Abstract: Web-based technologies have created numerous
opportunities for electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) communication.
There are many factors that affect customer adoption and decisionmaking
process. However, only a few researches focus on some
factors such as the membership time of forum and propensity to trust.
Using a discrete-time event simulation to simulate a diffusion model
along with a consumer decision model, the study shows the effect of
each factor on adoption of opinions on on-line discussion forum. The
purpose of this study is to examine the effect of factor affecting
information adoption and decision making process. The model is
constructed to test quantitative aspects of each factor. The simulation
study shows the membership time and the propensity to trust has an
effect on information adoption and purchasing decision. The result of
simulation shows that the longer the membership time in the
communities and the higher propensity to trust could lead to the
higher demand rates because consumers find it easier and faster to
trust the person in the community and then adopt the eWOM. Other
implications for both researchers and practitioners are provided.
Abstract: The request for a sustainable development challenges
both managers and consumers to rethink habitual practices and
activities. While consumers are challenged to develop sustainable
consumption patterns, companies are asked to establish managerial
systems and structures considering economical, ecological, and social
issues. As this is in particular true for housing associations, this paper
aims first, at providing an understanding of sustainability strategy in
residential trade and industry (RTI) by identifying relevant facets of
this construct and second, at conceptually analyzing the impact of
sustainability strategy in RTI on operational efficiency and
performance of municipal housing companies. The author develops a
model of sustainability strategy in RTI and its effects and further,
sheds light in priorities for future research.
Abstract: There is no doubt that Internet technology is widely used by hotels and its demand is constantly booming. Hotels have largely adopted website information services through using different interactive tools, dimensions and attributes to achieve excellence in functionality and usability but these do not necessary equate with website effectiveness. One way to investigate the effectiveness of hotel website is from the perspective ofe-consumers. This exploratory research is to investigate the perceived importance of websites effectiveness of some selected independent small and medium-sized hotels (SMHs) located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, from the perspective of Omanie-consumers by using non-random sampling method. From 400 questionnaire addressed to respondents in 27 organizations in Muscat the capital city of Oman, 173 are valid. Findings of this study assist SMHs management in Dubai with the reallocation of their resources and efforts in order to supportebusiness development and to sustain a competitive advantage.
Abstract: The goal of this study was to disclose the core of the advertising research based on the psychological aspects by acquainting with the nature of advertising research and revealing the importance of psychological aspects of advertising during the advertising research. The growing interest in consumer response to advertisement served as an encouragement to make the analysis of psychological aspects of the advertising research, because the information obtained during the advertising research helps to answer the question how advertising really works. In the research analysis focuses on the nature of advertising research. The place of advertising research in advertisement planning process and the advertising research process are unfolded. Moreover, the importance of psychological aspects in the advertising research is being examined. The certain psychological aspects like the particularities of advertising communication process, psychological process that are active at advertising acceptance and awareness process as well as the advertising effects are analysed in more detail.
Abstract: This paper presents an approach based on the
adoption of a distributed cognition framework and a non parametric
multicriteria evaluation methodology (DEA) designed specifically to
compare e-commerce websites from the consumer/user viewpoint. In
particular, the framework considers a website relative efficiency as a
measure of its quality and usability. A website is modelled as a black
box capable to provide the consumer/user with a set of
functionalities. When the consumer/user interacts with the website to
perform a task, he/she is involved in a cognitive activity, sustaining a
cognitive cost to search, interpret and process information, and
experiencing a sense of satisfaction. The degree of ambiguity and
uncertainty he/she perceives and the needed search time determine
the effort size – and, henceforth, the cognitive cost amount – he/she
has to sustain to perform his/her task. On the contrary, task
performing and result achievement induce a sense of gratification,
satisfaction and usefulness. In total, 9 variables are measured,
classified in a set of 3 website macro-dimensions (user experience,
site navigability and structure). The framework is implemented to
compare 40 websites of businesses performing electronic commerce
in the information technology market. A questionnaire to collect
subjective judgements for the websites in the sample was purposely
designed and administered to 85 university students enrolled in
computer science and information systems engineering
undergraduate courses.
