Empirical Investigation (empirical + investigation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Business, Economics, Finance and Accounting


Selected Abstracts


SUPPLY MANAGEMENT, SUPPLY FLEXIBILITY AND PERFORMANCE OUTCOMES: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION OF MANUFACTURING FIRMS

JOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2010
YING LIAO
Increasingly, the global market environment is becoming more turbulent, complex and uncertain. Literature has explored the importance of supply management and its direct impact on performance. However, the nature of strategic supply management and its impact on supply flexibility needs further clarification in the context of the use of supplier resources and supplier network coordination. This research presents a model of supply management, supply flexibility and supply chain performance. In this study, we examine the relationships between supply management and supply flexibility, and extend the concept of supply flexibility in terms of supplier flexibility and supply network flexibility on relevant supply chain performance measures. Data for the study were collected from 201 manufacturing firms, and the measurement scales of supply flexibility were tested and validated using structural equation modeling. The results indicate strong, positive and direct relationships between supply management practices and supply flexibility, and between supply flexibility and supply chain performance. Concluding theoretical and managerial implications are discussed. [source]


ASSESSING EUROPEAN CENTRAL BANK'S CREDIBILITY DURING THE FIRST YEARS OF THE EUROSYSTEM: A BAYESIAN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION

THE MANCHESTER SCHOOL, Issue 5 2010
GIANNI AMISANO
In this paper we extend Svenssons (CEPR Discussion Paper 940, April 1994) ,simplest test' of inflation target credibility inside a Bayesian econometric framework and obtain various estimates of the European Central Bank's monetary policy credibility. Overall, our empirical evidence suggests that the strategy followed by the European Central Bank was successful in building a satisfactory degree of reputation. However, we find some significant credibility reversals concerning both anti-inflationary and anti-deflationary credibility. These reversals, in turn, are closely related to the evolution of the cyclical macroeconomic conditions in the euro area. [source]


Capability, Quality, and Performance of Offshore IS Vendors: A Theoretical Framework and Empirical Investigation

DECISION SCIENCES, Issue 2 2010
Prashant C. Palvia
ABSTRACT Information systems (IS) offshoring has become a widespread practice and a strategic sourcing choice for many firms. While much has been written by researchers about the factors that lead to successful offshoring arrangements from the client's viewpoint, the vendor's perspective has been largely scarce. The vendor perspective is equally important as offshore IS vendors need to make important decisions in terms of delivering operational and strategic performance and aligning their resources and processes in order to meet or exceed targeted outcomes. In this article, we propose and test a three-level capability,quality,performance (CQP) theoretical framework to understand vendor outcomes and their antecedents. The first level of the framework represents three vendor capabilities: relationship management, contract management, and information technology management. The second level has three mediating variables representing process quality: partnership, service, and deliverable quality. The third level has three dependent variables representing vendor outcomes: operational performance, strategic performance, and satisfaction. The model was tested with 188 vendor firms from India and China, the two most popular destinations for IS offshoring. Results support the CQP framework; vendor capabilities are significant predictors of intermediate quality measures, which in turn affect vendor outcomes. Implications of the study findings to both theory development and IS offshore vendor strategic decision making are discussed. [source]


The Determinants of Students' Perceived Learning Outcomes and Satisfaction in University Online Education: An Empirical Investigation,

DECISION SCIENCES JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE EDUCATION, Issue 2 2006
Sean B. Eom
ABSTRACT In this study, structural equation modeling is applied to examine the determinants of students' satisfaction and their perceived learning outcomes in the context of university online courses. Independent variables included in the study are course structure, instructor feedback, self-motivation, learning style, interaction, and instructor facilitation as potential determinants of online learning. A total of 397 valid unduplicated responses from students who have completed at least one online course at a university in the Midwest were used to examine the structural model. The results indicated that all of the antecedent variables significantly affect students' satisfaction. Of the six antecedent variables hypothesized to affect the perceived learning outcomes, only instructor feedback and learning style are significant. The structural model results also reveal that user satisfaction is a significant predictor of learning outcomes. The findings suggest online education can be a superior mode of instruction if it is targeted to learners with specific learning styles (visual and read/write learning styles) and with timely, meaningful instructor feedback of various types. [source]


