PENGARUH KINERJA UMKM TERHADAP KESEJAHTERAAN UMKM DI BANDAR LAMPUNG

Previous studies found that the performance of MSMEs affects the welfare of MSME actors. This study aims to analyze the factors that influence the performance of MSMEs and analyze the effect of MSME performance on the welfare of MSMEs. The factors that affect the performance of SMEs using financial literacy, internal control, Accounting Information Systems (AIS), technology, organization, environment, and individual variables. Samples were collected from SMEs in the banana chip center in Bandar Lampung, then analyzed using PLS-SEM with SmartPLS. This study found that internal control, AIS, technology, and the environment had a significant effect on the performance of MSMEs, while financial literacy, organization, and individual had no significant effect. Furthermore, the performance of MSMEs has an impact on their welfare. Based on the findings of this study, the higher the performance of MSMEs, the higher the level of welfare. While the implication of this research is to provide information that technology has a very prominent influence among other variables on the performance of MSMEs so that it needs to be observed by business actors to improve MSME performance, which in turn is expected to have an impact on increasing their welfare.Studi sebelumnya menemukan bahwa kinerja UMKM berpengaruh terhadap kesejahteraan pelaku UMKM. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kinerja UMKM dan menganalisis pengaruh kinerja UMKM terhadap kesejahteraan UMKM. Faktor-faktor yang mempengaruhi kinerja UMKM menggunakan variabel literasi keuangan, pengendalian internal, Sistem Informasi Akuntansi (SIA), teknologi, organisasi, lingkungan, dan individual. Sampel dikumpulkan dari pelaku UMKM sentra keripik pisang di Bandar Lampung, kemudian dianalisis menggunakan PLS-SEM dengan SmartPLS. Penelitian ini menemukan bahwa pengendalian internal, SIA, teknologi, dan lingkungan berpengaruh signifikan terhadap kinerja UMKM, sedangkan literasi keuangan, organisasi, dan individual tidak berpengaruh signifikan. Selanjutnya, kinerja UMKM berdampak pada kesejahteraan mereka. Berdasarkan temuan penelitian ini, semakin tinggi kinerja UMKM maka semakin tinggi pula tingkat kesejahteraannya. Sedangkan implikasi dari penelitian ini adalah untuk memberikan informasi bahwa teknologi berpengaruh sangat menonjol diantara variabel lainnya terhadap kinerja UMKM sehingga perlu dicermati oleh para pelaku usaha untuk meningkatkan kinerja UMKM, yang selanjutnya diharapkan dapat berdampak pada meningkatnya kesejahteraan mereka

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) for the instrument of personality, safety climate and safety performance in the Malaysia manufacturing sector

This paper aims to draw on the application of Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), to test the validity and reliability of instruments in the study of personality, safety climate, and safety performance in the Malaysia manufacturing sector. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was employed to determine the best sub-factors and items for the instrument, while confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to test and validate the measurement model. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) Partial Least Square (PLS), has been used to test the validity and reliability of the instruments. Various tests i.e., construct validity analysis, construct reliability, validity convergent as well as discriminatory validity to filter the best items that can represent the constructs in the study. Results from CFA indicated that two items from the Safety Performance Scale (SPS) had to be discarded to confirm that the model was fit. Meanwhile, all items from the Safety Climate Scale (SCS) and Mini-International Personality Item Pool (IPIP) were maintained. Overall, the final version of the instrument consisted of Safety Climate Instruments (46 items), Big Five Personality Instruments (20 items), and Safety Performance Instruments (37 out of 39 items)

Predictive Validity and Formative Measurement in Structural Equation Modeling: Embracing Practical Relevance

Composite-based methods like partial least squares (PLS) path modeling have an advantage over factor-based methods (like CB-SEM) because they yield determinate predictions, while factor-based methods’ prediction is constrained in this regard by factor indeterminacy. To maximize practical relevance, research findings should extend beyond the study’s own data. We explain how PLS practices, deriving, at least in part, from attempts to mimic factor-based methods, have hamstrung the potential of PLS. In particular, PLS research has focused on parameter recovery and overlooked predictive validity. We demonstrate some implications of considering predictive abilities as a complement to parameter recovery of PLS by reconsidering the institutionalized practice of mapping formative measurement to Mode B estimation of outer relations. Extensive simulations confirm that Mode A estimation performs better when sample size is moderate and indicators are collinear while Mode B estimation performs better when sample size is very large or true predictability (R²) is high

