The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of cognitive style as a moderator, on the factors that affect academic staffs’ adoption and usage of online knowledge sharing technology in the context of research universities in Malaysia. To do so, the study integrated technology acceptance model, hedonic consumption model and cognitive style theory as the theoretical model in understanding the acceptance and usage of online knowledge sharing technology. The study was empirically evaluated using quantitative data from a sample of 321 academics from five research universities. Relevant information were collected through online survey submitted to all the chosen academics from the five research universities. In this study, cognitive style was used to explain its moderation effect on academics usage of online knowledge sharing technology. The result indicates that cognitive style failed to influence the relationship between perceived usefulness, perceive ease of use and usage of online knowledge sharing technology. However, the findings of the study showed that cognitive style is a moderator for the relationship between arousal and usage of online knowledge sharing technology. The finding of the study contribute both to the academic research, by making available to scholars on the empirical evidence on the moderating effect of cognitive style on factors that influence the usage of online knowledge sharing technology. To practice some guidelines to management team of research universities in particular and in general all universities on how to encourage academics to engage in using knowledge sharing technologies. Key Words: Usage of Knowledge Sharing Technology, Knowledge Sharing, Cognitive Style, Tam, and Research Universities.
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An Experimental Study of Saudi Entrepreneurs who owned Small and Medium Enterprises in Saudi Arabia MUSRRAT PARVEEN, KHALID MAIMANI and SAIMA JAVAID Pages: 257-273
The aim of this research project is to focus on the Saudi entrepreneurships skills in relation to managerial skills, risk management and investment behavior who owned small and medium enterprises. Also we have highlighted the barriers faced by women entrepreneurs in comparison with the developed and developing economies. A qualitative approach – using in depth personal interviews via telephone (10); a random sample of 700 questionnaires were distributed via emails; and through online survey, using the details provides by Jeddah Commerce and Industry. And 484 completed sets were used for the analysis. Also we have collected online survey from women entrepreneurs consisting of a sample size of 272 in relation with the barriers faced by them. Firstly, an exploratory factor analysis is performed to recognize the broad factors affecting the managerial skills, risk perception and investment behaviour in Saudi SMEs. Secondly, Multiple Regression analysis is carried out using factors extracted from factor analysis. And finally, ranking method is applied to determine the specific barriers in the Saudi Arabian region. All the three independent variables under consideration i.e. managerial skills, risk management, and investment behavior show positive significant relationship at 5% significant level with entrepreneurship skills of the SMEs. Hence, the results of our study suggest that Saudi entrepreneurship skills play a very important role in uplifting the managerial, risk management and their investment behavior enhancing the SME‟s for contributing towards the business growth. The findings of the study implied that the Saudi entrepreneurs in small and medium enterprises are majorly risk averse and also do not have diversified portfolios. Key Words: Entrepreneurship skills, Managerial skills, Risk management, Investment Behavior, Barriers to SME‟s, Factor analysis and Multiple Regression.
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Transfer of Training & the Challenges: NADRA A Case Study MAHWISH KHALID, AFSHAN HANIF and UME LAILA Pages: 274-288
In the new paradigm of business studies, there is a growing realization to invest in people as it is the utmost requirement for the progress and success of the organizations. Hence, the focus of the organizations is not only on continuous enhancement of the KSA’s (Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes) of the employees via training, but also on effective transfer of learning. This research paper explains the concept of transfer of training and the factors that impact transfer at NADRA. It is a case study which analyzes in detail the factors that facilitate and hinder transfer of training at NADRA. Results indicate that transfer of training is not a new term for the employees of NADRA but for effective transfer of training, the organization has a long way to go. Although there are many factors which challenge the implementation of learning, yet few facilitating factors also exist .Each factor either a facilitator or barrier is directly affecting the motivation to learn and transfer which ultimately affects the effective transfer of training. Currently the focus is to provide basic trainings to the employees but the future focus is to evaluate how much benefit an individual employee gets from a particular training and how this input adds value to his/her work. Hence, in future, NADRA needs to work on effective implementation of the learned knowledge, skills and attitudes. Key Words: Transfer of Training, Class Privileges, Conversational Analysis, Facilitating and Inhibiting Factors of T of T, Membership Categorization Analysis.
