Renewable Energy: Problems and Prospects in Coachella Valley, California

The book analyzes the problems and potential of renewable energy development for the Coachella Valley of California and provides a useful case study for renewable energy feasibility assessments for other areas. A conceptual model, Integrated Policy Assessment Theory for Renewable Energy, is given and justified for renewable energy development in the Valley. Further, Central Place Theory, well known in urban geography, is discussed and it is seen to be very relevant to the understanding the Coachella Valley’s city sizes and renewable energy markets, compared to the greater Los Angeles region. The book’s research methods include geospatial mapping and analysis and interviews leaders in small innovative firms, government agencies, and nonprofits. The many findings of the book include evaluation of how the Valley’s socioeconomic and transportation features influence renewable energy development, the scope of markets for solar and wind energy in the Valley, spatial confluences of renewable energy facilities with other features, and the future potential of ground-source heat pumps. Benchmark comparison of the Coachella Valley is done with two leading wind and solar regions elsewhere in the country, to assess the Valley’s evolution and opportunities in renewable energy. The book concludes by evaluating the prospects and problems for the growth of renewable entrepreneurship, manufacturing, assembly, and operations in Coachella Valley. This leads to policy recommendations grounded in the book’s research findings, which are intended for use by governments, businesses, and nonprofits. The hope is that many of the developmental experiences from the Coachella Valley will be helpful not only within the Valley but to other communities nationwide and worldwide.https://inspire.redlands.edu/oh_books/1055/thumbnail.jp

Geographic Information Systems: A Tutorial and Introduction

his tutorial provides a foundation in GIS including its basic structure, concepts, and spatial analysis. GIS is a new field in business schools and presents opportunities for research. It is derived from about a dozen disciplines, some unfamiliar to most IS researchers. Following an overview of vertical-sector uses of GIS, the paper introduces their costs and benefits. The links of GIS to related technologies such as GPS, wireless, location-based technologies, web services, and RFID are examined. Conceptual models and research methodologies are discussed, including Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSS), and GIS in visualization, organizational studies, and end user computing. Suggestions for future research are presented

Teleworking Ethics

Telecommuting is an emerging form of work that promises greater gains in productivity and in worker satisfaction. While telework is growing in popularity, it is far from accepted working condition. This paper examines ethical scenarios that could arise in a telework environment. Most ofthe scenarios posed examine issues of people who telework from home offices. The paper shows that societal norms of behavior have not yet emerged for teleworkers and manager

Technology for Rural Telecenters In India: A Model and Exploratory Study of Diffusion of Information For Telecenter Use and Sustainability

In this paper, we use key concepts in strategic management, such as value, and use the conceptual framework of diffusion of innovations to understand factors underlying the lack of demand for rural telecenters. We present a background of ICT use in rural areas, examining both the prospects and current situation. We then develop a framework that explains rural telecenter performance using literature from strategic management, and information systems (notably diffusion of innovation). We then present the results of a pilot study of farmers in India who used/did not use ICT telecenters. We chose India as it has a large number of the world’s poor, and is pioneering in the use of technology in rural areas and has by far the largest number of ICT telecenters. Findings indicate the research questions are mostly supported

A Global Model of Technological Utilization Based on Governmental, Business Investment, Social, and Economic Factors

This paper presents a model of governmental support and openness, business and technology investment, and socio-economic factors that influence technological utilization for 110 countries. The conceptual framework is based on prior research showing that these factors impact the usage of technology and vice versa. Structural equation modeling is applied to conceptualize and test the model. This model uses latent and observable variables and the application tests five hypotheses for the overall model and relationships between its factors. Data are recent and from the World Bank and World Economic Forum. The findings indicate a critical pathway of influences between the factors of government support and openness, socio-economic level, and technology utilization. The paper suggests policy steps for national governments of developed and developing nations especially for policy clusters of government emphasis on ICT, openness, and strengthening of R&D and technology investment