Sunday Chinedu Eze and Vera Chinwedu Chinedu-Eze
The purpose of this paper is to examine how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are involved in emerging information and communication technology (EICT) adoption by concentrating…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are involved in emerging information and communication technology (EICT) adoption by concentrating on the adoption process and the role played by various actors in the process. Information and communication technology (ICT) adoption research, especially in SMEs, has moved from a simple adopters’ participation process to involving diverse actors that continually interact and influence the process. SMEs need to constantly interact with various human and non-human actors to keep up with the EICT adoption. However, this has proved difficult.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopted a qualitative method to examine the dynamic process of EICT adoption in service SMEs in the UK, and deployed both unstructured and semi-structured interviews in two separate rounds with 26 participants drawn from Crunch Online Database and Luton Business Directory. The participants include managers, customers, government agencies, SMEs consultants and information technology (IT) vendors, with the help of purposeful random sampling.
Findings
The study develops a framework informed by actor network theory (ANT) concepts and found that using ANT to examine the process of adoption helps to unveil the recursive nature of the process and the roles of actors which vary from one stage to another. The finding reveals that adoption of EICT is not straightforward; rather, it is evolutionary and dynamic, and small business managers’ play an important role in the process amidst other actors influence. The framework supports businesses of all types. Although ICT applications are influenced by diverse actors including IT experts, customers and vendors, the decision of SME managers regularly shape the values and beliefs of other actors if adequate information are conveyed by the numerous actors. Therefore, adoption of EICT is embraced faster by organizations, especially small businesses, if diverse actors are committed in conveying the right information to the key actors, thereby helping them to make adequate decision, and streamline their business processes.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited by its focus and other factors. Studying the opinions of small service UK SMEs limits the power of generalizing the identified causal relationships; therefore, extended measures are required on accounts of environmental, cultural, geographical and sectorial differences. While some errors seemed unavoidable when measures appear subjective and prone to common error biases, the study advised on recognizing the overriding influence of the roles at each stage of the adoption process to be proactive in committing resources.
Originality/value
This work is of value to practitioners and academics, as it provides further insight into ICT adoption framework by showing how the diverse actors guarantee EICT adoption in small service(s) businesses. This is relevant given that SMEs have limited knowledge of new ICT and understanding diverse actors and their roles in the adoption process would enhance their knowledge of the analysts in the context of new technology adoption and to cope with EICT continually amidst of the roles of actors in the adoption process. The framework serves as an analytical instrument in explaining ICT adoption process and its outcomes characterized by conflicting views.
Kojo Saffu, John H. Walker and Marica Mazurek
The goal of this paper is to examine the link between consumer ethnocentrism (CE) and the attitudes of two consumer groups to a buy local campaign in a transitioning economy…
Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this paper is to examine the link between consumer ethnocentrism (CE) and the attitudes of two consumer groups to a buy local campaign in a transitioning economy, Slovakia.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a structured questionnaire, data were collected from 211 non‐students at shopping malls in Banská Bystrica (non‐student group) and from 209 students at the University of Matej Bela, Banská Bystrica (student group) in Slovakia. Ethnocentrism was measured using the consumer ethnocentric tendencies scale (CETSCALE) while attitudinal statements were used to measure the attitudes toward locally made products and a buy local campaign. The attitudinal data were factor analysed and the correlations between the CETSCALE and the attitudinal statements were examined. Summative scales based on the factor analysis results were also developed.
Findings
A significant finding of this paper is the role of the government and industry in encouraging Slovakians to buy local. The nonstudent consumers to be less ethnocentric than the student group are found. The attitudinal statements of both groups toward Slovakian products are generally similar.
Originality/value
This research was designed to contribute to the discussion of CE by linking it to attitudes to a buy local campaign in a transitioning country.
Details
Keywords
Retail leakages caused by an increasing number of outshopping to other countries has become a growing concern among retailers in border areas. This research seeks to examine the…
Abstract
Retail leakages caused by an increasing number of outshopping to other countries has become a growing concern among retailers in border areas. This research seeks to examine the shopping behaviour and attitudes of Singaporeans in neighboring Malaysia and, specifically, the influence of demographic and retail characteristics on outshopping. The importance of various types of secondary costs of outshopping and the impact of consumer ethnocentrism on attitudes toward outshopping are also explored. Findings reveal that food, beverage and grocery products are the most commonly outshopped items. Competitive prices and ample parking space are major reasons for outshopping frequently. Frequent outshoppers perceive fewer secondary costs than infrequent outshoppers and, as a whole, they do not feel unwelcome or guilty when outshopping. In short, this research suggests that, as consumers engage in outshopping primarily for economic reasons, they do not experience a lack of national pride or low consumer ethnocentrism.
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Jay Moldenhauer‐Salazar and Liisa Välikangas
Until now there has been little attention paid to the emotional costs of innovation failures, and in particular, how prior innovation failures hinder subsequent new, related…
Abstract
Purpose
Until now there has been little attention paid to the emotional costs of innovation failures, and in particular, how prior innovation failures hinder subsequent new, related innovation. The saga of Sun Microsystems' Sun Ray computer illustrates the devastating impact of institutional innovation failure trauma. This paper aims to investigate its development.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors trace the development of Sun Microsystem's Sun Ray offering, which replaced its failed JavaStation product. As it was launched, the Sun Ray endeavor encountered the classic “innovator's dilemma” problems that are well known to those who attempt to champion disruptive innovations.
Findings
But despite its many strong competitive advantages, the Sun Ray computer has unsuccessfully struggled to catch hold with customers. To a large degree the causes are Sun Microsystems' inability to learn from its earlier innovative JavaStation failure and to recover from the trauma of that failure.
