Articles
Do social media help in the sustainability of small businesses? A pedagogical study using fictional business cases
-
The sustainability of small businesses is an important criterion as they act as the drivers of local economies. The success of small businesses will not only help in job creation but will also help to arrest the internal rural-urban migration that is a phenomenon very true for suburban communities all over the United States of America. Digital inequality between urban and rural America is further a well-established concept in the related fields. A large portion of college graduates will find themselves working for area businesses. Yet, the college curriculum often does not adequately address social media considerations for small businesses. Due to the disconnect between the modern business environment and the college curriculum, there is a need to unpack the complex issues relevant to small businesses and social media. However, there is not currently a case identical to this that addresses the modern climate of social media use within small businesses and their potential effects. This pedagogical tool will help fill that gap, providing fictional cases that instructors in both the business and communication classrooms can employ to better prepare future graduates to enter the socially connected workforce.
- View article
Business Schools for global harmony and coexistence: Curriculum, a common language for developing relationships
-
Business schools all over the world produce professionals in the categories of job seekers and job providers. In the wide spectrum of businesses and job markets, we come across either the employers or the employees; both are educated and groomed in the business schools. We understand that every profession has its own language of terminologies, slangs and even the gestures; like if you see two doctors discussing a disease, it is difficult to follow the meanings they attach to different phrases. Similar is the case of other professions, may it be agriculture, farming, business, trade or linguistics; all have own passion of words.
On the other hand, if we look at the history of human conflicts leading to wars and culminating at utter devastations; a sensible man would hardly find any plausible reason for that. Mostly, these got initiated on egos, lack of communication, language and gestures. For 4-5 decades, there has been gradual rise in establishing business schools and producing professionals in millions every year in developed as well as developing countries. These business schools have different standards of education and grooming for the young minds. Once these graduates join different organizations and interact with each other, initially appear alien, however with the passage of time, they develop co-work-ships.
In todays’ world, we find business graduates as heads of multinational firms, national business setups, political parties, bureaucracies, public sector functionaries and even the state leaderships. The point is that if we develop a kind of global curriculum for business schools and internalize these institutions, we would be producing the graduates who know each-other before starting their practical lives. Having common curriculum to a larger extent (not necessarily 100%) and achieving reasonable circulation of students among business schools, we would actually be attaining leadership of common understanding and language.
Resultantly, it would help attaining global peace and harmony in the diversified world of today which is the basic purpose of this paper. The research paper is focused at developing an understanding of common curriculum in some doable form among business schools and grooming of faculty members accordingly. Ultimately, it is to produce individuals who have global perspective of business education for playing their role for peace and coexistence.
- View article
TQM in Higher Education Institutions: The case of HSJ
-
The adoption of a Total Quality Management (TQM) Model could improve many of the administrative structures of public services. The means for quality improvement is based on quantitative features. The European Foundation Quality Management (EFQM) model is an important instrument for achieving organizational excellence, which is mainly based on self-assessment, benchmarking and continuous improvement that aims to improve the efficiency and quality of services. The main objective of the proposed study is to demonstrate the importance of adopting a model based on the principles of TQM in the area of Higher Education and particularly the Hellenic School of Judges (HSJ). Primary research data have been collected through interviews of the administrative and educational staff of the HSJ. The measured variables of the TQM elements, Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis have been applied to define the TQM elements mostly used and the results achieved by the HSJ. The contribution of this study lies in the investigation of several interrelationships between some significant variables that exist in HEIs, with the help of EFQM model. By examining thoroughly and understanding those interrelationships, it is acknowledged that is helpful to deploy appropriate tools in the future, in order HE institutions to achieve excellence.
- View article
A qualitative investigation into the reasons for low academic achievement of international students in a private college
-
Although several academic studies have explored international students’ academic issues in the host country, most explored either academic achievement or improving learning, teaching and assessment practices in isolation, not in concert. This study triangulates students’ academic issues, learning, teaching and assessment practices used by their lecturers, and the service provision at the host institution in tandem. Specifically, we investigated the factors affecting the academic performance of first-and second-year international students studying at a private higher education provider in London, UK. To establish the extent of Low Academic Achievement (LAA), briefly, where students do not meet the learning outcomes in any summative assessment, examination board data were examined. Two student focus groups were established, and eleven lecturers involved in teaching international students were interviewed. Data were analysed using Nvivo8. The results revealed that international students experience language, socio-cultural and financial difficulties, and they must adapt to a new educational environment and find it difficult to adjust to the teaching style of their host country. Nonetheless, learning approaches of the students can be mobilised, developed and utilised in a constructive environment. Student-centred approached are preferred by the students in the classroom and use of alternative assessments was recommended by the lecturers, especially in the transitionary phase
- View article
An empirical study on user acceptance of ERP system by international students in Chinese HEIs: A TAM approach
-
This study tries to make a theoretical framework for the use of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system through an empirical study of the explanatory capacity of Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) concerning the intention of use by international students in Chinese HEIs. An online questionnaire yielding 363 valid responses was collected from the international students in Chinese HEIs and the quantitative analysis was performed using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Model (SEM) framework verifying the research model and hypothesis. The statistical analysis evaluated and analyzed the behavioral intentions and patterns, and the consequent factor for the use of the ERP system. The study suggests resource optimization, the trust of the ERP system, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, and attitude towards using to have a significant impact on international students’ behavioral intention to use the ERP system. Results from the analysis provide a crucial reference for Chinese HEIs while implementing ERP systems for the management of international students.
- View article
Previous Issue
- Volume 10 Issue 02
- Volume 10 Issue 01
- Volume 09 Issue 02
- Volume 09 Issue 01
- Volume 08 Issue 02
- Volume 08 Issue 01
- Volume 07 Issue 02
- Volume 07 Issue 01
- Volume 06 Issue 02
- Volume 06 Issue 01
- Volume 05 Issue 1
- Volume 04 Issue 2
- Volume 04 Issue 1
- Volume 03 Issue 2
- Volume 03 Issue 1
- Volume 02 Issue 2
- Volume 02 Issue 1
- Volume 01 Issue 2
- Volume 01 Issue 1