Protection versus Promotion: An Empirical Investigation

ECONOMICS & POLITICS, Issue 2 2004
Devashish Mitra
Using Turkish industry-level data from 1983 to 1990, we find that politically organized industries receive both higher protection and promotion than unorganized ones. Tariff rates are decreasing (increasing) in the import-penetration ratio and the absolute value of the import-demandelasticity for organized (unorganized) industries. Subsidy rates are decreasing (increasing) in the output-supply elasticity for organized (unorganized) industries. The results are consistent with the predictions of the Grossman,Helpman model and its extension in this paper. The mix of protection and promotion is inversely related to the ratio of their respective marginal deadweight cost measures. [source]


An Empirical Investigation of Price Competition and Industry Specialisation in NHS Audit Services

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY & MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2005
Ilias G. Basioudis
The NHS audit market is regulated by the Audit Commission (AC) and has unique features. We develop a model for audit fees that includes rigorous analysis of the type of auditor. Poor financial standing does not give rise to higher audit fees. Despite regulation the study supports the existence of a Big Five price premium on the audit fee, but only one firm has a premium. We found no premium due to industry specialisation. The removal of performance audit from AC regulation will require improved audit fee reporting and control. [source]


Going Public: An Empirical Investigation of U.S. Bound Israeli IPOs

FINANCIAL MARKETS, INSTITUTIONS & INSTRUMENTS, Issue 3 2010
Iftekhar Hasan
Between 1985,2003, more than 120 Israeli companies went public in the U.S., bringing the accumulated number of U.S. bound, Israeli initial public offerings (IPOs) to a figure greater than all other foreign countries combined. In this study, we compare the short and long run performance of Israeli IPOs to that of similar international and U.S. IPOs. Holding all else equal, we find that Israeli IPOs are significantly less underpriced than their local and foreign counterparts. As we examine the characteristics of Israeli issuers, we find that they differ than those of other foreign and local issuers in some important dimensions that compensate investors for information asymmetry and risk. First, compared to their home market capitalization size, U.S. bound Israeli IPOs, are significantly larger than the IPOs conducted by their foreign counterparts. Second, Israeli issuers tend to perform better than other foreign and U.S. local IPOs during our entire period of observation. Third, to a large extent, the Israeli firms in our sample have products, licensing or franchising relationships or venture capital funds with strong roots in the U.S. prior to the IPO. And fourth, the relevant investor community of Israeli IPOs, at least at the early stages, is small and overwhelmingly American. Our findings are consistent with prior studies documenting that firms raising capital outside of their domicile country are typically a select group of high quality firms in need of external financing that cannot be sufficiently provided in their home market. [source]


European Integration and Manufactures Import Demand: An Empirical Investigation of Ten European Countries

GERMAN ECONOMIC REVIEW, Issue 3 2002
Ray Barrell
This paper studies import demand in ten European countries over the period 1970,95, and our objective is to investigate whether the process of European integration has affected imports. We provide evidence for parametric change in traditional import demand equations, suggesting that important variables or structural factors are missing from the long-run equations. We present equations based on new trade theory, where effects of technology and foreign direct investment are present. Once we include these there is little evidence that the creation of the Single Market has directly increased aggregated imports in European countries. [source]


Monetary Policy and Forecasts for Real GDP Growth: An Empirical Investigation for the Federal Republic of Germany

GERMAN ECONOMIC REVIEW, Issue 4 2001
Gebhardt Kirschgässner
Using quarterly data for the Federal Republic of Germany, we generate four-quarter-ahead forecasts for real GDP growth. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, other monetary indicators like real M1 or short-run interest rates clearly outperform forecasts which are based on interest rate spreads. This holds for within as well as for ex-post predictions. The same holds for the development after 1992. Moreover, it is shown that simple forecasts based on M1 or on short-run interest rates outperform the common biannual GNP forecasts of the group of German economic research institutes. [source]


Differences in Labor versus Value Chain Industry Clusters: An Empirical Investigation

