Over the past two decades there has been an upsurge in interest in structural equation modelling (SEM). Applications abound in the social sciences and econometrics, but the use of this multivariate technique is not so common in public health research. This dissertation discusses the methodology, the criticisms and practical problems of SEM. We examine actual applications of SEM in public health research. Comparisons are made between multiple regression and SEM and between factor analysis and SEM. A complex model investigating the utilization of antenatal care services (ANC) by migrant women in Belgium is analysed using SEM. The dissertation concludes with a discussion of the results found and on the use of SEM in public health research. Structural equation modelling is recommended as a tool for public health researchers with a warning against using the technique too casually. / Mathematical Sciences / M. Sc. (Statistics)

Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) is a widely researched construct of corporate entrepreneurship. Despite long-standing research on EO, past studies on this construct have been unable to resolve issues related to its measurement. Innovation Intensity (II) is also a dynamic construct of corporate entrepreneurship but has received relatively less empirical attention. Previous research has reported an absence of an empirically validated quantitative scale of innovation, particularly innovation intensity. This research has addressed these gaps by proposing a refinement and validation of the Entrepreneurial Orientation scale and the development of an Innovation Intensity scale. The research proposes an Entrepreneurial Transformational Model (ETM) positing that EO impacts II. A predominantly quantitative research strategy supported by qualitative inputs, is employed to obtain empirical data from 404 corporate firms in Oman, drawing from a list of corporate firms registered with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry. A mix of questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews was conducted with senior managers from firms representing various industries of the Omani corporate sector. Utilising exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modelling (SEM), a two-stage data analysis approach was adopted. Measurement and structural models were developed for EO and II measures, while a complete SEM model was developed to test the causal relationship between EO and II. The results indicate that EO is a second-order construct consisting of five first-order factors, namely ready to innovate, competitive aggressiveness, autonomy, risk taking and proactiveness, which are its reflective components. Similarly, II is a second-order construct consisting of two first-order factors, namely degree and frequency of incremental and radical innovation, which are its reflective components. The II scale developed through this study allows corporate firms to assess their innovation intensity on a two-dimensional four-celled grid with varying levels of degree and frequency of innovation. Finally, EO is found to influence II and the entire relationship is posited as Entrepreneurial Transformation Model. This study, by addressing the empirical irregularities, has brought clarity to the measurement of EO and II constructs and is an original contribution to the advancement of theoretical knowledge and improvement in professional practice.

No description available.

