<rdf:RDF xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/">
<rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/838">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Financial Stability: Albanian Case]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[Defining financial stability is very difficult, and it is even harder to measure it. Generally speaking, a financial system can be characterized as stable in the absence of excessive volatility, stress or crises. This paper tries to give a clearer definition of financial stability and its importance in the economy of a country. An efficient and stable financial system is very important, as it is one of the main factors that promote economic development and growth. It also focuses on financial stability progress in which Albania has undergone during the last two years (2012-2013). All statistical data and information are collected from both national and international sources, including Central Bank of Albania, Ministry of Finance, as well as IMF and World Bank. In order to measure and understand the financial state of Albania, it was necessary to make an analysis of the real sector (GDP growth), behavior of financial markets, performance of banking sector and corporate sector’s riskiness. Banks play an important role in the global financial system and have become more important during liberalization and technological progress. This phenomenon is quite obvious even in Albania. Empirical studies show that banking sector should be more careful with non-performing loans, even though lending procedures have been tightened. The ratio of non-performing loans to total loans reached up to 24.2% in June 2013. Credit risk remains the main threat of Albanian banking sector, due to low economic growth and political instability. Based on the collected data we may conclude that the performance of financial system and banking sector in Albania has been quite stable.    Keywords: financial Stability; Banks; Monetary Policy.  ]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2591]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-4564     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description><rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/837">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Web Presence of Hotels in Canton Sarajevo]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[Making a website has become a necessity for any modern hotel operating nowadays. Creating an effective website for a business, such as a hotel, can contribute to its success. It changes the way of presenting particular services in a way that is available to anyone from anywhere around the globe. A person who is sitting in his or her chair in front of a computer can access all the information and services that a particular hotel is providing. In general, e-commerce is an efficient way of conducting business that replaces more effortful traditional way involving physical contact. However, to be successful, the website needs to be well designed and built in order to be adopted by the customers. The key criteria for good website design suggested by the literature include: functionality (e.g. information, instruction), usability (e.g. simplicity, ease of use) and appeal (e.g. color, graphics). Every customer wants to be able to get the required information from the website in the simplest and easiest way possible. In the case of hotels, visual presentation of hotel amenities is equally significant. It can stand out as a point-of-difference for targeted customers. A single hotel can also benefit from joining global websites that connect many hotels in one place. Higher ratings can be obtained based on the quality of provided information and presentation because these ratings are based on actual human perceptions and experiences. Given all of the above said, this research study will examine how important is web presence for ratings and business success of selected hotels in Canton Sarajevo. A survey-based method will be employed to collect customer satisfaction data.  Keywords: E-commerce. E-business, web presence, user satisfaction, hotel.  ]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2608]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-4564     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description><rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/836">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[A Case Study of Information Systems Implementation in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[In today&#039;s world of highly competitive economy with frequent and rapid changes, business managers are faced with an increasing need to make right decisions at the right time. Right information is one of the key resources for high quality business decisions and subsequent business success. Relevant, accurate and timely information is valuable because it can affect behavior, a decision, and an outcome. Thus, business managers need to have access to all the required internal and external up to date information. This access is enabled by modern business information systems. These are ICT based systems that collect; store, preserve, process and deliver needed information to organizational management in order to support their operational, tactical and strategic decision making. They also help organizations to connect with their customers, suppliers and partners involved in their business processes. In short, these systems have become essential when it comes to day-to-day operation, as well as strategic planning and decision making. Given the high importance of information systems in organizations, this study will analyze a case of one system implementation in a real-world company from Bosnia and Herzegovina. In particular, a descriptive method will be applied to examine the characteristics of the company&#039;s system and the value of information it provides to its management.  Keywords: business information system, implementation, impact, case study.  ]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2606]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-4564     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description><rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/835">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Rise in Non-performing Loans: Determinants and Repercussions]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[Ever since 2008 as the global financial crisis came about, we witness quite major increase in non-performing loans in Bosnia and Herzegovina but also elsewhere in Eastern and Southern Europe and around the world. Non-performing loans can be viewed as realization of credit risk and indicator of financial health of the banking sector but also as an indicator of liquidity in real sector. The paper investigates determinants of non-performing loans and concludes that both macroeconomic and bank level determinants play a major role in determining level of non-performing loans in a country. The paper also discusses the feedback effect of rising level of non-performing loans back to the economy and finds that there is effect and repercussion on short term to medium term on macroeconomic climate. The paper also shortly addresses the banking regulation that regulates management of credit risk.    