Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of entrepreneurial intention. Specifically, the study investigated the extent to which personality traits or situational factors influenced entrepreneurial intention and whether the relationship among the predictor variables and the intention to become entrepreneurs differed between men and women. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using a questionnaire-based survey of 393 students at a reputable international educational institution in Thailand. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance were employed to test the hypotheses. Findings A total of eight independent variables were tested for their effect on entrepreneurial intention. Three of the personality traits, including need for achievement, risk-taking tendency, job security, were found to have a significant effect on intention for entrepreneurship. However, environment for starting a business and educational programme were found to be suppressor variables. Personality factors had a greater degree of effect on entrepreneurial intention than situational factors. With respect to gender differences, for women, job autonomy and job security were significant predictors while for men, need for achievement and risk-taking tendency contributed to entrepreneurial intention. Originality/value The study investigated whether personality factors or situational factors were the main drivers of entrepreneurial intention and to what extent gender differences exist in the determinants of entrepreneurial intention. Few studies have been based on a sample of respondents of such diversity in terms of nationality. The present study included respondents from 12 different nationalities in Asia.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is now a growing concern throughout the world. All type of firms i.e. large firms to small and medium firms are becoming aware about the term as it has found to be significantly associated with improving corporate image, which in turn influence overall performance of the firms. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the level of awareness of SME owners about CSR and also to identify the effects of CSR on financial performance particularly on Small and medium Enterprises (SME). Methodology: Total 330 SMEs have been surveyed to achieve the objective of the study. Five variables has been used to determine SMEs’ CSR activities i.e. activities on employees, customers, environment, country, community and society. To determine financial performance, data regarding sales and profitability of past five years is used. Correlation and regression is used to determine the effect of CSR activities on financial performance. Beside this, SME owners’ perception has been summarized from open-ended question. Findings: The study suggests that more than half of the SME owners (around 60%) are aware about CSR, but they cannot give a concrete definition regarding it. From correlation analysis it was found that all the variables (activities on employees, customers, environment, country, community and society) have significant positive relationship with financial performance of SMEs. Regression analysis says that three variables e.g. CSR on employees, customers and environment has significant positive effect on financial performance of SMEs. Other two variables e.g. CSR on country and CSR on community and society have no significant effect on financial performance of the firms. Originality/Value: This study summarized the SME owners’ perception regarding CSR and their activities on CSR. No such study has been conducted in Bangladesh particularly on SMEs and influence of CSR activities on their financial performance.

Ready Made Garments (RMG) sector is one of the most potential sectors of earning foreign capital to improve economic growth. Bangladesh is the great place for Chinese investors to invest in RMG sector as its export trend is increasing day by day. The main objective of this research paper was to find out opportunities and challenges of Chinese investment in Bangladesh. Data were collected from different secondary sources. Low labor rate, labor availability, low government debt, huge gross national savings etc. influenced Chinese investors to invest. Besides, political instability, infrastructural factory premises, low lead time hampers the flow of Chinese investments. If necessary remedies are taken to mitigate the problems including training the labor force, Chinese investment in Bangladesh is going to be enhanced at a large scale.

This study was intended towards detecting the problem faced by the local tour operators of the Khulna region. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect necessary data from 30 tour operators, working in Khulna city in a view to investigating the major problems faced by them. Two research questions have been installed that was directed towards achieving the major objectives of this study. The findings of the study portrays the fact that eight factors in the forms of lack of variety, human resource development, business seasonality, lack of operators association, absence of support from the forest department, lack of promotional activities, below level of awareness of the customers and pricing are the major problem that are hindering the business and profitability of the tour operators of Khulna. In order to get ride of this situation and for accelerating the tourism sectors of the country those problems of the tour operators need to be eradicated quickly.