Chun Hsiung Liao

User acceptance of computer-mediated communication: The SkypeOut case

The objective of this study aims to examine two influential factors, users perception of playfulness and quality that are incorporated into technology acceptance model (TAM) of the usage of SkypeOut. A total of 211 SkypeOut users collected via SkypeFind engine, were tested using structural equation model (SEM) based on TAM model. The findings indicated that perceived quality is positively related to perceived ease of use, and perceived ease of use is positively related to perceived usefulness and perceived playfulness. Also, perceived playfulness has a positive influence on attitude. Therefore, SkypeOut needs to be provided with more reliable and entertaining ways of communicating, which are, at the same time, easily accessible and convenient to use.

The role of bundling in price competition

Abstract We focus on price competition between several multiproduct firms which produce differentiated systems, each consisting of two complementary products. Firms offer their products separately and/or as a bundle. Consumers are homogeneous but assign different values to different systems. We find that equilibrium always exists (unlike the case where bundling strategies are excluded), and consumers purchase socially best systems. Consumers extract the entire surplus unless a firm produces at least one of the components of every socially best system. We show that bundling may increase consumer surplus. A sufficient condition for a system to be sold as a bundle at a discount price is provided.

Supply chain integration, information technology, market orientation and firm performance in container shipping firms

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to use a theoretical framework (i.e. resource-based view) to investigate causal relationships between the supply chain integration, market orientation, information technology (IT) application and firm performance of container shipping firms in Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach – The data are collected from 124 container shipping firms in Taiwan. The methodologies used in the paper are exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Findings – The findings indicated that IT application and market orientation positively influence supply chain integration. It revealed that IT-based and market-oriented firms more easily integrate market information related to partners, departments and customers. Further, supply chain integration and market orientation have a positive effect on firm performance. Research limitations/implications – Such a result indicated a market-oriented firm quickly responds to market information and competi...

Segmenting manufacturers' investment incentive preferences for international logistics zones

Purpose – This study aims to empirically identify investment incentive preference segments for international logistics zones from the manufacturers perspective.Design/methodology/approach – Eight critical investment incentives were identified, based on the following factors: cost, agglomeration, resource, port, policy, political stability, location and transport, and economic. Cluster analysis was subsequently performed to group respondents on the basis of their factor scores. Three groups or segments were identified: firms that preferred political stability and location factors; those which preferred low‐cost and port‐related factors; and those which preferred agglomeration effect and resource factors. Six factors, i.e. cost, agglomeration effect, resource, port, policy, and political stability, differed significantly across the three segments.Findings – Results suggest that political stability is the most important incentive, followed by corporate tax incentives, government administration efficiency, l...

Use of Advanced Traveler Information Systems for Route Choice: Interpretation Based on a Bayesian Model

Advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) offer travelers a number of benefits, such as reduced travel time and uncertainty and improved traffic safety. The reliability of travel time provided by ATIS has an effect on the travelers’ choice of routes. However, the market for ATIS devices is a niche market, and its users may or may not follow the information and instructions provided by the system. Hence there is some information heterogeneity among travelers, which arises from the imperfect information with regard to other travelers’ preferences and types. This study applies the concept of a Bayesian game to the route choice problem when travelers are maximizing their degree of satisfaction by choosing routes. A Bayesian model is used in this work to analyze the impact of this heterogeneity on travelers’ route choices. We find that the use of ATIS exposes certain heterogeneities in traveler types and beliefs.

Pure Component Pricing in a Duopoly

In this paper, we focus on price competition between several multiproduct firms which produce differentiated systems, each consisting of two complementary products. It is shown here that if firms are restricted to pure component pricing (bundling is not allowed) whenever components produced are compatible, pure strategy equilibrium may not exist. With the use of bundling strategies, pure strategy equilibrium always exists. For the pure component pricing case we provide a full characterization for the existence of a pure strategy equilibrium.

Grey Relational Analysis of Operational Performance for Mobile Telecommunications Companies in Taiwan

This paper uses grey relational analysis technique to study the input-output relationship and to examine financial factors influencing the operational performance of Taiwanese mobile telecommunications companies. This paper demonstrates that both financial and productivity factors should be considered when developing a model to assess operational performance of a company, especially companies operate in an intensified competition market like the one in Taiwan.

The computation of Cournot-Nash equilibria for the time-definite freight delivery industry under an oligopolistic market

Time-definite freight delivery common carriers provide time-guaranteed door-to-door service for small shipment shippers. For a carrier, the pricing planning problem with inverse demand function requires simultaneous determination of the demand for its service and development of an operating plan to fill the available network capacity in a manner which maximizes its profit. In an oligopolistic market, the Cournot-Nash price equilibrium is all of the carriers achieving the highest individual profit with respect to the market shares and operational plans of the other carriers. This model is applicable to an integral-constrained spatially separated oligopolistic market. We chose the path formulation and proposed a diagonalization algorithm to determine the Cournot-Nash price equilibria. The time-definite freight delivery market in Taiwan was used for numerical testing. The results showed that this approach is suitable for determining the market equilibria for the industry. In addition we discussed the sensitivity on parameters of this approach and the economic implications for carriers.

There is a free lunch after all

This paper shows that there is a simple way for a financial institution to make a positive profit, free of risk, under imperfect competition. The institution plays a very limited role. It offers firms in the industry a per-unit subsidy in return for a predetermined upfront fee. It neither produces its own output nor sells the products of the subsidized firms. In equilibrium, firms accept the offer although they end up with lower net profits. The institution makes a positive profit as it collects upfront fees which exceed its subsidy payments. The resulting outcome in a Cournot industry is welfare improvement.