Keywords: non-performing loans, macroeconomic and bank level determinants, feedback effect, banking regulation.  ]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2585]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-4564     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description><rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/834">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Factors of E-Business Success: Comparative Analysis of Pik.Ba and Market.Ba]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[This study aims to provide a comparative analysis of two e-businesses operating in sales and marketing sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina: pik.ba and market.ba. The first one is highly successful and the other one is struggling to stay in business. The present study will try to determine key differentiating factors that contributed to the current status of these two e-businesses. A survey of customers’ perceptions and attitudes towards these e-businesses, as well as their purchasing behaviors will be examined in order to detect any potential differences and reasons behind those differences. It is expected that an improved understanding of the identified e-business success factors will help to improve e-business design functionality, usability and aesthetics. This should lead to the enhanced customer satisfaction and the ultimate business success.    Keywords: e-business, e-commerce, sales, marketing, purchasing behavior.  ]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2650]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-4564     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description><rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/833">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Albanian Management Consulting Industry]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[This paper analyzes the last decade evolution of the Management Consulting Industry in Albania. Consulting firms need to stay competitive through providing their expertise world-wide that is why many international firms have expanded in Albania, including the BIG FOUR. On the other hand, the profitability of this industry has attracted also the start-up of national consulting firms. This paper focuses on making a comparison between international vs. domestic consulting firms. The paper investigates the business entry strategy of both type of companies and compares the services and the core competences that enable them to maintain a competitive advantage. These companies mostly perform accounting and auditing services, which are also a requirement from both mother-company (if applicable) and the state. For other services such as: business strategy consultancy, human resources and organizational development consultancy, management control consultancy there is a lack of understanding, consequently a lower demand for such services. The paper finds that international consulting firms enjoy generally higher customer loyalty because of their brand reputation, but domestic first compete with offering lower prices for the same services. Taking in consideration that consultancy has become global, Albanian consulting firms are expanding in the region, with a special focus on Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro market.    Lastly, the paper analyzes the Albanian consulting market based on the five forces of Porter. There are no legal barriers to enter this industry, but the market size is relatively still small and the BIG FOUR (mostly Deloitte and KPMG) dominate 80% of the market and there is also a lack of quality of suppliers and human capital. In the long-term, the expected increasing number of national and international firms operating in Albania enables a growing opportunity for the consultancy industry.  Keywords: management consulting industry, international consulting firms, domestic consulting firms, business strategy, 5 forces of Porter.     ]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2651]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-4564     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description><rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/832">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Assessing In the Credibility of the Company for Loan Application]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[The banks are financial institutions that provide loans not only for physical persons but also to the legal entities or companies. The credit analysis of the company as borrower of the loan must determine the credibility of the company in order to establish the level of credit risk. The credit analysis includes character, capacity, capital, collateral and conditions of the company, in this case the borrower. The purpose of this thesis is to develop appropriate model which will raise a focus on the financial and non-financial criteria crucial for assessing in the credibility of the company for the loan application. There are varieties of reasons why companies take out bank loans: to purchase equipment, real estate or inventory, to expand their operations, to increase their working capital, to reinvest, or to repay existing debts, etc. The bank loans can be expensive and risky for a certain company, thus many companies take that risk when it comes to financing their business operations. I will try to show which criteria, including both financial and non-financial, is crucial in assessing in the credibility of the company. I will also attempt to empirically verify my model, using Analytic Network Process in combination with scoring model, in order to improve the decision-making regarding the approval of bank loan for a certain company. The bankers must respond to the demands of their clients who seek for the loans and in the same time discover the factors which must be taken in to account during the whole assessment of the loan application. Before any actual analysis of loan application, the banker must have answers to the following questions: the quality of the borrower and of the given information; the purpose of the loan; the amount to be approved; and the source of the repayment of the loan.  The data which will be used in this thesis is information and data collected from books, websites and journals. The data which will be used is company’s three-year-period financial statements as well as non-financial data such as credit history, the character and the structure of the company, the resources and circular-flow of activities. For evaluating this data, it will be used Scoring model, which represents a multidimensional instrument for evaluating alternative actions. An essential advantage of scoring model is to assist in decision-making in a systematic procedure to solve the problem, so it significantly contributes to the rational decision-making process. As a comparison to this model, it will use Analytical network process (ANP), which is used in multi-criteria decision analysis.    