Competition In Provision Of Services Research Articles

THE ANALYSIS OF SERVICES MARKETING MIX ON STUDENTS' DECISIONS IN CHOOSING UNIVERSITAS MUHAMMADIYAH SIDOARJO

In a highly competitive market, companies and service providers, especially those in higher education, may experience frequent shifts in consumer preference. The marketing mix strategy of the 7Ps, which consists of promotion, product, place, price, people, process, and physical evidence, can have a significant impact on a student's decision to choose a university. This study used a descriptive quantitative research method, utilizing a Likert scale survey distributed to 89 respondents. The survey measured variables such as promotion, product, location, price, people, process, and physical evidence. Multiple regression analysis was conducted, and the F-test and t-test were used with a 90% confidence level and a value of ὰ = 0.05. The regression coefficient of determination revealed that the independent variables explained 68.7% of the dependent variable (student decision). The variable of people had the highest value of 0.689 on the standardized coefficient, making it the most influential among the independent variables. The study concluded that the 7P marketing mix variables, particularly promotion, product, location, people, and physical evidence, positively and significantly impact a student's decision to choose Universitas Muhammadiyah Sidoarjo.

Impact of organisational, environmental, technological and human factors on cloud computing adoption for university libraries

Cloud computing has emerged as a transformative technology in many industries, including academia. As large information repositories, university libraries stand to benefit significantly from the increasing use of cloud computing. University library services especially in developing countries have been limited to what can be provided within the physical premises, potentially leading to a less flexible and less accessible information service delivery model. This situation is driven by the existing technology divide and the myriad challenges associated with information technology (IT) adoption, such as political instability, deficiencies in IT infrastructure, regulatory policies, organisational constraints, and government initiatives or support. To enhance the efficient service delivery of university libraries through the adoption of innovative IT, a thorough study to consider organisational, environmental, technological, and human issues is needed because it can be used as guidelines to assist university libraries in leapfrogging their efforts as a motivation for adopting cloud computing technology for efficient service delivery. The present study examines the success factors contributing to the adoption of cloud computing in university libraries. In light of the abovementioned factors, a review of 25 papers was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach for study selection. The review’s findings demonstrate that various factors significantly influence cloud computing adoption in university libraries. Organisational factors, including top management support, training and education, organisational intention, and readiness, speed up the adoption process. Environmental factors, including competitive pressure, regulatory policies, government support, and service provider support, also impact the adoption of cloud computing. Technology-related factors, including relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity, must be considered for successful adoption. Furthermore, the extent to which cloud computing finds acceptance within university libraries is notably shaped by human factors, encompassing elements such as the attitudes and perceptions of staff towards IT change, the internal IT proficiency within the institution, and the prior technological experiences of the staff. Based on the findings, this study recommends formulating a comprehensive framework that considers all these constituent factors to facilitate the wider adoption of cloud computing in university library settings. Such a framework should focus on providing robust top-level management support, enhancing staff education and training, considering the influence of environmental factors, addressing pertinent technological challenges, and cultivating a pro-change mindset among library personnel

Fog-computing based mobility and resource management for resilient mobile networks

Mobile networks are facing unprecedented challenges due to the traits of large scale, heterogeneity, and high mobility. Fortunately, the emergence of fog computing offers surprisingly perfect solutions considering the features of consumer proximity, wide-spread geographical distribution, and elastic resource sharing. In this paper, we propose a novel mobile networking framework based on fog computing which outperforms others in resilience. Our scheme is constituted of two parts: the personalized customization mobility management (MM) and the market-driven resource management (RM). The former provides a dynamically customized MM framework for any specific mobile node to optimize the handoff performance according to its traffic and mobility traits; the latter makes room for economic tussles to find out the competitive service providers offering a high level of service quality at sound prices. Synergistically, our proposed MM and RM schemes can holistically support a full-fledged resilient mobile network, which has been practically corroborated by numerical experiments.

