Digitized by Kansas Correctional Industries

Sharing economy (SE) has become a major business on a global stage, given that many of the companies involved have grown to become some of the leading firms in terms of investment and reach. Examples include companies in the transportation and car service sectors along with the lodging services. Some of the famous companies are Lyft and Uber in the transport sector and Airbnb in accommodations. As the SE gains ground, there are new challenges presented in understanding customer loyalty. Traditional studies on customer loyalty focused on understanding why consumers remained loyal to one service provider, which was straightforward. However, SE is a challenge because more than one provider gives service. The main purpose of this research was to understand how the various antecedents of customer loyalty along with the traits of SE influence the loyalty of consumers who utilize the SE services, specifically concerning the vehicle transport and car services sharing economy. This research utilized quantitative methods through questionnaires that gathered data from respondents who have utilized a website or app to engage SE services in the transport sector. All antecedents of sharing economy tested such as perceived value and perceived service quality were found to have a positive correlation to customer satisfaction, which had, in turn, a strong positive correlation with customer loyalty.

Esta tese de doutorado parte do reconhecimento da essencialidade dos serviços públicos, em especial aos serviços de transporte coletivo. O objetivo principal é de cooperar com a inovação do processo de planejamento da qualidade do transporte coletivo urbano por ônibus e adequação destes serviços às suas demandas. Para a construção do método de planejamento da qualidade utilizou-se da metodologia construtivista. O framework foi elaborado a partir da combinação dos resultados da pesquisa teórica integrada às necessidades identificadas pela autora no ambiente em análise. As relações propostas foram estruturadas com base no método Quality Function Deployment (QFD), pois o interesse central foi incluir em um mesmo método de planejamento da qualidade, atributos importantes para os clientes usuários do sistema e o gerenciamento dos processos responsáveis pelo desempenho do serviço oferecido. Como forma de avaliar o método proposto, o mesmo foi aplicado em uma empresa prestadora do serviço de transporte coletivo urbano. A principal contribuição do artefato proposto está na ampliação das ações relacionadas à obtenção da qualidade, evidenciando que apenas o conhecimento sobre o nível de satisfação relacionado ao serviço de transporte coletivo urbano não permite oferecer um serviço de qualidade superior às expectativas dos clientes. É necessário adotar padrões de excelência e reconhecer qual a necessidade de investimentos para melhorar a qualidade e a eficiência no serviço de transporte coletivo urbano de forma contínua e sustentada. Através da aplicação, pôde-se concluir que o método atende as necessidades da empresa, servindo como guia para essencial melhoria da qualidade. / This doctoral thesis part of recognition of the essentiality of public services, particularly the collective urban transport services. The main objective is to cooperate with the innovation of quality planning process of urban collective transport by bus and adequacy of these services to their demands. For the construction of the method of projection of the quality it made use of the methodology constructivist. The framework was prepared from the combination of the results of the theoretical inquiry integrated to the necessities identified by the author in the environment in analysis.The proposed relations were structured on basis of the method Quality Function Deployment (QFD), since the central interest included in the same method of projection of the quality, important attributes for the users clients of the system and the management of the processes responsible for the performance of the offered service. Like the form of valuing the proposed method, the same thing was applied in a serviceable enterprise of the service of urbane collective transport. The main contribution of the proposed product is in the enlargement of the actions made a list to getting the quality, showing up that only the knowledge on the level of satisfaction made a list to the service of urbane collective transport does not allow offering a service of quality superior to the expectations of the clients. It is necessary to adopt standards of excellence and the investments necessity will recognize which to improve the quality and the efficiency in the service of urbane collective transport of continuous and supported form. Through the application, it was possible to end that the method attends the necessities of the enterprise, serving as a guide for effective improvement of the quality.

