Knowledge Management and Customer Relationship Management for Accounting Services Companies

By combining the abilities to respond directly to customer requests and to provide the customer with a highly interactive, customized experience, companies have a greater ability today to establish nurture and sustain long-term customer relationships than ever before. The ultimate goal is to transform these relationships into greater profitability by increasing repeat purchase rates and reducing customer acquisition costs. Customer relationship management （CRM） has a significant potential to leverage an organization＇s performance, but it does not come without a clear sense of destination and typically without pain. For the research methodology we use the database of customers of a Romanian accounting services company Vulpoi ＆ Toader Management SRL, which is an important player in this market. The goal of our paper is to find out the link between knowledge management （KM） and CRM for this company and how these ＂innovations＂ contribute to increasing the value of the business.     

A study on the tourism practitioners＇ perception of tourism impact： a case study of Hainan,China

This study examines the urban population of tourism practitioners perceptions of economic, environmental, and social impacts on cultural, convention, and sport tourism may have in Haikou and Sanya. Hainan, China. The study uses a modified Urban Tourism Impact （UTI） to examine economic, environmental, and social perceived impacts. Analysis of the data includes testing three models of structural relationships between tourism impacts and support for development in each of the tourism market sub-divisions through a confirmatory factor analysis. The results of this study show that the positive economic impacts consistently exert influence on predicting support for tourism development in all three models. However; the social impacts play a greater explanatory role with all three market segment, the negative environmental impacts play a role in determining support for sport tourism only. Differences have been found with those with a higher education level in predicting support for cultural tourism, but not convention or sport tourism.     

Ethnic diversity, tax limitations and public goods

One strand of research in public economics has found that increasing ethnic diversity leads to reductions in provision of productive public goods. Another strand of research has emphasized the key role that tax and expenditure limitations play in the provision of public services. This paper explores the interaction between these two effects. The regression results suggest that the prior results on ethnic diversity are robust when TELs are taken into consideration. In addition, the imposition of TELs mitigates the negative effect of ethnic fragmentation on the share of local spending on education and roads. It also mitigates the positive correlation between ethnic diversity and total local government revenue and expenditure per capita.     

Competition in Marketing： Survival Yardstick for Small and Medium Enterprises （SMEs） in Nigeria

The topic investigated competition in marketing as a survival yardstick for small and medium enterprises （SMEs） in Nigeria. The objectives addressed by this study were： （1） identifying different types and intensity of competition that SMEs are exposed to along the life-cycle portfolio in Nigeria; （2） quantifying the strength of SMEs vis-a-vis some foreign enterprises in terms of market competition; and （3） proffering solutions on how best they could match competitively these foreign enterprises. Relevant models and theories were employed in literature to evolve detailed analysis of issues relating to the variables used in terms of competition in marketing and survival of juice-producing SMEs. Two hypotheses were investigated through the survey of 20 prominent Ikeja based SMEs using Cluster sampling, 5-points Likert summated rating scale was adopted, while Yard＇s formula with 95% confidence level and 5% error tolerance was used. Alternative form validity of the instrument was measured at 0.63 while its reliability was measured at Cronbach＇s alpha of 0.70. Pearson＇s product-moment correlation was used in testing hypothesis 1 while standard multiple regressions were used to test hypothesis 2. Findings revealed that there was strong relationship between survival of juice-producing SMEs with forms of competition on a firm＇s life-cycle; while competition had positive effects on survival components for the enterprises. It was concluded that since competition subsists in any firm＇s life-cycle, strategies to support operations for survival must be adopted. It was recommended that operators of SMEs have to monitor and manage competition as it affects their businesses positively and/or negatively.     

The Impact of Automation in Service Industries＂ An Empirical Study

Academic research into service industries has explored the characteristics of interpersonal interactions between employees and customers, but there are few studies addressing the issues of consumer interaction with technology and its influence on the objectives and results of the operations subsystem. This study examines the elements of the service encounter, and the changes automation originates in them and their relationships. The paper also examines changes in the elements and results of the operations subsystem, as a result of automation. We propose that the customer＇s relationship with employees and/or technology and automated systems for the service impact the objectives and results of the operations subsystem, all of which could have an effect on the company＇s competitive position. The empirical study is focused on four industries, namely, toll motorways, car parks, carwash and video/DVD rental companies, in an attempt to identify objectives that lead companies to implement automated processes affecting the customer＇s relationship with the company. The hypotheses generated are contrasted with a structural equation modelling. The results confirm that the customer＇s relationship with employees and automated systems for the service impacts the objectives and results of the operations subsystem. Also, the results show how automation can enable firms simultaneously to achieve acceptable levels of flexibility and productivity, two dimensions that have traditionally been considered opposites.     

