A validity assessment of consumer satisfaction to measure performance of water services in Guatemala

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-309 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Vásquez
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Consumer Satisfaction ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Validity Assessment ◽  
Current Water ◽  
Water Provision ◽  
Treatment Pressure ◽  
Latent Scale

This article studies the validity of consumer satisfaction reports as a tool for assessing the performance of water services in Guatemala. Using survey data from 500 households, item-total correlations and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were computed and a factor analysis was conducted to investigate whether qualitative measures of consumer satisfaction with service hours, water treatment, pressure and prices are associated with a single latent scale. In addition, probit and regression models were estimated to identify underlying factors that influence consumer satisfaction. Results show that a considerable percentage of respondents are dissatisfied with current water services, particularly with the number of daily hours of water provision and pressure levels. Findings also indicate that consumer satisfaction is related to service attributes (i.e. frequency of service interruptions and pressure levels) and some personal characteristics. This lends some support to using consumer satisfaction reports, with due caution, to assess service performance in contexts where performance indicators are lacking.

scholarly journals The Influence of Industrial Clusters and Place on Innovation and Entrepreneurial Behaviour

2007 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 165-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pam McRae-Williams ◽  
Julian Lowe ◽  
Peter Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Regression Models ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Industrial Clusters ◽  
Factor Scores ◽  
Standard View ◽  
Behaviour Factor ◽  
Regional Clusters ◽  
Entrepreneurial Behaviour ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Central Result

Responses from a questionnaire survey of wine and tourism businesses operating in regional clusters were analysed using factor analysis. These suggested three factor scores relating to entrepreneurial behaviour; four factor scores relating to cluster activities and attributes; and three factors relating to the respondents' personal characteristics. The three entrepreneurial behaviour factor scores were interpreted as: innovator, calculator and venturer. These were used as dependent variables in regression models. The independent variables were the cluster and personal characteristics factor scores, industry and place. The central result was that the cluster activity variables did not have a significant impact on the innovator behaviour variable, which contradicts the standard view. Cluster activities and attributes were found to attract entrepreneurs of the calculator kind, and to a lesser extent, of the venturer kind. Place did seem to offer an attraction to entrepreneurs beyond those offered by the intensities of the cluster activities and attributes.

Effect of Agency Banking Operation on Profitability of Commercial Banks: A Case Of Selected Commercial Banks in Nairobi County

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
David Mchembere ◽  
Dr A O Jagongo
Keyword(s):  
Performance Indicators ◽  
Commercial Banks ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Study Finding ◽  
Target Population ◽  
Bank Profitability ◽  
Product Array ◽  
Number Of Customers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish the effects of agency banking operation on profitability of commercial banks.Materials and methods: The research design used for this study was descriptive design. The target population will be all eleven commercial banks offering agency banking. The study will conduct a census for all the banks. Data will be collected by use  of a questionnaire and secondary data. Data will be analyzed mainly by use of descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics will include mean and standard deviation. Data will also be presented by use of graphs, pie charts and tables.Multiple regression models will be useful to find out the virtual importance of each of the four variables.Results: From the study finding agency banking branch networking is negative and a statistically insignificant factor of bank profitability. Effect of agency banking withdrawal transaction  is positive and statistically significant. Agency banking deposit transactions is  statistically significant. Agency banking accounts opening services is also a statistically significant  factor, Commercial banks performance indicators is a statistically significant factor of bank profitability. It is possible to conclude that banks do obtain economies of scale and scope when they expand their activities, mainly by mergers and acquisitions. Therefore,expanded product array and potential for cross selling result from larger size and depth of product offering.Recommendations: The study recommends that for all the commercial banks to earn more profit they ought to increase the number of customers and for their businesses to grow further they have to invest more as well as embrace the adoption of market innovative strategies.The study also recommends that the banks should emphasize on cross-selling as they  can be useful marketing tools for banks to reach segments of the population that do not yet use traditional banking services.Key words: agency banking operation, profitability, commercial banks

scholarly journals Devolution of Water Services, Transformational Leadership and Water Provision in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Mohamud Mohamed Gedi ◽  
Michael Ngala ◽  
Leonard Wambua
Keyword(s):  
Transformational Leadership ◽  
Water Conservation ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Arid Lands ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Waterborne Diseases ◽  
Water Provision ◽  
Semi Arid

