Factors affecting business graduates' employability–empirical evidence using partial least squares (PLS)

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 292-310
Author(s):  
Md Moazzem Hossain ◽  
Manzurul Alam ◽  
Mohammed Alamgir ◽  
Amirus Salat
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Business Graduates ◽  
Graduate Employability ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between skills and employability of business graduates. The study also examines the moderating effect of ‘social mobility factors’ in the ‘skills–employability’ relationship.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative positivist approach was undertaken to test the hypotheses. Business graduates from two universities in a developing country responded to a questionnaire about their perceptions of different sets of employability factors. Partial least squares (PLS)-based structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to examine the relationships between skills and employability of business graduates.FindingsThe findings show that both soft skills and technical skills are positively related to employability, which is consistent with prior studies. The findings also indicate that social mobility factors play a significant role in employability.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on data from two public universities, and its findings need to be interpreted with care as universities differ in their size, area of concentration and ownership structure.Practical implicationsThe findings advance the evidence of graduate employability of business students. Based on these results, university authorities, policymakers, teachers and business graduates will benefit from the findings related to students preparedness for the competitive global job market.Originality/valueThe study's findings contribute to business graduates' skill set development in the developing countries that share a similar education system, culture and values.

scholarly journals The effect of soft skills, ethics, and value on the willingness of employers to continue recruiting UMT graduates

2021 ◽  
pp. 1689-1698
Author(s):  
Abdul Hafaz Ngah ◽  
Nurul Izni Kamalrulzaman ◽  
Fauzayani Ibrahim ◽  
Noor Azuan Abu Osman ◽  
Nur Asma Ariffin
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Structural Equation Modelling ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Soft Skills ◽  
Moderating Effect ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
The Relationship

This study aims to investigate the effect of soft skills and ethics and value on the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) graduates, together with the moderating effect of knowledge on the relationship between soft skills and the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. The study’s respondents comprised of 208 employers in Malaysia who responded through an online survey using Google Forms. The survey data was then analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), indicating that soft skills positively affected the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. Nevertheless, ethics and value were found to be insignificant factors on the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. It was also revealed that knowledge had the moderating effect on the relationship between soft skills and the employers’ willingness to continue recruiting UMT graduates. Therefore, universities were recommended to invest in soft skills and knowledge education to ensure that graduates met the employers’ professional recruitment standards in areas of expertise.

Intellectual capital and supply chain resilience

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Shujaat Mubarik ◽  
Nick Bontis ◽  
Mobasher Mubarik ◽  
Tarique Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Resilience ◽  
Structural Capital ◽  
The Impact

PurposeThe main objective of this study is to test whether firms with a higher level of intellectual capital (IC) perform better in terms of their supply chain resilience compared to those with lower levels of IC. Likewise, the study also examines the impact of IC (characterized by human capital, relational capital and structural capital) on supply chain resilience directly and through supply chain learning.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from the 159 processed-food sector firms using a close-ended questionnaire during the corona virus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), partial least squares multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA) and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to test a set of hypotheses emanating from a conceptual model of IC and supply chain resilience.FindingsEmpirical results revealed a significant influence of all dimension of IC on a firm's supply chain learning and supply chain resilience. Likewise, findings also exhibit a momentous role of supply chain learning in reinforcing the impact of IC on supply chain resilience. Cross-firm size comparison reveals that supply chain resilience of firms with a higher level of IC performed significantly better than those with lower levels of IC. Firms with a higher level of structural capital had a highly resilient supply chain.Practical implicationsFindings of the study imply that IC and supply chain learning should be considered as a strategic tool and should be strategically developed for uplifting a supply chain performance of a firm. The development of IC and supply chain learning (SCL) not only improves the supply chain resilience of a firm but also can help to integrate the internal and external knowledge for harnessing supply chain resilience.Originality/valueThis research study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic which provides a unique setting to examine resiliency and learning.

scholarly journals Reasons for choosing mechanisms to protect knowledge and innovations

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 207-229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Olander ◽  
Mika Vanhala ◽  
Pia Hurmelinna-Laukkanen
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Knowledge Flows ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
Protection Mechanisms ◽  
Informal Relations ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Prior research has confirmed the usefulness of both formal and informal protection mechanisms for governing knowledge flows. However, there is lack of research on the motivation and needs driving firms in their choice of mechanisms for each situation. The aim of this paper is to examine the reasons for choosing formal or informal mechanisms. Design/methodology/approach – The hypotheses were tested on a sample of 209 companies engaged in R&D. A Partial Least Squares was used for the analyses. Findings – This study identifies statistically significant relationships between the protection need and the firm's strategy. The results indicate that there is variance in the use of mechanisms when there is a specific motivation for seeking protection, and when the firm faces difficulties related to protection issues. Research limitations/implications – The data were gathered in a single country. The results may be different if practices in a culture based more on informal relations, with less efficient patent system, were investigated. Practical implications – The study provides managers with useful information on the informal protection of knowledge and innovations when resources are limited. In particular, it helps them to identify situations in which informal mechanisms are potentially more useful. Originality/value – This study adds to the literature by studying quantitatively the relationship between the recognised need for protection and the choice of formal and/or informal protection as a strategy. It combines both formal and informal mechanisms. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the few studies examining HRM-related protection mechanisms.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Satisfaction and Loyalty in Public Transport using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM)

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 569-575 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Public Transport ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Theory Development ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Effective Strategies ◽  
Transportation Research

