Journal of Intercultural Management最新文献

{"title":"General Concept of Neo-institutional Measurements of Business Processes","authors":"Arkadiusz J. Derkacz","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0023","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0023","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: General concept of neo-institutional measurements of business processes is an approach developed by the author, which fits in with the practical search for appropriate methods and tools that would optimize effectiveness and efficiency of business process management. The objective of the following discussion is to prove the thesis that effectiveness of business processes that take place within a company depends on the quality of support of such processes that is included in the set of supporting factors, as well as on neo-institutional determinants of business processes. Methodology: In the article, the author used primarily long-term observations of the functioning of enterprises, critical literature analysis and thought experiment. Findings: The concept was based on long-term of author’s experience in business management and it was essentially grounded in the model of the new institutional economics. On the basis of critical analysis of the literature and with the use of empirical research results from different industries and countries, it defines four hypotheses, which make ground for the concept in question. These are: hypothesis of rational change of condition, hypothesis of expected determinants of business processes, hypothesis of rational determinants of business processes and intensity of impact hypothesis. Value Added: The concept presents a new holistic and behavioral method for business processes analysis. Recommendations: The general concept of neo-institutional measurements of business processes may become a new economic approach concerning the issues of effectiveness and efficiency of business processes, but also it may become the ground for creation of a new catalogue of recommendations for managers, who, on a daily basis, make difficult managerial decisions.","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"68 2-3 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"123468968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Do Soft Skills matter? A Study on Employability of Engineering Graduates in Bangladesh","authors":"R. Afroze, T. Eva, Atiqur Rahman Sarker","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0016","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: University graduates in Bangladesh are presently confronted with high job competition. Because of less job availability, engineering graduates are facing more challenges in getting job opportunities than business graduates. Moreover, engineering graduates are more proficient in technical skills than with their human skills. The most important barrier for engineering graduates’ employability at their initial stage of career is that they have less focus on acquisition of their soft skills. Therefore, this study is concentrating to analyse the current situation of the engineering graduates’ soft skills deficiency and to investigate the impact of having soft skills on employability. Methodology:The nature of the study is qualitative and data has been gathered through in-depth interview and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Respondents of in-depth interview are experienced engineers and HR experts who are working in engineering based organizations especially at the power solution service providing companies in Bangladesh. FGD among final year undergraduate engineering students has also been conducted to validate the interview data. Thematic analysis is used to analyse the qualitative data. Findings:The impact of having soft skills in getting employment of new graduates at the entry level is identified in this paper. Value Added: Higher education can assist in developing employability through increasing employment prospect and also achieving individual learning goals. However, fresh engineering graduates have social skills gap and lack of practical knowledge which can be reduced through acquiring soft skills. Different techniques such as self-training, institutional training, joining language sessions, attending presentation skills development classes and social programs can assist graduates in the acquisition of soft skills. Recommendations: As the most important reason of engineers’ unemployment is the lacking of collaboration between industry and academic institutions, this study focuses to draw the attention of engineering students, educational institutes and policy makers to highlight the importance of developing soft skills for employability and career growth.","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131005389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Higher Education Policies and Employability of University Graduates in the EU-28","authors":"E. Pelinescu, M. Simionescu","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0020","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0020","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: The main purpose of this research is to analyze and reveal if the recent policy measures in higher education carried in European Union member countries have had a significant impact on the labour market integration of university graduates. Methodology: We selected a set of indicators that were common in the 2015 and 2016 editions of Structural Indicators for Monitoring Education and Training Systems in Europe and could offer an image of intensity of higher education policies in relation with labour market at European level. We further used these measures to test for any significant effects of the policies on the integration of graduates in the labour market. Findings: We found significant effects of various policy measures in high education in the European countries. We estimate a positive role for factors like monitoring of completion rates, requirements for the staff to have higher education, presence of educational guidelines, and recognition of formal and informal learning for entry in higher education. Value Added: This is the first study to address the impact of high education policies carried in European countries on the integration of college graduates. The study is distinct through both the design of new measures of higher