Keywords: Credibility of the company, Loan application, ANP, Scoring model, Decision-making  ]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2596]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-4564     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description><rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/831">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorist Activities with Emphasis on the Role of the Financial Intelligence Department    Pranje novca i finansiranje terorističkih aktivnosti sa osvrtom na ulogu finansijsko-obavještajnog odjela]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[The paper presents main issues related to money laundering and financing of terrorist activities, and the relationship between these two aspects of crime. Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of income earned through criminal acts, with the aim of including these revenue flows into the legal financial operations. Terrorism is a global threat that affects all countries of the world and poses a threat to international peace and security. Given that states refuse direct sponsoring of terrorism - terrorist groups, thus, in order to increase the funds necessary to finance their activities, redirect to criminal activities. In this regard, the relationship between &quot;dirty money&quot; and the financing of terrorist activities is highlighted. The paper emphasizes the ways and forms of combating money laundering and financing of terrorist activities and the work of state agencies and their departments that regulate these issues.    Sažetak: U radu se izlažu osnovna pitanja vezana za pranje novca i finansiranje terorističkih aktivnosti, te veza između ova dva aspekta kriminala. Pranje novca predstavlja proces prikrivanja ilegalnih izvora prihoda ostvarenih putem krivičnih djela, sa ciljem uključivanja tih prihoda u tokove legalnog finansijskog poslovanja. Terorizam je globalna prijetnja koja pogađa sve zemlje svijeta i predstavlja prijetnju međunarodnom miru i sigurnosti. S obzirom da države odbijaju direktno sponzorisanje terorizma, terorističke grupe se, u cilju povećavanja fondova neophodnih za finansiranje svojih aktivnosti, preusmjeravaju prema kriminalnim aktivnostima. U tom dijelu se ističe veza između „prljavog novca“ i finansiranja terorističkih aktivnosti. U radu su istaknuti načini i vidovi borbe protiv pranja novca i finansiranja terorističkih aktivnosti, te rad državnih agencija i njihovih odjela koji regulišu ova pitanja.]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[Social Sciences Research Center of International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2368]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-5706     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description><rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/830">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[What User Thinks About Privacy on Social Networks: An Empirical Study]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[Practically billions of users are using a wide selection of so called &quot;social networks&quot; which serve as a meeting point for individuals, groups etc. Recently, more and more people join multiple social networks on World Wide Web, such as Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, Google Plus etc. to share information and updates of their lives and at the same time to monitor or participate in different activities. Social networking has become one of the most popular activities on the web, with the top sites boasting hundreds of millions of users, and social networking sites representing an important portion of world’s 100 most-visited web sites.    On social networks, service providers (i.e. facebook, twitter, google plus) have the chance to create unique products or services for each customer where the information provided by users are actually an essential part of the service. For example, we all have a different profile page (and network) based on our information, location etc. and provided by social networking company (service provider). Very sensitive personal data are uploaded to user profiles including but limited to, personal identity, date of birth, photos, job/education information, and location. Scholarship on social networking on World Wide Web is flourishing and privacy issues can be considered as a popular topic on these studies.    In this paper, based on a questionnaire, we try to understand what users think of regarding their private information on social networks. Questionnaire is based on the scale “information privacy: measuring individuals&#039; concerns about organizational practices” developed by Smith, Milberg and Burke (1996). We argue that, if providers can come up with a secure infrastructure, transparent data usage policy and rich privacy options for users to opt-in and out, people will engage in more social networking activities and providers can make more profit.    Keywords: privacy, user, social network, knowledge, management.    ]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2603]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-4564     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description><rdf:Description rdf:about="https://omeka.ibu.edu.ba/items/show/829">
    <dcterms:title><![CDATA[Comparing the Financial Performances of Different Trading Strategies Using BIST100 Index]]></dcterms:title>
    <dcterms:abstract><![CDATA[In an efficient market, prices of stocks reflect all relevant information. Efficient Market Hypothesis states that it is impossible to find overvalued or undervalued stocks to obtain abnormal profits. In another words the best trading strategy is “buy and hold strategy”. If efficient market hypothesis is true and if BIST is an efficient market then it won’t be possible to obtain abnormal profits by trading with technical analysis rules. In this study three different models are created to compare the profitability of trading rules. First model includes trading rules which are based on moving averages. The second model is buy and hold model. In this model stocks are bought from first day and sold at the end of the test period and return is calculated from that transaction. In the third model random forecasts are used as buy and sell signs. The profits obtained from transactions which are directed by the result of these three models are calculated and compared. Dataset consists from closing prices of BIST100 index between the period 30/11/2011 and 01/07/2013. The period is divided to 10 sequential sub-periods. Overall results indicate that trading rules produced greater return when compared with random forecasts and buy and hold strategy.  Keywords: Technical analysis, efficient market hypothesis, random walk model, BIST 100 index, trading algorithm.  ]]></dcterms:abstract>
    <dcterms:publisher><![CDATA[International Burch University]]></dcterms:publisher>
    <dcterms:date><![CDATA[2014-04]]></dcterms:date>
    <dcterms:extent><![CDATA[2554]]></dcterms:extent>
    <dcterms:identifier><![CDATA[ISSN 2303-4564     ]]></dcterms:identifier>
</rdf:Description></rdf:RDF>