• Journal of Korean Society for Quality Management
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.617-632
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aims to explore the relationship between the focal firm's interdepartmental cooperation and new product development (NPD) performance with focus on the moderating effect of environmental uncertainty. The basic hypothesized model is that there are positively associated relationships. Methods: The proposed research model was tested using structural equation modeling with 601 responses from multi-functional and multiple respondents in Korean manufacturing firms. Multi-group SEM analyses were conducted to explore the degree to which the hypothesized model was equivalent for different levels of environmental uncertainty. Results: Interdepartmental cooperation between R&D and production is positively associated with NPD performance under both higher and lower environmental uncertainties, while one between R&D and marketing is positively associated under only higher environmental uncertainty. Conclusion: This paper determined that NPD performance is positively correlated with R&D-production cooperation in a focal firm, and the relationship between R&D-marketing cooperation and NPD performance is positively moderated by level of environmental uncertainty. Consequently, this study suggests that it is always important for firms to put much effort on R&D-production cooperation for a better NPD performance, while R&D-marketing cooperation should be enhanced especially under higher environmental uncertainty than lower.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.8-15
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• 2012

Mobile Entertainment is the new era in mobile communication. Mobile Entertainment service is a combination of games, music, videos, chatting and telecommunication which has created a wide market in India. There is a variation between male and female customers towards Mobile Entertainment services. This study is aimed at analyzing gender impact of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behaviour control intention and behaviour towards mobile entertainment services. The Theory of planned Behaviour (TPB) provided a framework. Total 566 male and 376 female mobile users of different age groups participated in the research. The data analysis was conducted in three-stages. First, reliability tests were performed. Upon satisfactory results, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) is used to analysis convergent, concurrent and discriminant validity of the model. Once the model was validated Structural Equation Model (SEM) Multi-group analysis is used to find the impact of gender behaviour towards Mobile entertainment services. The results of the study confirmed that the model is viable in predicting variation in gender impact on mobile entertainment services. The findings have revealed that attitude, perceived behaviour control and intention has a significant impact on behaviour to use mobile entertainment but subjective norm has no significant impact on behaviour to use mobile entertainment.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.230-239
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• 2021

There is a growing interest in project management knowledge, project management information systems, and process improvement to systematically project execution in public sectors, achieve high performance and value, and increase the effectiveness of the overall industry. In particular, the software industry is a knowledge-intensive industry centered on professional manpower. This study examines the effect of the project managers' competences of regional SW promotion agencies on and project performance and the moderating effect of the level of project management maturity. We collected data using a questionnaire to the project managers of regional SW promotion agencies. In this study, a structural equation model was used to analyze the relationship between project managers' competences and performance. In addition, a multi-group structural equation model was used to analyze the moderating effect according to the high and low project maturity. As a result of the analysis, it was found that only contextual competence among the competences of the project manager had a positive effect on project performance. It was found that technical and behavioral competence did not have a positive effect on management and completion performance. It was found that the moderating effect according to the maturity of business management of local institutions was not significant.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2013

This article examines gender differences in stress levels and coping strategies while using mobile phones. We constructed an e-mail survey to collect data from 1,000 adults in South Korea, and used latent means comparison and multi-group structural regression in structural equation modeling. It was determined that as compared to men, women were more vulnerable to stress. Regarding coping, women used all three coping strategies more equally than men, including active coping, expressive support seeking, and avoidance, whereas men mainly chose active coping; however, there were no significant gender differences in coping outcomes, and both women and men coped effectively by choosing their own personal strategies. We suggested how to reduce stress levels for women through enhancing their self-efficacy, as self-efficacy was shown to reduce stress levels specifically for women. Additionally, based on our findings, we proposed how both men and women could cope more effectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Industrial and Systems Engineering
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.78-91
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• 2017

In this study, we conducted a comparative study on user's perception and behavior on public system service (PSS) using institutionalism theory and MGA (multi-group analysis) methodology. In particular, this study focuses on how institutional isomorphism is applied to public system services and how MGA can be implemented correctly in a variance based SEM (structural equation model) such as PLS (partial least square). A data set of 496 effective responses was collected from pubic system users and an empirical research was conducted using three segmented models categorized by public proximity theory (public firms = 113, government contractors = 210, private contractors = 173). For rigorous group comparisons, each model was estimated by the same indicators and approaches. PLS-SEM was used in testing research hypotheses, followed by parametric and non-parametric PLS-MGA procedures in testing categorical moderation effects. This study applied novel procedures for testing composite measurement invariance prior to multi-group comparisons. The following main results and implications are drawn : 1) Partial measurement invariance was established. Multi-group analysis can be done by decomposed models although data can not be pooled for one integrated model. 2) Multi-group analysis using various approaches showed that proximity to public sphere moderated some hypothesized paths from quality dimensions to user satisfaction, which means that categorical moderating effects were partially supported. 3) Careful attention should be given to the selection of statistical test methods and the interpretation of the results of multi-group analysis, taking into account the different outcomes of the PLS-MGA test methods and the low statistical power of the moderating effect. It is necessary to use various methods such as comparing the difference in the path coefficient significance and the significance of the path coefficient difference between the groups. 4) Substantial differences in the perceptions and behaviors of PSS users existed according to proximity to public sphere, including the significance of path coefficients, mediation and categorical moderation effects. 5) The paper also provides detailed analysis and implication from a new institutional perspective. This study using a novel and appropriate methodology for performing group comparisons would be useful for researchers interested in comparative studies employing institutionalism theory and PLS-SEM multi-group analysis technique.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.513-523
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• 2018

