Validity Analysis of Performance Indicators for Postal Service

The intent of this research is to expand knowledge of the performance indicators currently utilized by the postal service as well as propose a comprehensive system of performance indicators for postal regulators. This paper scrutinizes the validity of performance indicators for the postal service organizations of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. A full review on annual reports published by the postal regulators in the above five countries was undergone. The analysis of validity centered on two key criteria: the validity and the reliabilities of indicators.Key findings include the adoption and systematic problems of performance indicators in the sampled countries. While wide adoption of performance indicators was found, the internal validity and reliability had limitations. The largest hurdle for the current system is the small correlation between indictor groups, reflecting the absence of the postal regulators’ perspective. The clearlydefined responsibility of postal regulators, the purpose-oriented and scientific-measure based design of the indicators, and the full participation of the public during measurement are necessary activities to enhance the validity and reliability of the performance indicator system.The possibility of setting up an integrated indicator system for the postal service is discussed after the research findings have been presented. The proposed integrated indicator system provides a comprehensive portrait of this industry. The difficulties and challenges of establishing such a system are acknowledged, but supplementary works will ensure its feasibility

External Engagements and Innovation of Firms: Evidence from Vietnamese Manufacturing SMEs.

This study explores the effect of external engagements on innovationoutputs of firms using a cross-sectional survey data set on Vietnamese privatemanufacturing SMEs conducted in 2009.For theoretical framework, we use the the knowledge production functionmodel (PKF) (Griliches, 1979, 1990) and the network models of innovation(NMI) (OECD, 2005; Osamu, 2008).Based on PKF and NMI models, we found that there was generally apositive impact of international engagements (export, import of equipment/machinery, and the supports from foreign donors/NGOs) and other domesticengagements (subcontracting, purchasing outside business service, and beingmember of business association activities) on innovation outputs. This may bebecause externally engaged firms invested more in innovation, and/or becausethese firms were able to learn from their worldwide partners or access to a widersource of knowledge flows.Our study gives some theoretical and managerial implications. Fortheoretical implications, the findings support KPF and NMI. Firm innovationbecomes open and interconnected to external factors. For managerialimplication, increasing external engagements is a good strategy for firms toovercome their weaknesses of limited internal resources. Increasing externalengagements can also force firms to innovate more

Measuring Service Quality in the Hospitality Industry: A Case Study in Hue City, Vietnam

This research is a study on service quality in the hospitality industry in the context of a developing country. The key purposes of this study are twofold. First, it examines the conceptualization and measurement of service quality in the hotel setting. Second, the relationships between service quality, customer satisfaction, and repurchase intention are taken into considerations. The findings from this study confirm that there are three determinants affecting statistically on service quality including responsiveness and caring, tangibles and caring, and safety and convenience. Also, the results of this study suggests that both service quality and customer satisfaction have direct significant effect on repurchase intention. Furthermore, it reveals that either service quality or customer satisfaction is the antecedent of the other and vice versa. Still, the indirect of service quality through customer satisfaction on repurchase intention is stronger than that one of the direct effect; that suggests customer satisfaction playing a mediating role in the effect of service quality on repurchase intention. Finally, some conclusions and theoretical and practical implications, and limitations are generated

Entrepreneurial Mentoring: Informal Mentors and Mentoring Relationship with Entrepreneurs

entoring plays a crucial role in entrepreneurial business development. Studies have shown that mentors support entrepreneurs in identifying goals and achieving objectives. This study clarifies the attributes of ‘informal’ mentoring, wherein the entrepreneur (protégé) and the mentor become partners without a contract. Through an analysis based on a detailed questionnaire survey and indepth semi-structured interviews targeting entrepreneurs, the attributes of informal mentors, frequent mentoring activities, and mentoring outcomes at each entrepreneurial stage are discussed. The results reveal the most common feature of informal mentors who support entrepreneurs and small business managers: male business managers (CEOs/executives and entrepreneurs) who are friends with entrepreneurs and demonstrate the effectiveness of friends as informal mentors, which positively influences various mentoring outcomes. Additionally, the mentoring effects perceived by protégés are distinct in each entrepreneurial stage, and informal mentors are capable of supporting their protégés’ individual stages. This study contributes to identifying and categorizing methods for developing positive mentoring relationships: respectful behavior, bonding activity, and mutually beneficial partnerships

Revitalizing Local Economy: A Comparative Study Between Thailand and Japan

This paper examines and compares the ways of local economic revitalization in Nagahama City, Japan, and Don Kha, Thailand. There is an analysis of the causes and driven factors that contribute to the success of local revitalization projects and investigates the impacts of local revitalized projects in selected cases. This study is grounded on a qualitative method that integrates interviews, participatory observations, and documentary research analysis as the central methodology. The results show that noticeable ways of local revitalization in both Nagahama and Don Kha cities are grounded on a partnership-based approach. However, Nagahama\u27s revitalized approach is predominantly a private-led and public collaboration, while the Don Kha method is mainly grounded on a publicled method. This study found the leading causes of local revitalization could be classified into two categories: grand cause – capitalization, aging society, and local cause – local resource crisis, income decline. The driven factors that contribute to the success of local economic revitalization found in this study are grounded on the "5C" notion: "communication" – community\u27s local democratic campaigns to gain collaboration and information diffusion among residents; "common ground for a common goal" – collective awareness on local problems, mutual responsibility, and a shared vision among residents; "cultural and local resources integration" – adapting original abstract and concrete resources into economic activities, "community-based management" – a self-managing approach and community as the central body of holistic revitalization: learner, developer, coordinator, and leader; "contribution from the government" – roles of the public sector in encouraging local development through support programs. This study reveals that the impacts from revitalized projects can be divided into two types: progressive impacts on social cohesion, strengthening self-managing and learning community, income generation and local economic vitality, and unexpected impacts on suburbanization – in Nagahama, and competition among neighboring cities – in Don Kha

Influence of Hydroxyapatite Coating for the Prevention of Bone Mineral Density Loss and Bone Metabolism after Total Hip Arthroplasty: Assessment Using 18F-Fluoride Positron Emission Tomography and Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry by Randomized Controlled Trial

Background. Hydroxyapatite- (HA-) coated implants tend to achieve good osteoinductivity and stable clinical results; however, the influence of the coating on the prevention of bone mineral density (BMD) loss around the implant is unclear. The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the effectiveness of HA-coated implants for preventing BMD loss and to determine the status of bone remodeling after total hip arthroplasty (THA), making comparisons with non-HA-coated implants. Methods. A total of 52 patients who underwent primary THA were randomly allocated to HA and non-HA groups. BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) at 1 week postoperation to form a baseline measurement, and then 24 weeks and 48 weeks after surgery. The relative change in BMD was evaluated for regions of interest (ROIs) based on the Gruen zone classifications. 18F-fluoride positron emission tomography (PET) was performed at 24 weeks postsurgery, and the maximum standardized uptake values (SUVmax) were evaluated in the proximal (HA-coated) and distal (non-HA-coated) areas in both groups. Results. There were significant differences in BMD loss in ROIs 3 and 6 (p=0.03), while no significant difference was observed in ROI 7 at either 24 or 48 weeks postsurgery. There was no significant correlation between PET uptake and BMD (24 or 48 weeks) in either group. Conclusion. The influence of a HA coating in terms of BMD preservation is limited. No significant correlation was found between BMD and SUVmax measured by PET, either with or without the use of a HA coating