Exploring relationship variables and Information and Communication Technologies use in industrial segmentation

2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (7) ◽  
pp. 1441-1459 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Fuentes-Blasco ◽  
Beatriz Moliner-Velázquez ◽  
Irene Gil-Saura
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Context ◽  
Perceived Trust ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Business To Business

Purpose In tourism, the adoption of Information and Communication Technologies (hereinafter ICT) and variables concerning firms’ links with suppliers have been recognized as key determinants to improve companies’ competitiveness. From the perspective of efficient management of company resources, segmentation has become a key tool and is particularly significant and current in the business-to-business context. The purpose of this paper is to study the segmentation of firms in the tourist industry according to perceived ICT use and relationship value and benefits. In addition, from the management approach, the authors seek to describe the segments that enable the development of differentiated strategies aimed at consolidating relationship benefits in the long term. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 310 travel agencies who evaluated the relationship with their main supplier, the authors attempt to examine the utility of these variables as segmentation criteria for identifying heterogeneous groups. Findings The estimation of a finite mixture model suggests that these bases are able to discriminate firms into four latent segments with different levels of ICT use and relationship variables. Research limitations/implications This research contributes to the understanding of the role that ICT and relationship variables have in the segmentation processes of tourism companies. Literature on segmentation in the business-to-business (B2B) context is limited and it is hard to find studies which apply latent methodology using behavioral criteria related to the use of ICT and relationship variables. Practical implications Segmentation of the tourism organizational market based on valuations of supplier relations and ICT use can help suppliers to design or adapt differentiation marketing strategies. Since agencies place the most value on confidence and value, tourism service suppliers should focus their efforts on improving the elements of service provision that increase perceived trust/confidence and value (i.e. growing the number of contacts, proximity to customers or sincerity, etc.). If agencies feel they can rely more on their providers, they will value their relationship more positively thereby favoring its long-term continuity. Originality/value The novelty in this work lies in the application of latent segmentation methodology and the simultaneous use of bases associated with ICT and relationship variables in B2B tourism.

COVID-19’s Influence on Information and Communication Technologies in Long-Term Care (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy M. Schuster ◽  
Shelia R. Cotten
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Information And Communication

BACKGROUND The prevalence of COVID-19 in the U.S. led to mandated lockdowns for long-term care (LTC) facilities, resulting in loss of in-person contact with social ties for LTC residents. Though information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be used by LTC residents to support their socioemotional needs, residents must have access to ICTs in order to use them. OBJECTIVE This study explored ICT access and use in LTC institutions and how LTC institutions adapted to try to enhance social connections for their residents during COVID-19. METHODS LTC administrators in South Carolina were invited to complete an online survey exploring ICT access and use in LTC facilities and whether access and use changed as a result of COVID-19. RESULTS Seventy LTC administrators (12 nursing homes and 58 assisted living facilities) completed the online survey. Since March 2020, 53% of the LTC facilities purchased ICTs for residents’ use. ICTs have mainly been used for videoconferencing with family members (84%), friends (68%), and/or healthcare providers (70%). Benefits of ICT use included residents’ feeling connected to their family members, friends, and/or other residents. Barriers to ICT use included staff not having time to assist residents with using the technology, broken technology, and residents who do not want to share technology. CONCLUSIONS Results of this exploratory study suggest that over half of the LTC institutions in this study were able to acquire ICTs for their residents to use during COVID-19. Additional research is needed to explore how residents adapted to using the ICTs and whether LTC facilities developed and/or adopted technology integration plans, which could help them be prepared for future situations that may affect LTC residents’ engagement and communication opportunities, such as another pandemic.

