scholarly journals Barriers to innovation: experience of Ecuadorian small and medium entreprises

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-71
Author(s):  
Luis Enrique Simbaña-Taipe ◽  
Jimena Alexandra Villamil-Jaramillo ◽  
Laura Lucia Taimal-Méndez ◽  
David Rodeiro-Pazos

The innovation barriers to small and medium-sized enterprises affect their innovative process and influence their company development. In this empirical work, we analyze the cost, market, and knowledge barriers that impede or delay the development of innovative activities and projects in Ecuadorian SMEs. A logit estimation model uses fixed-effects panel data on a sample of 5,205 SMEs during the period from 2009–2014. The results show that small and young companies are more vulnerable to the perceived barriers of cost and knowledge. This is mainly due to high innovation costs and a lack of skilled staff that restricts organizational growth and market competitiveness.

Author(s):  
Laura Anselmi ◽  
Yiu-Shing Lau ◽  
Matt Sutton ◽  
Anna Everton ◽  
Rob Shaw ◽  
...  

AbstractRisk-adjustment models are used to predict the cost of care for patients based on their observable characteristics, and to derive efficient and equitable budgets based on weighted capitation. Markers based on past care contacts can improve model fit, but their coefficients may be affected by provider variations in diagnostic, treatment and reporting quality. This is problematic when distinguishing need and supply influences on costs is required.We examine the extent of this bias in the national formula for mental health care using administrative records for 43.7 million adults registered with 7746 GP practices in England in 2015. We also illustrate a method to control for provider effects.A linear regression containing a rich set of individual, GP practice and area characteristics, and fixed effects for local health organisations, had goodness-of-fit equal to R2 = 0.007 at person level and R2 = 0.720 at GP practice level. The addition of past care markers changed substantially the coefficients on the other variables and increased the goodness-of-fit to R2 = 0.275 at person level and R2 = 0.815 at GP practice level. The further inclusion of provider effects affected the coefficients on GP practice and area variables and on local health organisation fixed effects, increasing goodness-of-fit at GP practice level to R2 = 0.848.With adequate supply controls, it is possible to estimate coefficients on past care markers that are stable and unbiased. Nonetheless, inconsistent reporting may affect need predictions and penalise populations served by underreporting providers.


2011 ◽  
Vol 121-126 ◽  
pp. 3612-3616
Author(s):  
Wen Quan Huang ◽  
Kai Shi Li ◽  
Hai Jun Liu

This paper adopts the method labor time standard, in the development environment of VC++, using Access database storage costs data, and the cost results output into Excel, developed mechanical product turning processing manufacturing cost estimation system. Using this system can realize turning processing cost estimation and feedback the cost information of mechanical product turning processing, make a design personnel to understand the cost information, to improve design, reduce the cost, improve the market competitiveness of products


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Salvi ◽  
Nicola Raimo ◽  
Felice Petruzzella ◽  
Filippo Vitolla

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the financial consequences of the level of human capital (HC) information disclosed by firms through integrated reports. Specifically, this work examines the effect of HC information on the cost of capital and firm value.Design/methodology/approachA manual content analysis is used to measure the level of HC information contained in integrated reports. A fixed-effects regression model is used to analyse 375 observations (a balanced panel of 125 firms for the period 2017–2019) and test the financial consequences of HC disclosure.FindingsThe empirical outcomes indicate that HC disclosure has a significant and negative effect on the cost of capital and a positive impact on firm value. Our results show that companies can reduce investors' perceived firm risk by improving HC disclosure, leading to a lower cost of capital. Moreover, our findings support the notion that increased levels of HC disclosure are linked to firms' improved access to external financial resources, consequently enhancing firm value.Originality/valueThis study is the first contribution to examine the financial consequences of HC disclosure and is one of the first to examine the level of HC information within integrated reports.


BioResources ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 2117-2118
Author(s):  
Shunxi Song ◽  
Zeshi Wu ◽  
Jingyi Nie

The increase of filler content in paper is an effective way to reduce production costs and to promote the market competitiveness of paper mills. A shift from natural fillers to synthetic fillers has enabled improvements in the critical properties of paper. Meanwhile, innovations from single particles of filler to filler composites has made it possible to increase the filler content of paper. Among various filler innovations, the design of fiber/filler composites has aroused general attention from industry and academic researchers. However, concerns related to the cost and recyclability of composite fillers remain to be addressed.


