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The Role of Information Systems in the Management of the Marketing Crises Decisions: The Case Enterprises in the Province of Batna, Algeria
Naima Yahiaoui,
Fatiha Benoumessad
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
134-144
Received:
10 July 2015
Accepted:
24 July 2015
Published:
1 August 2015
Abstract: he study aimed to determine the role of information systems in the management of marketing crises stages and requirements; and identify the relationship between the marketing information systems and the marketing crises management. in a group of enterprises in Batna (Sonelgaz company, cement company and dairy Aures). To achieve these objectives we follow a set of scientific research methods achieve synergy among them systematically, these approaches are: deductive approach which is based on logical thinking has been adopted by the researcher in determining the dimensions of the problem of the research and drafting of logical assumptions associated with the study and inductive approach to prove the validity of hypotheses. The researcher prepared a questionnaire for the organizations in the study and distributed 60 to the enterprises in Batna, and analyzed using simple correlation coefficient and multi addition to simple regression. The study found after analyzing their data and test hypotheses set of results such: a variation in the availability of marketing information systems and its components in the enterprises in Batna, no significant correlation between marketing information systems and marketing variables of crisis management, there are significant effect after marketing information systems in post-marketing crisis management.
Abstract: he study aimed to determine the role of information systems in the management of marketing crises stages and requirements; and identify the relationship between the marketing information systems and the marketing crises management. in a group of enterprises in Batna (Sonelgaz company, cement company and dairy Aures). To achieve these objectives we ...
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Media and Public Trust in Chinese Basic-Level Governments: Communication and Reliance
Shaogang Liao,
Jing Ouyang,
Ying Pan
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
145-149
Received:
13 July 2015
Accepted:
23 July 2015
Published:
6 August 2015
Abstract: According to the phenomena of interaction between the citizens and governments, we can see that the public trust of Chinese basic-level governments has not improved with the function transformation, but constantly decreases. At the reality of the deficiency of public trust, the Chinese basic-level governments lost the communication ability of regaining the understanding and trust of the public and the related governance capacity. This is one of the main difficulties which the Chinese basic-level governments are facing. Under this condition, those higher government institutions who have high public trust and strong communication ability and media should undertake the responsibility of remodeling the Chinese basic-level governments’ public trust.
Abstract: According to the phenomena of interaction between the citizens and governments, we can see that the public trust of Chinese basic-level governments has not improved with the function transformation, but constantly decreases. At the reality of the deficiency of public trust, the Chinese basic-level governments lost the communication ability of regai...
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The Influence of the Balanced Score Card on Performance of Public Sector Organizations in Kenya
Zipporah Karimi Muiruri,
James Kilika
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
150-156
Received:
14 July 2015
Accepted:
25 July 2015
Published:
6 August 2015
Abstract: The Balanced Score Card model has proved to be an efficient strategic management tool over the years since its development in the early 90s. More and more private sector organizations have adopted its use though public sector pace of its adoption in measuring performance has been slow. The model has been presented on the support of four dimensions that offer a holistic approach for the implementation of organizational strategies so as to balance the concerns of diverse stakeholders to firm performance. The study was therefore designed to establish the extent to which these dimensions have been implemented in some selected public sector organizations in Kenya and how they are likely to explain variation in the performance of the organizations. The study identified four objectives and relevant hypotheses relating each dimension of the BSC with performance of the public sector organizations. The study adopted a descriptive research survey design and drew its population from all state owned corporations in the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum. The respondents were classified into two categories namely officers in charge of performance contracting and heads of departments namely; ICT, Human Resource Management, Finance and Customer service. The researchers used a questionnaire which was designated for the Heads of Departments and for the officers in charge of performance contract exercise too. The descriptive results indicated that Financial, Internal Business Process and Customer Focus were rated relatively high (mean = 1.892, s.d.= 0.7047; mean= 2.088, s.d.= 0.728; mean=2.022, 0.6821 respectively). Innovation and learning, however was rated low (mean= 2.892, 0.8422) and Organizational performance was rated at the level of moderate (mean= 3.32, s.d.= 1.0961). The four dimensions explain 71.5% variation of the performance. The four dimensions significantly predict the performance of the public sector organizations in Kenya. The results indicated a strong relationship between the dependent and independent variables where R2 was 71.5%. The study concluded that the balanced scorecard is not only a measurement system, but also a management tool for use by organizations to clarify their vision and strategy and their translation into goals and actions. The study called on the organizations sampled to carry out thorough capacity building on the application of BSC so that more stakeholders understand and internalize the concept in order to enhance its adoption.
