Understanding the Formation of Software as a Service (Saas) Commitment the Relational Value Creation Perspective

This study focuses on the use of an important IT innovation--software-as-a-service (SaaS), and draw on sensemaking and the dedication-constraint framework to explain the formation of SaaS commitment. Building on and extending prior studies, we posit that managers’ perceived relational value from SaaS consumption transforms their initial sensemaking of SaaS features into commitment. SaaS features are characterized as strength frames and weakness frames. Perceived relational values are conceptualized as process flexibility, task-knowledge coordination, process specificity, and trust. The proposed model and hypotheses are largely supported by the empirical data from 169 SaaS client firms. We discuss theoretical and practical implications

Towards a critical approach to knowledge management : framing a new paradigm

This thesis seeks to make a contribution to the critical literature on management, and, particularly, to the critique of knowledge management (KM). It suggests that the mainstream understanding of KM has some important problems, but we cannot see them as a disease curable by new managerial techniques. Rather, it is argued that management to a certain extent may be part of the problem of which it is purported to be the solution. The mainstream approach to KM has its roots in the predominant view of knowledge which assumes that the application of knowledge contributes to societal progress, within the context of the common social good. This view may be in some sense axiomatic and universal, but it might pose a problem insofar as it relies on a human-centred belief that knowledge endows man with the superior ability to dominant his environment. This belief is further strengthened by a neo-classical economic understanding of the world which presumes that we can see knowledge as a resource to serve our economic interest. However, from some poststructuralist perspectives, knowledge is inseparable from power, and this means that knowledge may contain uncontrollable dimensions and may generate unwarranted consequences beyond economic concerns. Moreover, from a deep ecological view, our industrial activity has become one of the major causes of environmental crisis, and the process is itself accelerated by the efficient application of knowledge in the production system. The limits of the application of knowledge are illustrated through a consideration of issues raised in mainstream KM because it seems to be an epitome of the predominant understanding of both knowledge and management. Via a theoretical excursion, it is suggested that the orthodox concept of KM has some intrinsic problems. On the one hand it embraces the age-old belief that, with modern techniques, we have ultimate control over our environment, and on the other it assumes that knowledge can be used to meet a sectional requirement - economic efficiency, while ignoring the dark side of economic growth in relation to non-monetary social and ecological costs. An additional element is the view that sees management as a (conceptual or practical) too] to serve the purpose of managing knowledge. However, it is not our business to discuss these problems except insofar as the current state of KM offers a weak response to them. One of the main reasons is that mainstream KM is often mired in a framework in which economic values have attained the highest regard and economic goals have somewhat displaced other social objectives. Nevertheless the, dilemma is that knowledge is too powerful and too indispensable for modem society; that is, we cannot simply abandon tile concept of KM, because the application of knowledge has already become an integral part of modem life, and business organisations are becoming more demanding in terms of the use of functionally specialised knowledge. Faced with these difficulties, it is argued that we need to articulate an alternative understanding of KM, and this work suggests that such a project can be grounded on what can be termed 'ecological consciousness'. However, this requires two major things. First, we suggest that since mainstream KM has its roots in the predominant, economic understanding of knowledge and management, we need to re-examine these two components and the relationships between them. Second, we shall illustrate an alternative set of worldviews and decision criteria for KM which escapes the eco-systematic problems and is emancipatory in essence. That is to say, the ultimate intention is to construct some alternative, thought tentative, possibilities of KM.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Assessing the Effects of Acupuncture by Comparing Needling the Hegu Acupoint and Needling Nearby Nonacupoints by Spectral Analysis of Microcirculatory Laser Doppler Signals

We aimed to assess the effects of acupuncture by analyzing the frequency content of skin blood-flow signals simultaneously recorded at the Hegu acupoint and two nearby nonacupoints following acupuncture stimulation (AS). Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) signals were measured in male healthy volunteers in two groups of experiments: needling the Hegu acupoint (n = 13) and needling a nearby nonacupoint (control experiment; n = 10). Each experiment involved recording a 20 min baseline-data sequence and two sets of effects data recorded 0–20 and 50–70 min after stopping AS. Wavelet transform with Morlet mother wavelet was applied to the measured LDF signals. Needling the Hegu acupoint significantly increased the blood flow, significantly decreased the relative energy contribution at 0.02–0.06 Hz and significantly increased the relative energy contribution at 0.4–1.6 Hz at Hegu, but induced no significant changes at the nonacupoints. Also, needling a nearby nonacupoint had no effect in any band at any site. This is the first time that spectral analysis has been used to investigate the microcirculatory blood-flow responses induced by AS, and has revealed possible differences in sympathetic nerve activities between needling the Hegu acupoint and its nearby nonacupoint. One possible weakness of the present design is that different De-Qi feelings following AS could lead to nonblind experimental setup, which may bias the comparison between needling Hegu and its nearby nonacupoint. Our results suggest that the described noninvasive method can be used to evaluate sympathetic control of peripheral vascular activity, which might be useful for studying the therapeutic effects of AS

Understanding Knowledge Outcome Improvement in Virtual Communities: an Integrative Model from a Relational Development Perspective

