628 research outputs found

    Externalities and complementarities in platforms and ecosystems: From structural solutions to endogenous failures

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    Platforms and ecosystems provide structures for constellations of economic actors to engage and interact as they seek to create and capture value. We consider how the constructs of platforms and ecosystems relate and explore why they have become more ubiquitous by focusing on the nature of their value-add. We propose that they emerge as a response to distinct market failures, which we identify, and we explain which specific externalities they help overcome. We also identify post-hoc endogenous functional and distributional failures that platforms and ecosystems, in turn, generate. We discuss implications for theory and practice

    Digital Innovations for a Circular Plastic Economy in Africa

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    Plastic pollution is one of the biggest challenges of the twenty-first century that requires innovative and varied solutions. Focusing on sub-Saharan Africa, this book brings together interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder perspectives exploring challenges and opportunities for utilising digital innovations to manage and accelerate the transition to a circular plastic economy (CPE). This book is organised into three sections bringing together discussion of environmental conditions, operational dimensions and country case studies of digital transformation towards the circular plastic economy. It explores the environment for digitisation in the circular economy, bringing together perspectives from practitioners in academia, innovation, policy, civil society and government agencies. The book also highlights specific country case studies in relation to the development and implementation of different innovative ideas to drive the circular plastic economy across the three sub-Saharan African regions. Finally, the book interrogates the policy dimensions and practitioner perspectives towards a digitally enabled circular plastic economy. Written for a wide range of readers across academia, policy and practice, including researchers, students, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), digital entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and multilateral agencies, policymakers and public officials, this book offers unique insights into complex, multilayered issues relating to the production and management of plastic waste and highlights how digital innovations can drive the transition to the circular plastic economy in Africa. The Open Access version of this book, available at https://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license

    An empirical investigation of the relationship between integration, dynamic capabilities and performance in supply chains

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    This research aimed to develop an empirical understanding of the relationships between integration, dynamic capabilities and performance in the supply chain domain, based on which, two conceptual frameworks were constructed to advance the field. The core motivation for the research was that, at the stage of writing the thesis, the combined relationship between the three concepts had not yet been examined, although their interrelationships have been studied individually. To achieve this aim, deductive and inductive reasoning logics were utilised to guide the qualitative study, which was undertaken via multiple case studies to investigate lines of enquiry that would address the research questions formulated. This is consistent with the author’s philosophical adoption of the ontology of relativism and the epistemology of constructionism, which was considered appropriate to address the research questions. Empirical data and evidence were collected, and various triangulation techniques were employed to ensure their credibility. Some key features of grounded theory coding techniques were drawn upon for data coding and analysis, generating two levels of findings. These revealed that whilst integration and dynamic capabilities were crucial in improving performance, the performance also informed the former. This reflects a cyclical and iterative approach rather than one purely based on linearity. Adopting a holistic approach towards the relationship was key in producing complementary strategies that can deliver sustainable supply chain performance. The research makes theoretical, methodological and practical contributions to the field of supply chain management. The theoretical contribution includes the development of two emerging conceptual frameworks at the micro and macro levels. The former provides greater specificity, as it allows meta-analytic evaluation of the three concepts and their dimensions, providing a detailed insight into their correlations. The latter gives a holistic view of their relationships and how they are connected, reflecting a middle-range theory that bridges theory and practice. The methodological contribution lies in presenting models that address gaps associated with the inconsistent use of terminologies in philosophical assumptions, and lack of rigor in deploying case study research methods. In terms of its practical contribution, this research offers insights that practitioners could adopt to enhance their performance. They can do so without necessarily having to forgo certain desired outcomes using targeted integrative strategies and drawing on their dynamic capabilities

    Current issues of the management of socio-economic systems in terms of globalization challenges

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    The authors of the scientific monograph have come to the conclusion that the management of socio-economic systems in the terms of global challenges requires the use of mechanisms to ensure security, optimise the use of resource potential, increase competitiveness, and provide state support to economic entities. Basic research focuses on assessment of economic entities in the terms of global challenges, analysis of the financial system, migration flows, logistics and product exports, territorial development. The research results have been implemented in the different decision-making models in the context of global challenges, strategic planning, financial and food security, education management, information technology and innovation. The results of the study can be used in the developing of directions, programmes and strategies for sustainable development of economic entities and regions, increasing the competitiveness of products and services, decision-making at the level of ministries and agencies that regulate the processes of managing socio-economic systems. The results can also be used by students and young scientists in the educational process and conducting scientific research on the management of socio-economic systems in the terms of global challenges

