Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Hsiang-Tsai Chiang Author-Name: Shu-Lin Lin Title: EFFECT OF AUDITOR’S JUDGMENT AND SPECIALIZATION ON THEIR DIFFERENTIAL OPINION BETWEEN SEMIANNUAL AND ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORTS Abstract: This study examines the factors that lead to issuing negative opinions on semiannual reports while issuing positive opinions in annual reports from the perspective of auditor-client relationships in listed companies in Taiwan. The empirical results show that the importance of the client is significant positively related to differential opinions while auditor tenure and industry specialists are significant negatively related to differential opinions. The results suggest that auditors have become more conservative and pay more attention to protecting their reputations post-Enron. The conclusion indicates that enhancing auditors’ specialization and independence reduces the opportunity to issue differential opinions in order to evade legal responsibility. Classification-JEL: M41, M42, G12, G32 Keywords: Industry specialist auditor, Auditor tenure, Audit opinion, Value of firms, Risk Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 1-22 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-1.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:1-22 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Po-Cheng Wu Author-Name: Cheng-Kun Kuo Author-Name: Chih-Wei Lee Title: EVALUATION OF MULTI-ASSET VALUE AT RISK: EVIDENCE FROM TAIWAN Abstract: Under the internal model approach (IMA) stipulated by Basel II, financial institutions are allowed to develop and employ proprietary internal models to evaluate various risk. However, the flexibility to develop a proprietary model leads to the question of which computing method delivers the most accurate and reliable estimates of value at risk (VaR). This research employs the new backtesting method proposed by Pérignon and Smith (2008) to determine the best method for computing integrated value at risk. It tests three major VaR computation methods — historical simulation, Monte Carlo simulation, and variance-covariance methods. The portfolio on which VaR is computed includes equities, government bonds, foreign exchange, and index options, all of which are commonly traded by financial institutions. The empirical analysis indicates that historical simulation is the best VaR computation method, which is consistent with the result of Pérignon and Smith (2008). Classification-JEL: G11; G28; G32 Keywords: Value-at-Risk (VaR), Backtesting, Unconditional Coverage Test, Internal Model Approach (IMA) Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 23-34 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-2.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:23-34 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Vanaja Menon Vadakepat Author-Name: Faisal Al Khateeb Title: GLOBALIZING RURAL MARKETS: EVIDENCE FROM HANDMADE TRADITIONAL PRODUCT MARKETS Abstract: Learning market realities improves businesses. Kerala, India, traditional cottage units producing indigenous handmade goods are not an exception. Changes because of globalization have intensified competition to imported non-natural factory products into Kerala markets. Traditional industries, ignorant of these penetrations, struggle hard to challenge their urban competitors. Response delays may push these units out, replacing them with imported products. This study carries a market threat analysis to appraise current market realities for traditional products of Kerala. The first part of the study involves a competitor analysis with a survey focusing on 200 artisans selected from three districts. We focus on five market key causes. The primary survey focused on a sample of 200 artisans randomly selected from voluntary traditional craft units of three districts. Competitive profiles developed in this paper assessed the market realities and global challenges for handmade products. The second part of the analysis, studies the types of threat that could wreak havoc the future of handmade traditional products. Classification-JEL: M20, M30, M31 Keywords: Market Threat, Global & Rural Markets, Traditional Products, Kerala Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 35-43 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-3.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:35-43 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Jui-Ying Hung Author-Name: Feng-Li Lin Author-Name: Wen-Goang Yang Title: DEVELOPING EXPERIENCE-BASED LUXURY BRAND EQUITY IN THE LUXURY RESORTS HOTEL INDUSTRY Abstract: Businesses constantly strive to provide added value and brand equity to gain a competitive advantage, particularly in the contemporary hospitality industry. It is widely accepted that a luxury experience brand enhances the value of a luxury resort hotels industry. Since the 1980s, the concept of brand equity has focused mainly on tangible products, as opposed to services or experiences. This study found that experience-based luxury brand equity is perceived through extensive implicit equity related dimensions. In addition, all research tourists of luxury resorts hotel industry in Taiwan and Macao emphasized extended intrinsic values (EIV), which including variables of brand awareness, brand loyalty, organization association and brand identity than fundamental extrinsic value (FEV), including variables of perceived brand loyalty, experience value and unique. Classification-JEL: L83; M16 Keywords: Luxury Resorts Hotel Industry, Brand Equity, Experience of Luxury, Experience-based Luxury Brand Equity Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 45-58 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-4.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:45-58 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Solomon A. Keelson Title: FACTORS AFFECTING CONSUMER CHOICE OF MULTIPLE MOBILE SERVICES Abstract: This paper examines student selection of mobile phone services. The research used a quantitative methodology. The author surveyed some 500 University and Polytechnic students in Ghana and finds that the basic reason for changing phone servers is reliability and cost savings. The author also finds that reference group influence, social reputation and regular contact with others were also influential factors. Classification-JEL: D11, D12 Keywords: Tertiary Students, Multiple Services, Mobile Phone, Service Operators Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 59-67 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-5.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:59-67 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ernesto Escobedo Author-Name: Felecia Jett Author-Name: Teresa Lao Title: COMMUNICATION ISSUES IN A MULTILINGUAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT: INSIGHTS FROM MANAGERS Abstract: This paper presents the conclusions and implications of the research study based on responses from a sample of 20 manufacturing leader-managers working in the states of California or Florida. This research also presents recommendations for further action followed by a summary of findings. Organizational policies and procedures are in place to ensure standards are implemented for an efficient and safe work environment for all employees. It is expected that employees understand such processes so they can meet the goals of the organizations. Organizations that embrace diversity are able to bring unique talents and ideas that will serve clients' needs. However, when language presents a barrier to communication, then management has to weigh whether it is placing itself in a position to do more harm than good for employees involved. Two questions were fundamental to the research: (1) How do leadermanagers share and transfer organizational knowledge to a linguistically diverse manufacturing workforce to prevent workplace injuries in their organization? (2) What are perceived challenges in sharing and transferring organizational knowledge in a linguistically diverse manufacturing work force to prevent workplace injuries in their organization? Classification-JEL: D8, D83 Keywords: Communication, Leadership, Organizational Knowledge Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 69-75 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-6.