The search for innovators and early adopters of e-collaborative technologies within small and medium sized enterprises in the UK

New product diffusion theory predicts that innovators and early adopters are critical to the success of new innovations. The rate at which enterprises adopt e-Science technologies must therefore rely upon reliable market intelligence so that the critical early stages of adoption are successfully navigated by developers and planners. Failure to understand attitudes towards new technologies can lead to even useful technologies being under-adopted. This paper applies a survey based methodology to develop estimates of demand for web based virtual Collaborative technologies. We show that approximately 76% of the 1029 firms that we interviewed are technologically ready to deploy these technologies. We also show that 10% of all firms are ready look at these technologies as solutions to collaborative problem solving

The Lived Experience of African American Juvenile Parole and Probation Officers in the Pacific Northwest

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore and better understand the lived experiences of African American juvenile parole and probation officers in the Pacific Northwest. I conducted semistructured interviews with four African American juvenile parole and probation officers using a transcendental phenomenological framework. This framework was further supported and guided by social identity theory, critical race theory, and person‒organization fit theory. Through detailed semistructured interviews, field notes, and artifacts; honest and thought-provoking insight was gathered about the experiences of African American juvenile parole and probation officers. Furthermore, interview data was coded and analyzed using ATLAS.ti (2020) and during the analysis process, three themes and six subthemes emerged, capturing the essence of the four coresearchers’ lived experiences. These three themes and subthemes uncovered the desire to better support youth and hold them accountable as essential motivating factors for African American juvenile parole and probation officer career choice. Additionally, experiences of unpredictable schedules, and navigating two social identities—African Americans and the juvenile justice system—were explored. African American juvenile parole and probation officers want cultural representation at the management level, experience discrimination, and want more support—for themselves and African American youth—through more equitable practices, better recruitment strategies, and inclusive work environments

Entrepreneurs'' attitude towards the computer and its effect on e-business adoption

This paper presents research exploring further the concept that many SMEs do not adopt computer based technologies due to decision maker's negative attitudes towards computers generally. Importantly, by assessing the entrepreneur's belief structure, we provide quantitative evidence how SMEs, particularly micros, are affected. Earlier research that addresses technology acceptance model (TAM) suggests that TAM parameters are particularly influential factors of e-commerce adoption, as perceived by top managers of SMEs. The model we develop is tested using a sample of 655 enterprises. The information was gathered, via a telephone survey of UK SMEs, from decisions makers in the enterprise. Technically, the paper uses k-means cluster analysis to segment respondents using the TAM perceptions, ease of use, usefulness and enjoyment. Based on two determined segments we look at the differential rate of adoption of internet, and the potential adoption of new e-collaborative technologies like video conferencing and electronic whiteboards. The diffusion of internet for low IT utility (LIT) segments was considerably slower than in the high utility segment (HIT). Similarly, the anticipated adoption of e-collaboration technologies was much lower for LIT than HIT. Interestingly, we find that LIT is populated by more micro SMEs than HIT. The results we present are limited however as our sample is considerably underweight in micro SMEs, suggesting that the problem may be much larger in the economy than our model predicts. For policy makers, this research confirms the value of knowledge transfer programs to SMEs in the form of technology support. Our research shows that organisations which have dedicated IT support will tend to be more advanced technologically than those that do not. The implication for entrepreneurs is if they can be persuaded that a technological route is beneficial to them, and that suitable support can be provided via KT, then operational efficiency gains could be made. This paper contributes to knowle

Dynamics of Post-Injection Fuel Flow in Mini-Sac Diesel Injectors Part 1: Admission of 1 External Gases and Implications for Deposit Formation

