Dimensions of perceived product quality – understanding the consumer’s view

Objectives. We identify core product quality components from the consumers’ perspective and construct a psychometrically sound instrument for their assessment within different purchasing contexts. Methods. Study 1 (N = 34) used a qualitative approach to reveal core components of perceived product quality in the context of apparel evaluations. Study 2 (N = 305) was designed to construct and quantitatively validate the quality scale in a retail store setting. In Study 3 (N = 180) using a second purchasing context the scale’s dimensionality was cross-validated in a mail-order context. Results. Six components of product quality emerged (material, workmanship, design, care, color, fit) and explained approximately 75% of the variance in consumers’ product evaluations. Their dimensional structure was validated using confirmatory factor analysis. Differences concerning the quality dimensions’ relative importance were found for the two purchasing situations. Conclusion. The quality scale proved to be reliable and valid in two important purchasing contexts

Deadwood volume assessment in the third Swiss National Forest Inventory: methods and first results

The Swiss National Forest Inventory (NFI) is expected to provide reliable data about the current state of the Swiss forests and recent changes. Since the first Swiss NFI (1982-1986) a deadwood assessment has been part of the inventory. However, the definition of deadwood used was restricted and only parts of the total deadwood volume were assessed. A broader definition was therefore used in the second NFI (1993-1995) and coarse wood debris (CWD) was also assessed using line intersect sampling in the third NFI (2004-2006). This paper discusses the development of the definition of deadwood from the first to the third Swiss NFI, as well as the tally rules and estimators used in assessing deadwood in the ongoing third NFI. Different definitions of deadwood were applied in two Swiss regions and the resulting volume estimates were compared. The definition of deadwood appears to be crucial for the estimate of deadwood volumes, which were significantly underestimated in the first and second Swiss NFI. The minimum diameter and other limits applied must be chosen with special care. Up to 30m3/ha of deadwood was found in Swiss forests varying with the region. There was little evidence of significant correlations between deadwood volume and such forest parameters as management, site or stand attributes. The proposed target values for the volume of deadwood have been generally reached, whereas the number of snags per hectare has no

Laufbahnen, berufliche Situierungen, Einschätzungen : Absolventen und Absolventinnen der ZFH 5 Jahre nach ihrem Studienabschluss

Die Studie befasst sich mit den Absolventinnen und Absolventen der Zürcher Fachhochschule des Jahres 2006. Nach einer ersten Befragung im Jahr 2007 wurden sie im Jahr 2011, also 5 Jahre nach Studienabschluss, ein zweites Mal befragt. Insofern ist diese Studie als Fortsetzung zur ersten zu sehen – sie vergleicht systematisch die Resultate der beiden Erhebungen. Basis bildet die Absolventenbefragung des Bundesamtes für Statistik, erweitert durch ein ergänzendes Befragungsmodul. Im Zentrum stehen nach wie vor die Rolle von (formellen und informellen) Laufbahnen und die Situierung von ZFH-Absolventen in Organisationen. Diesbezüglich sind die Unterschiede zwischen den Fachbereichen sehr gross. Diese Unterschiede lassen sich in Typologien abbilden, welche Normal-Laufbahnen, Fachkulturen und Rollen in Organisationen betreffen, also sowohl objektive Merkmale wie auch deren Bewertung durch die AbsolventInnen

Heat-shock mediated overexpression of HNF1β mutations has differential effects on gene expression in the Xenopus pronephric kidney.

The transcription factor HNF1B, encoded by the TCF2 gene, plays an important role in the organogenesis of vertebrates. In humans, heterozygous mutations of HNF1B are associated with several diseases, such as pancreatic β-cell dysfunction leading to maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY5), defective kidney development, disturbed liver function, pancreas atrophy, and malformations of the genital tract. The African claw frog Xenopus laevis is an excellent model to study the processes involved in embryogenesis and organogenesis, as it can be manipulated easily with a series of methods. In the present study, we overexpressed HNF1β mutants in the developing Xenopus embryo to assess their roles during organogenesis, particularly in the developing pronephric kidney. Towards this goal, we developed a heat-shock inducible binary Cre/loxP system with activator and effector strains. Heat-shock activation of the mutant HNF1B variants P328L329del and A263insGG resulted in malformations of various organs and the affected larvae developed large edemas. Defects in the pronephros were primarily confined to malformed proximal tubules. Furthermore, the expression of the proximal tubule marker genes tmem27 and slc3a1, both involved in amino acid transport, was affected. Both P328L329del and A263insGG downregulated expression of slc3a1. In addition, P328L329del reduced tmem27 expression while A263insGG overexpression decreased expression of the chloride channel clcnk and the transcription factor pax2. Overexpression of two mutant HNF1B derivatives resulted in distinct phenotypes reflected by either a reduction or an enlargement of pronephros size. The expression of selected pronephric marker genes was differentially affected upon overexpression of HNF1B mutations. Based on our findings, we postulate that HNF1B mutations influence gene regulation upon overexpression in specific and distinct manners. Furthermore, our study demonstrates that the newly established Cre/loxP system for Xenopus embryos is an attractive alternative to examine the gene regulatory potential of transcription factors in developing pronephric kidney as exemplified here for HNF1B

