scholarly journals Factor Analysis of Farmers’ Intentions for Farming Support Activities: Growth Diagnosis of ‘Yamada Nishiki’ Brewer’s Rice, Based on a Questionnaire Survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 131-145
Author(s):  
Masanobu Kato ◽  
Hideko Takeyasu ◽  
Masashi Kasuga ◽  
Hajime Kawamukai ◽  
Masaru Ikegami
2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-27
Author(s):  
Minchul Lee ◽  
Jin-Sook Lee ◽  
Kyunghee Kim ◽  
Chanju Kim

[Purpose] Functional beverages are intended to support those who want to maintain optimal physical condition and improve their quality of life through the enhancement of heart health, immunity, and digestion. The purpose of this study was to investigate the performance of top-level athletes consuming immune-strengthening conditioning nutritional drinks.[Methods] A total of 107 top-level athletes (baseball (56 players), pro volleyball (17), athletics (16), cycling (8), golf (6), and fencing (6)) participated in the experiment. They consumed an immune-enhancing functional beverage once a day for 8 weeks and responded to a survey before, during, and after drinking the beverage.[Results] Three total aspect-based subfactors were drawn from 24 questions in the factor analysis: physical, satisfaction with mental stability, and activity in performance. The physical, mental stability and performance changes of athletes significantly increased in period 2 (4 weeks after intake) and period 3 (after 8 weeks of intake).[Conclusion] We evaluated the efficacy of a new conditioned beverage containing Lactobacillus B240 and protein in improving the performance and physiological utility of top athletes. This functional drink may gain popularity among those seeking health benefits and improved exercise performance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 453-466
Author(s):  
Seydou Sane

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight, through a theoretical and empirical analysis, the expected effects of the use of tools and techniques of project management on the performance of SMEs in Africa. Design/methodology/approach The study uses data from a questionnaire survey of 157 SMEs in Senegal. The sample was chosen for convenience. Also, for data processing, the author mobilized descriptive statistics, factor analysis and regression analysis. Findings Regardless of size, SMEs use project management tools and techniques. Their use positively and significantly influences their business and social performance. Also, the size of the SME is positively and significantly associated with the use of tools and techniques; however, the results show that the older the SME, the less it uses such tools and techniques. Research limitations/implications This research provides an overview of the tools and techniques of project management used by SMEs and their contribution to performance, everything that can support them in choosing the appropriate tools and techniques to respond to their needs. A limitation of this research is that it does not mention the tools that contribute the most to the performance of the SMEs. Originality/value Contrary to the results of some previous research studies on SMEs in Africa, showing that the way in which SMEs operate in Africa is often characterized by less use of formal management tools, for cultural and institutional reasons, this research shows that these have a very appreciable degree of openness to project management tools and techniques.


Author(s):  
Fani Antoniou ◽  
Georgios N. Aretoulis ◽  
Dimitrios K. Konstantinidis ◽  
Glykeria P. Kalfakakou

Research focuses on the perceptions of engineers towards highway projects contract types' (CTs) performance and their respective selection criteria (SC). A questionnaire survey evaluated the CTs against the selected criteria. The SPSS database's sample consisted of 91 engineers from Greece and abroad. Factor analysis identified groups of selection criteria representing the performance of each CT and reflecting the engineers' perceptions. Patterns of changes in engineers' assessment of the contract types' performance were noted and justified. Apart from the total sample, analysis considered participants' subgroups, such as Greek and foreign engineers, and experienced engineers in the private and public sector. Nationality and experience of participants influence the factors' content. Moreover, a number of criteria tend to cluster together irrespective of CT and engineers' profile. These pairs of criteria include all uncertainties' criteria, Scope and Process Uncertainty, Contractual Difficulties and Claims, and finally Value for Money and Criticality of Schedule.


