College of Business Administration International Business Conference (IBC) 2015 Diversity and Sustainability: Challenges and Opportunities of Global Business 12 – 14 May 2015 Ajman University of Science & Technology United Arab Emirates PROCEEDINGS Edited By: Dr. Lilian Gheyathaldin Taher, Dean Dr. Mohamed Naim Chaker, Head - Dept. of Finance Dr. Akinola Olatunde Fadahunsi, Professor of Marketing Dr. Mohd Ariff Bin Kasim, Assistant Professor of Accounting His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan President of the United Arab Emirates His Highness Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi Member of the Supreme Council – Ruler of Ajman Chairman of Ajman University Board of Trustees Dean Welcome Note Dear Respected Scholars: It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the International Business Conference (IBC) 2015 at Ajman University of Science and Technology (AUST). I am honored today to express, on behalf of the all colleagues and students, great heartfelt gratitude to His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE President, for his wise leadership and support to higher education which makes UAE a special place for young people to live in. I also wish to express my utmost appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Humaid bin Rashid Al-Nuaimi, Member of the Supreme Council of United Arab Emirates, Ruler of Ajman and the Chairman of AUST Board of Trustees, thanking him for his keenness to support Ajman University of Science and Technology and his patronage to the IBC 2015. On behalf of my colleagues, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Osama Salman, Vice President of AUST for his enthusiasm and incontrovertible support. I further would like to extend my appreciation to Professor Norman Wright, Dean-Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University, Mr. IVano Iannelli, CEO of Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence Dubai, UAE, Mr. Burke Franklin, Founder, and CEO of JIAN and Inventor of BizPlanBuilder, and Mr. Christian Farioli, Sales and Marketing Director of Al Habtoor in Dubai for their unprecedented and novel contributions. I also should acknowledge the arduous work and assiduous efforts of the Business Administration College faculty, staff and Heads of Departments for organizing this conference. I am truly humbled and thrilled for their exuberance, academic contribution, and ineffable cooperation. Ajman University of Science and Technology is committed to diversity in all its forms. Diversity in general creates bridges for the community posterity. The bridges between determinative past and pursuing prospect of the people’s pellucid future. It is overwhelming to see the diversity of age, race, education, nationality and life experience that coexist at Ajman University of Science and Technology. We have probed diversity on the university campus, and it has unequivocally divulged the sumptuousness and splendiferous of its promise. For instance, the College of Business Administration has attracted welldiversified and qualified academic staff from around the world, and they have obtained their doctorate degrees from reputable institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Western Europe and Asia. Furthermore, we have built a diverse student body that genuinely reflects the inhabitant community of the United Arab Emirates. In essence, diversity leads to diffusion of new ideas, innovations, and ex novo methodologies. Recent research has indicated that greater degrees of difference in social settings correlate with creativity, and groups that demonstrate a multifarious range of perspectives and notions usually outperform groups of homogeneous--minded experts at solving challenging and fuzzy problems by imperishable margins. On the other hand, sustainability is about self-preservation, understanding, and basically doing more with less. We also have an ever growing population and, people demand the same quality of life as some of us have experienced. Hence, we ought to be able to do more with less vis-a-vis managing the existing resources more efficiently, and certainly embrace the opportunity that sustainability presents. All in all, it can be concluded that sustainability coupled with diversity is the most astonishing catalyst for innovation and economic prosperity of all nations. Last but not least, I wish to express my felicitations and commendations for your continued prosperity and prodigious progress. I am confident that with our collegial and variegated academic engagements we can meet the high expectations of the citizens we serve in our respective communities. Dr. Lilian Gheyathaldin Salih Dean and Associate Professor of Accounting College of Business Administration Ajman University of Science and Technology Ajman, United Arab Emirates IBC2015 Proceedings i List of Abstracts No. 1 2 Title Author (s) A Comparative Study of Diversity Policies and Practices in UAE Public and Private Sector Organizations A Study on Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Externalities With Reference to India Page Samia Kargwell Akin Fadahunsi Sujata Rao Lakshmikanth Hari Abdulhaq. A. Suliman Raghad Hashim Godwin Fancis Tamer Elewa2 Hanan Taleb Noorah Tayab Tariq Bhatti 1 2 3 A Survey of Dental Students on Quality of Preclinical Operative Dentistry Course at College of Dentistry Ajman University, UAE 4 Achieving Green Organization Practices: Case Study of Product Packaging Factory in the UAE 5 An Empirical Analysis of Adopters of social Technologies in the UAE 6 An Evaluation of Industry Expectations from Academia: An Empirical Study in the Context of Contemporary Post-Graduate Graduate Management Education in Kolkata, India Indranil Bose Sredharran Sampath 6 7 Assessing the Entrepreneurial Attitude and Intentions of the Newly Enrolled University Students in the UAE. – The Case of Ajman University of Science & Technology Abdullah Ismail 7 8 Awareness about Ergonomics among Human Resource Professionals Lakshmikanth Hari Wricha Mishra Sujata Rao 8 9 Capital Formation in India- Why Are We Lagging Behind? Charles Suresh David 10 Change Continuum - From a Discrete Perspective Shanthi Rajan 10 11 College Student Retention in the Southern Region of the United States: An Institutional Perspective Joseph G.M. Lutta 11 12 Consumers' Perceptions of Banks Country of Origins in the UAE 13 Corporate Governance and Financing Decision of Small Growing Firms in Sudan 14 Cultural Drivers of Family Business Succession 15 Data Integrity Between Government and Non-Government Schools in the UAE: Findings and Issues 16 Determinants of the Adoption of Transactional E-Governmental for Public Service Provision 17 Determining the Relationship between Strategic Thinking and Brand Orientation among Sales and Business Managers 18 Digital Culture in a High Political Risk Environment: Cross Cultural Studies in Middle Eastern Countries ii Mohammad Naim Chaker Sayed Abbas Ahmed Neimat Abdalla Ibrahim 3 4 5 9 12 13 Rima Bizri 14 Rima Shishakly Mervyn Misajon 15 AbdelRahman A. AbdelRahman Hosein Vazifehdust Ali Sadeghi Ahmad Motaghi Rad Tarek Taha Kandil Emadeddin Ahmed Abu El Enain 16 17 18 No. 19 20 Title Author (s) Does Positive Relationship Exist Between Bank Mergers and Asset Turnover? Facts From Nigeria Electricity Consumption and Growth in the UAE, Estimation and Forecast, 1990 – 2025 Page Hassan Yusuf 19 Abdulkarim Ali Dahan 20 21 Emotional Intelligence as a predictor of Job Performance – A Study Among the Sales Persons of the UAE Rhoda Alexander Aneesa Ahmed 21 22 Entrepreneurial Orientation and Firm Performance: The Mediating Effect of the Leadership Style Ali Yassin Sheikh 22 23 Evaluation of Sudanese Telecommunication Companies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Performance: Case Study of Sudatel Company (CSR) Performance Ahmed Zain Elabdin Ahmed 23 24 Growth Strategies of Gruma José G. VargasHernández Tarek Taha Kandil Madiha Hamed Elmohhamadi Ali 24 25 Higher Educational Electronic Leadership's Impacts on Transforming Mobile Learning 26 How Diversity Stimulates Organizational Learning in a Complex Environment 27 Impact of Advertisement on Consumers in Mobile and Laptop Industry 28 Importance of Factors Affecting Destination Image; In the Context of Dubai Tourism 29 Interest Rate Risk Measurement and Management: An Application of Income Gap 30 Internationalization of Family Business: A Readiness Scale Mazen Jaber 30 31 Is Financing Structure of Islamic Financial Institutions Different? A Case of Modarba Companies of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ahmed Bowra Sarfraz Khan Ossama Fazal 31 32 Islamic Modes of Finance and its Impact on Reducing Poverty in The Islamic World: Malaysian Experience Model Bouhezam Sidahmed 32 33 Knowledge Intensity of Innovation Project: Measurement and Management Features Aibek Galymkair Aziza Zhuparova 33 34 35 Main Challenges of Big Data on Firm Accountancy: New Applications for Cost and Benefit Analysis Mediating the Role of Virtual Supply Chain Integration in the Effect of Traceability on Responsible Automotive Recall Bocanet, Anca Anirudh Jhavar Lajwanti Kishnani Akshey Aggarwal Sunitha K Haneef Aftab Rizvi Ibrahim Elsiddig Ahmad Suja Sarah Thomas Nancy Ibrahim Tarek Taha Kandil Shereen Hassan Nassar José G. VargasHernández MC. César Francisco Cárdenas Dávila 25 26 27 28 29 34 35 36 Methodological Proposal for the Study of the Impact of Globalization on Business Strategy of Mexican International Enterprises 37 Observing Coworkers’ Violations and Managers’ Discipline: The Effect of Violation and Punishment Severity on Coworker Attitudes Jeff Peterson 37 38 Optimal Control Fuzzy Logic Controller Makes a Naked Vanilla Call Option Half Naked Mohd Khoshnevisan 38 iii 36 No. 39 40 41 Title Author (s) Quantitative Analysis of Managerial Capabilities and Internationalization of Manufacturing SMEs – Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries Social Media Technology Management: Digital Marketing Communication as A Sustainable Competitive Adv. for Business Stock Market Reaction to the Political Terrorism: An Event Study Approach Page Nana Osei-Bonsu 39 Nouri beyrouti 40 Sarfraz Khan Zafar Ahmed Farah Liyana Bustaman Abdul Razak Ibrahim Fakhrul Zaman Abdullah Joseph Affholter George Puia Mark Potts Mazen Jaber Anthony Bowrin 41 42 Stress as a Mediating Effects of Personality and Job Satisfaction: Service Experience in Malaysia 43 Sustainable Governance and Internationalization in Family Enterprises 44 Sustainable Urbanization through Information Systems: Establishing Holistic Frameworks Chadi Aoun 44 45 Testing the Micro Structure Theory of Liquidity: A Case of Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) of Pakistan Safdar Husain Tahir Hazoor Muhammad Sabir Nadeem Nazir 45 46 The Applications of the Economics of New & Renewable Energy: A Case Study of Egypt Karim Badr El-Din Attia Hassanien 46 47 The Dilemma of Markets and Resources Paradox : The Way Forward Gulzar A AkoorShahul 47 48 The Effective Adoption of ICT-Enabled Services in Educational Institutions – Key Issues and Policy Implications Abdullah Ismail 48 49 The Evaluation of Talent Management Practices in Software Industry AbdulQuddus Mohammed 49 50 The Impact of Job Stress on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment In the Banking Sector In Pakistan Masood Ahmed 50 51 The Impact of Social Media on Brand loyalty: Implications for Hospitality Industry in the UAE. Samia Kargwell Mohammad Q. Siddiqui 51 52 The Impact of Social Media Marketing on Customer Loyalty Abdullah AlSagheer 52 53 The Influence of Entrepreneurial Leadership Style on Human Resources Training Quality Basma Waleed Kashmoola Tarek Taha Kandil 53 Azeemuddin Subhani 54 Tarek El Kassar 55 Mohd Ariff Bin Kasim Siti Rosmaini Binti Mohd Hanafi 56 54 55 56 The Islamic Financial System -Foundations and Viability The Learning Organization Concept: A Study on Private Companies in Dubai The Outlook of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Roles of Internal Auditors: A Critical Review iv 42 43 No. Title Author (s) Rizwan Ahmad Divakaran Liginlal Robert Meeds Kashif Saleem Monika Shrestha Kichan Nam Sojung Lucia Kim Thompson S.H. Teo Page 57 The Richness of Metaphor and the Metaphor of Richness In Arabic Ecommerce 58 Time Varying Conditional correlation Between Stock and Bond Returns: Evidence From Civets Nations 59 Understanding of IS Audit Process with Success Factors 60 Writing Effective Business E-mail Amany Al Sabbagh 61 أثر التطور التكنولوجي على االقتصاد األردني )2013-1980( دراسة حالة Samer Abdelhadi Ali Al Assaf 61 62 التدابير غير الجمركية وأثرها على نمو وتطور صادرات الدول النامية Salim Moualdi 62 63 ذكـــاء األعمــال و هندســة القـــرار في المنظــمة Hamidouche M'hamed 63 v 57 58 59 60 A Comparative Study of Diversity Policies and Practices in UAE Public and Private Sector Organizations. Samia Kargwell Akin Fadahunsi Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE. Abstract Organizational effectiveness is typically a function of a rational utilization of human resources, the levels of motivation and the degree of job satisfaction that employees experience in the organization. One outcome of deficiencies in any of these listed areas relates to challenges with employee recruitment and retention. Prior studies have identified recruitment and retention of skilled staff as an area of growing concern for organizations in the UAE due in part to employee dissatisfaction with the management of diversity-related issues. As such, the present study seeks to examine the policies and practices through which UAE managers deal with diversity issues, especially in the prevailing context in which the UAE is evidently a high net-migration country, with organizations that therefore operate in an environment in which they are continually brought into contact with an array of facets of diversity. Specifically, the study examines key points of parity and difference between UAE public and private sector organizations with a view to making more focused analysis and recommendations to policy planners on the management of workplace diversity matters. The field methodology includes the administration of 150 self-completion questionnaires to a sample of HR managers in the public sector, and a further 150 self-completion questionnaires to HR managers in the private sector. The preliminary conclusions support the relative lack of awareness of several diversity matters and suggest a link to subsequent performance inefficiencies in those organizations. 