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The Changing Role of Accounting in Supporting the Quality and Customer Goals of Organizations: An Open System Perspective
Mahmoud M. Yasin, Paul E. Bayes, Andrew J. Czuchry |
323 |
The Changing Role of Accounting in Supporting the Quality and Customer Goals of Organizations: An Open System Perspective
Mahmoud M. Yasin
East Tennessee State University
Paul E. Bayes
East Tennessee State University
Andrew J. Czuchry
East Tennessee State University
Traditionally, the accounting department (subsystem) has played a significant role in monitoring and improving the efficiency of a business organization. In recent years, however, most business organizations found it necessary to broaden their emphasis from an efficiency-only based orientation to an orientation which integrates efficiency and quality to achieve organizational effectiveness. This paper examines the changing role of the accounting subsystem in the context of the open system business model which characterizes the modern business organization. In the process, the emerging role in comparison to the traditional role of the accounting subsystem in supporting the quality efforts and customer focus of a business organization are analyzed. Practical recommendations are provided to facilitate the strategic alignment of the accounting subsystem in order to be more consistent with the quality efforts and goals of today’s business organizations. Cross training accountants to help them become advocates of an information sharing-quality culture will result in a proactive approach to identifying and resolving quality problems. In addition, encouraging an information cost orientation rather than an allocation of cost approach will result in improved value propositions throughout the supply chain. Finally, resources should be reallocated to improve information systems and fully integrate customers, suppliers and the business organization.
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The Financial Implications of a VAR Model of the Determinants of Exchange Rates: The Case of South Korea
Yvonne Chen, Yu Hsing |
332 |
The Financial Implications of a VAR Model of the Determinants of Exchange Rates: The Case of South Korea
Yvonne Chen
DePaul University
Yu Hsing
Southeastern Louisiana University
Applying a VAR model based on a sample from 1981.Q1 - 2002.Q3, the nominal exchange rate in Korea was found to have a positive response to a shock to the U.S. output, real budget deficits, the price level in the U.S., and its own lagged values. The exchange rate reacts negatively to a shock to output in Korea, the interest rate differential between the U.S. and Korea, and the price level in Korea. Second only to lagged exchange rates, the price level in Korea had a very significant impact on the movement of exchange rate. The interest rate differential and government deficit are considerable factors as well, explaining up to 8.6% and 7.9% of the variation in exchange rates, respectively. By evaluating the simultaneous differential equations, exchange rate and interest rate differentials are proven to follow certain paths toward conditional equilibrium.
The model and empirical results can provide insights for multinational companies in developing a business strategy that better controls the exchange rate risk of Korean won.
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Self-Ratings of Workplace Behaviour: Contrasting Russia and Poland with the United States
Robert D. Costigan, Richard C. Insinga, Grazyna Kranas, Selim S. Ilter,
J. Jason Berman, Vladimir A. Kureshov |
341 |
Self-Ratings of Workplace Behaviour: Contrasting Russia and Poland with the United States
Robert D. Costigan
St. John Fisher College
Richard C. Insinga
State University of New York, Oneonta
Grazyna Kranas
University of Warsaw, Poland
Selim S. Ilter
St. John Fisher College
J. Jason Berman
St. John Fisher College
Vladimir A. Kureshov
Siberian State Aerospace University, Russia
This study examines the self-rating appraisal process, assessing the ratings made by the subordinate and the supervisor. Others have proposed that employees in collectivist countries tend to give harsher ratings of themselves than their supervisors, based on data from Taiwan. Conflicting results from more recent Chinese studies have cast doubt on this hypothesis. The present study tests this proposition on data collected in the U.S. and two other collectivist countries, Poland and Russia. ANCOVA results indicate that, as expected, the Polish self-ratings show a harshness bias, but the Russian findings tend to show a leniency effect and the U.S. results tend to show a harshness bias.
