Encouraging small firm up-take of SCM using education: a future research agenda

The success of supply chain management (SCM) practices often depends on small firms in the supply chain adopting these practices, yet they are often reluctant to do so. The existing literature mostly explores SCM adoption barriers rather than approaches to encourage adoption. This paper argues that an educational perspective has promise, and proposes a research agenda which should guide future studies by all researchers studying small firm SCM up-take. The agenda encompasses the diversity of small firms, the major educational players, appropriate types of education approaches and the theoretical framework to underpin this research. The paper then gives an example of how this research agenda can be applied to a specific research project which will explore the impact of the Supply Chain Knowledge Centre (SCKC), a state of the art SCM education facility developed by GS1 Australia, on small firm SCM up-take.<br /

Green IT adoption via virtualization

Dissertação apresentada como requisito parcial para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Estatística e Gestão de Informação, especialização em Estudos de Mercado e Gestão de Relacionamento com o ClienteThis study attempts to test and validate the theoretical framework proposed by Bose and Luo (2011) that identifies and examines the factors that contribute to the assessment of a firm’s readiness to go green via IT-enable virtualization. The conceptual framework is based on three theoretical foundations: (1) technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework; (2) process virtualization theory (PVT); and (3) diffusion of innovation (DOI) theory. To test the framework, data were collected from 251 firms in Portugal and partial least square (PLS) was used to estimate the research model. The study found that environmental context (i.e., competition intensity and regulatory support) influences Green IT adoption more than the technological and organizational contexts. The research also confirmed that the pre-stage of adoption (i.e., Green IT initialization) influences the formal stage of adoption (i.e., Green IT integration), which in turn influences the post-adoption stage (i.e., Green IT maturation). As sustainable products and practices become increasingly relevant, the study adds new knowledge to this emergent area of IS research and provides valuable insights to IS managers and decision makers.Este estudo pretende testar e validar o modelo teórico proposto por Bose e Luo (2011), o qual identifica e analisa os factores que contribuem para a avaliação por parte das empresas da sua capacidade de adoptar tecnologias de informação sustentáveis (Green IT) através da virtualização. O modelo copceptual é baseado em três fundamentos teóricos: (1) contexto de inovação tecnológica (TOE framework), (2) teoria do processo de virtualização (PVT theory) e (3) difusão da inovação (DOI). Para testar o modelo, foram recolhidos dados de 251 empresas que operam em Portugal e posteriormente estimado o modelo através da metodologia de mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS). Através do estudo concluiu-se que contexto externo à empresa (ou seja, a intensidade da concorrência e o apoio regulatório) influencia mais a adopção de TI sustentáveis que os contextos tecnológico e organizacional. O estudo também confirmou que a fase de pré-adopção (i.e., inicialização de TI sustentáveis) influencia a fase formal de adopção (ou seja, a integração de TI sustentáveis), que por sua vez influencia a fase de pós-adopção (i.e., maturação de TI sustentáveis). Com os produtos e as práticas sustentáveis a tornarem-se cada vez mais relevantes, este estudo acrescenta novos conhecimentos a esta área emergente de Sistemas de Informação e fornece informações valiosas tanto para gestores de sistemas de informação como para decisores (e.g., politicos, empresariais, etc.)

Forming relationship commitments to online communities: The role of social motivations

[[abstract]]Although administrators of online communities (OCs) may focus on improving their OCs through upgrading technology and enhancing the usability of their OCs to attract additional users, the level of OC participation may be associated with social motives. The purpose of this study is to understand how social motivations (that is, network externalities and social norms) affect members committed to OCs. This study tests the hypotheses on data collected from 396 undergraduate students. Data analyses show that network externalities and social norms directly influence social interaction ties, which subsequently results in commitment toward a community. Social norms also directly influence relationship commitments to a community. The results provide insights into how social motivations lead to commitment to an OC, reminding OC administrators to encourage member commitment to the OC from the perspective of social motivations.[[notice]]補正完畢[[incitationindex]]SSCI[[booktype]]紙本[[booktype]]電子

Relationship of supply chain capabilities and supply chain technology adoption towards supply chain operational performance in textile and apparel industry

In today’s dynamic business environment, competition is no longer between firms, but between supply chains. The supply chain dependency leads the business focused on supply chain performance. Considering the importance given to the third industrial master plan by the Malaysia government, current supply chain environment accentuated the need of supply chain technology adoption to facilitate supply chain management. To explain the concerns, this study examined the impact of supply chain capabilities namely, relational capability, information technology capability, and organizational culture capability on supply chain operational performance and supply chain technology adoption. This study also examines the successive impact of supply chain technology adoption on supply chain operational performance and investigates whether supply chain technology adoption mediates supply chain capabilities and performance relationship under study. In order to achieve the research objectives, a two-step approach namely quantitative research method and a triangulation research approach are necessitated. 201 survey questionnaires were distributed to respondents in Malaysian textile and apparel organizations. 121 usable responses representing 60% response rate were empirically tested through structural equation modeling by using SPSS and SmartPLS. Research findings revealed that relational capability, organizational culture capability, and supply chain technology adoption contributed to firm’s supply chain operational performance, whereas, information technology capability was insignificant. The findings further revealed that supply chain capabilities have a positive influence to supply chain technology adoption. The findings also revealed a significant mediation effect of supply chain technology adoption in the model under study. A triangulation research approach was employed through face-to-face interviews with four industry practitioners to get their in-depth experiences and perceptions on the model under study. ATLAS.ti results showed that developed model had achieved agreement of industry experts with the suggestion of two emerging terms (human support and work experience) as moderators for future study on the model. Limitations and recommendations for future study are discussed

