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This study considers the five factors of a car rotation system: angle (F1), arm length (F2), toe in and out (F3), width (F4) and length (F5). The purpose of this paper is to fine tune the design so it produces the smoothest response to various rotation angles.

In the case of Ackerman’s principle, the response surface methodology (RSM) was used to analyze data when encountering different quality characteristics at various rotation angles.

In this study, RSM was used to obtain the best factor and the best reaction value for the five factors of a car rotation system.

In this study, the four-wheel steering of a car is taken as an example. When the current wheel is turned, the intersection of the left and right wheels of the front axle falls on the extension line of the rear wheel. In this case, the steering will be the smoothest. In this example, we selected angle (F1), arm length (F2), toe in and out (F3), width (F4) and length (F5) as experimental factors, hoping to satisfy the Ackerman principle.

Traditionally, when dealing with four-wheel steering problems, solutions may be based on past experience or on new information used to formulate R&D plans. In this study, the combination of statistical factors and optimization is used to find the optimal combination of factors and the relationship between factors.

In the past, most literature relied on kinematics to study the car rotation system due to a lack of experimental design and analysis concepts. However, this study aims to achieve the above goals in finding the solution, which can be used to predict reaction values.

The purpose of this paper is to establish the regression model by a simulation method that was obtained by using the system response at unit cost as the response value. The unit availability was maximized, while the unit cost was minimized.

In this study, the Monte Carlo simulation method was used to simulate an operational system, and the regression model was obtained by using response surface methodology with the experimental matrix and different levels of experimental combinations.

The optimal value of mean time between failure (MTBF) and mean time to repair (MTTR) of each component was then obtained by using the system response at unit cost as the response value.

Due to the upgrading of industrial technology and the maturity of electronic technology, product development technology has become highly sophisticated with complex designs. Reliability engineering has become a key procedure of high-tech industry.

Based on the system availability of unit cost as the response value, it can maximize the availability to help decision makers to formulate the best selection strategy components and repair strategy.

Previous works regarding the parameter settings of reliability values never mention the simulation methodology. However, this study aims to achieve the above goals in finding the relationship of MTBF and MTTR simultaneously.

Gives an in depth view of the strategies pursued by the world’s leading chief executive officers in an attempt to provide guidance to new chief executives of today. Considers the marketing strategies employed, together with the organizational structures used and looks at the universal concepts that can be applied to any product. Uses anecdotal evidence to formulate a number of theories which can be used to compare your company with the best in the world. Presents initial survival strategies and then looks at ways companies can broaden their boundaries through manipulation and choice. Covers a huge variety of case studies and examples together with a substantial question and answer section.

Presents over sixty abstracts summarising the 1999 Employment Research Unit annual conference held at the University of Cardiff. Explores the multiple impacts of globalization on work and employment in contemporary organizations. Covers the human resource management implications of organizational responses to globalization. Examines the theoretical, methodological, empirical and comparative issues pertaining to competitiveness and the management of human resources, the impact of organisational strategies and international production on the workplace, the organization of labour markets, human resource development, cultural change in organisations, trade union responses, and trans‐national corporations. Cites many case studies showing how globalization has brought a lot of opportunities together with much change both to the employee and the employer. Considers the threats to existing cultures, structures and systems.

The purpose of this study is to propose a synthetic post-adoption model based on the expectation-confirmation model (ECM) and flow theory to examine whether the fit factor, network factors and psychological factors as antecedents to end-users’ beliefs can affect their continuance intention of the robo-advisor.

This study used the research model based on ECM and flow theory to examine the effects of the fit factor, network factors and psychological factors on end-users’ beliefs and continuance intention of the robo-advisor. Sample data were collected from end-users at three financial services companies in Taiwan. A total of 450 questionnaires were distributed and 360 (80.0%) usable questionnaires were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

This study proposes a solid research model that based on ECM and flow theory, three types of factors, namely, fit factor, network factors and psychological factors, as antecedents to end-users’ continuance intention of the robo-advisor have been examined and this study’s results strongly support the research model with all hypothesized links being significant.

It is particularly worth mentioning that a synthetic post-adoption model can be proposed in this study by introducing the fit factor extracted from task-technology fit model, network factors originated from the theory of network externalities and psychological factors derived from uses and gratifications theory as antecedents to perceived usefulness, confirmation, satisfaction and continuance intention referred in ECM and flow experience derived from flow theory. Thus, this study’s research model and findings can reveal deep insights into the evaluation of determinants in the field of end-users’ continuance intention of the robo-advisor.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a research framework by drawing on the network externalities research and previous literature on information systems to understand the antecedents of information disclosure. The framework postulates that the following network externalities are important factors affecting social network sites (SNS) perceived usefulness (PU): perceived external prestige, referent network size and perceived complementarity. In addition, the paper proposes that PU, habit and subjective norms significantly affect information disclosure of SNS among Chinese users.

Data are collected from 251 Chinese university students who use SNS. Structural equation modeling was applied to test the hypotheses presented in the model.

The findings provide support for all the hypotheses, with the exception of the influence of referent network size on PU and the influence of subjective norms on information disclosure. Both perceived external prestige and perceived complementarity have reported positive effect on PU of SNS. In turn, the authors have found that PU and habit have positive effects on information disclosure.