Time dependent strain due to creep is a significant factor in structural design. Multi-gene genetic programming (MGGP) and artificial neural network (ANN) are used to develop two models for prediction of creep compliance in concrete. The first model was developed by MGGP technique and the second model by hybridized MGGP-ANN. In the MGGP-ANN, the ANN is working in parallel with MGGP to predict errors in MGGP model. A total of 187 experimental data sets that contain 4242 data points are filtered from the NU-ITI database. These data are used in developing the MGGP and MGGP-ANN models. These models contain six input variables which are: average compressive strength at 28 days, relative humidity, volume to surface ratio, cement type, age at start of loading and age at the creep measurement. Practical equation based on MGGP was developed. A parametric study carried out with a group of hypothetical data generated among the range of data used to check the generalization ability of MGGP and MGGP-ANN models. To confirm validity of MGGP and MGGP-ANN models; two creep prediction code models (ACI209 and CEB), two empirical models (B3 and GL 2000) are used to compare their results with NU-ITI database.

• The Mathematical Education
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.443-458
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• 2019

Mathematical modeling has been a crucial topic in mathematics education as students' problem solving competency are regarded as a core skill for future society. Despite of the importance of mathematical modeling in school mathematics, there have been very limited studies relating pre-service teachers' knowledge and perceptions on mathematical modeling. In this vein, this study aimed to investigate pe-service mathematics teachers' perceptions on mathematical model, mathematical modeling and educational use of mathematical modeling, and their relationships. The current study utilized a survey consisted of 18 items. The responses of 210 pre-service mathematics teachers to the survey items were quantitatively analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, the structural equation model, and multi group analysis. The results of analysis of variance revealed that pre-service teachers in difference groups (majors, grades, and experiences with mathematical modeling) showed statistically significant differences in mean values. Moreover, according to the results from the structural equation modeling analysis, pre-service mathematics teachers' perceptions on mathematical model and modeling affected their perceptions on educational use of mathematical modeling. In addition, depending on their pre-experiences with mathematical modeling, pre-service teachers represented a different relationship between perceptions on mathematical modeling and educational use of mathematical modeling. Implications for future studies and mathematics classrooms were discussed.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.63
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• pp.255-281
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to investigate the structural relationship among self-directed learning ability, learner-instructor interaction, learner-learner interaction, and class satisfaction in online learning environments by the structural equation modelling (SEM). Participants of the study consisted of 300 students (110 = high school students, 190 = college students). Through latent mean analysis (LMA), there was no significant difference of study variables between high school and college groups. However, thorough multi-group analysis, self-directed learning ability had a direct and indirect effect on class satisfaction for the college group via learner-instructor and learner-learner interactions, while learner-learner interaction played a full mediating role of the relationship between self-directed learning ability and class satisfaction for the high school group. In addition, self-directed learning ability had a stronger influence on learner-learner interaction for the college group than the high school group. These results would provide important implications for understanding the different mechanisms between high school and college online learning contexts.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.32-42
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• 2019

This study is aim to the effects of job satisfaction on the major satisfaction of science and engineering college students and also analyzed the mediating effects of future outlook of job and major relevance in career choice. To do this, structural equation modeling(SEM) and multi-group SEM were applied to data from 2016 Graduate Occupational Mobility Survey(GOMS). In the results of this study, the major satisfaction, future outlook of job and major relevance were positive effects on job satisfaction and the mediating effects of future outlook of job and major relevance were verified. And results of analysis according to gender difference, the coefficient of woman was smaller than man. Among major satisfaction had a positive effect on job satisfaction, job satisfaction fell for women who value their relevance to the major when choosing a job. Based on such results, universities need to further strengthen their role in helping them enhance their expertise through skills and learning about their majors.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.5-19
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• 2019

Purpose - The purpose of this research is to investigate the factors contributing to sustainable competitive advantage for multi-level marketing (MLM) firms in Malaysia. The selected variables in this study are company image, product innovation, leadership, distributor rewards system and distributor training system. Research design, data, and methodology - Quantitative research method is employed with collected sample size of 398 respondents using judgmental sampling technique. Normality and reliability test were performed in the first stage utilizing SPSS 22 and Confirmatory Factory Analysis (CFA) and variance analysis were obtained in the subsequent stage, following up with the overall fit of the measurement model, Structural Equation Model (SEM) using AMOS 22 with maximum likelihood estimation to assess the internal consistency, convergent validity and discriminant validity. Results - The research findings show that company image, leadership, distributor rewards system and distributor training system were supported and are factors affecting the sustainable competitive advantage of MLM companies in Malaysia. However, in this study, product innovation was not supported but this result does not depict that it is trivial and inconsequential in maintain sustainable advantage. Conclusion - Companies can build sustainable competitive advantage by focusing on these contributing factors. Several other comments and implications were brought to light and discussed in the paper.