Juliana Hsuan, Marin Jovanovic and Diego Honorato Clemente
This study shows various pathways manufacturers can take when embarking on digital servitization (DS) journeys. It builds on the DS and modularity literature to map the strategic…
Abstract
Purpose
This study shows various pathways manufacturers can take when embarking on digital servitization (DS) journeys. It builds on the DS and modularity literature to map the strategic trajectories of product–service–software (PSSw) configurations.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is exploratory and based on the inductive theory building method. The empirical data were gathered through a workshop with focus groups of 15 servitization manufacturers (with 22 respondents), an on-site workshop (in-depth case study), semi-structured interviews, observations and document study of archival data.
Findings
The DS trajectories are idiosyncratic and dependent on design architectures of PSSw modules, balancing choices between standardization and innovation. The adoption of software systems depends on the maturity of the industry-specific digital ecosystem. Decomposition and integration of PSSw modules facilitate DS transition through business model modularity. Seven testable propositions are presented.
Research limitations/implications
With the small sample size from different industries and one in-depth case study, generalizing the findings was not possible.
Practical implications
The mapping exercise is powerful when top management from different functional departments can participate together to share their expertise and achieve consensus. It logs the “states” that the manufacturer undergoes over time.
Originality/value
The Digital Servitization Cube serves as a conceptual framework for manufacturers to systematically map and categorize their current and future PSSw strategies. It bridges the cross-disciplinary theoretical discussion in DS.
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Mukta Srivastava, Sreeram Sivaramakrishnan and Neeraj Pandey
The increased digital interactions in the B2B industry have enhanced the importance of customer engagement as a measure of firm performance. This study aims to map and analyze…
Abstract
Purpose
The increased digital interactions in the B2B industry have enhanced the importance of customer engagement as a measure of firm performance. This study aims to map and analyze temporal and spatial journeys for customer engagement in B2B markets from a bibliometric perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
The extant literature on customer engagement research in the B2B context was analyzed using bibliometric analysis. The citation analysis, keyword analysis, cluster analysis, three-field plot and bibliographic coupling were used to map the intellectual structure of customer engagement in B2B markets.
Findings
The research on customer engagement in the B2B context was studied more in western countries. The analysis suggests that customer engagement in B2B markets will take centre stage in the coming times as digital channels make it easier to track critical metrics besides other key factors. Issues like digital transformation, the use of artificial intelligence for virtual engagement, personalization, innovation and salesforce management by leveraging technology would be critical for improved B2B customer engagement.
Practical implications
The study provides a comprehensive reference to scholars working in this domain.
Originality/value
The study makes a pioneering effort to comprehensively analyze the vast corpus of literature on customer engagement in B2B markets for business insights.
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Paul Alonso Gaona-García, David Martin-Moncunill and Carlos Enrique Montenegro-Marin
This paper aims to present an overview of the challenges encountered in integrating visual search interfaces into digital libraries and repositories. These challenges come in…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to present an overview of the challenges encountered in integrating visual search interfaces into digital libraries and repositories. These challenges come in various forms, including information visualisation, the use of knowledge organisation systems and metadata quality. The main purpose of this study is the identification of criteria for the evaluation and integration of visual search interfaces, proposing guidelines and recommendations to improve information retrieval tasks with emphasis on the education-al context.
Design/methodology/approach
The information included in this study was collected based on a systematic literature review approach. The main information sources were explored in several digital libraries, including Science Direct, Scopus, ACM and IEEE, and include journal articles, conference proceedings, books, European project reports and deliverables and PhD theses published in an electronic format. A total of 142 studies comprised the review.
Findings
There are several issues that authors did not fully discuss in this literature review study; more specific, aspects associated with access of digital resources in digital libraries and repositories based on human computer interaction, i.e. usability and learnability of user interfaces; design of a suitable navigation method of search based on simple knowledge organisation schemes; and the use of usefulness of visual search interfaces to locate relevant resources.
Research limitations/implications
The main steps for carrying out a systematic review are drawn from health care; this methodology is not commonly used in fields such as digital libraries and repositories. The authors aimed to apply the fundamentals of the systematic literature review methodology considering the context of this study. Additionally, there are several aspects of accessibility that were not considered in the study, such as accessibility to content for disabled people as defined by ISO/IEC 40500:2012.
Originality/value
No other systematic literature reviews have been conducted in this field. The research presents an in-depth analysis of the criteria associated with searching and navigation methods based on the systematic literature review approach. The analysis is relevant for researchers in the field of digital library and repository creation in that it may direct them to considerations in designing and implementing visual search interfaces based on the use of information visualisation.
