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Innovation, Environmental Antecedents and Performance Outcomes of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in Ghana
Get PDFThe purpose of the study was to ascertain the effects of innovation types and environmental antecedents on performance outcomes of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies in Ashanti region, Ghana. Specifically, the study measures the mediating effects of environmental antecedents on the performance outcomes of the MMDAs. A total of 280 responses received from interested workers of the MMDAs were used for the study. As a result of the Covid-19 and its related restrictions, the questionnaire was developed using Google forms. Data were collected through social media and the responses received were screened and used for the analysis. The questionnaire was based on measurement scales for the key variables (innovation types, environmental antecedent, performance outcomes) understudy. SPSS and Sobel Test were used to estimate the mediation effect. The study results revealed that there is a significant but negative relationship between innovation types and performance outcomes at the MMDAs. Similarly, a significant and positive relationship was found between environmental antecedent and performance outcomes of the MMDs. Again, the results showed that there is a relationship between innovation types and performance outcomes of the MMDAs. Finally, the results showed that environmental antecedents mediate the relationship between innovation types and performance outcomes of the MMDAs. Based on the findings, the study recommends that managers of the MMDAs should continue to monitor and control the various environmental (public demands, political demand, regulatory frameworks, competition) forces within the public sector in order to realize the full potential of innovation and its role in facilitating performance outcome. Also, the MMDAs should embrace the innovation types (process innovation, process innovation, governance innovation, and conceptual innovation) in order to achieve higher performance outcomes (effectiveness, efficiency, citizen involvement and participation and customer satisfaction)
Evaluation of Gender Equality Criteria Related to Social Sustainability in Ports
Get PDFPorts are developing sustainability frameworks in order to cope with latest requirements from the stakeholders. Economic, environmental and social dimensions of sustainability are the three pillars of the topic. Although economic and environmental aspects of sustainability in ports are widely researched in the literature, the social dimension of gender equality research is scarce. To fill the gap, it is important to identify the most important efforts for improving gender equality in ports. The aim of this study is to evaluate the gender equality criterias by port executives in terms of social sustainability. For this purpose, one of the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods, Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) was used to evaluate the priority weights of five criterias in Turkey. The results show that recruitment policy is the most important criteria in the field. Therefore, some suggestions are made to port industry to become more socially sustainable by minimizing the gender gap
Sustainable Human Resource Management (HRM) Practices for Boosting the Worker Productivity in Tea Plantations in Sri Lanka: Validation of a New HRM Model
Get PDFThe purpose of this research was to identify Sustainable Human Resource Management Practices (SHRMPs) which enhance worker productivity and to validate a Human Resource Management (HRM) model, derived by the authors in previous qualitative studies. The study surveyed 850 randomly selected employees from sixty tea estates in Sri Lanka. Data analyzed with Structural Equation Modeling derived a sustainable HRM model which includes knowledge management and human care practices as the determinants of worker productivity, while Quality of life and Work-life practices mediated the relationship. As a unique finding, knowledge sustainability (KS) identified as a new construct impacted positively on worker productivity. Theoretical and policy implications are also discussed
Paint Marketing and Factors Affecting the Consumers’ Paint Purchase Preference from the Viewpoint of Paint Industry Members in Turkey
Get PDFThe aim of this research was to examine the consumers\u27 preference of paint purchase from the viewpoint of individuals employed in the Turkish paint industry. It was aimed to reach at least 278 individuals with a sampling error of 5%. Within this scope, 350 questionnaire forms were distributed and 330 were received back in the year of 2017. Since 4 of the returned questionnaires had a missing question, study was conducted with 326 questionnaires. The questionnaire form was used as the data collection tool. It included 5 questions about demographic characteristics, 17 questions concerning purchasing and using behaviors, and 29 questions regarding consumers\u27 preferences of paints. Data analysis of the study was done using the SPSS 16 package program. Through the analysis of data, descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard error were presented. In addition, t test and ANOVA test were applied to test the relationship among variables. Based on research findings, the most important factors for the preference of paint purchase in Turkey were determined as the aging of existing wall painting, marriage and cleaning issues. Moreover, it was found out that the experiences of consumers were also effective for the paint purchase decision and preference. Within the scope of the study, it was determined that elder individuals, married and high income people were influenced by many factors in their preference for painting. On the other hand; young, single and low-income individuals were considering less factors in their paint preferences. In addition, it was detected that men were considering properties (features) such as the price and quality more than women in their purchasing preferences. Furthermore, the most important factor affecting the purchasing choice of consumers was determined as previous knowledge and experience. It was also found out that consumers did not frequently conduct market research before choosing the paint. Educational status of individuals was not an effective factor concerning paint preferences
