Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Naruemon Choochinprakarn Author-Name-First: Naruemon Author-Name-Last: Choochinprakarn Author-Email: naruemon@buu.ac.th Author-Workplace-Name: Burapha University Title: ADOPTION OF ELECTRONIC COMMERCE IN THAI TRAVEL SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES Abstract: This paper is aim to investigate factors affecting the adoption of e-commerce based on technological, organizational, and environmental (TOE) framework and the extended Model of Internet Commerce Adoption (eMICA). An online survey was employed to collect data from Thai travel small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that have company websites are registered with the Thai Department of Business Development and are a member of the Tourism Authority of Thailand. Data from 125 usable cases was analyzed using multiple regression. Results revealed that (1) only competition intensity positively affected the first (promotion) stage of EC adoption, (2) relative advantage and organizational readiness were found to be the determinants of EC adoption in the second stage of the provision of information and services, and (3) only organizational readiness was found to influence EC adoption in the third (processing) stage. Implications for practice and research are discussed. Classification-JEL: C36, L81 Keywords: E-Commerce Adoption, TOE framework, eMICA model, Travel and tourism industry, small and medium enterprises, SMEs, Thailand Journal: International Journal of Business and Management Pages: 1-23 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 Month: February File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-309 File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-309?download=1 Handle: RePEc:sek:jijobm:v:4:y:2016:i:1:p:1-23 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Andrea Éltet? Author-Name-First: Andrea Author-Name-Last: Éltet? Author-Email: elteto.andrea@krtk.mta.hu Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of World Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Author-Name: Ágnes Szunomár Author-Name-First: Ágnes Author-Name-Last: Szunomár Author-Email: szunomar.agnes@krtk.mta.hu Author-Workplace-Name: Institute of World Economics, Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Title: Chinese investment and trade ? strengthening ties with Central and Eastern Europe Abstract: The economic expansion of China is one of the most spectacular cases of today?s global economy, where this East Asian country is increasingly integrated through foreign direct investments (FDI) and rising trade flows. Chinese firms has been building strong economic ties with Asia, Latin America and Africa where they search for markets and natural resources. Developed economies of Europe and the United States also became their important targets recently, offering markets for Chinese products and assets Chinese firms lack. We can observe rising Chinese economic presence in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) too. Investment inflows are currently expected to increase further due to recent political developments, while the intensity of trade has been growing too, especially with certain countries. The aim of the paper is to analyse the characteristics of Chinese economic presence in CEE countries focusing on investment and trade flows. After the introductory section and the discussion of theory and literature, the paper presents the changing patterns and motivations of Chinese foreign economic relations. The main part of the paper describes the China-CEE economic relations highlighting the similarities and differences of Chinese practices in CEE and other developed economies. According to our first hypothesis, Chinese motivations and practices in the CEE region differ somewhat (a) from the developed countries? presence in the CEE region as well as (b) from the motivations and practices of Chinese companies in developing countries. As a second hypothesis we set that the crisis accelerated the Chinese companies? interest toward this region due to new opportunities for Chinese companies and increasing receptiveness from CEE side. The first part of this paper examines Chinese investment in the six main CEE destination countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovakia), analyzing the most important sectors, motivations, trends and differences of FDI inflow. We apply the eclectic paradigm of Dunning for explaining Chinese investments, analyzing to what extent they are valid. The second part describes trade flows between China and the main CEE partners. We find that the bulk of foreign trade between CEE countries and China can be bound to certain products and certain multinational companies. Mutual trade flows thus are largely dependent on the activities of global value chains. Finally we draw some policy implications concerning mutual economic relationship. Classification-JEL: F23, F10 Keywords: China, Central and Eastern Europe, FDI, Global value chains, foreign trade Journal: International Journal of Business and Management Pages: 24-48 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 Month: February File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-434 File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-434?download=2 Handle: RePEc:sek:jijobm:v:4:y:2016:i:1:p:24-48 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Callistus Ikechukwu Author-Name-First: Callistus Author-Name-Last: Ikechukwu Author-Email: agbohiyke@yahoo.com Author-Workplace-Name: Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu Title: RECOMMENDED CHANGES IN STUDENTS' INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES) GEARED TOWARDS DECREASE IN UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF BUSINESS EDUCATION