1 A Study on Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Externalities with Reference to India Sujata Rao Lakshmikanth Hari K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research (SIMSR), Mumbai, India. Abstract Successful adoption and utilization of ICTs in various sectors is crucial for development of countries. For a developing country like India, adopting ICTs provides huge benefits as well as challenges. Interestingly, IT sector contributes more than 7% of India’s GDP. The growth of IT sector combined with increasing population & GDP may become burden on environment. In view of above, the present study aims to study the externalities of ICTs with respect to India. It mainly concentrates on negative externalities on environment and provides measures for reducing these externalities. 2 A Survey of Dental Students on Quality of Preclinical Operative Abdulhaq.A. Suliman Raghad Hashim Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE Abstract Course evaluations are an integral part of course development in dental education. Purpose: The purpose of the survey was to investigate the students’ satisfaction with respect to various aspects of the pre-clinical operative dentistry course at Ajman University of Science and Technology – College of Dentistry in United Arab Emirates. A questionnaire was distributed among 148 dental students in the third year. The questions were in respect to quality of the course, facility and materials provided, staff evaluation and self-assessment of competence by the students. Results: The response rate for this survey was 83.1%. Among the participating students 76.4% thought that the duration of the lab component of the course was just right while 19.5% of the students felt that it was too short, still some student thought it is too long (4.1%). As part of the evaluation, the students were asked if they thought the faculty members were well prepared regarding the course content for each session, 89.4% of the students answered ‘Yes’ while 4.9% of the students said ‘No’ and the remaining were not sure. 30.9% of the students reported that they found the information given to them by different faculty members were inconsistent while 49.9% of the students did not share this opinion. The study shows that course evaluations may prove useful to improving the quality of education provided to the students. Taking the current finding in consideration might have a positive impact on preclinical-operative course in the future. 3 Achieving Green Organization Practices: Case Study of Product Packaging Factory in the UAE Godwin Fancis Tamer Elewa Hanan Taleb British University in Dubai, UAE Abstract With the growing evidence that the phenomenon of climate change is caused by greenhouse gas emissions it has become necessary to take some immediate action to avoid dangerous consequences for future generations. Green business organizations are growing in UAE market and the country witnesses many green shifting especially after realizing the huge energy consumption in the region. Consequently, the aim of this paper is to achieve green organization practices in the UAE. Questionnaire was distributed among many stakeholders including the employees, managers and consumers. Open-ended questions were also included to identify barriers and discuss potential enablers to implement green organizational practices. After carrying out in-depth qualitative and quantitative analysis, the research revealed many interesting findings including that there is a strong potential of shifting to green business not only in the packaging organizations but many organizations in the UAE market. As a final remark, whilst this paper mainly focuses on UAE business practice, it could be argued that many of the research outcomes are relevant to several countries especially those with similar social and extreme environmental and organizational behavior conditions as United Arab Emirates. 4 An Empirical Analysis of Adopters of Social Technologies in the UAE Noorah Tayab Tariq Bhatti College of Business Sciences, Zayed University, Dubai, UAE. Abstract This article presents a study on adoption of social technologies by teenagers in the UAE. Most Emiratis have adopted new technologies such as computer, Internet mobile phone and smart phone are nearly heading towards 100% or more penetration rate. The number of Internet users in MENA grew from 16.0 million in 2003 to 85.5 million in 2008. Their share of the world's total users rose from 2.0% to 5.2% over the same period. In the last decade (2000-2010), the number of Internet users in MENA increased by 1,800%, which is four times greater than the rest of the world. (Internet World Statistics, 2010) Of that, the United Arab Emirates accounts for 6% of the Middle East's internet users. With over 3.7 million users in the country, internet penetration is at 75%, the second highest in the region to Bahrain. Middle Eastern internet users spend more time online than watching television, where email and social networking remain the most popular activities. Still when looking into more detail, there are notable differences in the adoption rate of social technologies. We develop and test an extended version of the technology acceptance model (TAM) to explain these differences. We found that age, education, income and race are associated differentially with beliefs about the social technologies, and that these beliefs influence a consumer's attitude toward and use of the social technologies. We also provide key insights for both managers and policymakers. 5 An Evaluation of Industry Expectations from Academia: An Empirical Study in the Context of Contemporary Post-Graduate Management Education in Kolkata, India Indranil Bose Sredharran Sampath Westford School of Management, Sharjah, UAE Abstract The study attempts to explore gap between industry expectations and quality of recent management graduates. The main objective of the study is to create an active interface between industry and academia. This paper also studies the gap between academic output and industrial requirement in current scenario. It seeks to find out the relevance of academic output (from higher academic institutions, named as Recent Management Graduates-REGs) to the industry and its underlying determinants. Quantitative and descriptive research has been done, based on data collected through structured questionnaire, from recently passed 70 management post-graduates based in Kolkata, India. Standard statistical tools have been adopted at different stages of research. The study reveals the 12 factors which directly contribute in maintaining the quality of RMGs. The study also suggests some recommendations which may be helpful to find out the solution of this problem. 6 Assessing the Entrepreneurial Attitude and Intentions of Newly Enrolled University Students in the UAE Abdullah Ismail Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE Abstract The amount of entrepreneurial activities carried out by individuals is related to the presence of a supporting entrepreneurial context, and with having a positive entrepreneurial attitude and intention. The subject of entrepreneurial attitude and intention has been widely researched previously within various contexts using different analytical frameworks. This study aims at inquiring about those stimulating factors that may potentially trigger the entrepreneurial drive, attitude and intention. The study also discusses those major challenges and risks which are perceived by the respondents as bottlenecks and barriers to their entrepreneurial journey i.e. in their efforts to turn their entrepreneurial intentions into actions, and thus to move ahead from being a “latent entrepreneur” to a “nascent entrepreneur”. The newly enrolled university students in the college of business administration at Ajman University of Science & Technology have been chosen as a case study. Mixed method research has been employed to conduct this study on the selected sample size of 121 students that include both males and females almost in equal proportion. This research offers some interesting results and findings thought to be informative and relevant for young entrepreneurs, policymakers, universities, financial institutions, industrial players and academic researchers alike. 7 Awareness about Ergonomics among Human Resource Professionals Lakshmikanth Hari Wricha Mishra Sujata Rao K.J. Somaiya Inst. of Mgt. Studies and Research (SIMSR), Mumbai, National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), Mumbai, India. Abstract Ergonomics aims to fit the task to the person. Human resource (HR) professionals are often recruited with an intention to recruit other professionals for the organizations who best fit to the task. It is essential for HR professionals to take into account ergonomic considerations in the organization. In view of the above, a study was conducted on thirty one HR professionals. The objective of the study was to assess the levels of awareness of ergonomics among HR professionals. Only HR Professionals having a minimum work experience of two years were included in the study. A questionnaire was administered to them which comprised questions on demographic details, knowledge about work station design, safety considerations and occupational disorders. 8 Capital Formation in India – Why Are We Lagging Behind? Charles Suresh David Madras Christian College, Chennai, India. Abstract Capital Formation is the back-bone of development of a country. It is very difficult to ensure a steady and sustainable growth of an economy without well developed and structured norms of capital formation. Capital formation is defined as “transfer of savings from individuals or households to the business sector; directly through investments or indirectly through bank deposits which are loaned out to the firms”. The conceptual aspect of this definition categorically mentions that the entire edifice of economic development of a country rests upon the strong foundation of capital formation. The term ‘Capital’ means ‘Gross Capital’ or ‘Gross Fixed Capital’. Gross fixed capital formation (formerly known as gross domestic fixed investment) includes land improvements (fences, ditches, drains, and so on); plant, machinery, and equipment purchases; and the construction of roads, railways, and the like, including schools, offices, hospitals, private residential dwellings, and commercial and industrial buildings. India had been showing steady increase in the process of capital formation since independence. But of late, India has shown downward trend in capital formation, notwithstanding the sustainable growth of capital formation by her neighbouring countries like China, Pakistan and Bangladesh. The researcher, based on the empirical evidence of factorial influence, will summarize the findings and highlight the suggestions for growth of capital formation. 9 Change Continuum – From a Discrete Perspective Shanthi Rajan University of Bolton, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Abstract Organizations grapple with change and growth in a highly competitive and customer driven globalised environment. If organizations want to create and sustain a competitive advantage, it is insufficient to have just the ability and flexibility to compete globally, but also have a self reliant workforce with a vision of inventing new markets and an inside outside focus approach as well. This can be attained only with a radical shift of focus coupled with an organization’s ability to develop and explore the skills of its employees by continuous innovation and improvement. Leaders, therefore, before setting out any change initiative, should understand the emotional vulnerability of individuals. The nature of organizational change has to be understood as a stream of process in terms of recognizing the need for change, the forces that lead and resist change, change readiness state and most importantly managing change. This report has 2 parts: the first part focuses on the conceptual aspects of change and the second part gives a perspective on how British Airways (BA) over a span of 2 decades (two phases) under the supervision of strong leaders with good leadership skills and vision transformed the company from a state of slumber to the world’s most favorite and profitable airline. Surveying what caused the dent from the state of inertia to surviving the damage by means of a radical transformation and modification of its deep structure is the focus of this report. 