Subscription Levels Research Articles

Theory of consumption value: A lens to examine the use and continual use intention of online game subscription services

Using the theory of consumption value as the theoretical framework and online game subscription as the subject, this study considered the antecedents (game motivations, fear of missing out [FoMO], and variety preference) and consequences (use and continual use intention) of the values (playing games, social, enjoyment, price, and quality) offered by subscription services. Using the partial least squares method, an empirical analysis of 412 subscribers' and 265 non-subscribers’ views at the online game subscription service level revealed the limited consequences of game motivations for the use (continual use) of online game subscription services. Perceiving FoMO as a bidimensional construct (losing-out and interactive aspects) could provide more insights into how online game players perceive subscription services. FoMO's (interactive aspect) contribution to value is more evident among non-subscribers than subscribers. For both subscribers and non-subscribers, variety preference positively contributes to numerous value types. Three value types (playing games, enjoyment, and price) contribute to the use (continual use) intention. This study augments the rather limited subscription retail literature by focusing on online game subscription services. By viewing FoMO as bidimensional instead of the usual unidimensional construct, this study found that these two FoMO types behaved differently. Moreover, this study showed that studies at the game level cannot be applied to the subscription level in a lock, stock, and barrel manner.

Color associations in landscape design and subscription levels to these associations.

In the present study, a two-tiered research method was adopted. In the first stage, a literature review was conducted to determine the associations that landscape colors evoke in individuals and each association was converted into a statement for each color. The developed 5-point Likert-type scale was submitted for expert opinion (N = 200), and factor analysis was conducted on the findings to determine correlated sub-factors and categorized in the same factor. Thus, three factor groups were determined. Thus, the survey form that will be used in the second study stage was finalized. The factor analysis was also conducted to reduce the number of statements in the scale. Furthermore, 102 statements with a factor load of below 0.30 were excluded. Thus, the final scale included 34 associations in 3 dimensions. In the second stage, the final 5-point Likert-type survey form was applied to the expert group (N = 200) and the participants (N = 200) to determine the agreement of these two groups with the associations. Also, the differences between the agreement levels of the two groups with the associations and the differences between the associations were determined. The statistical analyses revealed that there was a difference between the mean association scores of the participant and the expert groups in 3 factor groups at 0.05 significance level (sig. 0.000, F = 34.432). The direction and size of the correlations between the factors were determined with the correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis was conducted to determine the effect of the factors on others, and it was determined that there was a positive significant correlation between 1st factor and agreement and a negative significant correlation between the 2nd and 3rd factor groups and agreement. The order of the factors that explained the variation in agreement was the 1st factor (ß = .332; p = 0.000), the 2nd factor (ß = - .274; p = 0.000), and the 3rd factor (ß = - .157; p = 0.001), respectively.

An Approach to Churn Prediction for Cloud Services Recommendation and User Retention

The digital world is very dynamic. The ability to timely identify possible vendor migration trends or customer loss risks is very important in cloud-based services. This work describes a churn risk prediction system and how it can be applied to guide cloud service providers for recommending adjustments in the service subscription level, both to promote rational resource consumption and to avoid CSP customer loss. A training dataset was built from real data about the customer, the subscribed service and its usage history, and it was used in a supervised machine-learning approach for prediction. Classification models were built and evaluated based on multilayer neural networks, AdaBoost and random forest algorithms. From the experiments with our dataset, the best results for a churn prediction were obtained with a random forest-based model, with 64 estimators, having 0.988 accuracy and 0.997 AUC value.

Capacity subscription grid tariff efficiency and the impact of uncertainty on the subscribed level

While volume-based grid tariffs have been the norm for residential consumers, capacity-based tariffs will become more relevant with the increasing electrification of society. A further development is capacity subscription, where consumers are financially penalised for exceeding their subscribed capacity, or alternatively their demand is limited to the subscribed level. The penalty or limitation can either be static (always active) or dynamic, meaning that it is only activated when there are active grid constraints. We investigate the cost impact for static and dynamic capacity subscription tariffs, for 84 consumers based on six years of historical load data. We use several approaches for finding the optimal subscription level ex ante. The results show that annual costs remain both stable and similar for most consumers, with a few exceptions for those that have high peak demand. In the case of a physical limitation, it is important to use a stochastic approach for the optimal subscription level to avoid excessive demand limitations. Facing increased peak loads due to electrification, regulators should consider a move to capacity-based tariffs in order to reduce cross-subsidisation between consumers and increase cost reflectivity without impacting the DSO cost recovery.

