Showing papers in "Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences in 2013"

The Relationship between Innovation and Firm Performance: An Empirical Evidence from Turkish Automotive Supplier Industry

Abstract: Innovation is widely regarded as one of the most important sources of sustainable competitive advantage in an increasingly changing environment, because it leads to product and process improvements, makes continuous advances that helps firms to survive, allows firms to grow more quickly, be more efficient, and ultimately be more profitable than non-innovators. The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between innovation and firm performance. The survey of this study is conducted on top level managers of 113 firms operating in the automotive supplier industry which is one of the most innovative industries in Turkey, as of the year 2011. The obtained data from the questionnaires are analyzed through the SPSS statistical package program. Analysis results demonstrated that technological innovation (product and process innovation) has significant and positive impact on firm performance, but no evidence was found for a significant and positive relationship between non- technological innovation (organizational and marketing innovation) and firm performance.

A Study on Multiple Linear Regression Analysis

Abstract: Regression analysis is a statistical technique for estimating the relationship among variables which have reason and result relation. Main focus of univariate regression is analyse the relationship between a dependent variable and one independent variable and formulates the linear relation equation between dependent and independent variable. Regression models with one dependent variable and more than one independent variables are called multilinear regression. In this study, data for multilinear regression analysis is occur from Sakarya University Education Faculty student's lesson (measurement and evaluation, educational psychology, program development, counseling and instructional techniques) scores and their 2012- KPSS score. Assumptions of multilinear regression analysis- normality, linearity, no extreme values- and missing value analysis were examined. The data that verify the assumptions were analyzed with multiple regression and lessons measurement and evaluation, instructional techniques, counseling, program development and educational psychology were estimate the KPSS respectively.

A Review of Advances of Nanotechnology in Asphalt Mixtures

Abstract: This paper reviews the advances in using nano-materials in hot mix asphalt. The clay nano-particles are the primary materials applying in asphalt construction. Adding nano-particles like nanoclay, nanosilica, and nanotubes in asphalts normally increase the viscosity of asphalt binders and improves the rutting and fatigue resistance of asphalt mixtures. Using nanoclay as the second modifier in polymer modified asphalts can improve the storage stability and the aging resistance of polymer modified asphalts. Various Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) techniques (e.g. tapping mode imaging, force spectroscopy, and nano-indentation) as well as X-ray diffraction (XRD) experiments can be conducted on modified asphalt binders to characterize the micro or nano-scale structures of nano-asphalts. Through the reasonable selection of nano-materials used in asphalt, nano-modified asphalt can offer many benefits in cold regions.

Mobile Augmented Reality: The Potential for Education☆

Abstract: The rapid evolution of technology has changed the face of education, especially when technology was combined with adequate pedagogical foundations. This combination has created new opportunities for improving the quality of teaching and learning experiences. Until recently, Augmented Reality (AR) is one of the latest technologies that offer a new way to educate. Due to the rising popularity of mobile devices globally, the widespread use of AR on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets has become a growing phenomenon. Therefore, this paper reviews several literatures concerning the information about mobile augmented reality and exemplify the potentials for education.

Effects of Green Manufacturing and Eco-innovation on Sustainability Performance☆

Abstract: Firms are facing growing pressure to become “greener” or more environmentally friendly. Consequently, firms have had to review their production processes as a result of pressures from the community and governments. This pilot study investigated the influence of green manufacturing and eco-innovation on corporate sustainability performance (economic, environmental, and social). Data were collected through a questionnaire-based survey across 53 companies from automotive, chemistry and electronic sectors in Turkey. The empirical model was tested using regression analysis, to verify the hypothetical relationships of the study. The results of this study indicate that the green manufacturing applications have a significant positive impact on environmental performance and social performance. Additionally, eco-process innovation has a significant positive impact on corporate sustainability. However, eco-product innovation was not found to have a significant effect on any of the three types of performance.

