Portability of Multiple Discriminant Analysis Prediction Model of Listed Firms: An Emerging Market Perspective

This paper tests the portability of Altman’s (2000) Z-score model in predicting corporate failure of listed firms in an emerging market, Ghana. The study applies the model on financial statements of fifteen (15) firms listed on Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) for 2013 fiscal year. The empirical result shows that 66.7 percent of the listed firms were misclassified as failed firms (Type II Error) and correctly classified 33.3 percent as success firms or safe zone firms. The study concludes that the Altman (2000) financial model is not portable in Ghana due to high type II error rate and this is calling more research for the use of non-financial models in predicting corporate failure in emerging markets. Keywords: Multiple Discriminant Analysis, Corporate failure, Altman Z-score, Listed firms, Ghana

Rural Entrepreneurship Success Factors: An Empirical Investigation in an Emerging Market

Small businesses in rural communities play a key role in achieving global sustainable economic development because they are the driving force of poverty reduction, job creation, resiliency, and economic development. This study examines the factors that drive the success or failure of small businesses in rural communities in an emerging market. The methodology is survey interview research using a logistic regression model to test the Lussier success vs failure prediction model with a sample of 230 businesses (successful n = 120, failed n = 110) from the rural communities in an emerging market. This study supports the Lussier model validity (p < 0.01) with a high overall accuracy of 71% in predicting a venture as successful or failed. Capital, industry experience, staffing, and marketing skills are the most significant (t-values < .05) factors that distinguish successful from failed rural businesses in an emerging market. The findings can help future, and nascent rural entrepreneurs avoid failure and successfully contribute to economic development. Implications for government agencies, public regulatory bodies, financial institutions, investors, suppliers, educators, professional institutions, and society, as well as limitations and future research, are presented. This study also contributes to the international validity of the Lussier model that can be used in both advanced and developing economies, and it contributes to the development of theory

Small Business Success or Failure Prediction: A Comparative Study in Ghana and Israel

This paper tests the Lussier success versus failure prediction model in Ghana, an emerging country and Israel, a developed country. The logit results of Israel (N = 205; p = 0.000) and Ghana (N = 208; p = 0.000) support the model validity to predict the success or failure of a group of businesses. The accuracy rate of predicting a specific business as successful or failure was greater than 85 percent in both countries, with high R square. Testing the t-values of the individual variables in each country revealed some differences between the two countries; results and implications are presented

Barriers to Research Utilisation amongst Diagnostic Radiographers in the UK

Introduction: Lack of research uptake and utilisation compared to other Allied Health Professions prompted the publications of four consecutive research strategies by the Society and College of Radiographers in attempts to bridge the gap. Aims: The aim of this study was to find out perceived barriers to research utilisation amongst diagnostic radiographers in the UK. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2016. A random sample was used to select 1,080 radiographers who were sent a link to the web-based questionnaire. Results: The response rate was 72.8%. Most radiographers were Band 6 (n=296, 47.0%) holders. The commonly identified perceived barriers to research utilisation included lack of time for research-related activities, how to develop research questions, find relevant literature and lack of authority to change practice. It was found that 142(50.7%) of BSc and 26(44.0%) of MSc had difficulty in finding relevant literature. Interestingly, 20(40%) of the Band 8 radiographers perceived themselves to lack the authority to change practice. In the area of practice category, sonographers (n=35, 57.4%) were more likely to perceive themselves to lack authority in changing their practice. While there was a positive attitude to research utilisation, 198(31.4%) held the view that research was not in their scope of practice. A further 127(20.2%) felt radiologists and physicists should review research that were relevant to their practice. It emerged that highest educational qualification was associated with a higher probability of knowledge of research skills and attitude to research utilisation. Conclusions: The study concludes that dissemination mechanisms to facilitate research utilisation are lacking. Radiology service managers and the Society and College of Radiographers have key roles to play in research utilisation in terms of time allocation and training in research skills

Cultural Profile as Determinant of Work Outcomes in a Collectivist Context

Extant research evidence shows that interpersonal bonds—the bond to the immediate supervisor and work team—have an incremental predictive effect in western settings, neglecting emerging economic and cultural environments. This study, thus, examines the impact of cultural profiles on interpersonal bonds and related performance in an emerging market context. Specifically, the study examines the emergence of profiles based on micro-level psychological collectivism (individualism) and power distance orientations. The study further examines the effect of the emerged profiles on interpersonal bonds and the performance of activities related to the targets of the bonds. A survey questionnaire was used to collect data from 148 multiple public and private organizations of varied industries (banking, manufacturing, education, and local government) in an emerging market. Using the MANOVA analytic procedure, the study finds that the supervisor-oriented and team-involved profile rather than the team-alienated profile demonstrates a significantly higher level of work outcomes involving interpersonal commitment to the supervisor and substantially higher task performance. The outcome suggests that power distance cultural value may have a negative psychological effect while collectivism has a positive psychological effect on work outcomes in this context. The implication of the outcome for theory and policy in the collectivist context is discussed

Training practices and job performance in public universities: leveraging on self-efficacy and organizational politics

AbstractThis study examines the effect of training practices on job performance in the public sector of a sub-Saharan African region. Building on social cognitive theory, this study integrates the mediating role of self-efficacy and the moderating role of perceived organizational politics to explain employees’ performance in public universities. This study is a quantitative survey using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze the responses of 370 non-teaching staff members at public universities in Ghana. The findings show a positive and significant relationship between training and job performance. The study also finds that self-efficacy fully mediates the effect of training on task and contextual performance but partially on adaptive performance. The study further establishes that perceived organizational politics moderate the effect of training on contextual performance but not on self-efficacy and job performance. Again, perceived organizational politics moderated the relationship between self-efficacy and job performance. Based on the findings, this study provides two key practical implications for the leadership of public institutions in general and public universities. First, the human resources divisions of various public universities must concentrate on training to enhance job performance. Second, the directorate of human resources of public universities and all public sector institutions must devise strategies to minimize organizational politics, which negatively affects overall job performance. Implications for theory and practice are also discussed

Knowledge on and attitude towards Sexually Transmitted Infections: A qualitative study of people with physical disabilities in a peri-urban district of Ghana

Persons with disabilities are at higher risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), however, they are often excluded from programmes targeting groups at high risk of STIs. This study explored the level of knowledge and attitude of persons with physical disabilities toward Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Jachie Community in Ashanti Region of Ghana. This was a descriptive study using a qualitative approach and conducting in-depth interview among 17 participants who were purposively selected. The data were transcribed, analysed, and presented in themes that emerged. Most of the participants mentioned that STIs are transmitted mainly through unprotected sex, kissing, blood transfusion and cuts from an infected blade or razor. The participants knew STIs such as HIV/AIDS, gonorrhoea, syphilis and candidiasis. Also, participants also resorted to using the internet as a source to get information about STIs. They intermittently visit the hospital for check-up when they see any abnormalities with their reproductive health. The use of condoms as a way of preventing STIs was low among the participants. This was as a result of the belief that one gets STI only if he/she has multiple sexual partners. Its imperative to make information about STI more accessible to the disabled community. This will reduce the risk of STIs among persons with disability