10 College Student Retention in the Southern Region of the United States: An Institutional Perspective Joseph G.M. Lutta Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE Abstract The primary purpose of this study was to find out factors affecting college student retention in the United States. Higher education institutions all over the world are under pressure to reduce the rates of students dropping out of college (Crosling, Thomas, & Heagney, 2008; Thomas & Quinn, 2003). In this study, a total of 16 independent variables were collected from admissions and student aid databases of a research-extensive university in the Southern region of the United States of America and transferred to a computerized, recording form that served as the research instrument. Using stepwise multiple discriminant analysis, a significant model was identified which accurately explained the college retention status. The model correctly classified 86.7% of the cases, which was a 39.3% improvement over chance. The results of the study showed that many non-retained students entered the study institution with very good high school academic records. Further studies are recommended to increase the percentage of correctly classified cases by integrating these variables with others to further explain retention status. Additional research is also required to determine why students with strong academic credentials leave college before their third year. It was also recommended that more funding be sought to increase the number of scholarships for incoming students. 11 Consumers' Perceptions of Banks Country of Origins in the UAE Mohammad Naim Chaker Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE Abstract The overarching objective of this research paper is to undertake an analysis of the Country of Origin (COO) influence on banking services. The paper assesses consumers’ perceptions and selection of banking services in the UAE. This study is based on a survey exercise conducted across UAE. This study is important as it has great implications for decision making and the literature focusing on banking services in the Middle East. In recent years, however, there have been a number of changes in the global banking industry which have had significant effects on the development of this rapidly growing sector of the economy in most countries of the world (Pustay 1992). The continuous relationship between banks and their customers has become the benchmark for banking industry standard. Despite the importance of the research findings of the present study, the study has some limitations. A quantitative technique was used in this research, limiting the richness of information that could have been obtained from some qualitative methods of data collection. This might have reduced the validity of some of the questions. Due to financial and time limitations, the sample was drawn from only UAE consumers. If other states of the Gulf (Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait) had been included, the information gathered would have been more comprehensive, and more generalizable. Another important limitation was related to the length of the questionnaire. Finally, it may be observed that in a cross-cultural environment, country of origin has an important role in influencing consumers’ decisions about banking services. 12 Corporate Governance and Financing Decision of Small Growing Firms in Sudan Sayed Abbas Ahmed Neimat Abdalla Ibrahim Al Ghurair University, UAE Prince Sultan University, KSA Abstract Corporate governance issue has gained significant attention in management research especially among large listed firms. However, research has seldom been conducted on small and medium sized firms. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to investigate the link between corporate governance and financing decision and its impact on firm performance across a sample of 25 small growing firms operated in Sudan. Specifically, the paper examines how ownership structure and corporate control affect financing decisions through a theoretical framework that links owner profile, financial planning, control characteristics and practice. The empirical findings show that managers are concerned with cash flow and profitability to maintain high internal sourcing of finance, which ultimately, affects financing decisions. The centralization of decision in the hand of the owners gives clear evidence that financing decisions are influenced by their knowledge, experience and typology. The existence of the family at the higher echelon of the hierarchy affects the way in which the business is operated, managed and controlled. These empirical findings provide confirmation that ownership structure and degree of financial control affect financing decisions and have an impact on firm performance. 13 Cultural Drivers of Family Business Succession Rima Bizri Rafik Hariri University, Lebanon Abstract Despite the ever increasing research on this topic, succession in the family business remains one of the hottest areas of study in this field. This paper explores the influence of individualism as a cultural driver of succession in the family business. It seeks to explain how individualism drives both incumbent and successors to engage in the succession process, thus leading to interesting and thought-provoking findings. The qualitative approach was used in this study where multiple-case analysis was performed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with successors of 12 family firms, following the purposive sampling technique, and generating data that were recorded and appropriately analyzed. In a collectivistic country like Lebanon, it was expected that the collectivistic cultural dimension would have a significant influence on the succession decision in the family firm. Contrary to expectations, the findings of this study suggest that though the collectivistic dimension was the main driver behind the succession decision in larger formalized firms, the “Individualistic” dimension had the greater influence on succession in family firms that were small in size and low in formalization. Despite the magnitude of research on family firm succession, this study is distinct as it seeks to offer a novel perspective of the influence of individualism as a cultural driver of succession. This perspective contributes to a deeper understanding of succession as related to size and degree of formalization of the family business. 14 Data Integrity between Government and Non-Government Schools in the UAE: Findings and Issues Rima Shishakly Mervyn Misajon Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE Abstract Education is similar to other different businesses and industries where achieving system and data integrity is essential, in order to achieve automated management for the educational sector, efficient data flow and processing management, and delivery of successful solutions to the different stakeholders. The Ministry of Education (MOE) in United Arab Emirates (UAE) has adopted “Education 2020,” a series of five-year plans designed to introduce advanced education management information systems, improve data processing, data quality and improve innovative skills. As part of this program, in 2010 the MOE implemented several information systems in order to achieve a fully computerized educational management. A student information system (SIS) was implemented by MOE to be used in the private international schools in UAE to enter students’ data and students’ examination marks. The authors in 2014 conducted a study focusing on the EMIS in the public sectors, utilization, and data integrity. This paper will now focus on the private sectors specifically, to investigate the data integrity problems and issues, between SIS the system implemented by MOE, and the systems used by private international schools in UAE. Taking samples from both public and private school systems, the study clarifies the possibility of data integrity and makes recommendations regarding the challenges that private schools are confronted with. 15 Determinants of the Adoption of Transactional E-Governmental for Public Service Provision AbdelRahman A. AbdelRahman Al-Ghurair University, Dubai Academic City, Dubai, UAE Abstract The study examines the impact of bureaucratic corruption, economic freedom, and egovernment readiness on the probability of having in place transactional e-government or Web-enabled transactions for public services. The study uses a logistic regression model and aggregate data on a cross-section of countries to investigate this relationship. The principal finding of the study is that a high level of a country’s corruption reduces the probability of having transactional e-government whereas the presence of economic freedom and high levels of e-government readiness enhance such probability. 16 Determining the Relationship between Strategic Thinking and Brand Orientation among Sales and Business Managers Hosein Vazifehdust Ali Sadeghi Ahmad Motaghi Rad Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. Abstract In today’s changing context, understanding the conditions and predicting the main processes are the only ways through which the organizations can improve their competitiveness. Such a thing can be achieved solely by managers with high levels of strategic thinking. The purpose of the present research is Determining the Relationship between Strategic Thinking and Brand Orientation. The research hypothesis was as follows: There is a significant relationship between strategic thinking and brand orientation. The findings of the study showed a significant relationship between strategic thinking and brand orientation among Sales and Business Managers. 17 Digital Culture in a High Political Risk Environment: Cross Cultural Study in Middle Eastern Countries Tarek Taha Kandil Emadeddin Ahmed Abu El Enain The University of Modern Sciences, Dubai, UAE. Abstract The Arab Peoples’ revolutions crises that took place in the first quarter of 2011 in some Arab countries have raised the challenges that Middle Eastern countries have in the last three decades. Such a turbulent environment has revealed the curtain on the political and enterprise environments. The importance of the present comes from the role of the Electronic performance orientation leadership style that the research measures in the three Arab countries: Egypt Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The political risk reports put the Arab countries as high risk environment, which affect the Arabian decision makers in the private and public sectors in those countries. The present research sheds light on the importance of Electronic performance orientation leadership style that considers as the “future key of concept of a better performing state” Ritz, 2008.P 1). The present research has carried out in three Arab countries Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The research takes all the Arabian Middle managers of the public and private sectors’ companies in the main capitals and big cities of the selected countries, those managers are the research sample. The research used a semi structural questionnaire that has been used to measure the GLOBE leadership styles designed by Hair et al., (1998) in the literature review. The questionnaires were distributed in the three countries from December 2010 to May 2011. The research uses the structural equation model analysis technique with Amos 18 in order to measuring the Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis. 18 Does Positive Relationship Exist Between Bank Mergers and Asset Turnover? Facts from Nigeria Hassan Yusuf American University of Nigeria, Yola, Nigeria. Abstract This study examines the nature of relationship that exists between merger and acquisition (M&A) and banks’ Asset Turnover following M&As that took place during the 2004/2005 consolidation in the Nigerian banking industry. The study compared the mean Asset Turnover (AT) ratios of the banks before and after M&A. Using data extracted from the annual financial reports of the banks, mean AT ratios were computed. Chow Test for Structural Break, paired sample and Independent sample t-tests were performed on the mean AT ratios to gauge the impact of M&A. Our findings suggest that there is no positive relationship between M&A and banks’ Asset Turnover as either the AT ratios of the banks deteriorated or at best, did not improve significantly. Furthermore, we obtained evidence that suggests that the stand-alone banks outperformed the merged banks in terms of AT following M&As in Nigeria. Therefore the study concludes that bank M&As in Nigeria, as in most parts of the world, have fallen short of the popular expectations and pre-merger promises of improved performance. The study thus recommends that future restructuring policy should not be prompted by the thinking that increment in sheer size will have synergistic impact on banks’ financial performance, rather than this “one size fits all” policy of consolidation by recapitalization, regulatory authorities may refocus attention on creating banks that are geographically specialized based on their individual capital wherewithal, and managerial acumen. 19 Electricity Consumption and Growth in the UAE, Estimation and Forecast, 1990 – 2025 Abdulkarim Ali Dahan Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE. Abstract This paper examines the essence of the distributed lag (stock of adjustment) hypotheses both theoretically and empirically. As one of the main objectives of this study is to construct and estimate a simple econometric model for electricity consumption in United Arab Emirates, the model must be simple because of severe data limitations on useful economic variables. The format of this paper is as follows : Section 2 is a historical review of electricity consumption and growth in UAE. Section 3 reviews the theory of stock adjustment and formulates a total aggregate electricity consumption function. Section 4 includes the estimation of the total electricity function for the period 1990 – 2014, and empirical estimates of elasticities. Finally, the estimated model will be used to forecast electricity in the Emirates for the coming ten years, up to 2025, and the paper ends with a summary of findings and conclusion. 