Author(s):  
Aravindhan K

Cost estimation of software projects is risky task in project management field. It is a process of predicting the cost and effort required to develop a software applications. Several cost estimation models have been proposed over the last thirty to forty years. Many software companies track and analyse the current project by measuring the planed cost and estimate the accuracy. If the estimation is not proper then it leads to the failure of the project. One of the challenging tasks in project management is how to evaluate the different cost estimation and selecting the proper model for the current project. This paper summarizes the different cost estimation model and its techniques. It also provides the proper model selection for the different types of the projects.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Wu ◽  
Khim-Yong Goh ◽  
He Li ◽  
Chuan Luo ◽  
Haichao Zheng

Drawing on the theoretical lens of communication patterns in organizational theory, this research analyzed the longitudinal success of open source software (OSS) projects by employing social network analysis method, based on extensive analyses of empirical data. This study is expected to provide an understanding on how communication patterns established in different roles and different levels. The authors not only measured OSS success from both developers and users' perspectives, but also extended the existing research by including the potential relationships among these success measures in the estimation model. Following the panel data econometric analysis methodology, they evaluated their research hypotheses using the Three-Stage Least Squares model, accounting for both time-period and project fixed effects. The authors' results indicated that according to the objectives of projects, a proper and planned control for the communication among team members is crucial for the success of OSS projects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (11) ◽  
pp. 157
Author(s):  
Gonçalo Pereira ◽  
Manuel Parente ◽  
João Moutinho ◽  
Manuel Sampaio

Decision support and optimization tools to be used in construction often require an accurate estimation of the cost variables to maximize their benefit. Heavy machinery is traditionally one of the greatest costs to consider mainly due to fuel consumption. These typically diesel-powered machines have a great variability of fuel consumption depending on the scenario of utilization. This paper describes the creation of a framework aiming to estimate the fuel consumption of construction trucks depending on the carried load, the slope, the distance, and the pavement type. Having a more accurate estimation will increase the benefit of these optimization tools. The fuel consumption estimation model was developed using Machine Learning (ML) algorithms supported by data, which were gathered through several sensors, in a specially designed datalogger with wireless communication and opportunistic synchronization, in a real context experiment. The results demonstrated the viability of the method, providing important insight into the advantages associated with the combination of sensorization and the machine learning models in a real-world construction setting. Ultimately, this study comprises a significant step towards the achievement of IoT implementation from a Construction 4.0 viewpoint, especially when considering its potential for real-time and digital twins applications.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1360
Author(s):  
Oluwafemifola Oyedeji ◽  
Jill M. Maples ◽  
Samantha Gregory ◽  
Shauntá M. Chamberlin ◽  
Justin D. Gatwood ◽  
...  

About 45:000 cancers are linked to HPV each year in the United States alone. The HPV vaccine prevents cancer and is highly effective, yet vaccination coverage remains low. Pharmacies can play a meaningful role in increasing HPV vaccination access due to their availability and convenience. However, little is known about pharmacists’ perceived barriers to HPV vaccination. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize existing literature on perceived barriers to administering HPV vaccination reported by pharmacists. Barriers identified from selected studies were synthesized and further grouped into patient, parental, (pharmacist’s) personal, and system/organization barrier groups. Six studies were included in this review. The cost of the HPV vaccine, insurance coverage and reimbursement were commonly reported perceived barriers. Adolescent HPV vaccination barriers related to parental concerns, beliefs, and inadequate knowledge about the HPV vaccine. Perceived (pharmacist’s) personal barriers were related to lack of information and knowledge about HPV vaccine and recommendations. At the system/organization level, barriers reported included lack of time/staff/space; difficulty in series completion; tracking and recall of patient; perceived competition with providers; and other responsibilities/vaccines taking precedence. Future strategies involving pharmacy settings in HPV-related cancer prevention efforts should consider research on multilevel pharmacy-driven interventions addressing barriers.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-122
Author(s):  
Richard J. Cebula ◽  
Maggie Foley

Abstract This study empirically investigates three hypotheses. The first is that higher levels of economic freedom in an economy promote a higher growth rate of economic activity and hence yield a higher growth rate of per capita real GDP in that economy. The second hypothesis is that higher quality government regulation leads to a more efficient economic system, in large part by interfering less with market functioning and in part by not adding unnecessarily to the cost of conducting business in the marketplace, and thereby leads to a higher per capita real GDP growth rate. The third hypothesis is that the higher the taxation level/burden relative to GDP in an economy, the lower the growth rate of private sector spending and hence the lower the growth rate of per capita real GDP in that economy. Using a panel dataset for OECD nations over the 2003 through 2006 period, fixed effects PLS estimations find compelling evidence in support of all three of these hypotheses.


2017 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 442-462 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megha Mahendru ◽  
Aparna Bhatia

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the cost, revenue and profit efficiency performance of Indian scheduled commercial banks. The study also determines differences if any related to efficiency among banks on the basis of ownership pattern. Design/methodology/approach Cost, revenue and profit efficiency of banks is calculated by using the non-parametric approach, namely, data envelopment analysis. Further, the differences in the efficiency scores are examined by applying analysis of variance. Findings Indian scheduled commercial banks have not been able to maintain their input-output synchronization in terms of cost, revenue and profits in the year 2012-2013. Foreign sector banks have higher cost and profit efficiency as compared to their counterparts in private and public sector, whereas public sector banks are found to have been more revenue efficient. Originality/value With specific reference to India, less empirical work has been carried out with respect to cost, revenue and profit efficiency. None of the studies have evaluated the sector-wise performance of banks in terms of all three efficiency parameters.


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