Dissertations / Theses: 'Partial least squares structural equation modeling'

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George, Benjamin Thomas. "Extensions of the General Linear Model into Methods within Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2016. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc862733/.

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The current generation of structural equation modeling (SEM) is loosely split in two divergent groups - covariance-based and variance-based structural equation modeling. The relative newness of variance-based SEM has limited the development of techniques that extend its applicability to non-metric data. This study focuses upon the extension of general linear model techniques within the variance-based platform of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). This modeling procedure receives it name through the iterative PLS‑SEM algorithm's estimates of the coefficients for the partial ordinary least squares regression models in both the measurement model and the overall structural model. This research addresses the following research questions: (1) What are the appropriate measures for data segmentation within PLS‑SEM? (2) What are the appropriate steps for the analysis of rank-ordered path coefficients within PLS‑SEM? and (3) What is an appropriate model selection index for PLS‑SEM? The limited type of data to which PLS-SEM is applicable suggests an opportunity to extend the method for use with different data and as a result a broader number of applications. This study develops and tests several methodologies that are prevalent in the general linear model (GLM). The proposed data segmentation approaches posited and tested through post hoc analysis of structural model. Monte Carlo simulation allows demonstrating the improvement of the proposed model fit indices in comparison to the established indices found within the SEM literature. These posited PLS methods, that are logical transfers of GLM methods, are tested using examples. These tests enable demonstrating the methods and recommending reporting requirements.

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Yue, Weiping Biotechnology &amp Biomolecular Sciences Faculty of Science UNSW. "Predicting the citation impact of clinical neurology journals using structural equation modeling with partial least squares." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, 2004. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/20821.

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The ongoing debate on the evaluative role of citation analysis and the theory of citation recognizes that the citation process is complex and that citation counts are affected by certain extra-scientific or external factors. To date, little effort has been made to explore the effects of various external factors; this thesis addresses this lack. In the context of the various perspectives on citations and citation analysis, this study uses journals as the unit of analysis and investigates what, how, and to what extent extra-scientific factors influence the citation impact of journals. An integrated conceptual model of Journal Citation Impact that takes into account current theoretical positions and prior empirical research findings is developed. It addresses the interrelationships between Journal Citation Impact and a range of external factors (Journal Properties, Journal Visibility, Journal Accessibility, Journal Internationality, Journal Selectivity, Journal Promptness, Journal Editorial Prestige, and Perceived Journal Quality). The proposed conceptual model is novel in that it: (1) incorporates nearly all possible external factors that affect Journal Citation Impact; (2) addresses the complex interrelationships between a number of external factors and Journal Citation Impact in one model; (3) regards both Journal Citation Impact and its external factors as theoretical constructs; and (4) identifies the observed variables of the external factors and Journal Citation Impact. However, because of the difficulties in operationalizing all the theoretical constructs, this conceptual model is simplified to an operational model for empirical testing. The operational model includes the construct Journal Citation Impact and four of its external factors, Journal Properties, Journal Accessibility, Journal Internationality, and Perceived Journal Quality. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Partial Least Squares (PLS) is used to test the operational model with empirical data from 41 research journals in clinical neurology. Data are collected from bibliographic database searching, web searching, printed journals, and from a web-based survey that was conducted to obtain information on perceptions of journal quality. Empirical results of the operational model show that Journal Accessibility, Journal Internationality, and Perceived Journal Quality have large, medium, and small effects respectively on Journal Citation Impact, thus indicating that certain extra-scientific factors can influence Journal Citation Impact significantly. The findings suggest that great care should be taken in interpreting and evaluating the results obtained from citation analysis. In terms of Journal Citation Impact, this research also suggests that various journal citation indicators should be ii used to reflect different aspects of citation impact. By exploring the phenomenological domain in the citing process, this exploratory study not only provides a better understanding of citation analysis, it also contributes to the development of the theory of citation. From the methodological perspective, introducing SEM with PLS to Informetrics and Scientometrics also contributes to the knowledge base of these fields. Pragmatically, the research findings will enhance the judgment of researchers and practitioners such as editors, publishers, librarians and other information specialists in assessing journal performance. Finally, the worldwide survey findings on peer assessment of journal outlets in clinical neurology will be useful for researchers, academics or clinicians in this field.

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McMullen, Mac Jackson. "Contingency Theory| United States Small Business Predictive Performance with Project Management Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling." Thesis, Northcentral University, 2016. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=10042193.

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Small business entrepreneurs (SBEs) within the United States in 2014 produced 47% of the national $17.5 trillion GDP and employed 48.5% of the national labor force. Detailed business planning was a theorized predictor of SBE performance and project, program, and portfolio management (P3M) as detailed managerial planning processes influenced by organizational theories. The specific problem was the failure of SBEs due to a lack of business management planning and the unknown generalizable U.S. SBE use of P3M as detailed managerial planning processes to enhance SBE performance. The purpose of this quantitative cross-sectional study was to statistically model U.S. SBE predictive P3M application to SBE Performance within a contingency theory framework using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), hierarchical component modeling (HCM), and multi-group analysis (MGA-PLS) of subpopulations (growth orientation, number of employees, business age, business location, industry sector, legal form of organization, and P3M maturity). Random anonymous sampling among small business owners and chief managers was used to attain a representative sample by U.S. state using a web-based survey instrument. A sample of 179 was planned (R² sensitivity of 0.1) and n =150 was attained (R² sensitivity of 0.107). Sample size was representative of 93.1% of 28.9 million small business enterprises by U.S. state and the District of Columbia. Findings included an average performance efficiency of 59% among U.S. SMEs with room for improvement of 41%. P3M was identified as detailed planning and management processes with a 0.308 total effect on national SBE performance. A 1% improved adaptation of P3M managerial knowledge area processes predicted 18.17% SBE performance improvement. Limitations of the study included data collection barriers from internet service providers (ISPs) and email service providers (ESPs) in censoring and filtering emailed survey invitations contributing to a decreased response rate. Future research recommendations include expanding population ecology theory to identify predictive environmental factors that effect the 59% performance mean resulting in a population of SBEs failing or improving at various S-curve lifecycle stages.

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Mohd, Jamil J. B. "Partial least squares structural equation modelling with incomplete data : an investigation of the impact of imputation methods." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2012. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/5728.

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Despite considerable advances in missing data imputation methods over the last three decades, the problem of missing data remains largely unsolved. Many techniques have emerged in the literature as candidate solutions. These techniques can be categorised into two classes: statistical methods of data imputation and computational intelligence methods of data imputation. Due to the longstanding use of statistical methods in handling missing data problems, it takes quite some time for computational intelligence methods to gain profound attention even though these methods have analogous accuracy, in comparison to other approaches. The merits of both these classes have been discussed at length in the literature, but only limited studies make significant comparison to these classes. This thesis contributes to knowledge by firstly, conducting a comprehensive comparison of standard statistical methods of data imputation, namely, mean substitution (MS), regression imputation (RI), expectation maximization (EM), tree imputation (TI) and multiple imputation (MI) on missing completely at random (MCAR) data sets. Secondly, this study also compares the efficacy of these methods with a computational intelligence method of data imputation, ii namely, a neural network (NN) on missing not at random (MNAR) data sets. The significance difference in performance of the methods is presented. Thirdly, a novel procedure for handling missing data is presented. A hybrid combination of each of these statistical methods with a NN, known here as the post-processing procedure, was adopted to approximate MNAR data sets. Simulation studies for each of these imputation approaches have been conducted to assess the impact of missing values on partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) based on the estimated accuracy of both structural and measurement parameters. The best method to deal with particular missing data mechanisms is highly recognized. Several significant insights were deduced from the simulation results. It was figured that for the problem of MCAR by using statistical methods of data imputation, MI performs better than the other methods for all percentages of missing data. Another unique contribution is found when comparing the results before and after the NN post-processing procedure. This improvement in accuracy may be resulted from the neural network's ability to derive meaning from the imputed data set found by the statistical methods. Based on these results, the NN post-processing procedure is capable to assist MS in producing significant improvement in accuracy of the approximated values. This is a promising result, as MS is the weakest method in this study. This evidence is also informative as MS is often used as the default method available to users of PLS-SEM software.

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Pick, Mandy Verfasser], and Marko [Gutachter] [Sarstedt. "Selected conceptual and methodological contributions on influencer marketing and partial least squares structural equation modeling / Mandy Pick ; Gutachter: Marko Sarstedt." Magdeburg : Universitätsbibliothek Otto-von-Guericke-Universität, 2021. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:gbv:ma9:1-1981185920-387421.

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D\'Emidio, Marcelo. "O valor de marca: uma abordagem de equações estruturais." Universidade de São Paulo, 2009. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/12/12139/tde-15092009-164939/.

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O presente trabalho propõe um procedimento de valoração de marca a partir de uma modelagem por equações estruturais. Este estudo aponta inicialmente um modelo conceitual de valoração de marca baseado na linha comportamental, ou seja, nas percepções dos consumidores e não no valor monetário da marca. Para aplicação do procedimento proposto, foram escolhidas as marcas das operadoras de telefonia celular Vivo e Claro. A partir da modelagem por equações estruturais, ajustou-se o modelo teórico proposto a cada uma das marcas em questão. Com o modelo ajustado foi possível calcular não apenas o valor de marca para cada um dos consumidores, como todas as variáveis que o compõe. A possibilidade de se calcular o valor de marca para cada consumidor é extremamente inovadora, uma vez que nenhum dos modelos revistos na literatura científica aponta esta funcionalidade. Com a base de dados contendo o valor de marca para cada consumidor entrevistado, foi possível efetuar diversas análises estatísticas, que permitiram compreender de forma profunda quais variáveis mais impactam o valor das marcas, ou ainda quais são seus pontos fortes e fracos. Com isto, foi possível desenhar estratégias de marketing específicas para que cada uma das marcas aumente o seu valor.
The present study brings a procedure that measures brand equity using a structural equation modeling. This thesis proposes a conceptual model that measures brand equity based in a behaviorist approach, i.e., based on the consumers perception instead of monetary brand value. To apply this procedure two cellular phone operator brands were chosen: Vivo and Claro, and then, using structural equation modeling, it was possible to adjust the initial theory model to each brand. From the adjusted model it was possible to measure not only brand equity to each consumer, but all variables that are part of it. The possibility to measure brand equity to each consumer is extremely new, once no other models - reviewed in the scientific literature - pointed this feature. Using the database and the brand value to each interviewed consumer it was possible to make statistic analysis that allowed comprehending deeply which variables impact brand equity, or what are their strong and weak points. Then it was possible to make specific marketing strategies to each brand to increase their equity.