From Identity to Enaction: Identity Behavior Theory.

The article deals with the meaning of identity in action regulation. A strengths-based action model, Identity Behavior Theory (IBT), is concerned with the role that identity plays in the prediction of behavioral enaction, and implications for education, science, and clinical practice. With this respect the article explores and discusses how enacted behavior, including intention and action, depends on level of subscription to identity as well as on resilience and attitudes that are related to such a behavior. The article also illustrates fields of application of IBT, use of IBT with underrepresented and marginalized groups, and as an instrument for assessing and testing possible effects of resilience, attitudes, and identity on the enacted behavior. IBT is now used to examine behavior in a variety of educational contexts in the United States, and more studies are needed to satisfactorily validate application of the model empirically.

Global Board Reforms and the Pricing of IPOs

AbstractWe document that global board reforms are associated with a significant reduction in the underpricing of initial public offerings (IPOs). The effect is amplified for IPOs with greater agency problems and mitigated for IPOs certified by reputable intermediaries, IPOs with greater disclosure specificity, and IPOs in countries with better shareholder protection and stringent financial reporting regulations. Furthermore, global board reforms have led to an improvement in the long-term market performance, proceeds, and subscription level of IPOs and have enhanced board independence in the issuing firms. Our findings suggest that global board reforms have strengthened board oversight in the issuing firms, leading to less underpriced IPOs.

Predicting diffusion dynamics and launch time strategy for mobile telecommunication services: an empirical analysis

Information technology (IT) innovations require strategic planning for issues related to the launch time of the new generation, technological advancement, and potential user base. The present study seeks to develop a decision-making model that effectively facilitates the predictive analysis of the diffusion paradigm for multi-generational services and the optimal timing of new service introduction. This paper analyzes the generation substitution and customer attrition behavior simultaneously in the adoption process of service generations. A novel multi-generational diffusion model is proposed for those service innovations that coexist in the market at the same time and divides the firm’s market shares. Also, the proposed study intends to devise a decision model to assess the launch scenarios for a new service generation. The optimization problem takes into account the trade-off between the preceding generation’s subscription level and service development cost. The proposed methodological framework is implemented on the telecommunication service line. An empirical analysis is conducted to examine the model performance and prediction ability as compared to the existing models. The findings show that the parameter estimation using the proposed diffusion model will lead to unbiased parameter values and better forecasting results. A numerical illustration is provided to solve the proposed optimization problem using the multi-attribute utility theory (MAUT). Moreover, sensitivity analysis is performed on critical parameters to examine their impact on the computational results. The present research on optimal introduction time of a new service generation yields crucial managerial insights for businesses and policymakers.

Determinants of oversubscription of SME IPOs in India: evidence from quantile regression

PurposeThe study aims to measure the subscription level and examine the determinants of oversubscription of small and medium enterprise (SME) initial public offerings (IPOs) in India.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs cross sectional data to analyze 403 SME IPOs issued from Feb 2012 to May 2018 and listed on Bombay Stock Exchange's small and medium enterprise (BSE SME) platform and National Stock Exchange (NSE) EMERGE to investigate the determinants of oversubscription of SME IPOs. Hence, the study makes use of ordinary least square regression and quantile regression to test the hypotheses formulated for the determinants of oversubscription.FindingsThe main findings unveil that while issue price, pricing mechanism, listing delay negatively influence oversubscription; firm size, underwriter reputation, hot market and underpricing have been divulged to positively influence oversubscription. However, issue size emerged out to be significant in quantile regression at 25th, 50th and 75th quantiles.Research limitations/implicationsThe present study is confined to limited number of variables in understanding the factors impacting oversubscription. Future studies could include macroeconomic variables like gross domestic product (GDP), inflation rate, industry specific variable, i.e. technology/nontechnology industry, financial/nonfinancial industry for better understanding. Cross country analysis is suggested in future studies to validate the findings of current study. Future studies are advised to conduct the study examining the factors affecting oversubscription in light of COVID-19 pandemic.Practical implicationsThe findings of the present study offer implications to academicians, investors, investment advisors and regulators. It provides useful insights to researchers by listing the factors that contribute to variation in subscription levels in emerging economy like India thereby, paving the way for future researches in SME IPOs in countries with different institutional settings. For investors, the study provides additional and novel information useful for IPO valuation and informed investment decisions. In addition, the findings put investment advisors in better place to guide potential investors regarding investment in good quality SME stocks (i.e. highly subscribed stocks) in more informative manner. Last but not the least, as this study would assist the regulators in handling future IPOs in a way that augments the chances of success of SME IPOs.Originality/valueThis study is a novel contribution in widening the IPO literature by examining the relationship between pre-IPO firm actions like issue price, pricing mechanism, issue size, firm size, listing delay, underwriter reputation, hot market, underpricing and oversubscription in unexplored settings of Indian SME IPOs.