Evaluating the Selection Factors for Vietnamese Last-Mile Delivery Service Providers using Best Worst Method

Recent trends in supply chain show that last mile delivery is one of the fastest growing segments in logistics yet, it remains one the most challenging ones in terms of reliability, cost, and consumers’ requirements. This study aims to identify the factors directly affecting the competitiveness of logistics companies providing last-mile delivery service under a consumers’ perspective. The study employs a best-worst method (BWM) to assess which alternative and which criteria are the preferred ones when selecting a last-mile service provider in Vietnam. The selected criteria include shipping cost, lead-time, customer service, insurance policy and delivery liability, and the alternative are three last-mile service providers namely GHN, GHTK, JT, the largest logistics companies operating in Vietnam. The study findings reveal that GHTK company is the most competitive last-mile service provider compared to the others due to outstanding intrinsic characteristics and competitive advantage. In particular, the findings of the paper show that customer value "Delivery cost" as the most important criterion in domestic last-mile delivery whilst "Customer Service" is the least important one in the Vietnamese market.

КОНЦЕПТУАЛЬНИЙ АСПЕКТ ПРИЙНЯТТЯ ДЕРЖАВНОУПРАВЛІНСЬКИХ РІШЕНЬ У СФЕРІ ДЕРЖАВНОЇ БЕЗПЕКИ

In today's conditions of public administration transformation, in accordance with systemic changes in all spheres of social and economic life, the quality of governance and management processes in public authorities in the implementation of development strategies in achieving the goals of management decisions is of particular importance. The main trend of changes in management in public institutions in European countries has been the transfer of management methods and technologies from the commercial sphere to the public sphere. Management approaches and technologies developed in commercial firms are being implemented in the management practice of public organizations: participatory management replaces authoritarian management, and the monopoly on service provision is replaced by competition, competition in service provision, the mechanism of bureaucracy is transformed into the mechanism of the market. At the same time, the transition of management in government agencies from the traditional bureaucratic model to a new management model focused on finding effective solutions to problems is characterized by a greater focus on goals and mission, as opposed to focusing on rules and procedures. The purpose of the study is to form an effective mechanism for making public administration decisions in the field of state security. The article defines the essence of public administration mechanisms for making public administration decisions in the field of state security, namely: legal - in compliance of the decision with the provisions of security legislation, organizational - in establishing a rational sequence of actions of public administration bodies when making an informed decision, structural and functional - in determining the optimal structure of the decision in accordance with the functions and tasks of public administration bodies to ensure state security, which, together with other mechanisms, can be used to make a decision on the basis of the decision. The author summarizes the main elements of a public administration decision, in particular, the plan of action (direction of concentration of the main efforts, sequence and methods of achieving the goal of actions by partial tasks, areas and terms), tasks for security structures, organization of interaction between them, organization of management and support of their actions in crisis conditions.

The transfer of technology from the organizational viewpoint

The transfer of technology from the organizational viewpoint

How the Fintech ecosystem changes with the entry of Big Tech companies

The digitalization of financial services has led to the emergence of new, innovative services and providers. This paper first examines which actors are defined in the related literature as members of the Fintech ecosystem and what their roles and responsibilities are. A common element in the literature reviewed is that traditional financial institutions, startups, regulators, the investment community, and technology developers are identified as actors in Fintech ecosystems. The analysis then highlights how the large technology companies that are referred to in the literature as Big Tech (Meta (Facebook), Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet (Google), Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent) have become active in the financial services sector. It also examines which comparative advantages have led to the possibility for Big Tech companies to become third-party and then independent providers of financial services. As a result of their previous activities (software development, marketing, social media, online retail, and content services), they have acquired both a significant global customer base and outstanding IT development capabilities. These factors have enabled them to interact with former members of the Fintech ecosystem. They have formed partnerships with traditional financial institutions, then become their competitors, and they look to Fintech startups as acquisition targets. These factors determine Big Tech companies to become part of the Fintech ecosystem as a competitive service provider. From a practical point of view, these phenomena emphasize the need for the regulatory efforts on Big Tech companies.