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Jones, Cynthia. "Utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model to Assess Employee Adoption of Information Systems Security Measures." NSUWorks, 2009. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/hsbe_etd/49.

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Companies are increasing their investment in technologies to enable better access to information and to gain a competitive advantage. Global competition is driving companies to reduce costs and enhance productivity, increasing their dependence on information technology. Information is a key asset within an organization and needs to be protected. Expanded connectivity and greater interdependence between companies and consumers has increased the damage potential of a security breach to a company's information systems. Improper unauthorized use of computer systems can create a devastating financial loss even to the point of causing the organization to go out of business. It is critically important to understand what causes users to understand, accept and to follow the organization's information systems security measures so that companies can realize the benefits of their technological investments. In the past several years, computer security breaches have stemmed from insider misuse and abuse of the information systems and non-compliance to the information systems security measures. The purpose of this study was to address the factors that affect employee acceptance of information systems security measures. The Technology Acceptance Model was extended and served as the theoretical framework for this study to examine the factors that affect employee adoption of information systems security measures. The research model included three independent dimensions, perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness and subjective norm. These constructs were hypothesized to predict intention to use information systems security measures, moderated by management support affecting subjective norm. Five hypotheses were posited. A questionnaire was developed to collect data from employees across multiple industry segments to test these hypotheses. Partial least squares statistical methodology was used to analyze the data and to test the hypotheses. The results of the statistical analysis supported three of the five hypotheses with subjective norm and management support showing the strongest effect on intention to use information systems security measures. Few studies have used TAM to study acceptance of systems in a mandatory environment and to specifically examine the employee acceptance of computer information systems security measures. This study, therefore, adds to the body of knowledge. Further, it provides important information for senior management and security professionals across multiple industries regarding the need to develop security policies and processes and to effectively communicate them throughout the organization and to design these measures to promote their use by employees in the organization.

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Bruce, Helen Louise. "Customer perceived value : reconceptualisation, investigation and measurement." Thesis, Cranfield University, 2013. http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk/handle/1826/8586.

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The concept of customer perceived value occupies a prominent position within the strategic agenda of organisations, as firms seek to maximise the value perceived by their customers as arising from their consumption, and to equal or exceed that perceived in relation to competitor propositions. Customer value management is similarly central to the marketing discipline. However, the nature of customer value remains ambiguous and its measurement is typically flawed, due to the poor conceptual foundation upon which previous research endeavours are built. This investigation seeks to address the current poverty of insight regarding the nature and measurement of customer value. The development of a revised conceptual framework synthesises the strengths of previous value conceptualisations while addressing many of their limitations. A multi-dimensional depiction of value arising from customer experience is presented, in which value is conceptualised as arising at both first-order dimension and overall, second-order levels of abstraction. The subsequent operationalisation of this conceptual framework within a two-phase investigation combines qualitative and quantitative methodologies in a study of customer value arising from subscription TV (STV) consumption. Sixty semi-structured interviews with 103 existing STV customers give rise to a multi-dimensional model of value, in which dimensions are categorised as restorative, actualising and hedonic in type, and as arising via individual, reflected or shared modes of perception. The quantitative investigation entails two periods of data collection via questionnaires developed from the qualitative findings, and the gathering of 861 responses, also from existing STV customers. A series of scales with which to measure value dimensions is developed and an index enabling overall perceived value measurement is produced. Contributions to theory of customer value arise in the form of enhanced insights regarding its nature. At the first-order dimension level, the derived dimensions are of specific relevance to the STV industry. However, the empirically derived framework of dimension types and modes of perception has potential applicability in multiple contexts. At the more abstract, second-order level, the findings highlight that value perceptions comprise only a subset of potential dimensions. Evidence is thus presented of the need to consider value at both dimension and overall levels of perception. Contributions to knowledge regarding customer value measurement also arise, as the study produces reliable and valid scales and an index. This latter tool is novel in its formative measurement of value as a second order construct, comprising numerous first-order dimensions of value, rather than quality as incorporated in previously derived measures. This investigation also results in a contribution to theory regarding customer experience through the identification of a series of holistic, discrete, direct and indirect value-generating interactions. Contributions to practice within the STV industry arise as the findings present a solution to the immediate need for enhanced value insight. Contributions to alternative industries are methodological, as this study presents a detailed process through which robust value insight can be derived. Specific methodological recommendations arise in respect of the need for empirically grounded research, an experiential focus and a twostage quantitative methodology.

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Findik, Duygu. "Development Of A Multi-dimensional Model To Evaluate Higher Education Instructors." Master's thesis, METU, 2010. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/3/12612126/index.pdf.

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Through the rapid expansion of information technologies, Learning Management Systems have become one of the most important innovations for delivery of education. Successful implementation and management of these systems are primarily based on the instructors'
adoption. However, too few researches have been conducted to evaluate instructors&rsquo
adoption towards e-learning system as taking higher education as base. This study aims to understand behavioral intentions of higher education instructors towards Learning Management Systems and further to identify the influencing factors. A research model has been proposed based on the belief variables of the Technology Acceptance Model. Additionally, Application Characteristics, Individual, Social and Technological dimensions were considered to identify the effects of key variables on behavioral intention of users. A survey instrument has been developed and conducted with 224 academicians after a pilot study through its reliability and validity has been assured. Although the items of the survey instrument were based on the literature, an explanatory factor analysis was performed to strictly determine which items belong to which factors. Then, in order to assess the measurement model Convergent validity and Discriminant validity were conducted via confirmatory factor analyses. After the required prior analyses, Component based Structural Equation Modeling (Partial Least Square - PLS) was used to validate the predictive power of the proposed research model. Consequently, relationships between the influencing factors were detected and the results showed that the factors related with Belief dimension directly influenced behavioral intention of instructors. Also, the factors under the Individual, Social and Technological dimensions indirectly affected behavioral intention of users towards learning management system use. Additionally, structured and informal interviews were performed with ten instructors and the findings of the research model were explained with the opinions of system users. The indications of this research will be valuable for implementation, management and continuous improvement of learning management systems.

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Degerli, Mustafa. "Identifying Factors Influencing The Acceptance Of Processes: An Empirical Investigation Using The Structural Equation Modeling Approach." Master's thesis, METU, 2012. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12614321/index.pdf.

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In this research, it was mainly aimed to develop an acceptance model for processes, namely the process acceptance model (PAM). For this purpose, a questionnaire, comprising 3-part and 81-question, was developed to collect quantitative and qualitative data from people having relationships with certain process-focused models and/or standards (CMMI, ISO 15504, ISO 9001, ISO 27001, AQAP-160, AQAP-2110, and/or AS 9100). To revise and refine the questionnaire, expert reviews were ensured, and a pilot study was conducted with 60 usable responses. After reviews, refinements and piloting, the questionnaire was deployed to collect data and in-total 368 usable responses were collected from the people. Here, collected data were screened concerning incorrectly entered data, missing data, outliers and normality, and reliability and validity of the questionnaire were ensured. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS SEM) was applied to develop the PAM. In this context, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were applied, and the initial model was estimated and evaluated. The initial model was modified as required by PLS SEM, and confirmatory factor analysis was repeated, and the modified final model was estimated and evaluated. Consequently, the PAM, with 18 factors and their statistically significant relationships, was developed. Furthermore, descriptive statistics and t-tests were applied to discover some interesting, meaningful, and important points to be taken into account regarding the acceptance of processes. Moreover, collected quantitative data were analyzed, and three additional factors were discovered regarding the acceptance of processes. Besides, a checklist to test and/or promote the acceptance of processes was established.

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Teker, Mahmut. "Identifying Factors That Facilitate The Use Of Multi-purpose Smart Cards By University Students: An Empirical Investigation." Master's thesis, METU, 2011. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12612983/index.pdf.

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The aim of this thesis is to identify factors that affect the university students&rsquo
acceptance of multi-purpose Smart Cards. The findings of this study will be beneficial to facilitate the use of Smart-Card enabled system both n universities and in other institutions which either have these systems in use or plan to invest on these systems in the future. The research methodology employed within this study is based on quantitative methods. A survey instrument comprising 51 5-point Likert-type questions has been developed and applied to 207 university Middle East Technical University students. The data collected has been analyzed using Exploratory Factor Analysis to categorize factors having items. According to analysis results, the data classified under 5 factors
Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease of Use, Behavioral Intention, Anxiety, and Technological Complexity. Then, the relations between these 5 factors identified and a measurement model was created. For assessing the proposed model Discriminant and Convergent Validity scores were calculated by Confirmatory Factor Analysis. Then, Structural Equation Modeling was conducted with Partial Least Squares for validating the model&rsquo
s estimated influence. The study has shown that the main Technology Acceptance Model constructs fit for determining the university students&rsquo
intention of Smart Card usage except for Perceived Ease of Use over Behavioral Intention. Moreover, study showed that Anxiety and Technological Complexity were the external factors that have effect on willingness of using multi-purpose Smart Cards. If students have Anxiety, this affects their perception of easiness of the system and it has negative indirect effect on the perceived usefulness and direct effect on intention. Technological Complexity is another factor which has direct affect on the perception of easiness and usefulness and intention.

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Kanat, Irfan Emrah. "E-government Adoption Model Based On Theory Of Planned Behavior: Empirical Investigation." Master's thesis, METU, 2009. http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/12610714/index.pdf.