Short Term Traffic Flow Prediction for a Non Urban Highway Using Artificial Neural Network

Abstract: This study applies Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for short term prediction of traffic flow using past traffic data. The model incorporates traffic volume, speed, density, time and day of week as input variables. Speed of each category of vehicles was considered separately as input variables in contrast to previous studies reported in literature which consider average speed of combined traffic flow. Results show that Artificial Neural Network has consistent performance even if time interval for traffic flow prediction was increased from 5 minutes to 15 minutes and produced good results even though speeds of each category of vehicles were considered separately as input variables.

Sustainable BIM-based evaluation of buildings

Abstract: For a sustainable building, the use of energy always concerns clients and designers. In this respect, the UK national regulation on energy performance and ‘carbon’ accounting has asked for a greater consistency of construction information to achieve the CO2 emission target. Therefore, Clients and Industry should work closely together in developing plans to make the transition to low carbon buildings feasible in order to meet the CO2 emission target. In this context, Building Information Modelling (BIM) can play a key role in addition to its capability to create more homogenisation of the construction supply-chain. For the energy analysis packages, the designers usually receive feedback on their design; such as how much energy the building will use, what are the anticipated CO2 emissions and if the building will pass performance criteria (such as: LEED or BREEAM). BIM applications for energy analysis have been introduced to improve this process but mostly at the design stage. However, for the post-occupancy stage, there is a need for a proper and systematic methodology to monitor the behaviour of buildings and to make critical decisions to ensure that the energy criteria of the design are really met in practice. This paper introduces a conceptual BIM-based model that can improve the post-occupancy evaluation process and meet the industry requirements for sustainable buildings.

Perceived Usefulness, Ease of Use, and Attitude Towards Online Shopping Usefulness Towards Online Airlines Ticket Purchase

Abstract: Internet acceptance has been widely tested using Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which records perceived ease of use and usefulness towards the use of internet for shopping online. It is because perceived ease of use and usefulness affect attitudes toward usability. To prove if that‘s the case or not this research was undertaken. Its purpose is to measure the influence of perceived ease of use and usefulness on attitudes toward usability to confirm the past research. Questionnaire was deployed as research instrument to collect data. Respondents to the study were the consumers who have access to the internet. Data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The result show that perceived usefulness influence the attitudes towards usability of airlines ticket reservation stronger than perceived ease of use and trust.

An Improved K-nearest Neighbor Model for Short-term Traffic Flow Prediction

Abstract: In order to accurately predict the short-term traffic flow, this paper presents a k-nearest neighbor (KNN) model. Short-term urban expressway flow prediction system based on k-NN is established in three aspects: the historical database, the search mechanism and algorithm parameters, and the predication plan. At first, preprocess the original data and then standardized the effective data in order to avoid the magnitude difference of the sample data and improve the prediction accuracy. At last, a short-term traffic prediction based on k-NN nonparametric regression model is developed in the Matlab platform. Utilizing the Shanghai urban expressway section measured traffic flow data, the comparison of average and weighted k-NN nonparametric regression model is discussed and the reliability of the predicting result is analyzed. Results show that the accuracy of the proposed method is over 90 percent and it also rereads that the feasibility of the methods is used in short-term traffic flow prediction.

Educational data mining: A review

Abstract: Data Mining is very useful in the field of education especially when examining students’ learning behavior in online learning environment This is due to the potential of data mining in analyzing and uncovering the hidden information of the data itself which is hard and very time consuming if to be done manually The purpose of this review is to look into how the data mining was tackled by previous scholars and the latest trends on data mining in educational research Several limitations of existing research are discussed and some directions for future research are suggested

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Innovation–The Drivers of Business Growth?

Abstract: Nowadays, CSR and Innovation are the foundation of business competencies. CRS and innovation has emerged slowly over the past decade. Improvements in the CRS process can refer to as ‘social innovation’. Companies should do more to tackle the issues such as: social justices, poverty and climate change. The only successful brands of the future will be the ones that see these challenges as opportunities for innovation, rather than risks to be alleviated. As stated by the department of Trade and Industry in the United Kingdom, CSR represent “the integrity with which a company govern itself, fulfils its mission, lives by its value, engages with its stakeholders, measures its impact and reports on its activities” . Further, we analyze the main four topics related to CRS and innovation, starting with Corporate Social Innovation; which will refer to a product innovation with a social purpose, in addition we will focus on the important subtheme of corporate social innovation focused on low-income market - Base of the Pyramid (BOP). Moreover, Social Entrepreneurship will be analyzed since they act as the change agents for society, seizing opportunities others miss and improving systems, inventing new approaches, and creating solutions to change society for the better. Likewise, the paper will point the significance of Eco–Innovation as a new discipline with the purpose of describing products and processes that contribute to sustainable development.