GRADUATES IN NIGERIA Abstract: The high rate of unemployment of vocational education graduates in Nigeria was one of the major reasons for the introduction of Stunents' Industrial Works Experience Scheme (SIWES). Based on the high rate of unemployment, this study was undertaken to recommend the needed changes to be made in SIWES to facilitate decrease in unemployment rate of business education graduates in Nigeria. Two research questions were answered by the study, while two null hypotheses were formulated and tested. The study adopted survey research design. The population for the study was 320 respondents made up of 64 Business education lecturers, 20 staff of Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and 236 final year students. The instrument for data collection was a structured 32-item questionnaire which was validated by 3 experts. The reliability of the instrument was established using Cronbach alpha which gave a reliability coefficient of 0.87. The data collected were analyzed using mean to answer the research questions, while t-test statistic and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for testing the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. It was found among others, that re-tooling business education model offices, promulgation of a 'no rejection' of students on training policy, and ITF regulation of student's posting to iindustries of relevance, would facilitate decrease in unemployment rate of business education graduates in Nigeria. The study concludes that SIWES be modified to achieve business education graduates employability and, or self employment objective. It was recommended among others, that ITF should present a new order of studentss' placement to industries of relevance and ensuring that government policy statement regarding the establishment of SIWES is effectively implemented. Classification-JEL: I38 Keywords: Students' Industrial Works Experience, Unemployment, Business Education, Business Education Graduates Journal: International Journal of Business and Management Pages: 49-68 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 Month: February File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-275 File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-275?download=3 Handle: RePEc:sek:jijobm:v:4:y:2016:i:1:p:49-68 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Robert Alan Lewis Author-Name-First: Robert Alan Author-Name-Last: Lewis Author-Email: ralewis@gmail.com Author-Workplace-Name: Les Roches Gruyčre University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland Title: Work-life balance in academia: Experiences of lecturers in Switzerland Abstract: This paper investigates the work-life balance experiences of 11 full-time academic lecturers in Switzerland using a case study approach. Open-ended questions in questionnaires were used to gain depth into academic employees? understandings of work-life balance, their experiences in the ?crossover? of work- and life-related obligations, and their perceptions of work-life conflict and time. Findings emphasised the importance of context, due to increased spatial flexibility when working. Findings also shed light on the effects of work-life balance on professional attributes and career-related factors, when evaluating experiences. Conceptually, findings revealed that perceptions of available time are stretched beyond reasonable boundaries. Further research into academic lecturers? experiences attempting to meet work- and non-work-related professional obligations from a larger sample using questionnaires, complemented by interviews, could bring further insight into effects of work-life balance experiences. Classification-JEL: J29 Keywords: Academic work, Careers, Work-life balance, Work-life conflict, Time Journal: International Journal of Business and Management Pages: 69-84 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 Month: February File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-313 File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-313?download=4 Handle: RePEc:sek:jijobm:v:4:y:2016:i:1:p:69-84 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Anca Tamas Author-Name-First: Anca Author-Name-Last: Tamas Author-Email: ancuta_new@yahoo.com Author-Workplace-Name: Bucharest University of Economic Studies Title: Does the Country of Origin matters for hybrid products? Abstract: Purpose-the aim of the paper is to assess how is Country of origin perceived for the hybrid products by the Romanian consumers. Design/methodology/approach-statistical analyze and econometric methods, using SPSS, the Pearson correlation, the cluster method, the t-test; critical assessment of literature review; quantitative methods: 126 online questionnaires. Findings-Country of origin is important for buying decision in the case of hybrid products; Country of Brand is mostly perceived as the Country of Origin of the considered hybrid products; identifying the Country of Origin is more demanding for hybrid products. Practical implications-considering the consumers? opinions on the Country of Origin for the hybrid products retailers could emphasize the Country of Brand. Originality/value-providing an insight of an area with only few researches and an insight on the Romanian consumers. Limitations-the respondents were only from the South part of Romania Classification-JEL: D12, M31 Keywords: country of origin, hybrid products Journal: International Journal of Business and Management Pages: 85-104 Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Year: 2016 Month: February File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-316 File-URL: https://iises.net/international-journal-of-business-management/publication-detail-316?download=5 Handle: RePEc:sek:jijobm:v:4:y:2016:i:1:p:85-104