The impact of Location-based Marketing strategies on retail sectors in Al Batinah region during COVID 19 Pandemic

Purpose: Location-based marketing has become an essential component in today’s businesses. The principal objective of this study is to investigate the growing significance of using location-based marketing services to small and medium-scale marketers and customers. Methodology: This is an exploratory study, which aims to explore the impact of location-based marketing on the retail sector of the Al Batinah region in the Sultanate of Oman. Main Findings: Social media platforms play an important role in the Location-Based marketing of various retail sectors such as SME’s and these platforms play a major role in helping retailers to make decisions whether they wish to market their products by using this platform or not. Implications: All organizations’ top-level management must focus on data mining to identify the right customers and at the same time they should focus on innovative marketing strategies on LBS. Novelty: This study provides motivations and insights that drives businesses and customers to use these LBM services.

Business development & feasibility study of small-scale powdered coffee agroindustry

Purpose of Study: This study aims to analyze the level of visibility of low-scale ground coffee agro-industry and determine the role of the government in the development of low-scale ground coffee agro-industry. Methodology: This research was conducted using a low-scale survey agro-industry method which was applied to a ground coffee centre in one of the provinces in Indonesia. The number of samples is seven low-scale coffee business units. Data analysis used is financial analysis (NPV, IRR, Net B/C ratio, and Payback Period), Break-Even Point analysis, and sensitivity analysis. Results: The results showed that the low-scale ground coffee agro-industry was profitable and looked to be continued (IRR 99%, NPV 27,883,981.46 to 16,076,282,505.24 and Net B/C of 1.02 to 1.32), the sensitivity analysis showed that the cost of production to the scale of costs decreased, namely the decline in production below 20%. Application: The creativity of producers in the marketing of processed coffee products and innovation of flavour variants is important for consumer attractiveness in maintaining the stability of agro-industry income. Novelty: As for the role of the government, the seven production units have received guidance, counselling, and training.

EXPLORING THE EFFECT OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, LEVERAGE, AND INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE (EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM BANKING SECTOR COMPANIES PERIOD 2015-2019)

Purpose of the Study: This study aims to analyze the effect of independent variables such as corporate social responsibility, leverage, and intellectual capital on dependent variables such as financial performance in banking sector companies indexed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2015-2019. Methodology: This review is adopted the descriptive statistics approach. While the hypothesis test using multiple linear regression analysis and simultaneous significance analysis. Secondary data collected through the purposive sampling method consisted of 85 samples from 17 companies. Main Findings: The results indicate that CSR has a positive effect on FP. While LEV and IC have no effect on FP. Debt withdrawal will not have an impact on the company's sustainability in increasing profits. In addition, the company also has a concern for the disclosure of CSR activities through the GRI, which can increase the company's profit. Implication/Applications: The results of this study can be used for financial practitioners, especially in the banking industry, to determine the effect of corporate social responsibility, leverage, and intellectual capital on financial performance. Therefore, banking companies can make decisions based on the priority scale on the most influential variables. In addition, this research can also be a reference for academics and researchers who are interested in the issue of financial performance. The originality of the study: The results of this study are the latest studies that systematically and comprehensively discuss the financial performance of the banking sector based on several important factors.

TOURIST VILLAGE MULTIPLIER EFFECT STUDIES: SMALL SCALE APPROACH

Purpose of the Study: Tourism stakeholders and academics have begun to question the benefits of developing tourism in rural areas. This study aims to identify tourists, tourism entrepreneurs, and employees' characteristics and measure the multiplier effect for local communities in Nglanggeran tourist village, Yogyakarta. Specifically, this study measures income generation (direct, indirect, and induced), employment generation, and the multiplier effect of both. Methodology: This research uses a descriptive quantitative approach. Primary data collection was carried out by the non-participant observation method (for four months). While the technique of determining the sample size (100 tourists, 51 entrepreneurs, and 62 employee respondents) used is non-probability sampling, referring to the Slovin formula with a margin of error of 10%. Main Findings: This study found that local entrepreneurs can be categorized as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Data analysis results show that tourism village had an important economic impact for local communities with a Keynesian income multiplier effect value of 2.57, 1.74 for the Income multiplier type I ratio, and 2.23 for the type II. While the employment multiplier value is 0.0000041. Implication/Applications: This study's results can answer doubts about the economic benefits received by local communities from the development of the Tourism Village. The originality of the study: This study is the latest research, especially considering the implementation of the multiplier effect formula on a small scale. However, this study has some limitations, such as the sample area used (Desa Wisata Nglanggeran) and the context of the tourism impacts studied. Further research is expected to reach other tourist villages and expand its studies to environmental and socio-culture issues.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC, TRADING SOPHISTICATION AND SELF-REFLECTION ON INVESTORS’ HERDING BIAS: EVIDENCE FROM COLOMBO STOCK EXCHANGE

