Governing Actor Networks in an Emerging Crowdsourcing Ecosystem

Organisations harness the wisdom of community to solve problems or create new knowledge. Multiple organisations, diverse communities and multiple platforms are forming ecosystems to co-create value. We observe that Libraries, Archives, Galleries and Museums are forming collaborative crowdsourcing ecosystems to curate knowledge and create knowledge that ecosystem-wide stakeholders can use. However, despite the collaborative nature of crowdsourcing, various tensions arise among actors that hinder effective outcomes. Through a qualitative case study, we identify crowdsourcing actor networks and explore their tensions that hinder effective outcomes. We propose a strategic governance approach to foster crowdsourcing-based collaboration in a complex and dynamic ecosystem to create and capture value. This study presents a shift in the traditional schema of structured hierarchical governance of crowdsourcing projects to unstructured non-hierarchical governance of a multi-actor crowdsourcing ecosystem. The value propositions of crowdsourcing ecosystem actors networks are value co-creation, resource sharing, collective ownership, and mutual dependency

Relevant theories in entrepreneurial ecosystems research : an overview

Entrepreneurial ecosystems have recently gained the attention of scholars, although the concept remains elusive, underdeveloped, under-theorised and with no generally accepted definition. There have been calls for further theorisation of the concept and the testing of existing theories. Despite these calls, it has been identified that some researchers failed to ground their research in specific, pre-acknowledged grounding theories. Perhaps, this could be because there are no verified studies that have focused on such theories. These theories include the cluster theory, process theory, resource dependence theory, social capital theory, systems theory, network theory, knowledge spillover theory, stakeholder theory and social capital theory. The purpose of this article was, therefore, to provide an overview of the theories relevant to entrepreneurial ecosystems due to the lack of research on such theories. A managerial implication of the findings is that the different actors and role-players within an entrepreneurial ecosystem should stay related and interconnected to function optimally and holistically. The theoretical implication of the paper is the outlining of the relevant theories which can be used as guidance when grounding entrepreneurial ecosystems research, as well as the various scenarios in which these theories can be applied. The research contributes by informing early researchers on the relevant theories which can be used in understanding entrepreneurial ecosystems.https://www.abacademies.org/journals/academy-of-entrepreneurship-journal-home.htmlam2022Business Managemen

IoT Resources and Their Practical Application, A Comprehensive Study

The Internet of Things (IoT) has become a paradigm shifter, connecting an enormous number of smart devices and facilitating seamless data exchange for a diverse array of applications. The availability and effective use of the IoT ecosystem's resources are key factors in determining how its practical applications will develop as they mature. The IoT resources and their practical application across several areas are thoroughly explored in this paper. The paper begins by classifying and describing the various sensor types, their applications in various fields, and IoT resources, highlighting their contributions to real-time data collection, processing, and transmission. It then goes on to demonstrate a wide range of real-world uses for these resources, such as smart cities, education, agriculture, business, healthcare, environment monitoring, transportation, and industrial automation. However, utilizing IoT resources effectively is not without difficulties. Critical difficulties such as resource allocation, scalability, security, interoperability, and privacy concerns are identified and discussed in the paper. Furthermore, the paper also highlights future directions and emerging trends in IoT resource management, including edge computing, cloud computing, human machine integration, and compatibility with other systems. These developments aim to increase the dependability of IoT applications in diverse settings and optimize resource allocation. This paper's conclusion highlights the crucial role that IoT resources play in advancing real-world applications across a variety of areas. Researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders may collaborate together to effectively leverage the full potential of IoT resources to build intelligent, effective ecosystems that meet the needs of contemporary society by solving difficulties and utilizing developing trends

Global dynamic E-marketplaces, and their role in the internet-based economy

Collaboration capabilities are what will most probably create the gap between winners and losers in business-to-business (B2B) commerce. In this context, the electronic marketplace (EM) comes as a medium for trade and collaboration, and a common entry point where partners can share business processes and adopt a decentralized business model fuelled by market evolution. The thesis illustrates the advantages of collaborative business and presents the information technologies that support it. The purpose of this thesis is to educate both the author and the reader on the technology and infrastructure that supports collaborative business and to posit that among the three major information technology infrastructures that enable B2B commerce, the EM model provides significant advantages for individual companies and industries compared to Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P). The thesis identifies key tools and value-added services EM\u27s should provide their participants to meet the requirements of modern companies and the Internet-based economy. Finally, the thesis suggests potential impacts of EM\u27s on the modern business ecosystem

Entrepreneurial ecosystem : Islamic leadership model - an exploration of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Sultanate of Oman

