International Journal of Social Sciences and Management

228-238

Authors: Sandeep Kumar Baliyan

In this paper we are examines the structure change and population growth trend in Uttar Pradesh. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in the country, accounting for 16.4 percent of the country’s population. The structure of state income shows that the contribution of primary sector has declined to 41 percent of the state income, though the sector still sustain 73 percent of the total working force. Availability of land & natural resource and environment play an important role in the development of any country or states. But utilization of these resources and best use of economic development is possible only by people. People are searching and best utilize these natural resources according to their needs. The demographics population of Uttar Pradesh is a multifarious subject, which is undergoing dynamic change. To understand the population it is very important to understand its all charterstic in which age composition has an important role. The working population and work participation rate highlights the occupational distribution of a states. The information is essential for calculating state domestic product at factor cost popularly known as “State Income” for important tertiary sectors by adopting statistical methods of interpolation/extrapolation. The generally well performing states are Kerala, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Goa, and Punjab, which occupy the first five places in the years. On the other hand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh appear at the bottom of the list in the years. Thus, despite some catching-up witnessed in the states with low human development, the progress has not been rapid enough to change the inter se ranking radically.

246-255

Authors: Salman Iqbal

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the employees’ perceptions about association between specific HRM practices and employees’ knowledge sharing. Based on previous literature, a model is proposed for the study and hypotheses are formulated. The cross-sectional dataset comes from a sample of 390 employees of 19 Pakistani KIFs. Confirmatory factor analyses were employed to evaluate the reliability and validity of the measurement model and the research model was tested using structural equation modeling. The results suggest that specific HRM practices, for instance, recruitment and selection and reward systems show a positive relationship with knowledge sharing, as perceived by the employees of these organisations. We also found a positive relationship among individual and organisational capability in workplaces. A key finding of this study is that recruitment and selection have a much greater impact on knowledge sharing than reward systems. In this study, knowledge-sharing behaviour is examined using specific HRM practices. Findings should be confirmed using a larger sample, as well as through longitudinal study. This study will be beneficial for researchers, practitioners, scholars, organisational leaders and employees. It will also be helpful for those interested in organisational structure and relationships across organisations in knowledge context. This study makes a valuable contribution, given that there is a lack of empirical studies of this nature focusing on the South East Asian region. Our findings are more interesting given that the current study is based on employees’ perception and employees’ views are similar to than that of management’s views in KIFs.

267-276

Authors: Ali Waqas, Muhammad Afzal, Fakhar Zaman, Muhammad Sabir

Social networking sites are more common to the young generation worldwide. Pakistan’s major population is comprised of young generation. Thus, usage of social networking sites has become the trend among the youth of Pakistan which has strong effect on the student’s performance and habits. Thus, this study aims to examine the impact of social network usage on the university student’s academic performance of Lahore, Pakistan. Cross sectional survey technique has used in the current study. The self-administered questionnaire distributed to the 260 students of four universities of Lahore through convenient random sampling. Descriptive analysis was used to analyze the data while Chi-square (X2) analysis has performed to test the research hypotheses. The findings of the current study show that the university students of Lahore, Pakistan are using different social networking sites which has negative effect on the student’s academic performance and habits.

281-286

Authors: Lamaan Sami, Anas Khan

This study is an empirical study which aims to examine the impact of MGNREGA in generating employment to poor in selected districts in India. Data have been collected through personal interview and analyzed with the application of linear regression. The analysis of the data revealed that MGNREGA played a significant role in generating employment, increase in income and consumption of respondents in selected districts in India.

294-299

Authors: R Mary Metilda, Neena P.C.

This paper analyzes the perceptions of the employer on how job fit is fresh business school graduates in the Indian business scenario. The responses of employers on skills considered in the recruitment of management graduates, matching to their business profile as well as job profiles, were compared with the actual skill set of fresh MBAs inducted from the higher education sector. This study also investigated the level of importance of skills required by a new business graduate from the employer’s expectations of different sectors. A ‘skill gap’ between actual and expected was identified from these findings and its impact will be an eye opener for Business education programs. This is a working paper based on classification of employability skills based on Holland’s Job-fit theory. The study reveals that there is substantial dissatisfaction with the quality of business graduates in the practical level. The survey said 86 percent of employers concurred that MBA-hires doesn’t create much value for their companies in their first few years of their career stage. This confirms the finding that the skill set of fresh managers is inadequate. There will be drastic changes in the Job market and the need of the skill sets may vary again and again. The results of this study make a valuable contribution to the field of career development/guidance, individual students of business studies, employers, and higher education institutions.

