Assessing payment instrument alternatives using cognitive mapping and the choquet integral

Technological advances have increased the diversity of payment instruments and transaction channels, heightening consumers' expectations for services in this regard. Coupled with an increasing competitiveness of the banking industry, this has emphasized the great importance of understanding consumers' choices of payment instruments. In order to meet their customers' expectations, banks have to understand what determines their choices of payment instruments. This study aims to uncover these determinants of payment instrument choice, through the use of cognitive mapping to structure the decision problem, and its combination with the Choquet integral to identify the overall preferred payment instrument from the user perspective. The results show that direct debits and electronic cards constitute the preferred payment instruments, and automated teller machines (ATMs) and point-of-sale (POS) the overall preferred transaction channels. Understanding consumers' choices of payment instrument, the factors underlying them and their interactions can contribute to better planning by banks at the distribution channel level. Strengths, limitations and managerial implications of our proposal are also discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A framework for assessing trust in e-government services under uncertain environment

In this study, a novel framework was proposed to assess the trust in e-government (e-Gov) services under an uncertain environment. The proposed framework was applied in Iranian municipality websites of e-Gov services to evaluate the readiness score of trust in e-Gov services. A unique hybrid research methodology was proposed. In the first phase, a comprehensive set of indices were determined from an extensive literature review and finalized by employing the fuzzy Delphi method. In the second phase, Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets (IVIFS) was utilized to model the problem’s uncertainty with Analytic called IVIFS- Hierarchy Process (AHP) to determine the importance of indices and indicators by assigning the weights. In the third phase, the Fuzzy Evaluation Method (FEM) is followed for assessing the readiness score of indices in case studies. The findings indicated that “Trust in government” is the most significant index affecting citizen’s trust in e-Gov services while “Maintenance and support” has the least impact on user’s intention to use e–Gov services. The study is one of the few to indicate significant indices of trust in e-Gov services in developing countries. The study shows the importance of indicators and indices by assigning a weight. Additionally, the framework can assess the readiness score of various case studies. Research Implications: The study contributes by introducing a unique research methodology that integrates three phases, including Fuzzy Delphi, IVIFS AHP and Fuzzy Evaluation method. Moreover, the Fuzzy sets theory helps to reach a more accurate result by modeling the inherent ambiguity of indicators and indices. Interval-Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy models the ambiguity of experts’ judgments in an interval. The study helps policy makers to monitor wider aspects of trust in e-Gov services as well as understanding their importance. The study enables policy makers to apply the framework to any potential case studies to evaluate the readiness score of indices and recognizing strengths and weakness of trust dimensions as well as recommending advice for improving the situation

A cognition-driven risk evaluation framework for consumer loans

Credit to personal consumption is an important activity of the financial system and crucial to the socio-economic development of a country. It is important, therefore, that the methods and techniques used to evaluate consumer credit risk be as efficient and informative as possible, in order to strengthen decisions to approve or reject credit and promote sustainable economic growth. This study aims to create a multiple criteria expert system which integrates cognitive maps and the measuring attractiveness by a categorical based evaluation technique (MACBETH) to create a complementary framework for consumer credit risk assessment. The results show that this integrated approach allows the evaluation process of consumer credit risk to be more informed and transparent, providing value for the evaluation processes of this type of credit application as a result of the privileged contact established with a panel of credit analysts. Limitations and managerial implications are also discussed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

MODELLING AND FORECASTING THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR IN LITHUANIA

Abstract. The model of an efficient real estate sector as suggested by this research is based on the presumption that the efficiency depends on many micro, meso and macrolevel variables. The presence of specific micro, meso and macrolevel variable factors imposes objective limitations for efficient activities the real estate sector. The real estate sector, in the presence of these limited objectives, tries to perform its functions within the boundaries with utmost efficiency. This research aims at producing the model of the rational real estate sector in Lithuania by undertaking a complex analysis of micro, meso and macro environment factors affecting real estate. Also it aims at making recommendations on the increase of the real estate competitive ability. In order to demonstrate the application of the above research for developing a model of efficient real estate sector a selection of rational housing investment instruments will be considered in this paper as a sample. It is possible to determine analogically and other factors of micro, meso and macrolevel, that increase the efficiency of real estate sector of the certain country. The suggested method of modeling of real estate sector it is possible to apply in other countries of Eastern and Central Europe. Keywords: real estate sector, micro, meso and macrolevel factors, conceptual and quantitative information, multiple criteria analysis, model. MAIN STAGES OF WORKING OUT A LITHUANIAN MODEL FOR REAL ESTATE SECTOR DEVELOPMENT The research's aim was to develop a rational Lithuanian real estate sector model by undertaking a complex analysis of micro, meso and macrolevel variables in this paper include: legislation, taxes (tax bracket, tax deduction and tax deferred), liquid secondary market, market transparency, professional bodies, lending institutions, real estate finance, mortgage, the techniques of selling property (saleleaseback and lease with option to buy), insurance, information technology, education, valuer's liability, valuer's fee levels, contracts, investment instruments, housing subsidy system, credit access (use of low interest loans, waivers of closing costs, government and private mortgage insurance, reduced down payments, sweat equity, flexible debt-to-income ratios, lease-purchase arrangements and deferred second mortgage) variables affecting it as well as giving recommendations on the increase of it efficiency. Alternatives of micro, meso and macrolevel variables are being considered in developing the alternative versions of a real estate sector. The research was performed by studying the expertise of advanced industrial economies and by adapting information to Lithuania. Simulation was undertaken to provide insight into creating an effective real estate sector environment. To be efficient the real estate sector must operate within certain boundaries imposed by micro, meso and macrolevel factors. It is necessary to utilise this knowledge and related to real estate practices, so as to increase the efficiency of the real estate sector environment in the countr