GROWTH AND CHANGE, Issue 3 2007
HENRY RENSKI
ABSTRACT Regional analysts often identify industry clusters according to a single dimension of industrial interdependence, typically by trading patterns as revealed in national or regionalized input,output data. This is despite the fact that the theory underpinning regional industry cluster applications draws heavily on Marshall's theory of external economies, including the important role of labor pooling economies and knowledge spillovers in addition to spatially co-located suppliers. This article investigates whether industry clusters identified based on trading relationships (value chain clusters) are meaningfully different in industrial composition and geography than those derived from an analysis of occupational employment requirements (labor-based clusters). The results suggest that value chain linkages are a weak proxy for shared labor requirements, and vice versa. [source]


Adoption and Abandonment of Organic Farming: An Empirical Investigation of the Irish Drystock Sector

JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2010
Doris Läpple
Q12; C41; Q16 Abstract There is a considerable literature about the adoption of organic farming. However, possible abandonment of organic farming has received scant attention. Thus, relatively little is known about the exit decisions of farmers. In addition, most studies are based on a static framework where it is not possible to account for changes in farmer decisions over time. This article attempts to fill this gap in the literature by investigating the determinants that affect both adoption and abandonment of organic drystock farming over time. The use of duration analysis allows for the consideration of cross-sectional and time-varying factors over the study period from 1981 to 2008. Using this dynamic econometric framework revealed a significant time effect on entry and exit decisions. Overall, the results highlight that where no attempt is made to account for exit decisions and time effects, important information about sustainable farmer decisions may not be taken into consideration. [source]


An Empirical Investigation of Determinants of Audit Reports in the UK

JOURNAL OF BUSINESS FINANCE & ACCOUNTING, Issue 7-8 2003
Article first published online: 22 AUG 200, Jennifer C. Ireland
Prior studies of audit reporting in the UK only analyse either very small, private companies, or large listed companies. In addition, these studies focus on narrowly defined types of modified audit reports, respectively the ,small company' audit qualification, and going-concern related modifications. In contrast, this paper employs a multinomial logit model to analyse the determinants of both going-concern and non going-concern related audit modifications, including modifications for disagreements and limitations on scope. Furthermore, this paper analyses reports over a wide range of both private and public (listed and non-listed) companies. The determinants of audit reports are shown to differ between different types of audit modification. In addition, subsidiary companies hiring large auditors are significantly less likely to receive non going-concern related modifications, whereas non-subsidiary companies hiring large auditors are significantly more likely to receive going-concern related modifications. [source]


Alliance Capability as a Mediator Between Experience and Alliance Performance: An Empirical Investigation into the Alliance Capability Development Process*

JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, Issue 1 2007
Koen H. Heimeriks
abstract This study centres around the way in which firms can enhance alliance performance through the development of alliance capabilities. Whereas most research has focused on inter-firm antecedents of alliance performance, research on intra-firm antecedents pointing to prior experience and internal mechanisms to foster knowledge transfer has only recently emerged. As little is known about how firms develop alliance capabilities, this study aims to uncover how differences in sources of alliance capabilities explain performance heterogeneity. The data are derived from a detailed survey held among alliance managers and Vice-Presidents of 151 firms. The survey covers over 2600 alliances for the period 1997,2001. This study not only finds that alliance capabilities partially mediate between alliance experience and alliance performance, but also yields novel insights into the micro-level building blocks underlying the process of alliance capability development. [source]


Memory Systems In Organizations: An Empirical Investigation Of Mechanisms For Knowledge Collection, Storage And Access

JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT STUDIES, Issue 6 2000
Fernando Olivera
This research examines the concept of organizational memory in the context of multi-unit organizations. It addresses the question: how do organizations collect, store and provide access to their experiential knowledge? I develop a framework for organizational memory in geographically distributed settings based on the concept of organizational memory systems and empirically assess the usefulness of this framework in the context of a multinational, business consulting organization. Multiple memory systems were identified, including social networks, knowledge centers and various computer-based systems. I present and discuss findings with respect to the characteristics and perceived effectiveness of these memory systems. [source]