Combinatorial use of communication technologies in organizations

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 623-635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaguang Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Work Environments ◽  
Theoretical Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Ict Implementation ◽  
Communication Goals ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Key Terms

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to critique and extend contemporary scholarship on information and communication technologies (ICTs). This paper argues that the focus on the selection and use of a single communication medium limits the understanding of current ICT use in organizations. A combinatorial perspective is needed to capture the complexities of multiple ICTs use for achieving communication goals and completing tasks. Design/methodology/approach This paper addresses the trending phenomenon of combinatorial use of ICTs by offering a critical review of the theoretical studies and empirical research in scholarly books and journals and deriving novel theoretical research questions that set the stage for future studies. Findings This paper identifies how combinatorial ICT use as a perspective that uniquely elucidates ICT use in organizations, clarifies key terms used in previous research and proposes theoretical and operational recommendations for researchers and corporate practitioners who are interested in studying the combinatorial use of ICTs. Originality/value This paper highlights that understanding the combinatorial use ICTs in complex work environments could have significant implications for productivity and efficiency of individuals and corporations. This paper serves as a catalyst for on-going research conversations regarding combinatorial ICT use, while assisting organizational communication researchers and practitioners in describing, theorizing and advancing ICT implementation, use and outcomes.

scholarly journals Smart destinations and tech-savvy millennial tourists: hype versus reality

2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Femenia-Serra ◽  
José F. Perles-Ribes ◽  
Josep A. Ivars-Baidal
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Management Approach ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Critical Dimensions ◽  
Highly Educated ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Smart Technologies

PurposeThis paper aims to contrast the expectations placed on the smart destination as a theoretical management approach with the reality of emergent tech-savvy tourism demand by examining the response of this segment to three critical dimensions of technology use in the context of smart destinations. Tech-savvy tourists are here represented by highly educated Spanish millennial tourists.Design/methodology/approachData were obtained through an online survey and analysed through descriptive techniques and exploratory factor analysis using SPSS. Literature review was critical for setting the foundations of the research in this novel context.FindingsResults suggest the existence of a gap between the smart destination theoretical expectations and created hype and the real response of the examined demand in the three main scopes for this tourist-smart destination technology-based relationship, namely, mobile technology use, data sharing for personalised experiences and smart technologies for enhanced experiences.Research limitations/implicationsConvenience sampling was used, and the results of the study cannot be generalised to all millennial tourists. The research is a first approximation to the interrelationship between tourists and smart destinations.Practical/implicationsTourists’ role and experiences mediated by information and communication technologies (ICTs) are decisive in smart destinations. Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), through their policies and actions, ought to take into account the limited predisposition of tourists in using mobile devices, sharing data and using smart technologies for their experiences. Privacy concerns appear to have special relevance for tourists and, therefore, for the future of smart destinations.Originality/valueThe findings offer relevant insights for smart destinations from a neglected angle hitherto, as they introduce several interesting nuances which do not match entirely the fast track taken by institutions, media and academia. This is critical for better understanding tourists in the current panorama, for DMOs and for the theoretical foundations of smart tourism. Besides, the exploratory data analysis reveals potential dimensions of millennials’ behaviour, which can be useful for further investigations.

scholarly journals Preferable Use of Information and Communication Technologies in Long-term Care Settings: A Vignette Survey of Japan

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 541-542
Author(s):  
Tomoko Wakui ◽  
Tomoko Ikeuchi ◽  
Sakiko Itoh ◽  
Hiroyasu Miwa ◽  
Kentaro Watanabe
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Multinomial Regression ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Information And Communication

Abstract The remarkable development of information and communication technologies (ICT), considering the rapidly aging global population, could eliminate the physical and mental burdens involved in caregiving and enhance the perceived dignity and autonomy of older adults. However, the introduction of ICT in long-term care (LTC) in Japan has not yielded good results yet, and the social acceptance of ICT remains understudied. This study aimed to understand and examine people’s views on ICT use in LTC settings. An online vignette survey was conducted in August 2020, among community-dwelling persons between the ages of 40–89 years, throughout Japan. A set of four vignettes of different physical and cognitive functional situations, at either a home or nursing home, with or without ICT use, was presented to select a preferred care setting. Multinomial regression analyses were used to examine the relationships between participants’ choices and individual characteristics. A total of 4,457 participants (52.8% of whom were women) were analyzed (mean age = 60.8 years). Participants were more likely to choose nursing homes in cognitively dependent situations. Participants who were women, relatively younger, and had higher education were more likely to choose care settings employing ICT for physically and cognitively dependent situations. Those who experienced either informal or formal caregiving were more likely to choose care settings that used ICT. This study revealed that individuals preferred different levels of ICT use based on physical and cognitive situations. Barriers to introducing ICT in LTC settings will be discussed.