Service Quality Measurement in Indian Hotels:Factor Structure & Scale Validation

With the rapid growth of hospitality industry, many hoteliers have developed their online capabilities and evolved into competitive dual-channel service providers. In such a case, strategic consumers have more options to book a hotel enabling them to choose the best time and the best channel. This study aims at measuring service quality being offered by traditional hotels in Allahabad with the help of SERVPERF model. Besides, it also attempts to investigate the dimensionality, item structure and psychometric properties of the SERVPERF scale in Indian hotel industry. Findings reveal that SERVPERF scale fails to hold all the original items and hence, fails to confirm the standard item assemblage within the backdrop of hotel industry. In all, seven dimensions have emerged contrary to the original five-dimensions namely-tangibles, assurance, reliability, responsiveness and empathy. Besides this, there were also a number of considerable issues which form the basis for the current research. The outcome of the current study will be of help to managers of Indian hotel industry to analyze their service offerings with reference to the suggested seven key factors and accordingly develop strategies to highlight and prioritize them.

Optimal server selection for competitive service providers in network virtualization context

Network Virtualization enables service providers to instantiate virtual networks while sharing the same physical infrastructure. Virtual networks are allocated to clients for deploying their services. In this context, clients are served without knowing which server is replying and which routing strategy is adopted. In this paper, we focus on the server selection problem for competitive service providers in Network Virtualization context. These latter do not own the physical infrastructure and aim to minimize the cost of leased resources while meeting their clients’ SLA (Service Level Agreement) targets. We propose a mixed integer linear program whose objective is to minimize latency under clients’ demand and server’s bandwidth constraints based on low and medium traffic intensities. We show that concentrating the traffic on the closest server yields an optimal solution. In addition, through simulation and analytical results, we show that Traffic Concentration reduces the response time, jitter, and node and link utilization compared to YouTube, random server selection, and equal load distribution of traffic among servers. However, the latter technique yields the best performance in terms of packet loss.

Pricing, Bandwidth Allocation, and Service Competition in Heterogeneous Wireless Networks

Small-cells deployed in licensed spectrum can expand wireless service to low mobility users, which potentially reduces the demand for macro-cellular networks with wide-area coverage. Introducing such heterogeneity also makes network resource allocation more complicated. To understand these challenges and tradeoffs we present a two-tier heterogeneous wireless network model with two types of users: mobile users that can only connect to macro-cells; and fixed users that can associate with either macro-cells or small-cells. We study pricing strategies and bandwidth allocation across macro- and small-cells, assuming both monopoly and competitive Service Providers (SPs). For a monopoly SP, we characterize the revenue-maximizing prices and bandwidth allocations. We then consider a competitive scenario, and we show the existence of a unique Nash equilibrium. The possible Nash equilibria for different system parameters are sorted into four categories corresponding to whether or not different SPs assign bandwidth to the macro- and/or small-cells. We also study the allocations that maximize social welfare. For the competitive scenario, we characterize the conditions under which the optimal social welfare is obtained in equilibria as the number of SPs tends to infinity. Case study examples and numerical results illustrate the corresponding pricing and bandwidth allocations.

제로레이팅(zero-rating) 서비스를 위한 독점적 CP와 경쟁적 통신사업자간의 협상전략 및 계약

제로레이팅(zero-rating) 서비스를 위한 독점적 CP와 경쟁적 통신사업자간의 협상전략 및 계약

Hospital competition and the expenses for treatments of acute and non-acute common diseases: evidence from China

