scholarly journals Validating learner-based e-learning barriers: developing an instrument to aid e-learning implementation management and leadership

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Basir ◽  
Samnan Ali ◽  
Stephen R. Gulliver

PurposeCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had global repercussions on use of e-learning solutions. In order to maximise the promise of e-learning, it is necessary for managers to understand, control and avoid barriers that impact learner continuance of e-learning systems. The technology, individual, pedagogy and enabling conditions (TIPEC) framework identified theoretical barriers to e-learning implementation, i.e. grouped into four theoretical concepts (7 technology, 26 individual, 28 pedagogy and 7 enabling conditions). This study validates the 26 theoretical individual barriers. Appreciating individual barriers will help the e-learning implementation team to better scope system requirements and help achieve better student engagement, continuation and ultimately success.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from 344 e-learning students and corporate trainees, across a range of degree programs. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was used to define and validate barrier themes. Comparison of results against the findings of Ali et al. (2018) allows comparison of theoretical and validated compound factors.FindingsResults of exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis combined several factors and defined 16 significant categories of barriers instead of the 26 mentioned in the TIPEC framework.Originality/valueIndividual learner barriers, unlike technology and pedagogy barriers which can be directly identified and managed, appear abstract and unmanageable. This paper, considering implementation from the learner perspective, not only suggests a more simplified ontology of individual barriers but presents empirically validated questionnaire items (see Appendix) that can be used by implementation managers and practitioners as an instrument to highlight the barriers that impact individuals using e-learning factors. Awareness of individual barriers can help the content provider to adapt system design and/or use conditions to maximize the benefits of e-learning users.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xujia Wang ◽  
Billy Sung ◽  
Ian Phau

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate how exclusivity and rarity (natural versus virtual) influence consumers' perceptions of luxury. Further, it examines whether exclusivity and rarity can function as distinct marketing strategies in today's luxury market environment.Design/methodology/approachOnline questionnaires were administered by adapting developed scales from prior research. Research stimuli were chosen from three luxury categories including bags, wine and cruise. Confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regressions were used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results confirmed that exclusivity, natural rarity and virtual rarity were perceived as relatively distinct constructs among our sample. Findings also highlighted that perceived natural rarity (PNR) has consistently emerged as a positive and significant contributor to consumers' perceptions of luxury across all three luxury categories. The influence of perceived exclusivity (PE) on perceptions of luxury has also shown to be significant for two product categories (luxury bag and luxury wine), whereas perceived virtual rarity (PVR) did not show any significant effects across all three categories.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that consumers perceive natural rarity, virtual rarity and exclusivity as relatively distinctive marketing strategies. This suggests that luxury businesses can adopt each strategy independently to achieve desired marketing outcomes.Originality/valueThis study offers theoretical support for the proposition that exclusivity and rarity may have different functions in luxury marketing implementations. It provides empirical evidence showing the distinctiveness of perceived exclusivity and perceived rarity, which have not be done in previous research.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Lithopoulos ◽  
Peter A. Dacin ◽  
Tanya R. Berry ◽  
Guy Faulkner ◽  
Norm O’Reilly ◽  
...  

Purpose The brand equity pyramid is a theory that explains how people develop loyalty and an attachment to a brand. The purpose of this study is to test whether the predictions made by the theory hold when applied to the brand of ParticipACTION, a Canadian non-profit organization that promotes active living. A secondary objective was to test whether this theory predicted intentions to be more physically active. Design/methodology/approach A research agency conducted a cross-sectional, online brand health survey on behalf of ParticipACTION. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis established the factor structure. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. Findings A nationally representative sample of Canadian adults (N = 1,191) completed the survey. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis supported a hypothesized five-factor brand equity framework (i.e. brand identity, brand meaning, brand responses, brand resonance and intentions). A series of structural equation models also provided support for the hypothesized relationships between the variables. Practical implications Though preliminary, the results provide a guide for understanding the branding process in the activity-promotion context. The constructs identified as being influential in this process can be targeted by activity-promotion organizations to improve brand strength. A strong organizational brand could augment activity-promotion interventions. A strong brand may also help the organization better compete against other brands promoting messages that are antithetical to their own. Originality/value This is the first study to test the brand equity pyramid using an activity-promotion brand. Results demonstrate that the brand equity pyramid may be useful in this context.


Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1465-1483
Author(s):  
Khahan Na-Nan ◽  
Theerawat Roopleam ◽  
Natthaya Wongsuwan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a digital intelligence quotient (DIQ) scale questionnaire that encompasses the digital identity, digital use, digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication, digital literacy and digital rights. Design/methodology/approach DIQ research was conducted in two phases to develop an assessment scale. First, 33 questions were developed based on previous DIQ concepts and theories. These questions were then validated using exploratory factor analysis into eight dimensions as digital identity, digital use, digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication, digital literacy and digital rights. A survey was conducted comprising 409 admins and clerks in SMEs. Second, confirmatory factor analysis and convergent validity were tested along the eight digital dimensions. Findings This study extended the DIQ concept to provide theoretical contribution for DIQ with intelligence study. Eight dimensions were developed to measure DIQ, including aspects of digital identity, digital use, digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication, digital literacy and digital rights. Research limitations/implications The DIQ questionnaire was a single-source, self-assessed data collection, as the sample included only employees of SMEs in Thailand. Results showed a good fit but require further refinement and validation using a larger sample size and various supplementary sampling contexts. Practical implications The eight DIQ dimensions and questionnaire results will assist organisations and supervisors to focus on employees’ DIQ using both work and lifestyle parameters. This knowledge will help supervisors to encourage employees to increase their DIQ for more effective usage of digital literacy. Researchers and academics will be able to apply this instrument in future studies. Originality/value The DIQ questionnaire is a new instrument which comprehensively explores relevant dimensions to increase employee understanding of digital identity, digital use, digital safety, digital security, digital emotional intelligence, digital communication, digital literacy and digital rights.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 600-615 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Perkins ◽  
Gita Mathur ◽  
Kam Jugdev

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to draw on the resource-based view of the firm from strategic management and apply it to a study of competitive advantage in the project management context. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is used to examine the factors that constitute strategic characteristics of project management resources and outcomes of the project management process. Design/methodology/approach This study gathered data from 437 North American project management professionals using an existing survey tool from prior research involving a smaller sample. Findings The final model derived from CFA demonstrated construct validity, meaning acceptable convergent and discriminant validity. It showed only minor differences from a prior exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The final model consisted of two factors representing valuable project management characteristics, one factor representing rare project management characteristics, one factor representing inimitable project management characteristics, three factors representing organizational support for project management assets, one factor representing project-level performance and one factor representing firm-level performance. Research limitations/implications Limitations of the study include self-report bias and the use of a panel for data collection. Practical implications This study draws managerial attention to project management characteristics that constitute a source of competitive advantage. Originality/value The study validates a survey tool from previous research, reflects few deviations from factor structure of the prior EFA, and sets the stage for future research to elaborate on the conceptual model. It extends understanding of the characteristics of project management assets that lead to a firm’s competitive advantage.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 257-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwani Kumar Upadhyay ◽  
Komal Khandelwal ◽  
Tanuj Nandan ◽  
Prashant Mishra

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to model the key influencers or predictors for usage of technology by sales professionals in India. Design/methodology/approach This study examines the effect of individual, organizational and social factors on the use of technology. The method used for primary research is survey, and data have been collected from 556 sales professionals from across four industries in India. The empirical analysis consists of confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling. Findings Confirmatory factor analysis has been used to validate the constructs, namely, peer usage, support service, perceived usefulness, attitude, usage and performance. Based on the results, it has been concluded that attitude and peer usage have a direct effect on the use of technology. Support service affects peer usage and perceived usefulness affects attitude. This model helps us understand the direct and indirect predictors of use of sales technology (ST), and its effect on sales performance. Research limitations/implications The limitation of this study is that data pertain to India only. Practical implications The findings of this paper will help sales managers and organizations develop strategies to increase the acceptance and use of new technologies, and also strengthen their arguments for convincing the various stakeholders about the benefits and relevance of the ST. Originality/value The paper attempts to build and validate a parsimonious model taking into account peer usage (social factor) and support service (organizational factor) in addition to perceived usefulness and attitude.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hakan Görür ◽  
Cem Oktay Güzeller