With an increasing number of privately own vehicles in Malaysia, the popularity of public transports is increasingly challenged by ride-hailing services such as Grab, MyCar, JomRides and MULA. To develop effective strategies aimed at retaining users, it is necessary to understand the factors that affect users’ satisfaction and loyalty in public transport. In this study, we propose that satisfaction and loyalty in public transport are associated with five key factors: accessibility, reliability, perceived value, comfort, and safety and security. Data collected from a survey of 179 public transport users in Kuching city was used to test the research model. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyse the data. The main findings were that safety and security, and reliability significantly affected the users’ satisfaction and loyalty in public transport, while no statistically significant relationship was found among accessibility, satisfaction and loyalty. These findings not only contribute to the theory development of transportation research but also help practitioners to develop novel strategies aimed at increasing public transport usage.

scholarly journals Understanding Social Entrepreneurial Intention Through Social Cognitive Career Theory: a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick Adriel P. Aure ◽  
Rayan P. Dui ◽  
Shieradel V. Jimenez ◽  
Denver D. Daradar ◽  
Alvin Neil A. Gutierrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Structural Equation Modelling ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Social Cognitive Career Theory ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Business Students ◽  
Career Theory ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
Social Cognitive Career

This research attempted to find empirical evidence that examines the drivers of social entrepreneurial intentions (SEI) through the lens of social cognitive career theory (SCCT). Since the SCCT model of SEI is still in the early stages and needs to be further developed, experts recommend the use of partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to analyze data collected from 294 business students from a Philippine university. To account for observed heterogeneity, differences among senior high school and college business students were explored via multigroup analysis (PLS-MGA). Across all respondents, perceived support and internal outcome expectations have the strongest total effects on SEI, while self-efficacy and agreeableness have marginally significant direct effects and significant indirect effects on SEI. This study contributed to the field of social entrepreneurship by looking at alternate and developing explanations to the formation of SEI apart from conceptual models based on the theory of planned behavior.

Relationships Between Universities and Enterprises

2018 ◽  
pp. 294-314
Author(s):  
António Carrizo Moreira ◽  
Ana Carolina Vallejo
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Structural Equation Modelling ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Academic World ◽  
Trust And Reputation ◽  
Equation Modelling ◽  
The University ◽  
The Relationship

The university-enterprise (U-E) relationship is a topic that has gathered much interest in the academic world. Universities seek to offer services and technology that help firms to build and foster a harmonious U-E relationship, allowing firms to continually renew their involvement in the relationship. This chapter seeks to analyze the role played by various factors—satisfaction, commitment as perceived by firms, perceived commitment by universities, trust, and reputation—in encouraging firms to continuously renew their involvement in the university relationship. A questionnaire was produced drawing on a literature review looking at U-E relationships, the results of which were then analyzed using partial least squares – structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Afyer analyzing 80 responses from firms involved in U-E relationships, it was possible to conclude that commitment of firms, reputation, and the perceived commitment of the universities are very important in the continuous participation of firms in U-E relationships.

Antecedents of satisfaction and loyalty in different spectator tribes in a football context

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giuseppe Lamberti ◽  
Josep Rialp ◽  
Alexandra Simon
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation Modeling ◽  
Service Quality ◽  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Sport Management ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Emotional Involvement ◽  
Content Type

PurposeExtending existing research in a football context, this study explores how image and service quality influence spectator tribe satisfaction and loyalty and variations in behaviors depending on age, gender and emotional involvement.Design/methodology/approachSpectators aged 18 years and older who attended Barcelona Football Club home La Liga matches were sampled. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the model, and hybrid multigroup PLS-SEM was used to explore observed heterogeneity.FindingsImage and service quality both influence spectator satisfaction and loyalty. Satisfaction and loyalty are associated differently with three tribes: a nonpassionate tribe characterized by low emotional involvement and younger and older passionate tribes composed of emotionally involved spectators aged <30 and >30 years old, respectively.Research limitations/implicationsThis study’s results contribute to strengthening the suitability of PLS-SEM and multigroup in sport management, in particular for analyzing the behavior of specific groups of football spectators.Originality/valueThe findings of this study underline image and service quality as crucial to football spectator satisfaction and loyalty, with emotional involvement and age defining different consumer tribes as potential targets for marketing purposes.

To verify or not to verify: using partial least squares to predict effect of online news on panic buying during pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim-Lim Tan ◽  
Joseph Kee-Ming Sia ◽  
Daniel Kuok Ho Tang
Keyword(s):  
Least Squares ◽  
Partial Least Squares ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Least Squares Method ◽  
Online News ◽  
The Body ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Initial Attempt ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Partial Least Squares Method

PurposeCoronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has given rise to different dimensions of uncommon human behavior, and panic buying is one of them. Interestingly, panic buying research has not been given much attention. The purpose of this paper is threefold. Firstly, it examines the influences of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) elements (subjective norm, attitude and perceived behavior control (PBC)) on panic buying. Secondly, it investigates online news and the perceived likelihood of being affected (PLA) as antecedents to the TPB constructs. Finally, to examine online news verification as a moderator on the relationship between the TPB constructs and panic buying.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 371 respondents and analyzed using the partial least squares method structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). PLS predict was applied to determine the predictive power of the model further.FindingsThis study found that subjective norms and attitude influence panic buying. The results further revealed that online news has a direct influence on the PLA and attitude. However, PBC has no such effect on panic buying. Surprisingly, online news verification also has no moderating effects on the relationships between the TPB elements and panic buying.Originality/valueThis research helps to understand consumer panic buying behavior, especially during shock events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This study is the first that extends the TPB incorporating both online news and PLA as antecedents to panic buying in the same model. Furthermore, the study serves as an initial attempt to investigate online news verification as a moderator between the link of three constructs of TPB and panic buying, contributing to existing literature. Lastly, it advances the body of knowledge on consumer behavior and contributes methodologically by introducing the PLS approach.

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