A Proposed Model for the Investigation of Imitation Behavior on ERP Adoption

In the proposed project, we will investigate the imitation effect on technology adoption using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems as an example. This approach will offer a completely new perspective on IT adoption as a less rational behavior, even for critical ERP investment at the organizational level. Along with this investigation of the imitation-adoption relationship, our research will evaluate the moderating effect of experience on imitation behavior. We believe that imitation behavior will be strongest when an organization is considering ERP for initial adoption. However, when an organization has accumulated „experience‟ of ERP over time, its adoption of subsequent ERP modules will probably follow a more rational decision process, as explained by traditional adoption theories

Frontiers in psychodynamic neuroscience

he term psychodynamics was introduced in 1874 by Ernst von Brücke, the renowned German physiologist and Freud’s research supervisor at the University of Vienna. Together with Helmholtz and others, Brücke proposed that all living organisms are energy systems, regulated by the same thermodynamic laws. Since Freud was a student of Brücke and a deep admirer of Helmholtz, he adopted this view, thus laying the foundations for his metapsychology. The discovery of the Default Network and the birth of Neuropsychoanalysis, twenty years ago, facilitated a deep return to this classical conception of the brain as an energy system, and therefore a return to Freud's early ambition to establish psychology as natural science. Our current investigations of neural networks and applications of the Free Energy Principle are equally ‘psychodynamic’ in Brücke’s original sense of the term. Some branches of contemporary neuroscience still eschew subjective data and therefore exclude the brain’s most remarkable property – its selfhood – from the field, and many neuroscientists remain skeptical about psychoanalytic methods, theories, and concepts. Likewise, some psychoanalysts continue to reject any consideration of the structure and functions of the brain from their conceptualization of the mind in health and disease. Both cases seem to perpetuate a Cartesian attitude in which the mind is linked to the brain in some equivocal relationship and an attitude that detaches the brain from the body -- rather than considering it an integral part of the complex and dynamic living organism as a whole. Evidence from psychodynamic neuroscience suggests that Freudian constructs can now be realized neurobiologically. For example, Freud’s notion of primary and secondary processes is consistent with the hierarchical organization of self-organized cortical and subcortical systems, and his description of the ego is consistent with the functions of the Default Network and its reciprocal exchanges with subordinate brain systems. Moreover, thanks to new methods of measuring brain entropy, we can now operationalize the primary and secondary processes and therefore test predictions arising from these Freudian constructs. All of this makes it possible to deepen the dialogue between neuroscience and psychoanalysis, in ways and to a degree that was unimaginable in Freud's time, and even compared to twenty years ago. Many psychoanalytical hypotheses are now well integrated with contemporary neuroscience. Other Freudian and post-Freudian hypotheses about the structure and function of the mind seem ripe for the detailed and sophisticated development that modern psychodynamic neuroscience can offer. This Research Topic aims to provide comprehensive coverage of the latest advances in psychodynamic neuroscience and neuropsychoanalysis. Potential authors are invited to submit papers (original research, case reports, review articles, commentaries) that deploy, review, compare or develop the methods and theories of psychodynamic neuroscience and neuropsychoanalysis. Potential authors include researchers, psychoanalysts, and neuroscientists

Towards competitive theorizing of strategy implementation process – empirical evidence from applying the RBV lens on implementation process

This study identified the core knowledge gap of a lack of competitive theorizing of strategy implementation (SIMP) in the processual and resource-based views of strategy. This gap exists due to tactical perception and relative inattention to variety in strategy implementation process and related competitive implications. It is argued that strategy process and the RBV perspectives can provide complementary insights necessary to move towards competitive theorizing of strategy implementation. A grounded research is conducted to compare how strategy implementation patterns explain implementation success and how those patterns explain heterogeneity in resources management in different firm types – foreign and indigenous. Content analysis of the interview data revealed significant heterogeneity in the strategy implementation process patterns and achieved implementation success. These SIMP process patterns are categorised based on the approach towards strategy implementation as a strategic phenomenon, firm’s type, and thrust of implementation process. Important sources of variations in implementation success emerged in the Competitive and Tactical implementing patterns. Three resources management activities emerged from the data and revealed important distinctions for the heterogeneous implementing patterns. The Tactical implementing patterns showed preference of strategic actors for use of internally available resources and acquisition of ready-made resources. The Competitive implementing patterns showed a balanced approach towards resources management by pursuing optimization of resources. These resources management heterogeneities are shaped by the SIMP process pattern and revealed implementation process performance, action timing and resources optimization as the key sources of competitiveness from strategy implementation. The empirical findings refute the notion that the role of strategy implementation is only to complement as an operational process without much competitive gains. This empirically challenges the conventional conceptions of implementation to adopt and institutionalize strategy and extends to the contribution of SIMP for strategy refinements to gain competitive gains. These findings strongly support that competitive theorizing of strategy implementation is a worthwhile scholarly pursuit via using the complementary views of strategy. Future research should build on this agenda of competitive theorizing of strategy implementation using other firm types, research settings and more micro level analysis