2019 ◽  
Vol 90 ◽  
pp. 03004
Author(s):  
Jusoh Nizar ◽  
Mohamad Wijayanuddin Ali ◽  
Tuan Abdullah Tuan Amran ◽  
Husain Alias ◽  
Zamri Chik

The objective of this paper is to assess the occupational accident model construct using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The data for the study were obtained from the questionnaire survey using Likert scale rated 1 to 10 on 450 workers at the oil and gas terminal in Terengganu. CFA was used to verify the fitness of measurement model construct of occupational accident. A total of 53 significant items for the overall variables of occupational accident input were studied. In conclusion, all the variables of occupational accident construct such as engineering, human, and technical factors comply with the requirements of dimensions, validity, and reliability of the CFA requirement.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 1690-1708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Olusola Babatunde ◽  
Srinath Perera

Purpose The presence of previous awarded public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects that significantly delays reaching financial close constrain the likely success of new PPP projects. However, effort at investigating financial close delays of PPP projects through empirical studies by the research community received scant attention. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to identify and assess the factors causing delays in PPP projects from reaching financial close in developing countries. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted literature review and questionnaire survey. In order to capture a broad perception, a questionnaire survey was adopted, which was administered to three different primary stakeholder categories comprised public sector authorities (i.e. ministries, department, and agencies), concessionaires, and lenders/banks already involved in PPP infrastructure projects implementation in Nigeria. The data obtained were analysed using mean score, Kruskal-Wallis test, and factor analysis. Findings The study revealed the mean score ranking of 39 identified causes of financial close delays in PPP projects, and the mean score values for all the identified 39 causes of financial close delays are very high. The study, through factor analysis, categorised the 39 identified causes of financial close delays into eight principal factors. The factors are: decreased bankability of PPP projects; unstable economic policy; weak financial, technical, and managerial capabilities of the concessionaires; weak public institutions; lack of creditworthiness of both the project sponsors and active partner; unfavourable economy of the host country; weak legal and unfavourable environment; and high contingent liabilities, respectively. Practical implications The identification and evaluation of the factors delaying PPP projects development from reaching financial close in a reasonable time manner would be useful for PPP primary stakeholders to develop strategies to safeguard the present and future PPP projects implementation in developing countries. Originality/value The study findings would be useful for both policymakers considering PPP projects and private investors seeking to finance PPP projects in developing countries. This study is crucial as not many empirical studies have been conducted in developing countries.


2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 552-570 ◽  
Author(s):  
Solomon Olusola Babatunde ◽  
Onaopepo Adeniyi ◽  
Oluwaseyi Alabi Awodele

Purpose The land is a critical resource for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in infrastructure development. However, acquisition of land for PPP infrastructure projects implementation increasingly becomes problematic in developing countries. Yet, effort at investigating the factors causing a delay in land acquisition for PPP infrastructure projects through an empirical method in developing countries received scant attention. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify and critically assess the factors predisposing PPP projects implementation to land acquisition delay in Nigeria using an empirical approach. Design/methodology/approach The study adopted literature review and questionnaire survey. For instance, literature review was used to identify the factors causing delay in land acquisition for PPP projects in developing countries, which was used to design the questionnaire survey culminating in data analysis. To capture a broad perception, the questionnaires were administered to three different primary stakeholder groups comprised public sector authorities (i.e. ministries, department, agencies), concessionaires and lenders/banks involved in PPP projects implementation in Nigeria. Data collected were analysed using mean score, Kruskal–Wallis test and factor analysis. Findings The study revealed the mean score ranking of 22 identified factors causing a delay in land acquisition for PPP projects in Nigeria. The result of factor analysis grouped the 22 identified factors into 4 principal factors, namely, resettlement issues with political interference; non-availability of land with a higher cost of land transactions; weak planning institutions; and rehabilitation issues with extensive legal delays. Practical implications These study findings have implications for both policymakers considering PPP projects and private investors seeking to finance a PPP project in developing countries. Also, the study findings would be useful for the governments in Nigeria and other developing countries to formulate clear policies framework that facilitates the smooth acquisition of land for PPP projects. Originality/value The study will be beneficial to the potential local and foreign private investors and governments by broadening their awareness on impediments in land acquisition for PPP projects in Nigeria and developing countries at large. These study findings are crucial, as not many empirical studies have been conducted in Nigeria and many other developing countries.


