Agile Practices: An Assessment of Perception of Value of Professionals on the Quality Criteria in Performance of Projects

Deliver high quality software in accordance with deadlines has become a major challenge for the software industry and more organizations adopt agile practices as a mean to achieve quality in their products. This paper analyzes, through a survey, the perception of software professionals, working in different fronts of the development process, the relationship between the use of agile practices and quality of software products. The result shows agile practices that can contribute to quality in three aspects: bigger involvement of the staff, agile management of the requirements proposed and code developed.

Customer-Value Creation in Self-service Technologies (SSTs) in the Tourism Industry

This paper explores and validates the process of customer value creation in self-service technologies(SSTs)in the context of the tourism industry.As the self-technology has been gradually advanced,its adoption in the tourism industry has brought many changes.A new trend of self-service technologies has helped service firms to save the labor costs and customers’waiting time for transactions.The purpose of this study is to confirm an applicability and a design of the original model of SSTs and explore the connection between SSTs and creation of value perception through a confirmatory factor analysis in the context of the tourism industry.Furthermore,the results of the online survey questionnaire from 234 responses in the United States and South Korea are explained in this study.The results of this study concluded that five statistically important factors are related to customers’motivations to use SSTs and enable customers to interact with SSTs as“SST location and capacity planning”,“SST service quality”,“motivations to use SST”,“SST design”,and“SST encounter”.These factors may imply an important meaning to better understand about customer value during the adoption of SSTs in the tourism industry.Tourism firms may use the results of this study to effectively enhance how customers perceive value about their products and services during the usage of SSTs.This will help tourism firms’efficiencies on the adoption of SSTs for their business plans and help them remain profitable in the competitive market.

Achieving the Visual Perception and Gestalt Psychology in Sultan Hassan Mosque Building

The gestalt principles are perception and what is visually communicated by objects. These principles describe the visual language within which we work. Understanding how a designer realizes things visually will help designers communicate better. Many designers use Gestalt principles to have a structure visual stimulus, so as to create interfaces that are easy for users to understand. Because the understanding of visual perception is a critical item in any designer’s toolkit. Islamic heritage buildings also contain many architectural values, especially the Sultan Hassan Mosque in Cairo. Through this paper, we will verify the use of gestalt principles of visual perception in the building design. Because the psychological organization of the design, achieves the understanding and awareness of the current relationships between the elements, depending on the extent of regularity, accuracy, and consistency of the design elements. This makes us recognize the esthetic values of Sultan Hassan’s building and mosque. The visual delight we get from architecture begins with how we perceive it. So, in order to understand how visual delight arises, we must first understand how we perceive and interpret visual stimuli. Especially since the principles of gestalt confirm that the human brain tends to make tricks and illusions. Therefore, we found the mosque designer had exploited this fact during the design process, to exclude any possibility of the resulting misunderstanding. The designer achieved the psychological preparation of the visitor by using some principles of visual perception of the Gestalt theory, such as growth, continuity, and hierarchy.

A NEW OBJECTIVE STEREOSCOPIC IMAGE ASSESSMENT MODEL BASED ON STEREOSCOPIC PERCEPTION

In order to establish a stereoscopic image quality assessment method which is consistent with human visual perception,we propose an objective stereoscopic image quality assessment method.It takes into account the strong correlation and high degree of structural between pixels of image.This method contains two models.One is the quality synthetic assessment of left-right view images,which is based on human visual characteristics,we use the Singular Value Decomposition(SVD)that can represent the degree of the distortion,and combine the qualities of left and right images by the characteristics of binocular superposition.The other model is stereoscopic perception quality assessment,due to strong stability of image’s singular value characteristics,we calculate the distance of the singular values and structural characteristic similarity of the absolute difference maps,and utilize the statistical value of the global error to evaluate stereoscopic perception.Finally,we combine two models to describe the stereoscopic image quality.Experimental results show that the correlation coefficients of the proposed assessment method and the human subjective perception are above 0.93,and the mean square errors are all less than 6.2,under JPEG,JP2K compression,Gaussian blurring,Gaussian white noise,H.264 coding distortion,and hybrid cross distortion.It indicates that the proposed stereoscopic objective method is consistent with human visual properties and also of availability.

Stress perceptions and leadership orientation of Malaysians： Exploring their similarities and differences with Americans

To explore the management orientation of employees in Malaysia and the United States, this paper focuses on comparing the leadership and stress perception of respondents in these two different countries. It appears that Malaysians and Americans have a significantly higher score on the relationship-orientation than task-orientation. Similarly, the female respondents in Malaysia had a significantly higher score on the relationship orientation. Finally, the responses of these 216 Malaysian respondents were compared with the 87 Americans, demonstrating significantly higher scores for respondents from the U.S. on both orientations. For management and practical application, suggestions and implications for future studies are presented.