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The e-government phenomena has become more important with the ever increasing number of implementations world wide. A model explaining the e-government adoption and the related measurement instrument a survey had been developed and validated in this study. In a post technology acceptance model (TAM) approach, theory of planned behavior (TPB) was extended to t the requirements of e-government context. The adoption of student loans service of the higher education student loans and accommodation association (KYK) was investigated to obtain data for empirical validation. The instrument was administered to over four-hundred students and partial least squares path modeling was employed to analyze the data. The results indicate that the model was an improvement over TAM in terms of predictive power. The constructs investigated in the study successfully explained the intention to use an e-government service.

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Shakeri, Shadi. "Modeling Information Seeking Under Perceived Risk." Thesis, University of North Texas, 2018. https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1404510/.

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Information seeking and information avoidance are the mechanisms humans natural used for coping with uncertainties and adapting to environmental stressors. Uncertainties are rooted in knowledge gaps. In social sciences, the relationship between knowledge gaps and perceived risk have received little attention. A review of the information science literature suggests that few studies have been devoted to the investigation of the role of this relationship in motivating information-seeking behavior. As an effort to address the lack of theory building in the field of information science, this study attempts to construct a model of information seeking under risk (MISR) by examining the relationships among perceived risk, knowledge gap, fear arousal, risk propensity, personal relevance, and deprivation and interest curiosity as antecedents to motivation to seek information. An experimental approach and a scenario-based survey method are employed to design the study. Partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis was conducted to test the relationships in the proposed model. Perceived risk was found to be a highly significant predictor of information seeking in moderately high-risk situations. Similarly, personal relevant has a significant negative effect on perceived risk and its interaction with knowledge gap motivates information seeking.

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Pearce, Antony. "Lean thinking and the factors necessary for its success." Thesis, University of Canterbury. Mechanical Engineering, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10092/9662.

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Lean management is becoming the standard for systematic productivity improvement, but the majority of implementations fail to sustain. Hence, the critical success factors for lean were the focus of this work. Literature review showed that the causality for lean success was not empirically developed beyond case study contextualisation. A multifaceted work was developed with contextualisation studies, survey of lean knowledge (758 responses), and a comprehensive case-study questionnaire (1253 responses from 44 countries). The statistical methods included exploratory factor analysis and path analysis by structural equation modelling (SEM). The first questionnaire revealed two different understandings of lean, and the second explored the underlying causality for lean success, including contingency for business size and product variety. Many contributions to the body of knowledge issued from this work. First of all, there was a methodological contribution, pioneering explorative structural modelling of full scope lean implementation. Second, SEMs of the lean knowledge-based view showed the profound positive effects of management knowledge on the primary factors for lean success. These factors were shown to be leadership and employee development. Third, the most beneficial lean methods were highlighted for specific scenarios. Fourth, the negligible and negative effects of a consultant-based approach to lean were uncovered. The results showed that the majority of consultants did not aid the long-term performance and sustainability of lean but significantly hindered it, except where masterful consultants acted as coaches. Fifth, a shortage of lean knowledge was observed in New Zealand; their participants averaged only half of what the USA�s did. Sixth, as culture has been emphasised in current literature, the present danger of overly focusing on it was discussed. Seventh was a conceptual contribution integrating lean and risk management, and a practical application with a risk analysis. This developed a risk matrix for the assessment and prioritisation of implementation components. Eighth, some adjustments to government lean strategies were proposed. And finally, the work integrated the findings in a tangible stage process model for implementation in SMEs. The dissemination of this knowledge has the potential to enhance productivity and commercial success of industries in New Zealand and abroad through successful lean implementations. Lean is not a weak methodology but it has been misunderstood and misapplied.

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Flach, Christopher. "EN KVANTITATIV STUDIE PÅ ANVÄNDNING OCH ACCEPTANS AV MOBILA PLÅNBÖCKER : Analys med PLS-SEM." Thesis, Högskolan i Skövde, Institutionen för informationsteknologi, 2015. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:his:diva-11483.

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Den mobila plånboken gör det möjligt att kunna utföra betalningar med hjälp av sin smarttelefon i butiker och har funnits tillgänglig i både Sverige och andra länder runt om i världen under en längre tid. Trots detta visar studier på att denna teknik inte har blivit accepterad av konsumenterna vilket även gör att butiker är motvilliga att investera i denna typ av teknik. Syftet med undersökningen som har genomförts i denna rapport är att delvis undersöka hur utbrett användningen av mobila plånböcker är bland studenter på Högskolan i Skövde, det huvudsakliga syftet är dock att identifiera de faktorer som påverkar konsumenternas acceptans och avsikt att använda mobila plånböcker. Att skaffa en förståelse till hur och varför en individ väljer att acceptera en ny teknik anses vara en av de viktigaste forskningsaspekterna inom informationssystem. Arbetet baseras på en undersökningsmodell som främst härstammar från UTAUT2 och där analysen av data utfördes med PLS-SEM. Resultatet från denna undersökning kan komma att hjälpa de parter och organisationer som är delaktiga i tillhandahållningen av tjänsten mobila plånböcker att identifiera vilka faktorer konsumenter anser vara viktigast för att påbörja användningen av mobila plånböcker och vad som leder till fortsatt användning. Resultatet av undersökningen visar bland annat på att upplevt värde och förväntad prestanda har störst effekt på avsikten att använda mobila plånböcker.

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Campos, Anderson Luis Saber. "Efeitos de demanda e de oferta na estrutura de capital de companhias abertas no Brasil." Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, 2007. http://tede.mackenzie.br/jspui/handle/tede/673.

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:26:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Anderson Luis Saber Campos.pdf: 1013366 bytes, checksum: 2e9d466c92f8d404ca44d38a91e676e8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-09-11
Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
From the theory on structure of capital and the application of structural equations a model was considered to evaluate the indebtedness of the public companies in Brazil. The effect of direct and indirect costs of bankruptcy, tax benefits, agency costs of free cash flow and the agency costs of borrowing. Computed the results, which was opted to analyzing an alternative model that indicates the relevance of the capital demand and offers effects in the level of companies indebtedness. One met evidences on the relevance of direct and indirect costs of bankruptcy and agency costs of borrowing in the determination of the capital structure in analyzed companies.
A partir da teoria sobre estrutura de capital e da aplicação de equações estruturais foi proposto um modelo para avaliar o endividamento das companhias abertas no Brasil. Foram considerados os efeitos das dificuldades financeiras, benefícios fiscais, agency de capital próprio e de capital de terceiros. Computado os resultados optou-se por analisar um modelo alternativo segundo o qual encontramos indícios e relevância dos efeitos da demanda e oferta de capital no nível de endividamento das empresas. Encontrou-se evidências que dificuldades financeiras e agency de capital de terceiros influem na determinação da estrutura de capital das empresas analisadas.

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Sibé, Matthieu. "L'hôpital magnétique : définition, conceptualisation, attributs organisationnels et conséquences perçues sur les attitudes au travail." Thesis, Rennes 1, 2014. http://www.theses.fr/2014REN1G031.

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De nombreux constats contemporains s’alarment du malaise récurrent des ressources humaines hospitalières, particulièrement à l’endroit des médecins et des soignants, et par conséquent du risque de mauvaise qualité de prise en charge des patients. Adoptant une approche plus optimiste, des chercheurs américains en soins infirmiers ont mis en évidence depuis le début des années 1980 l’existence d’hôpitaux dits magnétiques, parce qu’attractifs et fidélisateurs, et où il ferait bon travailler et se faire soigner. Cette thèse vise à approfondir le concept de Magnet Hospital, à éclairer sa définition et sa portée pour la gestion des ressources humaines hospitalières en France. Suivant une démarche hypothético-déductive, la conceptualisation, fondée sur un état de l’art, débute par une appropriation du modèle synthétique du Magnet Hospital. Empruntant une perspective psychosociale, notre modèle original de recherche se focalise sur la perception, à l’échelle des unités de soins, des attributs managériaux du magnétisme hospitalier (leadership transformationnel, empowerment perçu de la participation et climat relationnel collégial entre médecins et soignants) et ses conséquences attitudinales positives (satisfaction, implication, intention de rester, équilibre émotionnel travail/hors travail et efficacité collective perçue). Une méthodologie quantitative interroge au moyen de 8 échelles ad hoc un échantillon représentatif de 133 médecins, 361 infirmières et 362 aides-soignantes de 36 services de médecine polyvalente français. Une série de modélisations par équations structurelles, selon l’algorithme Partial Least Squares, teste la nature et l’intensité des relations directes et indirectes du magnétisme managérial perçu. Les résultats statistiques indiquent une bonne qualité des construits et d’ajustement des modèles. Un contexte managérial magnétique produit son principal effet positif sur l’efficacité collective perçue. Des différences catégorielles existent quant à la perception de sa composition et à la transmission de ses effets par la médiation de l’efficacité collective perçue, signalant le caractère contingent du magnétisme. Ces résultats ouvrent des perspectives managériales et scientifiques, en soulignant l’intérêt des approches positives de l’organisation hospitalière
Many contemporary findings are alarmed of the recurring discomfort of hospital human resources, especially against doctors and nurses, and consequently against risk of poor quality of care for patients. Adopting a more optimistic approach, American nursing scholars have highlighted since the 1980s, some magnet hospitals, able to attract and retain, and with good working and care conditions. This thesis aims to explore Magnet Hospital concept, to inform its definition and scope for hospital human resource management in France. According to a hypothetico-deductive approach, based on a review of the literature, the conceptualization begins with appropriation of synthetic Magnet Hospital model. Under a psychosocial perspective, our original research model focuses on perception of managerial magnetic attributes (transformational leadership, perceived empowerment of participation, collegial climate between doctors and nurses) and their consequences on positive job attitudes (satisfaction, commitment, intent to rest, emotional equilibrium work/family, perceived collective efficacy), at wards level. A quantitative methodology proceeds by a questionnaire of 8 ad hoc scales and interviews 133 doctors, 361 nurses, 362, auxiliary nurses, in 36 French medicine units. A set of structural equations modeling, according to Partial Least Squares, tests nature and intensity of direct and indirect relationships of perceived managerial magnetism. The statistical results show a good validity of constructs and a good fit of models. The major positive effect of magnetic managerial context is on perceived collective efficacy. Some professional differences exist about perceptions of composition and transmission of magnetic effects (via mediation of perceived collective efficacy), indicating the contingency of magnetism. These findings open managerial and scientific opportunities, emphasizing the interest for positive organizational approach of hospital

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Günther, Thomas, and Heike Moses. "Faktoren für eine erfolgreiche Steuerung von Patentaktivitäten." Saechsische Landesbibliothek- Staats- und Universitaetsbibliothek Dresden, 2006. http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:swb:14-1158060347086-06372.

