Using Partial Least Squares in Operations Management Research: A Practical Guideline and Summary of Past Research

The partial least squares (PLS) approach to structural equation modeling (SEM) has been widely adopted in business research fields such as information systems, consumer behavior, and marketing. The use of PLS in the field of operations management is also growing. However, questions still exist among some operations management researchers regarding whether and how PLS should be used. To address these questions, our study provides a practical guideline for using PLS and uses examples from the operations management literature to demonstrate how the specific points in this guideline can be applied. In addition, our study reviews and summarizes the use of PLS in the recent operations management literature according to our guideline. The main contribution of this study is to present a practical guideline for evaluating and using PLS that is tailored to the operations management field. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Linking Information Technology and Competitive Strategy: Evidence from China’s Third-Party Logistics Industry

This study examined how information technology (IT) influences competitive strategies of third- party logistics (3PL) providers in mainland China. First, we examined the influences of IT on the firm’s IT advantage over its competitors. Second, the relationship between IT and competitive strategy was examined. The results show that IT has a significant influence on a firm’s IT advantage and its competitive strategy

Technological-Personal-Environmental (TPE) Framework: A Conceptual Model for Technology Acceptance at the Individual Level

This paper describes the development of the Technological-Personal-Environmental (TPE) framework, which explains individuals’ behaviors of technology acceptance. We argue that existing individual-level technology acceptance theories provide a valuable, but incomplete, understanding of individuals’ technology acceptance. By synthesizing extant technology acceptance models and theories, the proposed TPE delineates the individual-level technology acceptance from technological, personal, and environmental aspects. The proposed framework provides a wider angle to investigate individual-level technology acceptance

Examining ERP Committee Beliefs: A Comparison of Alternative Models

Various models have been proposed to explain information technology (IT) adoption behavior. However, these models are based primarily on logical deliberation. In reality, it is impossible to obtain perfect information for a rational evaluation of new or emerging IT. In this situation, sometimes the “best alternative” is imitation. We believe that two opposing forces influence the beliefs of enterprise resource planning (ERP) committee members: rational and imitative. We propose here an integrated model and examine it together with diffusion of innovation (DOI) and imitation models. The study findings indicate that our integrated model has better explanatory power. In addition, imitative forces are shown to have a consistent direct effect and significant indirect effect on beliefs. Hence, imitative forces play a crucial role in the decision-making process, which opens up a new avenue for research into technology adoption

An Investment Analysis for China\u27s Sustainable Development Based on Inverse Data Envelopment Analysis

In the face of environmental degradation, sustainable development has become a common goal across the globe. Making a scientifically based investment scheme is of great significance to promote the sustainable development of China\u27s economy. However, there is scarce research related to such an investment scheme of sustainable development. This paper proposes a new inverse data envelopment analysis method with undesirable outputs to make several scientifically based investment schemes from different perspectives, namely, the natural, regulation, and optimal perspectives. By this method, decision makers can scientifically forecast the specific amount of investment based on their actual sustainable development objectives, which is conducive for reducing the blindness of investment in the future. In addition, a new ideal perspective is defined to guide a definite direction for improving the level of sustainable development. Combined with the gray forecasting model GM(1,1), the methods proposed by this paper were then applied to analyze the investment problem for China\u27s sustainable development during the 2015–2024 period. The results show that: the unbalanced distribution of labor investment and the excessive investment in capital and energy are serious barriers to China\u27s sustainable development in the short term; and in the long term, the demand for investment in labor and capital will continue to increase along with a lower demand for energy investment, and that appropriately strengthening environmental regulations will not affect the overall demand for investment. Meanwhile, improvement directions for improving China\u27s sustainable development are discussed, and the results show that most of developing and undeveloped regions in China have great potential for improvement. Finally, some suggestions are proposed in order to create better conditions for China\u27s sustainable development

Fostering Third-Party Logistics Relationships

© 2020 IEEE. Drawing upon the attribute theory, this study examines how service performance, relationship structure, and attributions affect Third-Party Logistics (3PL) provider-user relationships. The results revealed that the level of 3PL provider\u27s service performance is a significant driver of 3PL user\u27s perceptions of relationship quality, and relationship quality could be affected by interdependence structure in various ways. In addition, when a 3PL provider elicits destructive actions to its users, it will reduce the user\u27s perception of relationship quality

Multi-Attribute Group Decision Making with Aspirations: A Case Study

It is common that a decision maker\u27s utility depends on the degree to which the attribute performance matches the aspiration. However, aspiration is not considered in the traditional multi-attribute decision making (MADM) approaches. Using the Strategic Freight Forwarder Selection of China Southern Airlines (CSA) as a backdrop, this study proposes an integrated MADM approach for problems with consideration of decision maker\u27s aspirations. By solving the case problem of CAS, the proposed approach demonstrates its superiority. It helps managers make more robust and reliable decisions and also provides managers with a coefficient to help them readily check the group consensus. In addition, the approach can accommodate complex decision data, such as numerical values, interval numbers, linguistic terms and uncertain linguistic terms. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Transaction-Specific Investments, Relational Norms, and ERP Customer Satisfaction: A Mediation Analysis

Integrating the perspectives of transaction cost economics, the resource-based view, and resource dependency theory, this study analyzes the institutional settings of enterprise resource planning (ERP) implementations in China. Specifically, it examines how bilateral transaction-specific investments (TSIs) and relational governance mechanisms influence customer satisfaction with ERP implementations. The model is empirically tested using data from on-site interviews with 208 ERP customers in China. The results demonstrate that the effects of vendors\u27 and customers\u27 TSIs on customer satisfaction are facilitated by multiple-stage micromediational chains. The influence of TSIs on customer satisfaction is mediated by relational norms, and the impact of relational norms on customer satisfaction is bridged by perceived service quality and customer trust. Furthermore, the influence of vendors\u27 TSIs is stronger than the influence of customers\u27 TSIs. The findings contribute to business research and practice by providing valuable insights into how ERP vendors and customers should strategize TSIs to enhance relationship performance. © 2013 Decision Sciences Institute