Design of a Technology adoption model to assess the acceptance of mobile technologies among Primary Education teachers

[ES] Los dispositivos móviles constituyen una de las tecnologías que ha experimentado una mayor explosión de popularidad en los últimos años, consolidándose como una de las tecnologías más frecuentemente utilizadas en la vida diaria de los individuos en todas las capas sociales. Esta rápida expansión ha provocado que cada vez sean más los campos que han mostrado interés en las ventajas potenciales derivadas del uso de estos dispositivos. El campo educativo no es una excepción, agrupando bajo el nombre de aprendizaje móvil a todas aquellas iniciativas que buscan sacar partido al uso didáctico de estas tecnologías. Aunque las primeras experiencias de aprendizaje móvil se desarrollaron principalmente en el ámbito educativo informal y no formal, con el tiempo ha ido aumentando el número de iniciativas desarrolladas en contextos de educación formal. Este fenómeno se ha visto impulsado en la última década por la aparición y rápido desarrollo de dos dispositivos, los smartphones y las tabletas digitales, que han potenciado sus ventajas inherentes y ayudado a superar sus principales limitaciones. De esta manera, entre las ventajas del uso de dispositivos móviles en procesos de educación formal destacan la adaptación del contenido a las necesidades educativas individualizadas de los discentes, la capacidad para la integración de recursos multimedia, la capacidad para facilitar la comunicación e interacción entre los distintos agentes educativos y la flexibilización del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, lo que permite romper los límites del aula de manera que este se produzca en cualquier momento y cualquier lugar. En consecuencia, hoy en día la integración de tecnologías móviles en la metodología de enseñanza en contextos de educación formal constituye un tema de preocupación creciente, como evidencia la puesta en marcha de distintas iniciativas por parte de las administraciones públicas. Sin embargo, este interés no parece estar dando resultados, y las políticas desarrolladas por las administraciones no siempre conllevan el cambio metodológico deseado. Uno de los agentes fundamentales para el éxito de estas iniciativas son los docentes, dado que tienen la última palabra para emplear la metodología de enseñanza que consideren más oportuna. Por tanto, conocer los factores que condicionan su decisión de utilizar metodologías de aprendizaje móvil resulta fundamental a la hora de diseñar iniciativas de integración tecnológica exitosas. Sin embargo, el estudio de la aceptación de tecnologías móviles de los docentes se encuentra todavía en un estado inicial de exploración y son pocas las investigaciones centradas en esta materia. La presente tesis pretende contribuir al cuerpo de conocimiento de este objeto de investigación mediante el desarrollo de un modelo de adopción tecnológica basado en el Modelo de Aceptación Tecnológica de Davis (1989), expandido con factores procedentes de otras teorías, y específicamente diseñado para analizar los factores que condicionan la intención de utilizar tecnologías móviles de los maestros de primaria. Para desarrollar este modelo se ha llevado a cabo una serie de investigaciones de manera secuencial. En primer lugar, se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura y un estudio de mapping para determinar el estado de la investigación en este campo, establecer cuáles son las prácticas más adecuadas e identificar áreas susceptibles de ser investigadas. En función de los resultados obtenidos en la revisión se elaboró la primera propuesta del modelo, la cual fue sometida a un proceso de validación de contenido por parte un grupo de expertos. Tras esta validación, a sugerencia de los jueces, se realizaron tres estudios intermedios, o pre-piloto, con versiones reducidas del modelo con la intención de detectar posibles mejoras a realizar en el modelo. Estos estudios se llevaron a cabo empleando maestros en su periodo de formación universitaria, teniendo en cuenta la dificultad de acceso a la población objeto de estudio y la similitud de ambos grupos, contrastada en estudios previos sobre la temática. Adicionalmente, con el objetivo de adquirir experiencia con la metodología de investigación y análisis empleando modelos de aceptación, se realizó una estancia de investigación en la Universidad de Macao bajo la dirección del profesor Timothy Teo, durante la que se desarrollaron dos estudios, aunando los intereses de ambos grupos de investigadores, centradas en la influencia de las creencias docentes y los valores culturales en la aceptación tecnológica de los docentes universitarios. Tras realizar estos estudios, se llevó a cabo una síntesis y revisión crítica del modelo propuesto modificando los aspectos oportunos. El resultado de esta investigación es un modelo compuesto por nueve constructos: norma subjetiva, entretenimiento