Abstract: The proximate composition, physical traits and
sensory properties of beef and chicken patties incorporated with
various level of dried cornsilk (Maydis stigma) were studied. The
beef and chicken patties were formulated with either 2%, 4% or 6%
of cornsilk. Both cooked beef and chicken patties incorporated with
6% cornsilk recorded the highest protein concentration at 23.3% and
28.42%, respectively. Both cooked beef and chicken patties
containing 6% cornsilk significantly recorded the lowest
concentration of fat at 11.4% and 14.60%, respectively. Beef and
chicken patties formulated with 6% cornsilk recorded the highest
cooking yield at 80.13% and 83.03% compared to other treatments.
The inclusion of cornsilk did not change the sensory properties and
consumer acceptability of cornsilk-based beef and chicken patties.
Cornsilk fibre has been effective in improving cooking yield,
moisture and fat retention of beef and chicken patties
Abstract: Rural villagers in Thailand have unique skill for producing craft using local materials. However, the appearance and function of their products are not suited to the demand of international market. The Thai government policy on sustainable economy emphasises the necessity to incorporate a design strategy that will draw out the unique qualities and add value to the products, while raising the satisfaction of international consumer. As an industrial designer, the author sees opportunities that design can enhance sustainability of Thai local products through the potentials that available in village-based enterprises. This research attempts to address, how best use design to practically solve the problems in the development of Thais product in. The privilege solution is expressed through the design of design strategy that supports sustain economic development of microenterprise in Thailand in the way that aligns with product design development. This consideration integrates together with global business outlook in the development of products from rural communities.
Abstract: The deficit of power for electricity demand reaches
almost 30% for consumers in the last few years. This reflects with
continually increasing the price of electricity, and today the price for
small industry is almost 110Euro/MWh. The high price is additional
problem for the owners in the economy crisis which is reflected with
higher price of the goods.
The paper gives analyses of the energy needs for real agro
complex in Macedonia, private vinery with capacity of over 2 million
liters in a year and with self grapes and fruits fields. The existing
power supply is from grid with 10/04 kV transformer. The
geographical and meteorological condition of the vinery location
gives opportunity for including renewable as a power supply option
for the vinery complex.
After observation of the monthly energy needs for the vinery, the
base scenario is the existing power supply from the distribution grid.
The electricity bill in small industry has three factors: electricity in
high and low tariffs in kWh and the power engaged for the
technological process of production in kW. These three factors make
the total electricity bill and it is over 110 Euro/MWh which is the
price near competitive for renewable option. On the other side
investments in renewable (especially photovoltaic (PV)) has tendency
of decreasing with price of near 1,5 Euro/W. This means that
renewable with PV can be real option for power supply for small
industry capacities (under 500kW installed power).
Therefore, the other scenarios give the option with PV and the last
one includes wind option. The paper presents some scenarios for
power supply of the vinery as the followings:
• Base scenario of existing conventional power supply from the
grid
• Scenario with implementation of renewable of Photovoltaic
• Scenario with implementation of renewable of Photovoltaic and
Wind power
The total power installed in a vinery is near 570 kW, but the
maximum needs are around 250kW. At the end of the full paper some
of the results from scenarios will be presented. The paper also
includes the environmental impacts of the renewable scenarios, as
well as financial needs for investments and revenues from renewable.
Abstract: Fast development of technologies, economic globalization and many other external circumstances stimulate company’s competitiveness. One of the major trends in today’s business is the shift to the exploitation of the Internet and electronic environment for entrepreneurial needs. Latest researches confirm that e-environment provides a range of possibilities and opportunities for companies, especially for micro-, small- and medium-sized companies, which have limited resources. The usage of e-tools raises the effectiveness and the profitability of an organization, as well as its competitiveness.
In the electronic market, as in the classic one, there are factors, such as globalization, development of new technology, price sensitive consumers, Internet, new distribution and communication channels that influence entrepreneurship. As a result of eenvironment development, e-commerce and e-marketing grow as well.
Objective of the paper: To describe and identify factors influencing company’s competitiveness in e-environment.
Research methodology: The authors employ well-established quantitative and qualitative methods of research: grouping, analysis, statistics method, factor analysis in SPSS 20 environment, etc. The theoretical and methodological background of the research is formed by using scientific researches and publications, such as that from mass media and professional literature; statistical information from legal institutions as well as information collected by the authors during the surveying process.
Research result: The authors detected and classified factors influencing competitiveness in e-environment.