Dynamics of Locus of Control, Financial Knowledge, Financial Behaviour and Financial Position: An Empirical Study
Get PDFQatar has witnessed significant economic growth since 2008 with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increasing by about 10 percent annually on an average, and it is consistently listed among the richest nations in the world since then. A study on the financial behaviour of the Qatari nationals would reveal their role in this achievement. This research tests the hypothesis that the locus of control, income, financial knowledge, financial behaviour and financial position of the citizens are causally related. The research methodology is typical to the empirical studies using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The evidence collected from randomly chosen 204 respondents supported five out of seven hypotheses which indicated that internal locus of control, financial knowledge, financial behaviour and financial position were causally related. For policy implementation, it is imperative that household of a country should be educated in terms of financial knowledge to control the financial behaviour which affects the financial position
Cultural and Attitudinal Tenets of Ghanaians on Insurance Service: An Empirical Study
Get PDFThis study compared the cultural and attitudinal tenets of Ghanaians towards insurance service in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. The research utilized the convenience sampling to gather data from 291 respondents. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used and the relationship between the demographic variables and the actual variables was examined. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) statistical technique using smart Partial Least Square (PLS) 3.0 was also used to assess the study\u27s hypothesized relationships. It was observed that a significant relationship existed between attitudinal trends and awareness, attitudinal trends and perception, attitudinal trends and purchase intention, awareness and purchase intention, cultural trends and awareness, cultural trends and purchase intention. Conversely, a significant relationship did not exist between cultural trends and perception, as well as perception and purchase intention. The study revealed that attitudinal trends have a greater effect on awareness, perception, and purchase intention than cultural trends, while awareness has the strongest relationship with purchase intention but perception has the weakest relationship with purchase intention. These findings may help to bring about social change by raising awareness of the importance of life insurance in the socioeconomic development of individuals, families, organizations, and communities, resulting in insurance coverage and the reduction of poverty in Ghana. Insurance practitioners who want to increase insurance penetration for business and sustainability can find the study useful.This study compared the cultural and attitudinal tenets of Ghanaians towards insurance service in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. The research utilized the convenience sampling to gather data from 291 respondents. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used and the relationship between the demographic variables and the actual variables was examined. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) statistical technique using smart Partial Least Square (PLS) 3.0 was also used to assess the study\u27s hypothesized relationships. It was observed that a significant relationship existed between attitudinal trends and awareness, attitudinal trends and perception, attitudinal trends and purchase intention, awareness and purchase intention, cultural trends and awareness, cultural trends and purchase intention. Conversely, a significant relationship did not exist between cultural trends and perception, as well as perception and purchase intention. The study revealed that attitudinal trends have a greater effect on awareness, perception, and purchase intention than cultural trends, while awareness has the strongest relationship with purchase intention but perception has the weakest relationship with purchase intention. These findings may help to bring about social change by raising awareness of the importance of life insurance in the socioeconomic development of individuals, families, organizations, and communities, resulting in insurance coverage and the reduction of poverty in Ghana. Insurance practitioners who want to increase insurance penetration for business and sustainability can find the study useful
Investigation of Ethnocentrism Effect on Turkish Textile Image and Consumer Purchase Intention: Isfahan and Tabriz Cities as a Case Study
Get PDFCultural factors such as ethnocentrism and cultural stereotypes also play a prominent role in consumers\u27 perceptions of brands. This paper examines the impact of ethnocentrism on the image of Turkish textiles and the purchase intention of these goods among Isfahan and Tabriz citizens. The population of this research is residents of Isfahan and Tabriz cities. This study\u27s hypotheses are examined using structural equation modelling through PLS software. The results showed that ethnocentrism has a significant relationship with the product image, but these results were inconsistent in Isfahan and Tabriz cities. On the other hand, the relationship between ethnocentrism and the cognitive image was confirmed. However, the result was not approved for the affective image in both cities either.
