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Prior research in tourism and hospitality domain calls for closer attention to model specification when using partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), including the choice of software and algorithm for PLS model estimation. This paper aims to illustrate the significance of choosing appropriate algorithms for testing the nature of relationships by comparing findings using two different PLS-SEM software packages.

Using a field experiment, relationships between visual servicescape aesthetics and affective responses are conceptualized based on literature in environmental psychology and marketing domains. With photographic surrogates as stimuli in two different hospitality service contexts – spa and upscale restaurant – data are collected from 350 respondents.

By comparing results of SmartPLS 3.2 and WarpPLS 5.0 software and theoretical understanding from environmental psychology literature, it is illustrated that the results and their interpretations may not be in line with theory if model specifications are not correctly implemented and are not addressed through usage of software with a relevant algorithm to test them.

The study highlights the implications for model specification issues such as type of variables and nature of relationships that tourism and hospitality researchers often face and also how use of appropriate algorithms can overcome limitations of model testing for complex models and provide empirical rigor to support theory.

本论文使用两种不同的PLS-SEM处理软件来测试理论模型。通过解析模型设定参数问题, 特别是通过结构关系本性分析, 本论文指出选择合适的软件测试模型在酒店旅游领域的PLS研究中是非常关键的。

本论文借助图像拍摄手段采用实验的采样方式, 在两个不同的酒店服务场所—按摩和高档餐厅—搜集350份数据。本论文采用Smart PLS 3.2 和Warp PLS 5.0 软件来测试PLS-SEM。 这两款软件支持线性和非线性理论关系的比较。

通过Smart PLS 3.2 和Warp PLS 5.0 软件得出的报告结果分析, 不同软件处理PLS得出的结果可能有偏差, 而且会不符合理论设定。如果模型设定参数不正确, 通过使用合适的PLS-SEM软件和相关的数据分析加以辅助, 可能会解决参数不正确的问题。

本论文的比较分析结果可能会帮助到酒店和旅游领域的研究者们, 在做对有关PLS-SEM软件选择的时候, 哪些软件可以更加合适的测试模型有着参考意义。

本论文重点指出了模型设定参数的相关问题, 比如旅游酒店领域常见的变量种类和关系属性等。本论文还研究了如何选择合适的数据分析方法来克服测试复杂模型时的限制, 并且提供实践结果来支撑理论。

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the importance-performance map analysis (IPMA) and explain how to use it in the context of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). A case study, drawing on the IPMA module implemented in the SmartPLS 3 software, illustrates the results generation and interpretation.

The explications first address the principles of the IPMA and introduce a systematic procedure for its use, followed by a detailed discussion of each step. Finally, a case study on the use of technology shows how to apply the IPMA in empirical PLS-SEM studies.

The IPMA gives researchers the opportunity to enrich their PLS-SEM analysis and, thereby, gain additional results and findings. More specifically, instead of only analyzing the path coefficients (i.e. the importance dimension), the IPMA also considers the average value of the latent variables and their indicators (i.e. performance dimension).

An IPMA is tied to certain requirements, which relate to the measurement scales, variable coding, and indicator weights estimates. Moreover, the IPMA presumes linear relationships. This research does not address the computation and interpretation of non-linear dependencies.

The IPMA is particularly useful for generating additional findings and conclusions by combining the analysis of the importance and performance dimensions in practical PLS-SEM applications. Thereby, the IPMA allows for prioritizing constructs to improve a certain target construct. Expanding the analysis to the indicator level facilitates identifying the most important areas of specific actions. These results are, for example, particularly important in practical studies identifying the differing impacts that certain construct dimensions have on phenomena such as technology acceptance, corporate reputation, or customer satisfaction.

This paper is the first to offer researchers a tutorial and annotated example of an IPMA. Based on a state-of-the-art review of the technique and a detailed explanation of the method, this paper introduces a systematic procedure for running an IPMA. A case study illustrates the analysis, using the SmartPLS 3 software.

Part I of this article (European Business Review, Volume 28, Issue 1) offered an overview of unobserved heterogeneity in the context of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), its prevalence and challenges for social sciences researchers. This paper aims to provide an example that explains how to identify and treat unobserved heterogeneity in PLS-SEM by using the finite mixture PLS (FIMIX-PLS) module in the SmartPLS 3 software (Part II).