From digital citizen to digital professional

Kybernetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1463-1477
Author(s):  
Olga Marino ◽  
Jaime Andres Gutierrez ◽  
Sandra Aguirre
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Cutting Edge ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Strategy ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Teaching Learning

Purpose This paper aims to propose and evaluate a pedagogically sound and innovative strategy to teach a higher education course that prepares future professionals to intelligently use information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their personal and professional lives. Design/methodology/approach The conceptual framework used for the design of the course was the socio-constructivism and activity theories. The implementation of the course was evaluated using the intrinsic case study methodology by including several instruments. Findings The pedagogical strategy proposed proved to be sound, as the evaluation showed that students were able to describe, use and propose innovative uses of a wide range of cutting-edge technologies in their both everyday lives and professional settings; they also had the skills to analyse the opportunities and challenges that these presented. Moreover, students liked this innovative way of learning and ended with a positive attitude towards ICT. Originality/value Although several courses prepare students to be digital citizens or use ICT to enhance the teaching-learning process, millennials are ill prepared to use cutting-edge technologies in an innovative, responsible and critical way in their future professions. The course that was designed is original in that it goes beyond preparing digital citizens to prepare professionals in any domain to use ICT in an informed and responsible way. Moreover, it is a documented, successful example of an undergraduate universal course in a highly important current society dimension. The authors believe that its pedagogical proposal could be transferred to courses dealing with other global issues such as the environment, economy and peace.

Twiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises

2011 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Juma James Masele
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Innovation Management ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Medium Enterprises

TitleTwiga Hosting Ltd – providing affordable information and communication technologies services to small and medium enterprises.Subject areaThe case describes the launch of Twiga Hosting Ltd, a company providing information and communication technology (ICT) services to the underserved small and medium enterprise (SME) sector in Tanzania and in a many countries in Africa.Study level/applicabilityThis case targets a range of audience from undergraduate students taking both Bachelor of Commerce and those taking Bachelor of Business Administration; and Postgraduate students taking business‐related courses. Nonetheless, the case may be used by all other learners of advanced studies in entrepreneurship and innovation management.Case overviewThe case addresses a number of issues including: Issues to be considered when starting an ICT enterprise. Strategic management. Business revenue models.Expected learning outcomes To impart/inculcate entrepreneurial insights in ICT and related areas. To make learners aware of the business growth opportunities in ICT ventures. The success factors for fruitful ICT ventures. To enable learners to identify challenges facing entrepreneurs in ICT ventures and the ways to overcome them.Supplementary materialsTeaching notes.

scholarly journals Value-driven engineering of E-maintenance platforms

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 568-598 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Macchi ◽  
Adolfo Crespo Márquez ◽  
Maria Holgado ◽  
Luca Fumagalli ◽  
Luis Barberá Martínez
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Maintenance Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
A Value ◽  
New Information ◽  
Information And Communication

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a methodology for the engineering of E-maintenance platforms that is based on a value-driven approach. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology assumes that a value-driven engineering approach would help foster technological innovation for maintenance management. Indeed, value-driven engineering could be easily adopted at the business level, with subsequent positive effects on the industrial applications of new information and communication technologies solutions. Findings – The methodology combines a value-driven approach with the engineering in the maintenance scope. The methodology is tested in a manufacturing case to prove its potential to support the engineering of E-maintenance solutions. In particular, the case study concerns the investment in E-maintenance solutions developed in the framework of a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system originally implemented for production purposes. Originality/value – Based on literature research, the paper presents a methodology that is implemented considering three different approaches (business theories, value-driven engineering and maintenance management). The combination of these approaches is novel and overcomes the traditional view of maintenance as an issue evaluated from a cost-benefit perspective.

