Shakil M. Rahman, Ahmad Tootoonchi and Michael L. Monahan
The purpose of this paper is to determine if rural firms can utilize technology to communicate with their customers, compete for business, reduce costs, and improve operations to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to determine if rural firms can utilize technology to communicate with their customers, compete for business, reduce costs, and improve operations to maintain competitive advantage.
Design/methodology/approach
Businesses in the service area were anonymously surveyed to identify the perceived needs and benefits the firms had concerning digital technology. The various business sectors such as manufacturing, retail, construction, wholesale, financial services, healthcare, and food services were juxtaposed with there data to see if there were any correlations between the needs and perception of the categories of business and size of the businesses. The total number of respondents was 309, from five counties in three contiguous states located in Appalachia.
Findings
This study revealed answers to the following research questions: what percentage of annual business revenue is spent to improve technology? Does the business use computers and does it vary by industry and size? Is technological information important to business and does it vary by industry and size? What methods do businesses utilize to contact their customers and do they vary by size? Can technology reduce costs in business? Does new technology help business stay competitive?
Research limitations/implications
This study focused on five counties in Appalachia and its findings may not necessarily be applied to other populations. Future research could focus on underrepresented categories of business such as wholesale firms. In addition, the definition of technology needs to be consistent from business to business. Furthermore, the specific software applications used by firms, the training and their return on investment could be evaluated via the firm's classification, size, ownership, location, and number of employees.
Practical implications
Firms in Appalachia need to be encouraged to invest their hard‐earned profits in technology. These investments must be aligned with their business plans to provide cost‐saving, efficiency, and/or customer‐relationship benefits. Furthermore, state and country governments should promote technological advances, infrastructure development, and technological literacy. While this study focused on businesses in Appalachia, its implications and impact are far reaching. In this time of recession, unemployment, and financial hardships, the use of electronic technology may be a stimulus for job creation and competitiveness. Digital technologies have enabled firms of any size and at any location to improve their marketing, communications, and business operations to reach customers and improve efficiencies. Investments in electronic technologies could enable them to not only reach new customers, but also be competitive with their larger, urban counterparts.
Originality/value
This paper provides both theoretical and empirical data to increase the body of knowledge about small business practices in Appalachia. In addition, it cites the importance of technology for competitiveness.
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Representatives of five prominent library integrated system vendors—M.E.L. Jacob (OCLC), Joe Matthews (Inlex), Mike Monahan (Geac), Gene Robinson (CLSI), and Steve Salmon…
Abstract
Representatives of five prominent library integrated system vendors—M.E.L. Jacob (OCLC), Joe Matthews (Inlex), Mike Monahan (Geac), Gene Robinson (CLSI), and Steve Salmon (Carlyle)—express their views on ethics and the marketplace. The need for ethical behavior by all sectors of the marketplace—librarians, consultants, and vendors—is emphasized and illustrated. Four sidebars are included: one addresses the need for customer data rights standards; others contain the code of ethics/practice issued by three professional organizations for consultants.
This chapter outlines methodological difficulties and ethical dilemmas encountered during my fieldwork at a high-poverty, high-minority U.S. inner-city school. Using a qualitative…
Abstract
This chapter outlines methodological difficulties and ethical dilemmas encountered during my fieldwork at a high-poverty, high-minority U.S. inner-city school. Using a qualitative research design informed by the “new” sociology of childhood and constructivist grounded theory, I conducted child-centered research at the school for four months, including participant observations and interviews with 50 students. This chapter argues that good ethnographic research not only depends on solid research design but also requires researchers to be flexible, adaptable, and diplomatic. Especially regarding the “least adult” role, the dilemma of objectivity, lying in interviews, and the ethical predicament of students sharing sensitive information, I argue that ethnographic studies often require the researcher to act more like a diplomat maneuvering the stormy waters of contradictory interests than the objective observer described in the methodological literature. First-hand accounts of research exploring children’s own perspectives are scarce. Particularly difficulties and dilemmas encountered in the field are often mentioned only in passing, if they are mentioned at all. Novice researchers thus struggle to find information to guide their own endeavors and may set themselves up for frustration if they expect their research to be as predictable as the methodological literature suggests. The paucity of discussion of real-life difficulties encountered in the field also hinders scholarly dialog and obstructs the advancement of methodological and ethical questions surrounding research with children. This chapter hopes to help fill this gap.
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Shannon Brown and Michael Chikeleze
Our paper discusses the need for continued focus on ethical leadership and the importance and benefits of ethical leadership development. We propose integrating ethical leadership…
Abstract
Our paper discusses the need for continued focus on ethical leadership and the importance and benefits of ethical leadership development. We propose integrating ethical leadership development, that uses cognitive development theory, into the Center for Creative Leadership’s Assess, Challenge, and Support (ACS) leader development model to help address the continued failures of ethical leader development. Our extended framework includes values and morals as a component of the model, and ethical organizational culture as its backdrop, thereby incorporating an examination of ethical leadership into each component of the ACS model. We conclude with practical implications and suggestions for future research.
Endrit Kromidha, Levent Altinay, Gulsevim Kinali Madanoglu, Armiyash Nurmagambetova and Melih Madanoglu
Entrepreneurial intentions have traditionally been linked to an entrepreneur's personal ability to take advantage of opportunities. Yet, entrepreneurs' perceptions of contextual…
Abstract
Purpose
Entrepreneurial intentions have traditionally been linked to an entrepreneur's personal ability to take advantage of opportunities. Yet, entrepreneurs' perceptions of contextual factors, which extend beyond one's control, deserve equal attention. This paper looks at the role played by cultural intelligence and the institutional environment in shaping entrepreneurial intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
The role played by cultural intelligence in entrepreneurial intentions and the mediating role played by the institutional environment were studied quantitatively by analyzing 224 young potential entrepreneurs who had participated in a business plan competition. This study used cross-sectional data, developing an original full collinearity assessment approach to check for any common method bias.
Findings
This study reveals a positive relationship between cultural intelligence and entrepreneurial intentions. Likewise, any favorable perceptions of the institutional environment tend to increase the probability of engaging in entrepreneurship and further strengthen the positive effect of cultural intelligence on entrepreneurial intentions.
Originality/value
This study provides a holistic view of the relationship between the entrepreneur and the context in which ventures are created, explaining the role played by cultural intelligence in entrepreneurship based on evidence drawn from a developing country. This contributes to a critical reflection on personal and environmental factors and the antecedents of entrepreneurial intentions.
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George W. Ruch and Gary Taylor
We review and analyze the accounting literature that examines the effects of accounting conservatism on financial statements and financial statement users. We begin by analyzing…
Abstract
We review and analyze the accounting literature that examines the effects of accounting conservatism on financial statements and financial statement users. We begin by analyzing how conservatism affects the reported numbers on the financial statements. These studies primarily evaluate how conservatism affects earnings quality, including earnings persistence and the presence of earnings management. Next, we assess the effect of accounting conservatism on the users of the financial statements. We identify three primary users of the financial statements: (1) equity market users (2) debt market users and (3) corporate governance users. Within each of these categories, we analyze the findings of prior research and explore unanswered research questions. By analyzing the effects of accounting conservatism from a diverse range of research topics, we inform the discussion on the costs and benefits of accounting conservatism.
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Six vendors discuss the issues that most affect their role in the implementation of integrated systems within libraries. Major areas of concern include: 1) expectations versus…
Abstract
Six vendors discuss the issues that most affect their role in the implementation of integrated systems within libraries. Major areas of concern include: 1) expectations versus reality, 2) the nature of the vendor‐library relationship, and 3) the challenges of incorporating new technology and standards.