8,447 research outputs found
Adoption and Impact of Mobile-Integrated Business Processes - Comparison of Existing Frameworks and Analysis of their Generalization Potential
The integration of mobile workplaces in the (electronically mapped) intra-enterprise value chain is a major and still increasing corporate IT issue. Although the usage of mobile technologies for this purpose is far behind expectations and numerous failures can be observed,still little work has been done on theory building in this area. In this contribution we identify and compare existing frameworks for adoption and impact of mobile technology to support mobile business processes. The hypotheses underlying these frameworks are challenged with experiences from three long-term case studies which are diverse in industry, company size and other factors in order to scrutinize their potential for generalization. The outcome is a set of hypotheses that show robustness against variation of major parameters and thus may be suitable to serve as a basis for a generalized and unified framework on mobile-integrated business processes.
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HMD versus PDA: A comparative study of the user out-of-box experience
The out-of-box experience (OOBE) has been identified as a significant factor contributing to user perception and acceptance of products and technologies. Whilst there has been considerable emphasis placed on formalising methodological procedures for evaluating the OOBE and on the creation of positive user experiences through appropriate interfaces and applications, relatively little work has been undertaken examining how the OOBE is impacted when the experience itself covers a range of (possibly interconnected) devices. In this paper we report the results of an empirical study which examined the OOBE when a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and Head Mounted Device (HMD) were configured and then connected for inter-operability purposes. Our findings show that type of device has a considerable impact on the OOBE, with the ask of interconnecting devices having a detrimental effect on the OOBE. The OOBE, however, is in main unaffected by user type and gender
Sensory characteristics of flavored milk candies
A natural milk candy, composed mainly of milk powder, has not been commercially sold in the U. S. market. The milk candy we developed contains calcium and other essential nutrients, which make it a potential food supplement for adults and children. This thesis research was designed to characterize sensory properties of flavored milk candies and to determine the consumer sensory profile driving product acceptance and purchase intent. A descriptive trained panel (n=12) developed a lexicon and evaluated 3 milk candies (plain, chocolate, and coffee) in triplicate using a 15-cm line scale. 335 adult consumers evaluated acceptability of appearance, size/shape, texture, aroma, specific flavor, sweetness, and overall liking of three flavored milk candies. 92 children evaluated acceptability of overall liking of chocolate and plain flavored milk candies. Data were statistically analyzed. A lexicon included aroma notes: buttery, caramel, cheesy, and cooked; flavor notes: buttery, caramel, cooked, and sweet. Evaluations of the flavored milk candies revealed that they were different, based on descriptive sensory attributes. Cheesy aroma, buttery aroma and caramel aroma were discriminating attributes, while sweet and cooked flavors were least discriminating. Chocolate and coffee flavors may be used to mask strong undesirable cheesy and cooked flavor and aroma notes. Taste, specific flavor, overall liking and aroma were critical to acceptance of the products. Different flavors added to the milk candy caused a significant difference in the consumer responses toward sensory attributes evaluated. Acceptance of the three milk candies could be predicted by taste, specific flavor, sweetness, and overall liking. The purchase intent of flavored milk candies was positively influenced by flavor, overall liking, specific flavor and acceptance. Children liked the chocolate flavored milk candy better than the plain one. There were no significant differences in the way children and adults accepted chocolate and plain milk candies. Our survey indicated that consumers would be more willing to buy flavored milk candies enriched with calcium and minerals that promote health benefit. Further consumer sensory studies together with marketing research are needed to confirm the outcome from this study and to warrant the potential of this new product in the US market
Perception gaps and the adoption of information technology in the clinical healthcare environment
Implementation of information systems has lagged in many areas of clinical healthcare for a variety of reasons. Economics, data complexity and resistance are among the often quoted roadblocks. Research suggests that physicians play a major part in the adoption, use and diffusion of information technology (IT) in clinical settings. There are also other healthcare professionals, clinical and non-clinical, who play important roles in making decisions about the acquisition of information technology. In addition to these groups there are information technology professionals providing the services required within the healthcare field. Finally within this group are those IT professionals who have sufficient cross training to understand specific needs. Each member of these groups brings a different perspective to both needs assessments as well as implementation of clinical systems. This study considers the idea that there are preconceived differences of opinion of the information needs of clinical healthcare by the clinical community and the information technology professionals. Are these differences significant enough to create a barrier to implementation?
A questionnaire was developed from preliminary data to assess multiple parameters which could impact implementation of a clinical information technology solution. A Web of System Performance (WOSP) model was created to map each of the following eight areas of concern: functionality, usability, extendibility, connectivity, flexibility, reliability, privacy and security. Responses to the questions were related to professional roles, age and experience.
There were no differences seen in the perceived need for secure systems by either healthcare workers or IT professionals. The variance of perceived need was greatest among the various non-physician healthcare workers when compared to physicians or information technology professions. This was a consistent pattern for the otherparameters with the exception of the usability of the electronic health record. In this area all groups disagreed significantly. The study, though limited by its small sample, still suggests that the resistance by healthcare professionals is not a significant barrier to successful information technology implementation
Factors influencing students' acceptance of m-learning: An investigation in higher education
M-learning will play an increasingly significant role in the development of teaching and learning methods for higher education. However, the successful implementation of m-learning in higher education will be based on users' acceptance of this technology. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to study the factors that affect university students' intentions to accept m-learning. Based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) (Venkatesh et al., 2003), this study proposes a model to identify the factors that influence the acceptance of m-learning in higher education and to investigate if prior experience of mobile devices affects the acceptance of m-learning. A structural equation model was used to analyse the data collected from 174 participants. The results indicate that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, influence of lecturers, quality of service, and personal innovativeness were all significant factors that affect behavioural intention to use m-learning. Prior experience of mobile devices was also found to moderate the effect of these constructs on behavioural intention. The results of this research extend the UTAUT in the context of m-learning acceptance by adding quality of service and personal innovativeness to the structure of UTAUT and provide practitioners and educators with useful guidelines for designing a successful m-learning system
The private sector and family planning in developing countries
While a private sector exists in every society, the nature of its involvement in family planning service delivery varies widely across countries. This paper reviews the role of the private sector in family planning and discusses how much more of the demand for contraception can be met through the private sector, thereby reducing government's subsidies for contraception. Following the introduction, section 2 discusses the characteristics of private sector supply, with a strong emphasis on for-profit producers and distributors of contraceptives. Section 3 describes the distribution of users across sources and addresses the issue of pricing at public, for-profit and NGO sources of family planning services. In section 4 the experience to date with private sector approaches is outlined to provide a sense of what has been and is currently going on in public and and donor efforts to harness and collaborate with the private sector. Section 5 presents alternative means for government and donors to promote private sector activity in family planning, and suggests some of the costs of a greater private sector role. The final section summarizes and concludes the paper.Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Adolescent Health,Agricultural Knowledge&Information Systems,Health Economics&Finance,ICT Policy and Strategies
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Landscape Study in Wireless and Mobile Learning in the post-16 sector
In the post-16 sector (further and higher education, and adult and community learning) there is a need to understand how wireless and mobile technologies can contribute to improving the student experience of learning, and help institutions fulfil their missions in an age of incomparably fast technological change. In the context of this interest and growing need, a Landscape Study project was commissioned by JISC through the Innovation strand of the JISC e-Learning Programme in 2004-5. Our project aims were to take a birds-eye view of developments and practice in the UK and internationally, and to communicate our findings to a broad and varied audience. The Summary report is accompanied by 3 associated reports on 'Current Uses', 'Potential Uses' and 'Strategic Aspects'. (The four reports are available in one single document here.
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