Export performance has an important role for firm survival, profitability and growth. Given these benefits and the challenges that firms may face when exporting, scholars have dedicated considerable efforts to understand the factors that enable export success. The current study investigates the role of experiential foreign market knowledge and exporter-importer (EI) relationship quality for export performance. A conceptual model involving the relationship between the role of experiential foreign market knowledge, E-I relationship quality and export performance satisfaction is developed and empirically tested using data from 264 Thai exporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Findings suggest SME managers' knowledge of foreign customers, culture and political environment have a positive influence on E-I relationship quality and satisfaction with export performance. Drawing upon the relational exchange theory, goodwill trust was found to be the most significant aspect that builds long-term E-I relationship quality. Secondly, the findings show that calculative approach (e.g. commitment based on cost and benefits) is a mainstream type of commitment between exporters and importers. However, a personalised tie between the exchange partners has a positive influence on commitment, resulting in the affective commitment to E-I relationship. Thirdly, in a collaborative business partnership, decision-makers emphasise information exchange and coordinating actions for taking strategic decisions, which are informed by the feedback recived in their collaboration. In addition, the study finds that political instability negatively moderates the link of competence trust and information exchange on export performance satisfaction. Theoretical, managerial and policy implications of these findings are discussed and areas for future research are proposed.

Knowledge management, a broad collection of organizational practices related to generating, capturing, disseminating know-how and promoting knowledge sharing within an organization, and with the outside world, has become a critical determinant of competitiveness for the private sector in many countries. Knowledge management programs have been increasingly implemented in various enterprises all over the world. Many research dimensions in knowledge management, including phenomena of enablers and barriers, action of practices and strategies, level of individual and culture, knowledge of identification and valorization, technology of hard systems and soft systems, outcome of costs and benefits, etc, have been explored. Although a wide variety of factors have been identified as influencing knowledge management performance, little is known about the relative influence of each of these factors on corporate performance. In this paper, we adopt concepts of balance score card and develop an integrative model to understand better how these factors combine to affect knowledge management performance and corporate performance as well. Our model is examined from a survey of top 5,000 enterprises in Taiwan. Our survey questionnaire is developed by the amalgamation of available literature on knowledge management, particularly related to (1) comments on concepts and structure of three knowledge capabilities, i.e., knowledge identifying & capturing, knowledge sharing, and knowledge creating; (2) critical success factors of knowledge management, and (3) performance evaluation of knowledge management. Our study also gather the corresponding financial data of surveyed enterprises from Taiwan market observation post system. Our research results offer insight into the determinants of knowledge management and corporate performance. We have identified a number of specific factors that influence this matter. Furthermore, we have been able to examine the relative influence of the various factors identified as important determinants of knowledge management performance in literature. Furthermore, it provides decision makers with specific advice on ways to improve corporate performance via knowledge management. Thus, it appears that the integrated knowledge management and corporate performance model has significant potential for supporting both research and practice in this area.

In this study, we classify and examine the relationships among strategy, Type, and performance of knowledge management. A good measure to classify the strategy and the type of knowledge management was discussed. We proofed that a good performance will be achieved only when a strategy of knowledge management has been matched with a given type of knowledge management based on the data of general manufacture industry, high-tech manufacture industry, and service industry in Taiwan.

Abstract Arthur Anderson Consulting spent thirty millions US dollars on corporate management research and development, which in turn developed ¡§The Best Corporate Workflow Knowledge Management System¡¨ for thousands of clients and consultants. This is the best example for successfully invented knowledge management. Not only foreign corporations are applying this resources management system to improve their competitiveness. Taipei government also applied knowledge management related measures facilitated by Microsoft Corporation in 2001. Taiwan Private Corporation obviously has already followed the trend on knowledge management. ITIS listed resources management system as one of the six significant techniques in 1996. The term ¡§Knowledge Management¡¨, has become a buzz word in corporate culture for a long time. Some observers said this is the trend for knowledge management in the future. Others think this is just an interim. Either one would be true; knowledge management seems to be one necessary means to replace other organizations restructuring direction. Currently, most of academic researchers in resources management primarily focus on application and subjective issues. There is a lack of study to prove whether knowledge management can improve organizational performance. The study brings organization performance and knowledge management into discussion order to figure out the effects from knowledge management and organization performance. With thorough investigation, there are several points that are worthy to note: 1. Different business strategy, industry category and life cycle devote differences in existing knowledge management culture and organization performance. (1) Those corporations which apply innovative strategies like knowledge management culture and organization performance usually have better satisfactory than those which apply other business strategies. 2. Knowledge management culture has tremendous effects on knowledge management performance and organization performance. 3. Knowledge management performance has partial mediatory effects on knowledge management culture and organization performance 4. Knowledge management strategy has partial moderator effects on knowledge management culture and intellectual capital management performance (1) If corporate intellectual capital is mostly explicit knowledge, corporate intellectual management performance will be better off when apply systematic strategy (2) If corporate intellectual capital is mostly tacit knowledge, corporate intellectual management performance will be better controlled by individualize strategy.

