Efficient quadrature and node positioning for exotic option valuation

We combine the best features of two highly successful quadrature option pricing streams, improving the linked issues of numerical precision and abscissa positioning. Coupling the recombining abscissa (node) approach used in Andricopoulos, A., Widdicks, M., Duck, P., and Newton, D.P. ( 2003 ) (AWDN as well as AWND, 2007 ) with the Gauss‐Legendre Quadrature (GQ) method of Sullivan, M.A. ( 2000 ) yields highly accurate and efficient option prices for a range of standard and exotic specifications including barrier options and in particular for NGARCH, CEV, and jump‐diffusion processes. The improvements are due to manner in which GQ positions nodes and the use of these values without interpolation. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark     

Analysis of E-commerce and information technology applications in hotels: Business travelers' perceptions

Numerous research studies have been conducted that are related to e-commerce and information technology (IT) applications in the hospitality industry with regard to business operation, profit, output, and management perspective. The focus of this study is to examine current e-commerce and IT applications in the hospitality industry and to identify the business travelers' perceptions in order to improve customer service. One of the problems in the hospitality industry is that customers want advanced e-commerce and IT applications, but restaurants and hotels are not necessarily implementing them. This study discusses the typical problems and obstacles of implementing e-commerce and IT applications in hospitality, using the lodging e-commerce and IT applications to satisfy customers, and developing the lodging e-commerce and IT applications as a corporate competitive advantage. Moreover, this study investigated a variety of e-commerce and IT applications related to customer service, satisfaction, and retention as well as e-commerce and IT applications as a distribution channel for receiving travelers' information and accommodation booking. This study provides valuable implications for hospitality practitioners about customer perceptions relative to e-commerce and IT applications.     

The Composition and Effectiveness of Audit Committees in the Presence of Large Controlling Shareholders

The authors' study of audit committees in 450 large East Asian companies (150 each in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia) finds a strong positive correlation between the “cash flow” ownership (as opposed to just the voting rights) of large shareholders and the percentage of independent audit committee members. The study also reports a strong positive correlation between the “cash flow” ownership of large shareholders and the percentage of audit committee members with financial expertise and experience. This finding is consistent with the hypothesis that larger cash flow ownership provides large shareholders with strong incentives for more effective governance. Conversely, the lower percentages of independent or professional audit directors at companies with large disparities between cash ownership and voting rights is consistent with the authors' hypothesis that entrenched large shareholders prefer inferior governance structures that pose fewer obstacles to their tendency to exploit the wealth of minority shareholders. Furthermore, the authors find higher valuations (market‐to‐book ratios) for companies with audit committees that consist entirely of independent directors and have larger percentage of members with financial expertise. And when viewed as a whole, the authors' findings provide support for the argument that ownership structure affects the composition of audit committees, and that independent and professional audit committees can help increase firm value.     

Downward influence styles in cultural diversity settings

This study used the cultural value of individualism to explain the direct interpersonal influence behaviour used by Japanese and American expatriates and the indirect structural influence pattern which together have moulded the influence behaviour of Taiwanese managers. As predicted, the collectivists (Japanese expatriates) were found to use more assertiveness, exchange and higher authority strategies than the individualists (American expatriates). Differences in downward influence style between Taiwanese managers in Japanese and in American subsidiaries did reveal the acculturation effects of Japanese and American organizational cultures. Familiarity with local cultural values and language increased the frequency of using influence for Taiwanese managers, but did not afford the Japanese an influence style similar to the Taiwanese.     

The AQL and RQL of the attributes sampling plans in MIL-STD-1916

Since 1996, the Department of Defense-USA has adopted MIL-STD-1916 (Military Standard-1916) sampling plans instead of the traditional MIL-STD-105E (Military Standard-105E) sampling plans. MIL-STD-1916 emphasizes on an effective prevention-based strategy quality system. Its attributes sampling plans are based on “zero accept one reject” as criteria of judgment. In this paper, the lot sizes are regrouped from original 11 groups into 18 new groups such that 100% inspection and sampling plan could be clearly separated. The relationship between fraction nonconforming and probability of acceptance for each verification level (VL) and lot size is investigated. The acceptable quality level (AQL) and rejectabe quality level (RQL) for each VL and lot size are also investigated. The results of this research provide user friendly tables as guidance for both supplier and customer.     

Key factors influencing digital content industry in Taiwan from the triple helix perspective

The triple helix (TH) model of the university–industry–government relationship is an accepted significant determinant of industrial innovation. However, the evaluations of these three actors and the actors’ innovation or activities' effects have not been empirically determined. The aim of this study is to integrate the TH model and fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to develop an evaluation model that prioritises the relative weight of the factors’ influence on the digital content industry, specifically in Taiwan. The results identify the most relevant factors with respect to digital content to enable policy-makers to develop effective promoting strategies for the industry.     

The interdependence between FDI and R&D: an application of an endogenous switching model to Taiwan's electronics industry

Foreign direct investment (FDI) and research & development (R&D) are mutually dependent and should be treated as endogenous variables in empirical studies. An endogenous switching regression model is used to examine the mutual effect of FDI and R&D in Taiwan's electronics industry. The empirical results show that FDI and R&D are positively related and do reinforce each other. Unbiased coefficients are obtained as they are compared to those estimates if FDI and R&D are treated as exogenous variables. The results have a strong public policy implication for Taiwan's foreign direct investment and can be further used to estimate the difference in R&D expenditures between FDI and non-FDI firms.     

Toward a global low carbon fuel standard

A new policy instrument, known as a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS), is a promising approach to decarbonize transportation fuels. An LCFS has several important features: it applies a lifecycle carbon intensity standard, incorporates market mechanisms by allowing credit trading and targets all transport fuels. A harmonized international framework is needed that builds on newly enacted LCFS policies adopted in California and the European Union.     

Enhancing value-in-use in the FinTech innovation context

The contribution of this study is its investigation of the engine driving consumer value-in-use through a resource—integration capability—value framework from the perspective of a resource-based view and a capability-based view. We analyze how business resources and consumer resources influence individual and collective value-in-use via the causal mechanisms of resource integration capability and relationship integration capability. The study surveys 511 respondents in the greater Taipei area and employs a structural equation model to examine eight hypotheses. The results show that the main causal path was that consumer resources had a positive impact on relationship integration capability. Relationship integration capability showed a primarily positive impact on collective value-in-use.