Provision of information has been used as a strategy to relive travel-related anxiety. This study is motivated by the successful attempts for reducing the anxiety. Although, passengers' anxiety about using public transport (PT) has already been discussed, the London Underground passengers' anxiety has rarely been a target of investigation in the academic literature. Anxiety associated with the Underground use is reported to be greater than other PT modes. Although the existing studies discussing PT passengers' anxiety have attempted to provide solutions for anxiety reduction, few endeavours have been made to offer them based on the investigated causality between determinants of anxiety and its arousal. Thus, this study fills the gap by identifying antecedents, and verifying their effects on anxiety about the Underground use. This, in turn, furnishes theoretical grounds for designing content of information with an aim to relieve the anxiety in the circumstance that little data exists, which can be utilised for developing information for the purpose. To achieve the goal, two sets of phases have been engaged. First, a questionnaire (N=81) was conducted to identify anxiety triggers. The results revealed that they were other people's anti-social behaviour, overcrowding, noise, and late-night travel. An expert group interview was carried out to investigate what efforts are made to support passengers in the anxiety inducing situations. Second, examination was performed to understand about the passengers' anxiety based on theoretical knowledge about anxiety, and to determine its antecedents. A research model was formulated including six factors, perceived invulnerability, perceived physical ability, trust in other passengers (informal social control), confidence in the authorities, safety knowledge, and perceived uncontrollability. The effects were assessed through structural equation modelling, using questionnaire data (N=269). The results uncovered that perceived invulnerability, perceived physical ability, and confidence in the authorities have negative indirect effects on anxiety through perceived uncontrollability, and safety knowledge has a negative direct effect on anxiety. The confirmed anxiety buffering effects of the factors will be suggested to be used for developing content of information to help relieve the arousal. The study contributes to knowledge by identifying the determinants of the passengers' anxiety, and testing their effects on anxiety, and to produce theoretical support to create service information environment which helps relieve the anxiety.

Safe, high speed, on time, high transport volume, minimum land use, low energy and low pollution are unique features of high-speed rail transport. In countries reaching a threshold level of economic development, traditional railway system will no longer satisfy the need of the mass in cross-township transport. As the cost of energy and demand for environmental protection escalates, high-speed rails have gradually surfaced as a competitive mode of transport in cross-township traveling. Furthermore, it is able to bring regional developments. However, high-speed rail transport is a new industry in Taiwan. There has been no hands-on experience in the passenger service. How then, through the development of marketing strategy and implementation, so as to promote the service quality and customer satisfaction, has been a primary operations objective of high-speed railways. This motivated the need to study the service marketing strategy in high-speed rail transport. The Taiwan High Speed Rail Corporation (THSRC) is the subject of this study. The 7P marketing mix of the service industry was the theoretical foundation. Historical data on the service and marketing strategies of high-speed railways in countries such as Japan, France and Germany were collected. Questions for conducting in-depth interviews with experts in high-speed railway were devised from the study of these historical data. In addition, a survey questionnaire was developed from the data collected via interviews. Passengers taking the Taiwan High Speed Rail were surveyed for statistical analysis. Finally, an appropriate service and marketing strategy was developed. The results show, the Taiwan High Speed Rail needs to first build a brand image of safety and credibility. It needs to schedule and allocate headways in line with its target passenger group and develop a comprehensive product strategy for its target customers. Having done that, it needs to propose competitive price strategies and promotion programs on corporate customers and travel agencies. Making use of the comprehensive mobile telephony coverage and internet network, and more convenient channels should be further developed. Furthermore, the THSRC needs to solve the problem of passenger transfers in station areas gradually. This is necessary to promote the overall service quality, satisfy divergent needs of the target market, and build up a recognized brand in high-speed railway transport. Finally, the recommendations made to THSRC were compared with service and marketing strategies in other countries. It is hoped that the results would be able to provide THSRC and any other countries planning to develop high-speed railway, some practical reference in planning their marketing strategies.

