Assessing the Level of Individual Well-Being among Engineers: Career Goal Development as a Predictor
B. Rahimand Siti-Rohaida. M. Z
ABSTRACT
Engineers are fast-track individuals who have special knowledge and expertise. They have great expectations and ambitions for their career (Malan, 2004). Engineers are also known to be energetic in climbing their career ladder and strive for their psychological success. However, the conflict between having their own goals and expectation with advancement opportunities, work autonomy and work demand structured by the organization have influenced the well-being of the engineers. As a result, Malaysian statistics of Human Resource Department indicated that the performance of engineers has shown a drop . This scenario would become worse if less attention is given to research on the engineer’s individual well-being. Thus, it is a timely to conduct study in accessing the level of individual well-being among Malaysian engineers, with career goal development as the predictor. A total of 387 registered professional engineers participated in this study. The hypotheses were investigated through a correlation and path analysis using PLS. The results provide useful information on the positive influence of protean career orientation on psychological well-being. The results further had shown a positive influence of career goal development on individual well-being. The implications of these findings for understanding the process through of career attitude that affects individuals’ individual well-being are discussed.
Keywords: career goal development, career satisfaction, psychological well-being, engineer.
Evaluating the Export Guarantee Fund Service Quality of Iran and Its Impacts on Attracting the Exporters
Firouze Hajialiakbari and MozhganRafiei Zanjani
ABSTRACT
In view of management and organization discussions, Guarantee Fund is service organizations which are generally in charge of servicing different classes of people in the society. Providing the ultimate goal of society is offering high quality services, it is obvious that all organizational components such as management, staff, process, financial and monetary sources, equipment and building are effective in achieving this goal. Quality will be defined publicly and generally and achieving, maintaining and promoting it won’t be the responsibility of a particular part of Fund, rather the staff of all parts of organization are responsible for it. Quality is a compass specifying the macro-directions of all organizational activities and attempts. The quality of a Fund represents the whole picture of the performance of that Fund. The reduction of the quality shows a deficit in performance and its improvement and enhancement shows right decision making and performance. The current study evaluates the quality of service of export Guarantee fund of Iran and its impact on attracting exporter’s by using SERVQUAL model. Assumptions discussed in the paper are the following: SERVQUAL dimensions (Reliability, Responsiveness, Tangibles, Assurance, Empathy) are impact on consumers attract. Guarantee Fund customers are elected as the population and according to Cochran formula for determining the volume of limited Data the sample size is 191, in the first 6 months half of the period 1392 to collect opinions of the people. Data collected using SERVQUAL questionnaires and structural equation modeling (SEM) in Lisrel software was used for data analysis. The results showed that all hypotheses are supported and Responsiveness and Reliability has the greatest and minimum impact on Attracting Customers.
Keywords: service quality, export guarantee funds of Iran, attracting customers.
Role of Demographic Variables in Predicting Turnover Intention among Registered Nurses in Nigerian Public Hospitals
Ramatu Abdulkareem Abubakar, Ajay Chauhan and Kabiru Maitama Kura
ABSTRACT
Prior research has indicated that employee turnover is detrimental to both individuals and organizations. Because a turnover intention in the workplace is detrimental, several factors have been suggested to better understand the reasons why employees may decide to leave their organizations. One of the significant predictors of employee turnover is related to the demographic characteristics. Some of the demographic characteristics have been studied to date include age, gender, education, experience and tenure, among others. Despite these empirical studies, literature indicates more studies are needed to further understand the role of demographic variables in predicting turnover intention. Hence, the present study fills in the gap by examining the role of age and gender in predicting turnover intention among 175 Registered Nurses in Nigerian public hospitals. Results indicated that male nurses were more likely to leave their organizations or the profession than their female colleagues. Furthermore, the results showed that younger nurses were more likely to leave their organizations or the profession than their older colleagues.
Keywords: employee turnover, turnover intention, demographic variables, public hospitals, Nigeria
Identifying Ambidexterity Components of University Entrepreneurship, Case Study: University of Tehran
Fatemeh Didevar, Jahangir Yadollahi and Fatemeh Kayeh
ABSTRACT
Ambidexterity in universities means examining existing skills and acquiring new job opportunities simultaneously. Goal of this project is to identify ambidexterity components affecting university entrepreneurship in Tehran University. Research method used for this project is qualitative and the statistic population consists of experts and specialists of the university in the field of Entrepreneurship. Results gaining from interviews showed that five dimensions of ambidexterity include 9 components and 27 indexes. Findings of interviews also showed that ambidexterity components which are effective on university entrepreneurship in case study of Tehran University are in good conditions to improve and develop. In the end we presented suggestions for policy makers, university administrators and whom conducting further researches about this subject in the future.
Keywords: ambidexterity, university entrepreneurship, Technical Faculty of Tehran University
Identifying Effects of Mixed Marketing in Solar Devices
Firouze Hajialiakbariand Sharareh Hezarkhani
ABSTRACT
The Sun is one of the main sources of renewable energy which can serve as a useful source of energy supply in most parts of the world. Using solar energy is not only necessary but also will be inevitable in future. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of marketing Mix on using solar devices. Hypothesis discussed in the paper is: Marketing mix (price, product, place and promotion) affects using solar devices by consumers. The population of this study includes sell customers of solar energy products in Tehran, Iran and according to Cochran formula for determining the volume of Unlimited Data the sample size is 384, in 2013 to collect opinions of the people. Data collected using questionnaires and structural equation modeling (SEM) in Lisrel software was used for data analysis. The obtained results identify four aspects of the marketing mix (price, product, promotion and place) and related indicators of measured dimensions. All the proposed hypotheses were confirmed and thus each of the four marketing mix elements (price, product, place and promotion) has a significant impact on the amount of solar devices used.