Oman’s economic growth and development have recently shifted from the declining oil-dependent economy to other diversified sources of income generation, such as enhancing the performance of entrepreneurship as an economic growth driver. One of the ways through which such economic goals can be achieved is through the efficient management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, the review of existing literature features limited details in terms of how entrepreneurial ecosystems work in reality, as well as in terms of policy-related challenges in the management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. By conducting interviews on 36 participants consisting of 18 policy makers and 18 entrepreneurs, the present research established that even though there are some positive factors that support the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (such as the existence of the support systems, networks, and connectivity), there are a lot of challenges that are hindering efficiency with regards to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Oman. The most noted challenges to the effective management of entrepreneurial ecosystems are policy vulnerability and the government’s use of a top-to-bottom approach in policy and decision-making that do not involve or engage entrepreneurs, creating, in return, a disconnect and lack of balance in the ecosystem. Low stakeholder engagement and poor implementation of set policies also hinder entrepreneurship in the country. Thus, this study recommends an Islamic leadership management (ILM) approach to the management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. In this regard, effective management can be attained when skills are developed through inclusion and information sharing, incorporating religious principles such as fairness in policy making towards building institutional links, respecting cultural aspects such as diversity for an adaptive ecosystem, prioritizing strong relationships leading to effective networks, and viewing humans as custodians of earthly resources leading to equitable allocation of resources in the ecosystem. Additionally, an adaptive co-management approach can help reinforce the Islamic model as it emphasizes on learning-by-doing, relationships and the capacity of the communities and resource users.Oman’s economic growth and development have recently shifted from the declining oil-dependent economy to other diversified sources of income generation, such as enhancing the performance of entrepreneurship as an economic growth driver. One of the ways through which such economic goals can be achieved is through the efficient management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. However, the review of existing literature features limited details in terms of how entrepreneurial ecosystems work in reality, as well as in terms of policy-related challenges in the management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. By conducting interviews on 36 participants consisting of 18 policy makers and 18 entrepreneurs, the present research established that even though there are some positive factors that support the growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem (such as the existence of the support systems, networks, and connectivity), there are a lot of challenges that are hindering efficiency with regards to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Oman. The most noted challenges to the effective management of entrepreneurial ecosystems are policy vulnerability and the government’s use of a top-to-bottom approach in policy and decision-making that do not involve or engage entrepreneurs, creating, in return, a disconnect and lack of balance in the ecosystem. Low stakeholder engagement and poor implementation of set policies also hinder entrepreneurship in the country. Thus, this study recommends an Islamic leadership management (ILM) approach to the management of entrepreneurial ecosystems. In this regard, effective management can be attained when skills are developed through inclusion and information sharing, incorporating religious principles such as fairness in policy making towards building institutional links, respecting cultural aspects such as diversity for an adaptive ecosystem, prioritizing strong relationships leading to effective networks, and viewing humans as custodians of earthly resources leading to equitable allocation of resources in the ecosystem. Additionally, an adaptive co-management approach can help reinforce the Islamic model as it emphasizes on learning-by-doing, relationships and the capacity of the communities and resource users

Strategies Automotive Purchasing Managers Use for Managing Material Costs

AbstractBusiness leaders continually face challenges with the rising cost of materials. Automotive purchasing managers need to develop strategies to manage the cost of materials. Grounded in resource dependency theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore strategies purchasing leaders in the automotive industry use for managing material costs. Data collection included semistructured interviews and documentation, including purchasing policies and directives. The participants comprised four automotive purchasing managers who formulated and implemented material cost strategies. Five themes were identified using thematic analysis: (a) negotiation, (b) total cost of ownership, (c) reducing design complexity, (d) supplier strategic relationship, and (e) role of information technology. A key recommendation for purchasing managers is to use third-party sources to benchmark materials prices and utilize cost engineers to calculate and analyze the total cost of ownership of critical materials purchased by the firm. The implications for positive social change include the potential to develop sustainable partnerships with local companies to help create jobs for residents of the area and support local social programs

An exploratory study of human-robot collaboration’s potential to create sustainable enterprises in Durban.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.SMEs are encountering challenges transitioning into the fourth industrial revolution and ultimately adopting technology that will work with humans to ensure they engage in sustainable business practices. The challenges SMEs are battling with are the ability to deal with economic, environmental and social changes, responsibly and efficiently using natural resources and protecting the environment, providing high-quality products and services and meeting stakeholder needs. Therefore, this study will be of benefit in that it has explored how the use of collaborative robotics in the workstation and manufacturing floor will lead to sustainable production which will ultimately balance between the economic, environmental and social sustainability among Durban SMEs. The study adopted a qualitative approach using six in-depth telephonic and video interviews to gather insights about the human-robot collaboration’s potential to crate sustainable enterprises in Durban. Thematic analysis was used to analyse data. The study's findings indicated the obstacles that businesses are encountering as they migrate to Industry 4.0. Lack of resources, such as financial capital, machinery, and more information on Industry 4.0, are among these problems. Furthermore, the study revealed that the Covid 19 pandemic was a significant stumbling block for SMEs. The results revealed that adoption of collaborative robots by SMEs will create a sustainable environment which produces less waste and less depletion of nonrenewable resources, enable enterprises to make more profit while taking care of the wellbeing of the societies they operate in. The study concludes that the collaboration between humans and collaborative robots will solve sustainability challenges faced by Durban SMEs. Likewise, collaborative robots and humans will enable sustainable entrepreneurship to be geared towards the implementation of green strategies and techniques that are more efficient in the reduction of waste. The recommendations pointed that the government (SEDA) should raise awareness and educate entrepreneurs more about the fourth industrial revolution

The Economic Geography of Canada's AI Ecosystem

Canada's artificial intelligence (AI) sector is receiving significant interest and investment from governments across Canada. These investments target emerging clusters of AI startups across the country and follow an expectation that AI will have substantial economic and societal impacts as a general-purpose technology. However, to secure venture capital, these startups become subjects of global financial networks, dictating their development trajectory. This project investigates Canada's AI ecosystem's financialization dynamics within the context of global financial networks and their interplay with the spatial distribution of the AI startups' agglomeration effects. By adopting a mixed-methods approach that included constructing a database, interviews, and policy analysis, I found that the Government of Canada has facilitated the ecosystem's growth, but it has not internalized the benefits of its investments successfully. Furthermore, while Canadian AI clusters have developed distinct entrepreneurial atmospheres from each other, they commonly rely on foreign investments and markets, especially from the US