The source of livelihood for majority of people in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) is mainly livestock. Thus, water is critical in this region. However, in the ASAL regions this has not been fulfilled as conflicts, human and livestock diseases and waterborne diseases are prevalent due to water shortages. The purpose of this study was to establish the role of devolution of water services, transformational leadership on water provision in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands in Kenya. Specifically, the study determined the influence of devolution of water services on water provision in ASAL in Kenya, established the moderating effect of transformational leadership on the relationship between devolution of water services and water provision in ASAL in Kenya. The study used positivism research orientation.Cross- sectional survey research design was adopted. The target population entailed the 113 sub-counties in ASAL where a sample of 89 sub-counties was targeted. Questionnaire helped in collecting primary data. Secondary data collection was done via desk study. Findings of this study would contribute useful information that would help in the formulation of an action plan for sustainable water management, water conservation and how leaders who inspire, motivate employees can achieve these results. From the findings, the study recommended the need to improve water conservation, protection of catchments and water sources. The study also recommends leaders in ASAL to inspire their subordinates to achieve effective, efficient and sustainable management of both urban and rural water services.

scholarly journals How Important Is Income in Explaining Avoidance of Care Due to Cost-Sharing Payments? Results From a Mixed Methods Sequential Explanatory Study.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin H. Salampessy ◽  
France R.M. Portrait ◽  
Marianne Donker ◽  
Ismail Ismail ◽  
Eric J.E. Hijden
Keyword(s):  
Demand Response ◽  
Cost Sharing ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Complex Design ◽  
Negative Connotation

Abstract Background The avoidance of healthcare by patients because of the costs involved has become more prevalent in recent years. Certain patient characteristics, such as income, are known to be associated with a stronger demand-response to cost-sharing. In this study, we first assess the relative importance of patient characteristics with regard to the avoidance of healthcare due to cost-sharing payments, and then employ qualitative methods in order to understand these findings better. Methods Survey data was collected from a Dutch panel of frequent users of healthcare. Logistic regression models and dominance analyses were performed to assess the relative importance of patient characteristics with regard to the avoidance, i.e., personal characteristics, health, skills and financial situation. Semi-structured interviews (n = 5) were conducted with those who had avoided healthcare. The verbatim transcribed interviews were thematically analyzed. Results Of the 7,339 respondents who completed the questionnaire, 1,048 respondents (14.3%) had avoided healthcare because of the deductible requirement. Dominance analyses revealed that an individual’s financial leeway contributed the most (34.8%) to the model’s overall McFadden’s pseudo-R2 (i.e., 0.12), followed by income (25.6%), age (19.6%) and sense of mastery (8.9%). Similar results were observed in stratified models and in population weighted models. Qualitative analyses distinguished four main themes: (1) the financial reasons and (2) personal considerations that affected the decision whether to use healthcare, (3) the perceived uncertainty in payments due to the complex design of cost-sharing programs, and (4) whether the use of healthcare was perceived as compulsory. Furthermore, ‘avoidance of healthcare’ seemed to have a negative connotation. Conclusion Our findings show that avoidance of healthcare depends on various factors including income, and imply that focusing solely on lowering cost-sharing payments for certain individuals will only partly reduce this avoidance. Our study underlines the need for a broader perspective in the design of cost-sharing programs.

Sustainable Water Provision

2011 ◽  
pp. 1768-1781
Author(s):  
Shinyi Lee ◽  
Tan Yigitcanlar ◽  
Prasanna Egodawatta ◽  
Ashantha Goonetilleke
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Economic Growth ◽  
Population Growth ◽  
Water Resource Management ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Current Water ◽  
Water Provision ◽  
Growth Changes

As a result of rapid urbanisation, population growth, changes in lifestyle, pollution and the impacts of climate change, water provision has become a critical challenge for planners and policy-makers. In the wake of increasingly difficult water provision and drought, the notion that freshwater is a finite and vulnerable resource is increasingly being realised. Many city administrations around the world are struggling to provide water security for their residents to maintain lifestyle and economic growth. This chapter reviews the global challenge of providing freshwater to sustain lifestyles and economic growth, and the contributing challenges of climate change, urbanisation, population growth and problems in rainfall distribution. The chapter proceeds to evaluate major alternatives to current water sources such as conservation, recycling and reclamation, and desalination. Integrated water resource management is briefly looked at to explore its role in complementing water provision. A comparative study on alternative resources is undertaken to evaluate their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and constraints, and the results are discussed.