141-145

Authors: Basanti Roshan Pradhan Shrestha

The purpose of this study is to describe the challenges facing vocational education and training graduates to the job market. Many studies and research has been done to identify the causes of the problem that vocational graduates are facing after they employed in the job market. But still problems are existing in job market as vocational graduates are facing difficulties to transfer their learning. Hence, it challenges the vocational Education and training system. Therefore, this study also focused on the possible interventions to solve the existing problems that vocational graduates and job markets have been facing. The gap and weak linkage between vocational training providers and job market challenges curriculum design and performance in job. So, Competency based training based curriculum design improve the quality of instruction through experienced instructors and training providers are the possible intervention to fill the gap.

153-158

Authors: Md. Ashraful Alam, Sheikh Abir Hossain

Social Safety Nets (SSNs) and the wider topic of Social Protection have assumed a centrality within the development literature in recent years. Publicly-sponsored protection of the poor and vulnerable has emerged from the shadows to become a mainstream concern for policymakers. The contribution of SSNs is now viewed not merely in terms of their impact on challenged families, but their systemic benefits - in enabling higher levels of employment and entrepreneurship, sustaining household consumption and human capital, securing pro-poor growth and promoting social inclusion and national cohesion. A body of experience, ranging across continents, has now been established to inform the building of functional social protection systems. Yet in spite of this new consensus much controversy remains. A crucial first step in the development of a well-fitted national approach is the balancing of experience elsewhere with the national context. The ambit of SSNs in Bangladesh is often wide and fragmented. These typically include welfare payments, work guarantee schemes and conditional cash transfers; and comprise both on and off-budget allocations and a plethora of programs supported by donors. Gaining an understanding of the nature of provision and its functionality is another important first step in crafting a pro-development social protection system. This research provides information about different social safety net programs in government level. An attempt has been made to explore the effectiveness and the existing problems of current social safety net programs. The study also discusses the status and accessibility of beneficiaries in selected areas as well as advantages, limitations and prospects for social security in the context of this country. Besides, it also assesses the opinions of non-beneficiaries who know more or less about the programs. Finally the paper suggests that there is a need to establish workable and sustainable effects among recipients. It also recommends that systematic efforts should be made urgently for the proper organization and management of safety net programs.

163-170

Authors: Vidhya Jolly

The world is developing; the internet has become one important tool in life. Its proper use can create wonders. This research paper is about how the internet is used by Indian banks and how it has changed the face of banking. The study is limited to Kochi alone. Internet banking has its advantages: primarily it is cost efficient. Using internet banking customers can do most of their bank transactions online; almost all of the transactions are possible. Adding to the advantages these transactions require only an internet connection and a computer. These facilities are not limited to the working hours of the bank; one can avail these services24 hours a day, 7 days a week. But proficiency to use these facilities properly is the main challenge. This study is based upon the review taken from part of the Kochi population who are Customers of State Bank of India and ICICI bank. Day by day customers using internet banking is on the rise. Also, internet banking is not limited to the bank transactions alone, it can be used as a mode of payment to registered merchants. This makes the regular payments, like that of electricity, water, mobile bill etc. very easy. Any tool can be efficient only if it is used properly. How cost effective and popular is the usage of online banking tool in Kochi is the major problem under investigation.

188-192

Authors: Lawrence Jekwu Okoye, Amos Audu, Tochukwu M. Oguegbe

This study investigated the role of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy on ethical work behavior of artisan in Maiduguri, capital of Borno State Northeast Nigeria. The study adopted behavioural theory of obedience as its main theoretical framework. Expos facto survey design was adopted for the study. Two hundred and eight-two (282) participants were selected accidentally for the study. Results revealed that artisans who reported with high emotional intelligence were significantly different in the level of ethical work behaviour compared to those who reported low level of emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence does not significantly predict ethical work behavior of artisan and self-efficacy significantly predict ethical work behavior of artisans. However, it shows that emotional intelligence and self-efficacy jointly predict ethical work behavior of artisan. There was no any significant main and interaction effect of emotional intelligence and self-efficacy on ethical work behaviour among artisans in Maiduguri. Female artisans significantly reported higher scores on ethical work behaviour scale than male artisans. The study however recommended that management of the organization should send their employees (artisans) on sponsored training programme of the organisation which focused on enhancing their ethical work behavior.