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Empirischen Studien zufolge können Patente sich positiv auf den Unternehmenserfolg auswirken. Allerdings wirkt dieser Effekt nicht automatisch, sondern Unternehmen müssen sich um den Aufbau und die gesteuerte Weiterentwicklung eines nachhaltigen und wertvollen Patentportfolios bemühen. Bisher ist jedoch nicht wissenschaftlich untersucht worden, welche Maßnahmen Unternehmen ergreifen können, um die unternehmensinternen Vorraussetzungen für eine erfolgreiche Steuerung von Patentaktivitäten zu schaffen. Um diese betrieblichen Faktoren zu identifizieren und deren Relevanz zu quantifizieren, wurden 2005 in einer breiten empirischen Untersuchung die aktiven Patentanmelder im deutschsprachigen Raum (über 1.000 Unternehmen) mit Hilfe eines standardisierten Fragebogens befragt. Auf der Basis von 325 auswertbaren Fragebögen (Ausschöpfungsquote 36,8 %) konnten zum einen Ergebnisse zum aktuellen Aufgabenspektrum der Patentabteilungen sowie zu deren organisatorischen und personellen Strukturen gewonnen werden. Ebenfalls wurde in dieser Status quo-Analyse der Bekanntheits- und Implementierungsgrad von Methoden und Systemen (z. B. Patentbewertungsmethoden, Patent-IT-Systeme) beleuchtet. Zum anderen wurden die betrieblichen Faktoren herausgestellt, auf die technologieorientierte Unternehmen achten sollten, um das Fundament für eine erfolgreiche Patentsteuerung zu legen
Empirical studies have shown that patents can have a positive effect on corporate success. However, this effect does not occur by itself. Companies have to make an effort to create and to develop a sustainable patent portfolio. So far, no academic studies have investigated into which actions a company can take to establish the internal conditions for successful patent management. To identify and to quantify the relevance of these internal factors, a study was conducted using a standardized written questionnaire with more than 1,000 patent-oriented companies in the German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein). In total, 325 valid questionnaires were included in the analyses; this corresponds to an above-average response rate of 36.8 %. These analyses revealed insights into the current task profile of patent departments and their organizational and personnel structures. This status quo analysis also included the investigation into the awareness and implementation level of used methods and systems (e. g. patent evaluation methods, patent IT systems). Furthermore, the study could expose the internal determinants, which technology-oriented companies should focus on to ensure a successful patent management

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Batikas, Michail. "SME’s participation to Free Libre Open Source Software Communities." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/38704.

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Les motivacions entorn al programari lliure han estat sempre un tema de gran interès, sent la pregunta més obvia, "perquè les persones treballen de forma gratuïta?". Les motivacions dels desenvolupadors han estat establertes (per exemple, von Hippel (2001), Lerner and Tirole (2002)). De la mateixa manera que ho han estat per a les empreses grans i petites que adopten programari lliure basat en models de negoci (per exemple, Lakhani and von Hippel, 2003; Fitzgerald, 2006; Krishnamurthy, 2004). No obstant això, un nombre cada vegada més elevat de les PIMES amb estratègies que no estan directament relacionades amb aquest model de negoci estan contribuint a les comunitats de programari lliure. En aquest estudi s'investiga les motivacions d'aquestes empreses des d'un punt de vista de comportament mitjançant un model d'investigació basat en TPB (Theory of Planned Behavior). Hem demostrat que factors com la "obertura" d'una PIME, la importància percebuda del programari lliure, els desenvolupadors (empleats) d'una PIME, juntament amb l'ambient extern, podrien influir en la decisió d'una PIME a participar en comunitats de programari lliure. A més, hem demostrat que es poden identificar algunes diferències entre empreses d'alta base tecnològica i empreses amb poca base tecnològica. Aquestes conclusions poden ajudar governs nacionals o regionals per millorar el disseny de polítiques per tal d'incentivar l'ús i la participació de les empreses en les comunitats de programari lliure. Especialment ara, degut a la forta crisi econòmica que pateix Europa, el programari lliure pot ser una solució adequada per a fomentar la innovació.
Motivations in FLOSS have always been a subject of great interest, by starting with the most obvious question, “why people work for free?”. The motivations of developers have been well established (eg von Hippel (2001), Lerner and Tirole 2002). The same exists also for big and small companies adopting FLOSS based Business Models (eg Lakhani and von Hippel, 2003; Fitzgerald 2006; Krishnamurthy, 2004). However an increasing number of SMEs with strategies not directly related to the Business Model are contributing to FLOSS communities. In this study we try to investigate these motivations under a behavioral perspective by using a research model based on TPB (Theory of Planned Behavior). We demonstrated that factors like the “openness” of a SME, the perceived importance of FLOSS, the developers (employees) of a SME along with the external environment of a SME, could influence the decision of a SME to participate in FLOSS communities. Also, we have demonstrated that some differences can be identified between high tech firms and non high tech firms. These findings can help national or regional governments to design better policies in order to better promote the use and the participation of firms to FLOSS communities. Especially now, in times of heavy economical crisis in Europe, FLOSS can be an adequate solution to foster innovation.

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Wang, Shanshan. "Factors impacting the uptake of mobile banking in China : integrating UTAUT, TTF and ECM models." Thesis, University of Manchester, 2018. https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/en/theses/factors-impacting-the-uptake-of-mobile-banking-in-china-integrating-utaut-ttf-and-ecm-models(ff1db469-c9a1-446d-bd72-411f35b24894).html.

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The mobile banking is an increasingly popular service for customers of the traditional banking industry. On the surface, China has the highest adoption rate of this new technology, yet many users do not remain active or they only use mobile banking for the simplest tasks such as checking their balance. This research was designed to uncover the reasons for these two issues by identifying the major factors influencing users' intention to continue using mobile banking (continuance intention) as well as their behavioural intention to try new mobile banking functions. To do so, an integrated model was developed on the basis of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology model (UTAUT), task-technology fit model (TTF) and expectation confirmation model (ECM). Empirical data were collected from China's mobile banking users and the integrated model was tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) approach. The results indicate that the main factors which positively influence the continuance intention include satisfaction, performance expectancy and effort expectancy. Continuance intention, in turn, influences behavioural intention to try new functionality, together with social influence, facilitating conditions and confirmation. Moreover, some mediating effects were discovered. For example, task-technology fit may indirectly affect the continuance intention through users' satisfaction. The research results have a number of theoretical contributions. Firstly, this research discovers that the impact of task-technology fit on users' continuance intention towards mobile banking is fully mediated by users' satisfaction. This enriches the extant literature that is mostly focused on the technology perceptions (e.g. performance expectancy and effort expectancy) of users. Secondly, this research identifies that satisfaction also mediates the impact of confirmation of expectations on continuance intention, also extending the literature on the continuance usage of information systems. Thirdly, this research fills the gap in extant research regarding users' intention to try new mobile banking functions, by proposing a new integrated model using constructs from UTAUT, TTF, and ECM, and demonstrating that continuance intention itself fully mediates the impact of performance expectancy and effort expectancy on behavioural intention. The new model has a high explanatory power than each individual model offers. The research results also have management implications in terms of how to improve the task-technology fit to support continuous use and extended the use of mobile banking. For instance, to improve continuance intention banks can improve satisfaction by optimising task-technology fit. This in turn will require better understanding of users' different task requirements in specific market segments. In addition, banks can also attract users' behavioural intention to try new functionality by timely updating corresponding technology and launching marketing campaigns to keep users informed of any new functions of their mobile banking application.

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Masson, Marine. "Contribution à la modélisation des préférences des consommateurs en fonction de dimensions sensorielles et subjectives par les modèles d'équations structurelles.Application aux préférences des sièges conducteurs de véhicules." Thesis, Paris, AgroParisTech, 2014. http://www.theses.fr/2014AGPT0015.

