Related Sub-factors Research Articles

Leverage points of tourism destination competitiveness dynamics

Tourism destination comprises a highly competitive and complex market. This paper integrates the principal factors of destination competitiveness into the Aggregated Model. Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process, it examines the impact of stakeholders' activities on the principal factors and related sub-factors. It identifies the factors which can be considerably influenced by stakeholders' activities and thus have the potential to become the leverage points of destination competitiveness. However, destination competitiveness is a multi-dimensional concept covering complex relations among the factors of competitiveness. The study exposes such relations by developing a systemic model. It identifies three leverage points that influence the highest number of interrelations in the model. Destination managers can use these points to improve destination competitiveness and its dynamics by focusing cooperation activities with local stakeholders on gathering data and conducting research, undertaking marketing activities, and creating the destination image.

The influence of patient-centeredness on patient safety perception among inpatients.

PurposeThis study investigated the influence of patient-centeredness on patient safety perception among inpatients, with particular focus on the relationships between subfactors of patient-centeredness and patient safety perception.MethodsData were collected from 122 inpatients in a university hospital from September 24 to October 8, 2019. Patient-centeredness was evaluated using the Patient-Centeredness Assessment Scale; patient safety perception was evaluated using the Korean version of the Patient Safety Perception Scale. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted using SPSS for Windows 24.0.ResultsAverage patient-centeredness score among inpatients was 77.14 ± 12.64 (range 0–100), and average patient safety perception score was 99.24 ± 15.90 (range 24–120). Patient-centeredness influenced patient safety perception (R2 = 70%, F = 27.75, p < .001). With respect to subfactors of patient safety perception, the medical team’s activities to ensure safety was affected by the general treatment process and overall evaluation of patient-centeredness (R2 = 54%, F = 13.14, p < .001); patient safety practice was influenced only by the general treatment process (R2 = 39%, F = 7.02, p < .001); and trust in the medical system was affected by nurses’ service, the general treatment process, and the hospital environment (R2 = 44%, F = 8.49, p < .001).ConclusionsTo enhance patient safety perception, strategies should seek to strengthen patient-centeredness and its related subfactors, particularly the general treatment process, the hospital environment, and nurses’ service.

Role of the Leisure Attributes of Shared Bicycles in Promoting Leisure Benefits and Quality of Life

Given that the use of shared economic resources has increased for leisure, the main goal of the present study is to investigate the influence of the leisure attributes of the sharing economy on leisure benefits and quality of life. For this, the related sub-factors were derived for the verification of the sharing economy’s leisure attributes. Next, the sub-components of the concept were integrated and analyzed using a second confirmatory factor analysis. The results of a study using the structural equation model demonstrated that the sharing economy’s leisure attributes statistically affect the four levels of leisure benefits (i.e., social, physical, personal, and psychological benefits). We also identified two (social and psychological benefits) out of four leisure benefits that ultimately affect quality of life. This study is meaningful in that it elucidates the relationships between the sharing economy’s leisure attributes, leisure benefits, and quality of life.

Promotion of green products on Facebook: insights from millennials

This research empirically analyses the factors affecting the promotion of green products through Facebook to the millennials. Extensive literature survey and focus group discussion (FGD) gave probable Facebook related variables that may impact the promotion of green products. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to find key Facebook-related factors influencing the promotion of green products to millennials. The factor structure was further validated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings highlight marketing managers should focus on five factors namely value communication (VC), safe navigation (SN), endorsements, webpage content (CW), and e-word of mouth (e-WoM); and its related sub-factors for promotion of green products on Facebook to the millennials. It is a pioneering study as none of the previous studies had analysed Facebook as a platform for promoting green products to millennials.

Promotion of green products on Facebook: insights from millennials

This research empirically analyses the factors affecting the promotion of green products through Facebook to the millennials. Extensive literature survey and focus group discussion (FGD) gave probable Facebook related variables that may impact the promotion of green products. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to find key Facebook-related factors influencing the promotion of green products to millennials. The factor structure was further validated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The findings highlight marketing managers should focus on five factors namely value communication (VC), safe navigation (SN), endorsements, webpage content (CW), and e-word of mouth (e-WoM); and its related sub-factors for promotion of green products on Facebook to the millennials. It is a pioneering study as none of the previous studies had analysed Facebook as a platform for promoting green products to millennials.