203-213

Authors: Lambert Ejokor John Konboye, Alwell Nteegah

The incessant bank distress coupled with the poor financial intermediation capacity of the banking sector has been identified as the main problems of the banking subsector in Nigeria. This underscores the continue quest for increase capital base of banks as possible remedy to these problems. This development makes it imperative for us to examine how capitalization has affected banks profitability in Nigeria. To achieve our objectives, both panel and Partial Frontier efficiency analyses were utilized in this investigation. Using gross profits of 18 DMBs as dependent variable while capital base of DMBs, real income (GDP), financial deepening, interest rate and inflation rate are independent variables, we found that: capitalization has a significant impact on profitability of banks, while financial development, real income level were found to had contributed less to profitability of banks in Nigeria. It was further discovered that, interest rate has less implication on the profitability, while the impact of inflation on profitability of banks was positively but insignificantly. We also found that 58 % of the total variation in profitability is influenced by capital base, financial deepening, interest rate, GDP and price level in Nigeria over the period. The study further revealed that impact of capitalization on profitability of banks is the same across the banks. Finally, using the partial efficiency frontier analysis, we found that Unity Bank and UBA performed better with improved capital base while Union and Heritage Banks performed abysmally with high capital base given the very low efficiency scores. Based on these findings, the study recommends; periodic upward review of capital base of banks, stable macroeconomic policy, and creating enabling environment for investments as ways of enhancing an efficient financial sector and growth of the Nigerian economy.

222-227

Authors: Kumara R. Naveen

Exchange-traded funds (henceforth, ETFs) are passive investment vehicles which have become increasingly popular in a relatively short period of time due the benefits they provide when compared to Mutual Funds and other similar investment avenues. This study has been carried out to analyze the points of distinction between the two very popular forms of ETFs namely Gold ETFs and Equity ETFs. These funds are similar in their functioning however it is necessary to understand the difference in their performance so as to be able to choose the right market instrument for investing our money. Our research project aims at understanding this difference because performance is one of the major factors affecting the popularity of any investment option.

81-86

Authors: Krishna Prasad Pokharel

Conservation practices such as sustainable soil management (SSM) and no-tillage may increase production and productivity, which may help reduce food insecurity in household levels. Koirala et al. (2014) showed that the SSM practices have a high positive impact on food security and income in Ramechhap, Nepal. However, the impact of the SSM practices on food security and income were highly overestimated. Further, they did not explain how the impact of other factors on household food security and income are held constant to evaluate the impact of the SSM practices. This paper argues that the estimate of the impact of SSM practices on food security by Koirala et al. (2014) is highly upward biased due to the same unobserved factors affecting participation on the SSM practices and food security. This study shows an alternative method: an endogenous treatment effects model, which correctly estimates the impact of the SSM practices on food security. In addition, some issues that may affect food security and income measures associating with data collection are discussed.

93-101

Authors: Anup Bhurtel, Eka Raj Adhikari

The purpose of the present study was to explore the perceptions of supervisors on performance appraisal in relation to employee development adopting a qualitative design. In line with its research objective, data obtained from semi-structured interviews conducted with 14 supervisors from the proposed 10 model technical schools and the head office of the Council for Technical Education and Vocational Training (CTEVT), Nepal was analysed. The study brought forth that supervisors perceived the existing performance appraisal system less effective as it was used merely for getting employee-promotion. The supervisors were unable to appraise non-permanent employees; and even for permanent classed employees, they were obliged to keep the results confidential. They were thus unable to discuss the results with the concerned employees and jointly set goals for their further development. The study calls for establishing a comprehensive performance appraisal system for all employees in which results were analysed, and linked with plans for employee development. As the paper was confined to exploring the perception of 14 supervisors, further research could be done in future with greater number of samples. Moreover, there is room for studying the appraisees’ perception so that this issue can be explored from wider perspective aiding in the employee performance.