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En Analyse Sensorielle, les préférences des consommateurs sont généralement modélisées en fonction de données sensorielles par les méthodes de cartographie des préférences. L'objectif de cette thèse est de modéliser les préférences des consommateurs en intégrant, en plus des données sensorielles, de nouvelles variables relatives à leur perception des produits. Nous appellerons ces variables les dimensions subjectives. Elles recouvrent des dimensions pragmatiques liées à l'utilisation du produit et des dimensions plus symboliques telles que l'esthétisme, la modernité, l'originalité…Les problématiques relatives aux dimensions subjectives ont d'abord été étudiées lors d'une étude exploratoire sur des tasses à café. L'ensemble du travail a ensuite été réalisé sur 11 sièges de voitures. Dans un premier temps, des entretiens qualitatifs ont été réalisés auprès de 16 consommateurs d'une part et de 2 designers d'autre part. Ces entretiens ont permis d'identifier les dimensions subjectives caractéristiques des sièges. Une évaluation quantitative des dimensions subjectives et des préférences a ensuite été réalisée par 110 consommateurs. Enfin, les sièges ont été caractérisés sensoriellement par des experts. Les préférences des consommateurs ont été modélisées en fonction des données sensorielles et des dimensions subjectives par des modèles d'équations structurelles à variables latentes, plus précisément par Partial Least Square Path Modeling. Quatre modèles, fondés sur les groupes de préférences, ont été mis en place. Selon le groupe étudié, la contribution des deux jeux de données diffère et quatre profils de clients sont identifiés. D'un point de vue méthodologique, ce travail fournit des éléments de réponse sur l'intérêt des dimensions subjectives pour la modélisation des préférences. L'ensemble de la démarche est en cours d'application sur un produit alimentaire : le chocolat
In Sensory Science, preference mapping is used to explain consumers' preferences with sensory data. This PhD aims to integrate not only sensory data but also new variables that are related to consumers' perception of the product in the modelling of consumers' preferences. These variables are labelled as subjective dimensions. They address the pragmatic dimensions that cover the context of use of the products and more symbolic dimensions, such as aesthetics, modernity, originality…An exploratory study based on coffee cups was a first mean to approach the issues related to subjective dimensions. Then, all the work was done on a study of 11 car seats. The first step consisted in qualitative interviews of 16 consumers and of 2 designers. These interviews allowed identifying the subjective dimensions that characterize car seats. 110 consumers then performed a quantitative evaluation of their preferences and subjective dimensions. Finally, the seats were characterized by experts with sensory descriptors. The consumers' preferences were modelled according to both sensory data and subjective dimensions, using structural equations: the Partial Least Square Path Modeling. Four models based on preferences clustering were established. The contribution of two kinds of data differed according to the considered cluster, which led to the identification of four customer profiles. From a methodological point of view, this work provides first elements about the benefit of subjective dimensions in preference modelling. The methodology is being implemented on a food product: chocolate

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Hannes, Egon Martins. "Gestão de projetos de P&D no IPEN: diagnóstico e sugestões ao Escritório de Projetos (PMO)." Universidade de São Paulo, 2015. http://www.teses.usp.br/teses/disponiveis/85/85133/tde-30042015-092821/.

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O presente trabalho pretende entender a dinâmica do gerenciamento de projetos no IPEN. Para tal, decidiu-se pela pesquisa junto a literatura acadêmica de modelos que pudessem servir de base e que após modificações e ajustes pudessem refletir a realidade dos projetos de Institutos Públicos Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento. Após tratamento estatístico dos dados algumas hipóteses foram validadas e demonstraram sua influência positiva no desempenho do gerenciamento do projeto, tais como a influência das pessoas que compõem as equipes, o efeito da liderança, dentre outras. O modelo, inclusive mostrou-se válido para explicar quais fatores são relevantes para o sucesso dos projetos. Um das principais objetivos, foi exatamente o uso de modelo de avaliação de gestão projetos, que fossem passíveis de validação estatística, e não utilizar um dos disponíveis no mercado, tais como P3M3 e OPM3, para que houvesse um controle e confirmação estatística dos resultados. Outro objetivo foi utilizar um modelo cujas assertivas refletissem a natureza dos projetos de Pesquisa & Desenvolvimento gerenciados pelos pesquisadores do IPEN. Aliás, as referidas assertivas foram formuladas, e enviadas via pesquisa web, e respondidas por praticamente uma centena de profissionais do IPEN, envolvidos com projetos de P&D. A presente dissertação, acrescida das recomendações, ao final, tem como proposta servir de contribuição para os trabalhos desenvolvidos pelo Escritório de Projetos do IPEN. O modelo de avaliação, contido neste trabalho, pode ser aplicado em outras Instituições de P&D brasileiras, para que avaliem a forma e a maneira como gerenciam os seus respectivos projetos.
This paper aims to understand the dynamics involved in the project management at IPEN. To reach this goal, the method chosen was research along with academic literature of models that could serve as a base that after modifications and adjustments could reflect the reality of projects from the Public Institute of Research & Development. After undergoing statistical treatment of the data, some hypotheses were validated and showed positive influence on the project management performance, such as the influence of people who make up the teams, the leadership effect, among others. In fact, the model was found to be valid in explaining which factors are relevant for the success of the projects. One of the main goals was exactly the use of the project management evaluation model, submitted to statistical validation and not to use one available on the market, such as the P3M3 and OPM3, in order to assure the statistical control and confirmation of the results. Another goal was to use a model whose statements reflected the nature of the Research & Development project managed by researchers at IPEN. In fact, the aforementioned statements were formulated and sent via a web survey and answered by almost one hundred IPEN professionals who work on R&D projects. The following dissertation, along with the recommendations at the end, was included to serve as contribution to work developed by the IPEN Project Offices. The evaluation model included in this paper can be applied in other R&D organizations in Brazil, to evaluate the way their projects are managed.

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Neto, Luís Paulo Ramos. "Clusters and the context for competitive advantage : a strategic analysis of the Engineering & Tooling cluster." Master's thesis, Instituto Superior de Economia e Gestão, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/19349.

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Mestrado em Gestão e Estratégia Industrial
A presente dissertação ilustra uma aplicação empírica do Modelo do Diamante de Porter (1990, 2004) recorrendo ao método de modelação de equações estruturais com base nos mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS-SEM; Wold, 1975, 1982), com vista a avaliar os efeitos da envolvente microeconómica na vantagem competitiva das empresas e do apoio governamental na melhoria desta envolvente. A investigação adota um design de triangulação simultânea e toma como unidade de análise as empresas do cluster Engineering & Tooling. Os resultados da análise de equações estruturais (path analysis) decorrem de um número total de 168 de respostas obtidas através de um questionário dirigido às empresas do cluster, os quais foram subsequentemente triangulados com dados secundários e entrevistas realizadas com vários intervenientes do cluster. Estes resultados revelam um efeito positivo tanto das indústrias relacionadas e de suporte, como do contexto para a estratégia e rivalidade empresarial, e das condições de fatores ao nível do cluster na vantagem competitiva das empresas. Também foi demonstrado que a ação do governo tem um efeito positivo nos quatro fatores determinantes do Modelo do Diamante. Contrariamente, as perceções dos respondentes não suportam um efeito positivo das condições da procura do cluster na vantagem competitiva empresarial. Os efeitos positivos e negativos da envolvente do cluster Engineering & Tooling na vantagem competitiva das empresas realçam o papel catalisador do governo e da ação coletiva na melhoria das condições do cluster.
This dissertation illustrates an empirical application of Porter's (1990, 2004) Diamond Model using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM; Wold, 1975, 1982) method in order to assess the effects of the microeconomic business environment on firms' competitive advantage and the government's supportive role in improving such an environment. It follows a concurrent triangulation design and takes firms in the Portuguese Engineering & Tooling cluster as the basic unit of analysis. The findings from the path analysis derive from a total number of 168 questionnaire responses obtained from firms in the cluster, which were subsequently triangulated with secondary data and interviews conducted with several cluster stakeholders. These findings reveal a positive effect of the related and supporting industries, the context for firm strategy and rivalry, and the factor (input) conditions at the cluster level on firms' competitive advantage. Government action has also been shown to have a positive effect on the four determinants of the Diamond Model. Conversely, respondents' perceptions do not support a positive effect of the demand conditions at the cluster level on firms' competitive advantage. The positive and negative effects of the Engineering & Tooling cluster's environment on the competitive edge of firms highlight the catalytic roles of the government and collective action in cluster upgrading.
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

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Feitosa, Evelyn Seligmann. "A existência e a divulgação de ativos intangíveis em processos de fusões & aquisições na frança e o desempenho empresarial financeiro." Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, 2011. http://tede.mackenzie.br/jspui/handle/tede/777.

