Current Issue : January - March Volume : 2013 Issue Number : 1 Articles : 5 Articles
In Malaysia, microenterprises contribute to almost 80% of the national business establishment.\r\nWhile studies have consistently reported information technology plays an important role in\r\nflourishing business operations, the majority of microenterprises in Malaysia still have not\r\nutilized the IT to its full capacity. In this case, two significant factors have been recognized; lack\r\nof IT skills and knowledge and the degree of the IT application complexity. Therefore, to\r\nencourage consistent IT adoption among this group, a unique approach based on SOPHIE\r\nclinical therapy method was proposed as an intervention program. However, since adopting the\r\nclinical approach is different from a regular IT training and is not a common IT adoption\r\ntechnique, a situational analysis should be conducted to understand the specific issues of the\r\nmicroenterprises. Hence, personal interviews, observations and document reviews of clinical\r\ntherapy practice were conducted before the appropriate approach is designed. Components of\r\nSOPHIE method were then identified and mapped into the new IT therapy conceptual model.\r\nThe model can later be used as a business solution to improve the productivity of\r\nmicroenterprises....
This paper focuses mainly on the analysis of the current situation in the Czech Republic in\r\nrelation to the possible introduction of a complementary currency system, as well as\r\nsuggestions to the adaptation of existing complementary currency systems which are already\r\nworking in the world to the Czech conditions, setting up such a system and possibilities for the\r\ndevelopment of unique complementary currency system which would have a chance to survive\r\nin Czech society....
In contemporary business organizations, technology provides the foundation around which\r\norganizations evolve and mature. It not only aids organizations in enabling strategic business\r\nobjectives through automation of operations, but with their information processing and decision\r\nsupport capabilities, these technologies also aid in business planning and management. Thus, the\r\nscope of these technologies extends from strategic enablers to strategic advisors. The literature\r\nsuggests various perspectives on the role of technology in organization, i.e., techno-centric, humancentric,\r\nand technology institutionalisation. This paper aims to look at technology lifecycle process,\r\nthrough the lens of technology institutionalisation perspective. According to the institutional view\r\nand theories, there are various sub institutions operating in a broader environment of organization,\r\nsuch as organizational culture, social structure, and competitive environment. The organization\r\nthrives on the mutual interactions of these sub institutions and establishes its legitimacy. When\r\ntechnology becomes institutionalised, it is taken for granted by its users within the organization.\r\nThis means that they are comfortable with technology and can employ its features effectively in\r\ntheir routine activities without requiring functional consultant or coach support. Moreover, an\r\noverview of literature on technology deinstitutionalisation and institutional change is presented in\r\nthis paper which aims to study how old technologies of the organization and legacy systems are\r\nchanged and replaced with new ones....
Innovation is widely recognized as a key factor in the economic development of nations.\r\nInnovation is also essential for the competitiveness of firms. Its importance is intensified by\r\nfactors like the increased global competition, the decreased product lifecycles and the rapidly\r\nchanging consumer demands. Large firms play a key role in innovation but this doesnââ?¬â?¢t mean\r\nthat there is no place for SMEs. In the last years the environment for innovation has changed.\r\nThe importance of SMEs to the innovation process has increased. The increasing incomes, the\r\nmore ââ?¬Å?nichedââ?¬Â market demand and the changing technologies have reduced the structural\r\ndisadvantages of SMEs firm size.\r\nIn this paper we examine the role of the Greek SMEs in innovation generation. Our analysis\r\nshows that small firms are the main owners of the granted patents in Greece. So, firms that\r\nemploy up to 50 employees account for 57.83% of our sample, while the share of large firms\r\n(more than 500 employees) is 6.02%. Most of these firms are engaged in the economic\r\nactivities of machine tools, metal and plastic products, chemical substances and wholesale. The\r\nGreek SMEs have a medium age and are characterized by different levels of exports, selling\r\ntheir products mainly to the countries of European Union, the Balkans and the Middle East. Our\r\nfindings confirm the importance of SMEs in Greece, as these firms are also the main producers\r\nof innovation. In addition our findings could be used in the development of public policy aimed\r\nat supporting and encouraging the innovation among SMEs in Greece....
This paper reviews the role played by a company�s internal R&D in stimulating operational\r\nperformance of a manufacturing company, which is moderated by intellectual property rights\r\n(IPR), particularly patents, in Malaysia. The constructs of this paper are based on a comprehensive\r\nreview of recent literature on internal R&D and operational performance moderated by patents. A\r\ndetailed discussion revealed implications on policy making, especially for government or related\r\nauthorities in promoting and enforcing IPR. IPR policy especially regarding patents should be part\r\nof a company�s business strategy. Implementing IPR will safeguard new invention, innovation, or\r\nprocesses in the long run. Furthermore, the company may gain benefits in creating new business\r\nopportunity during various patenting stages. The environment and conditions for R&D activity\r\nhave changed significantly in the last decade. Thus, effective practice of internal R&D gives\r\nadvantage to the company from three different aspects; namely, the ability to develop and grow\r\ncritical human resource, dynamic involvement in the corporate R&D programme, and the ability to\r\nconnect information. Therefore, the relationship between internal R&D and operational\r\nperformance moderated by IPR would encourage the betterment of the company in the future. In\r\nsummary, this paper highlights the importance of internal R&D toward operational performance of\r\na company moderated by IPR, as well as reviews the latest literature from the perspectives of\r\nsustainability and innovation....
Loading....