The idea to use computers for teaching and learning is over 50 years old. Numerous attempts to use computers for knowledge dissemination under a variety of names have failed in…
Abstract
Purpose
The idea to use computers for teaching and learning is over 50 years old. Numerous attempts to use computers for knowledge dissemination under a variety of names have failed in many cases, and have become successful in others. The essence of this paper can be summarized in two sentences. One, in some niches, applications tend to be successful. Second, attempts to fully eliminate humans from the educational process are bound to fail, yet if a large number of aspects is handled well, the role of teachers can indeed be much reduced. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
Report on experimental results.
Findings
In some niches, applications of e-Learning technology tend to be successful. However, attempts to fully eliminate humans from the educational process are bound to fail, yet if a large number of aspects is handled well, the role of teachers can indeed be much reduced.
Research limitations/implications
A number of features that seemed essential in earlier e-Learning systems turn out to be superfluous.
Practical implications
New e-Learning systems have to concentrate on quality of content, not complex technology.
Social implications
E-Learning the right way helps learners, teachers and institutions.
Originality/value
Experiments reported verify or do the opposite of often loosely stated opinions.
Details
Keywords
Kinga Xénia Havadi Nagy and Ana Espinosa Segui
The purpose of this paper is to analyse community-based tourism (CBT) initiatives in the post-socialist rural Romania in terms of the holism of the tourist project and the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse community-based tourism (CBT) initiatives in the post-socialist rural Romania in terms of the holism of the tourist project and the implementation of the local participation. The paper focusses on chances and challenges of CBT.
Design/methodology/approach
Once the main objective was established, three research interests arose: How and why tourism played a significant role in the economic and social development of the rural local community? How has the local community participated in the starting and maintenance of the CBT projects and who played a key part? How can the level of success of the CBT implementations be qualitatively measured? Qualitative methodologies (interviews, on-site observations, informal discussions) were applied to survey the four case studies.
Findings
Natural and cultural features ensure a versatile potential for touristic exploitation of the Romanian rural area, but the villages are endangered by post-socialist economic and social transformations. Innovative approaches of CBT in rural areas ignited by charismatic leaders with entrepreneurial spirit develop based on the existent social, natural and cultural capital, but on the other hand, endeavours can be vulnerable because of hindering local municipalities or sustainability issues.
Practical implications
The findings facilitate recommendations in favour of effective CBT ventures.
Originality/value
Learning about the contribution of CBT to a sustainable development of rural regions with no/little tradition of private entrepreneurship can contribute to the revitalization of rural areas facing post-socialist challenges.
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Saltanat Akhmadi and Mariza Tsakalerou
Innovation output around the world is concentrated in very few economies possessing the requisite skills, knowledge and market acumen to capitalize on emerging technologies…
Abstract
Purpose
Innovation output around the world is concentrated in very few economies possessing the requisite skills, knowledge and market acumen to capitalize on emerging technologies. Within the broader European Union, Central and Eastern Europe countries persistently lag in innovation rankings compared to their Western Europe counterparts. The existence of cultural barriers to innovation has been offered as an explanation for the lag, in the sense that perceptions about innovation affect innovation performance. The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence-based analysis on whether there are divergent perceptions at the firm level between East and West.
Design/methodology/approach
The focus is on four countries with distinct socioeconomic profiles (Germany, Poland, Portugal and North Macedonia) for which innovation data of sufficient granularity exist. Using Probit analysis across the regressors of firm size, sector and innovativeness, a detailed picture of perceptions of innovation emerges naturally.
Findings
The analysis demonstrates that there is no discernible East-West cultural divide but rather a palette of shades regarding perceptions of innovation, entrenched in firm-level characteristics. Specifically, firm size colors perceptions of innovation and such perceptions in turn are moderated by whether a firm is involved or not in innovation activities.
Originality/value
A better understanding of innovation culture at the firm level is essential to drive policy interventions aiming to remove barriers to innovation. The results of this study provide sufficient clues for more refined interventions, both internal (“procedures”) and external (“policies”) to the firm, targeting well-defined size segments as well as addressing differently innovative and non-innovative companies.
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Chinwoke Clara Ifeanyi-Obi, Fadlullah Olayiwola Issa, Sidiqat Aderinoye-Abdulwahab, Adefunke Fadilat O. Ayinde, Ogechi Jubilant Umeh and Emmanuel Bamidele Tologbonse
This study aims to explore possible ways to promote uptake and integration of climate-smart agriculture (CSA)-Technologies, Innovations and Management Practices (TIMPS) into…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore possible ways to promote uptake and integration of climate-smart agriculture (CSA)-Technologies, Innovations and Management Practices (TIMPS) into policy and practice in Nigeria through the development of actionable roadmaps to facilitate the process.
Design/methodology/approach
Two hundred and fifty-two stakeholders for the policy discourse and survey were purposively drawn from both government and private agencies, NGOs and community-based associations from the six geo-political zones of the country. Data collection was done using a mixed method comprising questionnaire administration, in-depth interviews and panel discussion. Data collected was summarised using descriptive statistics.
Findings
The major findings were lack of existing policies on CSA, lack of farmers’ awareness of CSA-TIMPs, neglect of extension programmes that can help to enlighten farmers on the importance of CSA and insufficient extension personnel to cater for farmers’ needs. Challenges to CSA-TIMPs uptake in Nigeria were: insufficient funding and support by government in programme planning and implementation, policy inconsistencies and poor farmers’ attitude and resistance to change.
