Influence In Decision Research Articles

Ecological Quality Status Evaluation of Port Sea Areas Based on EW-GRA-TOPSIS Model

It is of great significance to research a method to evaluate the ecological quality status of port sea areas objectively for the ecological environmental protection and sustainable development of sea areas. In this paper, a novel ecological quality status evaluation model is proposed based on the entropy weight method (EW), the gray relational analysis method (GRA), and the TOPSIS method. Firstly, a comprehensive evaluation indicator system is constructed from three aspects, namely seawater quality, sediments, and marine organisms. Secondly, the weight values of different indicators are obtained via the EW method, which can be obtained more objectively than via the subjective weighting method. Afterwards, the ecological quality status of port sea areas can be evaluated using the proposed method, which combines the advantages of the TOPSIS method and the GRA method. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed EW-GRA-TOPSIS model is illustrated by a case study based on a port sea area of Tianjin. The results show that 66.7% of the monitoring stations in the port sea area are at a good level, 25% of them are at a fair level, only 8.3% are at a poor level, and none are at an excellent or bad level. Additionally, the evaluation results obtained using the proposed model are more consistent with the actual survey results than the compared typical TOPSIS method. It can objectively reflect the ecological quality status of monitoring stations, and consequently, it could be helpful for the marine department to make decisions on the sustainable development of port sea areas. In a further study, the influence of decision makers’ preferences on the evaluation results could be considered, and a more reasonable method to determine the evaluation grade standard should be researched to improve the proposed model.

Profitability As a Moderator: Assessing The Influence of Capital Structure, Investment The Influence of Capital Structure, Investment Decision, And Firm Size On Firm Value

The purpose of this study is to determine whether capital structure, investment decisions, and firm size have an impact on firm value by examining profitability as a moderating factor. A quantitative methodology is used in this study. The population used in this study are companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange through the website www.idx.co.id Jakarta Islamic Index 70 company in the 2019-2022 period. This study uses panel data regression model analysis. Within this research, STATA 17 version was used, also Breusch and Pagan Lagrangian is used to test the ordinary least square model versus random effect model regression. Meanwhile, Chow test is used to test ordinary least square model regression versus fixed effect model and Hausman test is used to find the most suitable panel data regression model between fixed effect model and random effect model. The results of this study indicate that capital structure affects firm value, investment decisions and firm size have no effect on firm value, profitability is able to moderate the effect of capital structure and investment decisions on firm value, while profitability is unable to moderate firm size on firm value.

An empirical investigation of the influence of leadership styles and strategic decision-making on business performance: a generational ownership perspective

An empirical investigation of the influence of leadership styles and strategic decision-making on business performance: a generational ownership perspective

Differences by age group in gender-related attitudes in Oromia, Ethiopia: Findings from a cross-sectional study of women of reproductive age.

Attitudes on gender roles affect decision-making dynamics, resource distribution, and income-generating opportunities. However, little is known about how attitudes on gender roles differ by age group. Cross-sectional data collected from 1,113 households in Oromia, Ethiopia were used to assess differences in gender-related attitudes across female "youth" (ages 15-24), "young adults" (ages 25-34), and "older adults" (ages 35-49). Fifteen survey questions using a Likert scale measured attitudes on sexual and reproductive behaviors, expectations around livelihood activities, and perceived influence in household decision making. Associations between attitudes and age group were assessed using the Chi-squared test. Measures of perceived influence in decision making differed significantly by age group for household decisions about participation in wage employment, and use of revenue generated from wage employment, and crop and livestock production. Response patterns were consistent, with youth least likely to feel they have influence in decision making. The results suggest that policies and programs should continue to support the agency of female youth.

Analyzing the influence of decision making and effective employee communication on human resource agility in commercial banks: A mediation role for job satisfaction

The Middle East has witnessed global crises that have prompted substantial shifts in the enterprises’ competition. In today’s highly competitive marketplaces, businesses have recognized that HR agility is crucial to their success in the Middle East. However, there is a shortage of research on this topic, particularly in the Middle East context. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the relationship between job satisfaction, effective employee communication, decision-making, and human resource agility in Jordanian commercial banks. Utilizing 460 questionnaires, this study used structured equation analysis to evaluate the data. Results confirmed that job satisfaction, effective employee communication, and decision-making positively correlate with HR agility. Furthermore, this analysis revealed that decision-making and effective employee communication positively impacted human resources agility via job satisfaction. This research is among the first to emphasize the key drivers of human resource agility in the Middle East context. Organizations can develop more effective HR strategies by understanding these factors critical to their continued success in the rapidly changing business environment. Consequently, this study recommends that other aspects of empowerment practice be used in future studies to expand the proposed framework and disclose their impacts on the variables, where more important results may be discovered.

