Adoption of Vertical Standards

Over the past decade, the theories of Diffusion of Innovations and of Economics of Standards have been integrated to explain the Diffusion of Standards in Information Technologies. More recently, complex networked technologies unique to particular industries have been identified as a separate category called vertical standards, and the study of their adoption within and across industries has begun. This paper adds to the discourse by developing a theory-based model to explain variance in the adoption of vertical standards by firms. We posit that vertical standards adoption will be influenced by firm-level factors and adopter community-level factors. Key firm-level factors such as prior technology drag, knowledge barriers, and expected benefits, and adopter community-level factors such as standard legitimization and orphaning risk are identified as antecedents of vertical standards adoption. We also identify factors that impact each of these antecedents and put forth a research model interrelating these factors to vertical standards adoption. We expect to test our research model using data collected through a web-based survey of OASIS member firms

The adoption of the Eurepgap Standard by Mango Exporters in Piura, Peru

The significance of standards in international agricultural trade is continuously rising. Due to their complexity, especially private industry standards are often expected to have a negative impact on agricultural export sectors in developing countries. The successful adoption of standards by a broad number of producers can be seen as a condition to limit negative socioeconomic consequences. This case study for the mango export sector in Piura, Peru, analyzes the adoption of the Eurepgap standard, based on a theoretical framework of a compliance process of three stages (information stage, decision stage, implementation stage). The empirical part is based on interviews with farmers. A comparison between certified producers and a control group identifies the mechanisms that lead to an adoption of the standard. A first major barrier to adoption is the access to information on the standard. Exporting enterprises are the most important source of information. Analysis at the decision stage shows that vertical integration is the most important factor in the adoption of the standard. A contemplation of the implementation stage shows that the costs of compliance are at 9.51 US$/ton on average or 3.8% of the product price. Factors that influence the costs of compliance are the starting point, the target level and the involvement of exporter enterprises. Consequently, the activities of exporter enterprises can be identified as the key factor for the adoption of the standard in the sector. Furthermore, the standard involves the risk of exclusion of certain producer groups.standards, costs of compliance, Eurepgap, developing countries, international, trade, mango, Peru, International Relations/Trade, F13, Q13, Q17, Q18,

Assessment of Design Procedures for Vertical Borehole Heat Exchangers

The use of ground source energy systems is a well-established method to provide low cost heating to buildings, diversify the energy mix and help meeting increasingly stricter sustainability targets. However, considerable uncertainties remain over their efficient design, with several standards, guidelines and manuals being proposed over the last few years. This paper aims at providing insight into the implications to the design of a vertical borehole heat exchanger of the adoption of different design procedures. The hypothetical case of a typical dwelling located in London, UK, is analysed in order to highlight the impact on the final design of the chosen methodology. Moreover, a parametric study using an analytical design procedure was performed to point out the influence of various factors, such as borehole characteristics and thermal properties of the ground. It is shown that there are considerable discrepancies between design methods and that uncertainties in some input parameters, such as the thermal properties of the ground, which for relatively small systems are often selected from tables rather than measured in situ, may have a substantial influence on the length of borehole required

A Model for Semantic IS Standards

We argue that, in order to suggest improvements of any kind to semantic information system (IS) standards, better understanding of the conceptual structure of semantic IS standard is required. This study develops a model for semantic IS standard, based on literature and expert knowledge. The model is validated by case descriptions of two particular semantic IS standards. The model shows characteristics of semantic IS standards. Some of these characteristics might become steering factors for improving the development, adoption and quality of standards, among others

The Impact of ISO 9000 Diffusion on Trade and FDI: A New Institutional Analysis

The effects of ISO 9000 diffusion on trade and FDI have gone understudied. We employ panel data reported by OECD nations over the 1995-2002 period to estimate the impact of ISO adoptions on country-pair economic relations. We find ISO diffusion to have no effect in developed nations, but to positively pull FDI (i.e., enhancing inward FDI) and positively push trade (i.e., enhancing exports) in developing nations

Simplifying quality control and standardization of CTD data under SeaDataNet requirements

Sharing marine data through SeaDataNet infrastructure ensures preservation and promotes reusability. Submission of data to this infrastructure demands a set of technical tasks that cover quality control processing, adoption of common vocabularies, implement fle format standards and preparation of associated metadata. Although common software tools are made available to Data Centres and/or End Users to facilitate data and metadata preparation, these tasks continuous to be complex and time-consuming. To speed-up this process, a Python-Flask web application is presented here to quality check and create metadata and data according to SeaDataNet requirements. The web tool focuses on CTD vertical profles, although code could be easily adapted to process other type of records.Peer Reviewe

Simplifying quality control and standardization of CTD data under SeaDataNet requirements

Sharing marine data through SeaDataNet infrastructure ensures preservation and promotes reusability. Submission of data to this infrastructure demands a set of technical tasks that cover quality control processing, adoption of common vocabularies, implement le format standards and preparation of associated metadata. Although common software tools are made available to Data Centres and/or End Users to facilitate data and metadata preparation, these tasks continuous to be complex and time-consuming. To speed-up this process, a Python-Flask web application is presented here to quality check and create metadata and data according to SeaDataNet requirements. The web tool focuses on CTD vertical pro les, although code could be easily adapted to process other type of records

A characteristics framework for Semantic Information Systems Standards

Semantic Information Systems (IS) Standards play a critical role in the development of the networked economy. While their importance is undoubted by all stakeholders—such as businesses, policy makers, researchers, developers—the current state of research leaves a number of questions unaddressed. Terminological confusion exists around the notions of “business semantics”, “business-to-business interoperability”, and “interoperability standards” amongst others. And, moreover, a comprehensive understanding about the characteristics of Semantic IS Standards is missing. The paper addresses this gap in literature by developing a characteristics framework for Semantic IS Standards. Two case studies are used to check the applicability of the framework in a “real-life” context. The framework lays the foundation for future research in an important field of the IS discipline and supports practitioners in their efforts to analyze, compare, and evaluate Semantic IS Standard