International Journal of Management and Business Research
Volume:1 Issue: 3, 2011

This paper describes the development of a fuzzy decision support system (FDSS) for the assessment of risk in E-commerce (EC) development. A Web-based prototype FDSS is suggested to assist EC project managers in identifying potential EC risk factors and the corresponding project risks. A risk analysis model for EC development using a fuzzy set approach is proposed and incorporated into the FDSS. For running the fuzzy set approach, the researchers use MATLAB software. The research methodology includes these stages: At first, identifying the factors effect on the development of the E-commerce with the help of experts; secondly, defining the suitable membership function for each factor. There are three layers in the fuzzy system that every layer''s output is input for next layer. Then, the system calculates the final risk through SUGENO inference engine for E-commerce. Indeed the suggested architecture for the model with the help of experts is presented in this paper.

Middle East countries have begun to implement economic reforms to stimulate private investment, promote economic growth and support the transition to market economy. Although, it is difficult to define the direct impact of the accounting system reform on economic transformation, as there are many other conditions that have influence on the transition process. However, with the central position of financial reporting and control in the economic system based on market economy, it is reasonable to assume that countries that are more effective in reforming the accounting system would move faster toward economic transformation. This paper examines the value relevance of accounting information in Saudi Arabia for the period 1993-2008, before and after revising national accounting standards, which could express effects of reform in national accounting standards by The Saudi Organization for Certified Public Accountants (SOCPA). The results obtained from a combination of regression and portfolio approaches, show accounting information in Saudi Arabia stock exchange is value relevant. A comparison of the results for the periods before and after reform, based on both regression and portfolio approaches, shows an improvement in value relevance of accounting information after the reform in accounting standards. It could be interpreted to mean that reform of the national accounting standards improve relevancy of accounting numbers in the Saudi Arabia stock exchange.

Entrepreneurs in many small firms could not be experts in only one specific functional area but are required to operate across the range of management competencies; the applicability of competence-based MTD (management training and development) to the broader roles of entrepreneurs in small businesses is likely to be greater than to the roles of many entrepreneurs in large organizations. Competence based analyses of managerial work is causally related to effective and/or superior job performance. Different strategies, techniques, styles of leadership have been evolved to manage people effectively. However, success can be achieved through the use of particular style. Entrepreneurial Managerial behaviour of all employees’ categories in an organisation is an essential component of success in the present day competitive environment. Leaders of the organisation have to understand the logic behind this ideology and accordingly nurture Entrepreneurial Managerial behaviour among their employees. This research finds out that there is a perfect positive relationship between Transformational leadership and Entrepreneurial Managerial Behaviour.

The appropriate-use optimization of the limited spaces of the Iranian hospitals is believed to be a crucial step towards promoting the efficiency of these healthcare centers. The issue determining the optimization patterns of the layout of units has led to a lot of efforts by researchers as it increases the efficiency of the hospitals through patients’ improvement, changing the location of individuals, patients and facilities. It is right to say that the issue of productivity is neglected in Iranian hospitals concurrently as the question of hospitals layout is not properly addressed. The present study is an applied research. The method of carrying out this research is based on three basic steps: In the first step, the initial layout of various wards in the subject hospital is determined after the hospital layout was received and numbered for the sake of facility. In the next step an A.R.C curve was drawn for all wards of the hospital. Then, the efficiency of the initial settlement was calculated using a diamond algorithm. On the basis of specified relationships and also the hospital current process curve, the new layout plan was presented and the efficiency was recalculated. The presented layout has the capability to be utilized in a hospital unit and can encounter various conditions in the present healthcare centers. After the application of the layout improvements the efficiency of the hospital increased up to 45%. The presented layout pattern in the hospitals to increase efficiency is practically feasible and a real world experience is recommended.

Due to the tough on-going competition between producers of commodities and services, the prices of products are continuously going down nowadays. To avoid bankruptcy in such circumstances, organizations have focused on the application of technological innovations that enable them to respond to the needs of their clients. It is to this end that they attempt to gain the market and increase their sales to satisfy their clients and ultimately, depending upon the innovation, competitiveness and technological advancement, make fortune. Therefore, utilizing economic models, where innovation plays a pivotal role in growth and development has drawn the attention of many policy makers and managers. One of the most important economic models is entrepreneurship model based on Schumpeter's theory which states that entrepreneur and enterprises are the engine to drive and generate economy; the establishment of new entrepreneurship enterprises based on innovation and creative destruction to provide value added is a central issue accordingly. The basis for establishing new entrepreneurship enterprises is discussed form five angles in Schumpeter's theory. This includes innovation in offering new product, the production processes, making changes in raw materials and cutting prices, seeking new markets and developing the organization. However this theory has not any methodology to determine of types of the best innovation to create the most value added; this paper intends to develop Schumpeter's theory through presenting an entrepreneurship model. The results shows that enterprises can attain the best type of innovation and make the most value added in their entrepreneurship projects, if they scrutinize their contingency conditions and fit them into the selected model. Last but not least, this model is suggested to active enterprises as internal entrepreneurs.

This study examined the relationship of the personality factors (Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism) with each of the three workaholism components i.e. working compulsively, working excessively and combined workaholics. As the study is of exploratory in nature, a sample of 145 academicians was drawn from the two universities of Jammu region (India), namely, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, Katra (India) and the University of Jammu, Jammu (India). The internal consistencies of each dimension of Dutch Work Addiction Scale (DUWAS) ranged from 0.883 to 0.837 and Cronbach’s α reliability coefficient value of scale- measuring Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism and Openness to experience- ranged from 0.75 to 0.83, which is within the specified limit. Three dependent variables, namely, combined workaholics, working compulsively workaholics and working excessively workaholics were regressed with age, monthly salary, family type, family size, marital status; whereas extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience vary individually. The study has identified neuroticism and conscientiousness as the significant personality traits causing the negative impact on all the three dimensions of workaholics. Whereas, salary is negatively correlated and has a significant impact on the two dimensions of workaholism, namely, combined workaholics and working compulsively workaholics. However, the designation is significant variable and is positively affecting the working compulsively workaholics.

This study aimed at finding out if banks and insurance companies in Nigeria use CRM as a marketing strategy as well as whether these organizations have employed the same variables to achieve Customer Relationship Management. Relevant literature was reviewed and a model consisting of seventeen variables was conceptualized and tested by means of empirical data collected through a questionnaire survey of four hundred and ninety nine respondents. The research instruments were validated and a pilot study was carried out to test the reliability of the measures. Statistical tools including percentages and Mann- Whitney U test were used. Findings showed that these institutions use CRM as a marketing strategy and also that the variables employed by these organizations to achieve Customer Relationship Management differ. It is important to point out the originality of this study because it facilitates the development of a new conceptual model which will help future research. To the researchers’ knowledge, this is the first study to compare the CRM strategies used in the two major financial institutions in Nigeria.