Emerald | Industrial Management & Data Systems | Table of Contents

INNOVATION AND IMITATION EFFECTS’ DYNAMICS IN TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION

Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - Investigates longitudinal patterns of ICT and non-ICT products’ adoption over life cycles.Design/methodology/approach - The Bass diffusion model is used to discern distinctive changes in users’ adoption behavior due to the innovation and the imitation effects.Findings - The innovation effect is more influential for innovators and opinion leaders than it is for all adopters. However, it diminishes as time passes. Conversely, the imitation effect becomes a more powerful factor for the early majority, late majority and laggards. The imitation effect in the ICT industry is greater than that in the non-ICT industry, revealing the high network effect in ICT diffusion.Research limitations/implications - Mobile phones are not the representative of all ICTs as the automobiles also do not represent all utility products. More ICT and conventional products need to be included and compared for greater generalization of the results from different countries. Practical implications - By identifying the strong innovation effect of a new product at the early stage of its adoption, and the social network effect in the acceleration of the adoption speed through massive numbers of imitating consumers, this research reveals the ever shrinking product life cycle and therefore the importance of continuous disruptive innovation as a competitive strategy for organizations. Originality/value - Provides new theoretical insights into the technology adoption research by using a mathematical modeling methodology using real data. Study provides new insights into the strategic implications of innovation and imitation effects for technology service providers.

Forecasting Diffusion of Innovative Technology at Pre-Launch

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Taegu Kim, Jungsik Hong, Hoonyoung Koo) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The purpose of this study is to propose a systematic method for the diffusion of forecasting technology in the pre-launch stage.Design/methodology/approach - We designed survey question items that are familiar to interviewees as well as algebraically transformable into the parameters of a logistic diffusion model. In addition, we developed a procedure that reduces inconsistency in interviewee responses, removes outliers, and verifies conformability, in order to reduce the error and yield robust estimation results.Findings - The results show that our method performed better in the empirical cases of digital media broadcasting and Internet protocol television in terms of sum of squared error compared with an existing survey-based method, a regression method, and the guessing-by-analogy method. Specifically, our method can reduce the error by using the conformability and outlier tests, while the consistency factor contributes to determining the final estimate with personal estimates.Research limitations/implications - The procedure proposed in this study is confined to the presented logistic model. Future research should aim to extend its application to other representative diffusion models such as the Bass model and the Gompertz model.Practical implications - Our method provides a better quality of forecasting for innovative new products and services compared with the guessing-by-analogy method, and it contributes to managerial decisions such as those in production planning.Originality/value - We introduce the concepts of conformability and consistency in order to reduce the error from personal biases and mistakes. Based on these concepts, we develop a procedure to yield robust estimation results with less error.

Application of Agent Technology for Recycling-Oriented Product Assessment

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The paper describes idea and implementation of the computer tool for computer-aided recycling-oriented design. Nowadays there is a strong tendency to take into account the impact of a product on environment. The authors concentrated on the issue of recycling process of the product, taken into account on the phase of its design. The purpose, structure, technology and example results are presented in this paper.Design/methodology/approach - It was assumed that analysis will be performed based on a set of measures of a product. These measures, (developed by authors), describing the product from the recycling point-of-view are calculated automatically, according to the changes (variants) in the product's model. In order to achieve such functionality, the typical product structure has been augmented on some additional data, concerning connections and materials. The presented tool bases on agent technology. The structure of the system - the agents, its roles, communication between them has been described.Findings - The main achievement of the work presented in this paper is the method supporting eco-design based on agent technology. Based on the analysis of the process of recycling-oriented eco-design the authors designed and then implemented the tool that aids designers’ activities in the area of eco-design. The drawn-up method supports decision making concerning designing environmental-friendly products. Thanks to the agent technology the design process can be conducted in the distributed design environment.Research limitations/implications - The usage of presented computer-aided recycling-oriented system during design process requires the duplication of some of the engineer's work. The analysis is performed within the presented tool, outside the typical contemporary design environment, such as CAD 3D systems. As consequence, there is a need to enter the product structure into the described system, what can be inconvenient. The further work of the authors assumes implementation of this concept into CAD 3D system.Originality/value - According to the authors' knowledge, there has been a limited amount of research works of application agent technology in the field of end-of-life-oriented design. The structure of the system, the measurements and idea of extended of product structure are the original results of the work. The results could be implemented into commercial computer-aided design systems, especially of its group called PLM (Product Lifecycle Management), because of the weak representation of end-of-life phases in these tools.

