Räume des Experimentierens: Die Einführung von Sprühdrohnen in der digitalen Landwirtschaft

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-336
Author(s):  
Dennis Pauschinger ◽  
Francisco Klauser

Abstract. This article investigates how new digital technologies are established in agriculture. It does so by drawing upon empirical data from a qualitative case study with a Swiss based but internationally operating start-up that has recently obtained the first authorisation to spray crop protection products on vineyards and fruit plantations with their home-made drone. Conceptually the article takes inspiration in Actor-Network-Theory (ANT) and challenges common understandings of overly urban centred approaches of how new technologies find entry in public policies. The authors argue that instead of seeing a straightforward process of implementing the new drone technology, there has been a joint-effort between the private company and federal institutions to experiment, improve and regulate the functioning of the sprayer drone. A process that is, so is argued, heavily marked by knowledge transfers and formalisations of new private-public alliances, that have been channelled through three particular spatial categories, relating to policy experiments, socio-technical experiments and strategic experiments.

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1601-1619
Author(s):  
Francesca Dal Mas ◽  
Grazia Dicuonzo ◽  
Maurizio Massaro ◽  
Vittorio Dell'Atti

PurposeThe objective of this study is to deepen how blockchain technology through smart contracts can support the development of sustainable business models (SBMs). Particularly, the authors aim to determine the key elements enabling SBMs by applying smart contracts.Design/methodology/approachThe research context focusses on the case study of SmartInsurance, which is a fictitious name for a start-up in the insurance sector and the real name of which is not to be revealed. The start-up was able to collect 18m euros in 80 s in a crowdfunding operation, using smart contracts and a revolutionary business model. Internal as well as external documents of different sources are analysed and coded to gather information about the company, its values and its business and what it pursues with employing blockchain technology.FindingsThe results show how smart contracts can reduce the costs of transactions, increase social trust and foster social proof behaviours that sustain the development of new SBMs.Originality/valueThis study contributes to both the transaction cost theory and social proof theory, showing how new technologies such as the blockchain can provide a fresh perspective to support the development of SBMs.


Author(s):  
Heather C. Webb

New technologies and increasing opportunities in sustainable development propel start-ups in the green economy. For an emerging economy such as India, the government is focusing heavily on creating a green economy through changes and development of its governmental policies to strengthen green practices among entrepreneurs and other businesses. Specifically, though, India is focused on creating more marketable solutions for the bottom-of-the-income population. Nonetheless, for green entrepreneurs, starting a business is not easy and even more difficult within the workings of sustainability and other external barriers. Barriers may include weak institutional frameworks, weak supply chains, lack of infrastructure, or lack of regulations, which are more problematic in emerging economies. The chapter defines green entrepreneurship and the green economy while discussing India's policy agendas and path towards green market solutions. It then presents a case study about a green start-up, Carbon Masters, and their path towards an innovative waste management solution.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-46
Author(s):  
Ewa Badzińska

Abstract The scientific purpose of the study is an attempted synthesis of the concept of technological entrepreneurship. The cognitive aim of the publication is to present the functionality of an innovative technological solution the uses authorial applications and interactive devices designed and commercialized by the analyzed technology start-up. The application of the empirical method of a case study has made it possible to characterize the essence of technological entrepreneurship and illustrate the progress and development of the studied phenomenon in business practice. The functionality of an innovative multimedia project has been presented as the exemplification of technological entrepreneurship in cooperation between commercial enterprise and business environment institutions. It has been pointed to measurable economic and social outcomes achieved by the company as a result of conscious implementation of the concept of technological entrepreneurship. Case studies in the field of technological entrepreneurship should develop the existing theory and provide explanations of the hitherto unrecognized phenomena. The author proposes the understanding of technological entrepreneurship as a process that combines the elements of academic and intellectual entrepreneurship with the entrepreneurship of commercial organizations implementing new technologies in the market environment. The designed innovative multimedia project supports the management of information for travelers and information regarding fleet management in public transport.


Author(s):  
Huda Ibrahim ◽  
Hasmiah Kasimin

An effi cient and effective information technology transfer from developed countries to Malaysia is an important issue as a prerequisite to support the ICT needs of the country to become not only a ICT user but also a ICT producer. One of the factors that infl uences successful information technology transfer is managing the process of how technology transfer occurs in one environment. It involves managing interaction between all parties concerned which requires an organized strategy and action toward accomplishing technology transfer objective in an integrated and effective mode. Using a conceptual framework based on the Actor Network Theory (ANT), this paper will analyse a successful information technology transfer process at a private company which is also a supplier of information technology (IT) products to the local market. This framework will explain how the company has come up with a successful technology transfer in a local environment. Our study shows that the company had given interest to its relationships with all the parties involved in the transfer process. The technology transfer programme and the strategy formulated take into account the characteristics of technology and all those involved.  