The International Advertising of Italian Food Products: An Empirical Study of the Made in Italy Effects on English-Speaking Consumers

openQuesta tesi esplora l'impatto del fenomeno "Made in Italy" sui consumatori di lingua inglese, principalmente nel Regno Unito e negli Stati Uniti. Con un'enfasi sull'importanza dei fattori culturali e personali, del Country-of-Origin effect e della lingua, lo studio mira a scoprire come i prodotti italiani vengano pubblicizzati all'estero per evocare un senso di lusso, eleganza, tradizione e artigianato. Attraverso un sondaggio empirico distribuito tra giugno e luglio 2023, in cui vengono utilizzate una pubblicità originale del marchio Gorgonzola DOP in inglese e una creata ad hoc in inglese e italiano, la ricerca esamina le percezioni dei consumatori e le connessioni emotive con l'etichetta "Made in Italy". Lo studio dimostra come la lingua italiana venga considerata dai consumatori un marcatore del Country-of-Origin effect, e come essa influenzi in positivo la percezione del prodotto pubblicizzato e il comportamento del consumatore. Si prevede che i risultati contribuiranno alla conoscenza del comportamento dei consumatori e del marketing internazionale, fornendo preziosi spunti alle aziende per sfruttare l'attrattiva dei prodotti italiani nei mercati di lingua inglese. Nel complesso, lo studio mira a approfondire la comprensione del marketing interculturale e del suo impatto sulle tendenze globali dei consumatori.This thesis explores the impact of the "Made in Italy" phenomenon on English-speaking consumers, primarily in the United Kingdom and the United States. With an emphasis on the importance of cultural and personal factors, the Country-of-Origin effect, and language, the study aims to uncover how Italian products are advertised abroad to evoke a sense of luxury, elegance, tradition, and craftsmanship. Through an empirical survey distributed between June and July 2023, featuring both an original advertisement for Gorgonzola DOP in English and a specially created one in English and Italian, the research examines consumers' perceptions and emotional connections with the "Made in Italy" label. The study demonstrates how the Italian language is considered by consumers as a marker of the Country-of-Origin effect and how it positively influences the perception of the advertised product and consumer behavior. It is expected that the results will contribute to the understanding of consumer behavior and international marketing, providing valuable insights for companies looking to leverage the appeal of Italian products in English-speaking markets. Overall, the study aims to deepen the understanding of intercultural marketing and its impact on global consumer trends