PurposeThe main purpose of this study is to create a reliable and valid scale to assess the destination food image perceived by the tourists regarding the food in Turkey within the cognitive and affective image component framework. In line with this purpose, both scale development and scale adaptation studies are conducted, and measurement invariance of the scale for gender is analyzed.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses the survey model among quantitative research methods. Scale development processes are used to assess the cognitive image; the construct validity is analyzed with exploratory factor analysis (n = 328), confirmatory factor analysis (n = 425) and convergent and discriminant validity. Scale adaptation processes are followed to assess the affective image, and construct validity is tested with confirmatory factor analysis (n = 425). The reliability of both scales is investigated with Cronbach's alpha. Cochran–Mantel–Haenszel (CMH) analysis is conducted for measurement invariance for gender.FindingsConstruct validity and reliability provided the desired values in all processes. Measurement invariance results proved that the scale does not change according to genders.Research limitations/implicationsThe data obtained in this study have geographical limitations, and the data represent tourists visiting Antalya, an important tourism destination in Turkey.Practical implicationsThe scale will provide concrete information about the destination food image and help practitioners to test the model and develop future strategies for the destination.Originality/valueThis study presents an integrated approach to understanding the destination food image and expands theoretical and empirical evidence by creating a scale that measures both cognitive and affective image component. Scale-invariant shows that there is no item bias for analyzed gender and contributes to generalizability.


2019 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 430-459
Author(s):  
Hisham Hamid Hawass

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to develop a scale to empirically measure the self-centered leadership SCL pattern in Arab organizations. Design/methodology/approach This paper depends on two Egyptian samples. It has conducted exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and multiple regression analyses to generate the proposed SCL measurement scale. Findings The analyses have revealed that the new measurement scale is valid and reliable. They have also confirmed the multidimensional structure of the self-centered leadership construct. Originality/value The Arab leadership literature is in short of scales which take into consideration the specialties of the Arab cultures. Therefore, this study fills a lacuna in international research which examines Arab leadership behaviors from a culture-bound perspective.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.S. Sureshchandar

PurposeThe disruptions caused by new-age technologies of Industry 4.0 are posing a formidable challenge to researchers, academicians and practitioners alike. Quality 4.0 that depicts the role of the quality function in the Industry 4.0 scenario must be comprehended so that the rudiments of Quality 4.0 are understood properly, and interventions can be made to embrace the new normal. As the literature on Quality 4.0 is extremely scarce, empirical studies are mandatory to augment the process of theory building.Design/methodology/approachThe research work identifies 12 axes of the Quality 4.0 revolution based on literature review and insights from experts. Subsequently, a measurement model is formulated and an instrument to measure the level of Quality 4.0 implementation is developed. The measurement model has been checked for model fit, reliability and validity using the confirmatory factor analysis approach.FindingsThe proposed model was found to be adequate, reliable and valid and concludes that though technology plays a significant role in the development of the Quality 4.0 system, aspects of traditional quality are very much apropos to transform to the next frontier of quality.Research limitations/implicationsImplications for future research are provided which would help to further explore the nascent field of Quality 4.0.Practical implicationsThis research would help the practitioners better understand the various requirements and measure the degree of implementation of a Quality 4.0 system.Originality/valueThe present research is perhaps the first of its kind in propounding a measurement model, through empirical analysis, for the betterment of the understanding of Quality 4.0 and its associated constituents.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lerato Millicent Aghimien ◽  
Clinton Ohis Aigbavboa ◽  
Chimey Anumba ◽  
Wellington Didibhuku Thwala