Strategic Decision-Making Approaches and Organizational Performance Case of Rugarama Estate Park, Rwanda

Abstract Decision making is a critical role that managers of organizations play and gives a bearing on the long-term survival of the organization. The study aimed to assess the influence of strategic decision making on organizational performance, taking the case of Rugarama Estate Park. Descriptive design was utilized with a population of 153 constituting of staff of Rugarama Estate Park as per the Human Resource records. A sample of 111 was utilized and purposive and simple random sampling approaches adopted in selecting the respondents to participate in study. The data was primary in nature collected using questionnaires. The study adopted theory of planned behavior. IBM SPSS Version 21 was used in analyzing data. The findings involved computing means, percentages, and frequencies, standard deviation and these were presented in tables. Descriptive statistics did reveal a mean of averagely 2 and less than 1 standard deviation in the case of advocacy decision making approach. However, dialogic and decision systems revealed an average mean of 4. Additionally, the corresponding coefficients for advocacy, dialogic and decision support systems were 0.260, 0.670 and 0.710 respectively. The regression coefficients for advocacy, dialogic and decision support systems were 0.092, 0.142 and 0.174 respectively with corresponding p values of 0.048, 0.002 and 0.001. This implied that advocacy decision making is not widely practiced while dialogic and decision support systems are widely practiced at Rugarama Estate Park. Study also concluded there was low positive significant association between advocacy approach and organization performance while dialogic and decision-making support systems had high positive association with organization performance. The null hypotheses were rejected hence a conclusion there was positive significant influence of advocacy, dialogic and decision support systems on organization performance. The study recommended independent and group thinking to be practiced in organization in decision making process, proposals regarding decision changes should be made available to members and every member given time to go through, all Stakeholders to be involved in decision making process to be able to feel part and parcel of the organization activities and lastly organizations to invest in technology systems that aids in speedy and efficient decision making process.. Keywords: Strategic Decision Making, Organizational Performance, Rugarama Estate Park, Rwanda

Parties, preferences and influence in legislative decision-making

Political scientists have a long-standing interest in the acquisition and exercise of power in democratic institutions. Although considerable attention has been devoted to understanding the role of political parties in legislative decision-making, empirical studies relying upon observational data, such as roll call voting, have faced difficulty in disentangling the effects of party and preferences on legislative behavior. This research uses new measures on individual roll rates of state legislators in the nonpartisan Nebraska legislature and a sample of partisan state legislatures to provide unambiguous evidence of causal effects of party influence in legislative decision-making. The results demonstrate that preferences provide the most consistent prediction of individuals’ roll rates.

THE INFLUENCE OF PROFITABILITY, CAPITAL STRUCTURE, INVESTMENT DECISION, AND FIRM SIZE ON FIRM VALUE (A Study in the Pharmaceutical Sector Listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange)

This study examines the influence of profitability, capital structure, investment decisions, and firm size on firm value in pharmaceutical sub-sector companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. This study uses secondary data from the financial statements of each pharmaceutical sub-sector company. The sample in this study consists of 9 pharmaceutical sub-sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange during 2018-2021. The data analysis method used is a multiple linear regression test with the help of Eviews 12. The results partially show that return on assets, return on equity, and capital structure has a positive and significant effect on firm value. Meanwhile, investment decisions and firm size partially do not significantly affect firm value in pharmaceutical sub-sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for the 2018-2021 period.