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This chapter aims to improve the mechanisms of economic integration between Russia and Cuba. The methodology used by the author in this chapter is mainly composed of the method of…
Abstract
This chapter aims to improve the mechanisms of economic integration between Russia and Cuba. The methodology used by the author in this chapter is mainly composed of the method of historical-comparative, inductive, and analytical-synthetic analysis. The author used the existing information on the internet and other analyzed references. Additionally, the author qualitatively analyzed the opinions of various experts and drew conclusions. Regional integration is examined conceptually as a basis for a better understanding of integration processes. The research provides historical data after including Cuba in the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA), considering this structure as the first one with characteristics of an economic integration structure. Next, the author considered the post-Soviet stage until the present. Statistical data according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) summary are provided. These data correspond to the periods from 2018 to 2021 and show the statistics of exports, imports, and other important indicators between the two countries. Based on the analysis, it is necessary to update the integration mechanisms to reduce tariff rates, promote free trade between the two countries, and increase the participation of Russian companies in the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZED Mariel), Havana, Cuba.
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Rafael Molina-Carmona, María Luisa Pertegal-Felices, Antonio Jimeno-Morenilla and Higinio Mora-Mora
Spatial ability is essential for engineers’ professional performance. Several studies describe it as a skill that can be enhanced using new technologies. Virtual reality (VR) is…
Abstract
Spatial ability is essential for engineers’ professional performance. Several studies describe it as a skill that can be enhanced using new technologies. Virtual reality (VR) is an emerging technology that is proving very useful for training different skills and improving spatial perception. In this chapter, the authors firstly present some previous works that use VR to train students, mainly in the area of engineering studies, and which demonstrate that VR can improve some aspects of the spatial perception. This study took a group of engineering students who used VR technologies to carry out learning activities designed to improve their spatial perception, which was measured with a widely used spatial ability test. The results obtained confirm that the use of VR technologies can improve students’ spatial perception. This proposal is easily transferable to other educational contexts. On the one hand, it could be implemented to improve spatial ability in other engineering studies, and on the other hand, with simple adaptation, it could be used to enhance other skills.
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José Ernesto Amorós, Marcelo Leporati and Alfonso Jesús Torres-Marín
The main objective of this research is to exploratorily analyse different factors that influence the decision of the senior population (+50 years) to engage in entrepreneurship…
Abstract
Purpose
The main objective of this research is to exploratorily analyse different factors that influence the decision of the senior population (+50 years) to engage in entrepreneurship activities in a group of Latin American countries. This study considers the motivations for entrepreneurship (opportunity and necessity) and the level of development of the countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) with a sample of 22,139 observations of senior individuals in seven Latin American countries surveyed between 2013 and 2017. The authors also used the Human Development Index to capture the relevance of the level of development. The authors employed a multilevel logistic regression model to test the study hypotheses.
Findings
The study results show that individual factors such as personal income, education and occupation have a significant influence on the probability of entrepreneurship of senior individuals. Related to contextual factors, the level of human development of a country has a negative influence mainly on opportunity-based entrepreneurs.
Originality/value
Because of the rapidly ageing population in Latin America, understanding senior entrepreneurs and their motivations is very relevant not only in terms of theoretical development but also for policy and practical implications, primarily those related to labour markets and social protection.
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Alessandro Marelli and Andrea Dello Sbarba
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of performance measurement systems (PMS) within the context of digital servitization (DS), especially in collaborations…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of performance measurement systems (PMS) within the context of digital servitization (DS), especially in collaborations involving multiple actors. The paper adopts a bottom-up ecosystem perspective to gain insights into how companies can effectively manage the complexities of digital transformation in the servitization domain.
Design/methodology/approach
This research draws upon a longitudinal case study within the wine and spirit supply chain. It focuses on a logistics company, “GR”, which has promoted a DS strategy to offer advanced services and enhance the competitiveness of the entire ecosystem.
Findings
The study offers valuable insights into the evolution of PMS roles throughout the DS journey, promoting cooperation, coordination, collaboration and control among ecosystem actors, thereby facilitating the development of a DS strategy.
Research limitations/implications
The study is focused on a logistics company with unique capabilities and networks. Future research should include a broader range of contexts. Furthermore, our analysis focuses on the initial stages of ecosystem emergence, particularly the initiation and momentum phases. Further research should explore how DS impacts organizations in the following ecosystem phases.
