Narrow Results

In order to realize the quantitative management of higher education quality, an evaluation method of higher education quality management maturity based on OBE concept is proposed. Construct a phase space distribution structure model of higher education quality management maturity, establish a parameter set of higher education quality management maturity distribution index, adopt OBE concept to construct a fuzzy association rule distribution set, extract association regularity features, classify multi-dimensional attribute features, conduct data partition scheduling in the fuzzy clustering center according to the differences of statistical features, construct a feature decomposition model, and reorganize the ontology structure of higher education quality management maturity. The binary structure characteristics are reconstructed in the virtual database, and fuzzy clustering is carried out under the OBE concept according to the reconstruction results, so as to realize the optimal evaluation of the maturity of higher education quality management. The experimental simulation results show that this method has good feature clustering and high reliability in evaluating the maturity of higher education quality management.

We use financial data on poorly performing firms in Hong Kong to examine the motives behind paying out cash dividends when they suffer an earnings decline. We test three hypotheses behind the cash dividend policy: the maturity hypothesis, the free cash flow hypothesis, and the self-interest hypothesis of directors (i.e., the cash channeling hypothesis of directors). The findings are largely consistent with the maturity hypothesis and the free cash flow hypothesis but do not support the cash channeling hypothesis, confirming good market transparency and governance of the Hong Kong market.

Firms are experimenting with numerous different best practices in order to improve the timeliness and effectiveness of their new product development (NPD) process. This paper examines how widely adopted certain best practices are, and if the adoptions show any pattern in terms of being simultaneously adopted within organisations. We developed an inventory of best practices related to NPD, and an empirical survey was administered to 39 companies. Our results indicate that best practices associated with enhancing the human resources involved in NPD, and improving the fuzzy front end of NPD appear to be getting little attention to date, despite a strong call for such attention in the management literature. Best practices associated with the strategic implementation of NPD (project selection, goals, technological leadership, product strategy, and customer involvement) are on average all more widely adopted than best practices associated with controlling the execution of NPD (process control, metrics, documentation, change control).

This chapter first focuses on the bond strategies of riding the yield curve and structuring the maturity of the bond portfolio in order to generate additional return. This is followed by a discussion of swapping, which are essentially interest-rate swaps. Next is an analysis of duration or the measure of the portfolio sensitivity to changes in interest rates with and without convexity, after which immunization is the focus. The convexity is essentially discussed in nonlinear relationship between bond price and duration. Finally, a case study is presented of bond-portfolio management in the context of portfolio theory. Overall, this chapter presents how interest rate changes affect bond price and how maturity and duration can be used to manage portfolios.

This chapter first focuses on the bond strategies of riding the yield curve and structuring the maturity of the bond portfolio in order to generate additional return. This is followed by a discussion on swapping, which is essentially interest-rate swapping. Next is an analysis of duration or the measure of the portfolio sensitivity to changes in interest rates with and without convexity, after which immunization is the focus. The convexity is essentially discussed as a nonlinear relationship between bond price and duration. Finally, a case study of bond-portfolio management is presented in the context of portfolio theory. Overall, this chapter presents how interest rates change affect bond price and how maturity and duration can be used to manage portfolios.