Samples of unadditized, middle distillate diesel fuel were injected through real-size optically accessible mini-sac diesel injectors into ambient air at common rail pressures of 250 bar and 350 bar respectively. High-resolution images of white light scattered from the internal mini-sac and nozzle flow were captured on a high-speed monochrome video camera. Following the end of each injection, the momentum-driven evacuation of fuel liquid from the mini-sac and nozzle holes resulted in the formation of a vapour cloud and bubbles in the mini-sac, and vapour capsules in the nozzle holes. This permitted external gas to gain entrance to the nozzle holes. The diesel fuel in the mini-sac was observed to rotate with large initial vorticity, which decayed until the fuel became stationary. The diesel fuel remaining in the nozzle holes was observed to move inwards towards the mini-sac or outwards towards the nozzle exit in concert with the rotational flow in the mini-sac. The mini-sac bubbles’ internal pressure differences revealed that the bubbles must have contained previously dissolved oxygen and nitrogen. Under diesel engine operating conditions, this multi-phase mixture would be highly reactive and could initiate local pyrolysis and/or oxidation reactions. Finally, the dynamical behaviour of the diesel fuel in the nozzle holes would support the admission of external hot combustion gases into the nozzle holes, establishing the conditions for oxidation/pyrolysis reactions with surrounding liquid fuel films

Firm Size Effects on Venture Capital Syndication: The Role of Resources and Transaction Costs

The present paper examines firm size effects on the decision of venture capital firms to participate in a venture capital investment syndication network. The authors submit that firm size effects in venture capital syndication are dependent on resource acquisition motives and transaction cost considerations. Analysis of 317 venture capital firms in 6 European countries reveals a curve linear relationship between firm size and venture capital syndication participation. We also find positive and negative moderating effects of firm size. The implication of our findings is that there are both advantages and disadvantages in syndicated investment for the smaller and larger venture capitalist.Firm Size;Resource-Based View;Syndication Networks;Transaction Cost Theory;Venture Capital

eClusters and the Role of Intermediaries in Enabling Digital Enterprise Communities of SMEs

The potential for the emergence of digital enterprise communities enabled by one or more intermediaries, termed eClusters, has been predicted from empirical research in business communities of SMEs in the UK. The role of intermediaries, which will be pivotal to the formation of eClusters, is examined in this paper and forms part of a wider research project into the nature of digital enterprise communities. One conceptualisation of the role of intermediaries is the provision of a Trust Platform. As with IT outsourcing generally it is large companies that have been early adopter of application service providers (ASPs) services with little penetration in the SME sector. It is the notion of community and emergent properties of an eCluster that could provide the ‘key’ to this market and lead to the formation of community-centric ASPs

An Investigation into the Effect of Hydrodynamic Cavitation on Diesel using Optical Extinction

A conventional diesel and paraffinic-rich model diesel fuel were subjected to sustained cavitation in a custom-built high-pressure recirculation flow rig. Changes to the spectral extinction coefficient at 405 nm were measured using a simple optical arrangement. The spectral extinction coefficient at 405 nm for the conventional diesel sample was observed to increase to a maximum value and then asymptotically decrease to a steady-state value, while that for the paraffinic-rich model diesel was observed to progressively decrease. It is suggested that this is caused by the sonochemical pyrolysis of mono-aromatics to form primary soot-like carbonaceous particles, which then coagulate to form larger particles, which are then trapped by the filter, leading to a steady-state spectral absorbance

MOTIVATIONS AND OUTCOMES OF ENGAGING IN REGIONAL CLUSTERS IN THE ICT SECTOR: A DUAL PERSPECTIVE

This paper presents the findings of recent empirical-based research into the experiences of entrepreneurs and intermediaries engaged in cluster building activities in the information and communication technologies (ICT) sector in Northwest England. The research takes a dual perspective by interviewing both entrepreneurs and intermediaries from a range of agencies and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Previous work with high-tech firms has shown that it is through social relations, interactions and networks that entrepreneurship is carried out (Anderson et al. 2007). Our empirical study is based on 14 semi-structured interviews that recorded the interactions and experiences of actors actively involved in building regional clusters. Key findings can be divided into three main themes, namely: i) motivations for organizing / attending regional networking meetings; ii) outcomes of these meetings; iii) the role of sector-specific cluster meetings in supporting networking and entrepreneurship. The use of cluster building activities as a means of supporting regional economic development is widespread. The study demonstrates how cluster building activities can act as a mechanism for supporting regional economic development, but highlights the need for both entrepreneurs and intermediaries to more clearly understand each others' differing motivations and expectations, as well as the multiple reasons for participating in cluster building activities