Exploratory and Confirmatory Study of the Environmental Uncertainty Factors on cross Industries

• Main Authors: Da-Chian Hu, 胡大謙
• Other Authors: Shu-Hsien Liao
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2011
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/63117360804924587954

博士 === 淡江大學 === 管理科學研究所博士班 === 99 === During the past four decades, the environmental issues have been attracting scholars’ attentions. However, environmental uncertainty continues to generate disagreement in the literature such as conceptualization, operational definition, indicators and measurement method. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to combine information uncertainty theory and resource dependence theory to develop environmental uncertainty scale. In item generation, we construct our item pool by literature and expert interview including 105 items. In the pre-test, we tested content validity and deleted 38 items. We collected data from EMBA students who work in electronic and manufacture industries. A total of 150 valid sample were collected and performed item analysis. In items analysis, we deleted 6 items. The scale was then administered to a larger sample (N=350) which was selected from electronic and manufacture industries. Exploratory factor analysis showed that six factors was extracted and named technology uncertainty, market prediction, competitive threaten, competitive situation, customer uncertainty and supply chain uncertainty including 19 items. Results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that all dimensions of the scale fitted the data well and demonstrated converge validity and discriminate validity. In conclusion, we combined two theories in environmental uncertainty scale. Information uncertainty theory includies technology uncertainty, market prediction and customer uncertainty while resource dependency theory contain competitive threaten, competitive situation and supply chain uncertainty. Moreover, we confirmed that environmental uncertainty is a multidimensional scale and verified that it had good reliability and validity. Finally, we found that there were no difference between high-tech and manufacture industries.