Vol. 2 No. 3 (2017)
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Economics
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Financial Performance Measurement with the Use of Financial Ratios: Case of Mongolian Companies
20-32Views:292The aim of this paper is to examine the efficiency of Mongolian 100 public companies listed on Mongolian Stock Exchange (MSE) which are divided into 6 major sectors. This study conducts the performance of companies in terms of profitability by using three different output variables i.e., revenue, pretax profit and ROA (Return on Assets). In the beginning of this research, nine variables which are connected with profitability are chosen as output variables, while 24 variables expressing growth, financial structure, solvency, and turnover together with some fundamental financial data are chosen as input variables. 10 variables out of 24 input variables, which determine the financial structure, solvency, and profitability, are chosen as input variables based on the calculation of stepwise regression analysis. Stepwise regression, multi co-linearity analysis are made by SPSS and DEA (Data envelopment analysis) is evaluated by benchmarking package in R excel statistical program covering the period of 2012-2015. This paper uses the input-oriented version of DEA based on financial ratios and some crucial components of a financial statement. The results of DEA show that food and grocery sector was the most efficient, and mining sector was at the second place by its efficiency, while agriculture and service sector were the worse than other sectors.
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Applying New Innovative Market Research Methods in the Innovation Process of New Products
56-69Views:212The innovation environment has changed a lot in the recent years, companies and their enterprises concentrating on product- and process innovation have undergone a lot of changes. According to GUPTA et al. (1986) product innovation is a multidisciplinary process. Although, all functional interfaces are important in the product development process, the research and development – marketing interface is one of the most difficult one. In the last two decades the incredibly fast penetration of the internet has more and more effects on the consumer attitudes. It encourages market researchers to apply such methods by which they could get as close as to the consumers to know their attitudes without taking them out of their natural habitat. In this study our aim is to concentrate on the first phase of the product innovation, which is the exploration of insights and attitudes. In this phase we can use the classical, conventional market research techniques if we want to get primary data, such as focus group interviews, questionnaires, in-depth interviews, but there are new methods as well. One of such novel methods is netnography. The biggest advantage of this research method is that the researcher can observe the consumer groups’ state of mind and decision-making mechanisms through publicly available communication sources in their natural environment. In this study it will be analysed how the directions of netnographic researches have changed by the dynamic changes of the internet. Besides, online participants’ attitudes towards healthconscious nutrition are analysed in practice. As a result of this study, special groups could be identified, which can provide a new perspective for the companies operating in this field beside the classical segmentation techniques. These groups can be the ones which draw up latent market requirements, and thus, helping the companies’ innovation processes.
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Transaction Costs: A Conceptual Framework
131-139Views:883Transaction Costs (TC) is a very important topic, especially in a changing work environment which has a large number of operational firms, and increasing business growth. The aim of this paper is to shed light on the transaction costs concept, and provide a conceptual framework to understand the meaning of transaction costs. Publications including articles and research papers have explained the notion of transaction costs and the theoretical issues related to them. The literature review reveals that, transaction costs are costs which arise because of the of a company‘s activities in the market , including (fees, commission, taxes) which are paid by the firm to provide a service or produce a good either to external parties or as internal costs. Therefore, according to the literature review. It emerges that firms must make a comparison between internal and external transaction costs and choose the lowest cost which enables them to increase profits. This means companies have to reduce transaction costs to the minimum level to achieve more profits and competitive advantage.
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Environmental Engineering
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The Impact of Gas Flaring On Man and His Environment and the Way Out
82-90Views:149The nature of flaring processes has created a severe impact on man and the environment. Massive environmental degradation as a result of flaring activities has led to fluctuations in climate as well as depletion of the vegetation cover through acid rain. Findings have been made on some harmful gases released into the atmosphere that have effects on the environment and also on man. In order to control these effects by ensuring a clean atmosphere and environment, a new flaring model (DanMat flaring model) has been suggested. The model uses smoldering mechanism to reduce the amount of heat released into the atmosphere during conventional flaring by 60%. It also uses scavengers to oxidize harmful gas produced during flaring activities into less harmful ones. With this model one can flare gas without polluting the environment since it reduces the emissions of harmful gases during flaring.