Effects of user perceptions associated with perceived playfulness on their attitude toward using a netbook

A netbook, Internet-enabled and with extra portability, has been fast-growing in the domain of information technology （IT） in recent years. Compared with standardized laptops or desktop computers, a netbook＇s key features include a shrunken-down and lightweight laptop that is ＂easy to learn, easy to work, and easy to play＂. This research is to empirically test the influence of user perceptions of this new form of IT （usability, compatibility and relative advantage） associated with playfulness and attitude toward purchase intention. In addition, personal innovativeness of an individual plays an important role in the antecedents of such perceptions. A test of this model, two-stage approach, confirmatory factor analysis （CFA） and structural equation model （SEM） are employed to validate the casual model from among 227 usable respondents who have been using a laptop for more than two years. Results showed support for eleven of twelve research hypotheses, and one new path linking personal innovativeness with attitude toward using is found to be non-siznificant.     

Effects of Team Structure on Innovation Performance： An Empirical Study

Teamwork is gaining increasing attention in a broader management research. In addition to previous research on the relationship between team structure and innovation performance, this study draws from an interesting experience-based theory advanced by Kelley and Littman （2005）, which examines teams from design thinking perspective, and tests its contributions and effects on team＇s innovation performance. According to Kelley and Littman any team should include the following team roles： The anthropologist, the experimenter, the cross-pollinator, the hurdler, the collaborator, the director, the experience architect, the set designer, the storyteller, and the caregiver. We develop theoretical logics to explain how team structure that includes these key team roles and competences lead to a better innovation performance, and propose pertinent hypotheses. Experimental-empirical research and quantitative analysis were used in the study. The study conducted multiple experiments on three samples： a group of foreign entrepreneurship students, a group of technical students, and an additional group of randomly selected individuals, aged between 20 and 58, with diverse backgrounds. A special approach was implemented and a new instrument was developed to evaluate individuals in teams. While the results show that team that possess the major competences proposed by Kelley and Littman are more innovative, preliminary results also show that not all team roles are equally important. Moreover, team roles should be allocated equally among members for better collaboration, member satisfaction, and quick response, and within one team, one prevailing personality is optimal in terms of innovativeness. We discuss the implications of our findings for future research and managerial practice.     

An empirical research of urbanization and urban-rural gap in China： 1952-2005

There are two important problems of urban-rural relationship in China nowadays： the accelerated urbanization process and an enlarged urban-rural gap. The researchers can be divided into two schools according to their emphasis. One emphasizes particularly the urban development, and the other pays attention to the urban-rural income gap. However, there is a very strong association between urbanization rate and urban-rural inequality. As far as it goes, there is a paradox between urbanization and urban-rural inequality in China. This main reason lies＇ in the different temporal and spatial scales chosen by the scholars. Making use of correlative analysis and wavelet method, this paper rethinks and sums up the commonly evolving characteristics and trends between urbanization and urban-rural gap from 1950s to now. There is an intensively positive correlation between urbanization and urban- rural consumption gap. In general, with the acceleration of urbanization, urban-rural gap of China has undergone three stages of cyclical fluctuations. The rapid urbanization results in the increase of urban-rural highly risky. In addition, the special stage of urbanization is the other reason that expands urban-rural gap.     

Mixed Market Competition in a Quality Differentiated Duopoly Model An Approach to Banking Sector

This paper attempts to develop a theoretical framework to investigate the competitive implications of quality choices of financial institutions whereby they charge prices to consumers based on their willingness to pay for the service qualities in the mixed market scenario under vertical product differentiation model. Initially, it analyzes benchmark equilibrium solutions of monopoly and duopoly to establish the degree of quality differentiation between two private banks in an uncover market configuration. Further, it estimates the quality differentiation between private and public banks, and examines the interaction between two market structures keeping public bank as both leader and follower, and then measures the social welfare from different prospectives. The explicit operation of two stages Nash equilibrium game forecasted that public banks＇ monopoly seems to be still better than a private banking, and it is socially optimal. The outcome demonstrates a significant importance of vertical quality differentiation for policy implication in banking industry and provides an insight on the reasons of particular co-existence of public and private banking services in the specified location. In this context, it is concluded that the presence of public banks in banking industries is a crucial condition for obtaining the higher range of social welfare.     