Η συμβολή του Μάρκετινγκ και των Δικτυακών Εξωτερικοτήτων στην Ηλεκτρονική Διακυβέρνηση

Η παρούσα διπλωματική εργασία αφορά σε μία προσπάθεια εμβάθυνσης, έρευνας και ανάλυσης της τάσης ενστερνισμού της ηλεκτρονικής διακυβέρνησης. Σε συνέχεια ενδελεχούς μελέτης των σχετικών βιβλιογραφικών αναφορών και λαμβάνοντας υπόψη το υφιστάμενο θεωρητικό υπόβαθρο προτείνεται η δημιουργία ενός μοντέλου ενστερνισμού της ηλεκτρονικής διακυβέρνησης. Με την προσθήκη τριών νέων δομικών στοιχείων ήτοι, της διάδοσης από στόμα σε στόμα, των ολοκληρωμένων επικοινωνιών Μάρκετινγκ και των δικτυακών εξωτερικοτήτων, πραγματοποιείται επέκταση αυτού. Αρχικά, προσεγγίζεται σε θεωρητικό επίπεδο, σφαιρικά, η έννοια της ηλεκτρονικής διακυβέρνησης. Στη συνέχεια, βάσει της βιβλιογραφίας αναλύονται κάθε ένας από τους προτεινόμενους παράγοντες του μοντέλου και ακολουθεί η τελική διατύπωσή του. Προκειμένου να ελεγχθεί καθορίζονται εφτά υποθέσεις και κάθε μια συνδέεται με μία ή περισσότερες ερωτήσεις, που απαρτίζουν τα δημιουργηθέντα για αυτό το λόγο, ερωτηματολόγια. Ακολουθεί, η συμπλήρωση και η συλλογή τους από δείγμα είκοσι δύο ατόμων. Η αξιολόγησή του, στη συνέχεια, πραγματοποιείται μέσω περιγραφικής στατιστικής και πιο συγκεκριμένα με τη χρήση κατανομών συχνοτήτων. Συμπερασματικά αναλύεται η θετική σχέση της τάσης ενστερνισμού της ηλεκτρονικής διακυβέρνησης με: α) τη διαδικασία διάδοσης σχολίων από στόμα σε στόμα σχετικά με τη χρήση της, β) την ύπαρξη ενημέρωσης των πολιτών σχετικά με τα οφέλη και τον τρόπο χρήσης της, γ) την ύπαρξη όλο και περισσότερων χρηστών. Επιπροσθέτως, δύο εκ των προτεινόμενων υποθέσεων απορρίπτονται βάσει της αξιολόγησης.The main objective of this thesis is to analyze and observe in depth, e-Government’s intention to adopt. Based on literature review and relevant theory, a model of intention to adopt electronic Government is proposed. Three new structural elements are added in an existing model. Word of mouth, integrated Marketing communications and network externalities. The study analyzes the following issues. Initially, e-Government is approached in theoretical level. Furthermore, using the existing bibliography the three new elements are analyzed, before the final model to be structured. In chapter three, the model is tested and evaluated with the use of seven hypotheses, which correspond to an appropriately defined questionnaire. A sample of twenty two (22) people was interviewed. The model’s evaluation is analyzed via descriptive statistics and more specifically by using frequencies. Findings suggest that (a) word of mouth, (b) existence of suitable information on e-Government’s benefits and usage and (c) increasing users’ number, have a positive impact on e-Government. On the contrary, two of the proposed hypothesis is rejected after evaluation, (a) negative relationship between e-Government and negative word of mouth (b) positive relationship between e-Government and social networks

The impact of mobile telephony services on performance outcomes of micro-businesses in developing economies: with evidence from micro-business communities in Afghanistan and Cameroon