2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-67

<p>The Soil Science Institute of Thessaloniki produces new digitized Soil Maps that provide a useful electronic database for the spatial representation of the soil variation within a region, based on in situ soil sampling, laboratory analyses, GIS techniques and plant nutrition mathematical models, coupled with the local land cadastre. The novelty of these studies is that local agronomists have immediate access to a wide range of soil information by clicking on a field parcel shown in this digital interface and, therefore, can suggest an appropriate treatment (e.g. liming, manure incorporation, desalination, application of proper type and quantity of fertilizer) depending on the field conditions and cultivated crops. A specific case study is presented in the current work with regards to the construction of the digitized Soil Map of the regional unit of Kastoria. The potential of this map can easily be realized by the fact that the mapping of the physicochemical properties of the soils in this region provided delineation zones for differential fertilization management. An experiment was also conducted using remote sensing techniques for the enhancement of the fertilization advisory software database, which is a component of the digitized map, and the optimization of nitrogen management in agricultural areas.</p>


Context: Surgical specialists have unique considerations when selecting and using electronic health records (EHRs). Aim: We sought to identify key factors and considerations during system selection and implementation for the surgical subspecialist. Case study: Insights from system selection and implementation for a start-up plastic surgery private practice were used to inform a broader set of principles for surgical subspecialists in private practice selecting and using EHRs. What can be learned: The nature of the provider-patient relationship is episodic and such as maintaining inventory, managing images, annotating images, documenting and billing in-office procedures, and integration of cash-based and insurance payment. Conclusion: Surgeons in private practice and as part of larger institutions can use insights from this case study to inform their own efforts in system selection and optimization for ongoing use.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1326365X2110096
Author(s):  
David Bockino ◽  
Amir Ilyas

This article uses an examination of journalism and mass communication (JMC) education in Pakistan as a case study to explore the consequences of increased homogenization of JMC education around the world. Anchored by a qualitative method that relies heavily on actor-network theory, the study identifies key moments and people in the trajectory of five Pakistani programmes and explores the connection between these programmes and the larger JMC organizational field. The study concludes by questioning the efficacy of the current power structures within the supranational JMC organizational field before discussing how these influences could potentially be mitigated moving forward.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4271
Author(s):  
Lucia Cattani ◽  
Paolo Cattani ◽  
Anna Magrini

Photovoltaic panel efficiency can be heavily affected by soiling, due to dust and other airborne particles, which can determine up to 50% of energy production loss. Generally, it is possible to reduce that impact by means of periodic cleaning, and one of the most efficient cleaning solutions is the use of demineralized water. As pauperization of traditional water sources is increasing, new technologies have been developed to obtain the needed water amount. Water extracted from the air using air to water generator (AWG) technology appears to be particularly suitable for panel cleaning, but its effective employment presents issues related to model selection, determining system size, and energy efficiency. To overcome such issues, the authors proposed a method to choose an AWG system for panel cleaning and to determine its size accordingly, based on a cleaning time optimization procedure and tailored to AWG peculiarities, with an aim to maximize energy production. In order to determine the energy loss due to soiling, a simplified semiempirical model (i.e., the DIrt method) was developed as well. The methodology, which also allows for energy saving due to an optimal cleaning frequency, was applied to a case study. The results show that the choice of the most suitable AWG model could prevent 83% of energy loss related to soling. These methods are the first example of a design tool for panel cleaning planning involving AWG technology.


Author(s):  
Junfan Yu ◽  
Saskia De Klerk ◽  
Michael Hess

AbstractThis research focuses on how entrepreneurs utilize cronyism to acquire resources. A case study method allowed us to explore three firms in the private property development industry in China. These firms uniquely cultivated cronyism and achieved distinctly different outcomes. Our findings highlight Chinese entrepreneurs in start-up ventures and later-stage enterprises employ cronyism. The underlying rationale for using cronyism have common and heterogeneous motivations. The similarity and distinguishing rationale also apply to the impact of cronyism. We also find two contingency working mechanisms for cronyism: entrepreneurial characteristics and a staged model for cronyism. With the firm’s growth, cronyism remains important, but firms with more community involvement outperform others. This research contributes to the theory on strategic network utilization for resource acquisition during entrepreneurial development stages. We investigate how entrepreneurial strategies can assist in adapting to the “rules of the game” while utilizing resources within the set contextual constraints.


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