INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT AND BUSINESS RESEARCH
Year:2012 | Volume:2 | Issue:3|Papers Count:7

Every firm learns through firm specific methods. This learning process is operationalized by firm's knowledge management practices. Therefore, knowledge to result in successful learning should be assisted by a combinative framework which can enhance a firms’ absorptive capability. This in turn will play a decisive role for achieving competitive advantage. Current literature in strategic management focuses towards dynamic capability as a source of competitive advantage. Earlier studies have focused their attention on direct relationships among few selective factors like knowledge management framework only, therefore the lack of clarity can be traced to under-specification of the models that the previous studies have examined. Specifically, studies provide limited view of absorptive capability by ignoring the constituting factors which should be integrated. Absorptive capability is a type of dynamic capability. Absorptive capability as a construct involves framework for managing knowledge, ability to combine the existing and acquired knowledge and leveraging knowledge through learning for innovation. Using absorptive capability as a mediator a model to understand the drivers of competitive advantage in Indian Pharmaceutical Industry is developed.

The present paper aimed at developing an approach based on Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) for measuring of knowledge sharing in the organization. In recent years there has been increasing interest in the knowledge sharing by experts and managers in the world, according to increasing importance of knowledge as the key source of competitive advantage, organizations have made serious effort to find effective ways to share knowledge among their employees. It is important to invest in knowledge sharing activities and make innovation and enhance organizational performance. To achieve this elite opportunity, organizations need solutions that are able to evaluate the knowledge sharing. The purpose of the research was to provide a solution for evaluating knowledge sharing. Mined in this research using knowledge sharing model of scientific texts and the appropriate model is designed on the basis of summing up the results of the fuzzy inference system. And finally, knowledge sharing will be evaluated in the case study.

Working capital management is an essential part of the short-term finance of a firm. With an efficient working capital management, a firm can release capital for more strategic objectives, reduce the financial costs, and improve profitability. The present research studies the relationship of working capital management on performance of firms Listed in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). Average Collection Period, Inventory Turnover in days, Average Payment Period, Cash Conversion Cycle, and Net Trading Cycle were used to assess working capital management, and Net Operating Profitability was used to assess firms' performance.The findings of studying 50 firms during the period between 2006 and 2009 by using an Ordinary Least Square Method (OLS) showed that there would be a negative and significant relationship between the variables of Average Collection Period, Inventory Turnover in day, Average Payment Period, Net Trading Cycle and the performance of firms Listed in Tehran Stock Exchange (TSE). There were no evidences to prove the existence of a significant relationship between Cash Conversion Cycle and the firm's performance (NOP) for all years from 2006 to 2009. The results showed that the increase in Collection Period, Payment Period, and Net Trading will lead towards the reduction of profitability in the firm. In other words, managers can increase the profitability of their firms reasonably, by reducing Collection Period, Inventory Turnover, and Payment Period.

The purpose of present paper was to examine the relationship between central bank independence and inflation rate in Iran over 1960-2008. First, central bank independence has been accomplished through three indices including legal and real CBI indices and turnover rate of central bank governor index. Then, Augmented Dickey-Fuller test for model stationary of variables has been done by applying Eviews software. In addition, the relationship among the central bank independence indices and average inflation rate and its variability in Iran's economy has been investigated using Eviews and Microfit softwares. Necessary data for calculating CBI index were obtained from Cukierman criteria (LCBI). Furthermore, real CBI index was gathered via standard questionnaire and turnover rate of central bank governor index data were collected through library survey. The results showed a negative relationship among real CBI and inflation and its variability. The relationship between legal CBI and inflation was also negative, but its relationship with inflation variability was not statistically significant. Also, a positive relationship between turnover rate of central bank governor index and inflation rate was observed, but negative relationship was seen between turnover rate of central bank governor index and inflation rate variability.

The objective of this paper is to determine the efficiency of manufacturing companies in Kenya over the period of 2009 to 2011 as well as suggesting appropriate policies to be employed by the manufacturing companies in Kenya based on the findings of the study. Three critical inputs variables (raw materials, staff expenses and plant and machinery) and two output variables (net sale and earnings after tax) are used to evaluate the relative efficiency of 30 manufacturing companies in Kenya. This study uses the two appropriate tools of analysis namely, Pearson correlation to indicate positive correlation between input and output variables and uses input approach of DEA model. Data is gathered from Kenya Association of Manufacturers database and these companies are categorized under large-sized (with assets above Kshs100 million), medium-sized (with assets between Kshs 40 million to Kshs100 million) and small-sized (with asset below Kshs 40 million).The results indicate that small-sized company has the highest relative efficiency compared to medium-sized and large size company. In addition, the study finds that 1 large-sized company, 2 medium-sized companies and 3 small-sized companies operate under the most productive scale size throughout the three-year period. These results have important policy implications for the targeting policy prescriptions to increase manufacturing competitiveness to attain sustainable efficiency performance.

Personality research has approached a salient consensus step due to widespread use of individual differences, converging on five big model factors with marketing concept. This paper clarifies a market mavenism psychology concept and relates market mavens with big five factor model. Market Mavens are consumer which have tendency to become especially involved in the marketplace. The purpose of this research is to contribute to identify prominent personality traits of market maven through big five model and attempts an indepth investigation to provide guidance for manager so that they can more effectively appeal to consumers who possess this tendency. 146 questionnaires were distributed and have analyzed. Multiple linear regression is used to analyze the effects of five big model traits on market mavens dependent variable. As a result, Extraversion and Openness and Conscientiousness are the three significant characteristic which highlights in their personality traits.Theoretically, these findings enrich the knowledge of the psychology of market mavens by suggesting important factors of their personality from big five perspective. Our finding provide the impetus for additional research aimed at further delineating the relationship shared between these two constructs (market mavenism and psychological traits).

Purpose: The aim and objective of this report is to identify the benefits of interactive communication channels and to advice the FMCG business on how these new methods are better than the conventional methods.Design/ Methodology/Approach: In this research article facts about advertisement and its effectiveness were collected from different surveys conducted by various agencies. Mainly secondary data is used for this research. The present conceptual paper also demonstrates the previous literature and findings.Findings: For FMCG business, Interactive communication channels are far better than traditional methods and they create brand awareness and brand differentiation among other FMCG brands. Although traditional methods have their own advantages but their effectiveness could not be measured, while it is possible in case of modern methods of advertisements. Moreover, people are becoming more accustomed to modern methods due to advancements of technologies.Research implications/limitations: This research will provide guidelines to managers and policy makers of FMCGs Corporations on effective use of all types of communication channels to increase their sales. This research has various limitations. It is only conducted on secondary data. To fill this gap future research can be conducted on primary basis. Only few formats of communication were discussed in this paper. More advanced formats (e.g. Enhanced Text) could be explored in future research by specifying any region or circumstances.Originality/value: Considering the previous literature on advertisement and communication channels, this research study provides the conceptual comparative analysis of traditional channels of communication and Modern tools of communication for selling of any product particularly FMCGs products. This study depicts the usefulness of modern technological tools in today's world in both retail and FMCGs businesses.