An Empirical Study of the Factors Influencing Consumer Behaviour in the Electric Appliances Market

This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the impact of different factors on consumer buying behaviour. It analyses the relationship between several independent variables, such as cultural, social, personal, psychological and marketing mix factors, and consumer behaviour (as the dependent variable) in the electric appliances market. The purpose of this study is to determine the factors affecting consumer preferences and behaviour in the electric appliances market in Iraq. The data employed to analyse the factors influencing consumers’ purchase decision-making processes were obtained through a questionnaire that was conducted in December 2011 in Basra, a city in southern Iraq. The major findings of the study indicated that, overall, the set of independent variables are weakly associated with the dependent variable. However, the in-depth analysis found that social factors, physical factors, and marketing mix elements are strongly associated with consumer buying behaviour. These analyses make it possible to discover consumer decision-making rules. The results may assist producers and retailers in understanding consumer behaviour and improving consumer satisfaction

Overview of Approaches to Incorporate Dynamics into the Measurement of Complex Phenomena with the Use of Composite Indices

Composite indices have substantially gained in popularity in recent years. Despite their alleged disadvantages, they appear to be very useful in measuring the level of certain phenomena that are too complex to express with a single indicator. Most rankings based on composite indicators are created at regular intervals, such as every month, every quarter or every year. A common approach is to base rankings solely on the most current values of single indicators, making no reference to previous results. The absence of dynamics from such measurements deprives studies of information on change in these phenomena and may limit the stability of classifications. This article presents the possibility of creating reliable, dynamic rankings of measured items and measuring the complex phenomena with the use of composite indices. Potential solutions are presented on the basis of a review of the international literature. Some advantages and disadvantages of the presented solutions are described and an example of a new approach is shown

A hybrid simulation approach to modelling the impact of public interventions on poverty

*An earlier version of this article has been presented in ICABE 2019 www.icabe.grPurpose: The aim of the article is to present the concept of a hybrid simulation model to study the impact of public intervention on the level of poverty at the local, regional and national levels. Design/Methodology/Approach: The proposed model is the hybrid of two computer simulation methods Agent-Based Simulation (ABS) and System Dynamics (SD). Findings: Counteracting the phenomenon of poverty is one of the tasks of public administration units. Various tools and instruments can be used to fight poverty, as a part of numerous programs financed from public funds, but their implementation should be preceded by a thorough analysis of the effects arising after their application. This is not easy, because the phenomenon of poverty is very complex, it results from the arrangement of many interrelated elements, and the outcomes of actions are visible only after a longer period of time. This system is characterized by the heterogeneity of elements. Some of them are on a macro scale (e.g. GDP level, labour market), while others refer to the micro scale (e.g. households and their members). Building a model of households requires the use of a method that allows to reflect the behaviour and decision-making rules of individuals and the interaction between them in a disaggregated form. Agent-Based Simulation (ABS) is such a method. On the other hand, modelling elements occurring in the macro scale, where we usually deal with aggregate quantities, is best matched by System Dynamics (SD) simulation method, which allows for reflecting dynamic behaviour through feedback loops. Practical Implications: The proposed concept can be used both by public administration units at various levels as well as by scientists - to conduct socio-economic research. Originality/Value: The applied simulation approach allows to capture the interrelations between the modelled effects in a dynamic manner for a long-time horizon, which is extremely important in the case of public management activities.peer-reviewe

Multi-criteria assessment of the company's location selection : a dynamic approach

Purpose: The aim of the study is to present multi-criteria Vector Measure Construction Method (VMCM), which enables the construction of aggregate measures, the creation of rankings, classifications and the investigation of change dynamics. Design/Methodology/Approach: The VMCM is used to build the measure (in dynamic terms) for the purpose of assessing the friendliness of EU countries in the context of supporting investors in the selection of locations for newly established enterprises. Findings: Not all multi-criteria methods give the opportunity to study the dynamics of change. The VMCM allows taking into account objects from outside the sample, which are better than the pattern (the measure is not limited, neither from the bottom nor from the top). Practical Implications: The solution proposed allows to assess the investment friendliness of individual country and compare countries (objects) with each other in different sections of time. Originality/Value: The VMCM allows to eliminate the limitations of the other multi-criteria methods in making rankings, classifications of objects and the analysis of the change dynamics.peer-reviewe

