Wichita State University

About: Wichita State University is a education organization based out in Wichita, Kansas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 4988 authors who have published 9563 publications receiving 253824 citations. The organization is also known as: WSU & Fairmount College.

Critical Success Factors For Supplier Selection: An Update

Abstract: For many organizations effective supplier evaluation and purchasing processes are of vital importance. As the pace of market globalization quickens, the number of potential suppliers and the number of factors to consider when selecting suppliers increases. In this paper we present the critical success factors (CSFs) for supplier selection reported in the literature emanating from the seminal work of Dickson and provide an update based on reviewing more than 110 research papers. Our study indicates significant change in the relative importance of various critical success factors in the research reported during 1966-1990 versus 1990-2001. Increased competition and globalization of markets facilitated by Internet-based technologies have combined to dramatically change the ranking of factors while introducing new criteria to the supplier selection process. Based on the results of this study, we conclude that supplier selection criteria will continue to change based on an expanded definition of excellence to include traditional aspects of performance (quality, delivery, price, service) in addition to non-traditional, evolving ones (just-in-time communication, process improvement, supply chain management).

Using the End-User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) Instrument to Measure Satisfaction With a Web Site

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to revise and revalidate the End-User Computing Satisfaction (EUCS) instrument to measure satisfaction with a Web site from a usability perspective. This study is especially important given the increased significance of the Web and the uniqueness of the Web as a computing environment. A total of 176 students participated in a lab simulation that involved a usability evaluation of the Lands' End Web site (http://www.landsend.com). Students were asked to complete a set of tasks, record their answers, and then complete the EUCS instrument. Confirmatory factor analysis and invariance analyses were conducted to test the reliability, validity, and generalizability of the revised EUCS. The results show that the EUCS is a valid and robust instrument in the Web environment but that one of the subfactors, timeliness, will need further refinement in the future. Usability practitioners can use the EUCS to measure end-user satisfaction with a Web site and use the feedback for improving Web-site design. We describe a case study of an actual usability application that utilized the revised EUCS effectively to support the design of building supply Web sites involving two types of end users, homeowners and contractors. We also propose a typology that researchers can use as a starting point to judge when it is necessary to revalidate an instrument like the EUCS. Finally, we discuss the limitations of our study and present avenues for future research.

Representativeness and Elections: A Policy Analysis*

Abstract: This paper looks at representativeness in terms of policy dimensions As previous studies also have demonstrated, the analysis provides evidence that the level of policy agreement varies across policy domains The policy linkage is weak on questions of taxation and government administration Only on contemporary liberalism does the level of policy agreement begin to meet the standards of representational theory The occurrence of elections is found to be a particularly important determinant of legislative voting vis-a-vis constituency preferences California senators, elected for four-year terms, are undeniably unrepresentative to direct opinion during the first three years of their terms; representativeness increases dramatically during the final year Senators facing the possibility of having their reelection fortunes adversely affected by a presidential campaign are particularly attuned to district opinion during the final year of their terms Assemblymen, who are elected for two-year terms, are attuned to the wishes of their constituencies throughout their terms As the Founding Fathers believed, the frequency of elections conditions representatives' loyalty to the preferences of the represented

Limits on cloud-induced fluctuation in photovoltaic generation

Abstract: The cost and the effect on utility reliability of rapidly changing PV (photovoltaic) generation on a partly-cloudy day were investigated. When cloud shadows move across a PV array, the array's power output is reduced. It resumes full production when the shadow moves away. The utility must follow these changes with other types of generation. Under certain cloud conditions, these changes can be large and fast. A methodology is presented to assess the cost of such fluctuations in PV generation and their effect on a utility's ability to serve its load. A case study of one large utility in Kansas is performed using this technique. >