Keywords: marketing mix, solar energy, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
Examining Malaysian Hotel Employees Organizational Commitment: The Effect of Age, Education Level and Salary
Hashim Fadzil Ariffinand Norbani Che Ha
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to investigate the organizational commitment (OC) among Malaysian hotel employees. The aim is to identify the perception of employees concerning OC that they have perceived at their workplace and how gender, education level and range of salary affect them. The data have been collected through sets of questionnare answered by 624 respondents who are hotel employees in Malaysia. The dimensions of OC which are affective, continuance and normative have been analysed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The data then been analysed using t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) to find the significance differences between gender, level of education and salary scale with the three dimensions of OC. The result of this study reveals that there is no significant diffrences between three dimensions of OC and gender. Findings also show that there are significant differences between education level and three dimensions of OC. Similarly, the results also display significant differences between salary scale and affective and continuance commitment but not with normative comitment. Managerial implications, limitations and future research directions are also discussed.
Keywords: Organizational Commitment (OC), gender, education level, salary, Malaysian hotel employees, EFA, ANOVA, developing country.
A Review on Technology Transfer in Context of Multinational Corporations
Syed Ali Fazal and Sazali Abdul Wahab
ABSTRACT
Since the world has evolved as a Global Village, new technological innovation has become crucially important for sustaining market competition and gaining competitive edge irrespective of size and sector of any organization. Multinational Corporations mostly enjoying technologically advanced positions play vital role in disbursing technological knowledge throughout firms globally. This paper would enrich existing literature by observing different aspects related to technology transfer and outlining the relationship between multinational corporations and technology transfer that is, the role played by MNCs in relocating technological knowledge worldwide. This review would stimulate plots for prospective researchers to recognize and explain technology transfers by multinational corporations specially focusing on the parties and the process involved in intra inter-firm and intra-firm transfer of technology at the same time.
Keywords: multinational corporations, technology transfer, intra-firm
Predicting Direction of Stock Price Index Volatility Using Genetic Algorithms and Artificial Neural Network Models in Tehran Stock Exchange
Vahid Amin, S. Hasan Salehnezhad, Mehrdad Valipourand Saber Nasirlu
ABSTRACT
Using volatility of stock price index by investor caused prediction of stock price index to be considered as one of the most controversial topics in finance. This study have been conducted using two artificial neural network and hybrid models of genetic algorithm-neural network as a successful model to predict the volatility of stock price index in Tehran stock exchange. Inputs to both models are nine indicators of guidance relating to eleven periods of 6-month from 2005 to 2010. Hybrid model of ANN-GA and ANN model were able to predict the volatility of the stock price index for 11 periods, on average, 96.34% and 89.80% respectively and this study showed that genetic algorithm combination with other models create an effective model to predict artificial intelligence model optimization.
Keywords: Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Genetic Algorithm (GA), prediction, stock price index.
The Impact of Macroeconomic Volatility on the Indonesian Stock Market Volatility
Bakri Abdul Karim, Loke Phui Sea and Zulkefly Abdul Karim
ABSTRACT
This study examines the relationship between macroeconomic variables volatility (industrial production, exchange rate, inflation rate, and money supply) and stock market volatility in Indonesia. Monthly data from January 1986 to December 2013 are employed in this study. Using GARCH (1, 1) and Granger Causality test, the results show that the macroeconomic variables volatility has no impact toward the Indonesian stock market volatility. However, there is only a unidirectional causal relationship running from stock market volatility to exchange rate volatility. Therefore, policymakers should take into account stock market volatility in making any policy related to exchange rate.
JEL: G14, E20, C58
Keywords: Macroeconomic; stock market; volatility; GARCH; Granger Causality
Status Individu Muflis dalam Asnaf Al-Gharimin
Raziah Md Tahir dan Syarifah Md Yusof
ABSTRAK
Isu muflis dalam kalangan masyarakat Malaysia sering menjadi perbualan. Ia dikaitkan dengan ketidakupayaan seseorang untuk melangsaikan sesuatu hutang. Terdapat pelbagai faktor yang menjadi punca seseorang individu diisytiharkan muflis. Masalah muflis ini bukan sahaja menimbulkan kesan yang negatif kepada individu tersebut, malah ahli keluarga turut merasa bebannya. Persoalannya, adakah jalan penyelesaian bagi individu muflis untuk mengatasi masalah ini? Kertas kerja ini bertujuan meneliti empat isu utama. Pertama, meneliti isu hutang dari perspektif Islam. Kedua, meneliti isu muflis dari perspektif Islam. Ketiga, meneliti isu muflis di Malaysia. Keempat, meneliti tafsiran zakat asnaf al-gharimindi setiap negeri di Malaysia. Untuk ini analisis kandungan berdasarkan data sekunder dijadikan kaedah utama. Hasil analisis tersebut kemudiannya dijadikan panduan dalam menilai kelayakan muflis terhadap zakat asnaf al-gharimindi Malaysia.
Kata kunci: zakat, al-gharimin, muflis