Gym-Goers Preference Analysis of Fitness Centers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Conjoint Analysis Approach for Business Sustainability

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on the fitness centers industry. The purpose of this study is to analyze the preference of gym-goers on fitness centers in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic by utilizing a conjoint analysis approach. One thousand gym-goers voluntarily participated in this study and answered 22 queries created from the orthogonal design. The results indicated that Price was the highest attribute considered (21.59%), followed by Ventilation (17.56%), Service (16.59%), Trainer (14.63%), Payment Method (11.95%), Operating Hours (8.90%), and Login (8.70%). The results also indicated that comfort, security, and fitness center services were the main aspects that gym-goers would consider as their main preference. The study highlighted how gym-goers are sensitive to the price set by the fitness centers. Moreover, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ventilation and size are considered highly important attributes among gym-goers. Comfort, safety, and security are the main consideration to have sustainable fitness centers during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcome of this study may benefit fitness centers and increase their business market by considering the preference of customers. Finally, the result of this study can be utilized by fitness centers to promote a generalized fitness center for gym-goers of different generations, statuses, and even socioeconomic status during and even after the COVID-19 pandemic

A goal programming model for off-grid power planning with a case of Marinduque island

Off-grid areas pose economic and technical challenges, often overlooked in national power planning. In the Philippines, the National Power Corporation manages mainly oil-based off-grid power assets, with issues of intermittency and reliability. This study proposes an optimal energy mix using non-preemptive Goal Programming combined with a pair-wise comparison to determine the penalty weights to balance energy security, affordability, sustainability, and self-sufficiency goals. Marinduque province serves as a case study, where it is identified that including renewable energy in the grid could help balance energy goals and reduce generation costs and emissions. Increased use of renewables can also satisfy demand and self-sufficiency goals, making electricity more affordable. Once electricity becomes more affordable, subsidies can be reduced and later on be removed. The study's recommendations can be a starting point for private investors and government agencies to improve the energy sector in off-grid areas

Stock market optimization amidst the COVID-19 pandemic: Technical analysis, K-means algorithm, and mean-variance model (TAKMV) approach

The Philippine stock market, just like most of its neighbors in the region, was seriously impacted by the global pandemic COVID-19. Investors remain hopeful while continuing to seek great ones in the damaged market. This paper developed a methodology for portfolio selection and optimization with the use of technical analysis, machine learning techniques, and portfolio optimization model. The combined methods of technical analysis, K-means clustering algorithm, and mean-variance portfolio optimization model will result in the development of the proposed TAKMV method. The study aims to integrate these three important analyses to identify portfolio investments. This paper uses the average annual risk and annual rate of return data for the years 2018 and 2020 to form the clusters and assessed the stocks that correspond to the investor's technical strategy such as Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) and Hybrid MACD with Arnaud Legoux Moving Average (ALMA). This paper solved the risk minimization problem on selected shares of the companies, based on the mean-variance portfolio optimization model. There are 230 and 239 companies for 2018 and 2020, respectively, listed in Philippine Stock Market, and all simulations were performed in MATLAB environment platform. Results showed that MACD strategy dominates the MACD-ALMA strategy in terms of the number of assets with a positive annual rate of return. The MACD works efficiently in the pre-COVID-19 condition while MACD-ALMA works efficiently during-COVID-19 condition, regardless of the number of assets with a positive annual rate of return. The results also show that the maximum expected portfolio return (RP) can be achieved using the MACD and MACD-ALMA in the pre-and during-COVID-19 conditions, respectively. The MACD-ALMA shows an advantage during high-risk market conditions and can also provide maximum RP. The performance of the TAKMV method was validated by applying its results and comparing it to the next year's historical price. The 2018 results were compared to 2019 data and the 2020 results were compared to 2021 data. For consistency, the comparison was applied to the same company per portfolio. Simulation results show that the MACD strategy is more effective compared to MACD-ALMA