108-114

Authors: Saleh Alkhabra, Natrah Abdullah

Technology has been widely adopted in the learning environment to replace conventional face-to-face learning system. The attractiveness of technology into learning was supported by its convenient, versatile, interactive and effectiveness in delivering learning even at remote environment. Flexibility afforded by online learning environment allows its users to interactively transfer knowledge and skills to other users. These learning features promoted the popularity technology integration into learning environment which has been central to converting the abundance information available online and raw data available in organizations into database to improve business activities. In this review, issues arising from knowledge creation and management have been discussed as well as the relevancy of the interactive learning environment afforded by technology. Technology-based learning was found to have become integral part of life and has promoted learning isolated environment. Knowledge creation and management were found to be more effective when they are integrated to resolve organization problems. This paper supported that both knowledge creation

119-124

Authors: Nathiya Thangaraj, Parthiban Subramaniyam, Shanthi Rangasamy

Women are playing a vital role in earning even net national product of the country through their income. This study is undertaken to study about how the women are utilizing their rights properly especially in garment industry. The reason to choose the industry is that the women participation in the industry is 70,000 especially in Tirupur. This research is undertaken to analyze about the women’s rights in garment industry in the area of Tirupur. This study is undertaken to make an analysis of how women are working in their working area and also regarding the facilities provided in the working environment such as crèche facilities, ventilation facilities and payment benefits, work enrichment opportunities. The prime objective of the present study is to evaluate the Women Employee Rights in garment industry in Tirupur. The study was conducted on the basis of descriptive research. The employees have been selected by using non-probability convenience sample method from various departments. Totally 200 sample respondents were selected and analysed using t-Test, Chi-Square test and Garrett’s ranking method.

129-134

Authors: Prashant Kumar, - Kavita

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail has recently generated tremendous high spirits for a few and concern for others. It is supported that it will open floodgates for foreign retailers to speculate and can modification the retail landscape forever in India. FDI in retailing is much talked concerning subject by politician, media, trade specialist and industry experts. The Indian Retail market particularly the small Kirana store is not so well known by the actual means of FDI. The views given by politicians on the topic are terribly numerous and changes from party to party and person to person that has supplementary confusion in mind of those individuals. Retailing in Indiais the pillar of economy and accounts for about 22 percent of its GDP. The Indian retail sector is estimated to be US $500 billion and one of the top five retail markets in the world. India is the fastest growing retail markets in the world with 1.2 billion people.The Retail Business in India is presently at the point of inflection. As of 2008, speedy amendments with investments of US $ 25 billion were being planned by many Indian international firms within the next 5 years. The present study intends to explore the growth trends of FDI in Indian retail sector and also determine the SWOT (Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of Indian retail Industry.

1-4

Authors: Muhammad Waqas, Zahoor Rehman

The concept of separate legal entity is 500 years old and it means that the corporation is separate in all spheres of its activities. It is separate from its owner, from its employees and due to this separation between the corporation and an individual the shareholders’ liability is also limited. A corporation is established through four different ways i.e. continuity, self-governance, identification persona, and specification of assets. The personhood of a corporation is evolved with the passage of time through different court judgments in which Salomon case plays the role of corner stone. The corporation can own, sell and buy property in its name. The corporation can sue and be sued in the court of law as a legal person.

8-16

Authors: Aly M Hewaidy

With the lack of empirical research in voluntary disclosure in the Middle East area, the present study aims at investigating and evaluating corporate social and environmental disclosure (CSED) practices in Kuwait. To achieve this objective, a checklist of 25 social and environmental disclosure items was developed. These items were then classified into four categories: human resources, environmental activities, community involvement and product/service related information. Using content analysis, the 25 disclosure items were applied to the annual reports of a sample of 43 companies listed in Kuwait Stock Exchange (KSE). It was found that the overall disclosure level for the sample companies is 21%. The disclosure level varies by disclosure category. Product/service related information achieved the highest disclosure level (43%), while human resources disclosure comes second (25%). Little attention was given to disclosing information related to community and environment, with a disclosure level of 16% and 8% respectively. These results suggested that there is a significant scope for additional social and environmental disclosure in the annual reports of Kuwaiti companies. Issuing regulations and guidelines on CSED is needed to motivate Kuwaiti companies to improve their social and environmental disclosures.

22-30

Authors: Shri Kant Singh, Gyan Chandra Kashyap

Today India is the second largest producer of tobacco in the world and the third largest consumer. The World Health Organization predicts that tobacco deaths in India may exceed 1.5 million annually by 2020. The purpose of the present study to evaluate the pattern and correlates of tobacco use and quitting tobacco among smokers as well as users of smokeless tobacco. This study is based on the data from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, India (2009-10). The study used the cox's proportional hazards regression model and Kaplan-meier survival analysis for computing the probability of quitting tobacco. Three level multilevel logistic regression model have been used to carry out the pattern and correlates of tobacco use. The highest percentage of young people currently using tobacco product in the North-eastern states of India. The hazard of quitting tobacco among female is 1.35 times (p<.01) higher as compared to male. The chances of quitting smokeless tobacco are less in the North-East (HR =0.484) as compared to the people from North. The odds of smoking was three times higher in 45-64 age group (OR=3.311***) compared to the age group of 15-24. Regional variation is the use of smokeless tobacco shows that results from the North-Eastern region (OR=8.748***) and Eastern region (OR= 8.184) are more likely to use smokeless tobacco in comparison to people from Northern region. This study found that the trend of use of tobacco in upward direction, whereas the probability of quitting is very low in Northeast.