Purpose of the study: Individual investor’s behavior is extensively influenced by biases that are highlighted in the growing discipline of behavioral finance. The present study sought to investigate the influence of socio-economic factors (i.e., investors’ age, gender, education, profession, and income), trading sophistication factors (i.e., trading experience and trading frequency), and self-reflection on herding bias in investment decision-making in Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE). Methodology: The study adopted descriptive and explanatory research designs. It was a census of all 243 individual investors registered with CSE as of September 2020. Sampling was done applying proportionate stratified random sampling technique and data was gathered using self-administered semi-structured questionnaires. The analysis was conducted using means, standard deviations, and regression. Main Findings: The results show that herd behavior is mostly seen among females, having less educational qualifications, who are engaged in the finance field professions, those who are with a very low monthly income, low experience, and who trade less frequently. Self-reflection can be seen in herding bias. On the other hand, age does not impact on herding bias of investors. Applications of this study: This study will be helpful to financial intermediaries to advise their clients. Moreover, the results of the present study facilitate individual investors to realize their herding bias by its’ determinants in the pursuit of making sensible and effective financial decisions. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study gives a unique insight into the investors’ profile corresponding to herding bias under consideration. It not only updates the evidence on herding bias but also highlights which factors are the most influential on herding bias in the Sri Lankan context. With the peculiar scenario in Sri Lanka, this paper contributed to the behavioral finance field as a reference for individual investors and financial advisors.

STRATEGIES FOR SCALING UP SOCIAL BUSINESS IMPACT ON SUSTAINABLE LIVING: A CASE STUDY ON SBLIF

Purpose of the study: The objective of the study was to investigate scaling up strategies of social business projects in order to create sustainable livelihood among the beneficiaries. Methodology: Qualitative research design was found suitable for this study. A case study method was applied through pursuing face-to-face interviews. Seven social business learning and innovation (SBLIF) projects of Grameen Telecom Trust (GTT) have been selected purposively for the analysis. Main Findings: Findings get evidence of organic growth, collaboration, and dissemination strategies to create impact over sustainable living. Through organic growth, social businesses were generating employment opportunities for communities’ people and enhancing their livelihoods. Collaboration with GTT provided social businesses with access to financial and network resources which helped them to serve disadvantaged, rural, endogenous, and climate-vulnerable people. Disseminations of livelihood strategies helped producers and inhabitants to achieve sustainability in many areas. Social Implications/Applications: Social business, a social purpose-driven business, is attracting worldwide attention for its impact on sustainable living through reducing poverty, inequality, unemployment, and negative environmental impacts. But to create more impact on sustainable livelihood, scaling up the social business organization itself is mandatory. This study could be a guide for social business entrepreneurs and policymakers to advance sustainable livelihoods. Originality/Novelty of the Study: Most of the research uses the term social business as a wider concept which mostly relies on philanthropic-funds. This study focuses on a unique type of social business organizations who are not expected to rely on such philanthropic-funds rather have to cover operating costs which make these businesses a new kind of learning for all social entrepreneurs.

BOARD COGNITIVE DIVERSITY AND FIRM PERFORMANCE NEXUS: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA

Purpose of the study: This study examined the influence of board cognitive diversity on firm performance in Nigeria. The researchers investigated consumer goods firms listed in the Nigeria Stock Exchange from 2013 to 2018. Methodology: This research is hinged on the positivist research philosophy; and the deductive research approach. The study adopted the multi-method quantitative research design. Data was hand-collected from the annual financial statements and firms’ websites of consumer goods firms. The researchers measured board cognitive diversity by educational level diversity, education background diversity, and professional member diversity; while performance was measured via financial performance (ROA) and market performance (Tobin's Q). Panel least squares were used to estimate the model of the study. Main Findings: Results from the panel least squares regression revealed mixed findings on the nexus between the proxies of board cognitive diversity and firm performance in Nigeria. Specifically, we found that education level diversity and professional member diversity of board members positively and significantly affects market performance. In contrast, the educational background diversity of the board negatively and significantly affects the market performance of consumer goods firms in Nigeria. Furthermore, we found no evidence on the nexus between educational level diversity; educational background diversity; professional membership diversity of board members, and financial performance of firms investigated. Implications/Applications: The researchers concluded that board cognitive diversity partially influences firm performance in Nigeria. The study recommended that firms in Nigeria, specifically consumer goods firms, should encourage more representation of board directors with a postgraduate degree. This is because they have advanced knowledge and expertise to improve the firm's performance. Novelty/Originality of this study: This is pioneer research to investigate the influence of board cognitive diversity on firm performance in Nigeria.