Blended Learning - Its Challenges and Future☆

Abstract: Nowadays, the trend of e-learning is increasing day by day and one of the tools to implement this concept is through Blended Learning. This paper gives the overview of the concept of Blended Learning from different perspectives such as the Holistic Perspective, te Educational Perspective, the Pragmatic Perspective, the Corporate Training Perspective and the Chief Learning Officer (CLO) Perspective. It also describes the various blended learning strategies. This paper also discloses the methods used in Blended Learning such as the synchronous instructional method and the asynchronous instructional method, which will help the readers to select the best instructional method. Besides this, the paper also reveals the dimensions of the blended learning approach i.e. blending offline and online learning, self-paced blending and live blending, collaborative learning, and blending structured and unstructured learning. This paper also describes the areas where this technique is beneficial, along with the challenges faced by this technique such as technical Challenges, organizational challenges and instructional design challenges. Then the Blended Learning process is described in terms of its various advantages. Factors that promote successful blended learning are also mentioned in this paper. Finally, some recommendations are suggested for future research.

Adoption and Application of Mobile Learning in the Education Industry

Abstract: The paper has three aims: First, it provides a historical overview of mobile learning concept and evolution. Secondly, it discusses the mobile learning adoption and application in the education industry. The evidences reviewed confirm the significant use of mobile learning in the education industry. Mobile learning is gaining its popularity as it is accepted to be an effective technique of delivering lesson and acquiring knowledge as its main strengths are anytime and anyplace. It can be utilized in many ways in the education industry. Through this review of the literature, the researchers looked into the influential factors that contribute for mobile learning utilization. These factors have prompted many researchers to further research on mobile learning due to its potential in making teaching and learning more attractive and promising. Issues and challenges in adopting mobile learning were also highlighted. Finally, this paper reveals areas in mobile learning that require further studies.

The Relationship of Job Stress with Turnover Intention and Job Performance: Moderating Role of OBSE

Abstract: The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship of job stress with turnover intention and job performance, consi dering the moderating role of organization-based self-esteem (OBSE). Data collected from 286 employees of Iranian National Drilling Company (INDC), who were selected by simple random sampling method. Pearson correlation and Moderated regression analysis through SPSS 19 software package were used for data analysis. Findings indicate the negative relationship between job stress and job performance and positive relationship between job stress and turnover intention. In addition, organization -based self-esteem (OBSE) significantly moderated the relationship of job stress with turnover intention and job performance.

Semantic Network Analysis as a Method for Visual Text Analytics

Abstract: This paper proposes an approach on a method for visual text analytics to support knowledge building, analytical reasoning and explorative analysis. For this purpose we use semantic network models that are automatically retrieved from unstructured text data using a parametric k -next-neighborhood model. Semantic networks are analyzed with methods of network analysis to gain quantitative and qualitative insights. Quantitative metrics can support the qualitative analysis and exploration of semantic structures. We discuss theoretical presuppositions regarding the text modeling with semantic networks to provide a basis for subsequent semantic network analysis. By presenting a systematic overview of basic network elements and their qualitative meaning for semantic network analysis, we describe exploration strategies that can support analysts to make sense of a given network. As a proof of concept, we illustrate the proposed method by an exemplary analysis of a wikipedia article using a visual text analytics system that leverages semantic network visualization for exploration and analysis.