Corporate Governance and the Pricing of Initial Public Offerings: Evidence from Global Board Reforms

We document that global board reforms are associated with a significant reduction in IPO underpricing. The effect is amplified for IPOs with greater agency problems and mitigated for IPOs certified by reputable intermediaries, IPOs with greater disclosure specificity, and IPOs in countries with better shareholder protection and stringent financial reporting regulations. Furthermore, global board reforms have led to an improvement in the long-term market performance, proceeds, and subscription level of IPOs, and have enhanced board independence in the issuing firms. Our findings suggest that global board reforms have strengthened board oversight in the issuing firms, leading to less underpriced IPOs.

Comparing individual and coordinated demand response with dynamic and static power grid tariffs

This paper investigates cost-optimal operation of flexible electricity assets with a capacity-based power grid tariff involving power subscription. The purpose of this research is to identify the characteristics of a subscribed capacity-based tariff that promotes efficient network development through demand response. Using historical load data, we compare two consumers with flexible assets being billed by their individual load versus their combined and coordinated loads in a two-stage stochastic program. The frequency of adjusting the subscribed capacity level (weekly versus annually) influences the effectiveness of the tariff in terms of reducing loads that dimension the grid. The results show that weekly subscription on average provides 5−6% cost savings, while annual subscription on average provides 3% cost savings. A combined annual peak load reduction of 15% occurs when the combined subscription level is adjusted weekly. We also find that when the subscription level is adjusted weekly, the load reduction is cost efficient even when capacity is not scarce, which ought to be avoided. Depending on where a bottleneck in the grid is located, the price signal should be based on the combined load of several consumers rather than individual loads if combined peak load shaving is to be cost-optimal.

Effects of Social Media on the Academic Performances of Students of Faculty of Agriculture, Kogi State University, Anyigba, Nigeria

The main purpose of this research study was to examine the effects of social media on students’ performances in Faculty of Agriculture, Kogi State University, Nigeria. All the 1673 full-time undergraduate students formed the sample. A multistage sampling procedure was used for this research & a well structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient were used to analyze demographic data. Research findings showed that there was a positively significant relationship between the time spent on social media and academic performances of students. Results also showed that socio-economic characteristics of students had an effect on the level of subscription to social media by students

Analyzing solar auctions in India: Identifying key determinants

Solar technology has been identified as a key tool to fight climate change. The sector, promoted by several policy enablers, has seen a rapid growth in terms of deployment, with the global capacity reaching 390 GW at the end of 2017. In recent years, an increasing number of countries are adopting auctions to award solar contracts, resulting in steep tariff reductions. Researchers, while analyzing solar auctions, focused on ground level deployment, without capturing other factors influencing the investors' decisions. India, with its ambitious solar plan, has seen numerous contracts being awarded under auction schemes run by its federal and state agencies. We regressed eleven variables across thirty-two solar tenders issued in India between 2014 and 2017. Analysis of these auctions brought out a different set of determinants for federal and state programmes. On an overall basis, factors like solar targets, utilities' credentials and the level of subscription came out as strong determinants. Additionally, cost of funds and module price figured as drivers in the federal bids. Possible recommendations include spatial and temporal spacing of bids, sale to multiple off-takers and provision of risk guarantee funds. These factors may be taken into consideration by Indian Policy makers while designing solar tenders.

