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1 – 10 of over 100000
Article
Publication date: 26 April 2019

Peter Ammermann, Pia Gupta and Yulong Ma

The student-managed investment fund (SMIF) program at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), was launched in 1995 with one portfolio worth $50,000. In the two decades…

Abstract

Purpose

The student-managed investment fund (SMIF) program at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), was launched in 1995 with one portfolio worth $50,000. In the two decades since then, the program has grown to include three portfolios with a combined value of more than $700,000, managed on behalf of three different clients. The purpose of this paper is to describe the creation, evolution and growth of the program including the development of the new quantitative approach and its subsequent implementation. The paper also discusses the ongoing organizational, educational and investment-management challenges associated with the program.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper includes a description of the development and evolution of the program along with a discussion of the investment results for one of its three portfolios.

Findings

The paper finds: the new quantitative approach implemented in the program is effective as insurance against “black swan” events; and SMIF-type programs can provide learning experiences both for students and faculty members.

Practical implications

The paper explains the practical application of the new quantitative approach as well as the educational benefits of a SMIF-type program.

Originality/value

The paper provides insight into the structure of CSULB’s SMIF program and discusses a unique quantitative approach to asset allocation and security selection.

Details

Managerial Finance, vol. 46 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0307-4358

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 June 2011

Peter A. Ammermann, L.R. Runyon and Reuben Conceicao

The purpose of this study is to develop an investment strategy designed both to enable student‐managed investment fund (SMIF) students to more quickly build out their portfolio at…

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop an investment strategy designed both to enable student‐managed investment fund (SMIF) students to more quickly build out their portfolio at the beginning of the academic year and to give them some exposure to quantitative approaches to investment management.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses data and software that would be readily available to typical SMIF students to develop both an asset‐allocation model and a security‐selection model that can be described as a long‐flat (or synthetic protective put) equity strategy with a momentum‐based style‐rotation overlay.

Findings

Over the time period since the requisite style‐based ETFs began trading, the composite strategy would have outperformed the S&P 500 index during both market downturns and market upturns, providing better than market returns at lower than market levels of risk.

Originality/value

The key innovation of this paper is the development of a quantitative investment strategy tailored specifically to meet both the educational and the portfolio management needs of SMIF students; a secondary innovation is the demonstration of the efficacy of a style‐rotation strategy, in contrast to the more typical sector/industry‐rotation type of strategy.

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1994

Eric Sandelands

Many organizations are investing much time and effort in the management of quality. A few enlightened ones even have a vision to be the best. G. Howland Blackiston, thepresident…

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Abstract

Many organizations are investing much time and effort in the management of quality. A few enlightened ones even have a vision to be the best. G. Howland Blackiston, the president of the Juran Institute, noted recently that, “All around the world companies are waking up to ‘quality’. Everyone is touting quality. Many are attempting it. Some organizations have gotten enviable results by using the concepts of ‘managing for quality’ dramatically to lower their costs, increase their profits and become more competitive in an increasingly competitive market. For these winners, quality has become an integral part of their business strategy”.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 32 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Book part
Publication date: 23 September 2014

Hemantha S. B. Herath, Wayne G. Bremser and Jacob G. Birnberg

Empirical evidence indicates that effective management of resources to implement strategy in a balanced scorecard (BSC) system is essential. We present a mathematical model for…

Abstract

Purpose

Empirical evidence indicates that effective management of resources to implement strategy in a balanced scorecard (BSC) system is essential. We present a mathematical model for allocating limited resources in the BSC strategy implementation process.

Methodology/approach

The proposed facilitated negotiation model provides a systematic approach to prioritizing strategic initiatives in the design and implementation of a BSC.

Findings

Our joint decision model prioritizes strategic initiatives and concurrently calculates the optimal (or approximately optimal) set of BSC targets and weights, given multiyear resource restrictions.

Practical Implications

The model assumes full, open, and truthful exchange of information between the parties; an assumption that may exclude many organizations.

Social Implications

We address an important gap in the BSC literature on how organizations can effectively link strategy to the potential constraint of resource budgets.

Originality/value

Quantitative models are being used in practice for allocating resources, but we are not aware of their use by organizations for allocating resources in a BSC application.

Article
Publication date: 23 October 2023

Bal Ram Chapagain, Pushkar Bajracharya, Dev Raj Adhikari and Dhruba Kumar Gautam

Considering the ongoing debate regarding the roles of business in society, this paper aims to examine the managerial understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in…

Abstract

Purpose

Considering the ongoing debate regarding the roles of business in society, this paper aims to examine the managerial understanding of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Nepal.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses explanatory sequential design under mixed methods of research. First, the questionnaire survey method was used to collect data from 168 managers of listed companies in Nepal. Second, semistructured interviews were conducted with 20 senior-level managers of listed companies to verify the results obtained from the survey and to gain a deeper understanding of the phenomena.