Since 1996 ¡§the Knowledge-Based Economy¡¨ was published by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), knowledge is going to change the growth of global economy and becomes the important Factor of Production. With the development of the Internet and information technology, researchers have the opportunities to implement Knowledge Management. Knowledge Management Enablers are not brand new research issues. Many researchers have mentioned KM Enablers affect KM, but how KM Enablers affect KM processes hasn¡¦t been deeply discussed. In addition, KM has been developed so many years; we still can¡¦t evaluate performance of KM. There are many researchers develop performance indexes of Knowledge Management, but those indexes are not refined. This study attempts to develop an integrated model for KM Enablers, KM processes and organizational performance because KM Enablers affect organizational performance through knowledge processes. For the purpose of supplying a method for enterprises to realize the performance of KM through KMPI (Knowledge Management Performance Index) and feedbacks from performance, we attempt to understand the efforts of the strategies that have been executed, and decide the direction of the strategies is correct or not. This study uses questionnaire investigation. The samples are the employees who adopt and use knowledge management systems in the north and south of Taiwan. In the analysis, this study use multi regression and Partial Least Squares (PLS) to test all hypotheses. In tools, this study used SPSS12.0 for Windows and Visual PLS 1.04b1. Based on statistical analysis, we obtain the conclusions of this study as follows: we find that collaboration, trust, learning, innovation and expertise in organizational culture have positive impacts on Knowledge Circulation Processes (KCP). The formalization of organizational structure also has a positive impact on KCP. Additionally, KCP has a positive impact on task performance and contextual performance.

This study examined the effects of training with real-time auditory feedback in precision shooting. Top-level shooters (N=9) were randomly assigned to the feedback or nonfeedback group. Each group performed a pre-test, a 4-week training intervention and a post-test. The feedback group was provided with augmented real-time auditory feedback based on postural and rifle barrel stability during training sessions. Increases in performance were measured through changes in postural stability, rifle barrel stability, shot outcome and shot group diameter. Real-time auditory feedback did not increase postural or rifle barrel stability in the feedback group. No meaningful differences were found related to shot outcome or shot group diameter in air rifle testing. The feedback group was able to reduce shot group diameter during smallbore testing. In summary, the augmented real-time auditory feedback did not improve postural or rifle barrel stability. Future research should focus on examining the effects of auditory feedback on smallbore performance.

Previous studies of physical guidance (PG - physically constraining error during practice of a motor task) have found it to be ineffective in enhancing motor learning. However, most studies have used a highly constraining form of physical guidance that may have encouraged undue dependency. In addition, previous research has not fully considered the interaction between visual feedback and PG, and many of the studies have failed to use standard delayed retention tests with knowledge of results unavailable (no-KR). The current experiment examine the effects of varying levels of constraint in PG, as well as the interaction of PG and visual guidance (VG), using no-KR retention tests. This study involved 99 subjects divided into nine acquisition trial condition groups, forming from a 3 x 3 factorial design with factors of PG x VG, each presented at levels designated as tight, bandwidth, or none. Subjects undertook a two-dimensional pattern drawing task with no KR, PG, or VG as a pre-test, before completing 100 practice trials under one of the nine conditions. The same test was given as a retention test (immediately after practice) and as a delayed retention test (two days later). A transfer test, using a different pattern, was also administered on the second day. Almost all groups performed better on the immediate transfer test than they had on the pre-test. However, after two days only three groups (PG bandwidth-VG tight, PG none-VG bandwidth, and PG none-VG none) retained this improvement and only two groups (PG bandwidth-VG bandwidth and PG none-VG none) performed significantly better on the transfer task than their pre-test. It is proposed that bandwidth guidance generally promotes learning and that bandwidth physical guidance may enhance proprioceptive cues. Independent of PG and VG effects, KR (an overall error score) also facilitated learning.

