CONSUMERS’ PERCEPTIONS ON SMART HOME AND SMART LIVING

Internet of Things (IoT) is an umbrella term used for Internetworking physical devices such as vehicles, buildings, home appliances, and other physical objects to the Internet. This technology innovation allows for different objects or devices to be connected to each other, thus transforming the objects from “dumb” to “smart” devices. A central question for researchers and practitioners is whether and how the potential users of smart home technology, a subset of IoT technology, perceive this innovation. To address this question, the present paper seeks to empirically explore the relationships between determinant factors influencing users’ intentions. By drawing upon recent studies on smart home technology, this paper argues that multiple factors impact users’ perceptions and consequently their adoption decisions. By using a survey data from 156 individuals and applying structural equation modelling (SEM) and Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA), this research suggests that attitudes toward using technology, social influence, perceived usefulness and perceived innovativeness impact users’ adoption decisions. Moreover, fsQCA results, while reinforcing and refining findings from the SEM analysis, reveal that there is no single solution that lead to the outcome of interest—smart home technology adoption—but multiple configurations of conditions do. Theoretical and methodological contributions are discussed

THE IMPACT OF DIGITALIZATION ON LITERACY: DIGITAL IMMIGRANTS VS. DIGITAL NATIVES

Considering the speed at which new digital technologies are evolving, this paper aims to investigate the impact of digital transformation on multiple dimensions of literacy. An empirical research using antecedent factors of adoption is conducted to investigate the relationships between factors influencing digital immigrants’ and digital natives’ intentions to use digital technology. Using survey data on 177 digital immigrants and 183 digital natives, structural equation modelling (SEM) and a novel configurational thinking method—fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA)—are applied. The results, while showing some similarities, reveal that digital immigrants and digital natives utilize digital technologies differently and their intentions to use are influenced by different factors. For instance, for digital natives, information literacy has no significant effect on intention to use, while this path is significant for digital immigrants. Moreover, fsQCA results, while supporting the SEM findings, show that there are multiple configurations of conditions leading to the outcome of interest—intention to use digital technology

Designing Efficient Material Handling Systems Via Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs)

[EN] The designing of an efficient warehouse management system is a key factor to improve productivity and reduce costs. The use of Automated Guided Vehicles (AVGs) in Material Handling Systems (MHS) and Flexible Manufacturing Systems (FMS) can help to that purpose. This paper is intended to provide insight regarding the technical and financial suitability of the implementation of a fleet of AGVs. This is carried out by means of a fuzzy set/qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) by measuring the level of satisfaction of managerial decision makers.Llopis-Albert, C.; Rubio, F.; Valero, F. (2018). Designing Efficient Material Handling Systems Via Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs). Multidisciplinary Journal for Education, Social and Technological Sciences. 5(2):97-105. doi:10.4995/muse.2018.10722SWORD9710552Berbegal-Mirabent, J.; Llopis-Albert, C. (2015). Applications of Fuzzy Logic for Determining the Driving Forces in Collaborative Research Contracts. J. Bus. Res., 69 (4), 1446-1451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.10.123Biçer, I., Seifert, R.W., (2017). Optimal Dynamic Order Scheduling under Capacity Constraints Given Demand-Forecast Evolution. Production and Operations Management 26(12), 2266-2286. https://doi.org/10.1111/poms.12759Fazlollahtabar, H., Saidi-Mehrabad, M. (2015). Autonomous Guided Vehicles: Methods and Models for Optimal Path Planning. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14747-5 ISBN 978-3-319-14747-5.Gourgand, M., Sun, X.C., Tchernev, N., 1995. Choice of the guide path layout for an AGV based material handling system. Emerging Technologies and Factory Automation, 1995. ETFA '95, Proceedings., 1995 INRIA/IEEE Symposium on. https://doi.org/10.1109/ETFA.1995.496688Llopis-Albert, C., Rubio, F., Valero, F. (2015). Improving productivity using a multi-objective optimization of robotic trajectory planning. Journal of Business Research 68, 1429-1431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.01.027Llopis-Albert, C., Palacios-Marqués, D. (2016). Applied Mathematical Problems in Engineering. Multidisciplinary Journal for Education 3(2), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.4995/muse.2016.6679Llopis-Albert, C., Merigó, J.M., Xu, Y., Liao, H. (2017). Application of Fuzzy Set/Qualitative Comparative Analysis to Public Participation Projects in Support of the EU Water Framework Directive. Water Environment Research, 89.Mendel, J. M.; Korjani, M. M. (2012). Charles Ragin's Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) Used for Linguistic Summarizations. Inf. Sci., 202, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2012.02.039Mendel, J. M., Korjani, M. M. (2013). Theoretical Aspects of Fuzzy Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA). Inf. Sci., 237, 137-161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2013.02.048Meyer, A. D., Tsui, A.S. and Hinings, C.R. (1993). Configurational approaches to organizational analysis. Academy of Management Journal, 36(6), 1175-1195.Quine, W. V. (1952). The problem of simplifying truth functions. The American Mathematical Monthly, 59(8), 521-531. https://doi.org/10.1080/00029890.1952.11988183Pillac, V., Gendreau, M., Guéret, C., Medaglia, A.L. (2013). A review of dynamic vehicle routing problems. European Journal of Operational Research 225, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2012.08.015Ragin, C. C. (2008). Redesigning social inquiry: Fuzzy sets and beyond. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. https://doi.org/10.7208/chicago/9780226702797.001.0001Sarker, B.R., Gurav, S.S. (2005). Route planning for automated guided vehicles in a manufacturing facility. International Journal of Production Research 43(21), 4659-4683. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020754050014080