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The Experience of Manufacturing Firms with the Implementation of Different Production Philosophies: A United States Survey
Ahmed Karim, Yunus Kathawala |
351 |
The Experience of Manufacturing Firms with the Implementation of Different Production Philosophies: A United States Survey
Ahmed Karim
Indiana Purdue University
Yunus Kathawala
Eastern Illinois University
Despite few studies on the production philosophies of Time-based Competition and Fast Decision Process, speed of response has become paramount for many US firms that recognize this as a key to gaining competitive advantage. The study involved Indiana manufacturing firms that had experience with one or more production philosophies. A questionnaire was constructed seeking both demographic as well as specific production information. The survey was sent to 1500 manufacturing firms and the usable response rate was approximately 33%. Extrapolation of information of the survey allowed for the formation of usable statistical information in table form. Factor analytic models were created and used as predictive models to determine group associations.
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Using Interdisciplinary Thinking to Improve Strategy Formulation: A Managerial Perspective
Alen Badal |
365 |
Using Interdisciplinary Thinking to Improve Strategy Formulation: A Managerial Perspective
Alen Badal
The Union Institute
Strategy formulation is an integral function tangent to organizational success and competitive advantage. Many tools exist that enable managers to formulate and implement business strategies. However, a focus on synthesizing interdisciplinary intellectual views may potentially enhance organizational decision-making and yield fruitful outcomes to better position an organization within the respective industry. This article introduces the concept of Interdisciplinary Thinking (IT) stemming from stakeholders, as an integral function of the strategy formulation process.
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The Use of Strategic Planning Tools and Techniques in Saudi Arabia: An Empirical study
Salem M Al Ghamdi |
376 |
The Use of Strategic Planning Tools and Techniques in Saudi Arabia: An Empirical study
Salem M Al Ghamdi
King Fahd University, Saudi Arabia
The study highlights the importance of strategic planning tools and techniques. Webster et al. (1989) argued that the usage of available tools and techniques will enhance managers’ analytical and diagnostic skills. The study utilizes thirteen tools and techniques in the questionnaire. Literature review was conducted to support the argument made by Webster et al. (1989). Out of the 72 Saudi organizations investigated, only 10% of the planners reported using these techniques regularly with an additional 17% saying only use them frequently. The most regularly and widely used technique is analysis of critical success factors, followed by benchmarking, and then what if analysis. Swat analysis, product life cycle, and stakeholder analysis had received moderate use, while Pims, experience curve, portfolio analysis, and value chain analysis had received very limited use. Finally, Delphi, cognitive mapping, and Porter’s five-force analysis were found to be the least used tools in the sector analysis, the 17 joint venture firms and the 29 large turnover firms declared the greatest use of many of these tools and techniques in comparison with other sectors involved in the study. On average, almost half of the respondents reported that they do not use these strategic tools in their planning activities.
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A Survey Investigation of Airports as Distribution Centers: A Strategic Advantage Perspective
Shu‑Chen Lin, Gin‑Shuh Liang, Kung‑Don Ye |
396 |
A Survey Investigation of Airports as Distribution Centers: A Strategic Advantage Perspective
Shu‑Chen Lin
National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan
Gin‑Shuh Liang
National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan
Kung‑Don Ye
National Taiwan Ocean University, Taiwan
Since an airport is a functional area, an Airport Distribution Center should effectively integrate transporting, storekeeping, manufacturing, processing and other industry‑related functions into one concentrated and high‑efficient logistics environment. In this paper, we divide international logistics into two stages (with four modes) from the viewpoint of value‑added services and develop competitive indices for the transshipment location mode. Then evaluation criteria for the transshipment mode are established. Furthermore, by combining fuzzy set theory and AHP, the competitive hierarchical structure (transshipment) of Taiwan’s Chiang Kai Shek Airport, Hong Kong International Airport and Singapore’s Changi International Airport are established.
As a result, we find Hong Kong Airport and Singapore’s Changi International Airport are highly suitable for development of the transshipment mode.
