Open Innovation Mill: Utilization of Nokia's Non-Core Ideas

AbstractThe Innovation Mill (IM) is an initiative which has been established in collaboration mainly among Nokia Corporation, Technopolis, and Tekes. Nokia Corporation provides its non-core ideas to other existing and start-ups companies through IM to turn these ideas into valuable products and services. Nokia's idea database consists of enormous number of ideas that are non-core to it. Companies earn gratuitous licensing of ideas from the Nokia Corporation. This study explores the IM case to understand the insights of the initiative. IM case can be a learning lesson for other large companies who have unused ideas that can have commercial value if those ideas are given to various pertinent external companies. Moreover, this study raises some important issues which are pivotal to explore so that IM grows successfully

Pre-Service Mathematics Teachers’ Perceptions of Using Web 2.0 Technology for Instruction and Achievement in a College Euclidean Geometry Course

The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of pre-service mathematics teachers’ attitudes toward and perceived effectiveness of a blogging activity included as a regular component of a college Euclidean Geometry course. Descriptive statistics regarding participants’ attitudes toward and perceived effectiveness of the blogging activity were gathered using a researcher developed instrument. Additionally, an inferential statistical test was performed to determine if a relationship exists between pre-service teachers’ attitude toward the blogging activity and their performance in the course as measured by the eight in-class quizzes administered throughout the semester. Similarly, an inferential statistical test was performed to determine if a relationship exists between pre-service teachers’ perceived effectiveness of the blogging activity and their performance in the course as measured by the eight in-class quizzes. The study was conducted in a Euclidean Geometry class designed for preservice mathematics teachers enrolled in a land grant university located in the western part of the United States. The results revealed that preservice mathematics teachers tended to enjoy participating in the blogging activity and perceived that the blogging activity was effective. Additionally, the results indicated that no relationships existed between performance in the course and either attitude toward the blogging activity or the perceived effectiveness of the blogging activity. These non-significant results suggest that mathematics teachers who want to incorporate a blogging activity in their courses should not be concerned about whether the students have a strong or weak background in mathematics, as both strong and weak students seem to enjoy and potentially benefit from the use of a blogging activity as a supportive teaching and learning tool

Frugal innovation: Unveiling the uncomfortable reality

Frugal innovation (FI) has been getting growing attention from scholars, practitioners, and policymakers for its promise to serve low-income customers with affordable solutions. As a recently emerged concept, it has been explored from different perspectives. We know the positive side of the concept, but its negative side has remained unexplored. To gain a holistic understanding, it is important to develop balanced knowledge of the topic. Hence, this study aims to unveil some uncomfortable reality of the concept. It points out the definition dilemma, overlapping concepts, and scope of frugal innovation. It reveals the predicament associated with small firms, large firms, and policymakers. The study highlights the publication, authorship, and geographical limitations. Thus, it provides implications for theory, practice, and policy

Frugal entrepreneurship: Resource mobilization in resource-constrained environments

Frugal entrepreneurship (FE) is a recent pursuit that has evolved from the frugal innovation (FI) concept. How frugal entrepreneurs mobilize resources is both interesting and novel, yet it remains an underresearched area. The objective of this study is to explore how frugal entrepreneurs mobilize resources at the grassroots level of emerging markets to realize their innovation and entrepreneurial aspiration. Based on six cases of frugal enterprise, this study contributes to the FE literature in particular and FI more generally. We reveal the various resources that frugal entrepreneurs mobilize and how they mobilize them in three broad categories, namely, human, social and financial. Unlike other entrepreneurs, frugal entrepreneurs usually possess manual work skills, and they help each other with their technical, financial and other knowhow. They understand their context and culture and consider them deeply when developing frugal solutions. Indeed, frugal entrepreneurs integrate the culture and context into their innovation process, because they themselves are embedded in the same society. Patents do not help entrepreneurs to protect their innovations, however, and they need to rely more on informal rather than formal finance

