The nature of crowdfunding in China: initial evidence

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to develop initial evidence about the nature and features of crowdfunding in China, given it is largely unregulated regulatory frameworks. Design/methodology/approach - The paper used extensive desk research using data collected from the public and private sectors, after which the data was analyzed parallel to existing academic literature, that is, institutional context by Bruton et al. (2014). This paper uncovered patterns of development, profiling crowdfunding platforms, examining the regulatory landscape and providing antecedents of successful crowdfunding projects in China. Findings - When the traditional financial markets are hard to reach, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) were starved for capital. Crowdfunding can play a major role in funding and risk sharing. It is an innovative and dynamic vehicle for MSMEs as well as enthusiastic investors in China. Since its initial introduction to China in 2009, crowdfunding has gained substantial popularity in a relatively short period. Currently, there is still not an identifiable guideline on how to delineate the significance of the crowdfunding platform. The development of crowdfunding in China faces a few unresolved key issues. As researchers exploring this phenomenon in new ways, crowdfunding platforms can be enhanced in a manner that benefits the capital seeker, investors and society as a whole. Originality/value - There is a dearth of information on start-up crowdfunding in Asia. With little data available to analyze, so this paper hopes to contribute to knowledge and provide valuable information to researchers and industry representations. Crowdfunding represents a potentially disruptive change in the way that new ventures are funded. This paper represents an initial analysis in the study of new ventures in China. Finally, the authors provide recommendations for entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers as well as researchers and practitioners with suggestions about yet unexplored avenues of research

Automated telephone communication systems for preventive healthcare and management of long-term conditions

Background Automated telephone communication systems (ATCS) can deliver voice messages and collect health-related information from patients using either their telephone’s touch-tone keypad or voice recognition software. ATCS can supplement or replace telephone contact between health professionals and patients. There are four different types of ATCS: unidirectional (one-way, non-interactive voice communication), interactive voice response (IVR) systems, ATCS with additional functions such as access to an expert to request advice (ATCS Plus) and multimodal ATCS, where the calls are delivered as part of a multicomponent intervention. Objectives To assess the effects of ATCS for preventing disease and managing long-term conditions on behavioural change, clinical, process, cognitive, patient-centred and adverse outcomes. Search methods We searched 10 electronic databases (the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials; MEDLINE; Embase; PsycINFO; CINAHL; Global Health; WHOLIS; LILACS; Web of Science; and ASSIA); three grey literature sources (Dissertation Abstracts, Index to Theses, Australasian Digital Theses); and two trial registries (www.controlled-trials.com; www.clinicaltrials.gov) for papers published between 1980 and June 2015. Selection criteria Randomised, cluster- and quasi-randomised trials, interrupted time series and controlled before-and-after studies comparing ATCS interventions, with any control or another ATCS type were eligible for inclusion. Studies in all settings, for all consumers/carers, in any preventive healthcare or long term condition management role were eligible. Data collection and analysis We used standard Cochrane methods to select and extract data and to appraise eligible studies. Main results We included 132 trials (N = 4,669,689). Studies spanned across several clinical areas, assessing many comparisons based on evaluation of different ATCS types and variable comparison groups. Forty-one studies evaluated ATCS for delivering preventive healthcare, 84 for managing long-term conditions, and seven studies for appointment reminders. We downgraded our certainty in the evidence primarily because of the risk of bias for many outcomes. We judged the risk of bias arising from allocation processes to be low for just over half the studies and unclear for the remainder. We considered most studies to be at unclear risk of performance or detection bias due to blinding, while only 16% of studies were at low risk. We generally judged the risk of bias due to missing data and selective outcome reporting to be unclear. For preventive healthcare, ATCS (ATCS Plus, IVR, unidirectional) probably increase immunisation uptake in children (risk ratio (RR) 1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18 to 1.32; 5 studies, N = 10,454; moderate certainty) and to a lesser extent in adolescents (RR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.11; 2 studies, N = 5725; moderate certainty). The effects of ATCS in adults are unclear (RR 2.18, 95% CI 0.53 to 9.02; 2 studies, N = 1743; very low certainty). For screening, multimodal ATCS increase uptake of screening for breast cancer (RR 2.17, 95% CI 1.55 to 3.04; 2 studies, N = 462; high certainty) and colorectal cancer (CRC) (RR 2.19, 95% CI 1.88 to 2.55; 3 studies, N = 1013; high certainty) versus usual care. It may also increase osteoporosis screening. ATCS Plus interventions probably slightly increase cervical cancer screening (moderate certainty), but effects on osteoporosis screening are uncertain. IVR systems probably increase CRC screening at 6 months (RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.25 to 1.48; 2 studies, N = 16,915; moderate certainty) but not at 9 to 12 months, with probably little or no effect of IVR (RR 1.05, 95% CI 0.99, 1.11; 2 studies, 2599 participants; moderate certainty) or unidirectional ATCS on breast cancer screening. Appointment reminders delivered through IVR or unidirectional ATCS may improve attendance rates compared with no calls (low certainty). For long-term management, medication or laboratory test adherence provided the most general evidence across conditions (25 studies, data not combined). Multimodal ATCS versus usual care showed conflicting effects (positive and uncertain) on medication adherence. ATCS Plus probably slightly (versus control; moderate certainty) or probably (versus usual care; moderate certainty) improves medication adherence but may have little effect on adherence to tests (versus control). IVR probably slightly improves medication adherence versus control (moderate certainty). Compared with usual care, IVR probably improves test adherence and slightly increases medication adherence up to six months but has little or no effect at longer time points (moderate certainty). Unidirectional ATCS, compared with control, may have little effect or slightly improve medication adherence (low certainty). The evidence suggested little or no consistent effect of any ATCS type on clinical outcomes (blood pressure control, blood lipids, asthma control, therapeutic coverage) related to adherence, but only a small number of studies contributed clinical outcome data. The above results focus on areas with the most general findings across conditions. In condition-specific areas, the effects of ATCS varied, including by the type of ATCS intervention in use. Multimodal ATCS probably decrease both cancer pain and chronic pain as well as depression (moderate certainty), but other ATCS types were less effective. Depending on the type of intervention, ATCS may have small effects on outcomes for physical activity, weight management, alcohol consumption, and diabetes mellitus. ATCS have little or no effect on outcomes related to heart failure, hypertension, mental health or smoking cessation, and there is insufficient evidence to determine their effects for preventing alcohol/ substance misuse or managing illicit drug addiction, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, HIV/AIDS, hypercholesterolaemia, obstructive sleep apnoea, spinal cord dysfunction or psychological stress in carers. Only four trials (3%) reported adverse events, and it was unclear whether these were related to the intervention