An Empirical Investigation of Knowledge-Sharing in Networks

JOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2005
Stephan M. Wagner
Summary Given the growing importance of knowledge-sharing, the primary purpose of this research is to develop and test a series of hypotheses regarding interorganizational knowledge-sharing with different actors in networks. Findings, based on responses from 182 firms, reveal that a firm's degree of knowledge-sharing with research institutions and customers is positively influenced by the firm's resource commitment. As expected, the firms' satisfaction is positively related to the frequency of communication. Consistent with the proposed hypotheses, knowledge tacitness diminishes the effect sharing knowledge with suppliers has on satisfaction. Contrary to expectations, tacitness positively moderates the effect sharing knowledge with customers has on satisfaction. Overall, this paper establishes the foundation for a more fine-grained analysis of knowledge-sharing with customers, suppliers and research institutions in a network setting. [source]


An Empirical Investigation of Global Sourcing Strategy Effectiveness

JOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2000
Kenneth J Petersen
SUMMARY This study was undertaken to address the need for empirical research on global sourcing strategy effectiveness. This article establishes the importance of and relationships between several factors that drive the effectiveness of global sourcing strategies. Companies are increasingly viewing global sourcing strategies as a means of reducing cost, increasing quality, and enhancing a firm's overall competitive position. This article uses a structural equation modeling methodology to test an explanatory model of global sourcing strategy effectiveness. Results indicate that global sourcing structures and processes, global sourcing business capabilities, international language capabilities, and top management commitment to global sourcing are critical to the effectiveness of a global sourcing strategy. [source]


Interventions (Solutions) Usage and Expertise in Performance Technology Practice: An Empirical Investigation

PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2004
Darlene M. Van Tiem
ABSTRACT Performance technology (PT) is complex, drawing theory from instructional design, organizational development, communications, industrial psychology, and industrial engineering to name a few. The Standards of Performance Technology developed for the certified performance technology designation codified the processes used in the practice of performance improvement. The Human Performance Technology (HPT) Model of the International Society for Performance Improvement illustrates the Standards for the Performance Technology process, including the selection, design, and implementation of appropriate performance interventions. Research exists on specific PT interventions, such as problem solving, feedback, or job analysis. This foundational study considers intervention usage within organizations and the expertise of performance technologists. Findings indicate that years of experience in the field or related field is positively correlated to expertise. Some alignment was found between higher ranked PT expertise and higher ranked intervention usage within those organizations. [source]


The Democratic Domino Theory: An Empirical Investigation

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, Issue 3 2009
Peter T. Leeson
According to the democratic domino theory, increases or decreases in democracy in one country spread and "infect" neighboring countries, increasing or decreasing their democracy in turn. Using spatial econometrics and panel data that cover over 130 countries between 1850 and 2000, this article empirically investigates the democratic domino theory. We find that democratic dominoes do in fact fall as the theory contends. However, these dominoes fall significantly "lighter" than the importance of this model suggests. Countries "catch" only about 11% of the increases or decreases in their average geographic neighbors' increases or decreases in democracy. This finding has potentially important foreign policy implications. The "lightness" with which democratic dominoes fall suggests that even if foreign military intervention aimed at promoting democracy in undemocratic countries succeeds in democratizing these nations, intervention is likely to have only a small effect on democracy in their broader regions. [source]


Market Orientation and R&D Effectiveness in High-Technology Firms: An Empirical Investigation in the Biotechnology Industry,

THE JOURNAL OF PRODUCT INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2010
Luigi M. De Luca
There seems to be lack of consensus among informed scholars about the importance a of market orientation for high-technology firms. This paper gives a comprehensive review of existing empirical studies on the relationship between market orientation and innovation performance and pinpoints two limitations in this research stream that might be at the origin of such controversy. First, extant research often overlooked key innovation outcomes for high-technology firms, such as those related to research and development (R&D) performance. Second, organizational conditions that can ensure an optimal integration of market knowledge in the innovation process have been less analyzed in the case of these firms. Against this background, the present study contributes to the literature by providing a test of the effect of market orientation on R&D effectiveness and the moderating role of knowledge integration in this relationship, using a sample of Italian biotechnology firms. The study's objectives are addressed in two steps. The first one consists of an in-depth qualitative study based on semistructured interviews in five biotechnology firms. The second step consists of a follow-up survey of 50 biotechnology firms. Results from hierarchical multiple regression analysis show that the different dimensions of a market orientation have diverse effects on R&D effectiveness of high-technology firms: whereas interfunctional coordination has a positive main effect, the effect of customer orientation is moderated by knowledge integration, and competitor orientation has no effect on R&D effectiveness. Post hoc analyses also show two additional results involving a broader set of dependent variables. First, R&D effectiveness mediates the effects of customer orientation and interfunctional coordination on organizational performance. Second, market orientation does not appear to significantly affect R&D efficiency. The present study contributes to current literature in two main respects. First, it adds to previous work on market orientation and innovation by proposing a new dependent variable,R&D effectiveness,which offers a better perspective to understand the impact of market orientation on innovation performance in high-technology contexts. Second, while part of the current debate on the role of market orientation in high-tech markets seems to be polarized by positions that sustain its potential drawbacks or, on the contrary, its advantages, this study's findings on the moderating role of knowledge integration shed light on important contingency factors, such as organizational capabilities. The authors discuss the study's limitations and provide directions for future research. [source]