Web-Based Tools for System Dynamics Simulation

A rapid development and omnipresence of the World-Wide-Web and its technologies have had remarkable impact on the field of computer simulation, understood as a numerical technique for conducting experiments with certain types of mathematical and logical models, describing the behavior of a system on a computer over extended periods of time. One of the computer simulation methods used to solve complex management problems is System Dynamics (SD). The aim of this paper is the review of SD Web-based tools in the context of some technology aspects of Web-based simulation and its advantages and disadvantages

The proposal of environmental performance composite indicator

Celem artykułu jest zaproponowanie miary agregatowej, wykorzystującej arytmetykę przyrostów oraz rachunek wektorowy, umożliwiającej wypełnienie przedstawionej luki. W artykule zaprezentowano również rezultaty zastosowania proponowanej miary w odniesieniu do państw Unii Europejskiej w latach 1999-2012.The concept of sustainable development is present in political discourse for many years. Considering the complexity of this issue in all studies related to the topic it is very important to choose the appropriate measures used to determine the achievements of regions in terms of sustainable development. Due to the multitude of aspects taken into account, commonly used measures are not precise enough when decisions about environmental policy must be made. Therefore, the approaches which focus only on the development of that aspect are used. One of the most signifi cant approaches is the Environmental Performance Index (EPI). The aim of the article is to present general information about EPI and its rankings limited to European Union countries. Additionally, based on data used for the calculation of EPI, the composite indicator with arithmetic of increments and vector calculus is presented

SIMULATION INVESTIGATION OF CONSEQUENCES FOLLOWING FROM TRANSPORT DECISIONS

Different methods can be employed while investigating the consequences of transport decisions- for instance simulation methods. There are various techniques of formalizing the simulation model, from computer languages of general use and specialist simulation languages, to advanced functional simulation packages and systems. In order to illustrate the possibilities of using computer simulation model to investigate the consequences following from transport decisions, System Dynamics technique has been employed in the present article

Computer simulation in exprimental economics

Dzięki ciągłemu rozwojowi informatyki, realizacja badań eksperymentalnych w naukach ekonomicznych wspomagana jest komputerowo w coraz większym stopniu. Jedną z metod komputerowych, które mogą mieć duże znaczenie we wspieraniu realizacji laboratoryjnych eksperymentów ekonomicznych jest symulacja komputerowa. Celem artykułu jest analiza możliwości i kierunków zastosowania symulacji komputerowej we wspomaganiu badań eksperymentalnych w naukach ekonomicznych.With the continuous development of information technology, the realization of experimental research in economics is increasingly assisted by computers. One of computer methods, which may be important in supporting the realization of laboratory economic experiments is computer simulation. The aim of the article is to analyze the possibilities and directions of computer simulation applications in supporting experimental research in economics

Web-based system dynamics simulation

Artykuł dotyczy problematyki symulacji webowej (ang. web-based simulation), a koncentruje się na metodzie symulacji ciągłej – dynamice systemowej (ang. System Dynamics). Podstawowym jego celem jest przegląd aplikacji webowych służących do symulacji i wizualizacji modeli systemowo-dynamicznych. Ponadto w artykule dokonano krótkiej charakterystyki wybranych rodzajów symulacji webowej oraz podsumowano jej zalety i wady.The article gives a short review of the area of Web-based simulation (WBS) in the context of System Dynamics (SD) simulation technique, exploring technology aspects of WBS, summarizing Web-based tools for SD and the advantages and disadvantages of Web-based simulation