percibido, compatibilidad, autoeficacia, ansiedad móvil, condiciones facilitantes, utilidad percibida, facilidad de uso percibida e intención conductual, además de dos dimensiones procedentes de la teoría de los valores culturales de Hofstede (indulgencia e individualismo/colectivismo) como variables moderadoras.Mobile devices constitute one of the technologies that have experienced a greater popularity explosion in the past few years, having been consolidated as one of the most used technologies in day-to-day activities for people from all social backgrounds. This fast expansion has prompted the interest of a growing number of fields in the potential advantages derived from the use of these devices. The field of education is no exception, and it has coined the term mobile learning (or mLearning) to group all initiatives seeking to take advantage of these technologies. Although the first mobile learning experiences were primarily developed in the informal and non-formal education fields, we have seen a growing number of initiatives implemented in formal education contexts. This phenomenon has been promoted in the last decade by the appearance and fast development of two devices, smartphones and tablets, which have fostered its inherent advantages and helped it overcome its main shortcomings. The most notable advantages of the use of mobile devices in formal education processes are the adaptation of contents to the educational needs of students, the ability to integrate multimedia resources, the ability to facilitate communication and interaction between all the educational agents, and the increased flexibility of the teaching-learning process, allowing us to break the barriers of the classroom for learning to happen anytime and anywhere. Consequently, today the integration of mobile technologies in the teaching methodologies of formal learning contexts constitutes a topic of growing concern, as is evidenced by the implementation of different initiatives by public administrations. However, this interest does not seem to be producing any results, and the policies developed by administration do not always bring about the desired methodological change. One of the key agents for the success of these initiatives are teachers, given that they have the last word over which methodologies they will employ in the classroom. Therefore, knowing the factors that condition their decision to use methodologies involving mobile technologies is essential for designing successful technology integration initiatives. However, the study of mobile technology acceptance on the part of teachers is still in an initial stage of exploration, and there are few studies focused on the topic. This thesis intends to contribute to the body of knowledge of this particular subject through the development of a technology adoption model based on the Technology Adoption Model by Davis (1989), which has been expanded with factors from other theories, and specifically designed to analyse the factors that condition the intention of primary education teachers to use mobile technologies. In order to develop this model, a series of studies were carried out in a sequential manner. Firstly, a systematic literature review was carried out together with a mapping study to determine the current state of research in this field, to establish the most adequate practices and to identify areas subject to study. Based on the results obtained, a first draft of the model was proposed and subjected to a content validation process by a group of experts. After the validation, and following the judges’ suggestions, three intermediate (or pre-pilot) studies were carried out with the model to detect any possible improvements to be made. These studies were conducted with pre-service teachers in their university education period, given the difficulty of accessing the study population and the similarity between both groups, which has been proven in previous studies on the matter. Additionally, aiming to acquire experience with the research methodology and data analysis using technology acceptance models, a research stay was made in the University of Macau under the supervision of Professor Timothy Teo, during which two studies reflecting the interests of both research groups were conducted. These studies were focused on the influence of teaching beliefs and cultural values in the technology acceptance of university professors. After the conclusion of these studies, a synthesis and critical revision of the model was carried out, and the appropriate aspects were modified. The result of this research is a model composed of nine constructs: subjective norm, perceived enjoyment, compatibility, self-efficacy, anxiety, facilitating conditions, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and behavioural intention, plus two dimensions from Hofstede’s cultural value theory (indulgence and individualism/collectivism) as moderating variables

