How to balance your technology sourcing portfolio in a developing country

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-84
Author(s):  
Sajjad Shekarchian ◽  
Amir Albadvi
Keyword(s):  
Developing Country ◽  
National Level ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Global Communication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Communication Barrier ◽  
Technology Sourcing

Purpose To gain the highest performance in technological efforts, firms have to balance their technology sourcing portfolio, i.e. they have to decide how to source the required technology and whom to source from. This paper aims to tackle the issue by investigating the factors affecting the technology sourcing portfolio composition and the effect of the portfolio diversity on the performance outcome. Design/methodology/approach An inductive multiple case study was performed. Data of four biopharmaceutical producer firms in the period of 1998-2017 were collected. To expand the under study time span, the under study firms were all chosen from the first-comer ones. They entered the NBP arena in the 1998-2008 period, i.e. the period in which Iranian NBP industry was in its formation stage. Findings This paper detects the affecting technology-, firm-, industry- and national level factors in Iran biopharmaceutical industry and analyses their influencing mechanism. It is demonstrated that there are factors in a developing country, specifically Iran, which do not matter in developed countries. In addition, the synergistic effect of using various technology sources vehicles is confirmed. Social implications Inaccessibility to infrastructures and global communication barrier problems are features of Iran innovation system. Such features discourage the foreign firms to make long-term investments in Iran which consequently deprives Iranian firms of their knowledge and technology. The modification of these problems is suggested. Originality/value Factors such as access to infrastructures and global communication barrier are not prevalent in developed countries; therefore, less attention has been paid to them in the literature.

Determinants of innovation performance of organizations in a regional innovation system from a developing country

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-362
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Ortega ◽  
Maribel Serna
Keyword(s):  
Developing Country ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Innovation Performance ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge ◽  
Nonparametric Statistical ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Variables affecting the innovation performance (IP) in regional innovation systems (RIS) have been widely studied in developed countries, while little information exists for the case of developing countries. Based on the innovation economics theory, this study aims to examine determinants of IP of organizations within the RIS of Medellin/Antioquia, Colombia (South America). Design/methodology/approach By using nonparametric statistical analyses, this study tests six research hypotheses through a randomly applied questionnaire, responded by 1,005 organizations belonging to the RIS of Medellin/Antioquia. Findings Results indicate that the economic sector, firm size, level of interaction with different parties and level of interaction with academic partners have a significant impact on IP in the RIS. Nevertheless, the number of employees in research and development and the adoption of new technologies have no significant effect. Practical implications Based on the results, this study identifies innovation determinants that managers and policymakers should consider when formulating strategies to improve organizations’ IP. The result of this paper may provide valuable insights for the study of RIS’ determinants and support further research in similar contexts. Originality/value This paper contributes to the limited body of knowledge regarding the variables that impact the IP of organizations in a RIS from a developing country. This paper also examines possible explanations for those hypotheses that were not supported, showing differences between developing and developed countries.

scholarly journals Challenges and critical factors of interagency information sharing in Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 791-806
Author(s):  
Djoko Sigit Sayogo ◽  
Sri Budi Cantika Yuli ◽  
Wiyono Wiyono
Keyword(s):  
Public Participation ◽  
Information Sharing ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Critical Factors ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Public Managers

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges and critical factors of interagency information sharing (IIS) from the perspectives of technology, organization, policy and public participation in a developing country. Design/methodology/approach This study conducted a case study encompassing documentation analysis and in-depth semi-structured interviews of 15 public managers and other public officials in the Regency of Bojonegoro, Indonesia. Findings The findings demonstrate that addressing factors residing in organizational and policy and regulations challenges are critical and should precede the needs of technology. The findings also identified three factors affecting IIS in a developing country. First, the embeddedness of agencies in rigid bureaucratic and autocratic structure complicates the collaboration in IIS, such as promoting jurisdiction conflicts. Second, this study identifies the crucial influence of top executives on every activity in IIS, including resolving conflicts. Finally, political instability augments the crucial function of creating public awareness and participation. Public awareness and participation become more critical because public support carries political precedent that eventually affects the continuity of ICTs initiatives. Research limitations/implications Owing to the chosen research approach, the research results may lack generalizability beyond Indonesia. Furthermore, this research design did not specify the interviewees to rank and prioritize the challenges and critical factors, nor that the authors ask for the strategy to alleviate the challenges. Practical implications The challenges of data management engender practical implication in which public managers should focus more on communicating and socializing, as well as providing training on the importance of data and the new technology not only early in the phase of the project but also during the implementation. Furthermore, in the effort to ensure the continuity of the project, public managers could continuously nurture public participation and spark public interest through the use of social media. Originality/value Many studies on the challenges of implementing IIS focusing in developed countries might overlook the possible distinctive challenges affecting the adoption of IIS by the government in developing countries. This study identified several unique contexts and critical situational factors affecting interagency information sharing pertinent to a developing country.