20 Emotional Intelligence as a predictor of Job Performance – A Study among the Sales Persons of the UAE Rhoda Alexander Aneesa Ahmed BIT-Ranchi Offshore Campus, Ras Al Khaimah, UAE Abstract The main purpose of this study is to empirically test emotional intelligence as a predictor of job performance among the sales persons in the automotive industry of UAE. Data was collected from 200 sales persons using a questionnaire comprising standardized scales. Emotional Intelligence is hypothesized as positively related to job performance. The effect of demographic variables like age and total years of sales experience are also explored. Simple linear regression is carried out to predict the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Job Performance. Multiple regressions are also carried out to find the relationship between the various sub-dimensions of Emotional Intelligence and Job Performance. Data analysis shows a statistically significant positive correlation between emotional intelligence and sales performance. Hence it is concluded that emotional intelligence is a predictor of sales performance. 21 Entrepreneurial Orientation and Firm Performance: The Mediating Effect of the Leadership Style Ali Yassin Sheikh SIMAD University, Somalia Abstract This study investigates the mediating role of leadership style on entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance relationship in telecommunication industry in Somalia. The objective of the study was to explore the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and firm performance furthermore to identify the mediating effect of leadership style. The data were collected in October 2014 and a total of 104 directors responded to the study from four telecommunication in south central Somalia. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0 to answer research objectives and test its hypotheses. The findings indicate that innovation (β=.228, p=.020), pro-activeness (=.232, p=.027) and risk taking (β=.306, p=.001) were found to have statistically significant and positive effect on firm performance. When the mediating variable was introduced; the standardized beta of the relationship between innovation and firm performance was reduced from .228 to .191; and between risk taking and firm performance however, it is still significant. It means that leadership style partially mediates these relationships. On the other hand, the relationship between pro-activeness and firm performance was fully mediated by leadership style since the standardized beta was reduced from .232 to .117, which is not significant. Research scope and implications are further discussed. 22 Future Evaluation of Sudanese Telecommunication Companies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Performance: Case Study of Sudatel Company (CSR) Performance Ahmed Zain Elabdin Ahmed Ajman University of Science and Technology, Fujairah, UAE. Abstract Corporate Social Responsibility has received a lot of debate in last decades, from the economic responsibility to generate profits, to the discretionary responsibility to meet extra activities that society finds desirable. Companies are under pressure from the stakeholders to engage in the line of social, environmental, and economical responsibilities. To date, no research has been conducted using a dataset from the telecommunication industry in the developing countries. Hence the main purpose of this paper is to investigate the strategic perspectives of CSR in Sudan Telecommunication Company (Sudatel). In doing so this paper would seek to understand if the concept of CSR programs are featured in the company’s culture and strategic plans or if the managements of the company are highly committed to CSR programs. Telecommunication companies are expanding in economical size; considered as the largest industry in the world in terms of employment, the fastest growth area in business. There are many social and economic benefits and opportunities that can be created through investment in the telecommunication infrastructure, which have the potential to enhance sustainable development, especially for developing countries. To be able to investigate this problem, qualitative case study methodology has been used to collect and analyze the data. 23 Growth Strategies of Gruma José G. Vargas-Hernández Rosa Penélope Mares Galindo Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico. Abstract This article touches the strategy that has led the company Gruma to be one of the best in Mexico and worldwide, currently their main strategies have made to reach new markets across alliances, in 2012 and 2013 Gruma has been recognized by the Great place to Work Institute as one of the best companies to work for, given that the aim of this article is to find the reason why Gruma has been second consecutive first. Dare of theories explain the results of Gruma, in order to achieve that other companies can learn the strategies currently Gruma performed not only in Mexico, but also globally. 24 Higher Educational Electronic Leadership’s Impacts on Transforming Mobile Learning Tarek Taha Kandil Madiha Hamed Elmohhamadi Ali The University of Modern Sciences, Dubai, UAE. Abstract The electronic leadership style is one of the most important changes in the higher education system. In the Arab world, higher education institutions have begun to restructuring improvement aimed at putting their universities in the world wide picture in terms of the quality of educational services provided. However, students perceive services quality to still need greater reliability. The present paper investigates the extent to which electronic leadership styles enhance the reliability of the education services quality in three main Arabian counties – Egypt, Iraq and Saudi Arabia – which witnessed in the last decade reasonable improvement in the higher institutional structures and technology but they did not raise their reliability level to consider their universities as one of the five hundred higher institutions all over the world. The present research will use quantitative method for data collection and analysis to answer the research question. Multi-group structure equation model will be the research analysis technique that will be used in the data analysis. The research sample size consists of two sample groups: University educators and students in the three countries. Cross-validation test will be used in order to make the comparison analysis between the three countries. 25 How Diversity Stimulates Organizational Learning in a Complex Environment Bocanet, Anca University of Modern Science, Dubai, UAE Abstract Employees’ diversity has been acknowledged as a key factor in individual and organizational learning across the industries. This paper analyses the effect of diversity on organizational learning by manipulating organizational turnover rates, introducing organizational change and employees’ socialization methods. The organizational learning is happening by engaging in both exploration and exploitation activities and diversity is a stimulator in this process. While the theme of learning being influenced by diversity is a prominent subject in the literature, how learning is being influenced by diversity in a complex environment it is still a concept under investigation. The methodology used is agent-based model to investigate interactions of different agents and NK modeling to represent the complexity of a business environment. After simulating different levels of diversity in different organizational contexts, it was found that complexity brings a constant negative impact on the organizational learning and high rates of diversity are not efficient in uncertain environments. Because of the uncertainty of the business environment, it is very difficult to establish learning rules in order to cope with the constant increasing complexity. However, by maintaining diversity via a prolonged socialization, individuals provide the exploration that allows the knowledge found in the organization to improve, thereby increasing the potential gains to other members (i.e., exploitation), result which is being constant with Tivnan, 2007, p.98. Best performances are achieved when the organizational memory addapts very fast to the best practices in organization and individuals are able to preserve some of their initial diversity. So for low and moderate levels of complexity, a balance between exploration and exploitation is possible to be determined. For high levels of complexity, system’s performances are strongly affected by randomness. 26 Impact of Advertisement on Consumers in Mobile and Laptop Industry Anirudh Jhavar Lajwanti Kishnani Akshey Aggarwal BITS-Pilani, Dubai, UAE Abstract Advertising is a subset of marketing, a form of contact aimed to convince people to buy or seize each deed alongside respect to the products or the services. In today's globe, firms don't grasp back in paying millions of dollars on publicizing and marketing. The seeming reason being that the contest is extremely elevated and every single stable wants to vend its product and make it a brand. Competent publicizing methods utilized in advertisements make a globe of difference in sales prospects of a product. Publicizing effectiveness is measured by the act, the advertisement has frolicked in making the product a real accomplishment and how well it has related alongside the customers. The intention of this project is to scrutinize the encounter of brand image and advertisement on customer behavior in the IT industry, in Dubai. Questionnaire survey was utilized to amass the data. A sample of questionnaires were amassed and evaluated. Findings display that brand picture and advertisement have forceful affirmative impact and momentous connection alongside Customer buying behavior. People discern the brand picture alongside affirmative attitude. Discovery delineated that teenagers/young adults in Dubai are extra cognizant concerning their communal rank so they favor brands and advertisement affects their Customer Buying Deeds positively. 27 Importance of Factors Affecting Destination Image in the Context of Dubai Tourism Sunitha K Haneef Aftab Rizvi Manipal University, Dubai, UAE. Abstract One of the important concepts used in understanding tourists' behavior in the tourism industry is the destination image tourists have towards destination. Developing a competitive position among tourism destinations is usually accomplished by creating and transmitting a favorable image to potential tourists in target markets. Destination Image is formed by many factors. This study will carry out an in-depth literature review to explore the factors affecting image of the tourism destination and also the study would take destination image formation into consideration. The study has the following objectives, To explore various destination image factors related to tourists' holiday experience; to review tourists' pre visit & post visit destination image formation on these factors; to identify the importance of factors affecting destination image; in the context of Dubai tourism. The study will cover the entire Dubai. The study will adopt an approach of observation and survey to meet the objectives. The method adopted in the study will be exploratory, descriptive and analytical support with empirical data. This research will definitely be an important contribution to destination pursuers, place marketers, government agencies and other stakeholders. 28 Interest Rate Risk Measurement and Management: An Application of Income Gap Ibrahim Elsiddig Ahmad Suja Sarah Thomas Al Ghurair University, Dubai Academic City, Dubai, UAE Abstract In an ever-changing environment, banks are exposed to different types of risks such as market, operational and financial risks. Fluctuation in interest rate is one of the major financial risks that the banking sector faces. This paper addresses the problem of measuring and managing interest rate risk in UAE commercial banks. The main objective of the study is to come up with a suitable measure of interest rate risk, to investigate variations in interest rate risk prior to, during and subsequent to the financial crisis period, and to suggest possible methods by which bank managers could manage interest rate risk. The application of income gap analysis helps to forecast the banks’ financial position and performance. To achieve the objectives of the study, secondary data have been collected from published financial statements of the selected banks. Incomer gap analysis model is used to measure the interest rate risk for the period 2005 to 2012 in order to test two hypotheses: H1: There is a significant relationship between UAE banks’ profitability and interest rate risk measured by the gap sensitivity. H2: There is a significant relationship between interest rate risk and the profitability of banks in the context of the financial crisis. SPSS correlation and regression techniques have been applied to test the hypotheses. It is found that there is a significant correlation between income gap and net income of the UAE banking sector. Also there is a positive and significant correlation between income gap and profitability prior, during, and post to financial crisis. 29 Internationalization of Family Business: A Readiness Scale Mazen Jaber Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan, USA. Abstract International business has been dominated by large, multinational enterprises. However, globalization, combined with advancing information and communications technologies, is contributing to a growing role in international business for the small and medium enterprise. First, we examine the role of specific organizational competences, intangible resources that engender success in the international family businesses. In the literature, research themes like family business motivation and innovation have been central in relation to organizational strategy and performance. Current knowledge in this area, however, is fragmented and incomplete, and what it takes to achieve global readiness, is not yet clear. In this paper, we provide a new conceptual definition of international family business readiness (IFBR), which incorporates key firm characteristics or factors expected to collectively enhance international performance. We also develop a self-report measure of IFBR and its underlying dimensions and extensively validate that scale. In the first phase, we conduct in-depth interviews with senior managers at selected family businesses that derive a substantial proportion of their revenues from international business, as well as firms that have just started conducting international transactions. Data from these interviews supplement our literature review and secondary data analysis, and help the authors develop a number of scales to measure the latent constructs that IFBR includes. 