O uso do feedback extrínseco ao longo do processo de aquisição de uma habilidade motora tem sido objeto de estudo e, mais recentemente, tem se investigado se o aprendiz é capaz de gerenciar o fornecimento dessas informações. Contudo, a literatura sobre os efeitos do conhecimento de performance (CP) com populações idosas é incipiente e os resultados não são esclarecedores. Nesse sentido, o objetivo geral desse estudo foi investigar o efeito de um regime de fornecimento de CP autocontrolado na aprendizagem motora de idosos. Foram planejados dois experimentos. O objetivo do Experimento 1 foi investigar o efeito do fornecimento de diferentes tipos de CP (CP descritivo/vídeo-replay e CP prescritivo/verbal) na aprendizagem de uma habilidade motora em idosos. A tarefa utilizada foi a tacada curta do golfe. Participaram deste experimento 36 idosos com média de idade de 65 anos, distribuídos em três grupos experimentais: Presc; Vídeo+Presc; e Vídeo. Os idosos praticaram 120 tacadas a 2,20m do alvo em duas sessões de prática e foram realizados testes de retenção e transferência. A ANOVA encontrou diferenças significantes entre os grupos no desempenho (escore), na amplitude do backswing e forwardswing. O post hoc de Bonferroni mostrou que os grupos Presc e Video+Presc foram superiores ao grupo Vídeo (p<=0,05). Portanto, o CP prescritivo foi responsável pela mudança no padrão de movimento, bem como, na diminuição dos erros. O objetivo do Experimento 2 foi investigar o efeito do fornecimento de CP autocontrolado no processo de aprendizagem de uma habilidade motora em indivíduos idosos. Participaram desse estudo 40 indivíduos com idade entre 60 e 80 anos, divididos em dois grupos: Auto e Yoked. A tarefa utilizada foi a mesma do Experimento 1 e o delineamento experimental contou com testes de retenção (R5 e R24) e transferência (T1 e T2). O desempenho foi avaliado pela pontuação obtida na tacada (escore) e foi realizada a análise cinemática. A ANOVA não detectou diferenças significantes entre os grupos Auto e Yoked nas medidas realizadas (p<=0,05). Além disso, a análise da variabilidade intraindividual mostrou que o grupo Auto variou mais comparado ao grupo Yoked nas medidas de tempo e amplitude do backswing, tempo de preparação e tempo de movimento. Portanto, não houve efeito do regime de CP autocontrolado na aquisição da tacada curta do golfe. A partir do reagrupamento realizado com base na frequência de recebimento de CP, os idosos foram organizados em dois grupos G9 e G55, que receberam CP em 9% e 55% das tentativas, respectivamente. Com a formação dos novos grupos, foram refeitas todas as análises. A análise inferencial encontrou diferenças significantes em praticamente todas as medidas (p<=0,05), mostrando que o G55 apresentou um comportamento qualitativamente superior quando comparado ao G9. Em suma, os resultados corroboram com as pesquisas que investigaram idosos sob uma condição autocontrolada, confirmando que idosos não foram influenciados ao serem inseridos num regime autocontrolado de fornecimento de CP. Além disso, a frequência de fornecimento de CP elevada, ou 55%, parece ser um fator que incrementa o desempenho de idosos / The use of extrinsic feedback throughout the process of acquisition of a motor skill has been a topic of study and, more recently, has investigated if the learner is able to manage the provision of this information. However, the literature on the effects of knowledge of performance (CP) with elderly populations is incipient and the results are not clear. In this sense, the general objective of this study was to investigate the effect of a system for providing self-controlled CP of motor learning in the elderly. Two experiments were planned. The goal of the Experiment 1 was to investigate the effect of the providing of different types of CP (descriptive/video-replay CP and prescriptive/verbal CP) in learning a motor skill in the elderly. The task used was the golf putting. Thirty six elderlies, average age of 65 years, participated in this experiment and were divided into three experimental groups: Presc; Video+Presc; and Video. The elderly practiced 120 strokes to 2.20 m from the target in two practice sessions and tests of retention and transfer were conducted. ANOVA found significant differences between the groups on performance (score), the amplitude of the backswing and forwardswing. Post hoc Bonferroni test showed that Presc and Video+Presc were superior to Video (p <= 0.05). Therefore, CP prescriptive was responsible for the change in the pattern of movement, as well as in the reduction of errors. The goal of the Experiment 2 was to investigate the effect of providing selfcontrolled CP in the acquisition of a motor skill in elderly individuals. Forty 40 individuals aged between 60 and 80 years, participated of this study and were divided into two groups: Auto and Yoked. The task used was the same as that of Experiment 1 and there was retention (R5 and R24) and transfer (T1 and T2) tests. The performance was evaluated by the score obtained in the shot and kinematic analysis was performed. ANOVA did not detect significant differences between groups in the all measures undertaken (p <= 0.05). Furthermore, the analysis showed that intraindividual variability of the Auto group varied more than Yoked in the time and amplitude of the backswing, preparation time and movement time. Therefore, there was no effect of the self-regulated CP in the acquisition of short putt golf. Participants reorganization was carried out based on the frequency of the CP given, and elderly were divided into two groups G9 and G55, who received CP in 9% and 55% in the attempts, respectively. All the analyses were redone. The inferential analysis found significant differences in virtually all measures (p <= 0.05), showing that the G55 presented a qualitatively superior behavior when compared to the G9. In short, the results corroborate with the research that investigated elderly under a selfregulated condition, confirming that the elderly were not influenced by being inserted in a self-controlled system of CP delivery. In addition, the high frequency of providing CP, or 55%, seems to be a factor that increases the performance of the elderly