Measuring the level of supply chain robustness during construction mega-projects

Trop souvent, les mégaprojets sont complétés en retard et dépassent les budgets prévus. Néanmoins, il n’existe toujours pas de modèle unique, ni de cadre opératoire, ni de théorie holistique pouvant mesurer les performances et les productivités des divers activités lors de mégaprojets de construction. Une solution proposée par l’auteur de cette thèse est la formulation d'un artefact ou d'un design, appelé modèle de performance et de productivité de la construction (CPPM), qui intègre un cadre opératoire à partir des processus de la chaîne d'approvisionnement. Le modèle de performance et de productivité de la construction fait face à la problématique managériale avec la vision de développer une conception d’attributs et de facteurs clés qui rendrait l'industrie de la construction canadienne plus compétitive. Le cadre du modèle repose sur une approche de chaîne d’approvisionnement, et fournit des facteurs clés de succès en temps réel avec des attributs de performance et des mesures couvrant toutes les phases des mégaprojets. La recherche aux fils des ans a su évoluer grâce à la liberté d’adopter diverses méthodologies et d’étudier plusieurs théories. L’approche de la recherche en design-sciences a donc été choisie parce qu'elle englobe cette liberté académique dans le design managérial, l’approche théorique et l'environnement réel des mégaprojets. Le modèle “CPPM” a révélé que les attributs de performance et les facteurs clés de succès prédominant à l’artefact, étaient ceux reliés aux “EPCM Agility”, suivis des contrôles de coûts et ceux de la fiabilité des achats. L’auteur de cette thèse estime que la recherche entreprit lors de son doctorat a permis à la science de progresser. Cette thèse s'appuie sur ses sept constats liés à la gestion de mégaprojets, renforcée par quatre ans d’observations avec des experts de l’industrie, des entrevues semi-structurées et sondage, de même que la conception d’un modèle “CPPM” qui couvre toutes les phases et activités dans la gestion de mégaprojets. L’auteur a aussi établi un modèle qui est validé par une série de principes, de processus, d’évaluation, de contribution et de justification des connaissances, ainsi que l’originalité et l’inventivité d’un modèle qui est unique et novateur dans la littérature de la gestion de construction. Enfin, l’auteur conclut que l’artefact a atteint un niveau de cohérence que pour le chantier de construction sur lequel il a seulement été testé. Comprenant les limites du modèle, cette recherche offre à d’autres chercheurs l’occasion de renforcer ultérieurement la validité du modèle en le testant sur différents sites de construction.Abstract: Too often mega-projects are completed late and over budget. Nevertheless, there is no holistic model, nor any solid-proof framework, nor theories which measures performance and productivity pertaining to the construction activities. One solution proposed by the researcher, is the formulation of an artifact or design, known as the Construction Performance & Productivity Model (CPPM), which integrates a supply chain framework. The Construction Performance & Productivity Model seeks to attenuate the managerial problematic in the industry with the vision to develop a design that would make the Canadian construction industry more competitive. The framework of the model has a supply chain approach, provides real-time measurement with performance attributes and metrics that are pertinent to the construction industry. It is also friendly to users and covers all phases of construction mega-projects. The research over the years evolved from the freedom of adopting various methodologies and theories. The paradigm of Design-Science Research (DSR) was selected because it espouses this academic freedom in design, science and real-life environment. Through a Participant Observation (engineering phases) and Action Research (construction activities), using the SCOR Model as its base, enriched and minimised through a series of semi-structures interviews and one survey, the research found the most important performance attributes and metrics that performed best in the model (CPPM) were the ones belonging to the categories of EPCM Agility, followed by Project Controls and Procurement Reliability. The researcher believes this doctoral thesis has permitted the science to progress because its model (CPPM) relates its seven (7) constructs to megaprojects, reinforced by four (4) years of observations, is validated through a series of principles, processes, evaluation, contribution and justification knowledge. Moreover, the model’s originality and inventiveness are different from the ones found in construction literature. Finally, the researcher concludes the CPPM has achieved a level of consistency for the construction site it was only tested to it. Understanding the model’s limitations, this research offer opportunities to other scientists to further the model validity by testing it in different construction sites

ERP in SMEs : exploring ERP lifestyle cost issues

This thesis presents a study of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems lifecycle in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The majority of businesses and firms around the globe can be considered to be SMEs. Thus, SMEs are seen to be typical companies that are the cornerstone of most economies. Compared with large enterprises (LEs), SMEs have limited budgets and resources, and have a higher sensitivity to costs. Although ERP adoption is one of the most complex, costly, and biggest projects an enterprise can embark on, many factors lead SMEs to take such a decision. When SMEs take the first steps towards adopting an ERP system, they need to think about many things; first and foremost, they need to take into account the cost of adoption. Literature and professional reports show that a prevailing number of ERP adoption projects fail because of inaccurate or optimistic budgets and time schedules. In addition, many organizations have difficulty identifying the potential cost factors that could occur during their adoption projects Moreover, current mainstream cost management and estimation methods are inadequate in ERP adoptions settings. The purpose of this thesis is to explore and identify the cost factors and other cost estimation related issues that may occur when SMEs adopt ERP systems. Many researchers have argued that expected and potential benefits are influential during the budgeting process and investment evaluation, and should not be ignored. Thus, the investigation of benefits management and realization practices falls within the boundaries of this research. In order to identify cost factors associated with ERP adoption in SMEs, and SMEs practices and behaviours in relation to the estimation of costs and benefits, it is necessary to explore one main research question and its subset of questions.- What are the challenges to the management and estimation of costs and benefits within on-premise ERP adoption projects in SMEs? The ERP adoption term used in this thesis refers to the first five phases of the ERP lifecycle framework developed by Esteves and Pastor (2007), which denote the ERP introduction process. This process moves from the “adoption decision” through to go-live and maintenance, and evolution; however, it excludes the retirement phase. In order to understand and investigate the challenges in their perspective context, a qualitative exploratory research approach is adopted to answer there search question stated above. This PhD study was carried out through a combination of literature reviews, panels of experts, and case study research. The empirical part of the study encompasses a multiple case study, an experts’ panel, and one in-depth case study of ERP adoptions in four SMEs. All four organizations are privately owned Egyptian small and medium -sized enterprises. Besides the target organizations, the data collection process covered two ERP vendors (local and international), two implementation partners, two independent ERP and investment consultants, and eight participants on the experts’ panel. Data analysis was carried out in order to identify impending cost factors and challenges that SMEs may encounter when justifying and evaluating their investments and estimating their adoption budgets. This thesis has mainly adopted a six-phase ERP lifecycle framework. There search results are presented in six articles, which focused on the different lifecycle phases. The articles have been published in international peer reviewed conference proceedings and journals