Productivity management: integrating the intellectual capital

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - The intangible assets are important today as knowledge and innovation are the key drivers to long-term business competitiveness. In other words, this competitiveness requires the productive use of the intangible assets. Thus, measuring productivity should underline their importance within an organization. Therefore, the study aims to examine whether the Intellectual Capital or IC can be used to support productivity measurement. Design/methodology/approach - The research methodology consists of two stages, derived from the management process which deals with measurement and analysis. The first stage tests the interrelationships between productivity (namely value-added labor productivity) and the IC. This test is based on a company’s financial reports and the IC survey. The second stage focuses on better understanding on how IC can be analyzed. Altogether 10 leading manufacturers, with 270 executives and managers, have participated in the survey. Important statistical techniques such as Pearson Correlation are integrated. Moreover, the consideration into the validity of the survey items (e.g., the non-respondent bias analysis) is illustrated.Findings - Because of the significant relationships between the IC and value-added productivity, measuring the IC can strengthen ongoing productivity measurement efforts on a firm’s intangible assets. In other words, the IC can become a surrogate for productivity measurement. To assist the IC analysis further, the IC is positively influenced by innovation, learning organization, knowledge management, and self-directed learning respectively. In other words, the innovation appears to have the highest impact on the IC level while the ability of an organization to learn and to apply knowledge also has considerable influences. Practical implications - Particularly, for the firms that attempting to gain better insights into its intangible assets’ productivity, the IC could be considered as one of the potential surrogates. In other words, gaining the knowledge on the productivity level should be more helpful to managerial decisions and policies. The findings also illustrate the framework on the IC analysis. For examples, this framework highlights the importance of how a firm’ staffs interact with the customers and the need to understand their needs. These interactions and learning should lead to better knowledge on customers. Originality/value - The emerging use of the term value-added highlights the importance of IC within the context of productivity measurement. Past studies have focuses on relating some the IC components such as innovation and quality of work life to the productivity level. This study attempts to look at the IC in a more comprehensive manner.

Competitive Priorities of Small Manufacturers in Brazil

Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - To examine the state of small manufacturing companies in Brazil. The paper seeks to identify their competitive priorities based on their recent developments and their anticipated opportunities and challenges.Design/methodology/approach - Exploratory study based on semi-structured telephone interviews. The interview guide contained around 30, mainly open-ended questions. Findings - The research both confirms and refutes previous research. It refutes the ‘traditional view’ that small firms are driven by cost, quality, flexibility and delivery only; it supports recent research which has argued that there has been a shift in terms of what competitive priorities are being pursued. More specifically, innovativeness was identified as an important new competitive priority, but there was little evidence in support of other recently proposed priorities like security and sustainability. Research limitations/implications - This study is restricted to one area of Brazil (São Carlos). Further research is therefore necessary to confirm the relevance of the findings to other small firms in other regions, e.g. through a large scale survey.Practical implications - Innovativeness is identified as a major competitive priority. This may influence the manufacturing strategy pursued by small manufacturers in order to create the capabilities necessary to compete.Originality/value - Much of the available literature focuses on large firms in developed economies, and it assumes operations strategy is built on four ‘traditional’ broad competitive priorities. This study provides insight into the state of small manufacturers in an emerging economy. It identifies innovativeness as a fifth key priority and argues that firms must compete on a blend of outcomes; this adds to the complexity of managerial tasks.