Exploring Correlates of Product Launch in Collaborative Ventures: An Empirical Investigation of Pharmaceutical Alliances

THE JOURNAL OF PRODUCT INNOVATION MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2009
M. Berk Talay
This paper examines collaborative ventures leading toward the launch of new products in the pharmaceutical industry. These collaborative ventures are one of the most underresearched areas in the new product literature, yet the preponderance of these collaborative ventures makes it an area of great importance for scholars and practitioners alike. As such, the purpose of the study is to examine why some collaborative projects produce a favorable outcome (the launch of a product) whereas others do not. That is, what characteristics of partner firms in the collaborative ventures and what characteristics of the partnership lead to a successful launch of a new product in the pharmaceutical industry? Secondary data from the pharmaceutical industry are employed in a multinomial logit model. Data from 128 collaborative ventures from 1980 to 2004 are used in the analysis. The partner firms in the collaborative ventures are from various industries ranging from malt beverages to pharmaceutical preparations to electronic and other equipment among others. Of the 128 collaborative ventures, 66 were successful in leading to a new product launch, whereas 62 did not result in the launch of a new product. The results from the multinomial logit analysis suggest that combined marketing resources of parent companies, combined technological intensity of parent companies, and combined asset bases of parent companies contribute to the likelihood of an eventual product launch in a collaborative venture. However, the results of the analysis show that contrary to expectations, technological complementarity of partners in the collaborative venture is not a significant predictor of successful new product launch. The results of the study suggest certain aspects for managers to consider when establishing collaborative ventures. To maximize the possibilities of the collaborative venture leading to the successful launching of a new product, managers should be concerned with the resources potentially available to partners in the collaborative venture from parent firms. These resources are not only of financial nature but also of technological nature. The existence of these resources does not ensure provision of resources to the collaborative venture; however, without the possibility of these resources it appears that successful launch of a product is less likely. [source]


US Credit Unions: An Empirical Investigation of Size, Age and Growth

ANNALS OF PUBLIC AND COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS, Issue 3 2005
by John Goddard
Ceteris paribus larger credit unions grew faster than smaller unions. State credit unions grew faster than federal credit unions, and single bond credit unions grew faster than multiple bond credit unions. The size-growth gradients were generally steeper for state than for federal credit unions, and for single bond than for multiple bond credit unions. These patterns are attributed to variations in legislation and regulatory treatment. There is some evidence that younger credit unions tended to outgrow older ones. This seems consistent with a life cycle typology of credit union growth and development. There is also evidence of a positive persistence of growth effect. The cross-sectional variance of growth is inversely related to size, but is largely independent of age. [source]


Impact of the Change in Tick Size on Transaction Costs and Liquidity: An Empirical Investigation of the Taiwan Stock Exchange,

ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF FINANCIAL STUDIES, Issue 4 2010
Su-Wen Kuo
C12; G15 Abstract The minimum price variation on the Taiwan Stock Exchange reduced for most price categories on March 1, 2005. The present paper simultaneously examines the institutional and endogenous impacts of tick size changes on transaction costs, market liquidity, and trading activity. The empirical evidence suggests that following a reduction in tick size, uniform declines are discernible in transaction costs and market liquidity. In particular, those stocks with a larger relative tick size reduction, higher trading volume, and higher order handling cost components have greater reductions in spread and market depth. Moreover, endogenous tick size reductions have an adverse effect on the trading activity for low-price stocks, due to the relative disadvantage in explicit transaction costs. Finally, the present study observes a general diminution in trade size resulting from a reduction in tick size in the Taiwan Stock Exchange. This study attributes plausible rationales to the fact that after tick size reductions, informed traders employ a smaller trade size to hide private information, or front-runners place a smaller trade size to avoid market turbulence. [source]