30 Is Financing Structure of Islamic Financial Institutions Different? A Case of Modarba Companies of Pakistan Zulfiqar Ahmed Bowra Sarfraz Khan Ossama Fazal University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Abstract Debate on the determinants of the capital structure has been raging since MM theorem was proposed in 1958 and various theories and explanations have been proposed as to why firms prefer certain financing policies over others but no conclusive explanation has been offered to date. There is also indication that determinants of the capital structure may be different from sector to sector and various researchers have provided evidence in this regard even in Pakistan. This study investigates financing structure of Modarba companies in Pakistan which are prime players in the Islamic financial sector. Specifically, the evidence whether such companies avoid debt financing and whether determinants of leverage in such companies are different from the organizations in conventional financial sector is sought out in this study. Considering data of 28 Modarba companies for the period from 2008 to 2012, this study found that on average, Modarba companies are less levered than other companies representing conventional financial sector of Pakistan. This is consistent with the Pecking Order Theory of capital structure which proposed that firms use internal financing as first choice of financing before debt and external financing options. 31 Islamic Modes of Finance and its Impact on Reducing Poverty in the Islamic World: Malaysian Experience Model Bouhezam Sidahmed University of Mascara, Algeria Abstract The Islamic finance and economy is one of the most important themes that began to impose its presence on both academic and professional domains, researchers and specialists in economic and financial fields indicated, in particular, after the economic and financial repeated crises at the beginning of the 21st century. The eradication and exclusion of poverty is on the top of the list of Millennium objectives development. Moreover, many of policies and strategies were set to combat this phenomenon to reduce the number of poor people in the world by half by the year 2015. Through this study, the theoretical side was tackled as a first step. In this part, we dealt with the main theories that explained the phenomenon of poverty as well as the international and local policies and strategies in Islamic countries that used to combat and minimize it. We then talk about Islamic finance especially Islamic finance modes including old widespread versions the books of Fiqh and Hadith as well as the new one that has been issuing fatwas on their availability by Fiqh Councils and Centers for Research in Islamic Economics as an Islamic Fiqh. In addition, we tried to link the application of Islamic finance modes within the framework of Islamic finance and combat poverty in Islamic countries by demonstrating the scientific and practical efficiency of Islamic finance to reducing poverty rates in the Islamic world. 32 Knowledge Intensity of Innovation Project: Measurement and Management Features Aibek Galymkair Aziza Zhuparova Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, Kazakhstan Abstract It is widely known that in a very general form any innovation project can be considered as a complex system of interdependent and interrelated by resources, terms and performer sections aimed at achieving specific goals (tasks) on the development of new technologies, new product or service. In this case, the specific features of innovation are its length, expensiveness and high uncertainty. This is due to the fact that any innovation project from the creation of new ideas to its full completion passes through a certain number of succeeding steps of its development, which forms the project life cycle. Length of the project life cycle is significantly influenced by the innovation field, and also the adopted system of work organization. As a rule, the life cycle of innovation project begins with basic research and provides applied and development activities. It is followed by a stage of mastering of a new product: testing and preparation of production, after which the next steps are commercial production and realization of new products. Nature of innovation at each stage has its own specific features, which are very important for the manager, as the current stage determines tasks and activities of the manager, and also affects his methods and tools. 33 Main Challenges of Big Data on Firm Accountancy: New Applications for Cost and Benefit Analysis Nancy Ibrahim Tarek Taha Kandil The University of Modern Sciences, Dubai, UAE. Abstract The big data trends issued new development in so many fields. In particular, for accountants and financial professionals, new ways of thinking, application and collaboration techniques, have been arranged for meet the new financial data quality requirements (Cooke, 2013; Curtis, 2014; Karaki, 2014; Sari, Anugerah, & Herly, 2014; Tarling, 2013). The present research raises the following key question for accounting firms and financial data analytics: “What are the main challenging points need to be addressed in accounting and financial databases?” Three main challenges are addressed in the present studies. They are: The sheer volumes of accounting and financial data and data details speed accessing, interpreting data came from different disciplines (social media channels sides, social networking and bulges webs, and telecommunication services [Borio, 2014; Brigham & Daves, 2012; Brigham & Ehrhardt, 2013; Schaltegger & Csutora, 2012]). 34 Mediating the Role of Virtual Supply Chain Integration in the Effect of Traceability on Responsible Automotive Recall Shereen Hassan Nassar The University of Modern Sciences, Dubai, UAE. Abstract Globalization, incremental complexity of product design, rigid product safety legislations, higher consumer demand are the main reasons for automotive recall that can be seen as the most catastrophic event a firm would face. Complexity shapes supply chain activities has resulted in a vulnerable automotive supply chain that are prone to errors. Product recall is one of the major features of vulnerability in automotive supply chains. Automotive recalls can constitute a significant crunch for manufacturers, and highly undesirable financial consequences. Managing supply chain risk requires adopting appropriate traceability and recall plans. Recalls can be seen as additional measure of performance with regard to automotive design, supply and product chain. Traceability is critical for today’s automotive supply chain. Traceability can eliminate business failure due to product recalls through providing the manufacturer with the information about what, where, when, the product is, within a specified time frame. Here, inter-organizational relationships supported by IT infrastructure for achieving information visibility and physical traceability among value chain partners are crucial. This study examines the impact of traceability practices in automotive supply chain on achieving more responsible recall management through the mediation effect of both virtual and process supply chain integration. 35 Methodological Proposal for the Study of the Impact of Globalization on Business Strategy of Mexican International Enterprises José G. Vargas-Hernández MC. César Francisco Cárdenas Dávila University of Guadalajara, Mexico. Universidad Autónoma de Durango, Mexico. Abstract The aim of this paper is to support a methodology proposal for the analysis of the impact on commercial globalization trend in relation to the internationalization of Mexicans firms. Also this paper analyzes the advantage the Mexican firms took in the liberalization agenda of the Mexican government with the multilateralism and regionalism policies. For this purpose, the statistic descriptive modeling methodology is used to relate grow of the internationalization of the Mexican firms and the impact in the foreign investment of the main multinationals in Mexico, forcing them to centering in competitive productive processes and improving their internal organization, innovation and development. 36 Observing Coworkers’ Violations and Managers’ Discipline: The Effect of Violation and Punishment Severity on Coworker Attitudes Jeff Peterson Utah Valley University, USA. Abstract Study one was conducted to determine how a coworker’s perception of how severe a violation is relates their desire for retributive justice and their attitude towards the violator and to determine what coworkers feel is the appropriate discipline for a given violation. Coworkers' desire for retribution and attitudes towards the violator and their assessment of how severe a punishment should be imposed were found to be directly proportional the how severe they assessed the violation to be. I also obtained information about what levels of punishment for various violations are considered appropriate to serve as anchors for study two. Study two examined how coworkers react when the punishments given by managers are too mild, appropriate or too severe. A more complex relationship was found where the severity of the violation interacted with severity of the punishment. One key finding was that under punishing had a much more pronounced impact on coworkers than did over punishing which was not significantly different than appropriate punishment. 37 Optimal Control Fuzzy Logic Controller Makes a Naked Vanilla Call Option Half Naked Mohd Khoshnevisan Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE. Abstract Khoshnevisan et al. (2007) posited a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) to minimize the cumulative hedging error based on the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model. FLC process was utilized as the optimum interface between man and machine allowing prioritization between exploitation and exploration for long term options. Shipley (2009) extended the FLC proposed by Khoshnevisan et al. and offered a unique fuzzy controller approach that is capable of evaluating potential financial losses before adjusting the portfolio of stocks. However, her model does not address the stochastic nature of trade, and is unable to minimize the target tracking error of a naked call option, and in particular these frailties are further exacerbated when the underlying security becomes surpassingly volatile. In this short paper, I will put forward a de facto relationship between the Canonical Fuzzy Controller and the Optimal Control Model that is capable of handling fragile naked positions over the length of the investment horizon with minimum error. The necessary condition for the dynamic naked call option pay-off is derived from the following optimal control model, 𝜕 𝜕 Georgescu et.al. (1993) normalization tracking error €= (𝜕𝑟 {µRj (r)} = -𝜕𝑟 { µRj+1 (r)}, and the 1 expected payoff of a naked option µ= E [V (ST,T)]=𝜎√2𝜋𝑇 𝑇 Minimize J=∫0 𝑓 (𝑟, 𝑣, 𝑡)𝑑𝑡Subject to 𝑑𝑟 𝑑𝑡 = f(r,v,t) 38 ∞ ∫0 𝑉(𝑠) 𝑆 1 e {–[ln(s/so)-(r-2 σ2)T]2/2σ2T} ds. Quantitative Analysis of Managerial Capabilities and Internationalization of Manufacturing SMEs – Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries Nana Osei-Bonsu Ajman University of Science & Technology, Fujairah, UAE. Abstract In this study, managerial capabilities: management capacity or size; management expertise; and management process were quantitatively analyzed through longitudinal methodology to ascertain their importance as one of the key driving forces or factors of firm’s international operations. The objective is to examine whether there is a significant relationship between these factors and the firm’s degree of internationalization. The study is based on a sample of 500 low, medium and highly-internationalized non-SMEs and SMEs from five developing countries. The results indicate that there is a significant difference in the managerial capabilities of SMEs and non-SMEs at all levels of internationalization. For example, management capacity (size) of SMEs was significantly less than their non-SMEs counterparts at the moderate and high levels of internationalization. SMEs were significantly less likely to employ a qualified managers (expertise) or uses professional training at the low, moderate and high levels of internationalization when compared to nonSMEs. SMEs were also found to be significantly less likely to develop management process, (international expansion, export and strategic plans, TQM, JIT, QA) when compared to nonSMEs. Overall, the study results suggest that compared to non-SMEs, SMEs grow internationally with less managerial capability. 