The Choice of Gender Roles and the Perceptions of Gender Violence in Regions of Armenia

This article describes results of the fieldwork study concerning the reasons of gender roles＇ choice and the possible violence in Armenian families that occur from the gender roles. I have completed field study encompassing nine, out of 11, administrative regions of Armenia. The purpose of this study is to understand the perception level of domestic violence, child abuse and society＇s approach to the latter by conducting quantitative survey. These findings may be useful for the experts specialized in the gender violence and working on adapting the value system of EU countries in Armenia.

An Analysis on the Cultural Factors that Affect People's Perceptions:A Case Study

The intention of this present paper is to explore the relationship between culture and perception and the cultural factors that affect people's perceptions from different cultural backgrounds. This study is based on a case, which is a news report about the cultural conflict between an old Chinese father and her daughter who has been living in Canada for eight years. Detailed information has been acquired by the author using relative books, journals as well as her own understanding and interpretation. It is concluded that to be aware of the cultural factors is of great importance to understand why people from different cultures have quite different perceptions toward the same thing, which can help to reduce the conflicts and misunderstandings in intercultural communication.

清代诗歌的复杂性生成背景与可能性研究进路

清诗是在清代社会历史的土壤上生成的,历史的复杂性决定了诗人情感世界的复杂,诗思书写的复杂。作为一种“复杂关系”中的个体,清代诗人们的创作由身世而及民生,由家国而及社会,由种教而及民族,内容极为丰富,且作品数量庞大。在中国古代诗史的最后一个阶段,往代诗歌发展的每一个知识板块都由川流而成江河,造就出一个规模巨大的诗歌王国。这个诗歌王国至今尚存在很多未知因素,有很多需要探索、垦拓的领域。在现有条件下开展清诗研究,应重视清代诗人天下观、国家观、民族观的变化,于新的文化理念中展开古今通变的思考,并注意对应具体现象和问题,去采取有效方法,寻求可能进路。

游客感知视角下城市绿地空间社会价值评估与影响因素研究

城市绿地空间生态系统服务社会价值最容易被人类感知和利用,对其量化评估与影响因素探究可为城市绿地空间优化提供科学依据。现有研究较少考虑服务设施对游客感知城市绿地社会价值的影响。因此,以武汉市东湖风景区为例,利用SolVES模型将6类游客社会价值感知数据进行空间量化,并探究自然资源环境要素和服务设施兴趣点密度对社会价值指数与空间分布的影响。结果表明:游客对东湖风景区社会价值偏好为文化价值>娱乐价值>美学价值>生物多样性价值>康体价值>可持续价值;社会价值热点区域集中在听涛景区和磨山景区,且大多分布在高程20~40m、坡度2°~6°、距离水体100m范围内;在影响因素上,旅游景点设施和植被覆盖度对各类社会价值影响的贡献值最大,且与社会价值呈正相关关系。

面向持久化键值数据库的自适应热点感知哈希索引

针对现有键值数据库存储系统缺乏热点意识,导致系统在高度倾斜的工作负载下性能较差且不可靠,提出了一种自适应热点感知哈希索引模型,该模型基于key值摘要信息实现了一个高性能哈希表。首先,利用key的摘要信息代替key值,压缩key的存储空间,优化哈希表中桶的数据结构;其次,利用CPU的数据级并行技术以及CPU cache line,对哈希表的探查操作进行优化;最后,为解决摘要信息导致key值无法精准比较,需要额外磁盘I/O的问题,设计了一种自适应key值调度算法,该算法根据当前可用内存大小、哈希索引负载以及访问热点情况动态地调整key值的存储位置。在YCSB仿真数据集上进行了实验,实验表明,相较于最先进的哈希表,自适应热点感知哈希索引在相同内存使用率的情况下,将速度提升至1.2倍。

认知视角下的白俄罗斯上合观及其对上合组织的影响

伴随国际大变局的持续深入以及上海合作组织的不断发展和壮大,基于对当今世界和地区局势的认知以及自身内外政策的调整,白俄罗斯对上海合作组织的认知与定位发生了积极的变化。在白俄罗斯方面看来,上海合作组织已成为世界多极秩序构建的主要支撑之一,是白俄罗斯谋求欧亚地缘政治空间平等建构者地位的重要抓手。白俄罗斯方面希望借助上海合作组织的资源推动本国正在进行的政治改革、经济转型、外交东向调整等议程,实现国家在百年未有大变局中的生存与发展。为此,白俄罗斯支持构建“集体东方”,谋求推动“一体化机制间合作”和“差速一体化”,以凸显自身的地缘价值,并更快地在上海合作组织,乃至整个新世界格局中重新确立自己的位置。但与此同时,白俄罗斯加入上海合作组织将是机遇与风险并存,在带来地域突破和更多地区间合作机会的同时,也将潜在地扩大组织内部的分歧,增加协商一致的难度。对此,应在推动上海合作组织各领域合作的过程中突出组织的特色,增强组织内部的互谅互信,打造具有吸引力的多边机制及合作模式,推动上海合作组织由地区性组织向全球性组织平稳转型。

