Sensor-based entrepreneurship: A framework for developing new products and services

As the Internet of Things (IoT) begins to dominate the technology landscape, there will be new products and services that will become technically and financially feasible. Internet technologies and advancements in social interaction tools have led to an increase in the use of the crowd as a provider of business solutions. Yet, we have seen a mere fraction of the possibilities of crowdsourcing technologies. This is because most of the development, discussion, and research around crowdsourcing has focused on active-input crowdsourcing. However, the real transformative pressure will come from passive sources of data generated primarily by developing and growing sensor technologies. This next generation of crowdsourcing will be a game changer for entrepreneurial opportunities. As crowdsourcing systems proliferate, more input will be acquired from sensors, artificial intelligence, bots, and other devices. As a result of this explosion, the variety of product and service opportunities will swell as entrepreneurs become more aware of technologies merging—such as the combination of crowdsourcing, sensors, and big data into a new type of entrepreneurship: sensor-based entrepreneurship. The purpose of this research is to contribute by (1) clarifying the next generation of crowdsourcing and (2) developing and presenting a framework to help sensor-based entrepreneurs plan, develop, and map their new products and services.     

Experience,change and vulnerability: consumer education for older people revisited

Everyday consumer transactions have the same potential for unexpected consequence whatever the age of the consumers involved. Young and old alike can find that products and services fail to live up to performance claims and that they are left with problems not easily resolved, or costs that are difficult to recover. While not overlooking consumer heterogeneity – especially on the basis of age – older consumers are arguably distinguishable in terms of the social and financial context in which they make decisions and attempt to redress problems. In 1988, attention was drawn to the need for consumer education to look beyond generic objectives to the specific situation of older people and their transactions. More than a decade later, in an allegedly consumer‐oriented society, the issue is revisited here to assess the argument's current relevance. Despite the increased availability of information for decisions and consumer protection, difficulties persist in the way information is presented or accessed. Chameleon‐like, old problems become manifest in new unfamiliar ways and invalidate experience. Consumer education today is as important as it was in 1988. Arguably, technological change means that the need for a better understanding of dangers, rights and redress procedures is greater than ever and the needs of older people in increasingly complex private and public sector transaction environments are all the more pressing. However, a fundamental revision of the way we approach the design of products, services and environments is needed to improve prospects for older consumers.     

Audits and COVID-19: A paradigm shift in the making

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the obsolescence and vulnerability of many existing auditing practices. While some progressive practices have been implemented (e.g., remote audits using rudimentary information and communication technologies), a new paradigm is needed not only to account for the risk of repeated lockdowns but also to align practices with the level of digitalization, automation, and use of artificial intelligence in the current business environment. In this article, we argue that the adoption of new technologies requires a fundamental rethinking of how auditing services are delivered. We argue that new technological possibilities have implications for five other auditing elements that enable a shift from the old to the new paradigm of auditing, namely actors, processes, spaces, training and skills development, and services. We explain how nonfinancial audits conducted under the new paradigm are key enablers of a firm’s ability to participate and to thrive in a competitive international marketplace.     

New Audiovisual and Information Services and the Protection of Children: The European Dimension

This information paper outlines how the interests of minors are dealt with in the European Union's (EU) embryonic policies for new audiovisual and information services, in the context of what has happened – and is currently happening – in broadcasting and telecommunications. It is written from the public interest and consumer perspective rather than that of the industries involved, with a particular concern that the major contribution that new, technology-based services can make to the mental and moral development of children should not be prejudiced by harmful and damaging content. The author also addresses the virtually complete neglect of the need to protect children from economic exploitation through the new technologies.In general, the momentum of EU policy to ensure free movement of services, combined with the practical problems of developing an effective international regulatory structure for the new trans-border technologies, suggests that there will be considerable technological and commercial pressures to relax existing provisions which aim to protect minors, while there will be major obstacles in the way of developing new legislative or regulatory measures. This is a pessimistic scenario for those concerned with the interests of children. Nevertheless, there are some opportunities, which are outlined in the final section of the paper.     

