Cooperative membership and new technology adoption of family farms: Evidence from China

Various policies have been implemented to encourage the development of family farms and cooperatives in the past decade in China. New technology adoption is a crucial part in promoting the performance of family farms. However, empirical evidence on whether and how cooperatives would facilitate family farms to adopt new technologies remains unclear. To address the gap, this paper examines the impact of family farms’ cooperative membership on new technology adoption (i.e., new varieties, new machinery, new fertilizers, new pesticides, new pest control techniques, new production methods and new management methods). Using novel survey data from 848 family farms in China, and employing both propensity score matching approach and endogenous switching probit model, we find that for family farms, cooperative membership has positive and significant impacts on new technology adoption. When looking into different types of technology, we find that the impacts are larger on the adoption of new methods than new techniques. Moreover, the impacts are larger for family farms with lower operation income and smaller size. The findings provide important insights for policymakers tasked with promoting agricultural technology adoption.     

企业采用新技术的时点博弈分析

技术创新可以为企业带来超额利润,具有极大的经济价值,然而新技术的不确定性和风险性又使得企业不会立即采用。本文通过构建双寡头垄断博弈模型对企业采用新技术的时点进行研究,证明企业采用新技术时存在一个最佳时点,在这个最佳时点之前,企业应采取等待策略。     

新疆新型农民科技培训效果调查分析

传统农民忽视科技培训,已经不能适应现代农业发展的需要。通过对新疆典型地区的调查分析,可以了解新疆新型农业科技培训的基本现状;可以看到,通过培训,农民收入增加,农村组织化程度等方面也有显著提高。     

Competition,strategic delegation and delay in technology adoption

This paper examines how strategic managerial delegation affects firms' timing of adoption of a new technology under different modes of product market competition. It demonstrates that strategic delegation has differential impacts on adoption dates under Cournot and Bertrand competitions. Strategic delegation with ‘own-performance’-based incentive schemes always leads to early adoption in markets with Bertrand competition compared to that under no-delegation, but not necessarily so in markets with Cournot competition. It also shows that under strategic delegation with ‘own-performance’-based incentive schemes, adoption occurs earlier (later) in markets with Cournot competition than in markets with Bertrand competition, if the degree of product differentiation is high (low). In contrast, under strategic delegation with ‘relative-performance’-based incentive schemes, adoption dates do not differ across markets with different modes of competition. It also analyses implications of firms' choice over types of managerial incentive schemes on the speed of diffusion of new technology.     

Resistance to technology adoption: The rise and decline of guilds

This paper analyzes the decision of a group of specialized workers to form a guild and block the adoption of a new technology that does not require their specialized input. The theory predicts an inverted-U relation between guilds and market size: for small markets, firm profits are insufficient to cover the fixed cost of adopting the new technology, and hence, specialized workers have no reason to form guilds; for intermediate sized markets, firm profits are large enough to cover the higher fixed costs, but not large enough to defeat workers' resistance, and so workers form guilds and block adoption; and for large markets, these profits are sufficiently large to overcome worker resistance and so guilds disband and the more productive technology diffuses throughout the economy. We show that this inverted-U relation between guilds and market size predicted by our theory exists in a dataset of Italian guilds from the 14th to the 19th century.     

Individualism and the adoption of clean energy technology

Why do 20% of Swedes report having adopted a clean energy system while the corresponding share of Spaniards equals 0.4%? Using data for about 25,000 individuals across 33 countries, this study tests which cultural trait, individualism or collectivism, is associated with greater levels of clean technology adoption. Our fractional probit estimates suggest that individualistic individuals are more inclined to adopt clean energy systems for home and transport purposes. In particular, the adoption probability rises by an estimated 2% if a person exhibits individualistic values. This finding is not driven by country-specific tax or subsidy policies or market-specific determinants and is robust to controlling for individual and household characteristics, attitudes, social and personal norms and other significant dimensions of cultural differences. The results, therefore, facilitate an understanding of how the decision to adopt clean energy technologies can be driven by cultural factors.     

The role of evaluation in SMMEs’ strategic decision-making on new technology adoption

ABSTRACT

The complex nature of small business operations has led to adopting IT as a tool to enhance the productivity, efficiency and growth of Small, Medium and Micro Enterprise (SMMEs). Despite the increased spend on IT, many SMMEs do not understand the importance of IT investment evaluation, which adversely impacts their technology and decision-making ability to realise benefits. The study explores the role evaluation plays in SMMEs’ decision-making to adopt the technology, and the ability to evaluate technology potentials thereof. Case studies were conducted, data collected analysed using the thematic analysis, with hermeneutics employed to derive deeper and richer meanings from the findings. SMMEs often base their decision to adopt the technology on speculative and empirical knowledge from personal judgement, communication preferences and individual experiences. Implications of TE potential may lead to the adoption of inappropriate or non-adoption of the technology, with adverse effects on business sustainability.     