Identifying the configurations leading to the central position in the inter-country research collaboration network: Evidence from tracking configurations over time with fsQCA

During the last two decades, less than 10% of countries have had the necessary capacities for high participation in international research activities. These countries have occupied central positions in the inter-country research collaboration network. This study, using the theoretical framework of the social system, tried to understand which subsystems were involved in achieving the central position. Based on the theoretical model of the research, an empirical study was conducted using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to identify the political, economic, social, and cultural factors that simultaneously led to the central position in the inter-country research collaboration network from 2002 to 2017. Data was analyzed through two novel methodological strategies: fuzzy-set ideal type analysis and strategy of multiple periods, single fsQCA. The results indicated the existence of twenty types of central countries and four causal configurations leading to the central position. This study concludes that in liberal democratic states, at least two political and economic subsystems exist. In non-liberal democratic states, at least three political, economic, and social subsystems must intervene to achieve the central position. By identifying causal configurations leading to the central position through the social system framework and strategies of tracking configurations over time with fsQCA, this study contributes to the literature on international research collaboration. It also offered suggestions to improve the semi-peripheral countries' position

Corporate social responsibility in higher education : a study of the institutionalisation of CSR in Malaysian public universities

Internationally, the tertiary education sector has faced strong institutional pressures to embrace Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). In Malaysia, the government mandated CSR in 2009 and universities had to comply with the directive to adopt CSR. Even though many universities had been involved in various forms of CSR before the directive, the coercive pressure from government accelerated the speed of adoption and led to the institutionalisation of CSR in the sector. Taking an organisation-centric perspective, this study aims to empirically describe the institutionalisation by investigating internal university contexts, university approaches to institutionalisation (determined by degree of pace and degree of stability), the role of initial drivers for CSR, and university’ research performance on CSR outcomes (conceptualised as benefits from CSR and quality of the CSR reporting). The study is based on in-depth case studies in 6 universities. It uses 2011-2015 data from two external sources: data on university research performance and university CSR reports. Using qualitative and configurational analyses, a set of propositions about CSR institutionalisation is formulated. The findings suggest that high levels of research performance lead to lower levels of benefits from CSR and quality of reporting; the higher degree of stability of CSR in organisations leads to higher benefits from CSR; the leading (following) nature of the initial driver to CSR leads to the higher (lower) quality of CSR reporting; the higher degree of maturity of CSR leads to higher quality of CSR reporting; the fast (slow) degree of pace leads to higher (lower) quality of CSR reporting. The study contributes to the literature and practice in several ways. The study provides an understanding of the institutionalisation of CSR in public universities in Malaysia and more specifically examines the institutionalisation at the organisational level. Therefore, it contributes to the literature by scrutinizing the “what” and “how” of the institutionalisation process in Malaysian universities. The findings of the study will be useful for further processes related to CSR adoption and institutionalisation of the higher education sector and individual universities – perhaps also including the public sector in general. The study further benefits university management, the Ministry of Higher Education and other practitioners. In addition, the results of the study add an insightful knowledge to the literature on interventions and improvements in higher education institutions in Malaysia