Interest-Free Finance Model by Using Blockchain-Based Company Tokens: Research on Digital Turkish Lira (DTL) and Borsa Istanbul with Technology Acceptance Model (TAM)
Get PDFSince technology benefits people in many areas, its effectiveness is increasing day by day. For this reason, many products and services have been digitized and made available to people. Especially in the last period, with the development of blockchain technology, there has been a significant change in the financial sector. Blockchain technology, which offers a decentralized transaction network, has contributed significantly to the development of digital currencies. In this context, the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey (CBRT) started to work on Digital Turkish Lira (DTL) in 2021. In this context, it will enable the company tokens, which are proposed to be issued as a sub-unit of DTL, which is planned to use blockchain technology in its infrastructure, to be used in the financing of businesses, while also allowing investors to invest in Turkish Lira assets. In the research, it has been suggested that the company tokens to be issued under DTL can be traded on the Borsa Istanbul (BIST) and invested, as well as the relevant tokens can be traded. The proposed model has been examined within the scope of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which is frequently used in the research of technological innovations. The analysis process of the research was carried out with Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The analysis of the research was carried out with the Smartpls 3 package program. Hypotheses H3, H5, and H8 were rejected and other hypotheses were accepted. When the results of the research were analyzed, it was determined that the factors affecting the intention to use the proposed company tokens were parallel to the literature. As a result of the analysis, it has been reached that the attitude and intention towards the use of company tokens in the proposed model are positive
Investigating the Market Linkages between Cryptocurrencies and Conventional Assets
Get PDFMany investors include cryptocurrencies as potential investment tools in their portfolios. Previous studies have mostly analyzed Bitcoin regarding its hedge and safe haven features. Although the cryptocurrency market has expanded far beyond Bitcoin, few studies have examined the interaction among all other cryptocurrencies and conventional financial assets. For this purpose, as the dependent variable, we included the cryptocurrency index to represent the cryptocurrency market, whereas international stocks, bonds, United States (US) dollars, gold, and commodities as independent variables in the analysis. The interactions among the variables were analyzed using the Granger causality tests. The analysis results revealed a two-way causality relationship between the cryptocurrency market and the bond markets, indicating that the cryptocurrency index can be used to predict bond prices and vice versa
The Phenomenon of Hybrid State Capitalism in Emerging Market Economies: Present and Future
Get PDFThe article is devoted to the actual and complex topic of the transformation of a number of countries with emerging markets. A retrospective of the transformation of the entire enclave of emerging market economies in a large number of countries was briefly presented. On this ground, the process of the reproduction of economic systems, distinguished by a hybrid structure with a prevailing state-capitalist order, in a separate conglomerate of post-developing and after socialist countries was analyzed in the last period. Based on the empirical available evaluations, with regard to the conglomerate of considered national economies, the most significant fundamental competitive advantage is still the preservation of relatively low cost of production factors. By the author\u27s argumentation, a vision of the prospect for the transformation of such national economies are presented. The final conclusion concerns the possibility of successful adaptation of these economic systems to the positive fundamental changes, especially including those associated with the transition to sustainable overall social development