Expectancy violation in a Facebook group: What is your response?

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stella Tomasi ◽  
Chaodong Han ◽  
James Otto
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Regression Models ◽  
Personal Characteristics ◽  
Expectancy Violations ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Perceived Severity ◽  
Expectancy Violation ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Comprehensive Framework ◽  
Group Characteristics

PurposeFacebook groups provide a forum for members to post content and engage with others through comments. Sometimes members behave poorly and violate the expectations of group members. In this study, the authors build a research framework based on expectancy violation theory (EVT) to predict and better understand the behaviour and responses of members when faced with violations in their groups.Design/methodology/approachFacebook group members completed surveys regarding their interactions in social media groups. The independent variable predictors in the study were categorized by personal characteristics, relationship characteristics and group characteristics. Participants also identified expectancy violations they had encountered (either severe or mild) and identified how they would react to the two types of violations. Regression models were developed for severe and mild violations.FindingsThe regression models show that personal characteristics such as age, gender and marital status; relationship characteristics such as their social media usage frequency and their social media engagement level; group characteristics such as anonymity of users and purpose of the group as well as the perceived severity of the violation influence how a member will respond to the expectancy violation.Originality/valueThe research study extends the existing expectancy violation literature by providing a comprehensive framework to predict how users will react to negative expectancy violations. This study also has practical implications for how group administrators might manage expectancy violations.

Supported Employment and Social Validity

1994 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. Test
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Satisfaction ◽  
Supported Employment ◽  
Social Validity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Employment Services ◽  
Validity Data ◽  
Validity Assessment ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Employment Goals

Whereas considerable data exist demonstrating positive outcomes for people working as a result of supported employment, little attention has been paid to more qualitative measures of consumer satisfaction. Given the vast array of potential consumers of supported employment services, it seems imperative to determine consumer acceptability, or the social validity, of supported employment goals, procedures, and outcomes. The purpose of the present paper was to review a portion of the supported employment/social validity literature in relation to a proposed Social Validity Matrix and to suggest areas for future research. A review of 30 studies based on the matrix indicated future research is needed to (a) broaden the scope of supported employment social validity assessment, (b) investigate alternative strategies for assessing social validity, (c) develop systematic procedures for collecting and using social validity data, and (d) establish functional variables within supported employment.

scholarly journals Community-Managed Water Services: The Case of Peru

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 400-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Calzada ◽  
Susana Iranzo ◽  
Alex Sanz
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Water Systems ◽  
Economic Resources ◽  
Alternative Mechanism ◽  
Water Services ◽  
Internal Governance ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Geographical Dispersion ◽  
Water Provision

Due to lack of economic resources and the geographical dispersion of the population, state and private for-profit water provision is not feasible in many remote rural areas of developing countries. In such instances, community-managed water systems emerge as an alternative mechanism to provide safe water. Despite their importance, little is known about this type of organizations. This article examines the Juntas Administradoras de Servicios de Saneamiento (JASS), communal organizations that provide water services to more than 3 million people in rural and peri-urban areas of Peru. We focus on two important and related dimensions of the JASS. First, we empirically identify the factors associated to their existence (economic resources of the municipalities, tradition of communal work, and ethnic homogeneity). And second, we examine their organization and how they manage the water systems, which is importantly affected by the socioeconomic characteristics of the communities. Using the Peruvian JASS as a showcase, this article sheds then some light on the potential viability of this type of organizations. We conclude that the JASS might be an important and effective alternative to organize the provision of water services in rural and isolated areas. However, the consolidation of these institutions requires adequate supervision to ensure that water systems are correctly designed and managed and that internal governance problems do not compromise their sustainability.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document