Esta tese de doutorado parte do reconhecimento da essencialidade dos serviços públicos, em especial aos serviços de transporte coletivo. O objetivo principal é de cooperar com a inovação do processo de planejamento da qualidade do transporte coletivo urbano por ônibus e adequação destes serviços às suas demandas. Para a construção do método de planejamento da qualidade utilizou-se da metodologia construtivista. O framework foi elaborado a partir da combinação dos resultados da pesquisa teórica integrada às necessidades identificadas pela autora no ambiente em análise. As relações propostas foram estruturadas com base no método Quality Function Deployment (QFD), pois o interesse central foi incluir em um mesmo método de planejamento da qualidade, atributos importantes para os clientes usuários do sistema e o gerenciamento dos processos responsáveis pelo desempenho do serviço oferecido. Como forma de avaliar o método proposto, o mesmo foi aplicado em uma empresa prestadora do serviço de transporte coletivo urbano. A principal contribuição do artefato proposto está na ampliação das ações relacionadas à obtenção da qualidade, evidenciando que apenas o conhecimento sobre o nível de satisfação relacionado ao serviço de transporte coletivo urbano não permite oferecer um serviço de qualidade superior às expectativas dos clientes. É necessário adotar padrões de excelência e reconhecer qual a necessidade de investimentos para melhorar a qualidade e a eficiência no serviço de transporte coletivo urbano de forma contínua e sustentada. Através da aplicação, pôde-se concluir que o método atende as necessidades da empresa, servindo como guia para essencial melhoria da qualidade. / This doctoral thesis part of recognition of the essentiality of public services, particularly the collective urban transport services. The main objective is to cooperate with the innovation of quality planning process of urban collective transport by bus and adequacy of these services to their demands. For the construction of the method of projection of the quality it made use of the methodology constructivist. The framework was prepared from the combination of the results of the theoretical inquiry integrated to the necessities identified by the author in the environment in analysis.The proposed relations were structured on basis of the method Quality Function Deployment (QFD), since the central interest included in the same method of projection of the quality, important attributes for the users clients of the system and the management of the processes responsible for the performance of the offered service. Like the form of valuing the proposed method, the same thing was applied in a serviceable enterprise of the service of urbane collective transport. The main contribution of the proposed product is in the enlargement of the actions made a list to getting the quality, showing up that only the knowledge on the level of satisfaction made a list to the service of urbane collective transport does not allow offering a service of quality superior to the expectations of the clients. It is necessary to adopt standards of excellence and the investments necessity will recognize which to improve the quality and the efficiency in the service of urbane collective transport of continuous and supported form. Through the application, it was possible to end that the method attends the necessities of the enterprise, serving as a guide for effective improvement of the quality.

As organizações em toda parte do mundo estão investindo em Tecnologia da Informação (TI) e aproveitando as vantagens dos sistemas de TI para alterar a conduta do negócio tanto no mercado interno como externo. Os recursos encontrados na TI podem aperfeiçoar o desempenho das organizações e aumentar a competitividade, sendo esta uma alternativa para enfrentar os desafios apresentados pelo mundo empresarial. É neste contexto que o impacto dos benefícios da utilização de um Sistema de Gestão de Transporte (TMS) é estudado neste trabalho. O objetivo geral da pesquisa é avaliar o impacto dos benefícios do uso do sistema de gestão de transporte e sua relação no desempenho das operações de transporte das empresas e na relação com fornecedores de serviço de transporte na percepção dos usuários. Para atingir este objetivo foram identificados na literatura, fatores relevantes sobre o tema para a elaboração de um instrumento de pesquisa sobre o impacto dos benefícios de um TMS. O método utilizado foi a pesquisa survey e um modelo conceitual foi elaborado e validado, por meio de testes estatísticos. Obteve-se um total de 118 respostas válidas para análise dos dados. Esta análise utilizou modelagem de equações estruturais para a avaliação do modelo conceitual e das hipóteses de pesquisa. O resultado indica que os benefícios de um TMS têm impacto positivo no desempenho das operações de transporte, que, por sua vez, têm impacto positivo na relação com fornecedores de serviço de transporte. Na percepção dos usuários participantes da pesquisa, esse impacto positivo tem mais força para os benefícios voltados aos processos operacionais do que para os benefícios gerenciais de um TMS. / Organizations around the world are investing in Information Technology (IT) and taking advantage of IT systems to change the conduct of business in both domestic and overseas market. The resources found in IT can improve organizational performance and increase competitiveness. This has been an alternative to deal with the challenges presented by the business in the world. In this context, the benefits impact of using a Transportation Management System (TMS) are studied in this research. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the TMS benefits impact and its relation to the transport operations performance and to the transport service suppliers relationship through users’ perception. To achieve this goal, factors to measure the benefits were identified on literature to develop a survey instrument about the TMS benefits impact. The method used was a survey and a conceptual model was developed and validated by statistical tests. A total of 118 usable questionnaires were obtained. The data analysis used structural equation modeling to evaluate the conceptual model and research hypotheses. The result indicates that the TMS benefits have a positive impact on the transport operations performance and the transport operations performance has a positive impact on the transport service suppliers relationship. The users’ perception indicates that the positive impact is stronger for the operational process benefits than for the management benefits of a TMS.