Generational management in corporate America： The differences and challenges in management of four generations of working adults

There are many differences and challenges that employers face while managing employees in the current work force. Our present day workforce is made up of a diverse group of people： Matures, also known as Veterans （age 55＋）, Baby Boomers （age 45-54）, Generation X （age 35-44） and Generation Y also known as Millennial （age 18-34）. The differences and challenges among these groups will be evident when reviewing recognition and praise, managerial styles, subordinate responses to generational leadership. Companies are stepping back and looking more holistically at how to develop programs and deploy technology that will speak to four distinct generations in the workforce （Sprague, 2008）. Each generation has their own definition of work ethic, responsibility, and performance. The best way to deal with the multi-generations is coming up with ways that make everybody feel like they are members of a team, thus helping them to learn how to develop a better way of communication than what exists between them now. If everybody is a part of a team, then they are all sharing the benefits that the other generations can bring to the table, making them a strong entity. Matures and boomers can become mentors to the X and Y＇s, and the X and Y＇s can then share and impart their knowledge of technology to the Matures and boomers. Companies in today＇s workplace must learn a better way to understand the values of the four generations, for it is very important in understanding and guiding these people in the workplace. Without this proper understanding, the guidance and alliance that managers are hoping to achieve will be even longer in the making and then one, possibly two, whole generations will be gone from the workforce and their knowledge and skill gone as well.     

A critique of Porter＇s cost leadership and differentiation strategies

Porter identifies high market share with cost leadership, citing GM as a successful practitioner of this strategy. However, GM became a market share leader in the American automobile industry due to a strategy of market segmentation, differentiation and a broad scope shaped during the 1920s. Porter argues that cost leadership and differentiation offer an equally viable path to competitive success. Nevertheless, a differentiation strategy based on superior quality compared to competition is more profitable than cost leadership strategy. It can lead a business to become a market share leader, and consequently even a low-cost leader. Research indicates that differentiation and cost leadership can co-exist. However, Porter insists that each generic strategy requires a different culture and a totally different philosophy. The problem is that Porter＇s generic strategies are too broad. It is not his logic that is flawed, but his basic premise that prescribes cost leadership strategy as the only route to market share leadership, and presents a narrow view of differentiation with a unique product--sold at a premium price--on the one hand, and a ＂standard, or no-frills＂ product on the other. Mintzburg （1988） says Porter＇s cost leadership strategy should be called ＂price differentiation＂： a strategy that is based on a lower price than that of the competition. He suggests that business strategy has two dimensions： differentiation and scope. Thus, setting scope aside, competitive strategy has only one component： differentiation. So, the key question is not whether to differentiate, but how？ First, make customer-perceived quality as the foundation of competitive strategy because it is far more critical to long-term success than any other factor. Second, serve the middle class by competing in the mid-price segment, offering better quality than the competition at a somewhat higher price. It is this path that can lead to market share leadership--a strategy that can be both profitable--and sustainable.     

Construction and harmonious development of urban-rural comparing financial systems based on comparative advantages theory

There exist diferences between urban-rural financial systems,Generally,the development of unban financial industry has absolute advanages compared with rural financial industry.According to the Matthew Effect,the financial resources will flow into cities for higher benefit ,so rural areas are unable to obtain absolute advantages However,relative advantage theory of the comparative advantage theory of the comparative advantage theory provides an lmportant way to observe res[ectove advamtage of both city and country.Therefore,there are comparative advantages for the development of financial industry in both urban and rural areas.The respective comparative advantages of urban-rural financial systems will supply greater efficiency than that in current dual puttern condition.Closely connected with China＇s financial development and reform and the fact of recreation of urban-rural financial system,this paper tries to explain the comparative advantage of the urban-rural financial systems.The anaalysis of the comparative advantage between urban and rural finance is the clue for the bonndary between urban-rural financial systems.This paper analyzes the current situration of urban-rural financial system.Then it proposes some views and suggestions on how to develop and maintain these two systemw as well as how to promote their coordinative development.     

On division management for environmental system of China： lessons from European local sustainable development

The concept of sustainable development, after being brousht forward, has become a shibboleth in the world, at national and local levels. In Europe, this concept is implemented from the local to tha nation, even to the Continent. The local sustainable development mainly consists in two factors： one is the renovating method continually invented by European Secretariot of ICLEI, and the other is that the local authorities towards sustainability are co-operated by the European Sustainable Cities and Towns Campaign. The coo-budget method is the outcome of tbese factors, For our country is a big country, on rapid progression of indastrialization and urbanization, with a large population and scarce resoarces per capita, it is practically significance to study us soon as possible the methodology. Experience from European local sustainable development may help us to resolve the handicap of departraent division in local a, tbority.     