This case study illustrates the application of FIMIX-PLS using a popular corporate reputation model.

The case study demonstrates the capability of FIMIX-PLS to identify whether unobserved heterogeneity significantly affects structural model relationships. Furthermore, it shows that FIMIX-PLS is particularly useful for determining the number of segments to extract from the data.

Since the introduction of FIMIX-PLS, a range of alternative latent class techniques has appeared. These techniques address some of the limitations of the approach relating to, for example, its failure to handle heterogeneity in measurement models, or its distributional assumptions. This research discusses alternative latent class techniques and calls for the joint use of FIMIX-PLS and PLS prediction-oriented segmentation.

This article is the first to offer researchers, who have not been exposed to the method, an introduction to FIMIX-PLS. Based on a state-of-the-art review of the technique, the paper offers a step-by-step tutorial on how to use FIMIX-PLS by using the SmartPLS 3 software.

This study aims to understand tourists’ travel intention during the COVID-19 pandemic by using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) with additional causal links and moderators. The three research objectives of this study are to explore basic causality, mediating effects of attitude and moderating effects of age and perceived risk, of the extended TPB model, respectively.

An online survey was conducted in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, the survey generated 351 responses. The structural model analysis was performed to test the cause-and-effect relationships in the traditional TPB model and the mediating role of an individual’s attitude regarding travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The SmartPLS multi-group analysis procedure was applied to test the moderation effects of age and perceived risk.

It is found that the perceived behavioral control is the main contributor of travel intention for the traditional TPB while attitude partially mediates the relationship between subjective norm and travel intention for the test of mediation. Also, moderation tests confirm that both age and perceived risk show significant moderating effect only on subjective norm to travel intention relationship.

The novelty of this research is that this study proposed and verified the mediating influence of attitude and two additional paths, the moderating influence of age and perceived risk, which deepened the understanding of the TPB model and the impact of COVID-19 on travel intention. Because TPB model is context-dependent, using one mediating and two moderating variables allows the study to understand how TPB functions in a different situation.

游客旅游意图：以年龄及感知风险为调解因素态度为中介因素重新审视TPB模型

本研究旨在通过使用计划行为理论 (TPB) 以及额外的因果关系和调节因素来了解 COVID-19 大流行期间游客的旅游意图。本研究的三个研究目标分别是探索 TPB 扩展模型的（1）基本因果关系、（2）态度的中介效应、和（3）年龄和感知风险的调节效应。

本研究在台湾COVID-19大流行期间, 进行了一项线上调查。该调查共收集了351份回复问卷。本研究以结构模型分析测试传统 TPB 模型中的因果关系及个人对 COVID-19 大流行期间旅行态度的中介作用。本研究也应用了 SmartPLS 多组分析程序来测试年龄和感知风险的调节作用。

本研究发现感知行为控制是传统TPB旅行意愿的主要贡献者, 而态度在中介测试中部分中介了主观规范与旅行意愿之间的关系。此外, 本研究在调节测试中证实, 年龄和感知风险均仅对旅行意愿关系的主观规范显示出显着的调节作用.

本研究独创之处在于提出并验证了态度的中介效应, 以及年龄和感知风险的调节效应这两条附加路径, 加深了对 TPB 模型的理解以及 COVID-19 对旅行意愿的影响。由于 TPB 模型是上下文相关的, 因此本研究使用一个中介变量和两个调节变量可以让未来研究了解 TPB 在不同情况下的功能。

Intención de viajar de los turistas: revisitando el modelo TPB con la edad y el riesgo percibido como moderadores y la actitud como mediadora

Este estudio tiene como objetivo comprender la intención de viajar de los turistas durante la pandemia de COVID-19 mediante el uso de la teoría del comportamiento planificado (TPB) con vínculos causales y moderadores adicionales. Los tres objetivos de investigación de este estudio son explorar (1) la causalidad básica, (2) los efectos mediadores de la actitud y (3) los efectos moderadores de la edad y el riesgo percibido, del modelo TPB extendido, respectivamente.

Se realizó una encuesta online en Taiwán durante la pandemia del COVID-19. En total, la encuesta generó 351 respuestas. El análisis del modelo estructural se realizó para probar las relaciones de causa y efecto en el modelo TPB tradicional y el papel mediador de la actitud de un individuo con respecto a los viajes durante la pandemia del COVID-19. Se aplicó el procedimiento de análisis multigrupo SmartPLS para probar los efectos de moderación de la edad y del riesgo percibido.