BackgroundBecause there is heterogeneity in disease types, competition among hospitals could be influenced in various ways by service provision for diseases with different characteristics. Limited studies have focused on this matter. This study aims to evaluate and compare the relationships between hospital competition and the expenses of prostatectomies (elective surgery, representing treatments of non-acute common diseases) and appendectomies (emergency surgery, representing treatments of acute common diseases).MethodsMultivariable log-linear models were constructed to determine the association between hospital competition and the expenses of prostatectomies and appendectomies. The fixed-radius Herfindahl-Hirschman Index was employed to measure hospital competition.ResultsWe collected data on 13,958 inpatients from the hospital discharge data of Sichuan Province in China from September to December 2016. The data included 3578 prostatectomy patients and 10,380 appendectomy patients. The results showed that greater competition was associated with a lower total hospital charge for prostatectomy (p = 0.006) but a higher charge for appendectomy (p < 0.001). The subcategory analysis showed that greater competition was consistently associated with lower out-of-pocket (OOP) and higher reimbursement for both surgeries.ConclusionsGreater competition was significantly associated with lower total hospital charges for prostatectomies, while the opposite was true for appendectomies. Furthermore, greater competition was consistently associated with lower OOP but higher reimbursement for both surgeries. This study provides new evidence concerning the heterogeneous roles of competition in service provision for non-acute and acute common diseases. The findings of this study indicate that the pro-competition policy is a viable option for the Chinese government to relieve patients’ financial burden (OOP). Our findings also provide references and insights for other countries facing similar challenges.

Competition in Service Provision between Slice Operators in 5G Networks

Network slicing is gaining an increasing importance as an effective way to introduce flexibility in the management of resources in 5G networks. We envision a scenario where a set of network operators outsource their respective networks to one Infrastructure Provider (InP), and use network slicing mechanisms to request the resources as needed for service provision. The InP is then responsible for the network operation and maintenance, while the network operators become Virtual Network Operators (VNOs). We model a setting where two VNOs compete for the users in terms of quality of service, by strategically distributing its share of the aggregated cells capacity managed by the InP among its subscribers. The results show that the rate is allocated among the subscribers at each cell in a way that mimics the overall share that each VNO is entitled to, and that this allocation is the Nash equilibrium of the strategic slicing game between the VNOs. We conclude that network sharing and slicing provide an attractive flexibility in the allocation of resources without the need to enforce a policy through the InP.

INDONESIA'S ENERGY SECURITY: ARE WE SECURING IT RIGHT? LESSON LEARNED FROM THE EU

Over the past few years, one of Indonesia’s state-owned enterprises, PLN, has conducted dialogues focusing on developing a new value-creative business model to transform itself, a sleepy regulated utility, into a truly competitive electricity service provider. However, efforts to preserve the prominence of the Country’s electricity sector have been ongoing as the sector is still experiencing sustained rolling blackouts, net import dependency and lack of transmission facility enforcement throughout the Indonesian archipelago. Such efforts have been varied from the incentivise policy and programs such as the Public-Private Partnership and the two phases of Fast Track Program. The reformation of electricity law dated back on the 1985, 2002 and 2009 to attract investors in the development of Indonesia’s electricity sector have been enacted, but a controversial issue arose from the annulment of the Law No. 20 Year 2002 on Electricity by the Constitutional Court Decision No. 001-021-022/PUU-I/2003 stating that such law which clearly stating that the requirement to privatise electricity operation was inconstitutional. This article will try to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis of such decision with the common practice adopted by the EU which has successfully implemented its deregulation and separation of the electricity’s business chain through unbundling the sector as part of liberalisation.

Competitive Resource Allocation in HetNets: The Impact of Small-Cell Spectrum Constraints and Investment Costs

Heterogeneous wireless networks with small-cell deployments in licensed and unlicensed spectrum bands are a promising approach for expanding wireless connectivity and service. As a result, wireless service providers (SPs) are adding small-cells to augment their existing macro-cell deployments. This added flexibility complicates network management, in particular, service pricing and spectrum allocations across macro- and small-cells. Further, these decisions depend on the degree of competition among SPs. Restrictions on shared spectrum access imposed by regulators, such as low power constraints that lead to small-cell deployments, along with the investment cost needed to add small cells to an existing network, also impact strategic decisions and market efficiency. If the revenue generated by small-cells does not cover the investment cost, then there will be no deployment even if it increases social welfare. We study the implications of such spectrum constraints and investment costs on resource allocation and pricing decisions by competitive SPs, along with the associated social welfare. Our results show that while the optimal resource allocation taking constraints and investment into account can be uniquely determined, adding those features with strategic SPs can have a substantial effect on the equilibrium market structure.