The technology adoption life cycle attractor: Understanding the dynamics of high-tech markets

Unlike more stable industries, high-tech firms must constantly be in a strategy development phase. These companies are in desperate need of assistance in strategy formulation. This paper introduces a quantitative (rather than subjective) approach to help high-tech firms to understand their position in the technology adoption life cycle using some of the principles and tools of Chaos and Complexity theories. This approach is demonstrated by using data sets of three case studies in the hard drive, microprocessor, and server high-tech industries.     

Duration analysis of adoption of drip irrigation technology in southeastern Spain

In this paper, the process of adopting drip irrigation technology is investigated in one of the more water-scarce irrigation communities in Spain during the period 1975-2005. Why some farmers are faster to adopt this technology is investigated using duration analysis, which allows the timing of an event to be explored in a dynamic framework. The relative influence of a range of farmer, farm, economic, technology and institutional determinants is explored using discrete time models. The empirical results highlight the importance of educational factors, technological trialability, credit availability and institutional factors such as water availability and price, information networks and policy factors, as well as systematic effects that influence the adoption decision over the lifetime of the producer and over the survey period.     

The impact of incentives on the intention to try a new technology

Persuading users to try new technologies continues to be a problem confronting organisations and technology vendors alike. To better understand the process of new technology trial and adoption, several theoretical models have been proposed, of which the Technology Acceptance Model has gained significant support. However, research concerning tangible extrinsic rewards has not been explored. The primary goal of this research is to study the impact of tangible extrinsic rewards on various aspects of an intention to engage in an initial trial of a new technology. The theoretical model was tested on 284 students as subjects in a trial of a new technology. Results suggest that such incentives may be effective in increasing the behavioural intention to try a new technology. Results also identify that when incentives are provided, perceived ease of use and usefulness are the primary drivers towards intentions to try a new technology.     

Fiber in the backbone! The impact of broadband adoption on firm growth in network markets

This article examined the relationship between the adoption of technology, via the deployment of broadband, on revenue growth, which is an important measure of financial performance, of the deploying firms using panel data for all of the major local exchange carriers in the US telecommunications industry from 1988 to 2001. The sector is an important network market context where the implications of deployment have substantial salience. The results show a positive relationship between broadband deployment and carriers’ revenue growth. This result implies that encouraging the adoption and deployment of broadband technologies in addition to the benefits of the consumers and firms at the receiving end of the new technology create the potential for better financial performance for the deploying firms. These results also imply that steps that can be taken to provide incentives that will hasten the further deployment of broadband will result in gains in financial performance within the sector.     

新兴技术管理研究概述

新兴技术管理正在成为国际学术研究的新兴领域,我国也正在蓬勃展开这方面的研究。因此,从理论渊源入手,通过对新兴技术的概念及其不确定性和新兴技术管理的概念和特征的讨论,认为新兴技术管理是与技术管理、技术创新管理同源异质的新兴学科领域;同时,分别从新兴技术演化及评估、新兴市场识别及拓展、新兴技术战略研究、新兴技术管理的组织创新、新兴技术的融投资管理、新兴技术的知识管理等方面,介绍了目前新兴技术管理研究的领域、内容、观点和成果。     

The adoption of new technology by listed companies: the case of Twitter

This study investigates the adoption of Twitter by Australian listed companies for disseminating marketing information (including corporate promotion) and for directly interacting with consumers. Based on a sample of the Top 200 Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) listed companies, we find that companies with larger market capital are more likely to adopt Twitter for static advertising, a one-way communication approach, and direct interaction with consumers, a two-way communication approach. Companies with smaller market capital that adopt Twitter for marketing communication appear to disseminate more corporate promotion information, a static advertising approach. Overall, our results indicate that the level of a company's access to resources can influence their adoption of a new technology and the manner in which it is used. This study calls for further clarification of regulation regarding marketing communication on social media and experience sharing between industry practitioners.     

Understanding the determinants of RFID adoption in the manufacturing industry

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is one of the most promising technological innovations, with the potential to increase supply chain visibility and improve process efficiency. It allows remote identification of an object using a radio link. However, it has yet to see high rates of adoption in the manufacturing industry. Thus, effort is required to identify determinants affecting RFID adoption in the manufacturing industry. Based on the technology-organization-environment (TOE) framework of Tornatzky and Fleischer (L.G. Tornatzky, M. Fleischer, The processes of technological innovation, Lexington Books, 1990), nine variables (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, top management support, firm size, technology competence, information intensity, competitive pressure, and trading partner pressure) are proposed to help predict RFID adoption. Data collected from 133 manufacturers in Taiwan is tested against the proposed research model using logistic regression. The results and implications included in our study contribute to an expanded understanding of the determinants that affect RFID adoption in the manufacturing industry.     