Se muestra que el control del comportamiento percibido es el principal antecedente de la intención de viajar en el TPB tradicional, mientras que la actitud media parcialmente la relación entre la norma subjetiva y la intención de viajar. Además, los tests de moderación confirman que tanto la edad como el riesgo percibido muestran un efecto moderador significativo solo en la relación entre la norma subjetiva y la intención de viajar.

La novedad de esta investigación es que este estudio propuso y verificó la influencia mediadora de la actitud y los dos efectos moderadores adicionales de la edad y del riesgo percibido, lo cual profundiza en la comprensión del modelo TPB y el impacto del COVID-19 en la intención de viajar. Dado que el modelo TPB depende del contexto, el uso de una variable mediadora y dos variables moderadoras permite comprender mejor cómo el TPB funciona en una situación diferente.

The COVID-19 pandemic came with a lot of stress, uncertainty and disruption for managing the construction supply chain (CSC). The disruption in return caused weak resilience of CSC activities. Unfortunately, the existing models for managing CSC focus on preparedness and recovery while neglecting the visibility perspective of resilience CSC. Towards creating a resilience CSC, this study modelled construction 4.0 as the vaccine for supply chain resilience in the construction industry.

A survey questionnaire was used to collect data randomly from construction stakeholders. The questionnaire was analysed with a structural equation model analysis using SmartPLS while conducting tests such as path coefficient analysis, discriminant analysis and importance-performance analysis.

This study discovered that construction 4.0 is a significant tool and vaccine for ensuring visibility, recovery and adaptation within the supply chain. Construction 4.0 will function as a vaccine for ensuring resilience because of its capacity to optimise CSC management by introducing an evidence-based management approach and less dependent on implicit knowledge. Towards reaping the full potential of construction 4.0, it should be adopted as a moderating variable.

The research is limited by the use of a single methodology (quantitative) without including a qualitative method to understand better and explore the impact of construction 4.0 on CSC resilience. The qualitative part can be carried out by conducting interviews targeted at construction stakeholders.

In spite of the limitations, the findings of this study contributed to building a more responsive and resilient CSC during the pandemic period. Furthermore, this study also presented the crucial construction 4.0 technology capable of ensuring resilience within the CSC.

This paper presents a model for applying construction 4.0 as a vaccine for ensuring CSC resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic period. This study contributed to ensuring that decisions made within the CSC adopt an evidence-based approach.

The study aims to investigate hotel employees’ intentions to stay in industry with the mediating role of psychological contract fulfilment (PCF) and moderating role of positive emotions and position held (frontline employees vs managers) in post-lockdown era.

The study has followed quantitative approach following the cross-sectional design. 414 respondents of hotel industry were contacted via online and offline method. The data was analysed using partial least square method using SmartPLS 3.0.

The findings suggest that perceived organizational support and supervisor trust had a good impact on psychological contract fulfilment and contributed positively to psychological empowerment. Additionally, psychological empowerment positively impacted psychological well-being and psychological well-being positively impacted intention to stay in hotel industry. PCF positively mediated the relationship between organizational support, trust in supervisor and psychological empowerment. Positive emotions positively moderated the relationship between PCF and psychological empowerment. Multi-group analysis revealed that the managers and frontline employees perceived the PCF and psychological well-being differently.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of the few to explore the intention to stay in hotel industry by integrating social exchange theory, organization support theory and broaden-and-build theory post lockdown circumstances.

本研究旨在探讨后封锁时代心理契约履行的中介作用与积极情绪和职位(一线员工vs管理者)的调节作用影响下酒店员工留任意向。

采用定量方法的横断面设计。通过线上和线下的方式联系了414位酒店行业的受访者。使用Smartpls 3.0软件对数据进行偏最小二乘法分析。

组织支持感和上级信任感对心理契约履行有显著影响, 对心理赋能有正向影响。此外, 心理赋能正向影响心理幸福感, 心理幸福感正向影响酒店业留任意愿。心理契约履行正向中介组织支持、主管信任与心理赋能之间的关系。积极情绪正向调节心理契约履行与心理赋能的关系。多群体分析显示, 管理者和一线员工对心理契约履行和心理幸福感的感知存在差异。

本文结合社会交换理论、组织支持理论和扩宽构建理论, 是为数不多探讨后封锁环境下酒店业留任意愿的研究。

El estudio tiene como objetivo investigar la intención de los empleados de hotel de permanecer en la industria con el papel mediador del cumplimiento del contrato psicológico y el papel moderador de las emociones positivas y la posición ocupada (empleados de primera línea v/s directivos) en la era post-cierre patronal.