THE CHANGES IN FOOD CONSUMPTION BEHAVIOR: A RAPID OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Purpose of the Study: This study aims to identify food consumption behaviour at pre, during, and post-pandemic (possibility). Methodology: This study uses a quantitative-based descriptive study approach to explain changes in consumer consumption patterns. Sampling was done by using probability sampling techniques or by a simple random sampling method. Electronic-questionnaire distribution was carried out through the WhatsApp broadcast message application to which 75 respondents responded. Meanwhile, a simple quantitative analysis method is used to calculate several formulas, including mean value, frequency distribution, and percentage. Main Findings: The results showed that health, social, and psychological factors influenced the respondent's food consumption behaviour. There are increasing organic food intentions and self-cooking trends. Besides, this study also shows an increasing awareness of the importance of aspects of health, quality, and food safety in choosing food. Implication/Applications: This research can be used as a theoretical reference, especially related to the factors that influence eating behaviour during a pandemic. Also, the results of this research can be used by culinary businesses to design strategies to survive the Covid-19 pandemic by adjusting products, innovating, and improving product quality based on consumer needs. The originality of the study: The paper is original, and this is the current study to examine the food consumption behavior of local communities in the pandemic issue.

RECONSIDERING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION-ACTION GAP FOR STUDENTS TRAINED IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TUNISIA: AN ANALYSIS FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF SOCIOLOGY OF USES

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this paper is to provide a better understanding of the processes at work in shaping students’ entrepreneurial intentions following training courses in entrepreneurship, and of the gap between entrepreneurial intention and action often seen in these training devices. The goal is to collect information that is difficult to access through the usual methods of evaluating entrepreneurial intentions by shedding light on ways in which students make use of these devices. Methodology: Exploratory qualitative research (comprehensive case study) carried out as part of an Entrepreneurial Training Device (Professional Master’s Degree) at a business school in Tunisia, using participant observation techniques, supplemented and cross-checked with multiple data types (institutional records reflecting educational intentions, regular interactions with students, etc.). Main Findings: The Entrepreneurship Training Device is put at the service of the goals to be accomplished by the students (obtaining a Master’s degree, expanding their studies, increasing their chances of re-enrolling a more typical/ “prestigious” course). Applications of this study: The research can be used in various disciplines (entrepreneurship, the science of education, sociology), and in various fields: the design and evaluation of entrepreneurship instruments, assessment of the entrepreneurial intentions of students, correlations and differences between entrepreneurial purpose and behavior, cultural variations in entrepreneurship, determinants of the choice of an entrepreneurial career, social representations of entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship. Novelty/Originality of this study: The mobilization of the Sociology of uses enables a deeper understanding of the motives and logics of action of students enrolling in a specialized Master’s Degree in Entrepreneurship in Tunisia, and a better understanding of the degree to which these motives and logics help them to participate effectively in an entrepreneurial intention phase.

COST LEADERSHIP STRATEGY, COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, AND PERFORMANCE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN THE CONTEXT OF MILK PROCESSING FIRMS IN KENYA

Purpose of the study: Cost leadership strategy is driven by economies of scale, economies of scope, and operational efficiency is a remedy to a performance where firms are facing high costs. This study sought to investigate the influence of cost leadership strategy on the performance of milk processing firms in Kenya through the lens of competitive advantage as a mediator. Methodology: The study adopted descriptive and explanatory non-experimental research designs. It was a census of all 29 milk processing firms registered with Kenya Dairy Board as of June 2019. Sampling was done using proportionate stratified random sampling technique and data was collected using self-administered semi-structured questionnaires. The analysis was done using means, standard deviations, and regression. Main Findings: The findings showed that a cost leadership strategy had a positive and significant effect on the performance of milk processing firms in Kenya with a competitive advantage partially mediating the relationship. The constituent measures of cost leadership strategy namely economies of scale, economies of scope, and operational efficiency accounted for 40.1% of the variation in firm performance. Applications of this study: This study provides suggestions for firms to manage costs and therefore improve performance. This is by increasing the size of operations, expanding into related business areas, and improving operational processes. Novelty/originality of this study: The study examines the influence of cost leadership strategy in a new context of milk processing firms in Kenya. It also incorporates a competitive advantage as a significant variable affecting the relationship between costs and performance.