Practical implications
This research will facilitate CSA uptake and integration through the provision of data for informed decision and action by the responsible agencies.
Originality/value
Suggested actionable roadmaps across the zones were robust awareness campaign and advocacy on uptake of CSA-TIMPs through e-extension, community TV/radio in local dialects; revitalisation of policy programmes such as monthly meetings should be reintroduced and creation of CSA Departments/Stations in each state; increased budget allocation to a minimum of 10% for agriculture, revitalisation of Researchers-Extension Agents-Farmers Linkage, employment of qualified extension agents and retraining of extension agents.
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Juan Chen, Nannan Xi, Vilma Pohjonen and Juho Hamari
Metaverse, that is extended reality (XR)-based technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), are increasingly believed to facilitate fundamental human…
Abstract
Purpose
Metaverse, that is extended reality (XR)-based technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR), are increasingly believed to facilitate fundamental human practice in the future. One of the vanguards of this development has been the consumption domain, where the multi-modal and multi-sensory technology-mediated immersion is expected to enrich consumers' experience. However, it remains unclear whether these expectations have been warranted in reality and whether, rather than enhancing the experience, metaverse technologies inhibit the functioning and experience, such as cognitive functioning and experience.
Design/methodology/approach
This study utilizes a 2 (VR: yes vs no) × 2 (AR: yes vs no) between-subjects laboratory experiment. A total of 159 student participants are randomly assigned to one condition — a brick-and-mortar store, a VR store, an AR store and an augmented virtuality (AV) store — to complete a typical shopping task. Four spatial attention indicators — visit shift, duration shift, visit variation and duration variation — are compared based on attention allocation data converted from head movements extracted from recorded videos during the experiments.
Findings
This study identifies three essential effects of XR technologies on consumers' spatial attention allocation: the inattention effect, acceleration effect and imbalance effect. Specifically, the inattention effect (the attentional visit shift from showcased products to the environmental periphery) appears when VR or AR technology is applied to virtualize the store and disappears when AR and VR are used together. The acceleration effect (the attentional duration shift from showcased products to the environmental periphery) exists in the VR store. Additionally, AR causes an imbalance effect (the attentional duration variation increases horizontally among the showcased products).
Originality/value
This study provides valuable empirical evidence of how VR and AR influence consumers' spatial bias in attention allocation, filling the research gap on cognitive function in the metaverse. This study also provides practical guidelines for retailers and XR designers and developers.
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Zoltán Krajcsák and Gyula Bakacsi
This study aims to answer the question of what characterizes organizations with future-potential, and with the help of a model introduced in this study, the authors propose what…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to answer the question of what characterizes organizations with future-potential, and with the help of a model introduced in this study, the authors propose what interventions can be identified and which improvements need to be made in traditional organizations so that they meet the requirements of future-potentiality.
Design/methodology/approach
A systematic literature review was conducted to identify management interventions. Citation and co-word analyses were also performed. Content analysis of 311 journal articles from the past five years was performed taking into account relevant keywords, and disciplinary narrowing was also applied. These articles were used to identify knowledge that could be used to suggest micro-, meso- and macro-level changes.
Findings
To develop the future potential of organizations, three organizational levels must be separated. The first is the micro level of relations between leaders and employees, where equity is a key value for future potentiality. It should be emphasized that not all employees’ organizational commitment is equally important for organizations with future potential, and leaders should strengthen their commitment according to individual needs and opportunities. The second is the meso level, where the decisive value is organizational moderation, and this suggests that a careful and restrained development is needed both in satisfying consumer needs and in innovation. The third is the macro level, where the defining value is responsibility and sustainability, which are necessary for achieving a state where the active development of national culture becomes possible.
Originality/value
Contrary to the authors’ expectations, it has been found that there are only a few studies dealing with change management for the purpose of achieving a future potential mode of organizational operation; thus, the results can be considered new and will contribute to the development of a cross-section of change management and future studies.
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Aswathy Sreenivasan and M. Suresh
This study aims to provide a thorough bibliometric analysis to illuminate the complex entrepreneurial environment in renewable energy.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a thorough bibliometric analysis to illuminate the complex entrepreneurial environment in renewable energy.
Design/methodology/approach
The Biblioshiny package of the R programming language was considered for in-depth analysis of the papers. To determine the future course of research, the authors use SciVal data and prominence percentiles related to particular study areas.
Findings
The findings show a growing interest in renewable energy entrepreneurship, as seen by rising annual production and citation rates. By revealing the interconnection of themes throughout the subject, keyword co-occurrence patterns illustrate its interdisciplinary nature. Sustainable development goal alignment highlights the field’s critical role in tackling global sustainability issues. This analysis gives researchers, decision-makers and practitioners a framework for navigating the terrain of renewable energy entrepreneurship.
Practical implications
Practical advice for promoting innovation and sustainability in the renewable energy sector is provided through insights into interdisciplinary intersections and sustainability alignment.
Originality/value
This paper adds to the body of literature by providing a comprehensive analysis of renewable energy entrepreneurship and highlighting how it affects sustainability. Including SciVal data with prominence percentiles suggests future research avenues and highlights the field’s originality and importance.