This study seeks to understand how relational virtual communities (RVC) members improve knowledge outcomes, including reuse and new use of knowledge. We propose a model by integrating dedication/constraint mechanisms into social cognitive theory. This model delineates the relationship between members’ self-belief, motivation, and knowledge outcomes. In particular, self-belief is conceptualized as individual factors and environments factors. Motivation is based on one’s evaluation on interpersonal relationship development, in terms of relationship rewards and identity verification. Empirical results from survey data support most proposed hypotheses. We discuss the implications of our results

Prescription Patterns of Chinese Herbal Products for Osteoporosis in Taiwan: A Population-Based Study

Background. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) includes Chinese herbal products (CHPs), acupuncture, and traumatology manipulative therapies. TCM physicians often prescribe CHP to treat patients with osteoporosis; however, the drugs used and their patterns of prescriptions have yet to be characterized. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the CHP used for the treatment of osteoporosis in Taiwan and their prescription patterns. Methods. A cohort of one million randomly sampled cases from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) was analyzed to evaluate the frequencies and percentages of herbal formula and single herb prescriptions for osteoporosis. Association rules were then applied to evaluate the CHP coprescription patterns and the prevalence of osteoporosis. Results. The osteoporosis cohort included 16 544 patients, of whom more than 70% had used TCM on one or more occasion. Of these patients, 4 292 (25.9%) had been hospitalized at least once because of fracture. Du-Huo-Ji-Sheng-Tang and Du Zhong (Cortex Eucommiae) were the most frequently prescribed herbal formula and single herb, respectively, for the treatment of osteoporosis. Conclusion. This study identified patterns of CHP use for the treatment of osteoporosis. However, further research is required to fully elucidate the efficacy and safety of these CHP

Understanding Clients’ Intentions to Explore Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) Features: A Social Capital Theory Perspective

The pervasive post-adoption of on-demand software-as-a-service (SaaS) products via the Internet has provided clients with sufficient convenience and functional flexibility to rent and build the multifunctional services they require. Prior research has called for a deeper understanding of how client firms encourage the exploration of SaaS applications in the workplace. However, exploring the best service combinations depends on the clients’ socially related motivation. Hence, we draw on social capital theory in this study to examine clients’ intentions to explore new SaaS service features. We use service quality to complement structural capital as an indicator, as it is more suitable for assessing the service structure of systems. Drawing on a sample of 246 employees in the IT service departments of small- and medium-sized companies in Taiwan, we generate the following empirical results. First, most of the main effect paths only show significant positive signs for the effect of relational capital on the intention to explore, and the effect of environmental quality on social capital is not supported. Second, we rebuild the mediation model to test the non-supported hypotheses and find that relational capital partially mediates the relationship between service quality and the intention to explore. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discusse

UNDERSTANDING POST-ADOPTION OF ONLINE SHOPPING CONTINUANCE USAGE THROUGH THE SOCIAL EXCHANGE THEORY

Electronic commerce researchers have retention of Consumers post-adoption continuance behavior attendees induce deep trust and service quality of online shopping behavior, thereby contributing to higher revenue and marketing strategy based on social exchange theory. This study provides additional information about the path from the service quality and trust to continuous usage. Also, this study investigates the different tendencies to continuance behavior by habit as a moderating effect within the conceptual model. According to the structural invariance test across moderating effect, it showed that: First, most of main effect paths showed significant positive signs only habit as moderator on trust in service provider is negative support. Second, the habit was supported as a moderator except for the trust in shopping-site to online shopping continuance interaction path. Unexpectedly, the positive moderating effect of habit tendency towards the path of trust in shopping-site to online shopping continuance in not significant. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed

EXPERIENCE-ORIENTED MODEL OF BUDGET ALLOCATION AND COST CONTROL FOR ENGINEERING CONSULTING PROJECTS

This paper presents an experience-oriented model of budget allocation and cost control for engineering consulting projects. The proposed model comprised two modules: a work item module and a work duration module. Regarding the work item module, a project manager employed the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to determine the budget percentage allocated to each work item. Regarding the work duration module, this study compiled all S-curves appearing in each budget percentage range in past projects. A project manager then selected the optimal curve shape for each work item to determine the daily budget allocation and cost control limits throughout the work duration of each work item. Testing revealed that the proposed model facilitates project managers’ budget allocation decision-making, determines budget control limits for the overall project and for each work item and identifies work items that may be out of control at an early stage

Exploring the Impact of Different Sources Credibility on App Downloading Behavior: An ELM Perspective

With the increasing of using smart phone, people began to use “App” in their daily life. While they need to download a specific type of App, the developer of the App will provide them an introductory page which describes the functionality of the App and contains statistical data. Besides, function of “your friend who has downloaded this App” is introduced to smart phone users. Therefore, many peripheral cues are listed in the page nowadays to persuade people to download. The purpose of this study is to understand whether peripheral cues in the introductory page can persuade people to download this App. In our study, we used ELM-based theory to explain the behavior of persuading. The expected contribution of this study is to understand three peripheral cues would influence App credibility which influence attitude toward downloading. This study will provide advices to App developers to promote their strategies of business