University gets down to business

Monday, 25 September 2006

Behaviour of consumers will be a key discussion topic at an international conference on business and behavioural sciences hosted by the University of Adelaide this weekend.

Up to 100 people from across South-East Asia will attend the 2006 Australasian Business and Behavioural Sciences Association (ABBSA) International Conference on September 29-October 1.

Conference chair Dr Akbar Z. Ali from the School of Commerce says delegates will discuss the behavioural and psychological factors that affect agents in the business world.

"The academic and business community have started to view these agents as a heterogeneous or diverse collection, rather than a large mass that have a homogeneous (uniform) attitude towards consumption," he said.

Delegates from India, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Japan, New Zealand, the UK, PNG, the US, Finland, Sweden, Pakistan, Malaysia and Australia will present papers on their area of expertise. The areas will cover finance, accounting, management, international business, marketing, economics, law, education and management information systems under the theme "Industry, Market, and Regions".

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Investment and Financial Services Association (IFSA), John O'Shaughnessy, will give a keynote address on Friday, 29 September. Mr O'Shaughnessy will speak about marketing of investment products and advice, educating investors and investment issues arising from global linkages between capital markets in the APEC region.

The other keynote speaker will be Professor Pervez Ghauri, Professor of International Business at the University of Manchester, who will discuss the impact of globalisation on emerging markets. Professor Ghauri will deliver his keynote address at the conference dinner on Saturday 30 September.

The annual conference provides a stimulating forum for academics of different disciplines to showcase their work, exchange ideas, share knowledge, encourage scholarly work and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

University of Adelaide Vice-Chancellor Professor James McWha will open the conference at 10am on Friday 29 September in Bonython Hall.

NOTE: Media are invited. Please contact Dr Akbar Z. Ali on (08) 8303 8258 for details.

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