Author(s):  
Jiří Urbanec ◽  
Hana Urbancová

This contribution is concerned with identifying benefits of applying business continuity management based on international standards; it also makes an effort to provide an assessment of causes leading to and consequences arising from its implementation or non-implementation. This article presents the verification of theoretical benefits mentioned in foreign literature in comparison with a practical application of business continuity management according to the standards in Czech organizations. Furthermore, it also points out its negative aspects. Primary data was assessed statistically by means of a factor analysis which confirmed the initial suppositions. Moreover, the outcomes obtained were compared with the outcomes of similar surveys conducted abroad. The data for verification was gathered by means of a questionnaire survey and through interviews. The results confirm that organizations applying business continuity management according to the standards see benefits primarily in the area of employees’ awareness of potential threats and in the improvement of crisis management, particularly in large organizations operating in the tertiary sector. The results affirm that the application of business continuity management does not primarily lead to increasing the organizations’ performance but it rather results in minimizing disruptions of organizations’ business activities and in maintaining their performance level.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny Rahmah Fadhlilah

This study aim is to determine the perceptions and interests of Micro and Small Business Enterprises (MSEs) of small micro business users of the Muslim money lenders against Islamic Microfinance institution services. To view and analyze the five factors of interest used in personal, environment, convenience, service, and debt. Based on the five factors mentioned, the dominant factor that formed the interest will be distinguished. This research was conducted in Bogor City Walk with the sample of 57 respondents. Data was collected by questionnaire survey using the tools that have been tested for validity and reliability. Analysis of study factors to see the interest is done by using factor analysis while to view the perception used descriptive statistik. The results of the factor analysis showed interest in the perpetrator obtained the conclusion that Muslim enterprises used money lenders service users against the Islamic financial services are caused by sosial factors : the magnitude of motivation, ease the requirements, and strategic location.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-76
Author(s):  
Mazlan Awang ◽  
Mohd Razif Idris ◽  
Zuriyati Zakaria

This paper presents an exploratory study on the development of lean readiness index for Malaysian hospitals. A questionnaire survey were obtained from 118 public hospitals and lean readiness model was developed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and the relevant constructs were identified using confirmatory factor analysis. The Lean Readiness Index (LRI) is formulated and a ruler in associate with the LRI were proposed as to meet the objective of the study. The finding to emerge from this study is that only 10.1% of Malaysian public hospitals have ‘good’ readiness status. The study also revealed the overall LRI’s value is 0.617 and, the majority of the hospitals were categorize as having ‘fair’ and ‘weak’ readiness status. The result indicated that training had the strongest association towards lean readiness while communication is the least. This study had revealed the readiness level for lean implementation in Malaysian public hospitals and proposed the required foundation that need to be enhanced before implementing lean.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (S1) ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
Aryani Ahmad Latiffi ◽  
Noorul Adharina Zulkiffli

Leadership skills are required in any area, including the construction industry. Compared to conventional construction projects, the obstacles of practising leadership skills are more significant in sustainable construction projects. In the context of managing a project, a project manager is accountable for overseeing the project from the pre-construction phase to the post-construction phase. Nevertheless, project managers often encountered utmost difficulties in sustainable construction projects during the pre-construction phase. Despite that, improving leadership skills would emerge to boost project manager performance in managing sustainable construction projects. Thus, this paper aims to determine the improvement factors of leadership skills among project managers in the pre-construction phase of sustainable construction projects. A questionnaire survey was developed with 44 improvement factors of leadership skills among project managers in the pre-construction phase of sustainable construction projects, in which 153 experienced project managers in sustainable construction projects in Malaysia responded. Data were analysed using normality test, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and reliability analysis via IBM SPSS version 24 software. The finding reveals that all improvement factors were significant to improve leadership skills among project managers in the pre-construction phase of sustainable construction projects. Hence, this paper's findings would assist project managers in grasping the improvement factors that can improve their leadership skills, particularly in sustainable construction projects.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document