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Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T19:30:46Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Evelyn Seligmann Feitosa.pdf: 4150862 bytes, checksum: c2fb95c13060f06c44c6788bbbfd1fc6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-10
Fundo Mackenzie de Pesquisa
The allocation of resources and the constant search for competitive advantages differentiators to reach best results are always business challenges. In the contemporary context, in order to achieve superior performance, it reinforces the company's need to have, and make good use, of scarce, valuable, non-substitutable and inimitable resources. These resources include brands, customer base, knowledge, ability and competence of the work teams, corporate culture, partnerships and operational processes established, among other intangible assets, usually arising from a long and risky development process. Mergers and acquisitions (M & A) arise, then, as an important strategic action, being an alternative means to obtain and accelerate the accumulation of these resources within the companies. That is the subject of this work, which discusses the importance of existing and intangible assets disclosed, previous to the M & A transactions, their classification into various types, measurement, and impact on the resulting firm's financial performance in long term. The overall objective of this thesis was to analyze how this performance, after a minimum period of 36 months of the event, is related to the existence, level of disclosure and the nature of intangible assets in the organizations involved. One hundred-eighteen (118) companies were investigated in fifty-nine (59) cases of M & A occurred in France between 1997 and 2007; the study reflects a multi-method research, pluralistic, on qualitative and quantitative aspects. Intangible assets disclosure indicators were built by applying the content analysis technique to financial and accounting reports provided by the companies prior to the events, as well as financial indicators (proxies) for the existence of intangibles were calculated. These indicators were initially confronted with each other and later their explanatory power in relation to financial ratios of growth and profitability (for the corporation and its shareholders), which are the analyzed dimensions of financial performance. Many methods for statistical analysis were used in the multivariate data analysis (correlations and factor analysis, multiple regressions) and in the structural equation modeling (SEM), via Partial Least Squares (PLS). A total of twelve models, with statistics significance, were established to express the relationship among the constructs examined. Best results were achieved in the models developed with variables of semantic origin, in detriment of those with financial indicators only. The results obtained in this thesis leads to deduce that, in this study, there are positive relationships between the existence and the disclosure of intangible assets by firms involved in the operations of M & A and subsequent financial performance, measured by the corporate profitability and the growth of the resulting organization. This suggests that the strategic choice for business growth via M & A operations is favorable to the accumulation of intangible assets in the firms, in search for better results.
A alocação de recursos e a constante busca por diferenciais competitivos, visando melhores resultados, são grandes desafios empresariais. No contexto contemporâneo, para obter desempenho superior, reforça-se a necessidade de a empresa dispor, e fazer bom uso, de recursos raros, valiosos, não-substituíveis e de difícil imitação. Dentre estes recursos, destacam-se aspectos como as marcas, a base de clientes, o conhecimento, a capacidade e competência das equipes de trabalho, a cultura corporativa, as parcerias e os processos operacionais estabelecidos, dentre outros ativos intangíveis, geralmente decorrentes de longos e arriscados processos de desenvolvimento. As fusões e aquisições (F&A) surgem, então, como movimentos estratégicos importantes, sendo meio alternativo para obter e acelerar a acumulação destes recursos nas empresas. É essa a temática deste trabalho, que discorre sobre a importância dos ativos intangíveis existentes e divulgados previamente às operações de F&A de empresas, sobre a classificação dos seus diversos tipos, a sua mensuração e o seu impacto sobre o desempenho financeiro da firma resultante, no longo prazo. O objetivo geral desta tese foi analisar como este desempenho, após prazo mínimo de 36 meses do evento, está relacionado à existência, ao nível de divulgação e à natureza dos ativos intangíveis das organizações envolvidas. Foram investigadas 118 empresas, em 59 casos de F&A ocorridos na França entre 1997 e 2007, em uma pesquisa multi-métodos, pluralística, nas vertentes qualitativa e quantitativa. Foram construídos indicadores de divulgação (disclosure) de ativos intangíveis, mediante aplicação da técnica de análise de conteúdos aos relatórios contábil-financeiros disponibilizados pelas empresas antes do evento, e calculados indicadores financeiros (proxies) para a existência de intangíveis. Estes indicadores foram inicialmente confrontados entre si e posteriormente quanto ao seu poder explicativo em relação aos índices financeiros de crescimento e de lucratividade (empresarial e para os acionistas), que são as dimensões analisadas do desempenho financeiro. Utilizaram-se métodos de análise estatística de dados multivariados (análises de correlações, fatoriais, regressões múltiplas) e modelagem em equações estruturais, via Partial Least Squares (SEM- PLS). Foram estabelecidos, no total, doze modelos com significância estatística para expressar o relacionamento entre os construtos examinados. Alcançaram-se melhores resultados nos modelos desenvolvidos com variáveis de origem semântica, em detrimento daqueles que utilizaram indicadores exclusivamente financeiros. Os resultados obtidos nesta tese permitiram deduzir que há relações positivas entre a existência e a divulgação de ativos intangíveis pelas firmas envolvidas nas operações de F&A estudadas e o posterior desempenho financeiro, mensurado pela lucratividade empresarial e pelo crescimento, da organização resultante. Isto sugere que a opção estratégica por crescimento empresarial via operações de F&A é favorável ao acúmulo de recursos intangíveis nas firmas, na busca por melhores resultados.

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Rippeyoung, Phyllis Love Farley. "Is it too late baby? pinpointing the emergence of a black-white test score gap in infancy." Diss., University of Iowa, 2006. http://ir.uiowa.edu/etd/80.

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Aroge, Olatunde O. "Assessment Of Disruption Risk In Supply Chain The Case Of Nigeria’s Oil Industry." Thesis, University of Bradford, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/10454/17396.

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evaluate disruption risks in the supply chain of petroleum production. This methodology is developed to formalise and facilitate the systematic integration and implementation of various models; such as analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) and various statistical tests. The methodology is validated with the case of Nigeria’s oil industry. The study revealed the need to provide a responsive approach to managing the influence of geopolitical risk factors affecting supply chain in the petroleum production industry. However, the exploration and production risk, and geopolitical risk were identified as concomitant risk factors that impact performance in Nigeria’s oil industry. The research findings show that behavioural-based mechanisms successfully predict the ability of the petroleum industry to manage supply chain risks. The significant implication for this study is that the current theoretical debate on the supply chain risk management creates the understanding of agency theory as a governing mechanism for supply chain risk in the Nigerian oil industry. The systematic approach results provide an insight and objective information for decisions-making in resolving disruption risk to the petroleum supply chain in Nigeria. Furthermore, this study highlights to stakeholders on how to develop supply chain risk management strategies for mitigating and building resilience in the supply chain in the Nigerian oil industry. The developed systematic method is associated with supply chain risk management and performance measure. The approach facilitates an effective way for the stakeholders to plan according to their risk mitigation strategies. This will consistently help the stakeholders to evaluate supply chain risk and respond to disruptions in supply chain. This capability will allow for efficient management of supply chain and provide the organization with quicker response to customer needs, continuity of supply, lower costs of operations and improve return on investment in the Nigeria oil industry. Therefore, the methodology applied provide a new way for implementing good practice for managing disruption risk in supply chain. Further, the systematic approach provides a simplistic modelling process for disruption risk evaluation for researchers and oil industry professionals. This approach would develop a holistic procedure for monitoring and controlling disruption risk in supply chains practices in Nigeria.

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López, Muñoz Laura. "Homology modeling and structural analysis of the antipsychotic drugs receptorome." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/7228.

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Classically it was assumed that the compounds with therapeutic effect exert their action interacting with a single receptor. Nowadays it is widely recognized that the pharmacological effect of most drugs is more complex and involves a set of receptors, some associated to their positive effects and some others to the side effects and toxicity. Antipsychotic drugs are an example of effective compounds characterized by a complex pharmacological profile binding to several receptors (mainly G protein-coupled-receptors, GPCR). In this work we will present a detailed study of known antipsychotic drugs and the receptors potentially involved in their binding profile, in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of the antipsychotic pharmacologic effects.

The study started with obtaining homology models for all the receptors putatively involved in the antipsychotic drugs receptorome, suitable for building consistent drug-receptor complexes. These complexes were structurally analyzed and compared using multivariate statistical methods, which in turn allowed the identification of the relationship between the pharmacological properties of the antipsychotic drugs and the structural differences in the receptor targets. The results can be exploited for the design of safer and more effective antipsychotic drugs with an optimum binding profile.
Tradicionalmente se asumía que los fármacos terapéuticamente efectivos actuaban interaccionando con un único receptor. Actualmente está ampliamente reconocido que el efecto farmacológico de la mayoría de los fármacos es más complejo y abarca a un conjunto de receptores, algunos asociados a los efectos terapéuticos y otros a los secundarios y toxicidad. Los fármacos antipsicóticos son un ejemplo de compuestos eficaces que se caracterizan por unirse a varios receptores simultáneamente (principalmente a receptores unidos a proteína G, GPCR). El trabajo de la presente tesis se ha centrado en el estudio de los mecanismos moleculares que determinan el perfil de afinidad de unión por múltiples receptores de los fármacos antipsicóticos.

En primer lugar se construyeron modelos de homología para todos los receptores potencialmente implicados en la actividad farmacológica de dichos fármacos, usando una metodología adecuada para construir complejos fármaco-receptor consistentes. La estructura de estos complejos fue analizada y se llevó a cabo una comparación mediante métodos estadísticos multivariantes, que permitió la identificación de asociaciones entre la actividad farmacológica de los fármacos antipsicóticos y diferencias estructurales de los receptores diana. Los resultados obtenidos tienen interés para ser explotados en el diseño de fármacos antipsicóticos con un perfil farmacológico óptimo, más seguros y eficaces.

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Rademaker, Manuel Elias. "Composite-based Structural Equation Modeling." Doctoral thesis, 2020. https://doi.org/10.25972/OPUS-21593.