    Knowledge loss in software development

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    Knowledge loss is identified in knowledge management literature as an inability to capture new knowledge or retain existing knowledge. Knowledge loss implies losing strategic advantage in knowledge intensive organizations. As knowledge intensive organizations, health technology companies, specifically businesses producing quality data software and data analytics, are exposed to many risks of knowledge loss. Issues such as low productivity have been reported from other fields of business following from knowledge loss. It is to be examined what are the effects of knowledge loss on software and data development (SWDD) process. The aim of this research was to investigate how the product development process of a quality data and health care software company is affected by unintentional knowledge loss. This was accomplished by exploring the knowledge loss incidents, the knowledge at risk, and the consequences of knowledge loss. Data collecting was done by an interview, a questionnaire and searching case company documentation. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in analyzing the empirical material. Furthermore, a knowledge loss risk model (KLRM) was created and applied to the SWDD process in the case company. Knowledge loss incidents uncovered were related to documentation, expertise, master data, overall process, client specificities, integrations, specifications. The knowledge at risk was found to be technical expertise, technical product knowledge, general process knowledge, technical customer knowledge, business and management knowledge, and customer related knowledge. Knowledge loss consequences were inefficiency, faulty products, customer dissatisfaction, and cause-and-effect. KLRM provided with a complete set of steps to be integrated to the production process and to evaluate and mitigate risks of knowledge loss. As a conclusion, knowledge loss was considered to affect the SWDD process in several ways and be a factor in efficiency and quality issues. This work contributes to the knowledge loss research from the viewpoint of software development process quality. In addition, the case company will benefit from the performed evaluation of knowledge loss in the SWDD process. As a practical implication, KLRM could be regularly applied to the SWDD process of the case company to continue identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks of knowledge loss. KLRM may be adapted to be applied to other software development processes as well

    Functional space-time properties of team synergies in high-performance football

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    This thesis aimed to investigate the performance of high-level teams in football, through the analysis of the interactions of their players in the context of the game, as these interactions result in functional effects that could not otherwise be achieved (synergies). From a spatial point of view, we argue that the understanding of collective “payoffs” emerging from players’ interactions and their behavioural patterns, can be accomplished through ”Delaunay triangulations” and consequent ”Voronoi diagrams”. Analysing the positional data (22 players and the ball) in 20 games of the French premier league, in this thesis we essentially sought to focus on territorial dominance as a variable that potentially captures the spatial affordances perceived by players. Whether from a collective global point of view or from a perspective of the local interactions that arise in the game landscape. Supported by the ecological dynamics and the synergism hypothesis, in this thesis we begin by demonstrating the existing connection between the territorial dominance of a team and the offensive effectiveness, as well as the absence of temporal overlap between the ball possession status and territorial dominance. Similarly, we also demonstrated that the space dominance of each player, which contributes to the territorial dominance of the team as a whole, is constrained by the team’s formation and the role assumed by each player in this collective framework. In order to understand the dynamics of interactions between players and the functional effects that come from it, we then focus on two tasks that are related to collective performance: the pass and the shot. Reflecting on the need to find methods that capture how the distribution of players on the pitch influences the functional degrees of freedom of a team as a whole and the passing opportunities that emerge from it. And, at the level of finishing situations, how the dominance of space can be included in the quantification of the value that each player assigns to occupy a certain place in the game landscape, and which is at the basis of their decision-making (shoot or pass the ball to another teammate possibly better ”positioned”). In sum, through the initial conceptual framework and the applied studies, we argue that the analysis of team performance should focus on the functional synergies that result from interactions between players. In this way, we demonstrate, through some examples, how the methods and conclusions taken from this thesis can be applied in practice by football coaches.Esta tese teve como objetivo investigar a performance de equipas de alto nível no futebol, através da análise das interações dos seus jogadores no contexto do jogo pois daí resultam efeitos funcionais que apenas são atingidos através dessas mesmas interações (sinergias). De um ponto de vista espacial, defendemos que o estudo glocal das interações entre os jogadores para a compreensão do rendimento coletivo, pode ser realizado através de “triangulações de Delaunay” e consequentes “diagramas de Voronoi”. Analisando os dados posicionais dos 22 jogadores e da bola, em 20 jogos da primeira liga francesa, nesta tese procurámos essencialmente nos focar sobre o domínio territorial enquanto variável que capta potencialmente as affordances espaciais percebidas pelos jogadores. Seja de um ponto de vista global coletivo, seja numa perspetiva das interações locais que surgem na paisagem de jogo. Suportados pela dinâmica ecológica e pela hipótese do sinergismo, nesta tese começamos por demonstrar a ligação existente entre o domínio territorial das equipas e a sua efetividade ofensiva, bem como a inexistência de uma sobreposição temporal entre a posse de bola e esse domínio. De igual forma, também demonstrámos que o domínio do espaço de cada jogador, que contribui para o domínio territorial da equipa no seu todo, é constrangido pelo sistema de jogo das equipas e pelo papel assumido por cada jogador neste referencial coletivo. No sentido de compreender a dinâmica das interações entre os jogadores e os efeitos funcionais que daí advêm, focamo-nos seguidamente em duas tarefas que estão relacionadas com a performance coletiva: o passe e o remate. Refletindo sobre a necessidade de encontrar métodos que captem de que forma a distribuição dos jogadores em campo influencia os graus de liberdade funcionais de uma equipa no seu todo e as oportunidades de passe que daí emergem. E, ao nível das situações de finalização, de que forma o domínio do espaço poderá ser incluído na quantificação do valor que cada jogador atribui a ocupar um determinador espaço na paisagem de jogo e que está na base da sua tomada de decisão (rematar ou passar a bola para outro colega eventualmente melhor “posicionado”). Em suma, através do enquadramento conceptual inicial e dos estudos aplicados, defendemos que o estudo da performance das equipas deverá se centrar nas sinergias funcionais que resultam das interações entre os jogadores. Desta forma, demonstramos, através de alguns exemplos, como é que os métodos e ilações retirados desta tese poderão ser aplicados na prática pelos treinadores de futebol