The Effect of Organizational Culture on Firm Financial Performance: Evidence from a Developing Country☆

Abstract: Literature on organizational culture constantly reinforces the notion that organisational culture is necessary for effective functioning and performance of the organisations. Although numerous studies have been conducted to explore the relationship between organisational culture and performance, empirical findings seem to be mixed and inconclusive. This article attempts to further investigate the role of organisational culture on firm financial performance. Research hypotheses are developed from the related literatures and tested through the data collected from managers of the firms in Gaziantep in Turkey. Data is analysed via SPSS program using the regression analyses. The results show that organisational culture dimensions have no effect on firm financial performance. Considering the limitations of the current study, the findings need to be evaluated with caution. Discussions and implications of the results are provided in the conclusion part of the study.

Knowledge Sharing Process, Innovation Capability and Innovation Performance: An Empirical Study

Abstract: The knowledge sharing and innovation have been subject to many studies in the literature. The knowledge sharing and innovation are two important and interrelated subjects that need to be further explored to understand their dynamics and implications. Knowledge sharing has implication for innovation capability and innovation performance of the firms. Innovation capability also affects innovation performance of the firms. This study focuses on the knowledge sharing process and its impact on innovation capability and innovation performance of the firms. The research model along with hypotheses are developed from the literature and tested based on the data collected through a survey on companies in Kahramanmaras. The obtained data from the questionnaires are analyzed through Smart PLS 2.0 program. The results from the study partially confirm hypothesized the influence of knowledge sharing process on innovation capability of the firms. The effect of innovation capability on innovation performance constitutes another finding of this study. However, the hypothesized the influence of knowledge sharing process on innovation performance was not realized. Theoretical and practical implications of the study were discussed in the conclusion part of the study.

Microscopic Calibration and Validation of Car-Following Models – A Systematic Approach

Abstract: Calibration and validation techniques are crucial in assessing the descriptive and predictive power of car-following models and their suitability for analyzing traffic flow. Using real and generated floating-car and trajectory data, we systematically investigate following aspects: Data requirements and preparation, conceptional approach including local maximum-likelihood and global LSE calibration with several objective functions, influence of the data sampling rate and measuring errors, the effect of data smoothing on the calibration result, and model performance in terms of fitting quality, robustness, parameter orthogonality, completeness and plausible parameter values.

Speed Distribution Curves for Pedestrians During Walking and Crossing

Abstract: Data related to pedestrian speed was taken through videographs at 7 locations in three cities of India for sidewalk and crossing. Pedestrian walking and crossing speeds are analysed on the basis of gender and type of facility. Walking speed is analyzed with respect to four types of facilities as Sidewalks, Wide-sidewalks, Precincts and Carriageway and crossing speed is analysed with respect to road width. Quantitative analysis in terms of 15th, 50th and 85th percentile and speed ratio for different locations and conditions are found and compared. Speed during walking and crossing is modelled by continuous distribution function for various types of facilities. The analysis shows that the pedestrian speed is different for different locations, gender, and facilities. F-test suggests that there is a significant difference between pedestrian walking speed and crossing speed. The pedestrian speed on precinct is found significantly different from that on other facilities.

Method for Automated Assessment of Potholes, Cracks and Patches from Road Surface Video Clips

Abstract: Potholes, cracks and patches are some types of road surface distresses whose assessment is essential in India. In the current field practices, road distress data assessment is reported to be done through distress data collection and processing of the collected raw data. At present, distress data collection is increasingly being automated by using various imaging systems. However, analysis of the collected raw video clips for distress assessment is still predominantly being done manually. This is expensive, time consuming and slows down the road maintenance management. In this paper, a robust method for automated detection and assessment of potholes, cracks and patches from real life video clips of Indian highways is proposed. In the proposed method, potholes, cracks and patches are detected and quantified automatically using various image processing techniques supported by heuristically derived decision logic. For testing its performance, the proposed method has been implemented under a Windows environment using OpenCV library. The results are evaluated through accuracy and precision- recall metrics and compared with the methods presented by earlier researchers as well as current practices in the field. And the proposed method is found to be more robust and efficient. The information extracted using the proposed method can be used for determining maintenance levels of Indian roads and taking further appropriate actions for repair and rehabilitation.