Abstract: The Balanced Score Card model has proved to be an efficient strategic management tool over the years since its development in the early 90s. More and more private sector organizations have adopted its use though public sector pace of its adoption in measuring performance has been slow. The model has been presented on the support of four dimensions ...
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Innovation and Knowledge Sharing: A New Competitive Advantage in the Mobile Telecommunication Industry in Ghana
Daniel Ofori,
Abraham Osei,
Shadrach Ato – Mensah,
Ernest Kwame Affum
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
157-163
Received:
20 July 2015
Accepted:
30 July 2015
Published:
10 August 2015
Abstract: Ghana over the past three decades has witnessed the revolution of economic growth through innovations in the telecommunications sector. This study aims at identifying and examining the influence of the individual and organizational knowledge sharing enablers on knowledge sharing behaviour that leads to the development of firm innovation capability. A questionnaire was developed and administered randomly to a sample of four-hundred employees in the managerial and developmental levels of six mobile telecommunications companies. Three hundred and fifty-one were accepted for analysis. In analysing the data, a simple descriptive statistic was adopted. The results of the analysis affirmed the existence of a positive effect of the individual factor “teamwork in helping others” and the organizational innovation factor “top management support” on the employee knowledge sharing behaviour. Employee willingness to donate and collect knowledge is significantly related to firm innovation capability and has influence on it. However, there is no influence of the individual factor “knowledge self-efficacy” and the organizational factor “organizational rewards” on the employee knowledge sharing behaviour. The researchers therefore concluded that employees in the Ghanaian telecommunications sector are influenced by their managers’ support, help and encouragement to share knowledge more than the organizational rewards system. Hence, they do not expect to receive more rewards to increase their knowledge sharing attitude. The paper provides recommendations to help facilitate knowledge sharing and thereby increase the innovation capabilities of these firms.
Abstract: Ghana over the past three decades has witnessed the revolution of economic growth through innovations in the telecommunications sector. This study aims at identifying and examining the influence of the individual and organizational knowledge sharing enablers on knowledge sharing behaviour that leads to the development of firm innovation capability....
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Service Quality Dimension in Health Care Service Delivery: The Case for Healthstrat in Kenya
Janet Mukami Mugambi,
Zipporah N. Kiruthu
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
164-174
Received:
5 August 2015
Accepted:
13 August 2015
Published:
21 August 2015
Abstract: The main objective of this study was to investigate service quality dimension in health care service delivery, the case for Healthstrat. In doing so, the study adopted the following objectives: to investigate the factors that determine service delivery at Healthstrat, to investigate the customers’ service expectations at Healthstrat and to determine the impact of service delivery mechanism on service quality. The study was guided by the SERVQUAL model which was made of ten dimensions of service quality when created; tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, communication, credibility, security, competence, courtesy, understanding the customer, and access, but later on these dimensions were reduced to five because some dimensions were overlapping (communication, credibility, security, competence, courtesy, understanding customers and access) and they included, Tangibles- physical facilities, equipment, and staff appearance. The study adopted a descriptive research design method. The target population of this study consisted of all the 98 employees working at the hospitals that Healthstrat supports and a sample size of 30 employees was considered. The study used primary data collected through a structured questionnaire. Data was analysis using statistical package for social sciences. Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation were generated. The study found out that service quality as perceived by customers is as a result of how well service matches expectations. Secondly that service quality was determined by two dimensions, namely; expectations and experience and each of these dimensions had underlying factors. Thirdly, five factors determined the outcome of service quality which is used by the customers to complete judgement during service delivery, namely; tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance and empathy. The study recommends that participants mentioned the staff to be the focus of improvement based on the fact that it’s the service staff that actually operationalizes service quality standards and more importantly it’s during the service encounter where the customer forms the last judgements on service quality
Abstract: The main objective of this study was to investigate service quality dimension in health care service delivery, the case for Healthstrat. In doing so, the study adopted the following objectives: to investigate the factors that determine service delivery at Healthstrat, to investigate the customers’ service expectations at Healthstrat and to determin...
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Evaluation of Tourist Attractions in Borujerd County with Emphasis on Development of New Markets by Using Topsis Model
Mohammad Taghipour,
Jahangir Ahmadi Sarchoghaei
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
175-189
Received:
11 August 2015
Accepted:
19 August 2015
Published:
29 August 2015
Abstract: This research aims to identify tourist attractions in Borujerd County in order to develop new tourism markets in Lorestan province of Iran. For that purpose and with the use of GIS, parameters such as slope, aspect, elevation, precipitation, land use, topography, and landform geology are separately studied and digital maps for each feature are created. Through interviews with experts and with regard to those parameters, ecotourism activities in the region are identified; and the final maps of the zones suitable for these activities are produced. These activities have been analyzed using TOPSIS multi-criteria decision model and based on marketing factors. TOPSIS analysis defines the order of preference of the region’s tourism activities as ecotourism, rural tourism, hiking, mountaineering, and winter sports respectively. In other words, the mentioned activities have higher marketing priority.