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Management Sciences
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Corporate Social Responsibility Scenario in Jordan: Transformation Context
1-10Views:272Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is not an alien concept in Jordan; although it has been seen so far as a philanthropic activity in keeping with Jordanian traditions. Jordan is an old state, politically stable and it is now in transformation from the point of CSR view, since more and more Jordanian stakeholders are becoming aware of the CSR concept and some firms in Jordan are working their way towards strategizing CR efforts. However, business still not fully grasps CSR practices and still considers CSR as part of philanthropy framework rather than lifting it to an upper level and taking it as a strategic approach to sustainability. Unfortunately, CSR in Jordan faces impeding obstacles: economic challenges, lack of government’s incentives, skill-set, weak transparency and disclosure, and finally management and governance. This study attempts to present the picture of the transformation of CSR in Jordan and discuss its main steps of evolution, moreover, it aims to analyze the challenges and future prospects of CSR on a national level. Regarding the applied research method, the paper’s data sources are of secondary research and I have used desk research to illustrate most important points and findings on the topic.
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Challenges and Benefits of Working in Teams – Interpersonal Interactions in Health Care
11-19Views:251Teamwork has become the accepted way of doing one’s job. This is so true even profession’s that were considered an exception are shifting towards teamwork. Apart from the well-known benefits, there seems to be a downside of the enforcement of this work strategy. Conflicts, frictions, frustration in working groups can affect the dignity, psychological or physical integrity of team members, generally referred to as psychological harassment, workplace bullying or mobbing. The outcomes of the phenomenon are various negative organizational responses. Health care is somewhat lagging behind in this shift towards working in teams, but with increasing specialization greater coordination is needed between health care professionals. Above all, the patient wishes to be more involved in the health care process. Research suggests that patient involvement and working in teams have a positive impact on effectiveness and patient mortality, respectively. One of the challenges for health care is to include the patient in the teamwork process as an equal member of the group and at the same time overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, in a setting where a traditional, paternalistic approach is still present and the vulnerability of the patient (and his/her dignity) is evident.
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The Role of Logistics Management in Public Services – Research Plan
33-43Views:229Public services and logistics are generally treated as different fields, but the tools of logistics management with the help of the Unified Services Theory can be used for the benefit of the public services. The aim of this theoretical paper is to generally introduce my topic and relevance of the research on which my PhD thesis will be based in the future. The expectations in the advanced, globalized world are pushing governments to find new methods to fulfil the needs of the citizens while keeping up or even increase efficiency and effectiveness. I believe that from a certain viewpoint the public administration system can be considered as a large scale supply network, and I am particularly interested in how we could apply logistical methods in public services to increase efficiency and effectiveness while simultaneously increase customer satisfaction. In this particular paper I would like to present how I see the connections between the concept of New Public management and the Unified Services Theory. I would like to show the similarities between them and how they could complete each other in order to serve as a background for later logistics related approaches and researches within the domain of public services.
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Classification of Economic Activities in Colombia According to Workplace Accident and Disease Rates Using a Data Clustering Algorithm
44-55Views:107In 2002 the Colombian Government issued a classification of economic activities according to their level of occupational risk, taking into account the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC). Since 2008, the federation of Colombian insurance companies (FASECOLDA) has gathered data related to workplace accident and occupational disease rates reported by companies with employees affiliated to the legal labour system. In this study, economic activities have been categorized according to the average rates of workplace accident and occupational disease presented between 2008 and 2016, using some techniques of the Data Clustering Algorithm. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the current classification system, and propose recommendations for a new approach, taking into account the analysis of historic data available.
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CSR Reporting Practices of Hungarian Banks
70-81Views:135The disclosure of information on the exercise of corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the tool most frequently used by companies to promote understanding of the social and environmental performance of an organisation and to improve relationships with stakeholders. For most of the world’s largest companies, reporting on non-financial information appears to be a continuing trend, so it is essential to present the new corporate reporting trends of the 21st century. The disclosure of socially responsible information will be analysed, with a focus on the application of the Global Reporting Initiative guidelines related to CSR. Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the best-known framework for voluntary reporting of environmental and social performance by business worldwide. The main objective of the paper is to explore the corporate voluntary disclosure practices of the listed and non-listed banks in Hungary. The extent of voluntary disclosure has significantly improved for decades worldwide, but the situation is not that obvious regarding the Hungarian financial sector. This paper aims to describe the status of disclosure practices of corporate sustainability in the annual reports, sustainability reports or CSR reports of the banking industry in Hungary. Also, increased corporate visibility and financial risk increase stakeholder demand for transparency on the social impact of financial institutions and their CSR practices. Finally, the analysis and subsequent comparison of available CSR reports of banks will be presented.