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Does User Orientation Matter? The Development of Social Networking Sites Implementation Matrix User Perspectives MIN-DER HSIEH Pages: 289-308
This study goes one step further to clarify the relationships of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) to satisfaction and royalty. The study findings recognize a total of five Critical Success Factors (CSF) of Social Networking Sites (SNSs) for enterprises implementing Social Networking Sites (SNSs). They are satisfaction of customer requirements, identification of customer differentiation, quality interface design, establishment of customer recognition and provision of customized services. Among these factors, satisfaction of customer requirements and identification of customer differentiation are significantly related to user satisfaction and royalty. Quality interface design and establishment of customer recognition have significant relationships with satisfaction; and provision of customized services and royalty are significantly related. Finally, this study also develops a Social Networking Sites (SNSs) Implementation Matrix on the basis of different levels (high/low) of satisfaction and royalty. Focusing on high satisfaction and royalty, the success rate can be increased by the establishment of customer recognition; at low level of satisfaction and high level of royalty, satisfaction of customer requirements can promote a higher success rate; at low satisfaction and royalty, the establishment of customer recognition and provision of customized services can promote a higher success rate; and within the quadrant of high satisfaction and low royalty, a higher success rate can be enhanced by utilizing identification of customer differentiation and quality interface design. Key Words: Social Networking Sites (SNSs); User Perspectives; Satisfaction; Royalty; Social Networking Sites (SNSs) Implementation Matrix.
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A Comparative Study of Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction in Zambian Banks CHANDA SICHINSAMBWE, KANGWA CHISHIMBA and SHEM SIKOMBE Pages: 309-319
The proliferation of players in the Banking sector in Zambia has resulted in a number of innovations by banks in order to improve service quality delivery. This has provided customers with an opportunity to compare and choose a bank that ultimately provide services that satisfy them. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between service quality and the resultant customer satisfaction for both foreign and local banks in Zambia. The paper utilised a quantitative survey design and the five dimensions of service quality tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, empathy and assurance were considered as variables for this study. There are 19 banks in Zambia but only 13 that are operational in Kitwe formed a sampling frame. A structured questionnaire with a 7-point Likert scale was used to collect the data and 120 questionnaires were administered to 6 banks with only 108 returned for analysis. Result of the study shows that the mean expectations of the five dimensions of service quality are higher than the mean perception thereby indicating that in general customers of both local and foreign banks are not satisfied with the service being offered by the banks. A t-test on all the five dimensions of quality shows that there is a significant difference on four of the dimensions namely tangibility, reliability, responsiveness and assurance. Tangibility dimension shows that clients appreciate the overall outlook of foreign banks which are visually more appealing than for local banks. On assurance customers are impressed with the knowledge and courtesy of the foreign bank’s employees and their ability to convey trust and confidence when transacting, while responsiveness shows that foreign banks were more willing to provide prompt service than local banks and finally on reliability, customers of foreign banks are happier with the banks' ability to perform the promised service dependably than local banks. A test on empathy does not show any statistical difference between the two types of banks. These revelations are vital in pinpointing where both local and foreign banks need to improve service quality delivery amidst increasing competition in the sector. Key Words: Service Quality, Customer Satisfaction, Foreign and Local Banks, Zambia.
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Web-Based For Successful E-Government Adoption: The Jordan National E-Government Portal MOHAMMAD ISSA AL-ZOUBI and FARAH HANNA AL-ZAWAIDEH Pages: 320-330
This study investigates e-government adoption among businesses in Jordan. Specifically, the objective of the study is to identify the factors that drive e-government adoption among businesses in Jordan. For this purpose, an integrated theoretical framework for assessing e-government adoption, beyond initial adoption was developed. The responses of 113 firms were used to determine the relationships between Successful factors and adoption of the Jordan national e-government Portal. The result found the existence of significant relationship between the website design, website quality factors and the businesses e-government adoption. It is further found that higher explicitness and accumulation of technology can help the transfer of technological knowledge within the organization and can raise the capability to adopt innovative technologies. Key Words: E-Government, Website Design, Website Quality, Jordan, Business.
