Commitment Cost and Product Valuation in Online Auctions: An Experimental Research

This research aims to explore bidder behavioral conditionings and value creation when bidding in online auctions. The cost of commitment imposed by an auction mechanism is hypothesized to impact one’s willingness to pay, level of satisfaction with the transaction, and intention of using the auction mechanism in future online transactions. After reviewing auction mechanisms and behavioral economics, an experiment is proposed as the naturalistic setting of preference to study behavior in online auctions

IT In the Classroom: Researching the Outcomes of Classroom Response Systems

This research in progress is part of a study being submitted for dissertation. The purpose of this study is to determine what types of students will be impacted by Classroom Response Systems (CRS) technology. Additionally, this research explores the nature of the outcomes experienced by students and their perceptions of leading pedagogy and practices for CRS technology in the classroom. An extensive review of the literature on CRS is included. A theoretical model based on Task- Technology Fit and Kirkpatrick\u27s four-level model of educational outcomes is proposed as a framework to organize the existing CRS technology research and study the impact of CRS technologies

From Automation to Autonomy: Legal and Ethical Responsibility Gaps in Artificial Intelligence Innovation

The increasing prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) systems in daily life and the evolving capacity of these systems to process data and act without human input raise important legal and ethical concerns. This article identifies three primary AI actors in the value chain (innovators, providers, and users) and three primary types of AI (automation, augmentation, and autonomy). It then considers responsibility in AI innovation from two perspectives: (i) strict liability claims arising out of the development, commercialization, and use of products with built-in AI capabilities (designated herein as “AI artifacts”); and (ii) an original research study on the ethical practices of developers and managers creating AI systems and AI artifacts. The ethical perspective is important because, at the moment, the law is poised to fall behind technological reality—if it hasn’t already. Consideration of the liability issues in tandem with ethical perspectives yields a more nuanced assessment of the likely consequences and adverse impacts of AI innovation. Companies should consider both legal and ethical strategies thinking about their own liability and ways to limit it, as well as policymakers considering AI regulation ex ante

Strategy and Coherence of a Program of Regional Development: A Methodology for synergy evaluation

The main purpose of this paper is to present a methodological proposal to value the synergy in programmes of regional development, regarding either their objectives or their performances. First, the main aspects of the methodology used to evaluate individually the synergy of the objectives (performances) are set out by using a Delphi technique. This technique allows to build a matrix of weights, according to the degree of synergy for every objective (performance). Then, hierarchical clusters are applied in the data processing. This technique leads to a ranking of objectives which shows the strategic value of the programme subject to evaluation. The methodological analysis shows also an application of the Community Support Framework ( 1994-1999) for the Spanish Objective 1 regions.

Lazos Sociales y la Cultura en Empresas de Software

Tanto países desarrollados como en desarrollo -especialmente India y China - están contribuyendo al crecimiento acelerado de la industria global de software desde hace más de una década. Aunque existe bastante investigación sobre la industria de software en varios países, prácticamente no existe investigación científica contemplando la siguiente pregunta: ¿Por qué ciertos países, regiones y empresas han sido mucho más exitosos que otros en la rama de desarrollo de software? La industria del software, liderada por trabajadores del conocimiento, depende considerablemente de su capital humano. Dicho capital se encuentra inmerso en relaciones sociales que son el reflejo de su cultura. Para entender las grandes diferencias en desarrollo económico en la industria de software, en este artículo nos desviamos de la Teoría Económica Neoclásica tradicional y nos centramos en el concepto de embeddedness para atender a la estructura social y la cultura idiosincrática de las compañías de software. El marco teórico desarrollado se enfoca en dimensiones culturales específicas y lazos sociales; los cuales, se argumenta, son determinantes del desempeño económico y nivel de innovación de las empresas de software en cualquier región