Research limitations/implications
To understand Sun Ray's story, the authors interviewed nearly 40 key people and compiled nearly 300 documents, from internal memos to market analyses to press releases to meeting minutes.
Practical implications
Companies can develop proactive management practices to prevent major trauma and consequent innovation paralysis. Six ways to do so are offered.
Originality/value
This is a study of a radical innovation that could have changed computing history. But Sun Ray, Sun's computing innovation was too closely associated with an earlier, highly traumatic and publicized failure of JavaStation and never really got a chance to prove its mettle. Overcoming such innovation trauma is a critical but underappreciated aspect of innovation management in companies such as Sun Microsystems that depend on continuous innovation for their competitiveness.
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Yong Cao, Yang Lu, Yueri Cai, Shusheng Bi and Guang Pan
This paper aims to imitate a cownose ray to develop a fish robot with paired flexible multi-fin-ray oscillating pectoral fins (OPFs) and control it to accomplish vivid stable 3-D…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to imitate a cownose ray to develop a fish robot with paired flexible multi-fin-ray oscillating pectoral fins (OPFs) and control it to accomplish vivid stable 3-D motions using central pattern generators (CPGs) and fuzzy algorithm.
Design/methodology/approach
The cownose ray’s asymmetric sine-like oscillations were analyzed. Then a cownose-ray-like fish robot named Robo-ray was developed, which has paired flexible multi-fin-ray OPFs to actively control the fin shape and two tail fins to control the depth. To solve the problem of coordinated control for multi-degree-of-freedom Robo-ray, CPGs were adopted. An improved phase oscillator as a CPG unit with controlled amplitude, phase lag, smooth frequency transition and asymmetric oscillation characteristic was established. Furthermore, the CPG-fuzzy algorithm was developed for vivid stable 3-D motions. The open-loop speed control, the closed-loop control of depth and yaw were established.
Findings
The kinematic comparisons indicate that Robo-ray imitates the cownose ray realistically. The experimental results of closed-loop are obtained that the depth error of Robo-ray is less than ±100 mm and the course error is less than ±3°. Furthermore, the comprehensive experiments demonstrate that Robo-ray has high mobility, stability and robustness.
Originality/value
This research makes the fish robot with OPF propulsion closer to practical applications in complex underwater environment, for instance, ocean explorations, water quality monitoring and stealth military reconnaissance. In addition, Robo-ray can be taken as a scientific tool for better understanding of the hydrodynamics of OPF batoid.
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Keywords
The purpose of this paper is to present improvements in X‐ray equipment, which are leading to wider use.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present improvements in X‐ray equipment, which are leading to wider use.
Design/methodology/approach
Developments in X‐ray sources and detectors are described. This is followed by a review of the more innovative equipment available for security and industrial applications.
Findings
Technological developments have produced smaller, lighter X‐ray systems and extended their applications to on‐site work. Multiple wavelength systems distinguish between different materials, and stereo systems remove ambiguities from X‐ray security imaging and allow 3D gauging of industrial components.
Originality/value
The paper highlights the availability of portable X‐ray systems and explains the underlying technology.
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Keywords
J.A. von Fraunhofer and G.A. Pickup
In the previous two articles the emphasis was on wet and electrochemical techniques, with particular reference to the potentiostat. The physical examination of corrosion products…
Abstract
In the previous two articles the emphasis was on wet and electrochemical techniques, with particular reference to the potentiostat. The physical examination of corrosion products is of equal importance, especially, for example, in the study of oxidation by dry gases at elevated temperatures where electrochemical studies are not normally feasible. In this article the application of physical techniques to corrosion studies will be discussed.
In both decorative and industrial applications of gold plating, but even more critically in the latter, accurate measurement of coating thickness is of vital importance to both…
Abstract
In both decorative and industrial applications of gold plating, but even more critically in the latter, accurate measurement of coating thickness is of vital importance to both the manufacturer and the user. To the former, working to increasingly stringent specifications, it may, in extreme cases, mean the difference between profit and loss if an excessive thickness is inadvertently applied due to some change in electrolyte or processing conditions, or if an unduly high average thickness must be used on barrel or vat plated components to ensure a minimum requirement on functional areas. To the user, it can equally mean the difference between operational success and failure of a gold plated part if plating thickness is below specification and the means used for measurement are not sufficiently precise to detect this. Control of coating thickness in gold plating is therefore a matter of vital concern, and never more so than at the present time when, in the face of the spectacular price increases of recent years, and in the virtual absence of viable alternatives to meet the exacting demands of applications in printed circuitry, semiconductor technology and the electronics industry in general, the need for maximum economy in gold usage has become increasingly urgent, as evidenced by the vigorous efforts currently devoted to the development and improvement of selective plating techniques, and the recent interest manifest in the possible replacement of essentially pure gold coatings by alloy deposits of 18 carat and lower where these may be technically acceptable. The present article offers a wide‐ranging survey of methods available for thickness measurement, with particular reference to gold plating, but including also some techniques which, whilst not finding current use, may be of potential interest in this context. This is the second and final part of this article, the first having appeared in Volume 1, Number 1, October (1974).
AN account is given or the principle of a three‐dimensional shadowgraph recorder, its exemplification in the laboratory and its application to models in open and closed jets…
Abstract
AN account is given or the principle of a three‐dimensional shadowgraph recorder, its exemplification in the laboratory and its application to models in open and closed jets. Details are given of photographical, mechanical and graphical methods of reconstruction of the form of the shock wave from the records obtained, including correction for refraction due to thick glass walls of tunnels.