Utilizing mobile devices to enrich the learning style of students

As digital technologies evolve in education, business faculty have increased access to an extensive range of mobile devices and online applications to help them inspire students' passion for learning. Adopting new digital approaches to teaching can also enhance the learning style of students who are immersed in the use of digital devices. How can the use of these devices and associated applications (apps) help students broaden the opportunities for a more effective learning experience? In this exploratory article, the authors examine the impact of two mobile apps—Flipboard and Stitcher—on students' learning and engagement with class-assigned marketing materials. Students enjoyed Flipboard more than Stitcher in contributing to the requirements of class work.     

Inclusive or exclusive? Investigating how retail technology can reduce old consumers’ barriers to shopping

This paper investigates older consumers in-store shopping experiences and the barriers that they face. The aim is to understand how new retail technologies (e.g., interactive in-store displays, self-service tills, robots etc.) can help seniors access satisfying, autonomous retail experiences, helping them to achieve a sense of inclusion in physical retail settings. Drawing upon the social inclusion/exclusion theory and information overload theory, the research employs a qualitative approach based on an inductive design, including face-to-face semi structured interviews with 36 consumers aged 75+. The findings highlight (i) old consumers have scarce interactions with in-store technologies (adding knowledge to motivations literature), (ii) the need to develop new technologies to support these consumers, and (iii) the extent to which these technologies are excluding rather than including old consumers (adding knowledge to the drivers of the field of exclusion). Results provide guidelines for retailers to enhance the sense of inclusion for old consumers through a better usage of new technologies.     

Consumers’ Behavioral Intentions Toward Self-Service Technology in the Emerging Markets

ABSTRACT

Self-service technologies (SSTs) allow customers to offer their own service encounters via the interaction of electronic service interfaces or machines rather than by interacting with a firm's service personnel. This lack of personal interaction generates doubts and queries in the minds of the people, especially those unaware or less aware of these technology-based services. Such a situation is quite prevalent in the developing nations (like India), where still a large number of people are apprehensive about using the latest technologies. In this regard, the present study aims to develop an integrated model designed to predict and explain the various factors that influence customers’ behavioral intentions to use or not to use one particular SST (i.e., ATM services). The study finds that bank customers are less innovative and less optimistic to try out new technologies. Usefulness of the technology helps in developing positive attitude toward the technology, which in turn affects customers' intentions to use that technology.     

THE GERMAN SERVICE GAP OR: RE‐ORGANISING THE MANUFACTURING––SERVICES PUZZLE

Two phenomena make the distinction between services and manufacturing obsolete: the tertiarization of manufacturing and the introduction of information technologies in service industries. Competitiveness of manufacturing firms increasingly depends on the quality of service inputs and on packages of goods and services. Information and communication technologies introduce ‘industrial’ processes of production in service industries. Hence, it does not make sense any more to use categories such as ‘services’ or ‘manufacturing’. Instead, it would be more meaningful to group economic activities according to input configurations. This paper will discuss these issues in the context of the supposed German ‘service gap’.     

Fitness Apps's purchase behaviour: Amalgamation of Stimulus-Organism-Behaviour-Consequence framework (S–O–B–C) and the innovation resistance theory (IRT)

With the rise in popularity and use of fitness apps, more research is needed to learn more about how people use the apps so that they keep using them. Stimulus-Organism-Behaviour-Consequence framework (S–O–B–C) and the Innovation Resistance Theory (IRT) together in this study to learn more about how people make decisions about how to use apps for fitness. Eight hundred and fifty-eight users of various fitness apps have responded to the questionnaire. Results show that people who are open to changing their fitness systems from traditional to app-based services enjoy new experiences and new product behaviours. For them, the perceived functional barriers to service adoption don't hold them back. At the same time the users of fitness apps try to get health and fitness information from as many sources as possible, like friends, peer groups, the newspaper and social networking apps. Users with a high level of health consciousness are more likely to be active in their health and fitness. People who use apps make decisions based on new information from the integrated model. App providers should think about how to get and keep users interested in their apps, personalise their experience, and design features that make users invested in the apps.     