El estudio ha seguido un enfoque cuantitativo con un diseño transversal. Se contactó con 414 encuestados del sector hotelero a través de métodos online y offline. Los datos se analizaron mediante el método de mínimos cuadrados parciales con Smartpls 3.0.

Los resultados sugieren que el apoyo organizativo percibido y la confianza del supervisor tuvieron un buen impacto en el cumplimiento del contrato psicológico y contribuyeron positivamente a la capacitación psicológica. Además, el empoderamiento psicológico influyó positivamente en el bienestar psicológico y el bienestar psicológico influyó positivamente en la intención de permanecer en la industria hotelera. El cumplimiento del contrato psicológico medió positivamente en la relación entre el apoyo organizativo, la confianza en el supervisor y el empoderamiento psicológico. Las emociones positivas moderaron positivamente la relación entre el cumplimiento del contrato psicológico y la capacitación psicológica. El análisis multigrupo reveló que los directivos y los empleados de primera línea percibían de forma diferente el cumplimiento del contrato psicológico y el bienestar psicológico.

El estudio es uno de los pocos que exploran la intención de permanecer en la industria hotelera integrando la teoría del intercambio social, la teoría del apoyo organizativo y la teoría de ampliar y construir en circunstancias posteriores al cierre.

This study aims to investigate the indirect effects of workplace ostracism on service performance and on employees’ procrastination behaviour via job insecurity and the intention to sabotage. It further examines the moderating effect of intrinsic motivation between ostracism and job insecurity and ostracism and intention to sabotage.

The empirical data were collected from 256 employees of the hotel industry in metropolitan cities in Uttar Pradesh, India, and for hypothesis testing, SmartPLS was used.

Based on the conservation of resources theory, the findings disclose that job insecurity mediates the link concerning ostracism and service performance to some extent, whereas job insecurity and sabotage intent both partially mediate the affirmative linkages between workplace ostracism and procrastinating behaviour. Furthermore, the study also confirms that intrinsic motivation dampens the positive relationship between ostracism and job insecurity and the intention to sabotage.

To deal with negative work behaviour at the workplace due to ostracism, hospitality establishments may incorporate interpersonal score-based assessment, acknowledge and appreciate intrinsically motivated employees for developing a positive work environment. Apart from this, the learning and development department of the tourism and hospitality industries may introduce “buddy learning” and the “smart buddy” concept to develop a culture of appreciating and accepting colleagues rather than bullying them.

This study investigated the mediating effect of job insecurity and sabotage intention on the association between ostracism and service performance and ostracism and workplace procrastination behaviour for the first time in the tourism and hospitality literature. Furthermore, it is a unique study that investigated the buffering effect of intrinsic motivation on the linkage concerning ostracism, job insecurity and employees’ sabotage intentions.

实证数据收集自印度北方邦大都市的酒店行业的256名员工, 并采用SmartPLS模型进行假设检验。

本研究探讨了工作场所排斥经由工作不安全感和破坏意图对服务绩效及员工拖延行为的间接影响。进一步检验了排斥和工作不安全感与排斥和破坏意图之间的内在动机的调节作用。

基于资源保存理论, 研究发现揭示了工作不安全感在一定程度上中介了排斥与服务绩效之间的关系, 而工作不安全感和破坏意图在部分地中介了工作场所排斥与拖延行为之间的正向联系。进一步地, 该研究证明了内在动机抑制了排斥、工作不安全感和破坏意图之间的正相关关系。

为了处理工作中由于排斥而导致的消极工作行为, 酒店机构可以采用基于人际关系得分的评估, 承认和鼓励受内在激励的员工创造积极的工作环境。此外, 旅游及酒店业的学习及发展(L&D)部门可引入“伙伴学习”和“聪明伙伴”的概念, 建立一种欣赏和接纳同事的文化, 而不是霸凌他们。

本研究在旅游与酒店文献中首次研究了工作不安全感和破坏意图在排斥和服务绩效、排斥与工作拖延行为之间的中介作用。此外, 本研究是一个考察内在动机在排斥、工作不安全感和员工破坏意图之间的缓冲作用的独特的研究。

Los datos empíricos se recogieron de 256 empleados de la industria hotelera de ciudades metropolitanas de Uttar Pradesh, India, y para la comprobación de hipótesis se empleó SmartPLS.

