Vol.1 No. 1, March 2010

Article 1: RELATIONSHIP OF ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN PUBLIC ORGANIZATION, pp. 1-8

By: Nour-Mohammad Yaghoubi, Jamshid Moloudi, and Atiyeh Haghi, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran

The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between organizational intelligence (OI) (e.g. strategic vision, shared fate, and appetite for change, heart, alignment and congruence, knowledge deployment and performance pressure) and organizational culture (OC) in Social Security Organizations in Iran. 280 of personnels were selected radomly using Albrecht OI and Denison organizational culture questionnaire. This study suggested that there is statistical significant relation between organizational intelligence and organizational culture.
Keywords: Organizational intelligence, organizational culture, organizational intelligence dimensions, Iran.

Article 2: MODERATING EFFECT OF INFORMATION PROCESSING CAPACITY TO INVESTMENT DECISION MAKING AND ENVIROMENTAL SCANNING, pp. 9-22

By: Nik Maheran Nik Muhammad, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Kelantan, Malaysia

Muhamad Jantan and Fauziah Md Taib, Universiti Sains Malaysia

This study will examine the role of information processing capacity in enhancing investment decision quality and environmental scanning relationship. Cross sectional data was collected through a survey and analyzed by means of factor analysis and hierarchical regression analysis. Information processing capacity is only contingent upon technology information in order to affect the quality of investment decision. Method of scanning on the other hand will lead to quality decision only with the inclusion of information processing capacity. Use of convenience sampling may restrict the generalizability of findings. Information processing capacity is needed when scanning technology information to bring about decision quality, thus for technology related matters, firms should be investing in the information processing capacity to produce quality decision. Information processing capacity theory is genuinely new in the literature of investment decision making. This study uses decision as its unit of analysis.
Keywords: Environmental scanning, decision quality, information processing capacity

Article 3: IS DIRHAM BETTER PERFORMED THAN DINAR IN HEDGING FLUCTUATED PRICES?, pp. 23-30

By: Dziauddin Shraif, Norlina Hazamuri and Mohd Asyadi Redzuan, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Melaka, Malaysia

Previous researches had shown that the coinage system can make the whole economic system sustainable rather than fiat money system. Of course the reason for that is the Gold Dinar and Silver Dirham are capable of reducing the fluctuation in goods price, thus it can reduce the inflation and deflation. Despite the fact that the both gold dinar and silver dirham are in a same kind, but they are in a different weight age, hence each of them would bring different result in case of stabilizing or hedging the price fluctuation. The question may arise here is which one of these metal can be a better tool to stabilize or hedge the price fluctuation. As a response to this matter, an empirical study would be carried out to find the answer. Therefore, this study is purposely compared the performance of gold dinar and silver dirham in hedging the price fluctuation, and subsequently to identify which one of these commodity monies could be a better hedging tool.
Keywords: Performance, dinar, dirham, fluctuated prices, hedging

Article 4: MERGER AND ACQUISITION: THE ORGANIZATION WELL BEING AND IMPACT TO THE EMPLOYEES OF THE ACQUIRED ORGANIZATION, pp. 31-40

By: Roshidi Hassan, Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam, Malaysia

The paper aims to discuss the types of mergers and acquisitions and elaborate on the effectiveness of the integration of the merger based on the previous research done. Merger and acquisition do have significant impacts to employees well being, work, team performance and organization performances. Managing acquisition process and the employees of the acquired organization in the right manner and approaches can reduce the negative impact of the acquisition process. It also can help organization to recover and perform again in shorter span of time. Organization should employ the right approach and strategies during the acquisition process and special attention given to effectively managing the employees of the acquired organization. The significance of the paper stems from the fact that it highlighted some important points that need to be considered by organizations when implementing merger and acquisition exercises based on the reviews of earlier studies and some from authors own viewpoints.
Keywords: Merger and acquisition, employee’s transitions, adaptations and workplace recovery.

Article 5: CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT IN OUTCOME-BASED EDUCATION (OBE) FOR INDUSTRIAL PRACTICUM TRAINING PROGRAM, pp.41-51

By: Sariwati Mohd Shariff and Shatina Saad, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam, Malaysia

This paper aims to share the findings and continual improvements made to the curricular structure on industrial practicum training program in the Faculty of Business Management of a local public university based on a study carried out in 2005 – 2006. A total of 103 practicum students (25%) responded to a quantitative survey using a 5-point Likert scale to determine the practicum training effectiveness; followed by in-depth interviews on twelve purposive–selected trainees. Findings showed that the factors that make the industrial practicum training effective were: host organizations, roles of facilitators, roles of trainees and the training-learning curriculum in the practicum. The scope of study encompassed final semester business management students who had completed practicum attachments in various industries from multinational companies, national and local small-medium enterprises. The practical implications of this study resulted in a change of curriculum structure for practicum programs, improved administration and practicum evaluations on the students, and enhanced the university- industrial linkages.
Keywords: Industrial training, practicum, curricular development, learning