Social capital and national innovation system: a cross-country analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sepehr Ghazinoory ◽  
Ali Bitaab ◽  
Ardeshir Lohrasbi
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
National Level ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Positive Effect

Purpose – In the last two decades, researchers have paid much attention to the role of cultural values on economic and social development. In particular, the crucial role of different aspects of culture on the development of innovation has been stressed in the literature. Consequently, it is vital to understand how social capital, as a core cultural value, affects the innovation process and the innovative performance at the national level. However, to date, the impact of different dimensions of social capital and innovation has not been properly portrayed or explained. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of four different dimensions of social capital (institutional and interpersonal, associational life and norms) on two of the main functions of national innovation system (NIS) (entrepreneurship and knowledge creation) based on over 50,000 observations in 34 countries. Design/methodology/approach – In this regard, national-level data from the World Values Survey database was employed to quantify social capital. Entrepreneurship is, in turn, assumed to consist of three sub-indexes and 14 indicators based on the Global Entrepreneurship Index. Knowledge creation is also measured through US Patent Office applications. Also, exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modeling approach were used to build the measurement model and investigate the impact that each factor of social capital had on entrepreneurship and knowledge application, respectively. Measurement and structural models were built and their reliability and validity were tested using various fit indices. Research findings suggest the strong positive effect of institutional trust and networking on entrepreneurship. Also, interpersonal trust and networks were shown to have high influence on knowledge development at the national level. Norms appear to have naïve to medium negative effects on both functions. Findings – Research findings suggest the strong positive effect of institutional trust and networking on entrepreneurship. Also, interpersonal trust and networks were shown to have high influence on knowledge development at the national level. Norms appear to have naïve to medium negative effects on both functions. Originality/value – However, to date, the impact of different dimensions of social capital and innovation has not been properly portrayed or explained.

How do public companies respond to national challenges through sustainability reporting? – The case of Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinithi Dissanayake ◽  
Carol A. Tilt ◽  
Wei Qian
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
National Level ◽  
National Development ◽  
Sustainability Reporting ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Integrative Social Contracts Theory ◽  
Reporting Practices

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore how sustainability reporting is shaped by the global influences and particular national context where businesses operate. Design/methodology/approach The paper uses both content analysis of published sustainability information and semi-structured interviews with corporate managers to explore how sustainability reporting is used to address unique social and environmental challenges in a developing country – Sri Lanka. The use of integrative social contracts theory in investigating sustainability reporting offers novel insights into understanding the drivers for sustainability reporting practices in this particular country. Findings The findings reveal that managers’ perceptions about usefulness of sustainability reporting, local contextual challenges and global norms influence the extent to which companies engage in sustainability reporting and the nature of sustainability information reported. In particular, Sri Lankan company managers strive to undertake sustainability projects that are beneficial not only to their companies but also to the development of the country. However, while company managers in Sri Lanka are keen to undertake sustainability reporting, they face different tensions/expectations between global expectations and local contextual factors when undertaking sustainability projects and reporting. This is also showcased in what is ultimately reported in company annual reports, where some aspects of sustainability, e.g. social, tend to focus more on addressing local concerns whereas other disclosures are on issues that may be relevant across many contexts. Research limitations/implications Important insights for government and other regulatory authorities can be drawn from the findings of this study. By capitalising on the strong sense of moral duty felt by company managers, policymakers can involve the business sector more to mitigate the social and environmental issues prevalent in Sri Lanka. The findings can also be used by other developing countries to enable pathways to engage with the corporate sector to contribute to national development agendas through their sustainability initiatives and projects. Originality/value While the usual understanding of developing country’s company managers is that they try to follow global trends, in Sri Lanka, this research shows how managers are trying to align their responsibilities at a national level with global principles regarding sustainability reporting. Therefore, this paper highlights how both hypernorms and microsocial rules can interact to define how company managers undertake sustainability reporting in a developing country.