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Using the Theory of Constraints to Improve the Identification and Solution of Managerial Problems
Pi-Fang Hsu, Miao-Hsueh Sun |
415 |
Using the Theory of Constraints to Improve the Identification and Solution of Managerial Problems
Pi-Fang Hsu
Yuanpei University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Miao-Hsueh Sun
Shih-Hsin University, Taiwan
Competition has intensified in recent years, whether in local markets or in the global market. To face such changes, management philosophies are created and continually improved, and new managerial techniques and methods are also discussed and applied. The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a complete-direction Management Philosophy that was recently suggested, the concept and managerial tolls of which have seriously altered theories and notions in various different management fields. The TOC includes two major groups of techniques, namely methods of dealing with physical production constraints and generic problem-solving tools. The main method is the “Drum-Buffer-Rope” scheduling system that is used to manage the capacities of the “Bottleneck Resources” and the output of the “Non-bottleneck Resources”. The necessary tool is “The Thinking Process” used for symptoms diagnosis and problem solving. Moreover, this study develops a Reality Tree—a step by step approach for searching core problems and proposed solutions guided by the TOC, that can significantly improve organizational management.
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The Multidimensional and Hierarchical Structure of Perceived Quality and Customer Satisfaction
Chu‑Mei Liu |
426 |
The Multidimensional and Hierarchical Structure of Perceived Quality and Customer Satisfaction
Chu‑Mei Liu
Ching Yun University of Technology, Taiwan
Despite two decades of study and debate as to the conceptual nature of service quality remains divergent. The former defines service quality using overall categorical terms, whereas the latter uses descriptive terms. Both perspectives highlight important aspects of service quality, but neither fully captures the construct. Lately efforts to integrate the two schools provided qualitative and empirical evidence that service quality is multidimensional, hierarchical construct. This article provides a view of the relationships between service quality and customer satisfaction when the former is operationalized as a multidimensional, hierarchical construct. Results show that the relationship between customer satisfaction and service quality is significant at any level of abstraction of the latter indicating that each subdivision is appropriately conceived as an important aspect of service quality. However, a certain degree of the explanatory power of the dimensions of service quality is loss as the degree of abstraction increases. Likewise, each level of abstraction presents a unique picture as to how the dimensions and subdivision inter‑relate among themselves in influencing customer satisfaction.
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Exploring Brand Loyalty, from the Perspective of Brand Switching Costs
Hsiu-Yuan Tsao, Li-wei Chen |
436 |
Exploring Brand Loyalty, from the Perspective of Brand Switching Costs
Hsiu-Yuan Tsao
Ming Hsin University of Science and Technology, Taiwan
Li-Wei Chen
National Taipei University, Taiwan
The perspective of brand switching costs is adopted to propose that the level of loyalty to a brand is determined by the ratio of competitive brands to imitation brands and the degree of brand differentiation. We suggest that the level of consumer loyalty to a specific brand is affected not only by the buyer’s perceptions of the value of the brand to the buyer but also by the market structure, such as the number of competitive and imitation brands and the degree of brand differentiation in the market.
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The Impact of New Product Launch Strategies on Competitive Reactions in the Cosmetic Industry
Pi-Chuan Sun, Ing-San Hwang |
442 |
The Impact of New Product Launch Strategies on Competitive Reactions in the Cosmetic Industry
Pi-Chuan Sun
Tatung University, Taiwan
Ing-San Hwang
National Taipei University, Taiwan
The characteristics of a new product launch strategy were found to have a significant impact on the intensity of competitive reactions. Following an extensive review of the literature, a propositional model is developed. In order to test this theoretical model, an ex post facto field study was designed, in which the authors obtained comprehensive information on 36 new products launched in the Taiwan cosmetic industry. Competitive reaction is diagnosed in terms of changes in the marketing instruments of the competitors. The data show that competitors react primarily by means of price changes, product changes and promotion changes. The article discusses theoretical and managerial implications of these results, as well as thoughts for future research.
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The Effect of Culture on the Management Style and Performance of International Joint Ventures in China: The Perspective of Foreign Parent Firms
Lung-Tan Lu, Yuan-Ho Lee |
452 |
The Effect of Culture on the Management Style and Performance of International Joint Ventures in China: The Perspective of Foreign Parent Firms
Lung-Tan Lu
Chin-Yun University, Taiwan
Yuan-Ho Lee
Fo Guang University, Taiwan
This paper examines the relationships between cultural impact, management style and performance. Empirical results from 82 senior managers in Japan and Taiwan, whose firms have joint ventures with local partners in China indicate that cultural dimensions (i.e. power distance and individualism) have little impact on management style and performance. However, it is found that power distance and individualism show a pattern of negative correlations in the Japanese group but not in the Taiwanese group. Building on our findings, several suggestions are made for further research.