Abstract Purpose: is to identify the challenges of multimodal transport service of ESLSE in the Europe trade routes operation from origin up to destination and to analyze the contribution of network partners to ESLSE solving these challenges.   Design\Data collection\Approach: This thesis relied on qualitative research design in order to identify the key challenges of multimodal transport services and to show how the network partners contribute to solving these challenges. Moreover, to achieve the objective of the study, semi structure interviews were used, and the responses from 14 experts were analyzed.   Theoretical framework: The theoretical base and concepts are used to determine the theoretical boundaries of the research. It provides an overview of the literature that exists in the challenges of multimodal transport services. The theoretical framework firstly encompassed the logistics performance and personnel, followed by the description of multimodal transport services, customs facilitation, ICT, infrastructure, network partner integration and port administration. Lastly, theoretical synthesis is developed that are identified from the theory to demonstrate the interrelationship between individual concepts.   Findings: The findings of this study revealed that multimodal transport service was impacted by a number of challenges even if the network partners contributed some solutions. The results of the study showed that the lack of skilled logistics personnel; poor ICT system; lack of integration between network partners; lack of effective infrastructure; inadequate and ineffective capacity of trucks; material theft; corruption; security risk; lack of prompt response in the operation between network partners; monopoly of the operation by ESLSE; and lack of quality of transported cargo are the main challenges for multimodal transport services. Managerial implication: For managers of network partners, it is recommended that they should be aware that the challenge of multimodal transport service is the result of poor ICT systems; lack of integration between network partners; lack of effective infrastructure; lack of skilled logistic personnel; inadequate and ineffective capacity of trucks; material theft; corruption; security risk; lack of quality of transported cargo; and lack of prompt response in the operation between the network partners Hence, they should take action to solve the problems by integrating with shipping agents and steering committees such as customers office, transport minister, and maritime authority. Moreover, the shipping agents managers can use the results of the study to enhance their contribution in order to solve the challenges of multimodal transport services by communicating with the ESLSE.   Limitations: The small sample size without adequately diverse geographical spread and sample of shipping agents and dry ports since the study is only limited to Europe trade routes and it did not take in to consideration other continents like Africa and Asia which could have given additional information on the topic. The sample of shipping agent and dry ports was limited with 3 out of 11 and 3 out of 7 respectively.   Originality\Value: This thesis is one of the first to analyze the challenges of multimodal transport in the case of Ethiopia to Europe trade operation by interviewing both the ESLSE and shipping agents.