Corporate social responsibility of mining industries

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 367-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepankar Sharma ◽  
Priya Bhatnagar
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Social Responsibility ◽  
Community Development ◽  
Social Responsibility ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Advanced Technology ◽  
Foreign Firms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Corporate Social

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the community development approaches of large-scale mining companies, with particular reference to how they may engender community dependency. Design/methodology/approach – The paper begins with a review of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the mining industry, corporate community initiatives and the problem of mining dependency at a national, regional and local levels. Findings – It outlines some of the reasons why less-developed countries (LDCs) experience under-development and detrimental effects as a result of their linkages with industrialized countries. LDCs are not able to take advantage of advanced technology and management skills due to being relatively poor in capital and skills, and foreign technologies compete unfairly with and destroy local production techniques, creating a pool of unemployable “marginalized” people. Holder’s of investments in LDCs demand annual returns for continued support – profits are taken out of the country or guaranteed by tax concessions. Unwillingness of foreign firms to train local people to take over management positions. Originality/value – This paper explores how the need to address sustainability issues has affected communities, and whether community development initiatives have been effective in contributing to more sustainable communities.

A technological innovation system approach to analysis knowledge spillover, the case of rotary-wing technology in Iran

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 537-561
Author(s):  
Tahereh Miremadi ◽  
Mahdi Baharloo
Keyword(s):  
Technological Innovation ◽  
System Analysis ◽  
Evolutionary Economics ◽  
National Level ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Knowledge Spillover ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Functional Dynamics ◽  
Limited Power

Purpose This paper aims to contribute to the debate of knowledge spillover by presenting a new application for the approach of the technological innovation system (TIS). Design/methodology/approach Based on the evolutionary economics of the TIS approach, a new framework for knowledge spillover is built and applied to a case. To collect data in studying the case, a mix of quantitative–qualitative methods are used. Findings TIS approach can help build a framework to analyze knowledge spillover from defense to the civil sector. This framework shows the direct relationship between the functional dynamics of the system and the spillover mechanism.. Research limitations/implications Sharing the same weakness as TIS, the suggested framework does not pay attention to the contextual factors. Practical implications This framework is an analytical tool. It could be used for educational and research purposes, but it has limited power to devise policy guidelines. Social implications This framework is an analytical tool. It could be used for educational and research purposes. But it has limited power to devise policy guidelines. Originality/value The paper deviates from the conventional literature of knowledge spillover which uses national level of system analysis. Based on TIS, it adds a new perspective to the literature which had suffered from a limited value of generalizability.

Learning how we learn

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-41
Keyword(s):  
National Level ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
League Tables ◽  
Pertinent Information ◽  
Traditional Sense ◽  
Education Policy Implementation ◽  
Smart Boards ◽  
Fact Learning ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings It is perhaps ironic that one of the areas that we as a society have most to still learn about is in fact learning itself. Learning in the traditional sense is for the most part widely understood. The old-fashioned “chalk and talk” delivery of high school teachers has for the most part been replaced – and not just because chalk does not work so well on interactive smart boards. Modern teachers are much better drilled in the benefits of student engagement, the utilization of a variety of teaching activities, when to use repetition and when to use pair and group work. In many developed countries, years of comprehensive education policy implementation and the pressure of league tables at a local and national level have professionalized the vocation of teaching. Practical implications: Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.

Specific HR practices and employee commitment: the mediating role of job satisfaction

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 420-435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arshad Mahmood ◽  
Muhammad Naseer Akhtar ◽  
Usman Talat ◽  
Chuanmin Shuai ◽  
James C. Hyatt
Keyword(s):  
Job Satisfaction ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Employee Commitment ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Hr Practices

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to increase understanding of the influence mechanisms of specific HR practices variables – salary, job stability and job enrichment – upon employee commitment, through the mediating role of job satisfaction, in a developing country context. Crucially, these indicate employee commitment.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzed three specific HR practices with a sample of 263 employees in the banking industry of Pakistan. A structural equation modeling methodology is adopted.FindingsThe findings indicate that remuneration strategies were positively related to job satisfaction and employee commitment. Regarding the intervening impact of job satisfaction, this study found that it mediates only for non-monetary strategies between job satisfaction and employee commitment.Research limitations/implicationsA key limitation is that this is a cross-sectional study, perhaps not generalizable over longitudinal approaches. Another limit is posed by the developing country context of this study, perhaps not applicable to some developed countries.Practical implicationsFrom an HR perspective, managing salary structure is an ongoing issue. The proposed model suggests the use of specific practices about satisfaction and commitment as intermediate steps to manage employee commitment.Originality/valueThe research offers a unique understanding from the developing country context of Pakistan. This provides a novel study conducted to examine employee commitment using the high-performance work practices model.