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Some Sources of Misunderstandings in Intercultural Business Communication
91-101Views:1137It is always a big challenge for all types of companies anywhere in the world to survive in the globalised and accelerated world. Their primary objective is to stay competitive, keep or even enlarge their market share while keeping their costs at a minimum level. These corporations often cross borders and operate on a multinational level. In order to do that successfully they need flexible workforce: people who have a high level of intercultural competencies and can help their corporations to achieve their aim of profit maximising. It is widely accepted that culture and languages are among the most significant impacts on intercultural communication. In this paper first I am going to interpret intercultural communication and the role of culture and then look at different intercultural skills and the role of languages in intercultural communication. Some areas that might cause problems in intercultural business communication will also be described.
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Generational Transfer Among Family Businesses on the Fields of Reputation and Organizational Culture – Research Plan
102-108Views:115Aim: The aim of this paper is to generally introduce the topic, themes and relevance of the research on which my PhD thesis will be based. The research will focus on change of generations among Hungarian family businesses and deals with changes of leadership, organizational culture and core values, related to the management/owner succession. The research needs to apply knowledge from four disciplines ‒ PR, organizational culture, economic (family businesses) and leadership ‒ so it is multidisciplinary in nature. Following a current step of the research-process will be presented.
Methodology: The Family Business Barometer results were applied for gaining information about the plans related to the future, generations, and so on of European Family Businesses. Then three Hungarian family businesses were interviewed in the frame of a panel-discussion organized by the Commercial and Industry Chamber in Győr-MosonSopron County. These three family businesses were the Borsodi Műhely, the Biotextima and the Leier.
Findings: All in all between 2013 and 2016 most of the family businesses seemed to be confident about the future. In this aspect just a few family businesses were neutral in this time period. Unfortunately, there were family businesses who had a negative attitude for the future. The deliberate and detailed planning of the handover, the selection of a determined date for handover, the determination of the older generation to really do not interfere in affairs, the cohesive role of the family, family activities, the support from the family could lead to the effective change of generations.
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Business Process Development with the Application of Simulation Technique
109-118Views:139The object of our work to increase production efficiency with the use of cost-efficient development tools at a Hungarian small enterprise. We apply data gathering techniques besides process modelling and diagnostic methods to reduce the total process time of the assembly process so as to induce cost reduction in the production. In this respect we investigate and rank root causes of wastes by cost-effective process development tools, like timebased FMEA (failure mode and effects analysis) as well as the 5 whys method. With the use of Monte-Carlo simulation companies can evaluate the change in the process, therefore, they can decide whether they want to carry out corrective measures or not. The accomplished changes can generate increasing competitive edge in the long run.
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Role of Lean and Agile Supply Chain Models for Pellet Fuel Technologies
119-130Views:150Business organisations constantly strive to improve their processes, both internal and external. Within the supply chain of a product, different strategies can be applied. This paper aims to answer the basic questions like what is the core of lean and agile SCM strategies, what are the differences of the two models, and how can they be combined. This paper examines further, which of these SCM models and what elements of them can be applied for wood pellet supply chains, also examining the possibility of their combination. The result of these examinations is, that even though fuel pellets can be considered as simple commodity and not a very innovative product, diversity in input characteristics, optimization of fuel pellet technology process variables and changes in output market qualities and quantities need sometimes agile, flexible answer from pellet fuel SCM. The basically lean character of pellet fuel technologies and SCM can further enhanced by implementing agile SCM model elements, as is the increased integration of suppliers into the supply chain.
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Exploring the Role of Emotions and Moods in Decision Making: Study on the Use of Structured Decision Approach and Intuition
140-149Views:362Emotions and moods can play a significant role in the decision making. The present paper contest this point by providing evidence on the two important approaches used in decision making that is structured decision approach and intuition. For this purpose data was gathered from 150 respondents in two different groups. Chi square test, independent sample t-test and logistic regression analysis were used to test the hypothesis. The results of the study reveal that individuals with positive and negative mood state vary significantly in their use of structured decision approach and intuition. The individuals with negative mood state are more likely to use all steps of structured decision approach as compared to the individuals in the positive mood state. The results of the study further reveal that the individual’s emotional state significantly predicted the use of structured approach and intuition in decision making.
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