Findings

The survey results show that managerial understanding of CSR is mainly guided by the notions of corporate philanthropy, stakeholder approach and political CSR, respectively. However, the managerial understanding vis-à-vis political CSR and corporate philanthropy were found to be remarkably positively influenced by the firm’s size, whereas the stakeholder perspective was widely held by the managers regardless of their firm’s size. The interview results largely substantiated questionnaire survey findings and further revealed vivid dimensions within the philanthropic approach, stakeholder approach and political CSR.

Practical implications

Given the recent legal provisions vis-à-vis mandatory CSR spending in Nepal, the policymakers may devise and update common core and firm-size-specific informational, fiscal-economic, legal and partnering instruments based on the findings of this study. Besides, companies may go for appropriate institutional arrangements for CSR as needed.

Originality/value

The reaffirmation of conventionally accepted roles and the approval of relatively nascent political roles of business in a distinct socio–political–legal–economic context of Nepal can be an important contribution to the literature.

Details

International Journal of Law and Management, vol. 66 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1754-243X

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 March 1988

J.A. DeVore

In the last decade through‐hole mounting to printed wiring boards has matured and people now have the tools to diagnose and correct any solderability problems which might arise…

Abstract

In the last decade through‐hole mounting to printed wiring boards has matured and people now have the tools to diagnose and correct any solderability problems which might arise. Such is not the case with surface mount soldering technology. In surface mount the connections are smaller and are often hidden from view. Therefore when a solderability problem does occur it may never be known until the assembly fails. The solution to the situation is to understand the nature of the problems and provide assurance that they will not occur during assembly soldering. This paper is structured in two parts. The first details the types of solderability problems unique to surface mounting. Examples of these problems will be shown and discussed with reference to solder joint life. The second part of the paper discusses the solderability testing of surface mount devices and printed wiring boards intended for surface mounting. This discussion will concentrate on the new quantitative solderability test methods being developed in this company's laboratory for leadless devices and printed wiring boards. As part of this development, new solderability criteria have been defined which reflect the unique problems associated with surface mounting.

Details

Circuit World, vol. 14 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0305-6120

Article
Publication date: 10 January 2022

Ashish Dwivedi, Jitender Madaan, Ernesto D.R. Santibanez Gonzalez and Md. Abdul Moktadir

The execution of product recovery strategies and the definition of an adequate system to manage its performance are crucial to move toward the employment of a successful circular…

Abstract

Purpose

The execution of product recovery strategies and the definition of an adequate system to manage its performance are crucial to move toward the employment of a successful circular economy (CE) concept. Defining strategies for the efficient management of product recovery requires product data that is difficult to obtain, making it harder to handle. However, efficient product recovery management can play a key role in shifting companies from a linear economy model to a more sustainable CE model, providing economic benefits and increasing customer satisfaction by recovering and adding value to the discarded product. Therefore, this study aims to provide better models to support decision-making and to evaluate product recovery performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study highlights a comprehensive two-stage decision approach to identify and examine the relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) for performance improvement of an information facilitated product recovery system (IFPRS) in a CE context. In the first phase, a structural equation modeling (SEM) methodology is adopted to categorize the KPIs by employing exploratory factor analysis and measurement of the model fit is obtained using the confirmatory factor analysis. Further, in the second phase, the KPIs are ranked and prioritized on the basis of expert’s recommendations adopting fuzzy-technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution (FTOPSIS).

Findings

Empirical investigation is conducted by compiling data from an association of six decision-makers (DMs) and two DMs from a respective prospect. The results highlight that “Technology Capacity” is ranked as the highest and is the most prominent KPI for successful employment of IFPRS practices. The results of the study would benefit policy makers and company directors in the selection of KPIs based on their importance in a context of high competition and greater pressure to adopt sustainable practices in the management of their companies.