38-46

Authors: Krishna Prasad Pokharel

This research analyzes the demand for non-alcoholic beverages (non-diet carbonated beverages, diet carbonated beverages, non-carbonated caloric beverages, water, and unsweetened coffee and tea) in the United States using the first difference version of the Almost Ideal Demand System model. Five expenditure shares and prices demand equations for the non-alcoholic beverages are estimated using the Iterated Seemingly Unrelated Regression (ITSUR) and Full Information Maximum Likelihood (FIML) techniques. These two estimation techniques give similar results. Most of the products exhibit the consistent sign for the own and cross price elasticities as predicted by economic theory. Based on the expenditure elasticity, non-diet beverage is a luxury good (1.632) and the remaining goods have expenditure elasticity less than, which indicates that these products are necessities. These products are not weakly separable based on the regular and adjusted Wald tests. Moreover, seasonality has a positive impact on caloric beverages and water and a negative impact on the remaining products

60-64

Authors: Seema Dey, Jyotirmoy Ghosh

Successful marriage is a dynamic growing relationship in which the personalities of both partner continue to develop to achieve personal satisfaction. The earlier the adjustments are made, the more likely is the marriage to be happy and the fewer the areas in which the couples fails to adjust, the better are the chances for happiness in the marriage. The findings of the study revealed that factors that emerged to be important for enhancing marital satisfaction were respect for emotion, attitude towards marriage, expression of love, regard for views and importance to the likings of the spouse, ignoring weaknesses of the spouse, sexual adjustment, temperament, value, taste and interest. The lower ranks of management of time, management of income, technological factors and job related factors reflect that these are not considered serious because couples are already enjoying labour saving and luxury items and frequently go for outings. With respect to conflict resolution avoidance was given higher rank in comparison to arbitration.

68-77

Authors: Rabindra Nath Pati, Selemawit Tekie

Teenage pregnancy is a burning public health and demographic problem in Ethiopia.The adolescent girls of rural regions in Ethiopia account for alarming higher proportion of teenage pregnancies and contribute serious threats to health and development interventions by the Government.Teenage pregnancies and adolescent reproductive health hazards are burning global issues which have obstructed effective implementation of agenda of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The UNICEF estimates that 80 per cent of teenage pregnancies are reported in least developed countries of the world.The multiple socio-cultural factors such as lack of parental control and guidance, gender inequality, poverty, social exclusion, peer pressure, adoption of transactional and intergenerational sex by unemployed adolescent girls in poor homes as coping mechanism, gender based sexual assault prevailing in and around schools have stimulated increased teenage pregnancies in rural regions of Ethiopia.This paper based on review of research articles and research synthesis argues that teenage pregnancies is a national concern of Ethiopia preventing a significant section of adolescent girls availing access to preparedness for adulthood, exercising reproductive rights, opportunities for skill development, education, safe sex and reproductive health.This paper is an attempt to develop framework of research hypothesis and research questions to be adopted for further research on this thematic area.In rural regions of Ethiopia, increased number of women headed families coupled with rising poverty; unemployment and family disorganization breed sexual exploitation of adolescent girls exposing them to high risk sexual transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS.The growing teenage pregnancies in the country have drastically affected achievement of agenda in Millennium Development Goals (MGDs) in term of reduction of maternal death by 75 percent by 2015.The health inequalities is a major contributing factor to deprive women of equal opportunity and availing access to reach her health potential irrespective of social status, ethnicity, gender, religion and economic status.The socio-economic conditions of family and community in rural regions of Ethiopia contribute to increasing teenage pregnancies and adolescent motherhood.These factors are inadequate opportunity in community level for positive youth development, illiteracy, poverty and limited employment opportunities.The study recommends for a comprehensive community driven approach promoting childhood interventions and adolescent development programme towards minimizing unintended teenage pregnancy and gender discrimination prevailing in rural and urban region of Ethiopia.