We consider how to assign candidate persons to suitable positions based on preference data with candidate persons’ preference for each position.There are n voters, m candidates to be assigned for k positions. Each voter ranks candidates up to s ranks according to their preference with respect to each position. Two methods are proposed to build a consensus by aggregating these voting data. Based on the consensus, we assign candidates to positions. Finally we discuss further research problems

View full abstract

Since electronic money (e-money) brings many benefits to consumers, public transportation companies, retailers, and e-money issuers, greater penetration of e-money into everyday life is desirable. The objective of this research is to provide suggestions for promoting the wide use of e-money. As a first step to achieving this objective, a questionnaire on awareness, frequency, and local environments of e-money use was administered to consumers residing in the Tokyo metropolitan area in Japan. By conducting an exploratory factor analysis on the data obtained, seven factors were extracted. Through a confirmatory factor analysis using structural equation modeling with the 7 factors and 14 observed variables, 2 models were constructed: a use model of transport-type e-money and one of retailer-type e-money. The analysis of these two models showed that the factors “transport convenience,” and “non-necessity” significantly affect the use of transport-type e-money, and the factors “shopping convenience” and “non-necessity” significantly affect the use of retailer-type e-money. The findings suggest that improving consumer perception of these factors is the most important for promoting increased use. Schemes for accelerating consumer use of e-money are provided for public transportation companies, retailers, and e-money issuers.

View full abstract

Digital information has a variety of benefits, but long-term digital storage is generally more expensive than analog storage and the risk of information loss can become high. This is known as the “Digital Dilemma.” In this study, we propose an efficient method for long-term digital storage from an economic, practical, and future point of view under the condition of advances made in information technology. We analyze an efficient timed switch from an old medium to a new medium based on the lifecycle of the medium using statistical data. This study focused on memory media and estimated migration timing by proposing four evaluation items, i.e., the cost of digital storage, future of a memory medium, network externality of a memory medium, and decision to purchase based on price fluctuations. The timed switch from the present position to the next position depends on the beneficiaries, and the proposed model reflects their position from the statistical data of floppy disks, optical discs, and flash memory by the quantitative approach. We determined the efficient timed switch from an old medium to a new medium using the proposed method.

View full abstract