Originality/value

As far as the authors know, no study has been performed till date to identify and construct a structural KPIs model for IFPRS performance improvement in the context of CE. The paper, therefore, proposes a two-phase SEM-TOPSIS technique to measure the impact of KPIs which is a new integration in the existing literature. The results of the study would benefit policy makers and company directors in the selection of KPIs based on their importance in a context of high competition and greater pressure to adopt sustainable practices in managing their organizations.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 60 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 May 2018

Wolfgang Baer, Ahmed Bounfour and Thomas J. Housel

Mobile phones are radically transforming micro-finance in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Kenya, in particular. The introduction of the micro-financial transaction mobile phone…

Abstract

Purpose

Mobile phones are radically transforming micro-finance in Sub-Saharan Africa, and Kenya, in particular. The introduction of the micro-financial transaction mobile phone application, “MPesa,” created a means to facilitate micro-transactions without the need for an intermediary, such as a banking system. The purpose of this paper is to posit an econophysics model to predict the value of Mpesa for Kenyan and South African consumers. The econophysics framework posits several fitness matrices and a distance measure that can account for the concepts of mass, distance, momentum, velocity, action, and force. The authors begin with a table of the match between the physics concepts and the economic concepts followed by the vector model that utilizes these concepts for the MPesa application case. In this paper, the authors will argue that MPesa succeeded in Sub-Saharan African countries, such as Kenya, because the fit between what this group of customers needed and the solutions Safaricom’s MPesa offered was a better fit with a smaller distance to adoption than in the South African case.

Design/methodology/approach

The research develops an econophysics approach to the assessment of micro-finance development in Sub-Saharan countries.

Findings

The research shows clearly the reasons of the success of MPesa in Kenya in comparison of its relative failure in South Africa: the distance between customers’ expectations and the system supply.

Research limitations/implications

The research is limited to two case studies and needs to be extended to other contexts, in order to demonstrate its robustness, especially with regard to the intangible dimension, e.g., the distance between a system potential and what it really offers.

Practical implications

The research shows the importance of system’s characteristics in its success.

Social implications

The social implications are very high, especially in this case, where micro-finance is a high stake for developing societies.

Originality/value

This is one of the first works to develop an econophysics approach for the evaluation of the key characteristics of a system.

Details

Journal of Intellectual Capital, vol. 19 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1469-1930

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 July 2021

Amarachukwu Nnadozie Nwadike and Suzanne Wilkinson

New Zealand building code may be serving its purpose to an extent, there is still a need to develop a framework to improve the use and application of building code for better…

Abstract

Purpose

New Zealand building code may be serving its purpose to an extent, there is still a need to develop a framework to improve the use and application of building code for better building performance and services. This study aims to validate the identified parameters in the developed framework to improve building code practice in New Zealand.

Design/methodology/approach

Subject matter experts interview was conducted with key stakeholders that use building code, standards and other associated compliance documents.

Findings

The findings from this study establish the importance of improving the building code, and the efficacy of validated framework helps to identify the areas with the most pressing needs within the building regulatory system. All the subject matter experts unanimously agreed on educating and training the building code users. Besides, the validated framework will enable the policy decision-makers in the building regulatory system to promote the use of building code and the utilisation of its potentials in reducing disaster while increasing the built environment resilience. The study concludes that the designed framework will create more robust strategy implementations to enhance innovative solutions embedded in performance-based building code.

Originality/value

This study originality centres on the practical application of an evidence-based framework for performance-based building code, standards and other related compliance documents.

Details

Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, vol. 29 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0969-9988

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 October 2016

Sevda Helpap and Sigrid Bekmeier-Feuerhahn

Organizational changes are emotionally charged processes, and scholarly research has increasingly emphasized the impact of employee emotions on successful change management. This…

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Abstract

Purpose

Organizational changes are emotionally charged processes, and scholarly research has increasingly emphasized the impact of employee emotions on successful change management. This impact has rarely been considered in light of approaches focussing on employee sensemaking. To address this critical gap, the purpose of this paper is to combine the model of enacted sensemaking with insights from the Affect Infusion Model.

Design/methodology/approach

To test the model, the authors surveyed 261 employees with a vignette study and performed structural equation modeling on the results.

Findings

The findings reveal that emotions significantly affect employees’ level of psychological resources, particularly change commitment, efficacy, and expectations. Furthermore, change commitment and efficacy are significant predictors of resistance intention, which confirms (to an extent) the validity of enacted sensemaking, and these factors mediate the relationship between employees’ emotions and their resistance intentions.

Research limitations/implications

This study focussed on the early stages of a change initiative. Therefore, the authors only considered employee assessment at one point in time.

Practical implications

This model has managerial utility for explaining how employees’ resistance intention regarding change is influenced by employees’ emotions and their psychological resources.

Originality/value

The results broaden the horizons because they suggest a model of “emotionally primed” enacted sensemaking for employees during organizational change by offering a new theoretical framework (enacted sensemaking and substantive processing) and a new methodological approach (quantitative vignette study).

Details

Journal of Organizational Change Management, vol. 29 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0953-4814

Keywords

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