Dampak Psikologis Dan Sosiologis Terhadap Pernikahan Berbeda Setatus Kewarganegaraan

The purpose of this research study is to find out the psychological and social impact on marriage of different citizenship status, in terms of the individualism it feels. The method used to see the psychological and sociological impact on marriage with different citizenship status is by using a literature study research method. This literature study (library research) was taken from several journals, books, and news related to issues of marriage between different countries, from a legal, religious, social, psychological perspective and the relationship between the two. The results of this study can be concluded that, the psychological impact that occurs from both partners, namely: (1) Difficulty in achieving goals in marriage, goals in marriages of different nationalities are like clothes that are used during life. Spirits, beliefs and habits that become rules continue to be added to each person who obeys both in his beliefs and society, including in household life. (2) Maintaining two large families from different countries, all risks must be accepted in marriages of different nationality status because everything is a choice made in finding a partner he chooses in marriage. (3) Fighting for influence in decision-making, both partners usually have a role and impact for their children to follow, especially habits in behavior and religion that they believe in. Then the sociological impacts can be concluded, (1) Communication that has not been fully maximized from the two partners, each individual with other individuals must communicate which is the main tool for fellow individuals to know each other and work together as well as make physical and non-physical contact directly or indirectly direct. (2) The socio-cultural differences held between the two partners, family life in different countries are described as examples of the activities of individual persons as part of which will continue to change at any time.
 Keywords: Inter-Country Marriage, Psychological, Sociological

Who triggers change? Social network mapping, stakeholder analysis and energy systems interventions in Nigeria’s electricity sector

Following decades’ of energy systems interventions, there has been growing concerns about the impact of historical interventions on-the-ground and how they shape changes in energy systems. Who are the key actors and how have they shaped historical energy systems interventions? In this study, an analysis of stakeholders in Nigeria’s electricity sector through a social network mapping lens was conducted. First, a stakeholder mapping based on an interest-influence matrix that shows the degree of various stakeholder interest and influence in shaping decisions and interventions in both centralized and decentralized electricity systems was developed. Secondly, a stakeholder network grid that shows the relations between the various stakeholders (who knows whom) was developed. The study reveals that there are stronger network relations among stakeholders involved in issues and decisions on centralized electricity grid infrastructure which is influenced by the presence of stronger regulations/regulatory instruments. However, these stakeholder relations are weaker in decentralized electricity systems due to less stringent regulations in the decentralized electricity space. The study concludes by highlighting the impact of the stakeholder relations and the interest-influence tussle on the future of electricity systems development in Nigeria.

Assessing the Influence of Leadership Style, Decision Making, Communication, and Team Building on the Success of MSME Entrepreneurial Businesses in Bandung City

Various factors, including leadership style, decision making, communication, and team building, influence the success of MSME entrepreneurial businesses. This quantitative study aimed to assess the influence of these factors on the success of MSME entrepreneurial businesses in Bandung City, Indonesia. Data were collected through a survey of 150 MSME owners in Bandung City, and multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the independent variables and business success. The results showed that leadership style and team building significantly predicted business success, while communication and decision-making were not significant predictors. These findings suggest that effective leadership and team building are essential for business success in the context of MSMEs in Bandung City.

Global gas flaring and energy justice: An empirical ethics analysis of stakeholder perspectives

Global gas flaring harms human and non-human health and well-being while contributing to climate change. Flaring activity in the global oil and gas sector is a significant matter of energy justice – concerning the distribution of risks, benefits and harms, recognition of rights, and decision-making influence within gas-flaring-affected communities. This mixed method empirical ethical analysis of gas flaring and energy justice combines Q-methodology and stakeholder interviews with representatives of 14 gas-flaring-affected countries (n = 35) to evaluate the context-sensitivity of distributive, procedural, recognition, and cosmopolitan justice principles to gas-flaring governance. Four dominant normative perspectives emerge around this topic. These perspectives concern: a) government-led zero flaring policy; b) multi-scalar economic governance; c) business responsibility and social license; and d) localism and community empowerment. We find that: first, there is strong stakeholder support for zero-flaring globally. Second, coordinated multi-scalar governance from international-national-local regulatory authorities is desired to protect marginalised communities. Third, egalitarian rights-based approaches are prioritised over utilitarian approaches in planning for oil and gas extraction. Fourth, business responsibility necessitates transparent communication of flaring activities and impacts and the Polluter Pays Principle of environmental redress to affected communities. Finally, stakeholder disagreement centres upon the practical mechanisms to achieve just outcomes - including compensation, the role of local authorities, regulatory agencies, Environmental Impact Assessment, and efforts to tackle rent-seeking and corruption. We conclude that further stakeholder engagement is needed on the implementation processes for gas flaring elimination, rather than the goal itself, through carefully facilitated dialogue and negotiation.