Some Methods of Propensity-Score Matching had Superior Performance to Others: Results of an Empirical Investigation and Monte Carlo simulations

BIOMETRICAL JOURNAL, Issue 1 2009
Peter C. Austin
Abstract Propensity-score matching is increasingly being used to reduce the impact of treatment-selection bias when estimating causal treatment effects using observational data. Several propensity-score matching methods are currently employed in the medical literature: matching on the logit of the propensity score using calipers of width either 0.2 or 0.6 of the standard deviation of the logit of the propensity score; matching on the propensity score using calipers of 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.1; and 5 , 1 digit matching on the propensity score. We conducted empirical investigations and Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the relative performance of these competing methods. Using a large sample of patients hospitalized with a heart attack and with exposure being receipt of a statin prescription at hospital discharge, we found that the 8 different methods produced propensity-score matched samples in which qualitatively equivalent balance in measured baseline variables was achieved between treated and untreated subjects. Seven of the 8 propensity-score matched samples resulted in qualitatively similar estimates of the reduction in mortality due to statin exposure. 5 , 1 digit matching resulted in a qualitatively different estimate of relative risk reduction compared to the other 7 methods. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we found that matching using calipers of width of 0.2 of the standard deviation of the logit of the propensity score and the use of calipers of width 0.02 and 0.03 tended to have superior performance for estimating treatment effects (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source]


Sourcing Strategy, Supplier Relationships and Firm Performance: An Empirical Investigation of UK Organizations

BRITISH JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT, Issue 2 2007
Paul D. Cousins
This article conceptualizes and empirically examines buyer,supplier relationships in respect of supply sourcing strategies, relationship characteristics and firm performance. Two sourcing strategies available to organizations are examined, critical and leverage, which in turn, influence the approach to managing the supplier relationship (arms-length or collaborative). We argue that different relationship approaches are appropriate to achieving different performance outcomes. A structural equation model, using a sample of 142 manufacturing firms based in the United Kingdom, is used to test this hypothesized model. The results indicate that a critical sourcing strategy requires collaborative supplier relationships in order to achieve higher relationship and business outcomes, while leverage sourcing strategies have a direct impact on these same performance outcomes. In addition, a leverage strategy was associated with increased levels of supplier power, though this power was found not to have a significant effect on performance. Our study provides support for the importance of aligning sourcing strategies to particular supplier relationship approaches in order to improve firm performance. Managerial implications of these findings and future directions for research are then offered. [source]


Integration and Differentiation in Institutional Values: An Empirical Investigation in the Field of Canadian National Sport Organizations

CANADIAN JOURNAL OF ADMINISTRATIVE SCIENCES, Issue 4 2006
Ali Danisman
Abstract Integrating institutional theory's institutional isomorphism with integration and differentiation cultural views, the study examines the sources of variation in institutionally prescribed values in the field of Canadian National Sport Organizations. The results indicate support for the adaptation of institutional based values and norms among individual actors from both integration and differentiation perspectives. Specifically, results demonstrate institutionally prescribed values to be mostly monolithically adapted at the organizational level. However, in spite of uniformity in most organizations as well as institution-wide strength, these values are also prone to be manifested distinctively around functional subgroups across the field. Implications of results for research on both institutional theory and culture are discussed. Résumé La présente étude examine, grâce à une synthèse harmonieuse entre la théorie institutionnelle de l'isomorphisme et les vues culturelles sur la différenciation et l'intégration, les sources de variation dans les valeurs prescrites par les institutions dans le domaine du Canadian National Sport Organizations. Les résultats indiquent la nécessité d'adapter les normes et les valeurs institutionnelles aux acteurs individuels. Plus spécifique, les résultats montrent que les valeurs prescrites par les institutions sont, pour la plupart, adaptées de façon monolithique au niveau organisationnel. Mais en dépit de cette uniformité dans la plupart des organisations, ces valeurs ont tendance à se manifester différemment dans tous les sous-groupes fonctionnels du domaine étudié. L'étude s'achève par un examen des implications des résultats pour la recherche sur la théorie et la culture institutionnelles. [source]