Este estudio analiza los efectos indirectos del ostracismo laboral en el rendimiento del servicio y en el comportamiento de procrastinación de los empleados a través de la inseguridad laboral y la intención de sabotaje. Asimismo, examina el efecto moderador de la motivación intrínseca entre el ostracismo y la inseguridad laboral y el ostracismo y la intención de sabotaje.

Basándose en la teoría de la conservación de los recursos (COR), los resultados revelan que la inseguridad laboral media en cierta medida el vínculo relativo al ostracismo y el rendimiento en el servicio, mientras que tanto la inseguridad laboral como la intención de sabotaje median parcialmente los vínculos afirmativos entre el ostracismo laboral y el comportamiento procrastinador. Adicionalmente, el estudio también confirma que la motivación intrínseca modera la relación positiva entre el ostracismo y la inseguridad laboral y la intención de sabotaje.

Para hacer frente a los comportamientos laborales negativos en el lugar de trabajo debidos al ostracismo, los establecimientos hosteleros pueden incorporar una evaluación basada en la puntuación interpersonal, reconocer y apreciar a los empleados intrínsecamente motivados para desarrollar un entorno laboral positivo. Además, el departamento de Aprendizaje y Desarrollo (L&D) del sector turístico y hotelero puede introducir el concepto de “Aprendizaje de compañero/as” y el de “Compañero/a inteligente” para desarrollar una cultura de aprecio y aceptación de los compañero/as en lugar de intimidarlos.

Este estudio investiga por primera vez en la literatura del turismo y la hostelería el efecto mediador de la inseguridad laboral y la intención de sabotaje en la asociación entre el ostracismo y el rendimiento del servicio, y el ostracismo y el comportamiento de procrastinación en el lugar de trabajo. Además, se trata de un estudio único que investiga el efecto moderador de la motivación intrínseca en la relación entre el ostracismo, la inseguridad laboral y las intenciones de sabotaje de los empleados.

This study aims to examine the negative effects of excessive product packaging (EPP), greenwashing and green confusion on green brand equity (GBE). Furthermore, the moderating role of brand credibility in mitigating the negative effects of green marketing was investigated.

A within-subject experiment was conducted to evaluate excessive versus minimal product packaging to test the proposed hypotheses. Data analysis was performed with SmartPLS 3.3.3, which analyzed data from 206 consumers.

The results showed that EPP positively predicts greenwashing and green confusion. However, greenwashing has a negative impact on GBE. Brand credibility was also discovered to moderate the negative relationship between greenwashing and GBE, thereby reducing the negative effect of greenwashing.

The findings imply that marketing managers should understand the consumers’ concerns for the environment, making product and brand strategies that promote environmental protection and sustainability.

This study contributes to the green marketing literature by empirically validating the positive impacts of EPP on greenwashing and green confusion, as well as the negative influence of greenwashing on GBE. Furthermore, it reveals how brand credibility can reduce the harmful effects of greenwashing on GBE.

Examinamos los efectos negativos del embalaje excesivo de los productos, el “greenwashing” y la confusión verde sobre el valor de la marca verde. Además, se investigó el papel moderador de la credibilidad de la marca para mitigar los efectos negativos del marketing ecológico.

Se llevó a cabo un experimento intra-sujeto para evaluar el embalaje excesivo de los productos frente al mínimo envase posible, con el fin de comprobar las hipótesis propuestas. El análisis de los datos se realizó con SmartPLS 3.3.3, con una muestra de 206 consumidores.

Los resultados mostraron que el embalaje excesivo de los productos predice positivamente el greenwashing y la confusión ecológica. Sin embargo, el greenwashing tiene un impacto negativo en el valor de la marca verde. También se descubrió que la credibilidad de la marca modera la relación negativa entre el greenwashing y el valor de la marca verde, reduciendo así el efecto negativo del greenwashing.