Predicting the Efficacy of SBRT for Lung Cancer with 18F-FDG PET/CT Radiogenomics.

to develop a radiogenomic model on the basis of 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics and clinical-parameter EGFR for predicting PFS stratification in lung-cancer patients after SBRT treatment. A total of 123 patients with lung cancer who had undergone 18F-FDG PET/CT examination before SBRT from September 2014 to December 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients' PET/CT images were manually segmented, and the radiomic features were extracted. LASSO regression was used to select radiomic features. Logistic regression analysis was used to screen clinical features to establish the clinical EGFR model, and a radiogenomic model was constructed by combining radiomics and clinical EGFR. We used the receiver operating characteristic curve and calibration curve to assess the efficacy of the models. The decision curve and influence curve analysis were used to evaluate the clinical value of the models. The bootstrap method was used to validate the radiogenomic model, and the mean AUC was calculated to assess the model. A total of 2042 radiomics features were extracted. Five radiomic features were related to the PFS stratification of lung-cancer patients with SBRT. T-stage and overall stages (TNM) were independent factors for predicting PFS stratification. AUCs under the ROC curve of the radiomics, clinical EGFR, and radiogenomic models were 0.84, 0.67, and 0.86, respectively. The calibration curve shows that the predicted value of the radiogenomic model was in good agreement with the actual value. The decision and influence curve showed that the model had high clinical application values. After Bootstrap validation, the mean AUC of the radiogenomic model was 0.850(95%CI 0.849-0.851). The radiogenomic model based on 18F-FDG PET/CT radiomics and clinical EGFR has good application value in predicting the PFS stratification of lung-cancer patients after SBRT treatment.

Citizen Science and Natural Resource Management: A Social Network Analysis of Two Community-Based Water Monitoring Programs

In natural resource management contexts, citizen science programs often involve a diversity of actors collaborating in broad social networks. However, the characteristics and functioning of these networks has received limited attention. In this article, we demonstrate the benefits of applying social network research to citizen science practice. Through a mixed methods approach, we compare data sharing and collaboration networks of two community-based water monitoring programs in Australia. The quantitative component revealed that despite similarities in actor diversity and activities, both programs have created divergent network structures (centralized vs decentralized) corresponding to their scale of influence in environmental decision-making (regional vs local impacts). The qualitative component showed how individuals navigated their relationships and managed key tensions inherent to network functioning. This study provides new insights on the role of social networks in citizen science and concludes by recommending program leaders adopt a “networking mindset” to maximize their sphere of influence.

The Influence of Advertising, Sales Promotion and Personal Selling Toward Purchasing Decision to Hotel Stay in East Java

This study aims to identify the effect of advertising, sales promotion and personal selling on the decision of guests to stay at a hotel in East Java. Data was collected through questionnaires, observation, documentation and literature review from March to July 2022. Data were analyzed quantitatively using multiple and simple linear regression techniques. The results showed that simultaneously, advertising, sales promotion and personal selling have a significant effect on purchasing decisions. However, partially, the Sales promotion variable has no significant effect, while Advertising and Personal Selling have a significant effect on the guest's decision to stay at Hotel Ilona.

A novel modified biogas-driven electricity/cooling cogeneration system using open-and-closed Brayton cycle concepts: Environmental Analysis and Optimization

This study investigates and describes a novel method for using biogas to run a cogeneration system that generates electricity/cooling and cools with recovered heat from liquefied natural gas (LNG). The investigated setup comprises an open-loop Brayton cycle fed by biogas, a close-loop Brayton cycle (CLBC), an LNG open power generation cycle, and a dual-stage combined cooling and power (CCP) unit composed of an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) integrated with an ejector refrigeration cycle (ERC). The performance of the system is scrutinized from many perspectives, such as the ones of energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, CO2 emmision rate, payback, and multi-objective optimization. It is deduced that TGT1 is the most influential decision variable from exergy and cost outlooks, while energy efficiency undergoes considerable changes with variation in Teva. Based on optimization, the developed unit generated 424.1 kW of cooling and 1,864 kW of net electricity, corresponding to 80.4% energy efficiency, 41.24% exergy efficiency, and 10.07 $/GJ for the unit’s overall product cost. In base and optimum design modes, the combustion chamber (1058 kW) and condenser (1023 kW) are responsible for the high levels of total exergy destruction. At a selling price of 0.27 $/kWh for cooling and 0.06 $/kWh for electricity, payback period equals 12.13 years. Furthermore, it is also expected that over the course of 20 years, the system can earn 3.5 million dollars in profits. Based on environmental aspect, the cogeneration system emits 6091 kg/ MWh of CO2, which decreased to 3913 kg/MWh after optimization.