education policy in Europe as well through testing whether the intensity of policies carried for higher education has affected the employability of young graduates or not. Recommendations: The results of this empirical research allow us to make some recommendations for improving the insertion of young graduates on European labour market.","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"25 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"115308968","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"English as Lingua Franca and First Language Comfort Zones at an Internationalized University in Warsaw","authors":"Lucyna Aleksandrowicz-Pȩdich","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0017","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0017","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: The aim of this study has been to analyse the use of English as lingua franca at an internationalised university in a non-English speaking country, the challenges caused by the need to use English for academic and social purposes as well as the use of other languages by a multicultural student community. Methodology: The methodology was based on qualitative research and involved open-ended interviews with students of 14 nationalities as well as staff members, both local (Polish) and from English-speaking countries. Findings: The main findings indicate: a degree of mismatch between the self-perception of English language competence and the actual ability to use it; the key function of language for social bonding; frequent recourse to first language comfort zones rather than the use of the lingua franca. Value Added: The research focuses on English language issues in a non-English speaking country, an understudied area in higher education. It draws attention to the use of Russian as a secondary lingua franca among students for whom it is their other language of fluent communication. Recommendations: University level educators should be more aware of the specificity of the problems in the use of English by international students, including such as underestimated listening comprehension issues, tensions connected with the use of polite forms and the mismatch between communication skills in English and the academic needs. The impact of language identity on international students social networking should be taken into account as well.","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"613 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124626478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Practical Aspects of Employer Branding in the Light of the Findings of Qualitative Primary Research","authors":"M. Fodor, K. Jäckel, Tibor Pál Szemere, B. Almádi","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0018","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: Our study presents the partial results of the research with the Z generation, which aims to get acquainted with and explore the specific features of selecting Human Resources Professionals (HR) in order to increase employment, especially through the applicability of the tools of employee branding. Our main objective is to explore the tools that can be implemented in the branding process for the potential employees of the Z generation and to demonstrate the practical applicability of these elements to improve investment. In addition, we aim to explore the generational-specific characteristics of investments, what challenges should be addressed today by a HR specialist, what solutions and practices are used in relation to the relevant response to these challenges. Methodology: In this publication, we present the partial results of a research project, supported by the New National Excellence Program of the Ministry of Human Resources (ÚNKP-18-3-III). In the first phase of the research project, we conducted a qualitative examination (B2C, B2B), in which we conducted thirty mini-focus interviews (using semi-structured interview guides). The subjects were recruited using a snowball sampling method, the filtering condition was the age of the subject. Only the subjects remained in the sample who, according to their age, belong to the Z generation. Findings: As a result of this research, we can see what the HR specialists interviewed think the benefits of employer branding are if they are able to act with a conscious and strategic approach to HR activities. Investigating consumer attitudes related to investments - despite the recognition of their significance - is less well-researched, and articles of empirical research also appear in international literature today. In order to fill the gap, we would like to contribute to Hungarian studies. Value Added: In our view, the results can provide useful information to companies who have similar difficulties in dealing with recruitment challenges and generational differences. In this paper we present the qualitative partial results of primary research. Both secondary and primary research show that a key factor for successful companies is the existence of a credible, internal employer branding strategy that continuously reflects on the labour market challenges. It is important that the employer’s brand - just like a product / service brand – should be well-positioned with clear values and messages. The other important aspect is the coordination of the activities of the individual groups and areas, because marketing, PR and HR are the builders and representatives of the same brand. You can then be successful and credible with your employer branding if all the details – similarly to a puzzle - are in place Recommendations: Without the strategic approach, the directions, the goals, and the alignment of the activities are not identified, which is reflected in inefficiencies. The employer’s brand ha","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"91 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"131797940","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Relations of University Values and Competences of University Teachers","authors":"M. Blašková, Dominika Tumová, Rudolf Blaško","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0021","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0021","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: The paper deals with the theoretical and empirical examination of university values in relation to key competences of university teachers. The