Abstract: This research aims to identify tourist attractions in Borujerd County in order to develop new tourism markets in Lorestan province of Iran. For that purpose and with the use of GIS, parameters such as slope, aspect, elevation, precipitation, land use, topography, and landform geology are separately studied and digital maps for each feature are crea...
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Factors Influencing Performance of Women Social Welfare Groups in Rural Areas: A Case Study of Mwitheria Women Group in Central Kenya
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
190-195
Received:
11 August 2015
Accepted:
24 August 2015
Published:
2 September 2015
Abstract: Traditionally cooperation was a common component where communities formed groups to accomplish goals and also for mutual problem solving.Groups are a source of social satisfaction, source of status and respect, help in reducing boredom and improve employee performance. Women have formed many types of social welfare groups and many belong to more than one cohesive social economic unit. The study seeks to find out the factors that influence performance of social welfare groups formed by women in rural areas. From a population of 100 women belonging to a rural based welfare group, 73% of the population was able to provide the necessary datacollected within a period of two months during their meetings and a follow up in their homes. Since most women are semi literate, they were guided through the structured questions to facilitate adequate data and necessary clarification.From the findings it’s evident that social welfare groups are formed voluntarily (95%) and women derive economic benefits (82.2%) although money generated does not satisfy all their needs as indicated by 98.5%.The welfare groups are satisfied with the leadership (63%) specifically when they achieve the objective for which they are formed. Social groups playa significant role in psychological satisfaction where through synergetic effect it’s possible to cope with stressful situations.Social groups also help the government achieve its objective of uplifting the disadvantaged in the communities. The government assists these social welfare groups (98.6%) and this support should continue. Working in groups in rural areas leads to community cultural integration (98.6%), cohesion and is beneficial psychologically and economically hence their formation should be encouraged and monitored. It’s evident therefore that economic and social factors greatly influence formation of social welfare groups in rural areas. The government has to play a facilitating role of ensuring that social welfare groups are formed, operate within the legal framework and are able to meet their objective and attain overall community development. The government can also apply the tools of community development to improve economic security of its people by unifying business principles with social ventures.
Abstract: Traditionally cooperation was a common component where communities formed groups to accomplish goals and also for mutual problem solving.Groups are a source of social satisfaction, source of status and respect, help in reducing boredom and improve employee performance. Women have formed many types of social welfare groups and many belong to more th...
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Effect of Liquidity on the Dividend Pay-out by Firms Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange, Kenya
Margaret Akinyi Olang,
Grace Melissa Akenga,
James Kamau Mwangi
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 5, October 2015
Pages:
196-208
Received:
12 August 2015
Accepted:
22 August 2015
Published:
2 September 2015
Abstract: Dividend decision is a critical finance function since it involves determining the amount distributed to shareholders as earnings or the amount to reinvest internally. The determination of dividend pay-out is influenced by the liquidity position of the firm but the extent to which liquidity affects the dividend pay-out still remains a puzzle since most empirical studies conducted have reported inconsistent results and no universally accepted explanation for companies with adequate liquidity have observed uniform dividend payment behaviour. It is in this context that the study was set out to determine the effect of liquidity on dividend pay-out of a firm. The objectives of the study were; to determine the effect of profitability, cash flows and working capital on the firms’ dividend pay-out decisions. The study employed causal comparative research design on a target population of 61 firms listed at the NSE. Purposive sampling was used to select 30 firms which consistently paid dividends from the year 2008 to 2012. Data analysis was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that profitability plays a major role in dividend pay-out because of the higher coefficient as compared to cash flows and working capital and consequently the companies which posted higher profits translated this to higher dividends paid out to investors. The study recommends that firms should ensure that profits are stable, cash flows freely flow into the firm and working capital is efficiently managed so as to increase the firms’ dividend pay-out. The results would provide information to managers to determine an optimal dividend pay-out that would maximise the company’s stock price and thus lead to maximisation of shareholders wealth. The study also forms a basis for further research and adds knowledge to the existing body.
Abstract: Dividend decision is a critical finance function since it involves determining the amount distributed to shareholders as earnings or the amount to reinvest internally. The determination of dividend pay-out is influenced by the liquidity position of the firm but the extent to which liquidity affects the dividend pay-out still remains a puzzle since ...
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