The Structural Relationship between Service Quality and Sustainable Use Intention of Voice Search Technology in Korea

Voice search based on artificial intelligence is the fastest means of searching for information and can be easily used in a very familiar way by ordinary users without separate education or learning. Voice bot’s voice search can interact on the same level as face-to-face communication and provide customized services optimized for users. It is most important for these new technologies to develop from a non-face-to-face social structure caused by COVID-19 to a long-term sustainable technology rather than short-term development. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to empirically verify the structural relationship between the quality, interactivity, and consumers’ sustainable use intentions for voice search services called ‘voice bots’ in Korea, an advanced country of computer science and technology. A survey was conducted on Korean consumers aged 20 or older who use voice search services, and the following main results were derived. First, the playfulness, certainty, and empathy of the ‘voice bot’ have a positive effect on the interactivity with the ‘voice bot’. Second, interactivity with the ‘voice bot’ has a positive effect on consumers’ sustainable use intention. Third, the playfulness and certainty of ‘voice bot’ have a positive effect on consumers’ sustainable use intention. Fourth, the playfulness, certainty, and empathy of the ‘voice bot’ have a positive effect on consumers’ sustainable use intention through interactivity with the ‘voice bot’. This study is meaningful in that it empirically identified the importance of interactivity by deriving the service quality factors required for sustainable use of voice search services, one of the new innovative technologies.

Looking Backwards and Forwards: The Development of Film Art in the People’s Republic of China

The development of film art in the People’s Republic of China throughout the past 70 years can be roughly divided into two stages: before and after the reform and opening-up. During this period, Chinese films not only influenced the political, economic, social, and cultural spheres, but they also produced aesthetics with uniquely Chinese characteristics, distinguishing themselves on the world film stage. However, after 70 years of development, Chinese films still have many contradictions and problems, namely: how to deal with the relationships between education and entertainment, plan and market, tradition/China/subjectivity, and modernity/world/diversity. Prejudicial tendencies can be avoided with a dialectical view of these relationships, and a healthy, integrated, and developmental track can be achieved. With this new historical contextualization in mind, to realize the transformation from a big film country to a strong film country, Chinese films should keep pace with the country’s economic and social strategic development, enhancing their quality and making contributions to a culturally advanced country with many high-standard films in the new era.

CGIAR

CGIAR, by far the most complex organization reviewed in this book, has had an extraordinary track record of impacts on productivity growth. CGIAR’s mission has grown over time, beginning with germplasm research and becoming more complex. Donor expectations are high, while funding has stagnated, particularly since 2014. CGIAR’s latest reorganization, known as “One CGIAR,” is a major restructuring, against the background of a history of reforms. The System Board, newly named after “unified governance” became effective on October 1, 2020, is a self-governing mechanism of the System and Centers, intended to work better under the troika of managing directors that report to the unified System Board. In addition, inter-Center research collaborations have been occurring through Center-driven efforts, with benefits of lower operational costs and better ability to improve the quality of research through skill mixes. Partnerships with advanced country institutions have strengthened, as well as those with developed countries. Partnerships with developing countries were the foundation of CGIAR’s success during the Green Revolution, but over time, they have weakened, in part due to a shortage of resources and a growing research agenda. Stronger partnerships are also needed with the private sector.

EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN SAFETY VARIABLES AND WELL-BEING OUTCOMES IN MALAYSIAN MANUFACTURING SECTOR: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

In Malaysia’s manufacturing industry, workplace mishaps and injuries are a big problem. This industry has made only minor developments in terms of reducing fatalities and significant injuries. The fatality rate has decreased marginally; however, the previous year’s severe injury rate remains unchanged (Department of Occupational Safety and Health, 2021). In Malaysia’s aspiration into becoming an advanced country by 2020, reducing occupational mishaps and injuries is one of the key employments concerns it aims to address. As a substantial determinant of mishaps and safety behaviour, the perception of the work setting is considered essential. Safety measures must emphasise the way employees view their work setting in order to improve safety plans and practices. Safety policy and procedures must bring about a shift in employees’ mindsets and awareness of their immediate work setting in order to succeed in the intervention towards the shift in behaviour. This study proposes a conceptual framework to examine the interaction between safety climates, safety behaviour towards the quality of work-life, and psychological well-being within Malaysia’s manufacturing industry that would assist in the advancement of more efficient safety interventions of reducing mishaps.