基于问卷调查的黄河国家文化公园文化价值(陕西段)认知研究

目的:研究公众对黄河国家文化公园及其文化价值的认知现状对其规划和建设具有重要意义。方法:选取“黄河国家文化公园(陕西段)重点建设项目”中陕西历史博物馆、秦始皇兵马俑博物馆、壶口瀑布和黄帝陵为调研地点,通过问卷调查的方式获取数据,并分析公众对黄河国家文化公园及其历史、教育、艺术、政治、社会、精神共6个层面的文化价值认知情况。结果:公众对黄河国家文化公园的认知度较低,对黄河国家文化公园文化价值的整体认知度较高,其中物质价值、教育价值和艺术价值的认知处于中等水平,而政治价值、社会价值及精神价值的认知处于中等偏上水平。结论:为提高公众对黄河国家文化公园及其文化价值的认知水平,在黄河国家文化公园的规划和建设中应注重保护黄河文化相关遗产,强化历史价值的塑造,加强宣传与教育,设计多样化教育活动,加强政治价值的宣传,拓展社会价值的影响及开发黄河文创产品,强化精神价值的传承。

价格补贴、征税与劝诫政策调节下的绿色消费行为影响机制研究

研究价格补贴、征税与劝诫3种不同政策工具在绿色素养、价值感知与绿色消费行为意愿之间的影响机制,对采取有效政策工具促进绿色消费行为具有重要价值。从理论与实证出发,探讨了绿色素养、价值感知与绿色消费行为意愿之间的关系,引入了价格补贴、征税与劝诫多种政策工具导向作为情景调节变量,并分析了其在上述关系之中的调节效应。结果表明:①消费者的绿色素养越高,越能正向促进绿色消费行为意愿;②绿色价值感知利得与绿色价值感知利失起并行中介作用,且消费者的绿色素养更能通过绿色价值感知利得正向促进绿色消费行为意愿;③3种政策导向工具都能正向调节绿色素养对绿色价值利得感知之间的关系。在对绿色素养对绿色价值利失感知之间的影响关系中,价格补贴性政策能够显著调节这一影响机制,征税型政策与劝诫型政策导向对这一影响机制调节效应不显著。同时,调节效应图分析显示,不同高低分组的价格补贴政策、征税与劝诫型政策导向对绿色素养对绿色消费行为意愿的调节也有一定的异质性。

社会声望、价值感知对农户宅基地退出行为的实证分析——基于640份农户调查数据

探索农村宅基地自愿有偿退出机制,推进闲置宅基地进一步腾退和盘活,是缓解当下中国农村土地资源低效利用的重要举措。基于江西省余江区640份农户调研数据,实证分析了社会声望、价值感知对农户宅基地退出行为的影响机理,并对价值感知在社会声望与农户宅基地退出行为中的中介效应进行检验。结果表明:社会声望、价值感知均会显著正向促进农户宅基地退出行为,价值感知在社会声望与农户宅基地退出中起中介作用;受访者受教育程度越高或者为中共党员,越会显著提高农户宅基地退出行为的意愿,促使其退出行为的达成。综上,建议重视社会声望和价值感知在农户宅基地退出中的外在驱动和内在激励作用,充分发挥乡贤、知识分子以及领导干部等群体的示范效应,注重提高农户宅基地退出价值感知水平,提升农户宅基地退出意愿。

电商环境下特色农产品原产地形象对品牌信任的影响——基于价值感知的中介效应

文章基于342份农产品消费调研数据,通过构建“原产地形象—价值感知—品牌信任”理论分析框架,运用中介效应模型,实证分析了特色农产品原产地形象对消费者品牌信任的作用机制,并进一步揭示了消费者价值感知在两者之间的中介作用。研究发现,维护良好的原产地形象对提高消费者品牌信任具有显著的正向促进作用,消费者价值感知在原产地形象对品牌信任影响中存在显著的中介效应。因此,政府产业政策部门和农产品企业可以通过调整农产品产业规模、做好差异化溯源来提升消费者价值感知。同时,政府实施保护自然环境政策、宣传当地优秀文化、加大农产品市场监管力度有利于塑造良好的原产地形象,能够有效提升消费者对特色农产品品牌的信任。