Strive To Foster Intelligence-Oriented Development Zones

Now that China has become a full member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), China's economic and technological development zones, which are chosen to experiment with the implementation of China's reform and opening policy, need to find solutions to a range of new questions. In what direction should the zones develop? How to sharpen the competitive edge of the zones so that they will play an even more effective role in promoting the development of the local economies? To these questions, my answer is one of accelerating technological innovations to     

Psychological Contract within Labor Relation and Its Management Strategy

The paper argues that labor contracts between employees and organization includes two facets, i.e. economic contracts and psychological contracts, and along with enterprise competition becoming fierce increasingly and labor force becoming diversified all the more, the psychological contracts have crucial effects on employees＇ attitudes, behaviors and performances. We also argue that, under the challenging organization context, if managers want to make strategic partnership with employees, they must link employees with hearts, pay attention to the management of psychological contracts before, during and after signing labor contracts, and keep dynamic equilibrium of psychological contracts.     

Research on the Development Model of Ecological Agriculture in Loess Hilly-Gully Region of Northern Shannxi, China

On the Loess Plateau of China, facing the vulnerable environment, local people have to try their best to guarantee the security of food, and at the same time, to control the most serious soil erosion in the world. The paper introduces two typical models of ecological agriculture: ecological agriculture with commodity and agriculture with soil and water conservation. According to the local natural condition, the model of eco-agriculture with commodity could be characterized by the structure of “agriculture-byproduct”, “agriculture-fruit” or “agriculture-forestry-husbandry”. The development of agriculture with soil and water conservation has decreased the soil erosion rate from 12, 184 ton/kin^2 in 1980 to 458.4 ton/kin^2 in 1999, while the farmers‘ income has increasingly risen. Analyses on the two models‘ benefits both in terms of ecological and agricultural economy show that there is a great possibility to construct or restore good eco-environment with comprehensive control in the hilly-gully area of north Shannxi. Further more, the paper points out the potential problems of foodstuff production and stockbreeding development in forming ecological agriculture and eco-environmental restoration.     

The impact of environmental regulations on international competitiveness of textile industry in China

A greater focus of environmental protection is directed toward environmental regulations in China. This paper focuses on environmental regulations and their impact on textile industry. The academic circle does not reach a consensus on the relationship between environmental regulations and international competitiveness. Some hold the view that environmental regulations lower international competitiveness while others think that environmental regulations improve both environment and economic performance. This paper aims to analyze the impact of the environmental regulations on the international competitiveness of textile industry in China. This study starts with theories relative to this subject; the second part, based on the impact mechanism of environmental regulations on competitiveness, analyzes the environmental impact on textile from the perspective of cost and market. The conceptual exploration comes to the conclusion that environmental regulations make a negative impact on the international competitiveness on the cost side and improve it by means of innovation and product differentiation on market side; the third part gives time series evidence to examine the impact. In this part the Pearson Correlation Analysis is conducted based on the data of China＇s textile industry of the period from 1991 to 2005. It turns out to prove that the negative environmental impact on cost side exceeds the positive environmental impact on market side, namely, environmental regulations deteriorate the international competitiveness in textile industry as a whole during the inspected period.     

Trading volume and returns relationship in SET50 index futures market

This study investigates the relationship between trading volume and returns in SET50 index Futures market in the period from April 2006 to December 2008 using 653 observations. From previous studies, we include three methodologies namely the GARCH model, the Generalized Method of Moments （GMM） to estimate systems of equations and the Granger causality test to investigate the relationship more thoroughly. In addition, we introduce the lagged volume as a new explanatory variable in the GARCH model. Overall, the results show the significant contemporaneous and dynamic relationships between trading volume and returns volatility which support the sequential information arrival hypothesis and imply some degree of market inefficiency. The results from this study also show that past information of trading volume can be used to improve the prediction of price volatility. Therefore, regulators and traders could include past information of trading volume of SET50 index futures in tracking and monitoring the market volatility level and the investment risk in order to make a timely decision.     

The Chinese Are Coming: The Political Implications of the Growing Sino-Israel Economic Ties

The relationship between the State of Israel and the People’s Republic of China offers a fascinating case in modern international relations.Ostensibly there is not much that unites the two countries so different in size and population,in regimes and politics,yet,over the past two decades,these relations have acquired a great deal of importance and significance for both.While it is easy to understand the attraction to China of Israel’s experience,innovation and its exemplary human capital,it is less evident what China is seeking to achieve in deepening its ties with Israel.This paper attempts to assess the state of Sino-Israel bilateral relations and their impact on the future of the two nations.