During the last decade, the integration of management systems (this includes any management system that is used to achieve the goals of an organisation example PASCAL, ISO standards and enterprise resource planning), has become an increasingly important strategy adopted by organisations, as it represents an alternative to operating with multiple management systems in parallel (Abad, Cabrera & Medina, 2014:860). Despite the established need for the integration of management systems, research on how to carry out integration has yet to be developed fully and an elaborated methodology of integration needs full realisation (Bernardo, Casadesús, Karapetrovic & Heras, 2012; Rocha, Searcy, Karapetrovic, 2007; Wilkinson & Dale, 1999a; Zeng, Shi & Lou, 2007). The aim of the current study was to develop a framework for organisations that could be used for the integration of management systems in a structured manner. This study was undertaken by exploring the views and opinions of senior management through fourteen face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Thereafter, an online survey collected 220 responses from four South African multinational organisations involved with management system development and implementation. The research instrument used a seven-point Likert-type scale for the respondents to rate each question. The data was analysed statistically primarily using factor analysis to confirm the significant factors and then structural equation modelling to test the relationships between the factors, which ultimately confirmed the developed framework. The beneficiaries of this research are primarily organisations that have three or more management systems in an organisation. The framework will also be valuable to management in industry and policymakers since it addresses key integration issues, such as employee performance, organisational culture, employee motivation and policy as factors when considering integration of management systems. / Kule minyaka ilishumi idluleyo amaqumrhu aye aphuhlisa ngamandla icebo lobulumko lokuhlanganiswa kweenkqubo zolawulo (kuquka nayiphi na inkqubo yolawulo esetyenziselwa ukufezekisa iinjongo zequmrhu, iinkqubo ezifana nePASCAL, ISO, ne standards and enterprise resource planning). Oku kumele indlela eyenye yokusebenzisa ngaxeshanye iinkqubo zolawulo ezininzi (Abad, Cabrera & Medina, 2014:860). Ngaphandle kokuba siqondakala kakuhle isidingo sokuhlanganisa iinkqubo zolawulo, alukaphuhliswa kakuhle uphando lokuqhuba oko kuhlanganisa (Bernardo, Casadesús, Karapetrovic & Heras, 2012; Rocha, Searcy & Karapetrovic, 2007; Wilkinson & Dale, 1999a; Zeng, Shi & Lou, 2007). Injongo yolu phando kukuphuhlisa isakhelo esinokusetyenziswa ngamaqumrhu ekuhlanganiseni iinkqubo zolawulo ngendlela efanelekileyo. Esi sifundo saqhutywa ngokuphengulula izimvo neengcinga zabaphathi abakwizinga elingentla ngokuqhuba udliwano ndlebe nabaphathi abali-14 nganye nganye. Emva koko kwenziwa intlolomvo kubantu abangama-220 abasebenza kumaqumrhu amane aseMzantsi Afrika, maqumrhu lawo asebenza ngophuhliso nokusetyenziswa kweenkqubo zolawulo. Isixhobo sophando esisetyenzisiweyo sisikali esineencam esisixhenxe esiludidi lweLikert, apho abathathi nxaxheba bebeka esikalini umbuzo ngamnye abawunikiweyo. Iinkcukacha zolwazi zahlalutywa ngobuchule bezobalo, kuqukaniswa iimpendulo ezenza udidi olunye, emva koko kwasetyenziswa indlela yokuhlalutya apho kuphononongwa ukwalamana ngoonobangela neziphumo zemiba ethile, okuthe ekugqibeleni kwaveliswa isakhelo. Abancedakeleyo lolu phando ngamaqumrhu asebenzisa iinkqubo zolawulo ezintathu nangaphezulu. Isakhelo esiphuhlisiweyo siya kuba luncedo kakhulu kubalawuli nabaqulunqi bomgaqo nkqubo, kuba sijolise kwimibandela yokuhlanganisa, efana nendlela abasebenza ngayo abaqeshwa, inkcubeko yequmrhu, ukukhuthazwa kwabasebenzi nemiba emalunga nomgaqo nkqubo oqwalaselwa xa kuhlanganiswa iinkqubo zolawulo / Kule minyaka eyishumi edlule, ukuhlanganiswa kwezinhlelo zokuphatha (kufaka kukho noma yiluphi uhlelo lokuphatha olusetshenziselwa ukufeza izinhloso zenhlangano, njengePASCAL, amaqophelo e-ISO kanye nokuhlelwa kwezinsiza zebhizinisi), sekuyicebo elibaluleke kakhulu elamukelwa yizinhlangano, njengoba kumele enye indlela yokusebenza nezinhlelo eziningi zokuphatha ngokuhambisanayo (Abad, Cabrera & Medina, 2014: 860). Yize sekubonakale isidingo sokuhlanganiswa kwezinhlelo zokuphatha, ucwaningo lokuthi kuzohlanganiswa kanjani kusamele luthuthukiswe ngokuphelele kanti nendlela ecacile yokuhlanganiswa kumele ifezeke ngokugcwele (Bernardo, Casadesús, Karapetrovic & Heras, 2012; Rocha, Searcy & Karapetrovic, 2007; Wilkinson & Dale, 1999a; Zeng, Shi & Lou, 2007). Inhloso yocwaningo lwamanje bekungukuthuthukisa uhlaka lwezinhlangano olungasetshenziselwa ukuhlanganiswa kwezinhlelo zokuphatha ngendlela ehlelekile. Lolu cwaningo lwenziwe ngokuhlola imibono nemicabango yabaphathi abaphezulu ngokuba nezingxoxo eziyi-14 ezingahlelekile ngokuphelele ezibe khona kuxoxwa ubuso nobuso. Ngemuva kwalokho, ucwaningo olwenziwa ngokuqoqa imininingwane ngobuchwepheshe bekhompuyutha lwaqoqa izimpendulo ezingama-220 ezinhlanganweni ezine zaseNingizimu Afrika ezihlanganise amazwe ahlukene nezibandakanyeka ekusungulweni nasekuqaliseni ukusebenza kohlelo lokuphatha. Kusetshenziswe indlela yokucwaninga yesikali sohlobo lwe-Likert samaphoyinti ayisikhombisa abaphendulayo abakala ngaso umbuzo ngamunye. Imininingwane ihlaziyiwe ngokwezibalo kusetshenziswa ukuhlaziywa kwezinto ngokuqavile ukuqinisekisa izici ezibalulekile bese kulandelwa indlela yokulinganisa ukwakheka ukuhlola ubudlelwano phakathi kwezici, okugcina kuqinisekisa uhlaka olusunguliwe. Abahlomuli balolu cwaningo ngokuqavile yizinhlangano ezinezinhlelo ezintathu noma ngaphezulu zokuphatha enhlanganweni. Uhlaka luzoba wusizo nakubaphathi embonini nakubenzi bezinqubomgomo, njengoba lubheka izingqinamba ezibalulekile zokuhlanganiswa, njengokusebenza kahle kwabasebenzi, isiko lenhlangano, ukukhuthazwa kwabasebenzi kanye nenqubomgomo njengezinto ezibhekwayo uma kucatshangwa ngokuhlanganiswa kwezinhlelo zokuphatha. / SBL / D.B.L.