主观感知视角下社区居民参与森林旅游价值共创意愿研究

以武夷山国家森林公园周边8个村镇中的社区居民为调研对象,综合运用云模型、异质性分析、QCA等方法,探讨社区居民参与森林旅游价值共创意愿的影响因素及其产生影响的组合方式。结果表明:社区居民认可森林旅游发展所带来的经济效益,同时也担忧森林旅游开发过程中可能产生的环境破坏、文化冲突和社区矛盾等负面影响。社区居民参与森林旅游价值共创意愿存在异质性,社区居民的参与意愿在亲友参与森林旅游项目或家庭成员为干部的情况下,会受到显著的负面影响,耕地面积与住房面积对居民价值共创意愿有显著正面影响。文化程度和邻里关系对社区居民参与森林旅游价值共创意愿具有普遍影响,反映了教育和社交因素在塑造个体态度和行为中的关键作用。因此,为了实现森林旅游的可持续发展,政府应通过立法和政策引导,限制森林旅游的过度开发,同时确保环境和文化的保护,提供教育和培训机会,建立公平的利益分配机制,提升社区居民的参与意愿;社区则需要积极参与旅游规划和管理,确保环境和文化的保护,通过教育和培训提升居民参与能力,同时维护良好的邻里关系,增强社区凝聚力;社区居民需要积极参与森林旅游的规划和管理,建立良好的社交网络,承担起环境和文化保护的责任。

价值感知下居家健身产品服务系统设计策略

从设计视角出发,促进居家健身人群健身意愿向行为的有效转化。搭建多维度价值感知下居家健身产品服务系统影响用户健身意愿与行为结构模型;其次,对居家健身产品服务系统商业成功案例展开剖析,归纳其设计优势与设计不足,基于此提出设计新方向和策略。从设计视角提出“统筹实际需求,实现产品功能融合”“结合新兴技术,实现智慧服务升级”“聚焦家居环境,实现居家场景关联”“立足用户心理,实现价值感知提升”4项作为居家健身产品服务系统设计策略。以期为促进居家健身人群健身意愿向积极行为有效转化的居家健身产品服务系统设计实践提供理论依据和参考。

特色小众水果消费者意愿及影响因素研究——基于特色水果黄皮的调查

以特色水果黄皮为研究对象,构建价值感知、偏好对消费意愿的影响模型,结果显示,价值感知(包括功能价值、文化价值、创新价值)正向影响消费者偏好和消费意愿;消费者偏好正向影响消费意愿,且在价值感知(功能价值、文化价值、创新价值)和消费意愿间起着部分中介作用。基于研究结论、结合实际,提出了促进特色水果黄皮发展的对策建议。

价值共创感知体验、数字平台交互场景与颠覆性创新

数字化转型背景下如何通过数字平台交互场景来协同顾客,对平台型企业突破瓶颈期并实现颠覆性创新具有重要意义。以参与数字平台交互的顾客为研究对象,构建了“价值共创感知—平台交互场景—颠覆性创新”研究框架,通过问卷调查的研究方法来探究顾客参与价值共创的感知体验,及其对颠覆性创新的影响路径。实证研究表明:价值共创感知体验(利益性感知体验、社交性感知体验、自我效能性感知体验、独特性感知体验)和数字平台交互场景均对颠覆性创新具有显著正向影响;数字平台交互场景在价值共创感知体验的四个层面与颠覆性创新之间均具有部分中介效应;平台干预度在社交性、自我效能性、独特性感知体验与颠覆性创新之间起到负向调节作用。研究结果能够为企业优化顾客参与价值共创体验、构建数字平台交互场景提供新的理论视角与发展战略。

In-Service Teachers’Perceptions of Technology Integration in English as a Foreign Language Classrooms in China:A Multiple-Case Study

Purpose This study investigates university in-service English as a Foreign Language(EFL)teachers’perceptions of technology integration and the relevant factors that may affect their technology integration in the classroom.Design/Approach/Methods This multiple case study applies Teo's extended technology acceptance model(TAM)and the theory of teacher value beliefs associated with using technology to explore seven in-service EFL teachers’perceptions of effective technology integration and the challenges they encountered.Findings This study suggests that(1)perceived usefulness and(2)teacher value beliefs are two important factors that influence in-service teachers’technology integration.Additional factors are(3)subjective norm,(4)facilitating conditions of the environment,and(5)cultural values.Originality/Value This study contributes to the existing literature on in-service EFL teachers’technology integration and increases the applicability of the extended TAM in China.This study also provides insights into these teachers’perceptions and practices of technology integration.Finally,insights gleaned from this study will guide school-level,local,and national educational policy groups on optimally supporting in-service teachers’future technology integration.