Identification and prioritisation of the critical success factors for research project-based organisations using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

The main purpose of this study is to identify and prioritise critical success factors (CSFs) of research project-based organisations in the context of Iran using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) technique. In order to do so, at the first step based on an in-depth review of the relevant literature a questionnaire and holding interviews with the experts of this domain a questionnaire was designed and distributed among professionals and its validity and reliability was investigated and confirmed, leading to the structural tree of the model. Then, the second questionnaire in the form paired-wise comparison was designed, and the weights and ranking of the main CSFs and their related sub-factors were calculated using fuzzy AHP technique and expert choice software. Results reveal that the 'project factors' with a weight of 0.445 is the most important factor among the other identified factors, namely, 'personality factors', 'organisational factors' and 'environmental factors'.

Identification and prioritisation of the critical success factors for research project-based organisations using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

The main purpose of this study is to identify and prioritise critical success factors (CSFs) of research project-based organisations in the context of Iran using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP) technique. In order to do so, at the first step based on an in-depth review of the relevant literature a questionnaire and holding interviews with the experts of this domain a questionnaire was designed and distributed among professionals and its validity and reliability was investigated and confirmed, leading to the structural tree of the model. Then, the second questionnaire in the form paired-wise comparison was designed, and the weights and ranking of the main CSFs and their related sub-factors were calculated using fuzzy AHP technique and expert choice software. Results reveal that the 'project factors' with a weight of 0.445 is the most important factor among the other identified factors, namely, 'personality factors', 'organisational factors' and 'environmental factors'.

Prioritization of Human Factors Variables in the Management of Major Accident Hazards in Process Industries Using Fuzzy AHP Approach

Background: Human factors play an important role in process safety and can have dramatic effects on the safety performance of organizations. In addition, human factors are very important elements in safety management system and management of major accident hazards in process industries. Many variables of human factors may affect the safety in process industries, which need to be addressed in a more holistic approach. Objectives: This study was designed to determine the most important variables of human factors in the management of major accident hazards in process industries through the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fuzzy AHP) approach in 2017. Methods: After specifying human factors variables including the job, the individual (personal), and the organization factors and related sub-factors, fuzzy AHP approach was proposed to determine the weights and the degree of importance of factors and related sub-factors. Factors and related sub-factors were weighted using triangular fuzzy numbers in pairwise comparisons and fuzzy linguistic variables. Results: Organization factors got the highest relative weights (0.381) in comparison with other studied factors. Among organization sub-factors, safety culture had the highest importance (0.33). Among individual sub-factors, competence of personnel is recognized as the most important sub-factor (0.37). The highest relative weights for job sub-factors were obtained for ergonomic design and environmental factors (0.17). Conclusions: Determining and identifying the most important variables of human factors in process safety are very important for organizations. The present study demonstrates that organization factors are the most important variables in the management of major accident hazards in process industries with the application of fuzzy AHP. Safety culture, staff competence, ergonomic design, and environmental factors are the most important sub-factors.

The life cycle of a feature: modelling the transitions between feature states

PurposeStudies have suggested that attributes are dynamic and a life cycle of product and service attributes exists. When an innovative feature is introduced, the feature might attract and delight customers. However, with the passage of time the state of the attractiveness of this feature may change, for better or for worse. The purpose of this paper is to provide a detailed model that shows the factors and related sub-factors that affect the life cycle of a feature and thereby explain the changes that may happen to a feature over time.Design/methodology/approachThis model provide detailed explanations of the direct and indirect factors that affect the states of a feature, the ones that affect the rate of adoption, and the ones that trigger the changes between states. The model uses a current-market product’s feature to discuss the effects of these factors on the life cycle of this feature in detail.FindingsThis paper extends the theory of attractive quality attributes by identified seven states of the feature in its life cycle. These states are as follows: unknown/unimportant state, honey pot state, racing state, required state, standard state, core state, and dead state. This paper also identified eight major factors that affect the transition of the feature from one state to another. These factors include demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural, psychological, geographical, environmental, organisational, and technological factors.Originality/valueThe findings of this paper provide additional evidence that product and service attributes are dynamic. This paper also increases the validity of the attractive quality attributes theory and the factors that affect the state of the feature in its life cycle. The understanding of the state of the feature in its life cycle, and the factors that influence this change, helps not only in the introduction of completely new features but also in knowing when to remove obsolescent ones.