Determining Factors Affecting Perceived Customer Satisfaction on Public Utility Bus System in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines: A Case Study on Service Quality Assessment during Major Disruptions

The imposition of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the majority of enterprises throughout the globe. The public transportation sector was greatly affected, especially in provincial areas in the Philippines. This study aimed to investigate the service quality of bus transits in Occidental Mindoro during the COVID-19 pandemic using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) and SERVQUAL dimensions. A total of 200 individuals completed a 67-question online questionnaire. AHP was utilized to determine which bus providers need to be improved the most. Then, the SERVQUAL approach was used. The five dimensions were linked with the use of new technologies, including the COVID-19 protocol, service quality, and customer satisfaction as latent variables in structural equation modeling. The AHP results indicated that safety accounts for the most significant weight for bus passengers. Moreover, service quality, responsiveness, reliability, empathy, and COVID-19 protocol significantly enhance service and customer satisfaction. The findings of this research study can now serve as a service quality assessment and guidelines to provide a sustainable public bus transportation; it can also help determine the significant and insignificant factors in enhancing the service quality and improving the customer satisfaction of bus providers worldwide

Factors Affecting Perceived Effectiveness of Government Response towards COVID-19 Vaccination in Occidental Mindoro, Philippines

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused several developing countries to fall behind on vaccination at the onset of the pandemic, thus affecting the mobility of easing restrictions and lowering virus transmission. The current study integrated the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT) and extended the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to evaluate factors affecting the perceived effectiveness of government response towards COVID-19 vaccination in Occidental Mindoro. A total of 400 respondents from the municipalities of Occidental Mindoro answered the online questionnaires, which contained 61 questions. This study outlined the relationship between the dependent and independent variables using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results indicated that knowledge of COVID-19 vaccination had significant direct effects on its perceived severity. Subjective standards had significant adverse effects on willingness to follow. In addition, perceived behavioral control was discovered to impact willingness to follow positively. It also showed that perceived government response was significantly affected by adaptive behavior and actual behavior regarding the perceived government response. Meanwhile, it was found that the perceived government response had significant effects on perceived effectiveness. The current study is one of the first to study the factors that affect the perceived effectiveness of government response toward COVID- 19 vaccination

Assessing Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction of Electric Utility Provider’s Online Payment System during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Structural Modeling Approach

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed people’s lives, especially technological advancements. Most service industries have opted to adopt online payments since the pandemic happened. Electric utility companies are one of the major industries that utilize online payments as an alternative mode of payment to traditional cash payments to minimize person-to-person contact. The current study aimed to assess electric utility companies’ service quality and customer satisfaction to improve the payment system. The study was conducted in Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (OMECO), which utilized an online payment system due to COVID-19-protocol. The research model comprises 60 questionnaires with ten sections developed from the literature and distributed to 400 participants. The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling and path analysis technique. The results showed that Online Payment Security had the most positive effect on service quality, thus affecting customer satisfaction. Moreover, tangibility, reliability, online payment method, and COVID-19-protocol positively affected service quality. While reliability, assurance, and empathy had a negative effect on the service quality of OMECO. Aligning with the result, OMECO was poorly evaluated by the participants in terms of empathy, assurance, responsiveness, and reliability. Moreover, the result of the study can be used by major electric companies to improve their service in terms of online payment. Finally, the current research is one of the first studies that integrate service quality and customer satisfaction while utilizing the structural modeling approach

Assessing Service Quality and Customer Satisfaction of Electric Utility Provider’s Online Payment System during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Structural Modeling Approach