Model Selection in Information Systems Research Using Partial Least Squares Based Structural Equation Modeling

Partial Least Squares (PLS) based Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) has become increasingly popular in Management Information Systems (MIS) research to model complex relationships and to make valid inferences from the restricted sample to the larger population. Given the larger goal of creating generalizable theories in MIS research, we argue that the lack of model selection criteria in PLS that penalize model complexity might be causing researchers to select unnecessarily complex but highly fitting models that may not generalize to other samples. We introduce several Information Theoretic (IT) model selection criteria in the PLS context that penalize model complexity but reward high fit, and therefore guide researchers to select a parsimonious and generalizable model. In this Monte Carlo study, we compare their performance to the currently existing PLS indices, in selecting the best model among a set of competing models under various conditions of sample size, effect size and data distribution

High performance work system, external environment and high performance organization: moderating effect of organizational culture

In the current business environment, high performance is highly demanded among shareholders. Due to pressure, managers have been compelled to deliver quality output in order to achieve competitive advantage with minimum resources. It is important to adapt ideas and practices from time to time since organizations and environments are continuously improving. Consequently, this study examines the role of high performance work system (HPWS), external environment on high performance organization (HPO). This study also aims to identify the effect of organizational culture on the relationship between HPWS, external environment and HPO. A cross-sectional research design was conducted in this study. Data was collected from 354 SMEs in Nigeria that has spent a minimum of ten years in the business. The research hypotheses were tested using multiple and hierarchical regression analyses. Generally, with a few exceptions, high performance work system (HPWS) is significantly and positively related to the achievement of high performance organization (HPO). Organizational culture plays a significant role in moderating the relationship between HPWS and HPO. The results also show that external environment has significant effects on HPO. On the contrary, organizational culture does not moderate the relationship between external environment and HPO. This study contributes to the enrichment of the literature on HPWS, external environment, organizational culture and HPO by proposing a model that was empirically tested on the validity and reliability in predicting HPO. Lastly, the managerial, policy and theoretical implication are presented. The limitations of the study and suggestions for future study are included in this regard

The impact of social virtual presence agents and content-based product recommendation system on on-line customer purchase intention

The appearance of the digital market came as turning point factor, obligating companies to maintain the relationship with consumers by improving and keeping a high technological innovativeness on-line overall experience. The lack of studies on antropomorphization of virtual voice assistances chatbot and the possibilities, yet to be found, on customized product recommendation system variation integration, brought the author to this study. The aim of this research is to investigate the effects of using two different chatbot social virtual presences interactions: with a fully pre-recorded computed personification agent versus with a pre-recorded human social virtual agent; and also understand how having a customized content-based product recommendation system can influence the consumers purchase intention at on-line shopping framework. An on-line platform was developed, recreating a possible virtual store interaction, and the core data was treated using a PLS-SEM model. The results indicate that Human Social Virtual Presence Agent, while assisting the shoppers, have a larger model positive effect on Intellectual stimulus and Hedonic Benefits than a computed personification Agent. This might be explained by the fact that computed imagery and sound Agent was perceived with some amount of emotional creepiness by the participants. Also, recommendation system presence is impacting customers purchase intention on a positive way when compared with not using recommendation system. Thus, this study shows how relevant social interactions are for the customers, especially when done by a human, and how recommendation system has an impact on customers purchase intention.Com o aparecimento do mercado "on-line", as empresas que quiseram manter uma relação de qualidade com os seus clientes, tiveram de investir no desenvolvimento de uma experiência de utilizador de qualidade e manter um olhar atento na inovação. A falta de estudos relativos à antropomorfização em "chatbots" virtuais e as possibilidades, ainda por descobrir, do sistema de recomendação de produtos à medida de cada utilizador, trouxeram o autor ao tema deste estudo. O seu objetivo é investigar os efeitos de dois tipos de presença social em "chatbots": uma presença virtual computada versus uma presença virtual humana; e como o sistema de recomendação de produtos à medida de cada utilizador influencia a intenção de compra dos consumidores nas lojas "on-line". Para tal, foi desenvolvida uma plataforma "on-line", recriando uma possível interação em loja virtual. Os dados foram tratados utilizando o modelo PLS-SEM. Os resultados indicam que a presença social virtual feita por um agente humano melhora substancialmente o estímulo intelectual feito pela marca e os seus benefícios hedónicos, quando comparado com um agente virtual computado. Tal resultado pode ser explicado pelo facto dos participantes que interagiram com um agente computado sentirem um maior valor de "creepiness". Considerando que a utilização do sistema de recomendação de produtos tem forte impacto na intenção de comprar do consumidor, este estudo mostra-se relevante ao salientar a importância da presença social nas lojas "on-line", especialmente quando o agente é humano

Extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology: the influence of behavioral intention on big data management adoption by Malaysian public research universities

The higher education environment has been experiencing a record of challenges such as declines in students’ enrolment, retention rates, and graduation rates. Combined with cuts in institutional funding, executive leaders in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Malaysia and internationally have found it challenging to address these challenges effectively due to the dynamic and highly competitive education landscape. However, HEIs, like many organizations, are rapidly changing because of advancements in technology. The application of big data management (BDM) has been acknowledged as a potential solution to difficulties experienced in HEIs. So far, its adoption is relatively new, as there are currently numerous unknowns regarding its use. The focus of this study is to provide both institutional executive decision-makers and strategic managers with insight into factors related to the behavioral intention for the adoption of BDM in Malaysian public research universities. The contribution of this study is to bridge the gap in existing research on the behavioral intention for the adoption of BDM. Venkatesh's Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology model was used to determine if the independent variables: performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and facilitating conditions are predictors of the dependent variable; the behavioral intention with moderating variable of transformational leadership (TL) for adoption of BDM by both institutional executive decision-makers and strategic managers whose universities are considering using BDM in their operations. The findings of the study based on a total of 171 valid survey collected showed that social influence and facilitating conditions have significant effects on behavioral intention for BDM adoption. Worth noting is the fact that TL this study’s results found no impact on the relationship between performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence variables and the behavioral intention. The sector is at the initial phase of adopting BDM technology, and the main challenge of adopting BDM use is transforming the processes, culture, and people in the institutions. The need for further research into the behavioral intention factors and leadership may in turn universities in being better prepared for the implementation and the costs of the technology

Diseño de un modelo de adopción tecnológica para evaluar la aceptación de tecnologías móviles en el profesorado de primaria