New Product Development in the Pharmaceutical Industry: Evidence from Iran

In today’s competitive world, there are several strategies to deal with the fast changing environment, among which New product development (NPD) is a common strategy. However, almost half of the resources that companies devote to NPD are spent on products that may fail. This issue is particularly highlighted in the pharmaceutical industry mainly because of a long development-time, low success rate, high capital requirement, and market uncertainty in. This study identifies critical success factors of NPD based on the relevant literatures and expert opinions in Iranian pharmaceutical industry, then prioritizes them using the methodology of multiple criteria decision making (MCDM) through analyzing 50 filled questionnaires which is structured based on the AHP (Analytical Hierarchy Process) approach. Although the NPD success factors seem same in both generic and bio-generic pharmaceutical industries, the underlying factors and related sub-factors show the different importance in these two industries. However, this study reveal that, the company capabilities is the most important factor affecting new product development success in both pharmaceutical generic and bio-generic industry. The results of this study contribute to create baseline information for pharmaceutical industry especially Iranian pharmaceutical companies to be more effective in budget allocation on improving NPD success factors so that they can boost the success rate of NPD more effectively.

Validating Factors That Impact the Acceptance and Use of e-Assessment among Academics in Saudi Universities

As assessment is one of the important pillars of the learning process, and E-assessment has become an essential part of education systems. E-assessment developed to address some of the limitations and problems of a paper-test. In last the 10 years, E-assessment has improved in developed countries such as UK. In contrast, in Saudi Arabia, one of the developing countries, less attention is still paid to accept and use of E-assessment and research which discusses E-assessment issues in Saudi Arabia is limited. This paper aims to investigate the factors that has an effect on academics use of E-assessment in Saudi universities. Last study by Alruwais et al. [1] has developed the Model of Acceptance and Usage of E-assessment (MAUE) that has derived from the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour model (DTPB), other theories and models, which investigate the user acceptance and use of ICT, and other related studies. The model consists of the following factors: attitude (perceived ease to use, perceived usefulness, and compatibility), subjective norm (peer influence and superior influence) and perceived behavioural control factors (self-efficacy, resource facilitating conditions, and IT support). Age and gender are also included to the proposed model as moderating factors. In order to refine these factors, interviews were conducted with experts. The results of the interviews show that attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control and its related sub-factors have an influence on academics’ intention to use E-assessment. In order to refine these factors, interviews were conducted with experts. The results of the interviews show that attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control and its related sub-factors have an influence on academics’ intention to use E-assessment. However, experts suggested removing gender and keeping age as a moderating factor. Furthermore, the experts recommended adding awareness of E-assessment as a sub-factor under the attitude factor and including the availability of a security system in the resource facilitating conditions sub-factor.

Perceptions of service providers and customers of key success factors of third-party logistics relationships – an empirical study

This paper provides a comparison of third-party logistics (3PL) service providers and 3PL customers with respect to the perception of key success factors (KSFs) for building and fostering relationships. The KSFs and their related sub-factors were derived from the extant literature and modified to reflect the nature of 3PL arrangements. The relevant data were collected from separate, but consistent, mail surveys that were sent to 3PL service providers and 3PL customers. The results indicate statistically significant differences in the perception of critical success factors between 3PL service providers and 3PL customers. The results show that customers see a focus on service-based solutions as being an important feature of 3PL provision providing a set of benefits beyond mere cost control.

Psychometric properties of a scale to measure investment in the sick role: the Illness Cognitions Scale

A person's beliefs about their illness may contribute to recovery and prognosis. Some degree of acceptance of illness and its impact is necessary to integrate the presence of a chronic disorder into one's lifestyle and adhere to necessary components of illness management; however, some individuals can become 'stuck' and have difficulty adjusting out of the sick role. Inventories exist to measure illness cognitions, attitudes and behaviours as they relate to hypochondria and psychosomatic illness, but there is no extant measure of sick role inertia. We describe the psychometric properties of a new scale, the Illness Cognitions Scale (ICS), a metric of investment in the sick role. The ICS was administered to 97 individuals with bipolar or schizoaffective disorder, and the psychometric properties of the scale measured. Dimensionality was assessed using Principal Components Analysis with Oblimin rotation. The scale has a strong internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.858. Results of a factor analysis suggested the presence of one main factor, with three other smaller, related sub-factors, capturing aspects of maladaptive illness beliefs. The ICS is a 17-item, internally validated scale measuring difficulty adjusting out of the sick role. The scale predominantly measures a single construct. Further research on external validity of the ICS is required as well as determination of the clinical significance and patient acceptability of the scale.

Dimensions of Offshore Outsourcing Business Models

This paper discusses some key themes and issues in relation to offshore outsourcing. It provides an analysis of four example UK case studies of firm that have entered into offshore outsourcing deals. Each firm is distinguished by the different approach or business model adopted. These approaches highlight the heterogeneous nature of the offshore outsourcing phenomenon. A framework is then proposed based on the literature and the study which provides four important elements and related sub-factors of interest and importance. This framework is then used to analyse the cases highlighting some of the drivers and risk factors of the models, from the customer’s perspective.