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:69-75 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Carol M Connell Title: GOVERNMENT AND FIRM DUOPOLY IN ECONOMIC GROWTH Abstract: The Theory of the Growth of the Firm proposed a process theory of growth based on the pursuit of knowledge and unconstrained by government, hence applicable only to an economy where the corporation is the dominant form of industrial organization. In her subsequent studies of foreign direct investment by large firms in developing countries, Penrose considers government as an input to the growth process. This paper explores Penrose’s process theory of firm growth when government decisionmaking is an input to the process. The findings are based on content analysis of Penrose’s Theory of the Growth of the Firm, Large International Firm in Developing Countries, petroleum industry studies, and other writings from 1956 to 1973. Classification-JEL: A1, O11, O12 Keywords: Economic Growth, Government, Firm Duopoly Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 77-84 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-7.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:77-84 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ann Galligan Kelley Title: DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOUR DERIVATIVES ARE? Abstract: This paper is designed to assist individuals and organizations in understanding the role and risks of derivatives in two specific areas -- debt management and investing. The various risks associated with derivatives are discussed in this article. Similar to collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) and CDOs squared, derivatives also have the potential to be the next financial engineering bubble to burst. The SEC is concerned that investors do not understand the risks with more complex ETFs and abbreviated disclosures. Institutions, including Harvard University, have already lost millions on interest rate swaps. Individuals and organizations should take the time to educate themselves as to the serious potential risks involved with these instruments. Classification-JEL: G01, G15, G24 Keywords: Derivatives, Exchange-traded Funds, Leveraged, Futures Contracts, Counterparty Risk, Tracking Errors, Lack of Transparency, Swaps, Counter Party Risk Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 85-95 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-8.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:85-95 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Melissa Jeanette Lötter Author-Name: Sue Geldenhuys Author-Name: Marius Potgieter Title: DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF ADVENTURE TOURISTS IN PRETORIA Abstract: It is difficult to examine different motivations and segment differentiations in niche markets such as adventure tourism seeing that it is not a well-defined segment in the discipline of tourism studies. In order to assist adventure tourism companies towards identifying and developing effective marketing strategies to attract or penetrate the adventure niche market, this study aims to contribute towards the current understanding of adventure tourists in Pretoria by compiling a demographic profile of such tourists. Two hundred and fifty adventure tourists participated in this study; however, the sample that realized was 234, providing a 93.6% response rate. The results gained from the self-completing questionnaire indicated that typical adventure tourists in Pretoria are generally Afrikaans speaking individuals born between 1960 and 1981. These individuals are mostly married with no children or have two children who are above the age of twelve years. Adventure tourists in Pretoria tend to be further educated Technicians and Associate Professionals whose gross individual income ranges between R10,001.00 and R29,999.00 per month. This study established that there is a need to further research comprehensive adventure tourist profiles in order to assist adventure tourism companies to promote and sell specific activities and experiences that will meet the specific needs and wants of identified target markets. Classification-JEL: Keywords: Tourism; Adventure Tourism; Market Segmentation; Demographic Profiles Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 97-109 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-9.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:97-109 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Diah Hari Suryaningrum Title: ASSESSING INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE ON INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION: A NEW MODEL Abstract: This paper aims to propose a new model in assessing individual performance on information technology adoption. The new model to assess individual performance was derived from two different theories: decomposed theory of planned behavior and task-technology fit theory. Although many researchers have tried to expand these theories, some of their efforts might lack of theoretical assumptions. To overcome this problem and enhance the coherence of the integration, I used a theory from social science literature, particularly from Blumer’s theory of symbolic interactionism. This theory indicates, as Blumer himself noted, The symbolic interactionist approach rests upon the premise that human action takes place always in a situation that confronts the actor and that the actor acts on the basis on defining this situation that confronts him. Symbolic interactionism may have theoretical strengths on the basis that reality is understood as a social production; interaction is symbolic; humans have the capacity to engage in selfreflexive behavior; interactionism regards society as ongoing process; and social and physical environments set limits on behavior, but do not determine behavior. In this essence, normally, humans use technologies not for the sake of technologies but for supporting their primary tasks, being job related or entertainment oriented. Thus, there is an interaction between human and his/her technology. In this paper, I suggest some propositions that can be tested later using experimental research design or longitudinal survey research. Classification-JEL: M15 Keywords: Individual Performance, Human-technology Interaction, Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior, Task-technology Fit Theory Journal: Global Journal of Business Research Pages: 111-125 Volume: 6 Issue: 4 Year: 2012 File-URL: http://www.theibfr2.com/RePEc/ibf/gjbres/gjbr-v6n4-2012/GJBR-V6N4-2012-10.pdf File-Format: Application/pdf Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:6:y:2012:i:4:p:111-125