Esta tese de doutorado parte do reconhecimento da essencialidade dos serviços públicos, em especial aos serviços de transporte coletivo. O objetivo principal é de cooperar com a inovação do processo de planejamento da qualidade do transporte coletivo urbano por ônibus e adequação destes serviços às suas demandas. Para a construção do método de planejamento da qualidade utilizou-se da metodologia construtivista. O framework foi elaborado a partir da combinação dos resultados da pesquisa teórica integrada às necessidades identificadas pela autora no ambiente em análise. As relações propostas foram estruturadas com base no método Quality Function Deployment (QFD), pois o interesse central foi incluir em um mesmo método de planejamento da qualidade, atributos importantes para os clientes usuários do sistema e o gerenciamento dos processos responsáveis pelo desempenho do serviço oferecido. Como forma de avaliar o método proposto, o mesmo foi aplicado em uma empresa prestadora do serviço de transporte coletivo urbano. A principal contribuição do artefato proposto está na ampliação das ações relacionadas à obtenção da qualidade, evidenciando que apenas o conhecimento sobre o nível de satisfação relacionado ao serviço de transporte coletivo urbano não permite oferecer um serviço de qualidade superior às expectativas dos clientes. É necessário adotar padrões de excelência e reconhecer qual a necessidade de investimentos para melhorar a qualidade e a eficiência no serviço de transporte coletivo urbano de forma contínua e sustentada. Através da aplicação, pôde-se concluir que o método atende as necessidades da empresa, servindo como guia para essencial melhoria da qualidade. / This doctoral thesis part of recognition of the essentiality of public services, particularly the collective urban transport services. The main objective is to cooperate with the innovation of quality planning process of urban collective transport by bus and adequacy of these services to their demands. For the construction of the method of projection of the quality it made use of the methodology constructivist. The framework was prepared from the combination of the results of the theoretical inquiry integrated to the necessities identified by the author in the environment in analysis.The proposed relations were structured on basis of the method Quality Function Deployment (QFD), since the central interest included in the same method of projection of the quality, important attributes for the users clients of the system and the management of the processes responsible for the performance of the offered service. Like the form of valuing the proposed method, the same thing was applied in a serviceable enterprise of the service of urbane collective transport. The main contribution of the proposed product is in the enlargement of the actions made a list to getting the quality, showing up that only the knowledge on the level of satisfaction made a list to the service of urbane collective transport does not allow offering a service of quality superior to the expectations of the clients. It is necessary to adopt standards of excellence and the investments necessity will recognize which to improve the quality and the efficiency in the service of urbane collective transport of continuous and supported form. Through the application, it was possible to end that the method attends the necessities of the enterprise, serving as a guide for effective improvement of the quality.

As organizações em toda parte do mundo estão investindo em Tecnologia da Informação (TI) e aproveitando as vantagens dos sistemas de TI para alterar a conduta do negócio tanto no mercado interno como externo. Os recursos encontrados na TI podem aperfeiçoar o desempenho das organizações e aumentar a competitividade, sendo esta uma alternativa para enfrentar os desafios apresentados pelo mundo empresarial. É neste contexto que o impacto dos benefícios da utilização de um Sistema de Gestão de Transporte (TMS) é estudado neste trabalho. O objetivo geral da pesquisa é avaliar o impacto dos benefícios do uso do sistema de gestão de transporte e sua relação no desempenho das operações de transporte das empresas e na relação com fornecedores de serviço de transporte na percepção dos usuários. Para atingir este objetivo foram identificados na literatura, fatores relevantes sobre o tema para a elaboração de um instrumento de pesquisa sobre o impacto dos benefícios de um TMS. O método utilizado foi a pesquisa survey e um modelo conceitual foi elaborado e validado, por meio de testes estatísticos. Obteve-se um total de 118 respostas válidas para análise dos dados. Esta análise utilizou modelagem de equações estruturais para a avaliação do modelo conceitual e das hipóteses de pesquisa. O resultado indica que os benefícios de um TMS têm impacto positivo no desempenho das operações de transporte, que, por sua vez, têm impacto positivo na relação com fornecedores de serviço de transporte. Na percepção dos usuários participantes da pesquisa, esse impacto positivo tem mais força para os benefícios voltados aos processos operacionais do que para os benefícios gerenciais de um TMS. / Organizations around the world are investing in Information Technology (IT) and taking advantage of IT systems to change the conduct of business in both domestic and overseas market. The resources found in IT can improve organizational performance and increase competitiveness. This has been an alternative to deal with the challenges presented by the business in the world. In this context, the benefits impact of using a Transportation Management System (TMS) are studied in this research. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the TMS benefits impact and its relation to the transport operations performance and to the transport service suppliers relationship through users’ perception. To achieve this goal, factors to measure the benefits were identified on literature to develop a survey instrument about the TMS benefits impact. The method used was a survey and a conceptual model was developed and validated by statistical tests. A total of 118 usable questionnaires were obtained. The data analysis used structural equation modeling to evaluate the conceptual model and research hypotheses. The result indicates that the TMS benefits have a positive impact on the transport operations performance and the transport operations performance has a positive impact on the transport service suppliers relationship. The users’ perception indicates that the positive impact is stronger for the operational process benefits than for the management benefits of a TMS.