Optimality results on orthogonal arrays plus <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis> runs for <Emphasis Type="Italic">s</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">m</Emphasis></Superscript> factorial experiments

The optimality of designs obtained by adding p runs to an orthogonal array is studied for experiments involving m factors each at s levels. The optimality criterion used here, is the Type 1 criterion due to Cheng (1978) which is an extension of Kiefer (1975) universal optimality criterion. Unlike what happens with orthogonal array plus one run designs, the behavior of designs obtained via augmentation of an orthogonal array by p runs depends on the particular runs added.     

Safety alerts reduce willingness to visit parks irrigated with recycled water

This study demonstrates the effects of framing safety precautions on the presentation of a controversial product (recycled water [RW]) to the inhabitants of two Greek towns by asking them whether they would visit various configurations of a public park irrigated with RW. The same questions are posed in an additional version augmented with a safety alert. Among many others, results mainly show that willingness to visit (WTV) a park irrigated with RW or willingness to pay for RW decrease when respondents are confronted with the safety statement that ‘the irrigated parts are isolated and have been properly marked for the visitor so that he/she does not come into touch with RW’. Moreover, WTV does not decrease when there is previous experience with the park. The upgrade of RW from secondary to tertiary treatment is valuated only when safety alerts are present. The paper yields promotion insights useful for relevant utilities, organizations, and governments which are interested in forming a social marketing mix for this product while contributing to the theoretical and empirical understanding of framing effects with their experimental demonstration in the two case studies.     

On the Evaluation of Greek Industrial SME's Performance via Multicriteria Analysis of Financial Ratios

The objective of this article is to propose a methodological framework for developing evaluation models for estimating SMEs' performance, based on financial ratio analysis. The proposed framework involves the application of a multiple criteria decision aid method, namely the UTADIS method (UTilités Additives DIScriminantes), to develop a decision model that classifies the SMEs into predefined homogeneous classes according to their performance. The applicability and the efficiency of this approach are examined using financial data on Greek industrial SMEs for the period 1988–1996. A comparison with well-known multivariate and econometric techniques (i.e., discriminant, logit, probit analysis) is also undertaken for comparative purposes.     

Internet banking in the UK: Why are there not more customers?

Despite the increase in the number of internet users recorded by various agencies, the level of increase of internet usage for banking purposes has not increased at the same rate. One reason for this is continuing consumer fear about security which, despite the media coverage and the technical and verbal reassurances provided by the banks, still preys heavily on consumers' minds. Trying to resolve security fears is perceived to be part of the overall service to customers provided by the internet banking service providers. However, customers are continuing to demand increased levels of service quality. The research described in this paper attempted to identify whether or not specific problem areas exist for UK banks in achieving satisfactory performance on key attributes of service quality, particularly security, as perceived by a sample of UK internet banking customers. Using trade-off analysis to interview 56 internet banking customers, five key service quality attributes were identified and ranked. Cluster analysis was then adopted and revealed two groups of respondents. One group was most concerned about security-related issues while the other group was more interested in the convenience, speed and timeliness of the service. Overall, the internet banks were rated as being good on the five attributes except for the attribute ‘product variety/diverse features’. The question that arises from the findings is whether or not good performance by the internet banks on the service quality decision criteria is sufficient in a highly competitive internet environment, not only to attract new customers, but also to retain existing ones.     

Investors’ fear and herding in the stock market

ABSTRACT

In this article, we examine herding in three developed stock markets testing for the impact of investors’ ‘fear’ on herding estimations. To this end, we employ daily data of all listed stocks from USA, UK and Germany from January 2004 to July 2014. We examine herd behaviour applying the cross-sectional dispersion approach. Moreover, we investigate the asymmetric herding behaviour under different market states and sub-periods. The stock markets under examination provide comparable implied volatility indices which are used as a proxy for fear. As a result, apart from the standard herding estimations within and across markets, we also augment the benchmark model with the fear indicator. Our empirical results document the statistically significant impact of fear on herding estimations. Moreover, there is evidence of cross market herding as well as evidence of herding in the UK during specific sub-periods.     

Foreign Direct Investment Determinants in OECD and Developing Countries

In this paper we examine the foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow determinants in 24 Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) and 22 developing (non‐OECD) countries over 1980–2012, using the standard fixed effects as well as a dynamic panel approach. The most robust finding is that lagged FDI, market size, gross capital formation and corporate taxation significantly affect FDI inflows in OECD countries. We also examine a group of developing countries, taking into consideration the increased share of world FDI inflows that developing countries have attracted, and compare the results. In this case, lagged FDI, market size, labor cost and institutional variables provide the most robust results. The empirical results have important policy implications indicating the factors that host economies should emphasize in order to attract FDI inflows.     

Predictors of management development effectiveness: an Australian perspective

Management development is increasingly adopted by organizations seeking to attract and retain talented employees. This research project assessed the current state of management development in Australia. Specifically, this paper sought to identify variables associated with management development effectiveness. A model of management development effectiveness was developed and tested in this study through path analysis using the Analysis of Moment Structures Program. Data were collected from 206 managers in 153 organizations in Australia. Eighteen different industries are represented in the sample. The observed model had a good fit with the predicted model and all the predicted paths were significant and in the expected direction. Link to corporate strategy and opportunities for skill utilization were the two variables most closely associated with management development effectiveness. The implications of these findings for improving management development effectiveness are discussed.