Enabling customers engagement and collaboration for small and medium-sized enterprises in ubiquitous multi-channel ecosystems

Over the last few years, we have encountered an exponential growth in online communication opportunities. Organizations have more and more ways to connect and engage with their current or future customers. The existence of more opportunities in connecting to people can be both an enabler and a burden. Being present at a multitude of different channels requires the effective management of a very large number of adapted contents, formats, and interaction patterns fulfilling the communication and cooperation needs of distributed target groups. In this respect, we integrate existing fragmented communication and monitoring approaches into a full-fledged communication model as a basis for an adequate engagement approach. We describe applications of our approach in both the eTourism and manufacturing domain. In this paper, we introduce an approach that will enable communication, collaboration and value exchange of users through a multitude of online interaction possibilities based on the use of semantic technology. Finally, we also compare our approach with existing solutions with respect to the identified challenges in this subject.European Union (UE) EU FP7 284860 (MSEE

A Semantic-Based Platform for Efficient Online Communication

To achieve an effective and efficient way of disseminating information to ever growing communication channels, we propose an ap proach that separates the information and communication channels and interlinks them with an intermediary component. The separation enables various dimensions to reuse the information and communication chan nels in transactional communication. In this paper we introduce our on line communication platform, which is comprised of several components. The important roles of semantic web technologies to the platform are explained in detail, including a use case to show the contributions of se mantic web in supporting the effectiveness and efficiency of information dissemination.European Union (UE) EU FP7 no. 600663 (Prelida)European Union EU FP7 257641 (PlanetData)European Union (UE) EU FP7 284860 (MSEE

HOW TO ADD VALUE TO BUSINESS BY EMPLOYING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES AND TRANSFORMING MANAGEMENT APPROACHES

The aim of this study is to present the experience in the management of enterprises at different levels: from optimising business processes to introducing strategic business development. We have analysed the experience in creating digital metallurgy in Russia and present the experience in implementing a smart system for monitoring and diagnostics of line equipment at the Alchevsk metallurgical plant. The article reviews major issues related to the introduction of artificial intelligence systems so as to exercise automated control over production processes. These issues refer to the deterioration and depreciation of production assets which is caused by the reallocation of funds for the modernisation of production and the unpreparedness of staff for the introduction of new systems. Digital technologies provide new opportunities for managing corporate resources and initiating profitable activities. The article also reviews applying Design Thinking techniques and tools to the training and education of specialists for the digital economy. Entrepreneurial skills, out-of-the-box thinking, the ability to work in teams and to make decisions are essential competencies which must be acquired by students during their academic training so that businesses could be prepared for their digital transformation

Towards Semantic APIs for Research Data Services

Die schnelle Entwicklung der Internet- und Web-Technologie verändert den Stand der Technik in der Kommunikation von Wissen oder  Forschungsergebnissen. Insbesondere werden semantische Technologien, verknüpfte und offene Daten zu entscheidenden Faktoren für einen  erfolgreichen und effizienten Forschungsfortschritt. Zuerst definiere ich den Research Data Service (RDS) und diskutiere typische aktuelle  und mögliche zukünftige Nutzungsszenarien mit RDS. Darüber hinaus bespreche ich den Stand der Technik in den Bereichen semantische Dienstleistung und Datenanmerkung und API-Konstruktion sowie infrastrukturelle Lösungen, die für die RDS-Realisierung anwendbar sind. Zum Schluss werden noch innovative Methoden der Online-Verbreitung, Förderung und effizienten Kommunikation der Forschung diskutiert.Rapid development of Internet and Web technology is changing the state of the art in communication of knowledge, or results of research activities. Particularly, Semantic technology, linked and open data become key enablers for successful and efficient progress in research. At first, I define the research data service (RDS) and discuss typical current and possible future usage scenarios involving RDS. Further, I discuss the state of the art in the areas of semantic service and data annotation and API construction, as well as infrastructural solutions, applicable for RDS realisation. At last, innovative methods of online dissemination, promotion and efficient communication of research are discussed

Analysing and evaluating the task of automatic tweet generation: Knowledge to business

In this paper a study concerning the evaluation and analysis of natural language tweets is presented. Based on our experience in text summarisation, we carry out a deep analysis on user's perception through the evaluation of tweets manual and automatically generated from news. Specifically, we consider two key issues of a tweet: its informativeness and its interestingness. Therefore, we analyse: (1) do users equally perceive manual and automatic tweets?; (2) what linguistic features a good tweet may have to be interesting, as well as informative? The main challenge of this proposal is the analysis of tweets to help companies in their positioning and reputation on the Web. Our results show that: (1) automatically informative and interesting natural language tweets can be generated as a result of summarisation approaches; and (2) we can characterise good and bad tweets based on specific linguistic features not present in other types of tweets.This research work has been partially funded by the University of Alicante, Generalitat Valenciana, Spanish Government and the European Commission through the projects, “Tratamiento inteligente de la información para la ayuda a la toma de decisiones” (GRE12-44), “Explotación y tratamiento de la información disponible en Internet para la anotación y generación de textos adaptados al usuario” (GRE13-15), DIIM2.0 (PROMETEOII/2014/001), ATTOS (TIN2012-38536-C03-03), LEGOLANG-UAGE (TIN2012-31224), and SAM (FP7-611312)