Changing role of the Slovenian defence industry

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Štefan Bojnec) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - This paper contributes to the literature on changing role of the defence sector in the economy at industry and enterprise levels focusing on defence-civilian cooperation and defence supply networking with foreign industry enterprises from complex industry-perspective.Design/methodology/approach - Measuring is based on the comparative industry data and the unique survey evidence for the Slovenian defence industry enterprises to derive managerial and policy implications.Findings - The role of the defence industry in the economy declined, but trade deficits from arms and ammunition increased. The industry enterprises can gain from defence-civilian cooperation and defence supply chain networking with foreign industry enterprises. Information-coordination institutions are seen to provide opportunities for future industry development in Slovenia.Research limitations/implications - This research focuses on Slovenia. Future enhancement of the research would be to look into the possibility of applying the findings to other countries. The size of the enterprise, and even more the size of the country, they do matter in the defence-market chain activities.Practical implications - The proposed industry firm-level survey approach provides useful policy and managerial implications in the evaluation of defence industry supply and market chain cooperation and networking activities with foreign industry enterprises. The study proves the usefulness of the results, both to the future organizational development and as a decision-making tool in the complex industry systems.Originality/value - This paper adds to the industry firm-level analyses as data management tools for evaluating the defence-civilian cooperation and networking of complex industry market chain activities for more effective management.

Examining Technological Innovation of Apple Using Patent Analysis

literatinetwork@emeraldinsight.com (Sunghae Jun, Sang-Sung Park) — Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - Apple is a representative company of technological innovation (TI) and management. It has launched new and innovative products since 1977, and many companies and business schools around the world have attempted to learn about the success story of Apple’s innovation. However, most previous research works on Apple’s innovation have been based on qualitative approaches such as experts’ opinions. Such studies offer a subjective point of view. By contrast, in this paper we study the TI and forecasting of Apple by analyzing its patent applications, which is an objective approach to examining the innovation of Apple from a technological perspective.Design/methodology/approach - TI is an important issue concerning technology management for companies and governments. To examine Apple’s TI, we analyze all applied patents and construct analytical models according to three approaches. First, we build statistical models using the time series regression and multiple linear regression methods to create a technology map. Second, we cluster all Apple’s patents to find its vacant technology domain. Lastly, we use social network analysis to search for technologies central to Apple’s future. Findings - Our study shows the technological trends and relations between Apple’s technologies. This research finds vacant technology areas and central technologies for Apple’s TI.Practical implications - Using statistical and machine learning methods, we analyze all Apple’s patents in order to predict the firm’s future technologies. This research contributes to examining the TI of Apple. Therefore, the results of the patent analysis can highlight the technological opportunities for Apple’s TI.Originality/value - Traditional TI models have been based on qualitative methods. Previous investigations of Apple’s TI have also relied on traditional analytical approaches. In this paper, however, we develop a quantitative and objective approach for examining Apple’s TI.

Process Quality and Collaboration Quality on B2B E-Commerce

Fri, 21 Jun 2013 00:00:00 +0100

Abstract

Purpose - This study proposes two additions to the existing IS Success Model to influence usefulness and satisfaction, and ultimately customer loyalty. This study posits that process quality and collaboration quality will significantly influence perceptions on satisfaction, since both considerations are expected to improve interactions between the organization and its customers.Design/methodology/approach - The developed research model was tested in the context of B2B e-commerce users, employing structural equation modeling to analyze and test the research hypotheses.Findings - Results show that adding process and collaboration quality to the model affects the way system, information, and service quality influences usefulness and satisfaction, suggesting a shift in perspectives and priorities when it comes to B2B e-commerce transactions. Furthermore, results show that collaboration quality has a significant effect on satisfaction, reinforcing the objective of using B2B e-commerce systems across supply chain members.Originality/value - This study also extends the IS Success Model, especially in the context of B2B e-commerce, by emphasizing behavioral considerations on top of the functional issues present in any information systems.