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Structural equation modeling (SEM) has been used and developed for decades across various domains and research fields such as, among others, psychology, sociology, and business research. Although no unique definition exists, SEM is best understood as the entirety of a set of related theories, mathematical models, methods, algorithms, and terminologies related to analyzing the relationships between theoretical entities -- so-called concepts --, their statistical representations -- referred to as constructs --, and observables -- usually called indicators, items or manifest variables. This thesis is concerned with aspects of a particular strain of research within SEM -- namely, composite-based SEM. Composite-based SEM is defined as SEM involving linear compounds, i.e., linear combinations of observables when estimating parameters of interest. The content of the thesis is based on a working paper (Chapter 2), a published refereed journal article (Chapter 3), a working paper that is, at the time of submission of this thesis, under review for publication (Chapter 4), and a steadily growing documentation that I am writing for the R package cSEM (Chapter 5). The cSEM package -- written by myself and my former colleague at the University of Wuerzburg, Florian Schuberth -- provides functions to estimate, analyze, assess, and test nonlinear, hierarchical and multigroup structural equation models using composite-based approaches and procedures. In Chapter 1, I briefly discuss some of the key SEM terminology. Chapter 2 is based on a working paper to be submitted to the Journal of Business Research titled “Assessing overall model fit of composite models in structural equation modeling”. The article is concerned with the topic of overall model fit assessment of the composite model. Three main contributions to the literature are made. First, we discuss the concept of model fit in SEM in general and composite-based SEM in particular. Second, we review common fit indices and explain if and how they can be applied to assess composite models. Third, we show that, if used for overall model fit assessment, the root mean square outer residual covariance (RMS_theta) is identical to another well-known index called the standardized root mean square residual (SRMR). Chapter 3 is based on a journal article published in Internet Research called “Measurement error correlation within blocks of indicators in consistent partial least squares: Issues and remedies”. The article enhances consistent partial least squares (PLSc) to yield consistent parameter estimates for population models whose indicator blocks contain a subset of correlated measurement errors. This is achieved by modifying the correction for attenuation as originally applied by PLSc to include a priori assumptions on the structure of the measurement error correlations within blocks of indicators. To assess the efficacy of the modification, a Monte Carlo simulation is conducted. The paper is joint work with Florian Schuberth and Theo Dijkstra. Chapter 4 is based on a journal article under review for publication in Industrial Management & Data Systems called “Estimating and testing second-order constructs using PLS-PM: the case of composites of composites”. The purpose of this article is threefold: (i) evaluate and compare common approaches to estimate models containing second-order constructs modeled as composites of composites, (ii) provide and statistically assess a two-step testing procedure to test the overall model fit of such models, and (iii) formulate recommendation for practitioners based on our findings. Moreover, a Monte Carlo simulation to compare the approaches in terms of Fisher consistency, estimated bias, and RMSE is conducted. The paper is joint work with Florian Schuberth and Jörg Henseler
Strukturgleichungsmodellierung (SEM) wird seit Jahrzehnten in verschiedenen Bereichen und Forschungsgebieten wie zum Beispiel der Psychologie, der Soziologie und den Wirtschaftswissenschaften verwendet und weiterentwickelt. SEM umfasst dabei die Gesamtheit einer Reihe verwandter Theorien, mathematischer Modelle, Methoden, Algorithmen und Terminologien im Zusammenhang mit der Analyse der Beziehungen zwischen theoretischen Entitäten - so genannten Konzepten -, ihrer statistischen Repräsentation - als Konstrukte bezeichnet - und Beobachtungsgrößen - üblicherweise Indikatoren, Items oder manifeste Variablen genannt. Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit Aspekten eines bestimmten Forschungszweigs innerhalb der SEM, den Komposit-basierten SEM Verfahren. Komposit-basiertes SEM ist ein Überbegriff für alle SEM Methoden, die Kompositen - d.h. gewichtete Linearkombinationen aus Beobachtungen - zur Schätzung unbekannter Größen verwenden. Der Inhalt der Arbeit basiert auf einem Arbeitspapier (Kapitel 2), einem veröffentlichten referierten Zeitschriftenartikel (Kapitel 3), einem weiteren Arbeitspapier (Kapitel 4) und einer stetig wachsenden Dokumentation, die ich für das R-Paket cSEM geschrieben habe, bzw. kontinuierlich weiterschreibe (Kapitel 5). Das Paket cSEM - geschrieben von mir und Florian Schuberth, meinem ehemaligen Kollegen an der Universität Würzburg - stellt Funktionen zur Verfügung, um lineare, nichtlineare, hierarchische und Multigruppen-Strukturgleichungsmodelle mit Hilfe von Komposit-basierten Ansätzen und Verfahren zu schätzen, zu analysieren, zu bewerten, zu testen und zu untersuchen. In Kapitel 1 gehe ich zunächst kurz auf einige der wichtigsten SEM Begriffe ein. Kapitel 2 basiert auf einem Arbeitspapier mit dem Titel „Assessing overall model fit of composite models in structural equation modeling“, das im Journal of Business Research eingereicht werden wird. Der Artikel befasst sich mit dem Thema der Bewertung der Gesamtgüte des Modells (eng. overall model fit) im Kontext des Komposit-Modells. Das Papier leistet drei zentrale Beiträge zur Literatur zu diesem Thema. Erstens wird das Konzept der Modellgüte in der SEM im Allgemeinen und der Komposit-basierten SEM im Besonderen eingehend erörtert. Zweitens wird auf gängige Fit-Indizes eingegangen und erläutert, ob und wie sie zur Beurteilung eines Komposit-Modells angewendet werden können. Drittens wird gezeigt, dass der root mean square outer residual covariance (RMS_theta) identisch mit einem anderen bekannten Index, dem standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) ist, falls der RMS_theta als Maß für die Modellanpassungsgüte verwendet werden soll. Kapitel 3 basiert auf einem in Internet Research veröffentlichten Zeitschriftenartikel mit dem Titel „Measurement error correlation within blocks of indicators in consistent partial least squares: Issues and remedies“. Der Artikel entwickelt das consistent partial least squares (PLSc) Verfahren weiter, um konsistente Parameterschätzungen für Populationsmodelle zu erhalten, deren Indikatorblöcke korrelierte Messfehler enthalten. Dies wird erreicht, indem die Korrektur für die Dämpfung (eng. attenuation), wie sie ursprünglich von PLSc angewandt wird, so modifiziert wird, dass sie a priori Annahmen über die Struktur der Messfehlerkorrelationen innerhalb der Indikatorblöcke enthält. Um die statistische Gültigkeit der Modifikation zu beurteilen, wird eine Monte Carlo Simulation durchgeführt. Das Papier wurde gemeinsam mit Florian Schuberth und Theo Dijkstra verfasst. Kapitel 4 basiert auf einem zur Veröffentlichung in Industrial Management & Data Systems anstehenden Zeitschriftenartikel mit dem Titel „Estimating and testing second order constructs using PLS-PM: the case of composites of composites“. Der Zweck dieses Artikels ist ein dreifacher: (i) Bewertung und Vergleich gängiger Ansätze zur Schätzung von Modellen, die Konstrukte zweiter Ordnung enthalten, die als Komposite von Kompositen modelliert wurden; (ii) ein zweistufiges Testverfahren vorzustellen und statistisch zu bewerten, um die allgemeine Modellanpassung solcher Modelle zu testen und (iii) auf der Grundlage unserer Ergebnisse Empfehlungen für Praktiker zu formulieren. Darüber hinaus wurde eine Monte Carlo Simulation durchgeführt, um die Ansätze in Bezug auf Fisher-Konsistenz, geschätzte Verzerrung und RMSE zu vergleichen. Das Papier wurde gemeinsam mit Florian Schuberth und Jörg Henseler verfasst. Kapitel 5 stellt das R-Paket cSEM vor. Zum Zeitpunkt der Einreichung dieser Dissertation zur Begutachtung ist cSEM im Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN) als Version 0.2.0 verfügbar

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Costa, Leonor Pinto. "Determinants of User Acceptance of Frugal Innovation in Developed Countries: A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling Approach." Dissertação, 2018. https://repositorio-aberto.up.pt/handle/10216/114207.

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Costa, Leonor Pinto. "Determinants of User Acceptance of Frugal Innovation in Developed Countries: A Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling Approach." Master's thesis, 2018. https://repositorio-aberto.up.pt/handle/10216/114207.

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Dominic, Theresia. "Assessment of Strategic Management Practices in Small Agribusiness Firms in Tanzania." Thesis, 2015. http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-1735-0000-0022-6002-E.

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Liu, Xuan. "Essays in agricultural business risk management." Thesis, 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/1828/13258.

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Insurance has been considered as a useful tool for farmers to mitigate income volatility. However, there remain concerns that insurance may distort crop production decisions. Positive mathematical programming (PMP) models of farmers’ cropping decisions can be applied to study the effect of agricultural business risk management (BRM) policies on farmers’ decisions on land use and their incomes. Before being used to examine agricultural producer responses to policy changes under the expected utility framework, the models must first be calibrated to obtain the values of the risk aversion coefficient and the cost function parameters. In chapter 2, three calibration approaches are compared for disentangling the risk parameter from the parameters of the cost function. Then, in chapter 3, to investigate the impacts on production incentives of changes in Canada’s AgriStability program, farm management models are calibrated for farms with different cost structures for three different Alberta regions. Results indicate that farmers’ observed attitudes towards risk vary with cost structure. After joining the program, all farmers alter their land allocations to some extent. The introduction of a reference margin limit (RML) in the AgriStability program under Growing Forward 2 (2013-2018), which was retained in the replacement legislation until 2020, has the most negative impact on farmers with the lowest costs. The removal of RML significantly increases the benefits to low-cost farmers. Traditional insurance products provide financial support to farmers. However, for fruit farmers, the products’ quality can be greatly affected by the weather conditions during the stage of fruit development and ripening, which may lead to quality downgrade and a significant loss in revenue with little impacts on yields. Hence, chapters 4 and 5 investigate the conceptual feasibility of using weather-indexed insurance (WII) to hedge against non-catastrophic, but quality-impacting weather conditions to complement existing traditional insurance. Prospect theory is applied to analyze a farmer’s demand for WII. The theoretical model demonstrates that an increase in the volatility of total revenue and the revenue proportion from blueberries increases the possibility of farmers’ participation in WII. On the other hand, the increase in the value loss aversion coefficient and WII’s basis risk leads to less demand for WII. To design a WII product for blueberry growers to hedge against quality risk, a quality index must be constructed and the relationship between key weather conditions, such as cumulative maximum temperature and cumulative excess rainfall, and the quality index should be quantified. The results from a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) show that the above goals are achievable. Further, rainfall and temperature can be modelled via a time-series model and statistical distributions, respectively, to provide reasonable estimates for calculating insurance premia.
Graduate
2022-08-05

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Joaquim, Inês Inácio. "Compreender os fatores que influenciam a adesão aos serviços de telecomunicações integrados numa única fatura (internet fixa e móvel, televisão, telefone fixo e móvel) : o papel da confiança e da perceção dos riscos de privacidade." Master's thesis, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10362/19244.

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Project Work presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Statistics and Information Management, specialization in Marketing Research and CRM
Compreender os principais determinantes da adesão dos Serviços Integrados (STI) numa única fatura é importante para as operadoras de telecomunicações e para os consumidores. Para além disto, o conhecimento sobre o papel que a confiança e a perceção do risco de privacidade têm na adesão e uso desta tecnologia é limitado. De forma a preencher esta lacuna, formulou-se um modelo, onde se combinou o modelo teórico UTAUT II (unified theory of acceptance and use of technology II) com dois constructos: perceived privacy risks e trust beliefs. Para testar o modelo conceptual aplicou-se um questionário online a clientes detentores de serviços de telecomunicações e a todas as unidades orgânicas da Universidade Nova de Lisboa, tendo sido obtidas 338 respostas válidas. Os resultados demonstraram relações com o modelo UTAUT II, no que diz respeito às variáveis effort expectancy e habit, e referiram a variável trust beliefs como um forte preditor da adesão e uso de Serviços Integrados numa única fatura. Contudo, o fator mais importante para explicar o uso desta tecnologia foi behavioral intention. No capítulo 6, são fornecidas sugestões em termos práticos para as partes interessadas na tecnologia de Serviços de Telecomunicações Integrados numa única fatura, nomeadamente no que diz respeito à melhoria do marketing e, em termos teóricos, sugerindo sugerindo variáveis, consideradas relevantes, para serem estudadas em pesquisas futuras neste campo emergente.