combination of values that universities should prioritize and the competences that university teachers should possess is seen in the paper as an important precondition for improving the quality and acceleration of modern university progress. The theoretical part analyzes, compares and synthesizes opinions on key terms examined in the paper, i.e. higher education, university, values, and competences. The empirical part presents, on the one hand, the results of the questionnaire survey aimed at defining important university values. The survey was carried out on a sample of n = 279 students of the University of Žilina, Slovak Republic, and obtained 1,786 statements on crucial values or sub-values of the university. On the other hand, based on results of the previous survey (n = 27 university teachers) which was targeted on key competences of the great university teachers, the empirical part seeks to experimentally link university key values with teachers’ key competences. Methodology: Analysis, synthesis, comparison, abstraction, questionnaire survey, thinking experiment. Hypothesis H1: University values defined by students will be repeated in the survey, i.e. student views on the core values of university will be identical or similar in content. Negation hypothesis H0: University values defined by students will not be repeated in the survey. Findings: Respondents reported a total of n0 = 1,786 statements regarding the university values or sub-values. A substantial consensus was found: many of values were repeated for respondents. Defined values were subsequently grouped: from the initially defined n1 = 229 values, n2 = 32 complex values were generated. This leads to a rejection of H0, in favor of H1: the university values generated by students are similar in the content. The results in the evaluative question confirmed the assumption that respondents considered most important mostly those values that the previous open question most frequently reported. Although depending on the study program is always the quality of education in the first place of importance, the order of importance of other values varies to some extent. Value Added: Opinions on university teachers’ competences and university’s values were discussed. Experimental linking of university values to competences of teachers was performed based on the survey results conducted by the authors in 2012 (this one consisted of three sequential interviews/workshops with teachers of University of Žilina). A logical conclusion was formulated: All the university teachers and scientists are becoming authorities competent to build, preserve and transform universal knowledge into an ever-higher level. Recommendations: A conclusion of the paper contains the characteristics recommended for achieve an effective process of developing university ","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"11 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"125765272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Particularities of the Recent Evolution of Higher Education in Romania. Analysis and Forecasts","authors":"M. Bălan","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0019","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0019","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: The purpose of this article is to present a brief analysis of the Romanian higher education system from the perspective of basic indicators, as well as the use of Markovian techniques for studying the evolution of the schooling process. Methodology: The descriptive statistical analysis was mainly used to visualize and synthesize the information extracted from the data on the Romanian higher education system. Markovian methods were used to study and predict the evolution of the schooling process. Findings: The rapid dynamics of the number of students in Romania in the last two decades has been accompanied by a series of structural changes, of which the most important are: a) constantly increasing the degree of feminisation of student achievements and b) increasing the relative importance of economic studies, legal studies and other social sciences, while reducing the relative importance of technical sciences and of medical-pharmaceutical studies within university specialties. Also, the distribution of the graduates’ specializations correlated to a very small extent with the requirements of economic and social activity. It can be said that the development of tertiary education in Romania was stimulated mainly by the action of factors of social and cultural nature and only at second level by the demand for qualified personnel generated by the productive apparatus. Value Added: This study highlights the current state of Romanian higher education. The fact that the evolution of tertiary education has been “explosive” over the past two decades makes some econometric methods, involving the use of stationary data or which have a high degree of complexity, more difficult to use. In this context, the use of Markovian modelling methods for studying and forecasting the evolution of the schooling process can contribute to improving access to and participation in higher education. Recommendations: In the current conjucture, when trying to increase the insertion of graduates into the labour market, it is natural for decision-makers to use various estimation methods and techniques that allow them to correlate university study programs with the needs of the labour market and at the same time provide them with scientific support for their prognosis.","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"38 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"127774865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Role of Students in the Governance of Public Higher Education: a Case Study of Malta","authors":"Colin Borg","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0015","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0015","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: The aim of this paper is to analyse the extent of student involvement in higher education governance by considering Malta as a case study. When analysing participation within institutions, two main players are involved: students and staff. Methodology: The author uses a hybrid of methodological tools to analyse the subject matter. A review of the existing literature is compounded with document analysis and the collection