Analysis of used cars remanufacturing in the Philippines using rapid plant assessment

The used car market in the Philippines is growing steadily. There is increasing demand for used and remanufactured products. It opens the opportunity to small-medium sized remanufacturing enterprises in the country. The purpose of this study is to address the efficiency of Philippine remanufacturing operations in the used car market. Forty-two used car SMEs were successfully recruited to take part in the study. Interviews, field study and documentations were the methods employed for data collection. The study adopted the rapid plant assessment (RPA) to measure remanufacturing operations concerning the difficulty, cost, impact, effects in remanufacturing, leanness and best practice. The use of Kruskal-Wallis test and Wilcoxon signed rank test determined the leanness and best practice in the remanufacturing operations. This study presented an operational design and an avenue for future studies on remanufacturing in developing countries

フィリピン ジドウシャ サンギョウ ノ テイタイ ヨウイン

京都大学0048新制・課程博士博士(経済学)甲第14335号経博第356号新制||経||236(附属図書館)UT51-2009-D47京都大学大学院経済学研究科現代経済・経営分析専攻(主査)教授 塩地 洋, 教授 西牟田 祐二, 准教授 渡辺 純子学位規則第4条第1項該当Doctor of EconomicsKyoto UniversityDA

Effectiveness of food traceability system: Chinese consumer food purchase intention during the pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, food safety scandals were common issues. This situation resulted in the rapid development of food traceability systems (FTS), which create transparency in tracking food products from manufacturing to consumption. So, this study empirically tests the elements of FTS by integrating the information system success model (ISSM) of DeLone and McLane on Chinese consumers’ intention to purchase food using an FTS during a pandemic outbreak. Also, this study shows the significant mediating effect of perceived value, perceived safety, and perceived health benefits between the quality perspective of ISSM and purchase intention (PUI) as the dependent variable. This study provides insights for the further development of food traceability technologies