Wahrgenommene Qualität im Kontext von modischen Aspekten, Preisleistung und Service als Determinante des Kundenurteils im Textilversandhandel: Empirische Befunde zur Entwicklung eines integrativen Skalensystems

Based on the influential works on quality by Garvin (1984) we postulate, additional to perceived quality, the existence of aesthetical as well as serviceability aspects which are both to be considered as independent determinants of customers' overall judgement on a supplier. Additionally, due to its consistent connection to quality ratings (cf. Rao & Monroe, 1989), price has to be taken into account. Mail-order fashion retail was chosen as an area of study on account of the importance of aesthetic quality in its products(Abraham-Murali & Littrell, 1995) and because serviceability is considered an essential determinant of its success (Klassen & Glynn, 1992). Based on previous work, short scales for the measurement of the relevant constructs are derived and tested on a sample of customers using mail-order services (N = 1901). For price-performance ratio, one single item is used. The reliabilities of the scales measuring perceived quality (Alpha = .83), aesthetics (sportiness: Alpha = .67, elegance: Alpha = .58), serviceability (Alpha = .81) and the overall rating of the supplier (Alpha = .77) are promising but some are still in need of improvement. Altogether, these predictors explain 47% of the variance of customers' total judgement in a multiple regression. All of our predictors reach significance (p < .005): Perceived quality (Beta = .46), sportiness (Beta = .12), elegance (Beta = .08), serviceability (Beta = .14) and price-performance ratio (Beta = 16). There are no problematic collinearities. Differential regression weights for perceived quality and sportiness for people under and above 50 years indicate the scales' content validity. In conclusion, the results suggest an overall successful operationalization and substantiate the important and independent contribution of several quality subdimensions explaining customers' total judgement on a supplier.Aufbauend auf den einflussreichen Arbeiten von Garvin (1984) zur Qualität wird postuliert, dass neben der wahrgenommenen Qualität(perceived quality) auch ein ästhetischer (aesthetics) sowie ein serviceorientierter (serviceability) Qualitätsaspekt existieren, die als eigenständige Determinanten der Gesamtbewertung eines Warenanbieters durch den Kunden anzusehen sind. Der Preis ist dabei aufgrund seiner konsistenten Verbindung zur Qualitätseinschätzung (vgl. Rao & Monroe, 1989) ebenfalls zu berücksichtigen. Zur Untersuchung des Einflusses der Qualitätsdimensionen auf das Konsumentenurteil wird der Modeversandhandel gewählt, da hier für die Produkte die ästhetische Qualitätsdimension stark ausgeprägt ist (Abraham-Murali & Littrell, 1995) und der Service als eine wesentliche Erfolgsdeterminante angesehen wird (Klassen & Glynn, 1992). Aufbauend auf bisherigen Forschungsarbeiten werden kurze Skalen für die relevanten Konstrukte abgeleitet und an einer Stichprobe von Versandhandelskäufern (N = 1901) getestet. Für Preisleistung wird ein Einzelitem verwendet. Die Messgenauigkeiten der Skalen für wahrgenommene Qualität (Alpha = .83), ästhetische Aspekte (Sportlichkeit: Alpha = .67; Eleganz: Alpha = .58), Service (Alpha = .81) und Gesamtbewertung des Anbieters (Alpha = .77) erweisen sich als vielversprechend aber teilweise noch als verbesserungsbedürftig. Insgesamt können in einer multiplen Regression 47% der Varianz im Gesamturteil des Kunden durch die Prädiktoren vorhergesagt werden, die alle Signifikanz (p < .005) erreichen: Wahrgenommene Qualität (Beta = .46), Sportlichkeit (Beta = .12), Eleganz (Beta = .08), Service (Beta = .14), Preisleistung (Beta = .16). Es treten keine problematischen Kollinearitäten auf. Differentielle Regressionsgewichte für wahrgenommene Qualität und Sportlichkeit für Personen unter und über 50 Jahren sprechen für die Inhaltsvalidität der Skalen. Die Befunde deuten auf eine insgesamt gelungene Operationalisierung hin und untermauern den bedeutsamen und eigenständigen Erklärungsbeitrag verschiedener Qualitätssubdimensionen für die Gesamtbewertung eines Warenanbieters durch seine Kunden