Networks, Trust and Social Capital: Theoretical and Empirical Investigations from Europe , Edited by Sokratis M. Koniordos

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS JOURNAL, Issue 6 2006
Steve VincentArticle first published online: 1 NOV 200
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Empirical investigation of party preferences and economic voting in Turkey

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2005
CEM BA, LEVENT
The economic variables can be used to test the familiar hypotheses of economic voting theory , whether individuals vote retrospectively and/or prospectively, and whether they are sociotropic and/or egotropic. The non-economic factors include sociodemographic characteristics as well as identity and issue variables likely to be good predictors of party choice. The analysis focuses on comparing the characteristics of those who intend to vote for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) with those of other parties. According to multinomial logit estimates, young people, especially males, constitute the electoral base for the AKP. Those who have been affected adversely by recent economic developments, as well as those who are against Turkey's accession to the European Union are also more likely to vote for the AKP. The empirical work also provides evidence in support of economic voting hypotheses. [source]


Financial development and poverty reduction in developing countries

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FINANCE & ECONOMICS, Issue 2 2002
Hossein Jalilian
Empirical investigation of the link between financial development and economic growth has established that finance exerts a significant and positive influence on growth. This paper extends this line of analysis by examining the contribution that financial development makes to poverty reduction in low-income countries. The results reported support the contention that financial sector development policy can contribute to achieving the goal of poverty reduction in developing countries. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]


Entrepreneurial nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom: an integrative review

JOURNAL OF ADVANCED NURSING, Issue 5 2007
Vari Drennan
Abstract Title.,Entrepreneurial nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom: an integrative review Aim., This paper is a report of an integrative literature review to investigate: (a) the extent of entrepreneurial activity by nurses, midwives and health visitors in the United Kingdom and (b) the factors that influenced these activities. Background., Internationally, social and commercial entrepreneurial activity is regarded as important for economic growth and social cohesion. Methods., Seventeen bibliographic databases were searched using single and combined search terms: ,entrepreneur$', ,business', ,private practice', ,self-employ$', ,intrapreneur$',social enterprise$',mutuals', ,collectives', ,co-op' and ,social capital' which were related to a second layer of terms ,Nurs$', ,Midwi$', ,Visit$'. ,Entrepreneur$' Private Midwi$, Independent Midwi$, and ,nursing workforce'. In addition, hand searches of non-indexed journals and grey literature searches were completed. The following inclusion criteria were: (a) describing nurses, midwife and/or health visitor entrepreneurship (b) undertaken in the UK, and (c) reported between January 1996 and December 2005. Results., Of 154 items included only three were empirical studies; the remainder were narrative accounts. While quality of these accounts cannot be verified, they provide as complete an account as possible in this under-researched area. The numbers of nurses, midwives and health visitors acting entrepreneurially were very small and mirror international evidence. A categorization of entrepreneurial activity was inductively constructed by employment status and product offered. ,Push' and ,pull' influencing factors varied between types of entrepreneurial activity. Conclusion., Empirical investigation into the extent to which nurses and midwives respond to calls for greater entrepreneurialism should take account of the complex interplay of contextual factors (e.g. healthcare legislation), professional and managerial experience and demographic factors. [source]


Empirical investigation of price setting and quantity surcharges in the German food sector

AGRIBUSINESS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009
Awudu Abdulai
In this study, the authors examined the incidence and determinants of quantity price discounts and quantity price surcharges in the German food sector through a bivariate probit model, using recent consumer scanner survey data. Selectivity bias was corrected for in estimating the magnitude of quantity price surcharges and quantity price discounts, using Heckman's procedure. The findings reveal that almost 10% of the investigated products attract higher unit prices for larger package sizes, although the extent of price surcharges varied among product categories. Quantity price discounts were found to dominate in the firms' pricing strategies. The econometric results showed that the number of package sizes, the average package size, the packaging and storage forms, as well as the price image of a product are all significant determinants of the decision to impose both quantity price surcharges and quantity price discounts. [JEL classification: D40, L11] © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]