Frugal innovation: Conception, development, diffusion, and outcome

Frugal innovation (FI) demonstrates a new entrepreneurial landscape where small firms with limited resources develop innovations for underserved customers in low-income countries. FIs also create new markets and contribute to sustainability. The studies so far have highlighted various frugal products introduced by large and small firms around the world. This study aims to explore the process of how individuals at the grassroots level successfully conceptualize, develop, and diffuse their FIs to achieve commercial success. It analyzes the antecedents, processes, and consequences of FI development and commercialization, and explores how FIs evolve and diffuse in emerging markets. It also seeks to identify what triggers and motivates individuals to engage in FI. The study points out the initiative that individuals take and the challenges they face, from inception to the successful commercialization of their innovations. We therefore portray an overall understanding of the antecedents, processes, and consequences for these entrepreneurs. Along with the scholars, the findings of this study will be insightful for practitioners who are interested in the frugal innovation phenomenon. It points out issues, such as the dual-business model, innovation to serve low-income customers, and diffusion patterns that managers need to understand when shaping their business strategies, for emerging markets in particular and the world in general

Self-organisation in the governance of disaster risk management in Bangladesh

Magister Administrationis - MAdminA disaster always means a huge death toll, displacement and inconceivable destruction for a poor country such as Bangladesh. Recently, Bangladesh has taken a holistic approach to prioritising interrelated activities and the involvement of various organisations in disaster management. A number of disaster management committees (DMCs) have been formed to coordinate and implement risk reduction measures. But the levels of success of these organisations have varied in different regions. Improper consideration of local knowledge, corruption of actors, lack of coordination and capacity of actors, etc., are perceived as major causes of this. Primarily, this mini-thesis aims to measure the impact of self-organisation in disaster risk management.South Afric

The effect of the Covid-19 on sharing economy activities

Activities within the sharing economy (SE) are in a precarious situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even though the SE is considered a disruptive phenomenon, especially in the accommodation and transport sectors, the Covid-19 has raised concerns about its survivability. Thousands of people have lost their jobs, the value of SE firms has dropped, and many service providers have no other option but to stop working. Understanding the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the SE sector is therefore essential. The objective of this study is therefore to examine the effect of the Covid-19 on sharing economy activities. We have used various publications—such as news articles, TV news items, YouTube videos, and blog posts—as data sources for this study purpose. Through content analysis, the study shows how the SE phenomenon is coping with the changing environment caused by the Covid-19. We analyzed the SE sector mainly from the perspective of four stakeholders: SE firms, service providers, service receivers (customers), and regulatory bodies. We explored the SE phenomenon based mainly on the following themes: anxiety, cancelation, job loss, income reduction, hygiene and safety, overcoming strategy, and outcomes. Based on the findings, we point out implications and avenues for future research.Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library

Labeled-Image CAPTCHA: concept of a secured and universally useful CAPTCHA

Captcha (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) is a widely used online security tool that ensures that a computer program is not posing as a human user. While smart programs with advanced image processing capability have already cracked picture based captcha systems there is a need for making the test harder. This paper presents a design prototype of a simplified type of labeled-image captcha where a picture of a common animal or household item is marked with a number of different labels and the users will be asked to provide the correct label for specific parts of the picture. Due to human’s familiarity with body shapes and part names of such common pictures, they will easily identify a specific organ/parts of the picture. Such labeled-image captcha tests are expected to be very easy for human users regardless of their culture, age, gender, educational background and other discriminations but tough for the bots and automated computer programs

Labeled-Image CAPTCHA: concept of a secured and universally useful CAPTCHA

Captcha (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart) is a widely used online security tool that ensures that a computer program is not posing as a human user. While smart programs with advanced image processing capability have already cracked picture based captcha systems there is a need for making the test harder. This paper presents a design prototype of a simplified type of labeled-image captcha where a picture of a common animal or household item is marked with a number of different labels and the users will be asked to provide the correct label for specific parts of the picture. Due to human’s familiarity with body shapes and part names of such common pictures, they will easily identify a specific organ/parts of the picture. Such labeled-image captcha tests are expected to be very easy for human users regardless of their culture, age, gender, educational background and other discriminations but tough for the bots and automated computer programs