Perceived Human Resource Management Practices and Demographic Profile of Staff at Private Higher Education Institutions in Oman

This study described the perceived implementation of human resource management (HRM) practices and staff’s demographic profile at private higher education institutions (HEIs) in the Sultanate of Oman. It further explored the relationship of staff profile and HRM dimensions. Purposive sampling was used with a 50 per cent response rate. The instrument is composed of two parts; the first part includes staff profile while second part consists of 10 HRM dimensions clustered in 36 HRM practices. The findings revealed that all HRM dimensions were often applied and more than half of the respondents were academic staff, expatriates, male, and from affiliated, and college HEI. As to relationship, it was found that staff’s designation and residential status had high significant relationship in most of the HRM dimensions while staff’s HEI affiliation, classification and gender had high significant relationship with two HRM dimensions.

Determining Interrelationship Between Factors Impacting Foreign Direct Investment in Tourism: An ISM-based Approach

The burgeoning spectrum of tourist demand and changing tastes and preferences calls for developing the nation’s tourism profile. India, one of the fastest-growing economies and a potential attractor of tourists, is estimated to be the world’s third-largest tourism economy by 2028 (as per World Tourism and Travel Council [WTTC] estimates) and is expected to draw massive investment in this sector. Thus, the present study aims to analyse various factors impacting foreign flows in the tourism sector and develops a hierarchical structure among the identified factors through the interpretive structural modelling (ISM) technique. A MICMAC (Matrix of Cross-Impact Multiplications Applied to Classification) analysis is performed to categorise the identified factors based on the driving power and dependence level. The interrelationships among the variables were derived from the opinion gardened from 50 research and industry experts. The results showed that political stability plays a critical component in driving other variables in the system. Also, a stable system is likely to impact the economic environment of a nation positively, thus, creating a desirable profile for investors to invest in tourism businesses or the development of destinations.

Balanced Scorecard Development as a Performance Management System in Saudi Public Universities: A Case Study Approach

This study’s main objective is developing a balanced scorecard (BSC) model as a performance management system for the University of Bisha, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The study aims to describe how the University can move from mission to vision using goals and objectives articulated in its strategic plan 2017–2022. The study uses a qualitative research approach. It comprises an extensive review of relevant literature, an in-depth analysis of documentation of the University’s strategic plan 2017–2022, and a comprehensive discussion and face-to-face interview with relevant executives. A BSC framework was developed as a complementary process for the University’s strategic plan 2017–2022. In addition, a strategy map was designed based on the BSC model. The BSC framework and strategy map can be used to assess and monitor the University’s performance towards achieving ‘Educational and Research Excellence’ status by translating its strategic objectives into action plans.

Do Working Capital Decision and Efficiency of Working Capital Management Contribute to the Profitability? Evidence from Bangladesh

This study attempts to explore how working capital decision, that is, aggressive investment and finance decision and efficiency of the working capital management (WCM) contribute to the profitability operationalised by gross operating profit (GOP) and return on assets of listed manufacturing firms in Bangladesh. To investigate this relationship, the study has taken into consideration of 468 sample observations from 108 listed firms covering the year from 2013 to 2017. This study finds that aggressive investment and finance decision significantly contribute to the profitability of the firm. Besides, the efficiency of WCM has significant impact on the profitability. In addition, the constructs of efficiency of WCM—that is, days in inventory outstanding, days in sales outstanding—has significant negative impact on the profitability of the firm. Unfortunately, this study finds no significant impact of days in payables outstanding on firm’s profitability.

Factors’ Affect on the Viettel Corporation Brand, Vietnam

Apparently, brand is now gradually becoming an important intangible asset of the business. It is really a sharp and useful tool to help businesses compete and develop sustainably. Today, many customers choose to buy goods because that product is affixed with a famous brand. Therefore, the brand has brought great value to the business. The article focusses on analysing the factors affecting the expansion of Viettel corporation brand from the perspective of customers, thereby proposing recommendations to help Viettel, in particular, and Vietnamese businesses, in general, to expand their brands successfully.