Les processus biologiques sont nombreux et leurs interactions complexes. Les mesures de cesphénomènes génèrent des biomarqueurs multiples. Ainsi, l’épidémiologie doit évoluer dans cecontexte de données complexes et de nature multidimensionnelle. Les maladies du systèmeimmunitaire et les troubles immunologiques qui leur sont associés constituent un bon exemplede pathologies où les questions clinico-épidémiologiques sont de plus en plus complexes,nécessitant des méthodes biostatistiques et épidémiologiques adaptées. Dans cette thèsed’Université, des méthodes permettant de prendre en compte les difficultés méthodologiquesgénérées par les données d’immunologie sont présentées autour de trois applicationscliniques. Notre approche consiste en l’utilisation de méthodes intégratives qui prennent encompte l’ensemble des mesures concernant une pathologie donnée. Nous montrons l’intérêtde l’analyse en composantes principales et de la classification hiérarchique ascendante pourrésumer et extraire l’information de données multiples de cytométrie en flux et celui desmodèles d’équations structurelles pour l’étude de relations complexes entre variables lors deprocessus multifactoriels. Enfin, via l’exemple d’un modèle de reconstitution immunitaireasymptotique utilisant une fonction exponentielle, nous illustrons l’importance de s’appuyersur la structure même des données et sur la compréhension des mécanismes biologiques quisous-tendent la variabilité de ces données dans la réflexion qui concourt au choix d’un modèlestatistique. Les méthodes et la réflexion proposées dans cette thèse sont transposables àd’autres domaines d’application avec des données multiples complexes. / Numerous biological processes with potentially complex interactions exist. Measurements ofthese processes allow to produce multiple biomarkers. Thus, there is a need for epidemiologyto evolve within the context of complex and multidimensional data. Immune system diseasesand associated immune disorders are an example of a field where clinical and epidemiologicalissues are increasingly complex, requiring appropriate statistical and epidemiologicalmethods. In this thesis, methods taking into account methodological difficulties generated byimmunology data are presented through three motivating examples. The general paradigm ofour approach is to take into account all measurements on a given pathology using integrativemethods. We propose principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering to summarizemultidimensional cytometry data and structural equation modelling for dealing with complexrelationships between variables in multifactorial processes. Then, through the example of anasymptotic model of immune reconstitution using an exponential function, we illustrate theimportance about the data’s structure and the biological mechanisms underlying its variabilitywhen building a mathematical model. The methods and the thinking advocated in this thesisare transposable to other research domains with complex data.

In a study looking for risk factors of atherosclerosis in families with combined hyperlipidemia and hypertension, clinical and biochemical data of 1,149 persons were analyzed to develop two hypothetical multivariate scores concerning the degree to which a patient is affected by the metabolic syndrome. The scores are based on a structural model for low-density cholesterol (LDL) and high-density cholesterol (HDL), triglycerides, uric acid, creatinine, glucose, insulin, systolic blood pressure and waist-to-hip ratio. Age, gender and body mass index were used for adjusting all variables. In segregation analyses of 42 pedigrees without using genotype information, estimations of the heritabilities and environmentally caused variance and covariance components were computed for the individual score values of the two latent factors. The first score shows a heritability of 42%; the environment component disappeared. The score mainly reflects the HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels. The second score shows a heritability of 16% with an environment component of 7%. It includes mainly insulin, uric acid and creatinine. In the search for genetic causes, both scores could be a basis for further phenotypic classification of the metabolic syndrome. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