Nexus Between Technological Innovation and Economic Growth: Evidence From Nigeria (1980-2018)

Technological innovation in developing countries is inherently identified with the transfer of technology from the advanced country via trade, FDI and importation of capital and intermediate goods, machinery and other forms of embodied technology (ETC). This is due to low investments in in-house research and development (R&D) activities by local producers, hence, the need for technology transfer and spillover. This study contributes to existing knowledge by examining the empirical short-run and the long-run relationship between technological innovation and economic growth, a case study of Nigeria using the ARDL model on annual time series data spanning from 1980-2018. The f-bound cointegration test shows a long-run relationship among the variables at 5% significant level. Overall, is the results show a positive relationship between innovation in the form of technology transfer and spillover, and economic growth at 5% level of significance. Based on these findings, we propose that technological innovation should be encouraged; however, in-house innovation activities (R&D) should be encouraged due to its peculiarity to the economic structure of the country.

Economic Development, Upgrading, and Coordination

This chapter sets the stage for the remainder of the book by presenting in detail the contours of industrial upgrading in Spain and Korea, the problems with competing explanations, and the alternative explanation adopted in this study. It consists of four sections. The first assesses the change in Spanish and Korean industries by comparing two stylized images: one of Spain and Korea in 1985, at a time when they were starting to upgrade, and another in 2011, when they had already reached advanced country status. The second takes stock of the broader debates on industrial upgrading and economic transformation and their implications for how we understand the transformation of the two countries. The third proposes nonhierarchical coordination as an alternative explanation and discusses how it helps understand the Spanish and Korean cases. The final section concludes by presenting a preview of the rest of the book.

Contributions to the Study of Late Development and Industrial Transformation

This study explores how Spain and Korea have transformed themselves from middle- to high-income economies. This transformation deserves analytical attention for three reasons. Only a few countries have reached advanced country status in the last four decades and Spain and Korea have been particularly successful. The two countries’ different patterns of upgrading go against conventional accounts that upgrading need necessarily take place through manufacturing sectors, with services playing a secondary role. Finally, the focus on two countries that have transitioned from late industrializing economies to advanced countries challenges views of the world as divided between advanced and developing economies. This chapter brings the book to a close by articulating the broader implications of the study. The chapter first discusses a series of inferences derived from the book’s characterization of upgrading as a coordination problem and the focus on state–firm interdependencies. It then examines the broader implications of the analysis for research on late development and economic transformation more generally. The final section of the chapter launches into a brief discussion about Spain’s and Korea’s post-upgrading challenges.

Financial internationalization of emerging country multinationals: evidence from India

Purpose Financial internationalization is of particular importance to emerging country firms. Its significance arises from the impact of institutional void and related agency problems (common to emerging markets) on the internationalization path of these firms. Building on concepts from international finance, agency theory and institutional theory, this paper aims to examine the main aspects of financial internationalization by emerging country multinationals, namely, cross-listing, foreign ownership and foreign independent directors. Design/methodology/approach This paper follows a multiple case study approach which is a good fit for the exploratory nature of this research. The interest is to examine the context-driven financial internationalization of each case firm and replicate the firm-level information to find a common strategy. Findings The findings suggest that financial internationalization by emerging country multinationals starts mainly as these firms plan to enter advanced country markets. It is a dynamic process that entails interaction between financial internationalization and real internationalization, as well as among different aspects of financial internationalization. Cross-listing comprises the first stage of the process. Then, foreign ownership, particularly foreign institutional investments, would increase gradually in response to advances in financial and factor markets. Recruiting foreign independent directors seems to be adopted last, possibly out of fear of losing control of strategic decisions. Originality/value This paper presents a unique perspective that delineates different stages of the process of financial internationalization by emerging country multinationals. This complements the efforts to explain the distinct path of internationalization followed by these firms and supplements scarce literature by including emerging multinationals from India where the matter has not yet attracted proper attention.