Frugal innovation and the digital divide:Developing an extended model of the diffusion of innovations

Based on diffusion of innovation(DOI)theory and economic consumption analysis as well as the concept of frugal innovation,this study develops an extended DOI model that theorizes the characteristics of the diffusion of frugal information communication technologies(ICTs)and their impacts on the Internet diffusion.This model posits that frugal digital ICTs diffuse more rapidly in developing countries than in developed countries and significantly bridge the digital divide between them.The diffusion of frugal smartphones is investigated as a case of the diffusion of frugal digital ICTs,which provides empirical evidence for the theoretical model presented herein.

Research on the Diffusion Model of Innovation

In this paper, the model of competing technologies diffusion was set up in order to analyze the relationship of competing technologies in diffusion process, and the stability of diffusion model with two kinds of competing technologies was analyzed. It is concluded that dominator can hold competing vantage by suppressing its opponent, and besides, whether competing technology can gain superiority in diffusion process depends on the success rates of technology diffusion when the two kinds of technology match each other in strength.

Optimal control of pricing strategy for diffusion model

This study presents a conceptual framework based on the new product diffusion and demand theory models. The proposed framework was creating a probability of demand function. Considering effectiveness of demand function transmitted by adopters, the optimal control policies of pricing are conducted according to the optimal control theorv.

Overconfidence and the adoption of robo-advice:why overconfident investors drive the expansion of automated financial advice

Adaptive online platforms,powered by artificial intelligence,commonly referred to as robo-advice,steadily increase their market share.Yet these comparably new financial services are critically understudied.Little is known about why some investors adopt robo-advice for something as essential as asset allocation.The current paper tries to close this gap by shedding light on the causal effect of investor overconfidence on the propensity of using robo-advice.The study proposes a theoretical framework that combines the divergence of opinion hypothesis with consumer behavior insights and information technology diffusion research.The framework is empirically tested on the Investor Sample of the 2015 National Financial Capability Study,a subsample of 2000 US investors.The results from a series of generalized linear,structural,and semipara-metric models show that in a pre-chasm market,overconfident investors have a significantly higher propensity of adopting robo-advice.While higher financial literacy seems to decrease robo-advice uptake,unjustified confidence in one’s knowledge causally increases it.Willingness to take financial risk cannot account for the significantly increased adoption of robo-advice among overconfident investors.The findings help managers to better position robo-advice by offering behavioral insights into their user base.In addition,the results outline a managerial tool to take demand-side actions to increase the likelihood of an end-user innovation crossing the chasm.

An Investigation on Telecommunication Staff＇s Acceptance of E-Learning Technology

As the information on telecommunication products updates rapidly, using E-learning in staff training becomes an edge for company operation. However, previous studies showed that staff＇s attitude toward E-learning significantly affected the outcomes of training. The purpose of this study is to investigate the acceptance of E-learning in a telecommunication company. The researchers adopted the technology acceptance model （TAM） and diffusion of innovation theory to evaluate the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use on E-learning, in addition to employees＇ self-directed learning motivation, attitude toward computers, and organizational influence. We randomly chose 571 employees of the telecommunication entrepreneur at the Taichung office in Taiwan to participate in this survey. The result showed that employees＇ background factors such as age, job position, marital status, education level and the scale of job unit had the significant impact on behavioral intention to use E-learning. Employees＇ self-directed learning, attitude toward computers, and organizational influence respectively also had positive effects on perceived usefulness of E-learning and perceived ease of use of E-learning. Furthermore, employees＇ perceived usefulness of E-learning and perceived ease of use of E-learning also had a positive effect on behavioral intention to use E-learning systems.

Cluster-Based Advantages in the Innovation Process： The Diffusion of Nanotechnology in Two Chinese Cities

Researchers have shown that ＂cluster＂ is a more useful unit of analysis than ＂nation＂ in innovation studies. Clusters are characterized by interconnected organizations, shared resources and frequent knowledge flows. Within national boundaries, multiple clusters with different relative advantages may coexist, and exhibit very different innovation patterns. Yet, in studies of innovation in emerging economies, there remains little attention on cluster-based advantages, and how these advantages generate distinct patterns of innovation. To bridge this gap, this study analyzes the diffusion patterns of nanotechnology in two Chinese clusters--Beijing and Shanghai. With different relative advantages, the diffusion of nanotechnology has been oriented by different levels of ＂imitation＂ and ＂innovation＂ forces in the two Chinese clusters. This study applies the Bass Model to quantify imitation and innovation forces, and compare the resultant diffusion patterns of nanotechnology in the two clusters with other technologies. Supplementary qualitative data is also provided to show how Chinese scientists perceive their relative advantages in different clusters. Among other things, the findings suggest that scientists of emerging economies favor the learning-by-doing principle while utilizing external networks.