SNS encourage users to reveal personal information by allowing them to post photos and videos and share their interests and feelings on the site. Yet, limited empirical research has investigated the concept of self-disclosure of personal information particularly among Chinese users of SNS. To fill this research gap, the authors have developed a research framework by drawing on the network externalities research and previous literature on information systems to understand the antecedents of information disclosure.

Presents a special issue, enlisting the help of the author’s students and colleagues, focusing on age, sex, colour and disability discrimination in America. Breaks the evidence down into manageable chunks, covering: age discrimination in the workplace; discrimination against African‐Americans; sex discrimination in the workplace; same sex sexual harassment; how to investigate and prove disability discrimination; sexual harassment in the military; when the main US job‐discrimination law applies to small companies; how to investigate and prove racial discrimination; developments concerning race discrimination in the workplace; developments concerning the Equal Pay Act; developments concerning discrimination against workers with HIV or AIDS; developments concerning discrimination based on refusal of family care leave; developments concerning discrimination against gay or lesbian employees; developments concerning discrimination based on colour; how to investigate and prove discrimination concerning based on colour; developments concerning the Equal Pay Act; using statistics in employment discrimination cases; race discrimination in the workplace; developments concerning gender discrimination in the workplace; discrimination in Japanese organizations in America; discrimination in the entertainment industry; discrimination in the utility industry; understanding and effectively managing national origin discrimination; how to investigate and prove hiring discrimination based on colour; and, finally, how to investigate sexual harassment in the workplace.

Whereas past research has been valuable in explaining how “perceived usefulness” (PU) and “perceived ease of use” (PEU) constructs lead to technology acceptance and refusal behaviors in organizations, it has not explored the antecedents of these two factors. The purpose of this paper is to propose an interpretive approach to the study of front-line employees’ sense making of technological change as well as the understanding of behavioral and psychological origins of PU and PEU.

This study analyses a major transition in work mode induced by an IT innovation implemented within a leading French hospitality company. A qualitative method was employed to answer the research questions. The data were collected using 22 in-depth semi-structured interviews from front-line employees and their line managers in five 4-star hotels in Paris. The participants were asked how they made sense of the technological change and what they consider when they judge the usefulness and the ease of use during the implementation of change.

The analysis revealed that employees’ acceptance of technological change is paradoxical and shaped by a continuous process of sense making when using the IT innovation. The findings also suggest that PU can be explained by factors like job relevance, PEU and output quality. Anxiety, playfulness, perceived enjoyment, objective usability and facilitating conditions were identified as antecedents of PEU.

The paper reports the effect of perceptions of social influence, system characteristics, individual differences and facilitating conditions on PU and PEU constructs in IT adoption process. It is among the first to examine the antecedents of such beliefs in the hospitality industry through the use of a qualitative method. It also shows that that three variables – result demonstrability, computer self-efficacy and social influence process described by subjective norm and image – did not play a significant role in influencing the intensions of using the system through PU and PEU.

Understanding the antecedents of the two key predictors in technology acceptance models allows managers to implement efficient adjustments and interventions in order to positively influence employees’ IT innovation acceptance and use.

This qualitative study contributes to open the black boxes concerning the conceptualizations of PU and PEU. It advances the understanding of the employees’ acceptance of IT innovation.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the combined roles that perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use, perceived security and hedonic motivation play on the adoption of e-banking. It also aims to determine the ability of hedonic motivation to transfer the effect of other determinants of e-banking adoption.

In order to empirically test the conceptual model of this study, data were collected from the users of e-banking in Nigeria. A total of 266 questionnaires were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling.

The empirical results revealed a significant and positive relationship between PU, perceived security and e-banking adoption. The same result was found to be applicable to the relationship between PU, perceived ease of use, perceived security and hedonic motivation. However, support was not found for the relationship between perceived ease of use and adoption of e-banking. Hedonic motivation plays a mediating role between PU, perceived security and e-banking adoption. The study did not find a mediating effect of hedonic motivation between perceived ease of use and e-banking adoption.

The results of this study provide insights for banking practitioners to know which aspect of e-banking to improve and to aid with policies that will increase adoption. Furthermore, improvements in hedonic motivation will also significantly increase adoption of e-banking.

This study is one of the pioneer studies that tests the mediating influence of hedonic motivation.

Man has been seeking an ideal existence for a very long time. In this existence, justice, love, and peace are no longer words, but actual experiences. How ever, with the American preemptive invasion and occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq and the subsequent prisoner abuse, such an existence seems to be farther and farther away from reality. The purpose of this work is to stop this dangerous trend by promoting justice, love, and peace through a change of the paradigm that is inconsistent with justice, love, and peace. The strong paradigm that created the strong nation like the U.S. and the strong man like George W. Bush have been the culprit, rather than the contributor, of the above three universal ideals. Thus, rather than justice, love, and peace, the strong paradigm resulted in in justice, hatred, and violence. In order to remove these three and related evils, what the world needs in the beginning of the third millenium is the weak paradigm. Through the acceptance of the latter paradigm, the golden mean or middle paradigm can be formulated, which is a synergy of the weak and the strong paradigm. In order to understand properly the meaning of these paradigms, however, some digression appears necessary.