Adaptation and Stress for the First Year University Students

Abstract: This study aims to explore college adjustment and its relationship with stress for 157 students (48 males, 109 females) from humanities field of Transilvania University of Brasov. I used Baker and Siryk's Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire and Gadzella's Student-life Stress Inventory, and in addition a demographic mini-questionnaire for factual data. I anticipated narrow relationships between stress and college adaptation, and I searched for demographic determinants (gender, age and life environment) of academic adaptation and stress. The results confirm hypotheses and reveal good psychometric properties for the instruments involved in research.

The Impact of Gender on Foreign Language Speaking Anxiety and Motivation

Abstract: This study investigates the effect of gender on foreign language speaking anxiety and learner motivation. 225 female and 158 male pre-intermediate students participated in the study. Two questionnaires were administered to the participants, and randomly selected 19 students were also interviewed. According to the results of the quantitative data, female students demonstrated a higher level of foreign language learning motivation than male students. The results also showed that the female students get more anxious than the male students while speaking in English in classroom. The results of the qualitative data showed parallelism with the quantitative results.

Sustainability Through Lean Construction Approach: A Literature Review☆

Abstract: Lean construction (LC) is excellent in managing the construction process and achieving the project's goals by eliminating waste. The objectives of this paper are to provide with fundamental knowledge of LC and highlight the barriers of its implementation. The literature reviews has been conducted through relevant databases. It was found that there is a need for more holistic approaches to be adopted in LC implementation such as health and safety, and six sigma. A systematic training and research are also found vital to provide good interaction and collaboration with the stakeholders. LC is also capable to enhance sustainability in construction thus the quality of life for future Malaysian construction industry.

Building Information Modeling (BIM): A New Paradigm for Quality of Life Within Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) Industry

Abstract: The adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) constitutes a paradigm shift in the architectural, engineering and construction (AEC) industry. Broader BIM adoption will transform construction processes to achieve greater efficiency to improve the quality of life (QOL) of construction stakeholders. This paper seeks to identify determinant factors and implementation gaps of BIM in the AEC industry. A case study was conducted through a preliminary workshop organised by CIDB among the five potential stakeholders: Public Private Partnership (PPP) Unit (UKAS), JARING, eMOST/UMP, Greenwave Synergy (GWS) and CIDB eConstruct (EC) of the AEC industry in Malaysia. The findings suggest various determining factors and gaps existed at the national and organisational levels. Finally, the workshop suggested an ‘affordable BIM concept’ with ‘pay-per-use or periodical license’ method to be adopted for SMEs contractors.

Editor for creating and applying computerise surveys

Abstract: The parallel development of the psychometric assessments and the computer technologies determined a big revolution regarding the construction and the application of psychological and educational tests. This report describes a computerized system that allows researchers to creating, applying, and tabulating surveys and paper instruments in an automatized way. Many studies describe the use of this tool, highlighting its main characteristics. This system can be considered a useful tool, since it permits to input data with higher precision and no need for previous codifications. Further, it allows researchers to know the latency period from the answer to each and every item. The prospects about new versions of the system stress on: extending the number of measured topics; creating automatic corrections systems; managing data via internet; and selecting the most valid items to measure each matter or specific groups of persons.

Career Barriers for Women Executives and the Glass Ceiling Syndrome: The Case Study Comparison between French and Turkish Women Executives

Abstract: The situation where gender pay gaps are typically wider at the top of the wage distribution is known as the ‘glass ceiling’. It is one of the most compelling metaphors recently used for analyzing inequality between men and women in the workplace, in order to describe a barrier to further advancement once women have attained a certain level. The general-case glass ceiling hypothesis states that not only is it more difficult for women than for men to be promoted up levels of authority hierarchies within workplaces but also that the obstacles women face relative to men become greater as they move up the hierarchy. This study presents an overview of glass-ceiling type barriers in organizations based on the perceptions of a sample of French and Turkish mid-level women managers. This study investigates how women in middle management perceive their career advancement opportunities and what they consider their organizations to be doing to support their advancement. This study begins with an introduction of the concept of a glass ceiling that prevents women from advancing, and then continues with previous studies on corporate practices and data analysis of samples from French and Turkish organizations. The objective of this work is to summarize the Glass Ceiling Phenomenon and make a comparison of different arguments of researchers. In particular with this study, It has been pointed out that most past research has been relied on indirect tests which fail to distinguish studies of the glass ceiling effect who have investigated a variety of labour market outcomes such as promotions ( Powell and Butterfield, 1994 , Yap and Konrad(2009)), women carrier (Belgihiti Kartochian, Laufer(2004)), inequality (David J. Maume Jr.) and sex segregation (Mia Hultin, 2003 ).