ADOPTION OF GREEN BUILDING GUIDELINES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES BASED ON U.S.AND INDIA EXPERIENCES

In the wake of sustainable construction entering the mainstream,many developing countries are either currently pursuing green building guidelines or are planning to pursue them in the near future.This research attempts to formulate an implementation strategy for the rapid adoption of these guidelines for the developing nations.This implementation strategy is based on the detailed review of the major green building guidelines globally and contex-tual information of Indian society collected through a survey questionnaire.The proposed strategy shows that it is important for green building initiatives to identify:the organizations that accelerate the adoption of green building guidelines in a society,the incentives and barriers associated with the green building guidelines,and the necessary motivations for the adopter organizations.An informed approach in the form of this implementation strategy might potentially contribute to the acceleration of green building guidelines’adoption in developing countries.

Balance the Paradox between Limited Health Resources and Growing Demands for Medical Services

Health institutions in the People’s Republic of Chinaare under considerable challenge. Innovations in management systems may support the challenge to increase both efficiency and effectiveness. The balanced scorecard (BSC) is one such innova-tion. We have used a model to explore the factors that may impact the diffusion of the BSC in Chinese government hospitals. In particular, we concentrate on three factors — the outer context, the nature of the innovation and the communication and influence. The outer context and the nature of the innovation do provide an inducement to implement a BSC. The strength of the communica-tion and influence may affect the level of take-up. However, we recognise that they may choose the BSC not for any apparent technical excellence but for the legitimation that Western man-agement practices may bring to local managers.

Small and Medium Enterprises （SMEs） and Competitiveness： An Empirical Study

Globalisation and competitiveness affected the way of enterprises undertake innovation, particularly in the case of Small and Medium Enterprises （SMEs）. According with European Commission （2013） in Europe 99% of the enterprises is SMEs. SMEs all over the world are considered as the lifeblood of the economies. The importance of this research is justified by the predominance of SMEs that represents the majority of enterprises in Portugal. SMEs contribute to the creation of jobs, as well as to the competitiveness of the economies, specially, in crisis time. This study has two main objectives; firstly propose a literature review focused on competitiveness of SMEs. Secondly analysis a sample of 23 enterprises identified as leaders of Portuguese SMEs in 2012. The data considering a ranking list of the largest 1,000 Portuguese SMEs in 2012, published by Exame （2013）. This analysis considers some SMEs features such as, sales, market share, dimension, and sector. Additionally this research presents a SME case included in this database. Through the application of a questionnaire the study provides a complementary micro perspective of the factors that influences enterprises competitiveness. The questionnaire is divided into three parts： Part one refers to the characterization of the enterprise; Part two assesses the entrepreneurial competitiveness, considering nine questions to assess performance, six questions to assess internal processes and four questions to understand the relations with customers; and part three analyses the diffusion of innovation through three questions. Finally the study provides important clues relevant for the development of public policies that can support the innovation and competitiveness of SMEs. Moreover the discussions highlight some variables approached in literature review considered as pertinent in the case of innovative SME due to their contribution to exports and to economic growth.

Role of new ideas in the mobile phone market share

In this work,dynamics of diffusion of innovation in the smartphone markets is modeled by using an agent-based simulation in a period of 28 quarters starting from 2009.Rapid changes in smartphone technology affected the consumer preferences and two operating systems,namely Android and iOS,out of over 10 operating systems,and dominated the smartphone markets in a period of 6 years.The model aims to study the conditions of competition and adoption among similar high technology products.Relative roles of the essential parameters,namely affordability and social effects have been the main interest points in these studies.For this end,a simple,Cobb–Douglas production relation-based model on simple square lattice is introduced.The model parameters are adjusted to match the simulation results with the actual market shares data obtained from Statista.A clear relation between the model parameter values and global sales of different operating systems is observed.

Applicability of public sector reform initiatives of the Yemeni government from the integrated TOE-DOI framework

Effective resource allocation and accountability are critical for public services in countries facing a crisis,to ensure minimum inequality and even save lives.Administrative innovation is introduced as public sector reform to improve the performance and accountability of public sector organizations.Despite the said benefit,little has been done to study public administrative innovation in countries under crisis.This study extends the literature by examining the attitude of civil service managers to the administrative innovation in the Yemeni government representing a country in crisis from an integrated perspective of technology-organization-environment(TOE)and diffusion of innovation(DOI)theory.Data was collected from a survey of 200 civil service managers of the Yemeni central government.The result shows that the attitude of managers to private sector management style is scored the highest representing the key tool of the public administrative innovation.On the other hand,the downsizing elements were ranked the least significant as public sector reform elements.The explanatory model highlights the use of information technology,quality of human resources,and budget management orientation as significant factors for the applicability of public administrative innovation in the Yemeni central government.