Factors influencing consumers' intention to return the end of life electronic products through reverse supply chain management for reuse, repair and recycling

Resource depletion, population growth and environmental problems force companies to collect their end of life (EOL) products for reuse, recycle and refurbishment through reverse supply chain management (RSCM). Success in collecting the EOL products through RSCM depends on the customers' participation intention. The objectives of this study are: (1) To examine the important factors influencing customers' attitude to participate in RSCM; (2) To examine the important factors influencing customers' subjective norm to participate in RSCM; (3) To examine the main factors influencing customers' perceived behavioral control to participate in RSCM; (4) To examine the influence of attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control on customers' participation intention in RSCM. The Decomposed Theory of Planned Behaviour (DTPB) has been chosen as the underpinning theory for this research. The research conducted employed the quantitative approach. Non-probability (convenience sampling) method was used to determine the sample and data was collected using questionnaires. Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) technique was employed. A total of 800 questionnaires were distributed among customers of electronic products in Malaysia. Finally, the questionnaire was distributed among the customers in electronic retailer companies based on convenience sampling method. The empirical results confirm that consumers perception about the risk associated with EOL electronic products, consumers' ecological knowledge and relative advantages associated with reuse, repair and recycling can influence the attitude of consumers to return the EOL products for reuse, repair and recycling to producer

Measuring country sustainability performance using ensembles of neuro-fuzzy technique

Global warming is one of the most important challenges nowadays. Sustainability practices and technologies have been proven to significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed and incur economic savings. Sustainability assessment tools and methods have been developed to support decision makers in evaluating the developments in sustainable technology. Several sustainability assessment tools and methods have been developed by fuzzy logic and neural network machine learning techniques. However, a combination of neural network and fuzzy logic, neuro-fuzzy, and the ensemble learning of this technique has been rarely explored when developing sustainability assessment methods. In addition, most of the methods developed in the literature solely rely on fuzzy logic. The main shortcoming of solely using the fuzzy logic rule-based technique is that it cannot automatically learn from the data. This problem of fuzzy logic has been solved by the use of neural networks in many real-world problems. The combination of these two techniques will take the advantages of both to precisely predict the output of a system. In addition, combining the outputs of several predictors can result in an improved accuracy in complex systems. This study accordingly aims to propose an accurate method for measuring countries' sustainability performance using a set of real-world data of the sustainability indicators. The adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) technique was used for discovering the fuzzy rules from data from 128 countries, and ensemble learning was used for measuring the countries' sustainability performance. The proposed method aims to provide the country rankings in term of sustainability. The results of this research show that the method has potential to be effectively implemented as a decision-making tool for measuring countries' sustainability performance

Residents' attitude toward tourism development: A sociocultural perspective

Host population support for tourism development has attracted the attention of researchersin tourism studies. Given the importance of understanding local community support for tourismdevelopment, limitations in understanding their priority and lack of a socio-cultural model ofsupport for tourism, this study attempted to model locals' support for tourism development based onsocio-cultural factors in Malaysian Homestay program. Using extensive literature review, a tourismsupport model was proposed including several hypothesized paths. The proposed socio-culturalresearch framework predicted the impact of Islamic religiosity, locals' knowledge about tourism, intrinsic motivation factors and community attachment on locals support for tourism developmentthrough mediating variables of perceived socio-cultural benefits and costs in Malaysian Homestays., the model and paths were tested using structural equation modelling and partial least squarealgorithm (PLS-SEM) with the aid of SmartPLS software. Findings reveal that locals' support fortourism development in Homestay program is a function of perceived socio-cultural benefits andcosts perceived by local community and four independent variables of Islamic religiosity, knowledgeabout tourism, intrinsic motivations, and community attachment.authors

Application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to solve environmental sustainability problems: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis

Most methodological areas assume common serious reflections to certify difficult study and publication practices, and, therefore, approval in their area. Interestingly, relatively little attention has been paid to reviewing the application of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in environmental sustainability problems despite the growing number of publications in the past two decades. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to fill this gap by conducting a wide search in two main databases includingWeb of Science and Scopus to identify the studies which used SEM techniques in the period from 2005 to 2016. A critical analysis of these articles addresses some important key issues. On the basis of our results, we present comprehensive guidelines to help researchers avoid general pitfalls in using SEM. The results of this review are important and will help researchers to better develop research models based on SEM in the area of environmental sustainability

Система принятия строительных решений в условиях неопределенности

The paper considers the main principles of one- and two-side strategic games. Two-side strategic problems are subdivided in games with rational behaviour and games against nature. The following main strategic principles have been applied: ordinary min-max principle, Wald’s, Hurwicz’s, Laplace’s, Bayes’s, Hadges-Lehmann’s rules, Savage criterion. The description of Levi 3.0 program is given in the paper.In addition to description of the application program it is illustrated by the solution of the problem concerning multi-criterion evaluation and selection of construction site for a commercial object. In order to solve the problem a number of various methods have been applied.Рассматриваются основные положения одно- и двусторонних стратегических игр. Двусторонние стратегические задачи подразделены на игры с рациональным поведением и игры против природы. Использовались главные принципы стратегий: обычный принцип минимакса, правила Wald, Hurwicz, Laplace, Bayes, Hadges-Lehmann, критерий Savage. Приводится описание программы Levi 3.0.Кроме описания прикладной программы, в качестве иллюстрации работы программы с применением разных методов решается задача по многокритериальной оценке и выбору участка строительства коммерческого объекта