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Teixeira, Miguel José Dias Ramalho. "O eWOM e a sua influência na intenção de compra dos consumidores portugueses : o caso dos “amigos” no Facebook." Master's thesis, 2017. http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/23614.

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A evolução da internet exponenciou, como demonstrado por vários estudos, a capacidade de influência das comunicações interpessoais sobre produtos ou serviços na intenção de compra dos consumidores. Entre outras plataformas, os websites de redes sociais apresentam-se como possíveis meios ideais para o eWOM, nomeadamente devido à popularidade destes e ausência de anonimato dos utilizadores. Para estudo e compreensão desta realidade, nesta investigação trata-se em particular do website de rede social mais popular, o Facebook. É feita uma análise ao nível individual com o objetivo de identificar os determinantes do eWOM transmitido pela lista de contactos no Facebook que influenciam a intenção de compra dos consumidores portugueses. Foi aplicado o Information Acceptance Model (IACM), que consiste em características da informação e o comportamento do consumidor em relação à informação, tendo este sido estendido para incluir características do emissor. A informação recolhida através de um questionário online a 294 usuários do Facebook foi analisada com recurso à técnica de modelação de equações estruturais baseada no método dos mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS-SEM). Os resultados revelam que o comportamento do consumidor em relação à informação (necessidades de informação e atitude em relação à informação) tem maior influência na intenção de compra comparativamente às características da informação e da fonte. A qualidade da informação não demonstra efeito sobre a intenção de compra. Adicionalmente, a credibilidade da informação medeia totalmente o efeito da qualidade de informação e credibilidade da fonte na perceção de utilidade da mesma.
The internet’s evolution has exponentiated, as demonstrated in various studies, the capacity of information shared via eWOM to influence consumers’ purchase intention. Among other platforms, social networking websites present themselves as possible ideal means for eWOM, namely due to their popularity and absence of anonymity among users. For the study and understanding of this reality, this investigation addresses in particular the most popular social networking website, Facebook. An analysis is done at the individual level so as to identify the determinants of eWOM transmitted by the contact list on Facebook that influence Portuguese consumers’ purchase intention. The Information Acceptance Model (IACM), which consists of characteristics of information and consumers’ behavior towards information, was applied and extended in order to include the sender’s characteristics. The information from 294 Facebook users through an online questionnaire was analyzed through the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) technique. The results show that consumers’ behavior towards information (needs of information and attitude towards information) has a greater influence on purchase intention compared to the characteristics of the information and the source. Quality of information showed no effect on purchase intention. Additionally, the credibility of information totally mediates the effect of quality of information and source credibility on the perception of information usefulness.

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Xiao, Xuan active 2013. "Structural equation modeling compared with ordinary least squares in simulations and life insurers’ data." 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2152/22516.

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Structural equation model (SEM) is a general approach to analyze multivariate data. It is a relatively comprehensive model and combines useful characteristics from many statistical approaches, thus enjoys a variety of advantages when dealing complex relationships. This report gives a brief introduction to SEM, focusing especially the comparison of SEM and OLS regression. A simple tutorial of how to apply SEM is also included with the introduction and comparison. SEM can be roughly seen as OLS regression added with features such as simultaneous estimation, latent factors and autocorrelation. Therefore, SEM enjoys a variety of advantages over OLS regression. However, it is not always the case that SEM will be the optimal choice. The biggest concern is the complexity of SEM, for simpler model will be preferable for researchers when the fitness is similar. Two simulation cases, one requires special features of SEM and one satisfies assumptions of OLS regression, are applied to illustrate the choice between SEM and OLS regression. A study using data from US life insurers in the year 1994 serves as a further illustration. The conclusion is when special features of SEM is required, SEM fits better and will be the better choice, while when OLS regression assumptions are satisfied, SEM and OLS regression will fit equally well, considering the complexity of SEM, OLS regression will be the better choice.
text

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Landmann, Dirk Hauke. "Capacity development of small-scale farmers in developing countries: Analysis of preferences and the role of information and communication technologies." Doctoral thesis, 2018. http://hdl.handle.net/11858/00-1735-0000-002E-E505-2.

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Khan, Mohammed Zayaad. "Health consciousness, environmental concern and animal welfare as key predictors of consumers' locus of control and attitudes towards meat consumption: a case of the Generation Y cohort, in South Africa." Thesis, 2019. https://hdl.handle.net/10539/29691.

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A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Commerce (specialising in Marketing)
The twentieth-century dietary evolution has resulted in livestock being used as the primary source of protein in many countries. This has various implications on the wellbeing of humans, animals, and planet earth itself. The choices consumers make regarding food not only affect our personal health, but it also directly affects the wellbeing of our current ecosystems where modern meat production systems place a worrying burden on the environment. Sustainable consumption practice is often a result of two main driving forces, the first being individual or health (egoistic) motives and the second being animal welfare and environmental concern (altruistic) motives. The growing demand for meat products worldwide is unsustainable and there is a clear gap between our responsible intentions as citizens of the world and our hedonic needs as consumers referred to as the ‘Citizen-Consumer’ gap. Experts argue that technological innovations and more efficient production methods would serve as a future solution for the environmental and social implications of the livestock industry however current scholars emphasise that a technological fix will not be sufficient and that it is imperative for society to undertake a behavioural fix, such as lowering meat intake and discovering more sustainable means of protein consumption Consequently, the purpose of this study is to assess health consciousness, environmental concern and animal welfare as key predictors of consumers’ locus of control and attitudes towards meat consumption among university students, in Johannesburg, South Africa. The study used a design that was quantitative in nature, which resulted in the researcher employing a deductive approach, using a positivistic method. Data was collected by means of a survey questionnaire and was used to test the hypotheses. By means of Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the significance of the hypotheses statements was determined from a sample of 172 students enrolled at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. The findings generated by SmartPLS 3 statistical software revealed that health consciousness was the key predictor of external locus of control and that external locus of control had the most significant relationship with consumers’ attitude toward meat consumption, as compared to the second mediator variable – internal locus of control. It is anticipated that the findings of this study will contribute to both theory and practice in modern society, and it is trusted that the findings of this study will greatly inform future research endeavours.
NG (2020)

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Veselý, Václav. "Modely strukturálních rovnic s aplikací v sociálních vědách." Master's thesis, 2018. http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-382740.

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We investigate possible usage of Errors-in-Variables estimator (EIV), when esti- mating structural equations models (SEM). Structural equations modelling pro- vides framework for analysing complex relations among set of random variables where for example the response variable in one equation plays role of the predic- tor in another equation. First an overview of SEM and some common covariance based estimators is provided. Special case of linear regression model is investi- gated, showing that the covariance based estimators yield the same results as ordinary least squares. A compact review of EIV models follows, Errors-in-Variables models are re- gression models where not only response but also predictors are assumed to be measured with an error. Main contribution of this paper then lies in defining modifications of the EIV estimator to fit in the SEM framework. General opti- mization problem to estimate the parameters of structural equations model with errors-in-variables si postulated. Several modifications of two stage least squares are also proposed for future research. Equation-wise Errors-in-Variables estimator is proposed to estimate the coeffi- cients of structural equations model. The coefficients of every structural equation are estimated separately using EIV estimator. Some theoretical conditions...

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Ssemugabi, Samuel. "Development and validation of an integrated model for evaluating e-service quality, usability and user experience (e-SQUUX) of Web-based applications in the context of a University web portal." Thesis, 2019. http://hdl.handle.net/10500/26005.

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Text in English
Developments in Internet technology and pervasive computing over the past two and half decades have resulted in a variety of Web-based applications (WBAs) that provide products and services to online users or customers. The Internet is used not only to transfer information via the web but is increasingly used to provide electronic services including business transactions, information-delivery and social networking, as well as e-government, e-health and e-learning. For such organisations, e-service quality, usability and user experience are considered to be critical determinants of their products’ or services’ success. Many studies to model these three concepts separately have been undertaken as part of broader studies of software quality or service quality modelling. However, to the current researcher’s knowledge, none of the studies have focussed on proposing an evaluation model that integrates and combines the three of them. This research is an effort to fill that gap. The primary purpose of this mixed-methods research was to develop a conceptual integrated model for evaluating e-service quality, usability and user experience (e-SQUUX) of WBAs and then contextualise it to evaluation of a University web portal (UWP). This was undertaken using an exploratory sequential research design. During a qualitative phase, an extensive extensive systematic literature review of 264 relevant sources relating to dimensions of e-service quality, usability and user experience, was undertaken to derive an integrated conceptual e-service quality, usability and user experience (e-SQUUX) Model for evaluating WBAs. The model was then empirically refined through a sequential series of validations, thus developing various versions of the e-SQUUX Model. First, it was content validated by a set of four expert reviewers. Second, during the quantitative phase, in the context of a University web portal, a questionnaire survey was conducted that included a comprehensive pilot study with 29 partipants, prior to the main survey. The main survey data from 174 particiapants was used to determine a validated model, using Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), followed by producing a structural model, using partial least square – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). This version consisted of the components of the final e-SQUUX Model. Consequently, the research enriches the body of knowledge on IS and HCI by providing the e-SQUUX Model as an evaluation tool. For designers, developers and managers of UWPs, the model serves as a customisable set of evaluation criteria and also provides specific recommendations for design. In line with the Exploratory sequential design of mixed methods research, the findings of the qualitative work in this research influenced the subsequent quantitative study, since the potential Likert-scale questionnaire items were derived from the definitions and meanings of the components that emanated from the qualitative phase of the study. Consequently, this research is an exemplar for developing an integrated evaluation model for specific facets or domains, and of its application in a particular context, in this case, a University web portal. Keywords: e-service quality, usability, user experience, evaluation model, integrated model, exploratory factor analysis, partial least square – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), mixed methods research, Exploratory sequential design, quantitative study, qualitative study, validation, Web-based applications, University web portal
Information System
Ph D. (Information Systems)

Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Partial least squares structural equation modeling'

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