How nonprofits use Facebook to craft infrastructure

First Monday ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Libby Hemphill ◽  
A.J. Million ◽  
Ingrid Erickson
Keyword(s):  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Uses And Gratifications ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Technology Choice ◽  
Non Profit ◽  
Ict Use ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Moral Economies ◽  
Task Technology Fit

We present findings from interviews with 23 individuals affiliated with non-profit organizations (NPOs) to understand how they deploy information and communication technologies (ICTs) in their civic engagement efforts. Existing research about NPO ICT use is often critical, but we did not find evidence that NPOs fail to use tools effectively. Rather, we detail how NPOs assemble various ICTs to create infrastructures that align with their values. Overall, we find that existing theories about technology choice (e.g., task-technology fit, uses and gratifications) do not explain the assemblages NPOs describe. We argue that the infrastructures they fashion can be explained through the lens of moral economies rather than utility. Together, the rhetorics of infrastructure and moral economies capture the motivations and constraints our participants expressed and challenge how prevailing theories of ICT use describe the non-profit landscape.

Exploring Possibilities for Transforming Established Subscription-based Scientific Journals into Open Access Journals

2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (06) ◽  
pp. 481-487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Kuballa ◽  
Mareike Schulze ◽  
Claudia Böhm ◽  
Olaf Gefeller ◽  
Jan Haaf ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Open Access ◽  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Open Access Publishing ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Open Access Journals ◽  
Important Approach ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
International Research Project

SummaryBackground: Based on today‘s information and communication technologies the open access paradigm has become an important approach for adequately communicating new scientific knowledge.Objectives: Summarizing the present situa -tion for journal transformation. Presenting criteria for adequate transformation as well as a specific approach for it. Describing our exemplary implementation of such a journal transformation.Methods: Studying the respective literature as well as discussing this topic in various discussion groups and meetings (primarily of editors and publishers, but also of authors and readers), with long term experience as editors and /or publishers of scientific publications as prerequisite.Results: There is a clear will, particularly of political and funding organizations, towards open access publishing. In spite of this, there is still a large amount of scientific knowl edge, being communicated through subscription-based journals. For successfully transforming such journals into open access, sixteen criteria for a goal-oriented, stepwise, sustainable, and fair transformation are suggested. The Tandem Model as transformation approach is introduced. Our exemplary implementation is done in the Trans-O-MIM project. It is exploring strategies, models and evaluation metrics for journal transforma tion. As instance the journal Methods of Information in Medicine will apply the Tandem Model from 2017 onwards.Conclusions: Within Trans-O-MIM we will reach at least nine of the sixteen criteria for adequate transformation. It was positive to implement Trans-O-MIM as international research project. After first steps for transforming Methods have successfully been made, challenges will remain, among others, in identifying appropriate incentives for open access publishing in order to support its transformation.

Understanding the gendered nature of developing country MSMEs’ access, adoption and use of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D)

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 273-295
Author(s):  
Elisa Mohanty ◽  
Anindya Jayanta Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Information And Communication Technologies ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Dark Side ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Power Dynamics ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Time Period ◽  
Information And Communication ◽  
Medium Enterprises

Purpose The widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) has had a significant effect on various groups and communities of people including micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and their owners/managers. The current study aims to analyze recent literature regarding adoption of ICTs by MSMEs. Further, it tries to locate gender within this broader context of diffusion of ICTs among MSMEs. Design/methodology/approach Using the thematic analysis approach, the research articles pertaining to six leading journals on ICTs, gender and entrepreneurship published during the time period from 2011 to 2019 are reviewed. Findings The literature selected for the study has been discussed under two primary categories, viz. “adoption of information and communication technologies for development (ICT4D) for business purposes” and “insights on gender in ICT4D use by MSMEs.” Research limitations/implications The context-dependent nature of ICT use can enable future entrepreneurs to assess the scope of specific ICTs in given areas of operation. The gendered nature of ICTs helps to evaluate as well as question the empowerment potential of ICTs. The study emphasizes the need to account for historical specificities and transnational linkages in understanding access, adoption and use of ICT4D by women MSME entrepreneurs. Originality/value The study bridges together literature on ICT4D use by MSMEs and the role of gender in ICT-mediated entrepreneurial environments. While unraveling the interplay of power dynamics in such environments, the scope for future research in terms of tapping into the content of information exchanges and exploring the implications of “dark side of internet” for women MSME entrepreneurs is also indicated.

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