Location and pricing of competitive service providers for post-disaster relief

Location and pricing of competitive service providers for post-disaster relief

Location and pricing of competitive service providers for post-disaster relief

In post-disaster relief, competitive emergency service providers place their stations quickly for timely rescue activities. To shorten the rescue time of the emergency services and ensure the profit of emergency service providers, an extended game model is formulated to solve the problem based on the classical Hotelling model. In the new model, logistics cost is paid by service providers who can obtain honour profit through providing service for the victims. The victims endure waiting times that consist of periods of response time and travelling time. The waiting times affect the victims' decisions and affect the equilibrium prices and profits. Numerical analysis implies that service providers obtain the highest profits on their equilibrium price when their locations are decided. Furthermore, locating both players near the ends of the disaster-affected line city is beneficial to increase the gross profits.

Politics of responsibility: governing distant populations through civil society in Mozambique, Rwanda and South Africa

This article presents and analyses the findings of a research project on power relations in the context of development partnerships with civil society on HIV/AIDS in Mozambique, Rwanda and South Africa, and engages in a critical dialogue with governmentality analysis. It argues that contemporary neoliberal government needs to be understood as context-specific articulations of three forms of power discussed by Foucault – sovereignty, discipline and biopower – and, in the global domain, a fourth form of power – (new) imperialism. Further, the analysis demonstrates how the introduction of a ‘package of (de-)responsibilisation’ shapes CSOs’ activities so that they become competitive service providers, use evidence-based methods and produce measurable results. Addressing the issue of resistance, it shows how the transfer of responsibilities may involve tension and struggle – a politics of responsibility.

Do Tips Increase Workers' Income?

This paper constructs a model of service providers who compete in service and labor markets simultaneously to analyze the effects of tipping on hourly wages and total tip-inclusive hourly worker compensation. An increase in the tipping rate reduces hourly wages. Total worker compensation increases at different rates depending on the market structure, market coverage, and employment level, with the exception of price-taking (competitive) service providers, where the tip-inclusive hourly income declines with the tipping rate. The paper develops an index of “effective tipping” that measures the net percentage change in total hourly worker compensation associated with each tipping rate. This paper was accepted by John List, behavioral economics.

지방의료원의 선택요인분석을 통한 복합적인 의료서비스 전략 구축

본 연구는 접근성과 의료서비스 품질, 대외적 이미지를 높임으로써 향후 지방의료원이 지역 내 대표의료기관으로서 경쟁력을 확보하고 경영효율성을 향상시키는데 그 목적이 있다. 조사대상은 604명으로 하였으며, 분석방법은 ANOVA, 공분산 구조방정식을 실시하였다. 결론을 보면, 의료기관 선택요인에 대한 고객들의 만족도나 선호도가 인구통계학적 특성별로 유의한 차이가 있다는 결과는 앞으로 지방의료원이 의료서비스 전문화 전략을 수립할 때 주요 고객집단의 욕구에 대한 면밀한 검토가 이루어져야 할 필요가 있음을 시사하고 있다. 또한 지방의료원이 진료비 수준에 대한 치료효과와 타 의료기관에 비해 저렴한 진료비가 경쟁우위를 확보할 수 있는 중요요인으로 이에 따른 이미지 부각과 의료서비스의 질의 향상을 극대화하여 의료소비자들을 유인하는 전략이 필요하다. This study reviews equipped with enhanced capability of medical care, quality service, accessibility, and consumer awareness to be a competitive and representative local healthcare service provider with improved administrative efficiency. The method of analysis are ANOVA and Structural Equation Modeling. The results which revealed the significant difference among demographic factors in determining the preference or degree of satisfaction at medical service to select local healthcare institutions suggest that the close review on the needs of groups of major customers of local healthcare institutions are necessary when preparing the strategy of specialized medical service of local healthcare institutions. this suggests that both images would be important factors to secure the competitive advantage of local healthcare institution and therefore the strategy maximized the enhancement of medical service with embossed image of hospital to attract customers of medical service is needed.