Trade liberalization and technology absorption in a less developing country context

2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-170
Author(s):  
Alamedin Bannaga
Keyword(s):  
Trade Liberalization ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Panel Regression ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Technology Absorption ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The paper aims to investigate the relationship between trade liberalization and technology absorption in a less developing country context. The objective is to empirically test the relationship between these two variables. This analysis was conducted in Sub-Saharan African economies. Design/methodology/approach – A panel regression of 20 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa was estimated based on a model that takes into account both trade policy and non-policy factors affecting technology absorption. Findings – A positive and significant relationship was found between trade liberalization and technology absorption. This relationship is valid across a variety of model specifications, technology absorption proxies and estimation techniques. Moreover, non-policy factors such as geographical spillover play significant role in technology absorption. Originality/value – The paper examines the link between the trade liberalization and the technology absorption in Sub-Saharan Africa. The analysis is empirical in nature and builds on panel estimations. The novelty of the paper comes from the topic investigated and the focus on a region which has not attracted much attention in the literature.

CCTV as an efficient surveillance system? An assessment from 24 academic libraries of India

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parul Gupta ◽  
Madhusudhan Margam
Keyword(s):  
Developing Country ◽  
Academic Libraries ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Video Data ◽  
Night Vision ◽  
Technological Advancement ◽  
Central State ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Survey Responses

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential and adoption of closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance-based security system (hereafter “CCTV”) for enhancing the security of library materials in academic libraries of universities (central, state, deemed and private) and prestigious institutions such as Indian Institutes of Technology and Indian Institutes of Management in a developing country, i.e. India. The study also overviewed the CCTV policies of the studied libraries of universities/institutions as they relate to the ethical aspects of the surveillance system. Design/methodology/approach Structured questionnaire was designed and distributed among librarians of 24 academic libraries covering each zone of India in October 2019 in both physical and online manner. All 24 filled-in questionnaires were collected personally and online by the investigator were found valid eliciting a response rate of 100%. All the 24 filled-in questionnaires were included in the analysis of the interpretation of data. The response to 18 questions was analyzed in the form of tables and figures using descriptive statistical methods. Findings The study reveals that librarians’ found CCTV useful for security by controlling theft, unethical losses and missing items. It also helped to curb mutilation and vandalism, procurement of the rare material via the latest camera devices and night vision capturing, besides improving the service efficiency of the patron, as well as staff. The quantitative study surveyed security professionals to assess how each university/institution developed, deployed and integrated CCTV policies related to securing video data, safeguarding privacy and prevention of the potential for the unethical use of surveillance cameras. The analysis of the survey responses determined that more than 50% of the universities/institutions participating had a written CCTV policy. Further, library professionals find that the future of libraries lies in a CCTV system, so the cost should be brought down to improve return on investment by the mass adoption of this technology in a developing country such as India. Research limitations/implications The findings of the study showed that the potential uses of CCTV in Indian libraries are slow compared to that of the libraries of developed countries and some of the developing countries. Many of the CCTV policies that universities/institutions did have failed to include mandated training of personnel or provisions ensuring that their policies remained up-to-date. It is suggested that universities and institutions understudy should realize the benefits of CCTV systems and incorporate-related updated tools in the security and multi-purpose uses in the libraries to enhance the services for the users and security for the materials or collections. Practical implications The paper includes implications for libraries and their professionals to approach CCTV systems with ethical considerations for procurement of library collections, which help to detect mutilation/theft, observe the misbehavior of users, as well as staff and deployment, should not be decided merely while balancing security demands. Social implications The study is significant because it represents one of the earliest works to shed light on the current level of the use of CCTV system by librarians of studied libraries of universities/institutes in developing country such as India and how they are providing CCTV-based security and services, which are currently in its primitive nature. The study also suggested that select libraries are required to weigh up and balance many competing desires, demands and objectives. Originality/value This paper provides a concise overview of the various applications/area and uses of CCTV system including its procedures during implementation, merits and demerits while using the system described above in libraries and recommends this technology to other libraries for faster and better services for their users and security to their library materials in today’s technological advancement. It provides a set of issues that should be considered before system adoption or deployment.

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