Consumer Perception of GSM Networks' Service Quality in Kaduna Metropolis: A Comparative Examination

The Nigerian Global System for Mobile (GSM) telecommunication has witnessed rapid development in the last decade, following full deregulation and liberalization of the sector in 1999. The number of service providers as well as consumer subscription level has increased beyond imagination, thereby intensifying competition among the GSM service providers and increasing customers switching habit and defection rate among consumers. In this scenario, a defensive competitive strategy that is capable of keeping or retaining the existing GSM companies’ consumers rather than an aggressive competitive strategy that seeks to attract new customers is much more effective. A key defensive strategy is the maintenance and improvement of GSM companies’ service quality, as their satisfaction and patronage is likely to increase with perceived higher service quality. Thus, the prime objective of this study is to assess consumers’ perceived service quality of GSM networks in Kaduna metropolis. A questionnaire instrument was used to generate data from 500 respondents that were chosen using purposive non-probability sampling method. The data were subsequently analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study finds that perceived service quality of the GSM operators in Kaduna metropolis was high and satisfactory. However, the perceived service of Glo network is highest, followed by Zain and then Mtn. Hence, the study recommends that GSM operators should strive to sustain their current level of service quality in the short run, but should also strive to improve its service quality components in the long run so that customers perception of their service quality will improve from high to very high, or from satisfactory to very satisfactory. Key Words: GSM, Service Quality, Service Quality Dimensions, and SERVPERF.

Impact of Quality Certification on IPO Underpricing: Evidence from India

The study examines the impact of quality certification of initial public offerings (IPOs) arising out of lead manager’s reputation, grading by credit rating agencies, presence of anchor investors and the reputation of auditors on the level of IPO underpricing. The mean initial excess return that measures the level of IPO underpricing is 22 per cent based on a sample of 399 IPOs made by Indian companies during the period from April 2005 to March 2015. Contrary to expectations, nearly 37 per cent of the IPOs do not provide a positive initial excess return. Univariate analysis reveals that except for IPO grading, the other quality certification variables do not make a significant impact on the level of underpricing. Graded issues are more fairly priced compared to non-graded issues. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the capital market regulator, has recently done away with mandatory grading of IPOs. As graded issues have been observed to improve pricing efficiency, SEBI should reconsider its decision and reintroduce compulsory IPO grading. Multivariate analysis, that includes other variables, such as issue size, level of subscription and promoters holding, reveals that the two variables that have a significant influence on initial excess returns from IPOs are the issue size and the level of oversubscription of the IPO.

Mobile telecommunications service and economic growth: Evidence from China

We contribute to the role of telecommunications service on economic growth in three ways. We separately examine fixed-line and mobile telephone subscription levels. We compare results across periods and regions that differ by the level of development. In addition, we develop a method designed to address endogeneity of telecommunications with respect to growth. We find that mobile services contribute much more to growth but that the effect diminishes as the provincial economy develops more.

Mobile Telecommunications Infrastructure and Economic Growth: Evidence from China

We contribute to the role of telecommunications infrastructure on economic growth in three ways. We separately examine fixed-line and mobile telephone subscription levels. We compare an early build out period to a later more mature industry phase. And we develop a method designed to address endogeneity of telecommunications with respect to growth. We find that mobile services contribute much more to growth but that the effect diminishes over time as the markets for these services become more mature.

Information-field differentials and HIV/AIDSnotional inclinations of mobility-differentiatedpopulation groups: clues from a Lagos study

This paper aims at filling identified perspective-cum-analytical-framework gap on sexuality-risk analysis between mobile and immobile population groups. It originated from a multi-dimensional study on itinerancy-cum-sexuality-risk study on Lagos, Nigeria, which employed stratified random sampling. It compared the subscription levels of two mobility-differentiated trader-groups to local sexuality-risk notions given their assumed theoretically-differentiated information-fields. The first analysis compared the study populations’ HIV/AIDS’ awareness-duration profiles, as well as their risky-sexuality-condoning notional inclinations. Thereafter, it contrasted their categorized hearsays and notions. Further analyses compute and compare their respective notional-transition scores before examining how HIV/ AIDS’ awareness-duration associate with current notional stances. Among other findings, the mobile group exhibit earlier access to HIV/AIDS information, but differs in the degree to which the time-awareness advantage stimulates them towards health-conducing/safe-sexuality notions. Discussion of policy-cumresearch findings followed.Keywords: Information-field; sexuality-notions; HIV/AIDS; circulators; noncirculatorsResume Cet article comble une lacune identifiée dans le cadre d’analyse des littératures disponibles sur le risque sexuel entre les populations en mouvement et celles demeurant en place. Notre motivation provient d’une étude sur le cheminement du risque sexuel à Lagos au Nigeria. La méthode adoptée est l’échantillonnage aléatoire stratifié. Elle a permis de comparer les niveaux d’adhésion de deux groupes distincts de commerçants et leur compréhension des notions de risque sexuel vu leur supposé différence théorique des informations du terrain. Un tableau qui dépeint la durée de l’état de sensibilisation au VIH/SIDA des populations d’étude précède l’analyse du risque sexuel encouragé par des penchants imaginaires. Cette analyse classifie et fait ressortir les échos et les croyances des populations sondées. Des études approfondies exigent le calcul et la comparaison des points imaginaires de transition. La durée de la sensibilisation contre le VIH/SIDA n’échappera pas à notre examen. Nos résultats ont montré que la population mobile a un accès facile aux informations sur le VIH/SIDA. Cet avantage n’est pas pour un atout pour se protéger contre le fléau. Enfin, les résultats utiles de la recherche seront amplement discutés.MOTS-CLES : information-sur-le-terrain, croyance-sexuelle, vih/sida, circulation-non circulation