Practical implications
This research offers valuable insights for managers, particularly in the development of DS strategy. It underscores the significance of PMS as key facilitators in crafting DS strategy and in the broader ecosystem evolution. The findings demonstrate that PMS is instrumental across different phases of the servitization process, improving aspects such as performance monitoring, resource allocation, collaboration and communication. Moreover, this study emphasizes the importance for small and medium-sized enterprises manufacturers and logistics firms to build and nurture collaborative relationships with various supply chain stakeholders to successfully implement a servitization strategy. In the wine industry, embracing a multiactor perspective is crucial. The delivery of advanced services necessitates a wide spectrum of knowledge and skills on one hand, and adaptability and flexibility in developing relationships on the other.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the literature on management accounting by exploring the role of PMS in DS. It reveals that PMS acts as a fundamental enabler, promoting seamless coordination and collaboration among various actors involved in DS. This sheds light on the transformative potential of PMS in creating a collaborative environment, where multiple organizations work together to offer value-added services.
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is a rapidly emerging technology that has revolutionised teaching and learning, administrative tasks and research in higher education…
Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education is a rapidly emerging technology that has revolutionised teaching and learning, administrative tasks and research in higher education. The emergence of AI in higher education has impacted the evolving roles of faculty and students, how data is examined and how results are delivered. In this chapter, the different aspects of the role of AI and the transformative power of AI in both academic and administrative spheres are revealed. The case studies presented and future directions reveal AI's capability in transforming education and preparing for an AI-driven workforce. The personalisation of learning experiences, automation of administrative tasks, enhancement of research and impact on instructional design, all made possible through AI, reveal the possibility of tackling long-standing challenges in education, such as accessibility, engagement and efficiency. In the AI-enhanced future that higher education institutions navigate, it is vital to hold on to the principle that AI should be used as a tool for empowerment, innovation and transformation, ensuring that learning goes through the required progress.
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Bing Peng-Loong Wong, M. Abu Saleh, Raechel Johns and Ravi Chinta
Despite the important role that exploitation plays in innovation and new product development (NPD), research on the relative impact of internal organisational stocks of existing…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the important role that exploitation plays in innovation and new product development (NPD), research on the relative impact of internal organisational stocks of existing knowledge on subsequent exploitation is largely absent. In particular, there is lack of clarity within the extant literature regarding the associations between organisational exploitation and, respectively, the distal-proximal technological experience and radical-incremental innovative experience generated by multiproduct firms. Thus, this study seeks to further enhance researchers’ theoretical understanding on the relationship between organisational exploitation and internal knowledge stocks categorised along two dimensions of organisational experience accumulated by multiproduct firms that have not previously been considered jointly.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper pursues a focussed literature review approach and applies the underlying theory of exploitation to develop a theory explaining the possible relationships between organisational exploitation and internal knowledge stocks.
Findings
Based on the theory of exploitation, this paper proposes a new direction in studying the various internal knowledge stocks and their respective impact on subsequent organisational exploitation.
Practical implications
The proposed research direction suggests an emerging framework of possible relationships between exploitative new radical products development in firms, and respectively, proximal and distal technological experience, and radical and incremental innovative experience, accumulated in multiproduct firms. This novel framework can guide further research on this topic.
Originality/value
To fill a research gap regarding the possible relationships between subsequent exploitative endeavours and two dimensions of organisational experience that have been traditionally associated with the exploration-exploitation construct, this paper proposes and develops a novel typology of knowledge stocks categorised along two dimensions of organisational experience accumulated by multiproduct firms that have not previously been considered jointly in the literature.
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Walter Vesperi, Anna Maria Melina, Concetta Lucia Cristofaro and Marzia Ventura
Family businesses are characterized by the simultaneous presence of the family and the business system. The literature analyses sporadically the family support during the creation…
Abstract
Purpose
Family businesses are characterized by the simultaneous presence of the family and the business system. The literature analyses sporadically the family support during the creation of a new family business. For this reason, the aim of this article is to offer new reflections and theoretical approaches in the field of family business studies. In fact, the study focuses on the first generation and the relationship and support with the previous generation (latent generation).
Design/methodology/approach
This perspective paper is based on a concise review of the literature.
Findings
The results of this offer a state of the art, synthesized and integrated, on the first generation to proposal the reader new knowledge on the first generation and relationships with family members.
Originality/value
This perspective paper distinguishes between the first generation formally engaged in the family business and the latent generation. The authors identify latent generation as a generation coeval with the first that supports the entrepreneur without being formally engaged in the family business. This study summarizes existing research on the first generation, highlighting the crucial role of the latent generation. Considering the latent generation determines an implicit and tacit generational transition not yet considered in the literature on the topic This study provides new research directions for scholars and managers to understand the entrepreneurial behaviors of families, family members and family businesses.