Purpose The South African construction industry (SACI) is a huge employer of labour as the industry depends mostly on human resources to carry out its activities. However, the industry has also been noted for its poor workforce management and lack of attention to human resource management (HRM) issues. Therefore, this study aims to assess the challenges facing the effective management of the construction workforce in South Africa with a view to improving HRM activities in the industry and improve overall service delivery through an effectively managed workforce. Design/methodology/approach A pragmatic philosophical view using a mixed-method research design was adopted. The study’s qualitative strand was achieved through a Delphi, whilst the quantitative strand was achieved through a questionnaire survey. In addition, descriptive and inferential statistics such as mean item score, Kruskal-Wallis H-test, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were adopted for data analysis. Findings With high reliability, construct validity and model fit indices, the study found that for effective HRM to be attained within construction organisations, careful attention must be given to issues surrounding the nature of the industry, unhealthy working environment, employee-related issues, diversity and working condition in the industry. Originality/value Whilst several studies have been conducted on HRM, there is a lack of studies on the major challenges facing effective HRM in the SACI. The findings also offer future research studies a good theoretical platform to build upon.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bilal Saeed ◽  
R. Tasmin ◽  
Ayyaz Mahmood ◽  
Aamer Hafeez

PurposeConsidering the relevance of operational excellence as a business strategy, organizations are striving to improve themselves by adopting best practices and universally accepted principles through the process of continuous improvement, and these principles should be embedded in the culture of an organization. Organizations pursue to align themselves by continuously improving their processes by adopting scientifically proven techniques and cultural transformation throughout the organization. However, there is a lack of scientific instruments for the assessment of operational excellence. The objective of this study is to develop a scale for the assessment of practices of operational excellence principles in the organizations. Further reliability and validity of the developed scale are measured by testing the relationship between Human Resource Practices (HRP) and Operational Excellence (OE).Design/methodology/approachThis study comprises quantitative design through exploratory and confirmatory studies and also includes qualitative analysis to develop a scale for the assessment of Operational Excellence (OE). Interviews from industry experts have been conducted to identify the major components for which organizations are striving for OE. Previous literature and excellence models, especially principles of the Shingo Operational Excellence Model (SOEM), have been reviewed and considered to finalize the scale items. Data were collected in two stages from both Telecommunication subsectors (Cellular Mobile Operators and Fixed Local Loop Operators) of Pakistan through the cross-sectional survey. In the first stage, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on the sample of 611 respondents from both Cellular Mobile and Fixed Local Loop operators of Pakistan. In the second stage, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed on the sample of 423 respondents from the Fixed local loop operators. EFA was conducted by using SPSS version 23 to finalize the OE scale, and for confirmatory factor analysis, PLS-SEM using Smart PLS was used to confirm the reliability and validity of the OE Scale.FindingsThe results of EFA reveal that OE is a multidimensional construct with three dimensions and 23 items. The dimensions of the developed OE Scale explored in this study are cultural enablers (CE), continuous process improvement (CPI) and enterprise alignment (EA). The confirmatory factor analysis of OE confirmed the scale dimensionality, reliability and validity along with the hypothesis testing to measure the impact of antecedent variable HRP on OE.Research limitations/implicationsOrganizations pursue to improve and align their operational processes but usually unable to confirm the implementation of their desired objectives. Based on the developed OE scale, managers may assess the implementation of OE principles in their organizations. This research has been conducted in the telecommunication sector of Pakistan only, and the developed instrument needs to be further tested in other organizations.Practical implicationsThe instrument developed in this study will help both researchers and practitioners to assess the principles of operational excellence in their organizations and enable them to design the strategies for improving organizational performance.Social implicationsThe results of this study will create awareness about the principles of operational excellence. The developed OE instrument will assist in identifying the gaps in organizational norms and values from the perspective of paying respect to every individual inside and outside the organization. OE instrument will be further helpful in the identification and assurance of health, safety, protection of the environment and community issues.Originality/valueThis study provides a reliable and validated scale for the scientific area of operation management and helps managers with the assessment of operational excellence in their organizations. This newly developed scale is also valid to test and use in different studies and industries by researchers and practitioners.


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