Plan de Social Media Marketing 2.0 para la pyme

A pesar del gran uso de los medios sociales en las empresas para promocionar su actividad, aún existen limitadas investigaciones académicas sobre la planificación estratégica de planes de social media marketing. Una consecuencia es la gestión de los medios sociales por las empresas guiadas por la intuición o el ensayo y error. El presente trabajo ha sido creado para mostrar la importancia que tiene crear un plan de social media marketing en las empresas para el desarrollo de su actividad, siendo foco de estudio la metodología a seguir para crear el plan estratégico. El documento se enfoca a pymes que por desconocimiento o falta de tiempo, no prestan suficiente atención a esta rama del marketing, que actualmente cobra más importancia. Se presenta una alternativa que ayude a enfocar la forma en la que las empresas deben gestionar los medios sociales de forma que reporte valor. Se finalizará con una conclusión que aclare los beneficios de estructurar un plan de social media marketingUniversidad de Sevilla. Grado en Marketing e Investigación de Mercado

Information Technology Adoption by Small Businesses Owners

Small business owners need effective strategies to increase profitability. One such strategy is the adoption of information technology (IT). The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies used by small business enterprise (SBE) owners to implement IT solutions for increased profitability within 3 years of opening their business. The population consisted of 3 small business owners in Orange County Southern California who were profitable by their third year of business. The conceptual framework for this study was based upon general systems theory. Data for this study were collected through semistructured interviews and a review of company documents. Transcript review and member checking were included for validity and reliability purposes. Methodological triangulation, achieved through analysis of business plans, financial documents, and probability trends documents allowed identification of 4 emergent themes: Essential strategies small business owners use to implement IT solutions for increased profitability, the essential relationship between network orientation and successful IT implementation, the relationship between IT consultants and successful implementation, and the relationship between internal IT resources and successful implementation. The findings from this study could impact social change because when SBEs are profitable, SBE owners will contribute to the affluence of their workers, communities, local economies, and society

Exploring the Value of Technology Within Cross-Departmental Communications

While many midsized businesses have invested in technology to support business operations, most have not realized the potential value of using technology to collaborate cross-departmentally. There is a lack of knowledge concerning strategies for using technology to facilitate effective organizational communications, which has resulted in operating technology investments being made without corresponding investments in communication technologies. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to fill the knowledge gap concerning the impact of technology for cross-departmental communications. The theoretical foundation for this study was based on systems theory, organizational theory, and stakeholder theory. The key research question involved the impact that technology has on cross-departmental communications within a midsized business with between 250 and 500 employees. Using a case study approach, data were collected through 17 semi-structured interviews and 23 online surveys from 40 managers across diverse organizations. Applying a thematic process, data were coded and analyzed for themes and patterns. The emerging themes were technology enables effective communications, leadership impacts employee behavior relating to cross-departmental communications, and cross-departmental communications impacts organizational success. These results may assist leaders when instituting strategies to gain value from communication technologies. The implications for positive social change include the potential for managers to better understand the role of technology in relation to internal communications and introduce processes to improve communications and the methods used to communicate

Exploring Knowledge Management Practices in Service-Based Small Business Enterprises

Small business enterprises (SBEs) are significant contributors to business growth and employment in the United States, but despite governmental support, the failure rate of SBEs is high. Some small business leaders lack the critical management skills to detect or discover when underperformance in revenue-generation is due to gaps in organizational knowledge or business practices associated with managing knowledge assets. Guided by the knowledge-based view of the firm, the purpose of this multiple case study was to address that gap by exploring the skills needed by leaders to understand how deficiencies in their knowledge management practices contribute to underperformance. Semistructured interview data were collected from a sample of 10 small business leaders in the northeast and west. Data from publicly available documentation consisting of sales brochures, press releases, and participant company websites were also collected. Data analysis entailed using keyword frequency comparisons, coding techniques, and cluster analysis. The key themes indicate that the participants\u27 document management practices and misaligned core business practices impeded value creation. The recommended change in business practices for small business leaders is to formalize social engagement with customers, use document management tools, and adopt process management techniques. The implications for social change include mitigating the harmful effects of business failure on society associated with job loss, stress-related disabilities, and reduced charitable donations to groups serving disadvantaged citizens. The beneficiaries of this research include small business leaders, business practitioners, and policy makers