39 Social Media Technology Management: Digital Marketing Communication as a Sustainable Competitive Advantage for Business Nouri Beyrouti Lebanese American University, Beirut, Lebanon Abstract Social Media have revolutionized the way people communicate and share information between each other. The consolidation of social media on a daily basis is increasingly intense. The advantage of the competitiveness comes from a technological introduction and the constant adaptation along the time to the technological evolution inserted in the strategy of the organization (Hamel, 2007). But technology alone can hardly provide a sustainable competitive advantage to business, the value comes from the sphere of innovation and business structural changes (new business models, process changes…) and the product / service (Peppard J. & Ward, J., 2004) “the phenomenon has changed social behaviors and captivated new users, especially in female and senior citizens, who did not use information technologies as much before pre social media when users were overwhelming male.” This new century may still be young, but it has already spawned a sizable brood of daunting manager’s challenges that are markedly different from the ones that taxes our forebears; the new reality calls for new organizational and managerial capabilities. Therefore, marketing in social media is not “speak loud” ads to people, but to lead, to do something that captivate, connect people who are interested in a connection with a mutual order. This work is a qualitative analysis about the behavior, reactions and attitudes of individuals to organizations, in order to understand the social factors that contribute to sustainable competitive advantages of organizations which can support strategic and future actions. 40 Stock Market Reaction to the Political Terrorism: An Event Study Approach M. Sarfraz Khan Zafar Ahmad University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan Abstract Pakistan is a developing country which has suffered a lot due to ongoing terrorism over the last decade. A series of terrorist attacks were also witnessed in Pakistan where main political figures of Pakistan were targeted or assassinated. A total of 24 terrorism events from 2003 to 2013 were selected; where either political leaders or political parties were targeted. Subsequent impact of such events was assessed on Karachi Stock Market using Event Study approach. It was found that Karachi Stock Market responded to terrorist events targeting main political figures of Pakistan i.e. Pervez Musharraf (President of country that time), Shaukat Azia (Prime Minister of the county at that time) and Benazir Bhutto (Prime Minister Candidate in an upcoming election). The study further found that stock markets in Pakistan do not respond much to the terrorist attacks on political activities (rallies, meetings etc.). Furthermore, stock markets in Pakistan showed the strongest negative response of assassination of Benazir Bhutto and after assassination of Benazir Bhutto subsequent terrorism events even on political leaders lost their significance in Pakistan. This implies that extreme negative events increase the absorption capacity of stock markets and after a strong negative event market may only respond to a stronger negative event than previously witnessed by the market. 41 Stress as a Mediating Effects of Personality and Job Satisfaction: Service Experience in Malaysia Farah Liyana Bustaman Abdul Razak Ibrahim Fakhrul Zaman Abdullah Asia e- University, Malaysia Kolej Poly-Tech MARA, Malaysia Fahad bin Sultan University, Saudi Arabia Abstract To remain competitive, hotels are keen to probe into factors which may result to the ups or downs of an organization. Being part of the ‘people oriented’ industry, organizations are to abide by the fact that their performances are measured through customers’ satisfaction. Due to this, human capital has been identified to be one of the key factors in determining the success or failure of a business. Hence, it is crucial for organizations to select the right people with the right personality to represent the organizations. A total of 165 employees participated in this study around Kuala Lumpur vicinity . Data were collected through selfadministered survey questionnaires. The regressions analyses of this study revealed that stress mediated the relationship between personality and job satisfaction in which two out of five personality traits used in this study were found to be partially mediated by stress; Openness (β=.32, p<0.01) and extroversion (β=.23, p<0.05). Therefore, it could be concluded that not all personality traits could be affected by stress. From the study, one can have a greater understanding of to what extent personality types contribute to job stress and how job satisfaction could also be affected. In addition, this study provides a basis especially for the hospitality industry researcher to further test the relationships among these constructs. 42 Sustainable Governance and Internationalization in Family Enterprises Joseph Affholter George Puia Mark Potts Mazen Jaber Anthony Bowrin Saginaw Valley State University, Michigan, USA Abstract Corporate governance has attracted broad scholarly attention across academic disciplines. More recently, scholars have begun to study the unique governance challenges of family enterprises. Governance arrangements in family firms differ from their non-family corporate counterparts in a variety of ways: family members own and control the firm’s resources, control the firm’s decision making, have a longer term orientation, and typically exist within a framework of providing economic opportunity to the next generation of family members. Decisions within a family firm affect the well-being of the family. Environmental sustainability has become a major theme in business. While some scholarship focuses upon the importance of consumer responsibility of government intervention, there is a growing focus upon the role of business in creating a framework for sustainability in business the extent to which businesses can sustain their financial performance while also sustaining environmental performance. Our paper explores the relationship between internationalization decisions and sustainable practices in family owned farms. From this, we develop a generalized model of sustainable governance and decision making in family enterprises. Implications for future research are explored, as are limitations to the model. 43 Sustainable Urbanization through Information Systems: Establishing Holistic Frameworks Chadi Aoun Carnegie Mellon University, Qatar. Abstract The rapid increase in global population has contributed to a massive strain on urban areas. The United Nations estimates that the world will witness an increase in urban populations from what is now 54% to 66% by 2050, an increase of 2.5 billion people to current populations (UN 2014).While some antecedents of such strain could be attributed to economic necessity, many social and environmental impacts have ensued. Concurrently, advancements in Information Systems witnessed in recent history have provided for an opportunity to create smarter cities and regions through transforming urban centers to intelligent and interactive sustainable hubs. This research, currently in its inception, will explore the potential for smarter cities in the Middle Eastern and Asian regions from a Green Information Systems perceptive. It aims to extend the scholarly and public discourse beyond the building of smart infrastructure, to also encompass the enablement of smart communities, empowered through the use of Green Information Systems to develop sustainable economic, social and environmental practice. The project also aims to influence practice, particularly given the growing regional investments in smart city infrastructure. The findings would contribute towards establishing holistic empirically grounded frameworks for smarter cities, with knowledge-centric, sociocultural and sociomaterial underpinnings. 44 Testing the Micro Structure Theory of Liquidity: A Case of Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) of Pakistan Safdar Husain Tahir Hazoor Muhammad Sabir Nadeem Nazir Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Abstract The microstructure theory uses bid-ask spread as strong measure of stock market liquidity. This theory is based on two important theories (inventory cost and asymmetric information cost) linked with liquidity. Inventory cost theory indicates cost of inventory as factor of liquidity while asymmetric information cost theory shows information as strong determinant of price. Others accepted measures of liquidity are Depth, the cost of trip Trade, turnover and the Lambda etc. The study aims to estimate the effectiveness of each liquidity measure by taking a sample of 50 companies for the period of 2009-2014 listed at Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) Pakistan. The existence of market model is concluded. Trading volume, return and asymmetric information cost show strong linkage with stock liquidity. But the relation between trade volume and stock liquidity is meaningless. Furthermore, the study indicates no association between volatility and liquidity. 45 The Applications of the Economics of New & Renewable Energy: A Case Study of Egypt Karim Badr El-Din Attia Hassanien The British University in Egypt, Cairo, Egypt. Abstract This research paper focuses on the application of the environmental economics of new and renewable energy in this respect in both the developed countries, and in the developing, then applying this in the case of Egypt. This in fact deals with several pillars that provide for studying the effect of the application of the environmental resource economics on key macroeconomic variables related to development and growth. The common acceptable measures of the impact of new and renewable energy on the process of development and that of the growth are researched and analyzed. The analysis covers the effect on key macroeconomic variables. The methodology used in this study provide for a comparative analysis of the case of the developed countries versus that of the developing countries with extended application on the case of Egypt. The research work is an original combination of integrated framework of the analysis of the role of the environmental economics of new and renewable energy in the process of economic development and growth. The findings of econometric running of the Egypt’s data explored that there is a very strong correlation with a Pearson correlation coefficient of degree one (r = 1) between the GDP and the “New & Renewable Energy Consumption in '000 Current USD” in one hand, and between the GDP per capita and the “New & Renewable Energy Consumption in '000 Current USD” in the other hand. The study made set of recommendations concerning the possible means to help the developing countries. 46 The Dilemma of Markets and Resources Paradox: The Way Forward Gulzar A Akoor-Shahul TRANSCO, Abu Dhabi, UAE Abstract This report analyses the paradox between markets and resources and suggests the way forward for strategically challenged companies. When deep pocketed companies, such as those backed by sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East, can procure almost any resource, the question arises whether resource restrictions can be considered a hindrance for success. Can resource rich companies diversify into any market they choose by buying required resources? Newly procured talents and tangible resources often do not cohere to form competencies. On the other hand, considering the resource based approach, though distinct competencies lead to competitive advantages, unless these competencies are constantly updated, the advantage will be lost. Thus, for an organisation to be successful, it is not enough to be market driven or resource driven. It has to be 'competence adaptability' driven. 47 The Effective Adoption of ICT-Enabled Services in Educational Institutions – Key Issues and Policy Implications Abdullah Ismail Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE Abstract Educational institutions are becoming increasingly aware of the need to fully integrate ICTenabled modern educational services in order to supplement the traditional paradigm of teaching and learning with more efficient and effective practices. However in achieving their urge for technology adoption at a quicker pace, they often get overwhelmingly obsessed with the supply-side dynamics of technology diffusion; thus running a risk of ignoring the demand-driven dimensions of technology adoption. Due to the poor understanding of the user-context and not paying enough attention to the inherent challenges faced by the users in the adoption of new technological services, these institutions may not achieve the intended results in terms of the desired educational improvements. Such a linear or “technology-push” approach may lead to a waste of organizational resources, as well as causing an increasing frustration both among teachers and students. This paper investigates the patterns of adoption for two ICT-enabled educational services: Learning Management System and e-books. Mixed method research has been employed to study the adoption experiences of 150 newly enrolled university students in the UAE. The research findings and discussions are relevant and beneficial for students, teachers, researchers, administrators of academic institutions, parents and policy makers. 48 The Evaluation of Talent Management Practices in Software Industry AbdulQuddus Mohammed Effat University, KSA Abstract Modern organizations are striving to remain competent in the dynamic business environment (technology growth, increasing customer needs and high competition). Talented Employee is accepted as a source of sustainable competitive advantage in high performance organizations like IT Sector. The capability to attract and retain talent is becoming a key challenge for HR Managers. Competitive market reduces the chance of recruiting the top talent and increasing the risk of losing the talent to competitors. IT Sector companies needs to remain market leaders, there is need of mechanism to reduce turnover and retain the best talent. Managers needs to be competent to reduce increasing turnover (as employees are leaving their managers, not companies). This research study tries to investigate talent management practices in major IT companies and its relationship with employee turnover. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevailing talent management practices in software industry so that new model can be developed for effective talent retention and organizational effectiveness. The researcher is planning to adopt qualitative and quantitative approaches, the data was collected by using questionnaires. The preliminary results from the study shows that the companies are finding difficulty in finding the right talent and it’s challenging to retain the talented employees. 49 The Impact of Job Stress on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment in the Banking Sector in Pakistan Masood Ahmed Government College Township, Lahore, Pakistan. Abstract The banking sector plays a cardinal role in Pakistan’s economy. It is a major employer of the educated workforce in Pakistan. However, employees in this sector undergo potential stress which yields negative behavioural and work-related attitudes and causes mental and physical illness. This study aims at investigating the levels of stress confronting the human resource in banking sector vis-à-vis its impact on two major work-related attitudes i.e. job satisfaction and organizational commitment. Survey methodology was employed in this study to collect the data. Through multistage sampling, 300 potential respondents were located and questionnaires were sent to them. Data collection yielded 225 valid responses (Response rate: 83%) which were used for the subsequent analysis in the study. The study found a negative impact of job stress on job satisfaction and on the core dimension of organizational commitment i.e. affective commitment. However, a positive correlation was also seen between job stress on the one hand and continuance and normative commitment on the other. Negative impact of stress on job satisfaction and employee commitment was also confirmed by some previous studies. The positive correlation between stress and the two dimensions of organizational commitment (continuance and normative) could be attributed to unemployment, economic issues and social issues. 50 The Impact of Social Media on Brand loyalty: Implications for Hospitality Industry in the UAE Samia Kargwell Mohammad Q. Siddiqui Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE. Abstract The advent of social media and especially the development of web 2.0 has drastically changed the way marketers approach target markets, influence brand perception, and ultimately build brand equity. It has been observed that majority of the companies in UAE are very skeptical about the effect of social media on business. The lack of research on regional basis is the main motivation factor of this study. The aim of this study is to identify the effect of this tool on brand loyalty. The scope of the study consists of marketers and customers of hospitality industry in the UAE. The study further aims to identify current practices and strategies of the major players of the industry towards social media and its role in building brand loyalty. The analysis is based on data obtained from the administration of structured self-completion questionnaire with a sample of 100 management position personnel from 25 chain hotels, and 250 customers of the same organizations. The study will conceptualize the potential of social media for hospitality industry to support decision-making and policymaking, for sustainable competitive advantage through identification of major drivers of brand loyalty. The results will contribute to the scarce literature on the subject matter. 51 The Impact of Social Media Marketing on Customer Loyalty Abdullah AlSagheer Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE. Abstract The basic purpose of this paper is to research and analyze the impact of social media marketing on brand loyalty. In this paper, a research study will be conducted in the context of United States (US) to see whether social media marketing efforts of an organization enhance its customer loyalty or not in case of premium brands. There are actually two views regarding impact of social media marketing on customer loyalty. One group of researchers argue that social media marketing has a positive impact on customer loyalty and it enhances brand loyalty of an organization. Quantitative research methodology is adopted in this research study and the researcher engaged 60 participants in a questionnaire survey. The participants were customers that were active social media users and they were following at least one premium clothing brands among all famous brands in US such as Ralph Lauren, Versace, Armani, Dolce and Gabbana “D&G”, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Hermès, and Louis Vuitton. It is found that social media marketing efforts such as advantageous offers, relevant content, brand updates, popular content, and using multiple social media platforms have a positive impact on customer loyalty in case of premium brands. With social media marketing efforts, word of mouth communication among the customers would increase who would make intentional repeat purchases as well as recommend the brand to other customers. It is concluded that social media marketing has a positive impact on customer loyalty in case of premium brands. Therefore, those organizations that maximize their social media marketing efforts are likely to enjoy high customer loyalty. 52 The Influence of Entrepreneurial Leadership Style on Human Resources Training Quality Basma Waleed Kashmoola Tarek Taha Kandil Lily Julienti Abu Bakar The University of Modern Sciences, Dubai, UAE Universiti Utara Malaysia Abstract The present paper aims to investigate the impacts of the entrepreneurial leadership styles and behaviours in the Arab world on the training programmes perceived service quality. There was a gap among previous studies that reveals the impacts of such leadership behaviours on the perceived services quality of the training programmes (POON , Alhudaithy 2015, Swart, Chisholm et al. 2015, Wang 2015). The present study carries on the field of construction industry that witnessed a huge progress on technology, structures and human resources development all over the world, especially in the Arab Gulf area. The research sample was drawn from all parts of the labour force that had recently been involved in a training programme. A pilot study was conducted in order to investigate the research relationships and variables. The questionnaire was distributed in three Arab Gulf countries between December 2010 and May 2011. The trainees that decide that they got high quality perceived services quality have significantly agreed that the entrepreneurial leadership plays a crucial role in delivering a useful message that let them get the most they can do in the training programme. 53 The Islamic Financial System-Foundations and Viability Azeemuddin Subhani Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE Abstract The Islamic Worldview governing all component systems, including the financial system, displays a unique unity of the temporal and the spiritual that translates to a day-to-day religious self-regulation of the financial market. This unique authority is vested in the Islamic religious scholar, exercised classically from the masjid and contemporeously from the Shari’ah Board room of the Islamic financial institution. The commercial potential of Islamic finance has also been recognized by non-Islamic financial institutions in the form of Islamic Banking Windows. In spite of the impressive strides on the practical front, Islamic finance/economics is still beset with conceptual research problems typical of a new academic discipline. Notwithstanding these academic issues, the Islamic financial system is viable theoretically, operationally, and ethically. Operationally, the financial viability of the presently employed Islamic financial modes is testified on a global historical basis as having withstood the test of time. Ethically, the governing principle of Islamic banking is not a reliance on the conventional exploitative ever-climbing interest rate differentials for guaranteed profitability of operations, but on the just, fair and ethical principle of realized profit-sharing both with the provider and the user of the funds. The former Pope had publicly declared the ethical principles of Islamic banking as the solution of the present financial crisis. 54 The Learning Organization Concept: A Study on Private Companies in Dubai M. Tarek El Kassar Thermo Fisher Scientific, Dubai, UAE. Abstract Organizational learning is a principal tool in achieving long-term survival and sustainable competitive advantage of an enterprise. There is considerable debate regarding the importance of organizational learning and its impact on the performance and competitive advantage of the organization. The purpose of this research is to study to which extent the concepts of the learning organization are present in private companies in Dubai, UAE. In this study, we used a survey research design, with the organization as the unit of analysis. We used a convenience sample of private companies based in the Emirate of Dubai, UAE. The target population was managers at all levels: general management, operations, administration, human resources, marketing sales, and technical head. We obtained 155 (N) respondents in the final sample with complete data. Measuring learning orientation has been framed in the literature by constructs described by Watkins and Marsick (1993; 1999), Senge (1990) and Garvin (2000). Learning orientation was measured using the scale originally constructed and validated by Watkins and Marsick (1999), the Dimensions of the Learning Organization, and Yang, Watkins and Marsick (2004). The data gathered from the survey was then organised in multiple ways for better analysis and entered into SPSS version 22.0. Based on the findings, we can conclude that Dubai Private Companies embrace to some extent the Learning Organization Dimensions described by Watkins and Marsick which we measured using the DLOQ (Dimensions of the Learning Organization Questionnaire). 55 The Outlook of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Roles of Internal Auditors: A Critical Review Mohd Ariff Bin Kasim Siti Rosmaini Binti Mohd Hanafi Ajman University of Science and Technology, Ajman, UAE Abstract The lesson from corporate failure perhaps provides a new perspective in the new world of risk faced by organisations. There are studies documenting the connection or links among risk management, corporate governance and financial results. Empirical researches that considered the impact of the integrated ERM implementation were very limited. Most studies on the ERM in the finance literature focused on individual risks such as interest rate risks, foreign exchange and commodities risks. Some claimed that the ERM should be studied across a broad range of its activities to reflect the integrated approach of it. This paper discuss critical issues concerning the ERM, internal auditors’ roles in the ERM’s implementation, the challenges and the extent to which the ERM could enhance financial performance. The paper also proposed various critical research questions aim to promote new research in this area. 56 The Richness of Metaphor and the Metaphor of Richness in Arabic e-commerce Rizwan Ahmad Divakaran Liginlal Robert Meeds Qatar University, Qatar. Carnegie Melon University, Qatar. Abstract Until recently the use of metaphorical language was believed to be restricted to literary genres such as poetry and novel. Many studies have however shown that metaphors are used widely in businesses to persuade customers and clients in order to enhance sales. Most of this line of research however is based on data from non-Arabic cultures. Based on a corpus of Arabic e-commerce, which we created by analyzing data from websites spanning across 22 Arabic speaking countries, this paper shows that the use of metaphors on Arabic e-commerce websites is quite pervasive. We examine many different domains such as fashion, airlines, e-government, and travel. In the domain of restaurant we find the use of the metaphor in phrases such as “rich taste”, “burger rich in cheese”, “herbs rich in their natural contents”, etc. The same metaphor is used in the domain of tourism to refer to the richness of the old Arab tradition in the phrases “the rich Arab exotic tradition”, “rich buffets”, and ‘rich history of the Arabic musical instrument “alqanoon”’. The use of ‘richness metaphor’ across a number of domains clearly suggests that the metaphor is quite pervasive and simultaneously it also reflects the way richness metaphor structures the way Arabs think about many different and often disparate-looking experiences. 57 Time Varying Conditional Correlation between Stock and Bond Returns: Evidence from Civets Nations Kashif Saleem Monika Shrestha Lappeenranta University of Technology, Lappeenranta, Finland. Abstract “When investors are scared, they look for safety. They adjust their portfolios to include more safe assets and fewer risky assets. As a result, even though there are just as many stocks and bonds as before, bonds now make up a larger percentage of the value of the nation’s investment portfolio.” The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, December 1987, No. 4. Estimation of time varying conditional correlation between asset returns is one of the essential concerns in financial econometrics in order to ensure a secure financial environment. It helps to develop confidence in investment decisions, since broad financial applications are based on it, such as risk management, portfolio diversification and asset allocation. Keim and Stambaugh (1986) is the first study, which examined correlation between stock-bond returns and succeed to draw attention towards this topic. After this work, numerous studies were performed and came up with several outcomes. Further, the results of empirical analysis in the sub-period reflect mixed (increase and decrease) changes during crisis and pre crisis periods. Therefore, these results provide evidence for investment in CIVETS capital market for maximum portfolio diversification benefits. Similarly, the Asymmetric Dynamic Conditional Correlation (ADCC) GARCH model suggested by Cappiello, Engle, and Sheppard (2006) discover strong presence of asymmetric volatility effect in the stock market rather than the bond market. 