Computer adoption and returns in transition

Across nine transition economies, it is the young, educated, English‐speaking workers with the best access to local telecommunications infrastructures who work with computers. These workers earn about 25 percent more than do workers of comparable observable skills who do not use computers. Controlling for likely simultaneity between computer use at work and labour market earnings makes the apparent returns to computer use disappear. These results are corroborated using Russian longitudinal data on earnings and computer use on the job. High costs of computer use in transition economies suppress wages that firms can pay to their workers who use computers.     

Technology diffusion and environmental regulation: the adoption of natural gas-fired combined cycle generating units

Even though environmental policy can affect the path of technology diffusion, the economics literature contains limited empirical evidence of this relationship. This paper provides insight into the technology adoption decisions of electric generating firms. Specifically, the diffusion of combined cycle (CC) generating units is examined. This technology is ‘environmentally friendly’ in that, it is cleaner and more efficient than alternative generating units. The empirical model explores the decision to adopt a CC generating unit and the extent to which the technology is adopted in response to environmental regulations imposed on producers. Zero-inflated models are used to evaluate adoption decisions at the plant-level as well as the firm-level. This research shows that environmental regulation has a significant effect on technology choice and the extent of adoption in this industry. Findings suggest that the stringency of regulations that control the building of new generating units is particularly influential for established power plants.     

Households technology adoption and use patterns: the case of digital terrestrial television in six Italian regions

The paper explores the technology adoption and use patterns of households. Many theories are focusing on the adoption; however, some studies show that the adoption mechanisms in households are still unknown. Before any sound theoretical proposals could be made, additional exploratory studies in this field are necessary to discover the relations between use behaviour and adoption determinants. To demonstrate this, our exploratory study uses the case of digital terrestrial television (DTT) introduction in Italy. The study incorporates exploratory factor analysis to identify dimensions of DTT adoption and use. These dimensions were further investigated through their relations with demographic variables of primary decision-makers in households. We found that DTT adoption and use relate to household characteristics in a relatively complex way, but clear systematic use patterns are evident. These patterns can serve as an empirical evidence to further develop theories in this field.     

特色种植农户对不同技术供给模式的行为响应——以陕西省周至县猕猴桃种植示范村为例

以2013年周至县猕猴桃种植农户技术采用行为的抽样调查问卷为基础,综合分析特色种植农户对不同技术供给模式下的行为响应及其影响因素,探究其中是否存在某些内在的规律性特征。结果表明:1不同技术供给模式对特色种植农户具有一定的普适性;2特色种植农户对不同技术供给模式的采用效率具有相对的差异性,即政府主导型合作主导型企业主导型科研主导型;3特色种植农户对不同技术供给模式的行为响应受内外因素的共同作用,既受信息网络、技术成本、技术风险、技术服务、社会网络、市场环境和政策环境等外部因素的影响,也受文化程度、兼业程度、特色种植收入等内部因素的影响;4在不同技术供给模式的背景下,影响特色种植农户采用行为主要因素的作用力大小存在着一定差异,同时也表现出一定的规律性特征,即不同技术供给模式下的农户采用行为与信息网络、社会网络、市场环境、特色种植收入呈正相关,与兼业程度、技术风险呈负相关。     

Determinants of initial technology adoption and intensification: evidence from Latin America and the Caribbean

In this paper, we examine determinants of initial adoption and subsequent intensification of commercial use of the internet. In contrast to previous examinations that have looked at initial adoption and intensification in the highest income countries, we study companies in Latin America and the Caribbean and so contribute to empirical understanding of the two types of adoption. Many variables such as company size and industry intensification previously identified as influential in high-income regions continue to be important determinants. Novel determinants are also found, including informal sector competition and regional influence. There are sharp differences in determinants between the two adoption types.     

The environmental Porter hypothesis: theory,evidence, and a model of timing of adoption

The Porter hypothesis postulates that the costs of compliance with environmental standards may be offset by adoption of innovations they trigger. We model this hypothesis using a game of timing of technology adoption. We will show that times of adoption will be earlier if the non-adoption tax is higher. The environmental tax will turn the preemption game with low profits into a game with credible precommitment generating higher profits (pro-Porter). If there is a precommitment game without environmental taxes, the introduction of a tax will lead to lower profits (anti-Porter). An evaluation of the empirical literature indicates that the Porter hypothesis will hold even for profit-maximizing firms under multiple market imperfections such as imperfect competition, X-inefficiency, and agency costs. These are more likely to be present in sectors with large firms. In many case studies that we have evaluated, though, we detected an element of explicit or implicit subsidies for environmentally friendly behaviour, which is in line with Pigovian policies.