Empirischen Studien zufolge können Patente sich positiv auf den Unternehmenserfolg auswirken. Allerdings wirkt dieser Effekt nicht automatisch, sondern Unternehmen müssen sich um den Aufbau und die gesteuerte Weiterentwicklung eines nachhaltigen und wertvollen Patentportfolios bemühen. Bisher ist jedoch nicht wissenschaftlich untersucht worden, welche Maßnahmen Unternehmen ergreifen können, um die unternehmensinternen Vorraussetzungen für eine erfolgreiche Steuerung von Patentaktivitäten zu schaffen. Um diese betrieblichen Faktoren zu identifizieren und deren Relevanz zu quantifizieren, wurden 2005 in einer breiten empirischen Untersuchung die aktiven Patentanmelder im deutschsprachigen Raum (über 1.000 Unternehmen) mit Hilfe eines standardisierten Fragebogens befragt. Auf der Basis von 325 auswertbaren Fragebögen (Ausschöpfungsquote 36,8 %) konnten zum einen Ergebnisse zum aktuellen Aufgabenspektrum der Patentabteilungen sowie zu deren organisatorischen und personellen Strukturen gewonnen werden. Ebenfalls wurde in dieser Status quo-Analyse der Bekanntheits- und Implementierungsgrad von Methoden und Systemen (z. B. Patentbewertungsmethoden, Patent-IT-Systeme) beleuchtet. Zum anderen wurden die betrieblichen Faktoren herausgestellt, auf die technologieorientierte Unternehmen achten sollten, um das Fundament für eine erfolgreiche Patentsteuerung zu legen. / Empirical studies have shown that patents can have a positive effect on corporate success. However, this effect does not occur by itself. Companies have to make an effort to create and to develop a sustainable patent portfolio. So far, no academic studies have investigated into which actions a company can take to establish the internal conditions for successful patent management. To identify and to quantify the relevance of these internal factors, a study was conducted using a standardized written questionnaire with more than 1,000 patent-oriented companies in the German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Liechtenstein). In total, 325 valid questionnaires were included in the analyses; this corresponds to an above-average response rate of 36.8 %. These analyses revealed insights into the current task profile of patent departments and their organizational and personnel structures. This status quo analysis also included the investigation into the awareness and implementation level of used methods and systems (e. g. patent evaluation methods, patent IT systems). Furthermore, the study could expose the internal determinants, which technology-oriented companies should focus on to ensure a successful patent management.

This study consisted of two distinct research phases, performed within the context of the South African Council for Science and Industrial Research (and its current and potential research alliances). The purpose of the study was to develop a decision making model that would enable strategists at publicly financed research and development organisations to analyse and predict governance mode decisions, as well as select optimal governance mode structures (ranging from quasi-market structures, such as once-off contracts, to quasi-hierarchy structures, such as research joint ventures) for research alliances. During the qualitative first phase, the study aimed to identify impact domains within South Africa’s new Bayh-Dole-like Intellectual Property Rights legislative framework that consists of the Intellectual Property Rights from Publicly Financed Research and Development Act, as well as the Technology Innovation Agency Act, which could potentially influence research alliances (based on the Transactional Cost Economics, Resource-based View and Real Options Approach perspectives) with publicly financed research and development organisations. This was followed by the quantitative second phase, which attempted to verify the validity of a value-mediated governance mode model that included the highest ranked impact domains identified during the first phase as formative indicators for the perceived Intellectual Property Rights regime strength uncertainty factor. A qualitative online survey amongst senior managers at the Council for Science and Industrial Research, followed by Theme Extraction combined with Constant Comparative Method analysis, as well as a weighted frequency analysis, constituted the research methodology employed during the first phase’s identification and ranking of impact domains within the South African legislative framework. This phase demonstrated that the highest ranked impact domains (primarily driven by the Transactional Cost Economics perspective) included the choice of Intellectual Property Rights ownership, state walk-in rights on undeclared Intellectual Property, and benefit-sharing policies for the creators of Intellectual Property. The second phase consisted of a quantitative online survey, distributed amongst current and potential research alliance partners of the Council for Science and Industrial Research, followed by Structural Equation Modelling of a value-mediated governance model that included, amongst others, the perceived Intellectual Property Rights regime strength as an uncertainty factor. This phase revealed not only that the impact domains identified during the first phase could be used as formative indicators of the perceived Intellectual Property Rights regime strength, but also that stronger perceived regimes are positively related to the preference for quasi-hierarchy research alliance governance modes. Furthermore, it established that the expected value of a research alliance, which was shown to be positively influenced by the strength of the perceived Intellectual Property Rights regime, acted as a mediating factor on the relationship between the perceived Intellectual Property Rights regime strength and the preferred research alliance governance mode. Keywords: Bayh-Dole, Formative Indicators, Intellectual Property Rights, Research Alliances, Real Options Approach, Resource-based View, Quasi-Market Governance Modes, Quasi- Hierarchy Governance Modes, Structural Equation Modelling, Transactional Cost Economics, Value-mediated Governance Model. Copyright / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted

This thesis employs the globalization and integration-demarcation cleavage theory formulated by Huttar [2014] and Kriesi [2012], conception of populism formulated by Mudde [2017] and draws on Gramscian conception of civil society and hegemony. Aim of this thesis is to build a model of causal influence of globalization on cleavage and on populism, as was suggested by Hutter [2014]. After building this model, the aim is to explore how this theoretical relationship hold's over the 30 years since 90's, when the connection between globalization and new sociocultural cleavage had been theoretically suggested. For this model I am using KOF Globalization Index, European Values Survey datasets and Authoritarian Populism Index constructed and published by Timbro in years 1990, 1999, 2008 and 2017. This model is built on a dataset containing 38 countries on European continent or being a candidate country for EU. I am elaborating Hutter's theoretical suggestion and framing it in Gramscian conception of civil society. This allows me to suggest that populists are using organic crisis in a society to attract people who feel disjointed from current hegemonical elite and to create counterhegemony. The theory is, that globalization increases the tension between winners and losers of globalization sides of cleavage...

It is important that organisations are aware of factors that might affect the levels of well-being of employees, as employees are instrumental to the achievement of organisational goals. Well-being of employees can be conceptualised in terms of burnout and engagement. Studies have shown that different factors contribute to the employee experience of burnout and engagement. These factors include job demands and resources and psychological conditions (psychological meaningfulness, psychological availability and psychological safety). Although various studies regarding burnout and engagement can be found in literature, three research gaps have been identified from the studies. First, a reliable and valid instrument is needed to measure job demands and resources in a specific organisation. Second, given the cost of some measures of burnout, inadequacies in conceptualisation of the burnout construct and the inadequate psychometric properties of others, an inexpensive measure is needed which can be used to measure burnout in a valid and reliable way. Third, no studies seem to be found which focus on the effects of job demands and resources on burnout and engagement via specific psychological conditions (i.e. psychological meaningfulness, availability and safety). The general objective of this research therefore was to investigate the well-being of employees in a South African agricultural research organisation. It focused on job demands, job resources, burnout, work engagement and psychological conditions. The objective of the first study was to investigate the job demands and resources of employees in a South African agricultural research organisation. The study specifically examined the validity and reliability of a scale adapted to measure job demands and resources of the employees and established the prevalent job demands and resources of the employees. Differences that may exist based on the employees‟ demographic variables were also investigated. The aim of the second study was to provide an overview of current burnout measures that are used in the literature. From the literature, gaps were identified and used to develop a new Burnout Scale for use with employees within a South African agricultural research organisation. The research then examined the construct validity, reliability, construct equivalence and item bias of the newly-developed Burnout Scale. The research also investigated whether any differences in burnout existed in relation to the employees‟ demographic variables. The third study investigated the relationships between specific job demands, job resources, psychological conditions, burnout, and work engagement by testing a structural model of burnout and engagement in a sample of employees within a South African agricultural research organisation. The research method for each of the three articles consisted of a brief literature review and an empirical study. A non-probability availability sample of 443 agricultural employees was used. A cross-sectional design, with a survey as the data collection technique, was used. Measuring instruments that were utilised included an adapted Job Demands-Resources scale (AJDRS), a self-developed Burnout Scale (BS), a self-developed Work Engagement Scale (WES), an adapted Psychological Conditions Questionnaire (PCQ), and a biographical questionnaire. The statistical analyses were carried out with the help of the SPSS programme (IBM SPSS statistics, version 21) and MPLUS version 7.11 (Muthén, & Muthén 1998-2013). The statistical methods utilised in the three articles included descriptive statistics, Cronbach alpha coefficients, principal factor analysis, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients, MANOVA, ANOVA, differential item functioning (DIF), and structural equation modelling. Evidence was established for the factorial validity and reliability of the AJDRS. The results indicate that the job demands experienced by employees in an agricultural research organisation are: overload and job insecurity; while job resources were: organisational support, growth opportunities, control, rewards, and physical resources (equipment). It was furthermore found that there were differences in the perceived job demands and resources of employees. In addition, the BS was found to consist of three reliable factors, i.e. fatigue, emotional exhaustion/withdrawal, and cognitive weariness. The results also showed construct equivalence for the Burnout construct, and no item bias for the language groups examined. Age was found to affect the level of perceived burnout of the employees. Furthermore, job resources (growth opportunities, control, and organisational support) were found to be positively associated with engagement, while lack of resources and job demands (overload) are positively associated with burnout of employees. Psychological meaningfulness, safety and availability are positively associated with work engagement, and negatively associated with burnout. The psychological conditions of availability, safety, and meaningfulness mediated the relationship between job resources and work engagement, as well as between lack of job resources and burnout. Psychological availability and meaningfulness mediated the relationship between job demands and burnout; however, the mediation effect of psychological safety on the relationship between job demands and burnout could not be established. Recommendations are made for practice, as well as future research. / PhD (Industrial Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014