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The Effect of Managerial Factors on the Incidence of Medical Operations: The Case of Cesarean Sections
Jin-Li Hu, Yuan-Fu Huang |
463 |
The Effect of Managerial Factors on the Incidence of Medical Operations: The Case of Cesarean Sections
Jin-Li Hu
National Chiao-Tung University, Taiwan
Yuan-Fu Huang
National Chiao-Tung University and Chu-Tung Hospital, Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan
High cesarean section rates in Taiwan are usually explained by medical, socio-economic, and religious reasons. This paper analyzes managerial factors determining cesarean section rates from both demand and supply sides. Taiwan’s official data on cesarean section during 1992-2001 are collected. Our major empirical findings are as follows: (1) Cesarean section rates in public hospitals are significantly higher than those in private hospital. (2) Different geographic areas in Taiwan also have significantly different cesarean section rates. (3) An increase in Christian and Catholic population ratio significantly reduces its cesarean section rate, while an area increase per capita income raises an area’s cesarean section rates. (4) Medical centers have the highest, regional hospitals have the medium, and district hospitals have the lowest cesarean section rates.
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The Effect of Ecological Factors on Changes in the Number of Individual Firms in an Industry: An Empirical Study
Hsing-Fa Lin |
472 |
The Effect of Ecological Factors on Changes in the Number of Individual Firms in an Industry: An Empirical Study
Hsing-Fa Lin
National Taipei University, Taiwan
This investigation has four major findings: 1) changes in the number of manufacturers in the Leather industry of the EPZ of Taiwan, and the life cycle of the industry have inevitably come to determine whether an outward migration or withdrawal of the industry is necessary; 2) industry ecology factors can effectively explain changes in the number of individual companies involved in the Leather industry in the EPZ of Taiwan; 3) the relationship between industry ecology factors and changes in the number of individuals in the Leather industry of the EPZ of Taiwan display an inverted U-shape, and 4) the influence of industry ecology factors on the number of individuals can be illustrated with a curve of tolerance for industry ecology factors. Finally, implications and suggestions for future research directions are suggested.
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The Impact of Web Site Image and Consumer Personality on Consumer Behaviour
Wen-Jung Chen, Chuan Lee |
484 |
The Impact of Web Site Image and Consumer Personality on Consumer Behaviour
Wen-Jung Chen
Ming Chuan University, Taiwan
Chuan Lee
Ming Chuan University, Taiwan
Following the phenomenon of the “Internet Bubble,” the industry’s planning and execution of marketing strategies have begun to show defects. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effect of website image on consumers’ behavior. In addition, the effects of consumers’ personality and demographics on the website image and consumers’ behaviors is examined. Through surveys, the current study found that web site image has a significant effect on the purchasing behavior and purchasing intention of consumers. This study hopes to draft an effective Internet marketing strategy by adopting a strategic viewpoint and the viewpoint of the consumer, and additionally by examining the impact of web site image and consumer personality on the personal preferences of the consumer.
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The Effect of the SARS Illness on Tourism in Taiwan: An Empirical Study
Jennifer C. H. Min |
497 |
The Effect of the SARS Illness on Tourism in Taiwan: An Empirical Study
Jennifer C. H. Min
Hsing Wu College, Taiwan
The SARS outbreak caused the most catastrophic disaster in the past hundred years in Taiwan, with the greatest effects being felt instantly by the international tourism industry. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the mysterious illness in Taiwan. This research establishes a model for Taiwan’s inbound demand to predict the volume of visitor arrivals during and following the outbreak (March 2003 to November 2003). The forecasts are based on the seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model, which are then compared with the actual volume of visitor arrivals to analyze the impact. The empirical results indicate that Taiwan’s visitor arrivals were severely reduced by the SARS outbreak, and that the island’s inbound arrivals have not yet fully recovered after Taiwan’s withdrawal from the SARS travel advisory list by the WHO.
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