58 Understanding of IS Audit Process with Success Factors Kichan Nam Sojung Lucia Kim Thompson S.H. Teo Al Yamamah University, KSA Chung-Ang University, South Korea National University of Singapore Abstract As the demand for information systems (IS) audit continues to grow, the academic literature has lagged behind practice due to our inattention to the audit process, its antecedents, and its outcomes. In light of this gap in the literature, this paper postulates a model of IS audit success by drawing upon auditor characteristics, such as auditor expertise and auditor role clarity, whose effects on audit success is mediated by audit process attributes, such as audit responsiveness and audit compliance. The proposed model was empirically tested using survey data from 254 IS projects in public sector firms in South Korea. Our results validates the importance of auditor characteristics and audit process variables in shaping the outcomes of IS audits, while also illustrating how academic research can contribute incrementally toward building a useful knowledge base on IS audits and thereby advance future research and practice in this area. 59 Writing Effective Business Email Amany Al Sabbagh Emirates Canadian University College, Um al Qwain, UAE. Abstract Most of our day-to-day communication, both official and unofficial, is done by email. Email has become so common and so easy to use that it is easy for us to become careless and to fall into bad Email habits. This paper will provide some guidelines that will make you look more professional, make it easier for your correspondents to understand and respond to your Email, and keep you and your organization out of trouble. 60 أثر التطور التكنولوجي على االقتصاد األردني: دراسة حالة ()2013-1980 سامر علي عبدالهادي علي العساف جامعة البترا ,األردن الجامعة األردنية ,األردن الملخص يعتبر التقدم التكنولوجي ركن أساسي في التنمية االقتصادية ،حيث أن إدخال تكنولوجيا جديدة لن تقلل من تكاليف اإلنتاج فحسب ،ولكن يمكن أيضا أن تؤدي إلى زيادة كفاءة عمليات اإلنتاج .واألردن يعتبر من تل الدول التي حقق تقدما في تكنولوجيا في مختلف القطاعات ،األمر الذي انعكس وبشكل إيجابي على االقتصاد األردني ،وتهدف هذه الدراسة إلى التعرف على التطور التكنولوجي وأثره على االقتصاد األردني وذل للفترة ( )2013 – 1980والذي يساهم في حل العديد من المشاكل االقتصادية ،ودوره في تنمية وزيادة حجم اإلنتاج الوطني ولتحقيق االكتفاء الذاتي وتوفير فرص العمل للعاطلين عنه .وقد تم استخدام أسلوب تصحيح متجهات الخطأ () Vector Error Correction Model (VECMفي تقدير دالة كوب دوغالس لإلنتاج ،وتوصل الدراسة إلى ان التكنولوجيا تؤثر بشكل إيجابي على النمو االقتصادي في األردن بمقدار ( ،)1.107802باإلضافة إلى أن التغير التكنولوجي يكون اكثر كثافة لرأس المال في المدى الطويل. 61 التدابير غير الجمركية وأثرها على نمو وتطور صادرات الدول النامية موالدي سليم جامعة الجياللي بونعامة بخميس مليانة ،الجزائر الملخص ستظل فكرة حماية السوق المحلي والحد من تدفق السلع والخدمات ألية دولة هي الشغل الشاغل للعديد من بلدان العالم على اختالف مستويات نموها وتحضرها ،األمر الذي انعكس على اإلجراءات والسياسات التي تهدف إلى منع نفاذ المنتجات إلى األسواق بالتنامي والتعدد والتغير ،ولعل من أبرز هذه السياسات والنظم الحواجز غير تعريفية التي أصبح شيئا فشيئا تشكل شواغل رئيسية فيما يتعلق بدخول األسواق وأصبح تستخدم بشكل كبير كأدوات تجارية تنظيمية خاصة في ظل انخفاض التعريفات الجمركية ،ويشكل األثر التقييدي التي تمارسه الحواجز غير جمركية على نمو وتطور صادرات الدول النامية أهم اآلثار التي يمكن أن يمارسها هذا النوع من القيود وهذا ما سنتطرق إليه في هذه الدراسة. 62 ذكـــاء األعمــال وهندســة القـــرار في المنظــمة الدكتور حميدوش أمحمد جامعة الجياللي بونعامة بخميس مليانة (الجزائر) الملخص إنّ عملية توثيق المعطيات ينشأ ذاكرة للمنظمة بينما استغاللها ينشأ الذكاء؛ فمع التدفق المتزايد للمعلومات فإنّ سياق معالجة وإستغالل المعطيات قد تغيّر بالكثير ألنه تم االنتقال من النمط العملياتي الذي يولي الحسابات اإلحصائية إلى نمط يتطلب الحسابات السريعة التي ال تخص بعض أفراد و إنما متغيّرات و عيّنات عشوائية تظم الماليين من األفراد و التي تظم كميات هائلة من المعلومات باإلضافة إلى المئات من المتغيّرات و المعطيات ت ّم جمعها بدون دراسة مسبقة تديرها برمجيات مختلفة لنصبح أمام مشكل إدارة المعطيات الكبيرة حيث أصبح على المحللّين استخراج معلومات أصلية وذات أهمية لم تكن معروفة سابقا انطالقا من حجم كبير من المعطيات وذلك للتوصل إلى الربط الجديد بين المعطيات والتوجهات والنماذج .وبالتالي الهدف الجديد من هذه األبحاث هو التوصل إلى نماذج مفسرة للمعطيات والتي قد تم ّكن من اتخاذ القرارات االستراتيجية بمساعدة تكنولوجيات األعمال. 63 Participants’ Index No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Title A Comparative Study of Diversity Policies and Practices in UAE Public and Private Sector Organizations. A Study on Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Externalities With Reference to India A Survey of Dental Students on Quality of Preclinical Operative Dentistry Course at College of Dentistry Ajman University, UAE Achieving Green Organization Practices: Case Study of Product Packaging Factory in the UAE An Empirical Analysis of Adopters of Social Tqechnologies in the UAE An Evaluation of Industry Expectations from Academia: An Empirical Study in the Context of Contemporary Post-Graduate Graduate Management Education in Kolkata, India Assessing the Entrepreneurial Attitude and Intentions of the Newly Enrolled University Students in the UAE. – The Case of Ajman University of Science & Technology Awareness about Ergonomics among Human Resource Professionals Capital Formation in India - Why Are We Lagging Behind? Change Continuum - From a Discrete Perspective College Student Retention in the Southern Region of the United States: An Institutional Perspective Consumers' Perceptions of Banks Country of Origins in the UAE Corporate Governance and Financing Decision of Small Growing Firms in Sudan Cultural Drivers of Family Business Succession Data Integrity Between Government and Non-Government Schools in the UAE: Findings and Issues Determinants of the Adoption of Transactional E-Governmental for Public Service Provision Determining the Relationship between Strategic Thinking and Brand Orientation among Sales and Business Managers Digital Culture in a High Political Risk Environment: Cross Cultural Studies in Middle Eastern Countries Does Positive Relationship Exist Between Bank Mergers and Asset Turnover? Facts Author (s) Samia Kargwell Akin Fadahunsi Sujata Rao Lakshmikanth Hari Abdulhaq. A. Suliman Raghad Hashim Godwin Fancis Tamer Elewa2 Hanan Taleb Noorah Tayab Tariq Bhatti Email [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Indranil Bose Sredharran Sampath [email protected] Abdullah Ismail [email protected] Lakshmikanth Hari Wricha Mishra Sujata Rao [email protected] Charles Suresh David [email protected] Shanthi Rajan [email protected] Joseph G.M. Lutta [email protected] Mohammad Naim Chaker [email protected] Sayed Abbas Ahmed Neimat Abdalla Ibrahim [email protected] Rima Bizri [email protected] Rima Shishakly Mervyn Misajon [email protected] AbdelRahman A. AbdelRahman [email protected] Hosein Vazifehdust Ali Sadeghi Ahmad Motaghi Rad [email protected] Tarek Taha Kandil Emadeddin Ahmed Abu El Enain Hassan Yusuf 64 [email protected] No. 20 21 22 23 24 Title From Nigeria Electricity Consumption and Growth in the UAE, Estimation and Forecast, 1990 – 2025 Emotional Intelligence as a predictor of Job Performance – A Study Among the Sales Persons of the UAE Entrepreneurial Orientation and Firm Performance: The Mediating Effect of the Leadership Style Evaluation of Sudanese Telecommunication Companies in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Performance: Case Study of Sudatel Company (CSR) Performance Growth Strategies of Gruma 25 Higher Educational Electronic Leadership's Impacts on Transforming Mobile Learning 26 How Diversity Stimulates Organizational Learning in a Complex Environment 27 Impact of Advertisement on Consumers in Mobile and Laptop Industry 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 Importance of Factors Affecting Destination Image; In the Context of Dubai Tourism Interest Rate Risk Measurement and Management: An Application of Income Gap Internationalization of Family Business: A Readiness Scale Is Financing Structure of Islamic Financial Institutions Different? A Case of Modarba Companies of Pakistan Islamic Modes of Finance and its Impact on Reducing Poverty in The Islamic World: Malaysian Experience Model Author (s) Abdulkarim Ali Dahan [email protected] Rhoda Alexander Aneesa Ahmed [email protected] Ali Yassin Sheikh [email protected] Ahmed Zain Elabdin Ahmed [email protected] José G. VargasHernández Tarek Taha Kandil Madiha Hamed Elmohhamadi Ali Bocanet, Anca Anirudh Jhavar Lajwanti Kishnani Akshey Aggarwal Sunitha K Haneef Aftab Rizvi [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Ibrahim Elsiddig Ahmad Suja Sarah Thomas [email protected] Mazen Jaber [email protected] Zulfiqar Ahmed Bowra Sarfraz Khan Ossama Fazal [email protected] Bouhezam Sidahmed [email protected] Aibek Galymkair Aziza Zhuparova [email protected] Knowledge Intensity of Innovation Project: Measurement and Management Features Main Challenges of Big Data on Firm Accountancy: New Applications for Cost and Benefit Analysis Mediating the Role of Virtual Supply Chain Integration in the Effect of Traceability on Responsible Automotive Recall Methodological Proposal for the Study of the Impact of Globalization on Business Strategy of Mexican International Enterprises Observing Coworkers’ Violations and Managers’ Discipline: The Effect of Violation and Punishment Severity on Coworker Attitudes Optimal Control Fuzzy Logic Controller Makes a Naked Vanilla Call Option Half Email Nancy Ibrahim Tarek Taha Kandil Shereen Hassan Nassar José G. VargasHernández MC. César Francisco Cárdenas Dávila [email protected] Jeff Peterson [email protected] Mohd Khoshnevisan [email protected] 65 No. 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 Title Naked Quantitative Analysis of Managerial Capabilities and Internationalization of Manufacturing SMEs – Empirical Evidence from Developing Countries Social Media Technology Management: Digital Marketing Communication as A Sustainable Competitive Adv. for Business Stock Market Reaction to the Political Terrorism: An Event Study Approach Stress as a Mediating Effects of Personality and Job Satisfaction: Service Experience in Malaysia Sustainable Governance and Internationalization in Family Enterprises Sustainable Urbanization through Information Systems: Establishing Holistic Frameworks Testing the Micro Structure Theory of Liquidity: A Case of Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) of Pakistan The Applications of the Economics of New & Renewable Energy: A Case Study of Egypt 53 The Dilemma of Markets and Resources Paradox : The Way Forward The Effective Adoption of ICT-Enabled Services in Educational Institutions – Key Issues and Policy Implications The Evaluation of Talent Management Practices in Software Industry The Impact of Job Stress on Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment In the Banking Sector In Pakistan The Impact of Social Media on Brand loyalty: Implications for Hospitality Industry in the UAE. The Impact of Social Media Marketing on Customer Loyalty The Influence of Entrepreneurial Leadership Style on Human Resources Training Quality 54 The Islamic Financial System -Foundations and Viability 55 The Learning Organization Concept: A Study on Private Companies in Dubai 47 48 49 50 51 52 56 57 The Outlook of the Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) and Roles of Internal Auditors: A Critical Review The Richness of Metaphor and the Metaphor of Richness in Arabic Ecommerce Author (s) Email Nana Osei-Bonsu [email protected] Nouri beyrouti [email protected] Sarfraz Khan Zafar Ahmed Farah Liyana Bustaman Abdul Razak Ibrahim Fakhrul Zaman Abdullah Joseph Affholter George Puia Mark Potts Mazen Jaber Anthony Bowrin [email protected] Chadi Aoun Safdar Husain Tahir Hazoor Mohd Sabir Nadeem Nazir [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Karim Badr El-Din Attia Hassanien [email protected] Gulzar A Akoor-Shahul [email protected] Abdullah Ismail [email protected] AbdulQuddus Mohammed Masood Ahmed [email protected] Samia Kargwell Mohammad Q. Siddiqui [email protected] Abdullah AlSagheer [email protected] Basma Waleed Kashmoola Tarek Taha Kandil [email protected] Azeemuddin Subhani [email protected] Tarek El Kassar [email protected] Mohd Ariff Bin Kasim Siti Rosmaini Binti Mohd Hanafi Rizwan Ahmad Divakaran Liginlal 66 [email protected] [email protected] No. 58 59 Title Time Varying Conditional correlation Between Stock and Bond Returns: Evidence From Civets Nations Understanding of IS Audit Process with Success Factors 62 Writing Effective Business E-mail أثر التطور التكنولوجي على االقتصاد األردني )2013-1980( دراسة حالة التدابير غير الجمركية وأثرها على نمو وتطور صادرات الدول النامية 63 ذكـــاء األعمــال و هندســة القـــرار في المنظــمة 60 61 Author (s) Robert Meeds Kashif Saleem Monika Shrestha Kichan Nam Sojung Lucia Kim Thompson S.H. Teo Amany Al Sabbagh Samer Abdelhadi Ali Al Assaf Email [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Salim Moualdi [email protected] Hamidouche M'hamed [email protected] 67
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