The COVID-19 pandemic has rapidly changed people’s lives, especially technological advancements. Most service industries have opted to adopt online payments since the pandemic happened. Electric utility companies are one of the major industries that utilize online payments as an alternative mode of payment to traditional cash payments to minimize person-to-person contact. The current study aimed to assess electric utility companies’ service quality and customer satisfaction to improve the payment system. The study was conducted in Occidental Mindoro Electric Cooperative, Inc. (OMECO), which utilized an online payment system due to COVID-19-protocol. The research model comprises 60 questionnaires with ten sections developed from the literature and distributed to 400 participants. The data were analyzed using the structural equation modeling and path analysis technique. The results showed that Online Payment Security had the most positive effect on service quality, thus affecting customer satisfaction. Moreover, tangibility, reliability, online payment method, and COVID-19-protocol positively affected service quality. While reliability, assurance, and empathy had a negative effect on the service quality of OMECO. Aligning with the result, OMECO was poorly evaluated by the participants in terms of empathy, assurance, responsiveness, and reliability. Moreover, the result of the study can be used by major electric companies to improve their service in terms of online payment. Finally, the current research is one of the first studies that integrate service quality and customer satisfaction while utilizing the structural modeling approach

The Effect of Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction in an Automotive After-Sales Service

Assessment of service quality has been widely utilized in after-sales service, especially in the automotive industry. The purpose of the study was to determine factors affecting customer satisfaction in an automotive after-sales service at Toyota Dasmarinas-Cavite Philippines by utilizing the SERVQUAL approach. Several SERVQUAL dimensions such as tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy were analyzed simultaneously to the customer satisfaction. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that among the five SERVQUAL dimensions, reliability and empathy were found to have significant relationships to the satisfaction of customers at Toyota Dasmarinas-Cavite Philippines. Interestingly, tangibles, responsiveness, and assurance were found to have no significant relationships to satisfaction. The servicing dealer must deliver a high quality of service to meet customer expectations and achieve high customer satisfaction, which subsequently builds customer trust towards the company. With these, customer retention and loyalty can be attained by the company that can also increase the company’s profit and competitive advantage

Factors Influencing Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) Game Engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic: The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Hedonic Motivation System Adoption Model (HMSAM) Approach

The prominent form of Non-Fungible Token (NFT) is found in the gaming industry. NFT games received immense attention during the COVID-19 pandemic because of their play-to-earn model. NFT gamers can enjoy and increase their finances in their spare time. Hence, the researchers utilized Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to investigate the intention and immersive behaviors of 1082 respondents. The modified framework from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Hedonic Motivation System Adoption Model (HMSAM) underwent SEM tests. These theories and methods were used to analyze relationships among hypotheses and assess factors influencing NFT game engagement. The results showed that hedonic motivation produced positive and significant influences on perceived usefulness, curiosity, joy, attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Subjective norms significantly influenced perceived ease of use. In due course, perceived ease of use yielded positive and significant effects on perceived usefulness, joy, attitude, and perceived behavioral control. Moreover, perceived usefulness, curiosity, joy, attitude, and perceived behavioral control had significant positive effects on behavioral intention. In addition, perceived usefulness, curiosity, joy, and attitude significantly and positively affected immersion. Meanwhile, only four hypotheses were not supported by the study. These findings were translated into theoretical and managerial implications to contribute to the academe given the strong the change of behavior of users towards NFT games during the pandemic; gaming industry since they will be able to develop, improve and create a new ecosystem in the gaming space, and NFT stakeholders since they will benefit from the development that will influence this study

The Effect of Service Quality on Customer Satisfaction in an Automotive After-Sales Service

Assessment of service quality has been widely utilized in after-sales service, especially in the automotive industry. The purpose of the study was to determine factors affecting customer satisfaction in an automotive after-sales service at Toyota Dasmarinas-Cavite Philippines by utilizing the SERVQUAL approach. Several SERVQUAL dimensions such as tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy were analyzed simultaneously to the customer satisfaction. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that among the five SERVQUAL dimensions, reliability and empathy were found to have significant relationships to the satisfaction of customers at Toyota Dasmarinas-Cavite Philippines. Interestingly, tangibles, responsiveness, and assurance were found to have no significant relationships to satisfaction. The servicing dealer must deliver a high quality of service to meet customer expectations and achieve high customer satisfaction, which subsequently builds customer trust towards the company. With these, customer retention and loyalty can be attained by the company that can also increase the company’s profit and competitive advantage