of unpublished institutional data. Findings: Student participation in the governance of higher education institutions (HEIs) is becoming a pressing reality. Students, who are the institutional clients, are a crucial key player in the manner in which HEIs are governed and managed. Therefore, HEIs have an interest in ensuring effective student participation. Various mechanisms are available and student participation is not always at an optimum level. Value Added: This paper analyse in detail two main mechanisms of student participation: elections and academic feedback. A qualitative analysis is provided in order to measure the extent of participation. Elections are an important tool to elect student representatives while study-unit and course feedback provide valuable information to improve teaching and learning. Recommendations: Further research is required in order to determine the quality of student participation in academic boards and committees. Therefore, the quantitative analysis is to be embraced with qualitative data. Furthermore, HEIs are to study ways in which they can create more participatory tools within their complex governing arrangements. The issue of involving more established student societies, which are not intrinsically part of the governing structures, is also essential.","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"431 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121595078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Foreign Direct Investment and Human Capital Formation","authors":"Maria-Simona Naroș","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0013","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: The main objective of this paper is to reveal the relationship between foreign direct investment (FDI) and human capital. Methodology: The analysis consists in a presentation of main achievements in the literature regarding the contribution of human capital to the attraction of FDI. Findings: The investment in human capital formation has leaded to the increase of labour productivity. This will ultimately result in economic growth. Education has the most important role in the process of human capital formation. Value added: FDI has an important role to play in human resource development through its ability to enhance new skills, information and technologies in multinational enterprises. In this way, FDI becomes a determinant factor for education and professional training, because it is the link between the immediate reality based on creation, introduction of new skills, new technologies and provision of a wide range of information and initial training direction. Recommendations: The economic policies should focus on the attraction of FDI that ensures the improvement of human capital quality. On the other hand, the education policies should focus on a better connection of the human resources to the requirements of the labour market and to offer acknowledge and practice that will help the graduates to correspond to the expectations of foreign investors.","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"95 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"124432497","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"L1 Use in Language Tests – Investigating Cross-Cultural Dimensions of Language Assessment","authors":"J. Krajka","doi":"10.2478/joim-2019-0011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2478/joim-2019-0011","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Objective: Assessment is a crucial part of language teaching, with great effect on learners’ motivation, willingness to study and learning success. Since language assessment is rooted in local policies and cultures of learning, it seems pertinent to look at how opinions on assessment can differ depending on the country of teacher training. The purpose of the paper is to compare Polish and Turkish teacher trainees’ on L1 use and translation in testing. Methodology: The methodology applied in the paper is a qualitative action research study, where the groups of teacher trainees from Poland and Turkey participating in a telecollaborative project were prompted for reflection on different aspects of cultural appropriacy of language assessment. The data were collected via private diaries and public discussion forums. The corpus of student reflections was subject to qualitative analysis for key concepts, recurrent themes, similarities and differences across the two countries involved in analysis. Findings: The effect of the local setting in which language instruction is to take place on assessment beliefs and strategies is stronger than that of teacher training. The language testing procedures of the Communicative Approach vary in the two countries under consideration (Poland and Turkey) due to a differing role and status of English in the country, cultural orientations of the society, preferred learning styles and habits, country openness to the Western culture and values as well as societal expectations towards the language teacher. Despite much standardization in language teacher education, significant variation in the shape of language teaching methodology can be attributed to the effect of cultural differences. Value Added: Telecollaboration in teacher training is promoted as an instructional technique enabling expansion of teacher trainees’ intercultural competence, intercultural communication skills, awareness of the effect of cultural differences on preferred ways of learning and teaching. The cultural appropriacy of language assessment can be achieved through filtering testing methods and techniques to adapt them to the cultural, political and social reality of target users. Recommendations: The telecollaborative exchange as described in the present paper proves to be an effective vehicle to achieve the purpose of increasing internalization of teacher education and creating better skilled professionals. Since language teaching has become a largely multicultural and multilingual experience, it is necessary to increase teacher trainees’ awareness of cultural appropriacy of its different aspects, including assessment, throughout the teacher training programme.","PeriodicalId":302686,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Intercultural Management","volume":"20 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"128308298","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}