Pesquisadores na área de Aprendizagem Motora têm se dedicado a analisar os fatores que podem afetar a aquisição de uma habilidade motora, com ênfase especial para o efeito do feedback, que tem sido reconhecido juntamente com a prática, como fatores cruciais para a evolução do desempenho. É sabido que o Conhecimento de Performance (CP) tem a função de guiar a atenção do aprendiz para aspectos críticos do padrão de movimento. Considerando que em idades avançadas, a atenção e a memória sofrem modificações negativas, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito da frequência de CP (100%, 66% e 33%) em indivíduos idosos durante a aquisição do lance livre do basquetebol. Sessenta indivíduos ativos (homens e mulheres) com idades entre 60 a 69 anos de idade, divididos em três grupos experimentais, receberam 100%, 66% e 33% de frequência CP, durante três sessões de prática totalizando 90 tentativas. A tarefa foi o arremesso do lance livro do basquetebol. Aos voluntários foi solicitado que realizassem testes de retenção e transferência 24 horas após a última sessão de prática. Durante a fase de aquisição, os voluntários receberam CP sobre o padrão de movimento referente à tentativa anterior. Esta informação foi obtida através de um checklist que contemplava 14 itens organizados hierarquicamente e auxiliavam na avaliação da qualidade do arremesso. A ANOVA indicou que todos os grupos melhoraram o desempenho da habilidade, particularmente nos testes de retenção e de transferência. Além disso, o grupo que recebeu 66% de freqüência de CP apresentou um desempenho superior em comparação aos demais tanto no padrão de movimento quanto no resultado do arremesso (p0,05). Concluiu-se que idosos necessitam de uma frequência ótima de fornecimento de CP quando aprendem uma habilidade motora / Motor Learning Researchers have been devoted to analyzing the factors that may affect the acquisition of motor skills, with particular emphasis on the effect of feedback, which has been recognized with the practice, as crucial factors for the evolution of performance. It is known that the Knowledge of Performance (KP) has the function of guiding the learner\'s attention to critical aspects of the movement pattern. Whereas in the elderly, attention and memory can become a problem, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of frequency of KP (100%, 66% and 33%) in elderly subjects during the acquisition of the basketball free throw. Sixty active individuals (men and women) aged 60-69 years of age, divided into three experimental groups received 100%, 66% and 33% KP frequency during three practice sessions totaling 90 attempts. The task was the basketball free throw. Volunteers were asked to conduct tests of retention and transfer 24 hours after the last practice session. During the acquisition phase, the volunteers received KP on the movement pattern on the previous attempt, this information was obtained from a qualitative hierarchical checklist of the free throw (14 items). Sessions were recorded in order to confirm whether volunteers were able to score throughout sessions. ANOVA indicated that all individuals showed an improved performance in the retention and transfer tests. But the 66% KP group was superior in both qualitative (movement pattern) and quantitative (score) measurements throughout the trials (p 0.05). In conclusion elderly people seem to need an optimal KP frequency supply during the learning process

Small business managers often lack the leadership skills necessary to sustain their businesses beyond 5 years. The United States Small Business Administration reported that more than 65% of small business owners, including home health care agency managers, fail within the first 5 years of operation. Guided by Burns and Bass's transformational leadership theory, this multiple case study explored leadership skills that managers in home health care agencies need to sustain their new businesses beyond 5 years. The purposeful sample comprised of 3 managers from 3 different home health care agencies within a 75-mile radius of Baltimore, Maryland, that had demonstrated success in surviving past 5 years. Semistructured interviews, agencies' quality assurance plans and policies were reviewed, and procedural documents related to leadership skills were gathered as data. Yin's 5-step data analysis technique was used to identify key themes. Member checking enhanced the credibility of data interpretation. Themes that emerged from data analysis were business management, knowledge and performance, and transformational leadership. Study findings may contribute to positive social change by providing practical guidance to home health care managers, which may improve their agencies' viability and delivery of patient care. Business implications include the provision of long-term employment to workers and safety assurance to patients' families.