In this paper, the authors presented their findings based on theoretical, scientific, and field research. Authors have conducted a research on e-environment utilization among Latvian enterprises.
Abstract: There has been a growing emphasis in
communication management from simple coordination of
promotional tools to a complex strategic process. This study will
examine the current marketing communications and engagement
strategies used in addressing the key stakeholders. In the case of
fertilizer industry in Malaysia, there has been little empirical
research on stakeholder communication when major challenges
facing the modern corporation is the need to communicate its
identity, its values and products in order to distinguish itself from
competitors. The study will employ both quantitative and qualitative
methods and the use of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to
establish a causal relationship amongst the key factors of stakeholder
communication strategies and increment in consumers-
choice/acceptance and impact on financial performance. One of the
major contributions is a conceptual framework for communication
strategies and engagement in increasing consumers- acceptance level
and the firm-s financial performance.
Abstract: Global competitiveness has recently become the
biggest concern of both manufacturing and service companies.
Electronic commerce, as a key technology enables the firms to reach
all the potential consumers from all over the world. In this study, we
have presented commonly used electronic payment systems, and then
we have shown the evaluation of these systems in respect to different
criteria. The payment systems which are included in this research are
the credit card, the virtual credit card, the electronic money, the
mobile payment, the credit transfer and the debit instruments. We
have realized a systematic comparison of these systems in respect to
three main criteria: Technical, economical and social. We have
conducted a fuzzy multi-criteria decision making procedure to deal
with the multi-attribute nature of the problem. The subjectiveness
and imprecision of the evaluation process are modeled using
triangular fuzzy numbers.
Abstract: As a matter of the fact that online social networks like
Twitter, Facebook and MySpace have experienced an extensive
growth in recent years. Social media offers individuals with a tool for
communicating and interacting with one another. These social
networks enable people to stay in touch with other people and
express themselves. This process makes the users of online social
networks active creators of content rather than being only consumers
of traditional media. That’s why millions of people show strong
desire to learn the methods and tools of digital content production
and necessary communication skills. However, the booming interest
in communication and interaction through online social networks and
high level of eagerness to invent and implement the ways to
participate in content production raise some privacy and security
concerns.
This presentation aims to open the assumed revolutionary,
democratic and liberating nature of the online social media up for
discussion by reviewing some recent political developments in
Turkey. Firstly, the role of Internet and online social networks in
mobilizing collective movements through social interactions and
communications will be questioned. Secondly, some cases from Gezi
and Okmeydanı Protests and also December 17-25 period will be
presented in order to illustrate misinformation and manipulation in
social media and violation of individual privacy through online social
networks in order to damage social unity and stability contradictory
to democratic nature of online social networking.
Abstract: This study examined the underlying dimensions of
brand equity in the chocolate industry. For this purpose, researchers
developed a model to identify which factors are influential in
building brand equity. The second purpose was to assess brand
loyalty and brand images mediating effect between brand attitude,
brand personality, brand association with brand equity. The study
employed structural equation modeling to investigate the causal
relationships between the dimensions of brand equity and brand
equity itself. It specifically measured the way in which consumers’
perceptions of the dimensions of brand equity affected the overall
brand equity evaluations. Data were collected from a sample of
consumers of chocolate industry in Iran. The results of this empirical
study indicate that brand loyalty and brand image are important
components of brand equity in this industry. Moreover, the role of
brand loyalty and brand image as mediating factors in the intention of
brand equity are supported. The principal contribution of the present
research is that it provides empirical evidence of the
multidimensionality of consumer based brand equity, supporting
Aaker´s and Keller´s conceptualization of brand equity. The present
research also enriched brand equity building by incorporating the
brand personality and brand image, as recommended by previous
researchers. Moreover, creating the brand equity index in chocolate
industry of Iran particularly is novel.
Abstract: The need for micromechanical inertial sensors is increasing
in future electronic stability control (ESC) and other positioning,
navigation and guidance systems. Due to the rising density of
sensors in automotive and consumer devices the goal is not only to get
high performance, robustness and smaller package sizes, but also to
optimize the energy management of the overall sensor system. This
paper presents an evaluation concept for a surface micromachined
yaw rate sensor. Within this evaluation concept an energy-efficient
operation of the drive mode of the yaw rate sensor is enabled. The
presented system concept can be realized within a power management
subsystem.