Forecasting 3G mobile subscription in China: A study based on stochastic frontier analysis and a Bass diffusion model

This paper forecasts 3G mobile subscription in mainland China while incorporating regional disparity. First, using stochastic frontier analysis, this paper tries to measure the relative market potential of 2G mobile service in 31 Chinese provinces. Second, this paper estimates diffusion parameters, including innovation coefficient, imitation coefficient and potential market size, of 31 provinces from 2G data. Then, this paper forecasts 3G mobile subscription using the original Bass model. In particular, this paper uses the market potential of each province in a modified Bass model in order to estimate the maximum level of 3G subscription. Finally, the paper presents meaningful implications for policy makers and mobile network operators in China.

Propensity of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) Farmers to Adopt Neem in Controlling Pest in Delta State, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the factors that influence the propensity of cowpea farmers to adopt neem in controlling pests in Delta State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample population of 125 cowpea farmers from ten randomly selected Local Government Areas of Delta State. The data were elicited from the respondents with the use of structured interview schedule and questionnaire, while descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The recommended neem technologies at different stages of adoption process were neem seed oil/extract; neem leaves solution, neem seed powder, and neem kernel powder. The grand mean adoption score and adoption index were 0.70 and 0.140 respectively. The low level of adoption was attributed to lack of extension contact, scarcity of neem, and poor level of subscription to farmers’ groups. The level of education, age of farmers, farm size, farm income, household size, extension contact, membership of farmers’ groups, cost of technology were the major factors that influenced the propensity of cowpea farmers to adopt neem technologies in pest control at 0.05 level of significance. It was recommended that more extension agents be employed; progressive approaches to extension delivery be encouraged and propagation of neem plants be encouraged. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tare.v14i3.4844 Tropical Agricultural Research & Extension 14(3): 2011 63-69

Awareness and perception regarding health insurance in Bangalore rural population

Background: Awareness and perception regarding health insurance was still very preliminary. Although health insurance is not a new concept and people are also getting familiar with it, yet this awareness has not reached to the level of subscription of health insurance products. Insurance as not been able to make inroads in the rural areas because of key reasons such as high cost of delivery and low awareness among the rural population about insurance products. There is a felt need to provide financial protection to rural families for the treatment of major ailments, requiring hospitalization and surgery. The present study is an effort in the area of health insurance to assess the individuals' awareness level and willingness to join and pay for it. The present study is an effort to examine what are the reasons behind those who have not in favour of subscription. Methods: Nandagudi a village in Bangalore rural district was selected because the Rural Health Training Centre of MVJ Medical College & RH is located. The houses were listed and by using systematic random sampling every 2nd house was included in the study. 331 houses were interviewed. The interview was taken either from the head of the family or the family member who takes financial decisions in the house. Data was collected and analysed. Findings were described in terms of proportions and percentages. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS statistical package. Results: In our study population majority were males (94.9%), Hindus (60%), literate (85%),and manual workers (79.5%).Only one third of the houses were aware of health insurance but only 22% had health insurance coverage. The coverage was not for all family members. The subscription depended on education, socio-economic status, type of family. The willingness to pay a premium was Rs 500 per year in 31% of the families. It was observed that the main barriers for the subscription of health insurance were low income or uncertainty of income (43%), are not reliable (27%), not taken by friends or relatives (18%), prefer to invest somewhere else (11%), not adequate knowledge regarding its benefits (16%), do not feel the need (29%).