Selection of healthcare waste management treatment using fuzzy rough numbers and Aczel–Alsina Function

The COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in healthcare waste (HCW). HCW management treatment needs to be re-taken into focus to deal with this challenge. In practice, there are several treatments of HCW with their advantages and disadvantages. This study is conducted to select the appropriate treatment for HCW in the Brčko District of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Six HCW management treatments are analyzed and observed through twelve criteria. Ten-level linguistic values were used to bring this evaluation closer to human thinking. A fuzzy rough approach is used to solve the problem of inaccuracy in determining these values. The OPA method from the Bonferroni operator is used to determine the weights of the criteria. The results of the application of this method showed that the criterion Environmental Impact (C4) received the highest weight, while the criterion Automation Level (C8) received the lowest value. The ranking of HCW management treatments was performed using MARCOS methods based on the Aczel–Alsina function. The results of this analysis showed that the best-ranked HCW management treatment is microwave (A6) while landfill treatment (A5) is ranked worst. This study has provided a new approach based on fuzzy rough numbers where the Bonferroni function is used to determine the lower and upper limits, while the application of the Aczel–Alsina function reduced the influence of decision-makers on the final decision because this function stabilizes the decision-making process.

Influence in investor-state dispute settlement: a dynamic concept

Abstract Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) plays an increasingly important role in international trade resolution. The decisions have significant financial and in many cases policy implications, yet little is known about the formation of the ad-hoc panels and the decision-making process. Drawing on empirical evidence from interviews with key actors in the ISDS system, this article argues that influence plays a central role in both processes. The analysis further develops the framework for understanding influence in international decision-making to accommodate external factors (those visible to those appointing the decision-makers) and internal factors (those factors that become visible in the decision-making room). It draws our attention to the nuanced relationship and distinction between the characterization of influence in both contexts and poses a challenge to the traditional focus of appointments based on power and prestige which neglects the group decision-making context and the multifaceted construction of influence in this increasingly important method of adjudication.

Energy structure transformation in the context of carbon neutralization: Evolutionary game analysis based on inclusive development of coal and clean energy

Efficient utilization of the clean coal and adoption of clean energy are key points to promote energy structure transformation in the context of carbon neutrality. Considering the influence of decision makers' subjective preferences on energy structure transformation, we introduce prospect theory and psychological account theory into the evolutionary game analysis, construct an evolutionary game model with the participation of government regulators and energy consumers, and analyze the dynamic evolution of each game subject. The results of the study show that the share of coal and clean energy in energy consumption significantly affects the strategy choice of energy consumers and government regulators. The impact of the intensity of subsidies on coal and clean energy and the resulting positive externalities on the inclusive development of coal and clean energy is nonlinear. More interestingly, the strategy combination of green regulation by government regulators and integrated energy use by energy consumers is not optimal in practice due to subjective factors such as reference effects, risk preferences, and loss aversion. This study provides a new perspective on the energy mix transition based on the current situation in China.

Intraparietal stimulation disrupts negative distractor effects in human multi-alternative decision-making.

There has been debate about whether addition of an irrelevant distractor option to an otherwise binary decision influences which of the two choices is taken. We show that disparate views on this question are reconciled if distractors exert two opposing but not mutually exclusive effects. Each effect predominates in a different part of decision space: (1) a positive distractor effect predicts high-value distractors improve decision-making; (2) a negative distractor effect, of the type associated with divisive normalisation models, entails decreased accuracy with increased distractor values. Here, we demonstrate both distractor effects coexist in human decision making but in different parts of a decision space defined by the choice values. We show disruption of the medial intraparietal area (MIP) by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) increases positive distractor effects at the expense of negative distractor effects. Furthermore, individuals with larger MIP volumes are also less susceptible to the disruption induced by TMS. These findings also demonstrate a causal link between MIP and the impact of distractors on decision-making via divisive normalisation.