Las conclusiones implican que los directores de marketing deben comprender las preocupaciones de los consumidores por el medio ambiente, elaborando estrategias de producto y de marca que promuevan la protección del medio ambiente y la sostenibilidad.

Este estudio contribuye a la bibliografía sobre el marketing ecológico al validar empíricamente los efectos positivos del embalaje excesivo de los productos sobre el greenwashing y la confusión ecológica, así como la influencia negativa del greenwashing sobre el valor de la marca ecológica. Además, revela cómo la credibilidad de la marca puede reducir los efectos perjudiciales del greenwashing sobre el valor de la marca verde.

我们研究了产品过度包装、洗绿和绿色混淆对绿色品牌资产的负面影响。此外, 我们还研究了品牌信誉在减轻绿色营销负面影响中的调节作用。

我们进行了一项受试者内实验, 以评估产品过度包装和最小包装, 从而检验所提出的假设。用SmartPLS 3.3.3进行数据分析, 该软件分析了206来自名消费者的数据。

结果显示, 过度的产品包装正向预测了洗绿和绿色混淆。然而, 洗绿对绿色品牌资产有负面的影响。品牌信誉也被发现可以调节洗绿和绿色品牌资产之间的负面关系, 从而减少洗绿的负面影响。

研究结果表明, 营销经理应该了解消费者对环境的关注, 制定促进环境保护和可持续发展的的产品和品牌战略。

本研究通过实证验证产品过度包装对洗绿和绿色混淆的积极影响, 以及洗绿对绿色品牌资产的负面影响, 为绿色营销文献做出了贡献。此外, 它还揭示了品牌信誉如何减少洗绿对绿色品牌资产的有害影响。

绿色营销, 洗绿, 绿色混淆, 品牌资产, 品牌信誉, 以及产品过度包装

文章类型： 研究型论文

Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) has attracted much attention from both methodological and applied researchers in various disciplines – also in hospitality management research. As PLS-SEM is relatively new compared to other multivariate analysis techniques, there are still numerous open questions and uncertainties in its application. This study aims to address this important issue by offering guidance regarding its use in contexts with which researchers struggle.

The authors examine the most prominent questions and answers posed in a well-known PLS-SEM discussion forum. The authors do so by using a text analysis technique to identify the most salient topics.

The data analysis identifies three salient PLS-SEM topics (i.e. bootstrapping and significance testing, higher-order constructs and moderation).

The results allow us to address the PLS-SEM community’s main methodological issues. The authors discuss each area separately and provide explanations and guidelines.

The guidelines on the most important PLS-SEM topics provide decision-making and application aids. In this way, the authors make a decisive contribution to clarifying ambiguities when applying the PLS-SEM method in hospitality management research and other disciplines.

There has as yet been no systematic analysis of this kind in the field of PLS-SEM; the authors, therefore, present the first research results. The findings and recommendations provide guidance for PLS-SEM applications in hospitality research and practice.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of unobserved heterogeneity in the context of partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), its prevalence and challenges for social science researchers. Part II – in the next issue (European Business Review, Vol. 28 No. 2) – presents a case study, which illustrates how to identify and treat unobserved heterogeneity in PLS-SEM using the finite mixture PLS (FIMIX-PLS) module in the SmartPLS 3 software.

The paper merges literatures from various disciplines, such as management information systems, marketing and statistics, to present a state-of-the-art review of FIMIX-PLS. Based on this review, the paper offers guidelines on how to apply the technique to specific research problems.

FIMIX-PLS offers a means to identify and treat unobserved heterogeneity in PLS-SEM and is particularly useful for determining the number of segments to extract from the data. In the latter respect, prior applications of FIMIX-PLS restricted their focus to a very limited set of criteria, but future studies should broaden the scope by considering information criteria, theory and logic.

Since the introduction of FIMIX-PLS, a range of alternative latent class techniques have emerged to address some of the limitations of the approach relating, for example, to the technique’s inability to handle heterogeneity in the measurement models and its distributional assumptions. The second part of this article (Part II) discusses alternative latent class techniques in greater detail and calls for the joint use of FIMIX-PLS and PLS prediction-oriented segmentation.

This paper is the first to offer researchers who have not been exposed to the method an introduction to FIMIX-PLS. Based on a state-of-the-art review of the technique in Part I, Part II follows up by offering a step-by-step tutorial on how to use FIMIX-PLS in SmartPLS 3.