This thesis reports on a study conducted to investigate the relationship between the integration of mobile telephony services into micro-business processes and perceived enhanced business performance in a developing economy context, with detailed evidence drawn from a sample of 210 micro-businesses in Afghanistan and Cameroon. The research conceptualises, operationalises, and empirically tests an eclectic research model which integrates theory from the literature on the adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), on information economics, on strategic management, on entrepreneurship, and on small business growth and business performance. The research data was collected through a questionnaire, and call data extracted from the mobile phone activity-logs of micro-business owner-managers. This data was supplemented by the use of carefully-chosen photographs. The collected data was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling Techniques (SEM) with the help of AMOS 17 and SPSS statistical packages. The study also used Latent Visual Data Analysis (LVDA) to corroborate the statistical outcomes of this analysis. The results of this study identified the ‘integration of mobile telephony services into micro-business operations’, the ‘entrepreneurial competence of micro-business owner-managers’ and the ‘micro-business environment’ as having a direct influence on perceived enhanced business performance because of their potential to enable substantial cost savings, provide greater integration of the internal and external environments of the business, increase operational flexibility and reduce information asymmetries. The results also identified that ‘micro-business environments’ in Afghanistan and Cameroon tend to have a negative relationship with enhanced business performance if not moderated by the use of mobile telephony services. Finally, given the importance of micro-businesses in stimulating economic growth in developing economies and their relatively high failure rates, and because of the fact that many micro-businesses perceive that the cost of mobile telephony services are ‘high-to-very high’, this research provides greater opportunity for a discussion of the kinds of intervention strategies that could be used to improve the business integration of mobile telephony services and could therefore enhanced business performance

Estimation Models for the adoption and use of information technology: internet-related technologies at firm level in the Portuguese and European context

Doutoramento em Gestão da Informação, especialização em Tecnologias de InformaçãoNowadays it is consensual that information technology (IT) has a significant effect in the productivity of firms. However, this contribution can only be accomplishe if, and when, the new IT are widely spread and used. Understanding the determinants of adoption and use is a fundamental question, not only for economists, but also for society in general.(...

The impact of mobile telephony services on performance outcomes of micro-businesses in developing economies : with evidence from micro-business communities in Afghanistan and Cameroon

This thesis reports on a study conducted to investigate the relationship between the integration of mobile telephony services into micro-business processes and perceived enhanced business performance in a developing economy context, with detailed evidence drawn from a sample of 210 micro-businesses in Afghanistan and Cameroon. The research conceptualises, operationalises, and empirically tests an eclectic research model which integrates theory from the literature on the adoption and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs), on information economics, on strategic management, on entrepreneurship, and on small business growth and business performance. The research data was collected through a questionnaire, and call data extracted from the mobile phone activity-logs of micro-business owner-managers. This data was supplemented by the use of carefully-chosen photographs. The collected data was analysed using Structural Equation Modelling Techniques (SEM) with the help of AMOS 17 and SPSS statistical packages. The study also used Latent Visual Data Analysis (LVDA) to corroborate the statistical outcomes of this analysis. The results of this study identified the ‘integration of mobile telephony services into micro-business operations’, the ‘entrepreneurial competence of micro-business owner-managers’ and the ‘micro-business environment’ as having a direct influence on perceived enhanced business performance because of their potential to enable substantial cost savings, provide greater integration of the internal and external environments of the business, increase operational flexibility and reduce information asymmetries. The results also identified that ‘micro-business environments’ in Afghanistan and Cameroon tend to have a negative relationship with enhanced business performance if not moderated by the use of mobile telephony services. Finally, given the importance of micro-businesses in stimulating economic growth in developing economies and their relatively high failure rates, and because of the fact that many micro-businesses perceive that the cost of mobile telephony services are ‘high-to-very high’, this research provides greater opportunity for a discussion of the kinds of intervention strategies that could be used to improve the business integration of mobile telephony services and could therefore enhanced business performance.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

I've got a feeling: the effect of haptic information on the preferred location of purchase of guitars and stringed wooden instruments.

This thesis develops technology adoption and sensory information literatures through an evaluation of antecedents to consumers purchase location intention of Musical Instruments (MI). With the unique factor of instrument heterogeneity MI e-retail sales are information asymmetric propositions, where the consumer may make a sub-optimal purchase online having foregone the opportunity to experience the haptic information required to ascertain the instruments true quality. Despite a reticent adoption of MI e-retail from the traditional retail industry online MI sales are increasing, resulting in off-line marketplace contraction, thus investigation of consumers online MI purchase motivations is of value to the industry. The exploration of this topic uses a pragmatic, two-stage mixed-methods process incorporating inductive in-depth interviews with MI retail industry personnel, followed by deductive MI consumer based quantitative questionnaires.The reluctance to adopt e-retail is based on expertise-led aversion and expertise gap where key MI retail influencers attempt to enforce their own views on the correct way to purchase an instrument, rather than responding to consumer trends. This aversion was influenced by their own reliance on haptic information, coupled with knowledge of instrument heterogeneity and their level of musicianship. Consumer research conclusions identify that high haptic-need consumers, who tend to have greater ability and involvement, are more likely to purchase in-store whilst those with lower haptic needs are more willing to purchase MI online. Through the design and empirical testing of the Musical Instrument Need-for-Touch (MINFT) model numerous factors were identified as moderators to this basic supposition. The subsequent development of a MI consumer typology identified five distinct groups that respond to differing stimuli in relation to MI purchase location intention. These findings add to the academic discourse and enable MI retailers to enhance their offerings both in-store and online, leading to more effective targeting of their key customers