    Politiques des architectures numériques. Cheminements ethnographiques dans la conception d'alternatives à la centralisation des données

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    La thèse porte sur les architectures des systèmes et plateformes numériques dont elle s’attache à montrer la portée politique. Elle s'appuie sur un travail de terrain d'un an et demi dans le secteur agricole suisse, où deux projets de plateformes numériques sectorielles pour la gestion des données, l'une centralisée et l'autre distribuée, se sont opposés. Elle comprend cinq articles. Le 1er présente la démarche d’enquête, celle d'un discours non pas sur, mais avec les acteurs de terrain, dont l'ambition est de contribuer à la critique du discours des sciences sociales. Les articles 2 à 4 décrivent l'argument principal de la thèse. Les architectures des systèmes numériques sont politiques parce qu'elles incarnent des structures de gouvernance (article 2). Les architectures sont également politiques dans le sens où elles peuvent être utilisées pour favoriser ou prévenir des asymétries dans les relations de dépendance entre les acteurs appelés à utiliser ces systèmes (article 3). Enfin, elles sont politiques dans le sens où elles peuvent perturber les pratiques associées aux données des acteurs, jusqu'à menacer leur autonomie (article 4). Le 5ème et dernier article revient sur la notion d'architecture numérique et montre la portée d'une perspective processuelle sur celle-ci. L'originalité des contributions de la thèse réside dans cette perspective processuelle et sectorielle des architectures numériques. Elle ouvre sur un questionnement d'actualité sur le rôle des plateformes, et en particulier des plateformes alternatives, c'est-à-dire ne reposant ni sur la centralisation ni sur la standardisation des données, pour la constitution d'infrastructures informationnelles. -- The thesis focuses on the architectures of digital systems and platforms and explores their political significance. It is based on a year and a half of fieldwork in the Swiss agricultural sector, where two sectoral digital platform projects for data management, one centralised and the other distributed, were opposed. It consists of five articles. The first presents the research approach: a discourse not on, but with the actors in the field, whose ambition is to contribute to the critique of the social science discourse. Articles 2 to 4 describe the main argument of the thesis. The architectures of digital systems are political because they embody structures of governance (article 2). Architectures are also political in the sense that they can be used to promote or prevent asymmetries in the dependency relations between the actors called upon to use these systems (article 3). Finally, they are political in the sense that they can disrupt the practices associated with data of actors, to the point of threatening the latter’s autonomy (article 4). The fifth and last article returns to the notion of digital architecture and discusses the scope of its processual perspective. The originality of the contributions of the thesis lies in this processual and sectoral perspective of digital architectures. It opens up a questioning of the role of platforms for the constitution of information infrastructures, and in particular of alternative platforms, i.e., those that do not rely on the centralisation or the standardisation of data
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