[ES]Los dispositivos móviles constituyen una de las tecnologías que ha experimentado una mayor explosión de popularidad en los últimos años, consolidándose como una de las tecnologías más frecuentemente utilizadas en la vida diaria de los individuos en todas las capas sociales. Esta rápida expansión ha provocado que cada vez sean más los campos que han mostrado interés en las ventajas potenciales derivadas del uso de estos dispositivos. El campo educativo no es una excepción, agrupando bajo el nombre de aprendizaje móvil a todas aquellas iniciativas que buscan sacar partido al uso didáctico de estas tecnologías. Aunque las primeras experiencias de aprendizaje móvil se desarrollaron principalmente en el ámbito educativo informal y no formal, con el tiempo ha ido aumentando el número de iniciativas desarrolladas en contextos de educación formal. Este fenómeno se ha visto impulsado en la última década por la aparición y rápido desarrollo de dos dispositivos, los smartphones y las tabletas digitales, que han potenciado sus ventajas inherentes y ayudado a superar sus principales limitaciones. De esta manera, entre las ventajas del uso de dispositivos móviles en procesos de educación formal destacan la adaptación del contenido a las necesidades educativas individualizadas de los discentes, la capacidad para la integración de recursos multimedia, la capacidad para facilitar la comunicación e interacción entre los distintos agentes educativos y la flexibilización del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje, lo que permite romper los límites del aula de manera que este se produzca en cualquier momento y cualquier lugar. En consecuencia, hoy en día la integración de tecnologías móviles en la metodología de enseñanza en contextos de educación formal constituye un tema de preocupación creciente, como evidencia la puesta en marcha de distintas iniciativas por parte de las administraciones públicas. Sin embargo, este interés no parece estar dando resultados, y las políticas desarrolladas por las administraciones no siempre conllevan el cambio metodológico deseado. Uno de los agentes fundamentales para el éxito de estas iniciativas son los docentes, dado que tienen la última palabra para emplear la metodología de enseñanza que consideren más oportuna. Por tanto, conocer los factores que condicionan su decisión de utilizar metodologías de aprendizaje móvil resulta fundamental a la hora de diseñar iniciativas de integración tecnológica exitosas. Sin embargo, el estudio de la aceptación de tecnologías móviles de los docentes se encuentra todavía en un estado inicial de exploración y son pocas las investigaciones centradas en esta materia. La presente tesis pretende contribuir al cuerpo de conocimiento de este objeto de investigación mediante el desarrollo de un modelo de adopción tecnológica basado en el Modelo de Aceptación Tecnológica de Davis (1989), expandido con factores procedentes de otras teorías, y específicamente diseñado para analizar los factores que condicionan la intención de utilizar tecnologías móviles de los maestros de primaria. Para desarrollar este modelo se ha llevado a cabo una serie de investigaciones de manera secuencial. En primer lugar, se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura y un estudio de mapping para determinar el estado de la investigación en este campo, establecer cuáles son las prácticas más adecuadas e identificar áreas susceptibles de ser investigadas. En función de los resultados obtenidos en la revisión se elaboró la primera propuesta del modelo, la cual fue sometida a un proceso de validación de contenido por parte un grupo de expertos. Tras esta validación, a sugerencia de los jueces, se realizaron tres estudios intermedios, o pre-piloto, con versiones reducidas del modelo con la intención de detectar posibles mejoras a realizar en el modelo. Estos estudios se llevaron a cabo empleando maestros en su periodo de formación universitaria, teniendo en cuenta la dificultad de acceso a la población objeto de estudio y la similitud de ambos grupos, contrastada en estudios previos sobre la temática. Adicionalmente, con el objetivo de adquirir experiencia con la metodología de investigación y análisis empleando modelos de aceptación, se realizó una estancia de investigación en la Universidad de Macao bajo la dirección del profesor Timothy Teo, durante la que se desarrollaron dos estudios, aunando los intereses de ambos grupos de investigadores, centradas en la influencia de las creencias docentes y los valores culturales en la aceptación tecnológica de los docentes universitarios. Tras realizar estos estudios, se llevó a cabo una síntesis y revisión crítica del modelo propuesto modificando los aspectos oportunos. El resultado de esta investigación es un modelo compuesto por nueve constructos: norma subjetiva, entretenimiento percibido, compatibilidad, autoeficacia, ansiedad móvil, condiciones facilitantes, utilidad percibida, facilidad de uso percibida e intención conductual, además de dos dimensiones procedentes de la teoría de los valores culturales de Hofstede (indulgencia e individualismo/colectivismo) como variables moderadoras

E-government and Digital Divide in Hail City: a Quantitative, Older Adults Study

The subject of information and communication technologies adoption, Internet and e-government services in particular, have been widely investigated by researchers. It is an indication of the significant roles that can be brought to individuals and societies by such advanced technologies in which enhancing quality of life is the ultimate goal. Unfortunately, many groups within societies are not gaining the advantages and benefits of the Internet and e-government because they are less receptive to ICTs. This has created a phenomenon known as the digital divide. Amongst these groups are the older adults. The rising attention towards the elderly is due to the increasing life expectancy. Thanks to health technological advancements and life style improvements, which are leading to better qualities of life, countries around the globe have older adults population rate larger than ever before. Saudi Arabia is no exception, as demographic characteristics have been changing in which life span is increasing and fertility is decreasing. However, literature of older adults and technology adoption, particularly adoption of Internet and e-government lacks the context of developing countries and the Arab world. Therefore, using this as a motivation, this study aims to identify, explain and understand the adoption, use and diffusion of e-government services within the older adults population (50+) of a vicinity in Saudi Arabia. The study uses a quantitative research method along with a positivist epistemology. The data collection technique involved distributing survey questionnaires to households’ residents (50+) in Hail city (area and simple random sampling). A small-scale pilot study was initially used (n=257) to validate and enhance the survey questions, followed by a wide-scale final study (n=937). Findings revealed that with regards to Internet adoption, age-based, gender-based, education-based and health-based digital divides do exist within the elderly population. It was also found by model analysis that elderlies’ intentions of whether to use or not use e-government services are considerably impacted by attitudinal, subjective norms, control and trustworthiness factors, excluding the two factors of image and trust in government, which showed insignificance. The study makes positive contributions to related literature, policy makers and industry. Finally, due to the restraints of time, finance and manpower, this study examined only a small portion of the whole population of Hail city; therefore, generalisations of findings cannot be claimed