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The Effect of Religiosity, Service Quality, and Trust on Customer Loyalty in Islamic Banking in Bogor Indonesia SOEGENG WAHYOEDI Pages: 331-340
The role of Islamic banking in the national economy becomes more strategic as the government is facing fiscal limitation in funding the development. The growth of Islamic banking, a bank managed by implementing the principles of Islamic law, has not been satisfactory. This can be examined by referring to the role of Islamic banking in national banking which is still in the rate of less than 5 percent. This research aims to observe the influences of religiosity and service quality on trust and customer loyalty, as well as to observe the influence of trust on customer loyalty of Islamic Bank in Bogor. By collecting 76 samples of Islamic bank customers in Bogor and utilizing structural equation modeling partial least square (SEM-PLS) as the technique of analysis, it is revealed that the aspects of religiosity and service quality are influential on loyalty if it is supported by trust. Meanwhile, the trust itself has a positive influence on loyalty. The finding implies that to increase the loyalty of Islamic bank customers, customer trust should be built. Key Words: Islamic Banking, Loyalty, Service Qualty, Religiosity, Trust.
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Microfinance Beats the Beggary, Boosts Macro-Economy MONIR AHMED, SARAH WALI QAZI, ASIF IQBAL KHAN and SHUMAILA KASHIF Pages: 341-351
Microfinance is a socialist approach in capitalist format developed by Dr. Yunus who attempted to amalgamate two opposite ideological orders. It is unnatural. Ultimately the capitalist money that is inducted in the system becomes the stumbling block to eradication of poverty. Dr. Yunus finally discovered the menace as micro-sharks. This element invests their money on commercial lines whereas microfinance needs such a fund that allows the downtrodden to make its easy use. So, hefty amount of fund should come through donations, not through loans. It is not a small thing that $ 190m donation directly goes to the begging bowls daily in Pakistan. Research results indicate that people particularly in Pakistan donate with open hearth every year and it is time to make it institutionalized. Induction of this fund in the system ultimately will make microfinance system pressure-free. Further the beggar segment which is still kept outside the orbit of microfinance system should be brought in so that they can also contribute to mainstream economic system. After all this section is also part of the stakeholders. Surely this section of insignificant people will not ask for alms once they get touch of new life and the middlemen who exploit them on religious bigotry will vanish. This way the microfinance will absorb major shock pertaining to feeding the unfed. This will allow the macro-economy to work with freehand to ensure overall development of the country. Key Words: Microfinance, CSR, Beggary.
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The Effects of Rewards on Employees Performance in Banks: A Study of Three Districts (Lodhran, Vehari, Khanewal) Commercial Banks in Pakistan. ISHTIAQ AHMED and SADIA SHABBIR Pages: 352-361
This study explores the relationship between rewards system and employee performance of private banks in Pakistan. In addition, it also identifies the impact of rewards system on employee performance. The challenges for banking firms in current scenario are to retaining its employees. This study will help the bank managers to an implementation of rewards system. A sample of 92 respondents in three districts (Lodhran, Vehari, Khanewal) of south Punjab, Pakistan was taken from HBL, ABL, MCB, UBL and BOP banks. A structure Likert Scale format questionnaire has been used for data collection. Questionnaires consist of two parts; the first part of questionnaires comprises demographic respondent data while second part comprises three variables questions. In order to analyze the data, regression analysis has been used. The result of this study reveals that there is the presence of a relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic rewards on employee performance and has a significant effect of intrinsic and extrinsic rewards difference on employee performance of the banking sector in Pakistan. Key Words: Intrinsic, Extrinsic, Bank, Incentives and Benefits, Employee Performance, Pakistan.
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The Effects of Young Consumers Love for Smart Mobıle Phone Brands on Brand Loyalty MURAT AKIN Pages: 362-370
The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of brand love of young consumers towards smart phones on brand loyalty. The conceptual framework and hypotheses are analyzed by a sample of 500 young smartphones users. In the study, the brand love scale developed by Albert and Valette - Florence (2009) and the one-dimensional scale by Oliver (1999) in brand loyalty are utilized. According to the findings of the study, brand love consists of two main dimensions such as passion and love. Regarding the results of the research, it is seen that especially the passion dimension which constitutes brand love has a higher explanatory power over loyalty than the love dimension does. It is expected that consumers’ brand loyalty would increase if managers attach more importance to the strategies which strengthen brand love for the target consumers. Key Words: Love Concept, Brand Love, Brand Loyalty.