The Influences of Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment on Turnover Intention

Abstract: This study aims to investigate and find out the influences of job satisfaction and organizational commitment on employee turnover intention in a production industry. There are a total of 85 questionnaires collected from 100 questionnaires that had been distributed at the chosen organization. Demographic characteristics were discussed briefly according to the frequency level and percentage. In addition, both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied to analyze the data obtained. As for inferential statistics, Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to measure the degree between independent variables with dependent variable in this research. The research findings showed that for the independent variable of job satisfaction with the factors on satisfaction with pay and supervisory support had a low, and negative significant relationship on employees’ turnover intention. However, organizational commitment had no significant relationship towards turnover intention among the employees within the organization.

The Effect of Job Related Stress on Employees’ Satisfaction: A Survey in Health Care

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of job related stress on Job Satisfaction of nursing staff working in hospitals. Job stress is one of the most important workplace health risks for employees, and job satisfaction has been considered as a crucial factor in the provision of high quality services and superior performance at hospitals. This paper presents a field survey. Drawing on a sample of 271 nurses operating in Greek hospitals, we examined the degree to which stressors such as conflict, workload, interpersonal relationships, career development, information access and feedback influence job satisfaction aspects such as physical environment, career opportunities, management style, job enrichment, rewards and job security. Results showed that conflict, heavy workload and lack of job autonomy are negatively associated with all job satisfaction dimensions, while shortage in information access and feedback is positively related to employees’ satisfaction with rewards and job security.

Does Person-organization Fit Moderate the Effects of Affective Commitment and Job Satisfaction on Turnover Intentions?☆

Abstract: P-O fit is the congruence between the norms and values of organizations and the values of its employees. Among other factors, the extent of congruence between the values and norms of an employee, to that of the organization he works for, may influence important work outcomes such as organizational commitment, job satisfaction and turnover intentions. This study examines the moderating effect of person-organization fit on the relationships between affective organizational commitment, job satisfaction and turnover intentions. Research hypotheses are tested with the data from a convenient sample of 200 employees working at higher education institutions in Turkey. Analyses revealed that the level of person – organization fit significantly moderates the effects of job satisfaction on turnover intentions. However, no such effect is observed on the relationship between affective organizational commitment and turnover intention. Theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed.

The Impacts of Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction on Customer Loyalty in Internet Banking

Abstract: This study examined the relationship and the impacts of e-SQ and e-Satisfaction on e-Loyalty in internet banking. The modified version of E-SERVQUAL instrument was used to determine e-SQ for internet banking service of a commercial bank in Malaysia. Questionnaires were collected randomly from 265 internet banking users. The findings indicated that assurance-fulfillment, efficiency-system availability; privacy, contact-responsiveness and website aesthetics and guide constitute e-SQ for the internet banking service. Website aesthetics and Guide, Efficiency-System availability and Contact-Responsiveness of the internet banking e-SQ were positively affected e-Satisfaction. E-Satisfaction was positively significant to e-Loyalty. E-Satisfaction was found to partially mediate the relationship of Website aesthetics and Guide of e-SQ and customer e-Loyalty. The result highlighted that attractiveness and appearance of banks’ websites, and the information and guidance provide by the websites are important features to internet banking users. This finding reflected that in internet banking, beside the technical and functionality aspects of banks’ websites e-SQ, such as efficiency, fulfilment and system availability, the aesthetic value and proper guidance of the websites are also crucial to ensure quality of e-SQ that will lead to e-Satisfaction and e-Loyalty.