The Shifting Geopolitics of Coronavirus and the Demise of Neoliberalism with the Big Challenge for United Nations

The world is facing a new geopolitical challenge in the pandemic caused by the spread of COVID-19. The world economy has shrunk by about 3%. The trade war between the United States and China and their defensive agreements with other countries was already a huge problem, but it has reached a critical stage due to COVID-19. The United States has filed multiple lawsuits against China, alleging that they purposely released the Coronavirus. The objective of this article is to examine the shifting Geopolitics, focusing on international economic and defensive relationships among countries, and especially on the Second Cold War between the United States and China. In this pandemic situation, more countries are facing economic downturn and loss of human life. A new geopolitical journey has been started, which is based on the availability of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and medical products. All previous problems that had not yet been solved by the United Nations have become fresh challenges. Another big challenge is the demise of Neoliberalism in the world. Bureaucratic wars have started in the interregional and intraregional zones, and the Second Cold War has started between the United States and China. A major finding of this article is the significant correlation between the death rate of different countries and the shift of geopolitics to a critical stage.

Investigating CSR Practices of LIC of India During Pre- and Post-IRDAI’s Compliance, 2013

In modern times, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has become a focus of attention before organisations. The present study purports the critical evaluation of Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) of India pertaining to the CSR activities during the period under the study. The present study includes secondary data through annual reports of the LIC of India from 2010 to 2018. In order to test the hypotheses of the present study, the paired t-test has been applied. The findings of the study reveal that LIC of India has covered around 60 million lives and settled more than 150,000 claims under the group and social security schemes in the year 2017–2018, which is a milestone in the insurance arena. In the year 2017–2018, more than ₹400,000 million had been invested by LIC of India in the social sector, which is a strong indicator of interest of the organisation towards social responsibility. It is also evidenced through this study that there is no significant difference between pre- and post-IRDAI’s compliance, 2013 pertaining to CSR practices of LIC of India.

Factors Influencing the Adoption of Payment Banks in India Using an Extended TAM

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that shape behavioural intentions of customers towards the adoption of payment banks in India. The conceptual framework of study is based upon integration of technology acceptance model with initial trust, facilitating conditions and social influence. Further, the study tests the moderating role of age, income and self-efficacy on the relationships between dependent variable and associated predicted variable. A total of 507 responses were collected from the state of Punjab (India), using convenient sampling technique and were analysed using the structural equation modelling (SEM). The results revealed that perceived ease of use had the highest impact on the behavioural intentions, followed by initial trust and social influence. Facilitating conditions and perceived usefulness showed lower impact on the behavioural intentions towards the adoption of payment banks. Also, moderation analysis revealed that self-efficacy moderates the relation of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness with behavioural intentions. Results imply that marketers should collaborate with developers to provide the customers with easy-to-operate solutions along with robust customer support mechanism to escalate the adoption intention of those having lower self-efficacy levels.

Determinants of Consumer’s Intention to Purchase Traditional Indian Apparels

Traditional Indian apparels consumer market is still a niche market. The main aim of this article is to observe the influence of perceived quality, price sensitivity, perceived value, status consumption, consumer traits relating to product design (centrality of visual product aesthetics (CVPA), product knowledge (independent variables) on purchase intention of traditional Indian apparels. A structured questionnaire was circulated among respondents in Delhi NCR to collect data. Convenience sampling was employed for data collection. The psychometric properties of purchase intention for Traditional Indian apparels were examined by testing the reliability and validity of the measures. Multiple Regression tool was used to find out the relationship between independent variables on dependent variable (purchase intention). The regression results revealed that perceived quality, CVPA were found to have significant and positive effect on consumer’s intention to purchase Indian traditional apparels.

Organisational Citizenship Behaviour: Effect of Gender, Age and Marital Status on Altruistic Behaviour

This article analyses the relationship between altruistic behaviour and gender, age & marital status of employees. Consistent with this analysis, the study indicates that women are more altruistic than men. The age & marital status of employees also impacts their altruistic behaviour. The finding demonstrates opinions of men and women employee opinions about altruistic behaviour of opposite gender and their choice between altruism and job work.