks advancing, declining or remaining unchanged in price and the closing levels of the stock market indices of the Main Board, seven main sectors of the Main Board and the Second Board of the KLSE were used in this study. The period covered was from January 1994 to December 1998, a total of 1233 trading days. The results using the Theil-Leenders test indicates that there is some dependence in successive …

The Potential Use Of Smart Cards In Vehicle Management With Particular Reference To The Situation In Western Australia, Harry W. Jones

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Vehicle management may be considered to consist of traffic management, usage control, maintenance, and security. Various regulatory authorities undertake the first aspect, fleet managers will be concerned with all aspects, and owner-drivers will be interested mainly in maintenance and security. Car theft poses a universal security problem. Personalisation, including navigational assistance, might be achieved as a by-product of an improved management system. Authorities and fleet managers may find smartcards to be key components of an improved system, but owners may feel that the need for improved security does not justify its cost. This thesis seeks to determine whether smartcards may …

Accounting Information And The Underpricing Of Indonesian Initial Public Offerings, Tatang Ary Gumanti

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study is to examine the relation between accounting measures of total firm risk and the magnitudes of IPO initial returns. The existing explanations of the underpricing of lPO's suggests that the extent of underpricing is positively related to ex ante uncertainty about the issues. This study argues that accounting risk measures are related to the ex ante uncertainty. Since ex ante uncertainty is positively related to IPO underpricing, accounting risk measures are also arguably related to IPO underpricing. An event methodology is employed in this study. Five accounting risk measures are examined: financial leverage, operating leverage, …

Intellectual Capital: Managerial Perceptions Of Organisational Knowledge Resources, Mark Valentine St Leon

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

This study addresses the question 'To what extent does organisational type and managerial role define managers' perception of Intellectual Capital?' Our understanding of the phenomenon of Intellectual Capital is an emerging one. The most recent attempts to describe and define Intellectual Capital identify a dynamic 'action' perspective as well as a static 'perception' perspective. Intellectual Capital broadly describes the resources of knowledge available to an organisation, whether embodied in human or non-human forms, and which are capable of being transformed into and codified as productive organisational assets. The emergence, development and application of concepts of Intellectual Capital herald the arrival …

Determining The Critical Elements Of The Customer Intimacy Framework, Frank Raymond Jasper

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Currently the field of marketing is undergoing a transformation concerning the appropriate marketing model to use in business. This transformation arose due to the mounting problems of the existing 4Ps Marketing Model, the heightened importance of customer retention, the requirement to continually add value to business processes and recent advancements in Internet technology. An alternate approach to the 4Ps Marketing Model began to emerge in the 1970's and was termed relationship marketing. This study is exploratory in nature and investigates consumer perceptions concerning customer intimacy. A self-administered mail questionnaire was employed to gather the necessary data from 300 solely external …

Attitudes Towards Female Sports Stars As Endorsers, Kevin R. James

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Successful and popular sports people have often been utilised as celebrity endorsers to encourage consumers to purchase goods and services. While male sports stars have a well-documented history as product endorsers, their female counterparts have been infrequently used, rarely studied and occasionally mismanaged. Using the dimensions that influence the credibility of a celebrity endorser, this study specifically examines consumer attitudes towards female sports stars as endorsers. Respondents intention to purchase was measured for three different products. As well, the attitude towards perceived attractive and non-attractive female sports stars was also explored. A three stage design, comprising of focus groups, specific …

Key Decision-Making Phases And Tasks For Outsourcing Information Technology, Ashraf Shoeib

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Outsourcing has become an attractive option for today's organisation. Since outsourcing Information Technology (IT) is a relatively new phenomenon in Australia, little research has been conducted as to IT management strategies needed when considering outsourcing. To guide management in the decision whether or not to outsource IT, the study developed and tested a decision-making model comprising the phases of intelligence, analysis and planning, strategy selection, action, and evaluation and monitoring. The significance of decision phases and tasks contained in the model was established through a survey of major Australian organisations. The sample included Australia's top 390 companies. Such organisations would …

Resource Allocation And Efficiency In Public Sector Audits, Kar M. Chong

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

In recent years, the push for reform in the Australian public sector audit has placed the Office of the Auditor-General (hereafter OAG) in a more contestable or market- like environment, where the OAG is accountable for an efficient and effective provision of public sector audit. The purpose of this study is to compare the cost efficiency of in-house and contract-out arrangements to deliver financial audits in the public sector. It empirically tests whether there are audit cost and audit fee differences between in-house providers (i.e., the OAG) and contractors (i.e., public accounting firms). The secondary aims of this study are …

The Ideal Homeworkers: An Investigation Of Personal & Job Characteristic Requirements For Successful Home Based Work, Maryam Omari

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

Global competition, societal changes and other environmental influences have forced organisations to review existing work arrangements. Flexible work practices have been identified as one mechanism for the alignment of organisational and individual goals. Homebased work or telecommuting, which involves working at a remote site, is an example of such a practice. Working from home can have advantages for the organisation in terms of savings in infrastructure costs. Individual employees would also potentially benefit through reduced costs associated with work (e.g. travel and food), and the ability to better manage their work and home life. However, since 25 years ago when …

Reducing The Redundancy Of Financial Ratios And Assessing The Stability Of Financial Patterns, Teck K. Hii

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The purpose of this study was to examine the financial patterns of Australian industrial firms along the lines of Pinches et al.’s (1973; 1975) study. The financial ratios used in prior Australian corporate failure studies were used to derive a reduced set of factors that was predictive of corporate failure (e.g., Castagna & Matolesy, 1981: Booth, 1983). These factors were examined for the short – and long-term stability of these factors. The set of firms used was selected from FINSELECT database, which covered the period from 1989 to 1997. A random list of 199 Australian industrial firms that survived between …