Challenges and factors influencing initial trust and behavioral intention to use mobile banking services in the Philippines

Purpose - This paper aims to assess the direct effects of antecedents of initial trust, the mediating effect of trust and the moderating effect of demographic variables on non-adopters’ behavioral intention to use mobile banking. Design/methodology/approach - The study tested the models of theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behavior to evaluate potential antecedents of trust (diffusion of trust, infrastructure quality, perceived costs, privacy and security) moderators (demographic variables) and mediators (initial trust) that will influence behavioral intention to use mobile banking. The Hayes’ Process Macro developed by Andrew F. Hayes (2013) was used as a statistical analysis in SPSS to estimates the path coefficients using multiple regression. The tool provides insights on the direct and indirect effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable through the existence of moderating variables and mediation variables. Findings - The results show that the non-adopters of mobile banking asserted that the antecedents of initial trust played a significant influence on behavioral intention to use online banking services. Originality/value - There is a dearth of literature addressing mobile banking in the Philippines. The first initial trust formation in internet banking using computer workstations and laptops in the Philippines was conducted by Chiu et al. (2016). This research fills in the gap by expanding and formulating a deeper understanding of the antecedents of initial trust that influence consumer behavioral intention that might be responsible for the slow diffusion of mobile banking services in the country. The results from this study will help financial institutions create a beneficial connection with consumers while alleviating the fears of non-adopters and enhancing their understanding of the benefits of mobile banking

Social media engagement: What motivates users\u27 participation and consumption on TikTok during the coronavirus outbreak?

By the year 2003, many social networking sites have emerged; people show great interest in social media and User Generated Content (UGC). Recently, due to the continuous coronavirus pandemic, TikTok, a Chinese video creation app, has seen a surge in downloads and tops the iOS App Store for the fifth quarter in a row. Based on the growing popularity of UGC, this chapter investigates the factors that influence users\u27 participation and consumption of TikTok. This study combines UGT and TPB to develop a conceptual framework to analyze the relationship between independent variables (e.g., seeking information from videos, sharing videos, self- status seeking, social interaction, perceived entertainment, perceived utilities), and attitude towards TikTok and usage intention. This chapter will be of great value to enterprises\u27 understanding of the influence of social media, and utilize it to gain user recognition, increase user stickiness, and expand the market

The effect of the specific discount pattern of cosmetic retailers in China during the COVID-19

This chapter aims to study female consumers\u27 perceptions of buying cosmetic products during the COVID- 19 pandemic in terms of specific discount strategies. Different types of discount patterns have a positive relationship with perceived price attractiveness and purchase intention. The results show that the most effective way to motivate Chinese customers to purchase cosmetics during the epidemic is the price discount. Therefore, this study will help the cosmetic industry better understand consumers\u27 perception and shopping behaviors towards cosmetics, especially when all people are in lockdown and must wear masks on many occasions and in public areas. Simultaneously, it can be a reference for cosmetic companies to study and better grasp consumer consumption behavior changes during a crisis

The impact of game censorship and regulations on foreign game consoles in China

Strict censorship and digital game localization made the Chinese government implement a 15-year ban on foreign or domestic manufacturers and sales of game consoles back in 2000. However, the ban was only applicable to mainland China, so large grey import markets are visible in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan. In 2014, China lifted the game console ban, opening up a hugely lucrative market for gaming giants such as Microsoft, Nintendo, and Sony. However, there is a twist, foreign companies have to partner with the domestic game manufacturer, and the products would still be subject to a list of inspection criteria (e.g., violent games that would influence the mental health of young people). So, the giant companies face an uphill battle to establish their dominance in this 23-million-dollar market. This study provides an in-depth analysis of the structure of the game consoles industry in China into three stages: pre-censorship stage, censorship stage, and post-censorship stage. It investigates of the complexity of the censorship system of the game consoles industry. Several examples illustrate how the above stages affect the success of foreign game console manufacturers in the Chinese market