Abstract: Sweet potato products are necessary for the provision
of essential nutrients in every household, regardless of their poverty
status. Their consumption appears to be highly influenced by socioeconomic
factors, such as malnutrition, food insecurity and
unemployment. Therefore, market availability is crucial for these
cultivars to resolve some of the socio-economic factors. The aim of
the study was to investigate market availability of sweet potato
cultivars in the North West Province. In this study, both qualitative
and quantitative research methodologies were used. Qualitative
methodology was used to explain the quantitative outcomes of the
variables. On the other hand, quantitative results were used to test the
hypothesis. The study used SPSS software to analyse the data. Crosstabulation
and Chi-square statistics were used to obtain the
descriptive and inferential analyses, respectively. The study found
that the Blesbok cultivar is dominating the markets of the North West
Province, with the Monate cultivar dominating in the Bojanala
Platinum (75%) and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati (25%) districts. It
is also found that a unit increase in the supply of sweet potato
cultivars in both local and district municipal markets is accompanied
by a reduced demand of 28% and 33% at district and local markets,
respectively. All these results were found to be significant at p
Abstract: On the basis of questionnaires and interviews of two samples of subjects (French and Anglo-Saxon) for which two food products were presented (one of the subject’s country and one of the foreign country), we have shown how consumers could be sensitive to the label or brand written on the package of the food product. Furthermore, in the light of Intersubjectivity theory, we have shown the necessity for the consumer to find congruence between the direct and meta perspective towards the product for which the producer and especially the marketer is responsible. Taking into account these findings may help to avoid the commercial failure of a brand while exported abroad.
Abstract: Nowadays, power systems, energy generation by wind
has been very important. Noting that the production of electrical
energy by wind turbines on site to several factors (such as wind speed
and profile site for the turbines, especially off the wind input speed,
wind rated speed and wind output speed disconnect) is dependent. On
the other hand, several different types of turbines in the market there.
Therefore, selecting a turbine that its capacity could also answer the
need for electric consumers the efficiency is high something is
important and necessary. In this context, calculating the amount of
wind power to help optimize overall network, system operation, in
determining the parameters of wind power is very important.
In this article, to help calculate the amount of wind power plant,
connected to the national network in the region Manjil wind,
selecting the best type of turbine and power delivery profile
appropriate to the network using Monte Carlo method has been.
In this paper, wind speed data from the wind site in Manjil, as minute
and during the year has been. Necessary simulations based on
Random Numbers Simulation method and repeat, using the software
MATLAB and Excel has been done.
Abstract: Phishing scheme is a new emerged security issue of
E-Commerce Crime in globalization. In this paper, the legal scaffold
of Malaysia, United States and United Kingdom are analyzed and
followed by discussion on critical issues that rose due to phishing
activities. The result revealed that inadequacy of current legal
framework is the main challenge to govern this epidemic. However,
lack of awareness among consumers, crisis on merchant-s
responsibility and lack of intrusion reports and incentive arrangement
contributes to phishing proliferating. Prevention is always better than
curb. By the end of this paper, some best practices for consumers and
corporations are suggested.
Abstract: Luxury is an identity, a philosophy and a culture
which requires understanding before the adoption of e-business
practices because of its intricacies and output are essentially different
from other types of goods. Factors such as culture, personal
characteristics, website quality, and vendor characteristics influence
the online purchasing behavior of consumers thus making it a
complex area of study. This paper explores the scope of e-retail for
luxury consumption in the U.A.E. by identifying what motivates and
de-motivates online purchase behavior of U.A.E. consumers and
necessary hypotheses have been drawn to reflect behavior between
online luxury preference consumers and non-online luxury preference
consumers.
Abstract: The research aims to study the quality of surface water
for consumer in Samut Songkram province. Water sample were
collected from 217 sampling sites conclude 72 sampling sites in
Amphawa, 67 sampling sites in Bangkhonthee and 65 sampling sites
in Muang. Water sample were collected in December 2011 for
winter, March 2012 for summer and August 2012 for rainy season.
From the investigation of surface water quality in Mae Klong
River, main and tributaries canals in Samut Songkram province, we
found that water quality meet the type III of surface water quality
standard issued by the National Environmental Quality Act B.E.
1992. Seasonal variations of pH, Temperature, nitrate, lead and
cadmium have statistical differences between 3 seasons.