How mobile technologies support business models: Case study-based empirical analysis

Mobile technologies have pushed the connectivity of IT systems to the limit, enabling people and things to connect to one another at all times. The amount of information companies have at their disposal has increased exponentially, thanks largely to geolocation and to the vast array of sensors that have been integrated into mobile devices. This information can be used to enhance business activities and processes, but it can also be used to create new business models. Focusing on business models, we analyze mobile technologies as enablers of activity changes. We consider the differentiating characteristics of mobile technologies and examine how these can support different business functions. A study based on fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) of 30 cases across different industries allows us to identify mobile technology success factors for different core activities. The results show that several combinations of mobile technology initiatives provide a competitive advantage when these initiatives match the business model.     

盲人也可使用的平板电脑

Blind pad是一种盲人与罹患眼疾人群的个人辅助设备,通过它,盲人可在移动数码设备上感受到图像的信息.这种新的设备将会十分实用,残疾人的生活可以因此而发生很大转变：新材料、满足使用者需求的设计、节能以及低廉的价格.     

The value of protecting privacy

New technologies arrive at a blistering pace and existing technologies become more ubiquitous by the day. Technology is so deeply embedded in daily lives and routines that people have become blinded by the promises of new technology. We have become fully engrossed in the benefits of technology in the form of automation, convenience, and immediacy. At the same time, we often fail—on a grand scale—to consider the challenges and drawbacks associated with new technologies. These drawbacks can be more profound and widespread than society acknowledges. As a result, we tend to interact with our technologies while being dangerously unaware of the potential repercussions. If we continue to interact with technology in this narrowly framed manner, significant societal problems are likely to result. This Executive Digest renews the call for increased privacy protections in the context of new technologies.     

Financial Vulnerability,Financial Literacy,and the Use of Digital Payment Technologies

The purpose of this study is to test the notion that the use of digital payment methods, such as paying with a mobile phone, increases the risk of financial vulnerability. Research from the USA indicates such a relationship, and we study whether this finding can be generalized to other countries. Motivated by recent changes in EU legislation related to financial transactions, we also examine willingness to use social media companies for money transfers along with sharing bank account information with third-party financial services. Exploiting data collected from a representative sample of the Norwegian adult population (n?=?2202), we identify differences in financial behaviour and characteristics between users and nonusers of different digital payment methods. In contrast to US studies, we find that mobile payment users were less financially vulnerable than nonusers and those women were more likely users of digital payment technologies than men. Younger generations and those with low financial literacy were more financially vulnerable than others, although we did not find this to be related to the use of mobile payment or other digital payment methods. The results show that there is a need for more research from different countries outside of the USA to obtain an understanding of the consequences of increased digitalization of financial services. In addition, as COVID-19 has shifted a vast amount of spending online and these newer payment technologies have become more available, we need to gain a better understanding of how they influence financial behaviour.

     

Wearables in the workplace: The brave new world of employee engagement

Organizations increasingly introduce wearable devices, hoping to improve organizational performance. Wearables provide new and unique opportunities for engaging employees with their work and their organizational environment. The performance-related feedback these devices provide is supposed to help both employees and managers navigate the work environment more effectively. Despite the compelling benefits of wearables, they may prove to be detrimental to organizational performance unless a number of ethical issues are addressed. This article provides an overview of the benefits that certain wearable technologies can provide employees and managers, as well as the challenges they may create for organizations.     

Doing good and doing business at the bottom of the pyramid

There is an ongoing debate among scholars regarding the existence of a fortune at the bottom of the income pyramid. While some scholars argue that there is a profitable market at the pyramid base, others refute this proposition, arguing that targeting poor people as customers could lead to unethical business practices and further their exploitation. With the aid of mini cases, this article explains that there is indeed a fortune to be made at the base of the pyramid but that good fortune can be created for both corporations and poor people if the population at the bottom of the pyramid is treated as suppliers, producers, co-owners, and/or employees rather than as mere consumers. However, in terms of consumers, there is a market for firms at the base of the pyramid through which they can earn profits and simultaneously help eradicate poverty, mainly by lowering the cost structure for poor people. In other words, firms that can reduce poverty and provide cost-effective utilitarian goods and services to poor people have more to gain from such individuals than those firms that provide more luxurious goods and services or offer goods with mere aesthetic or emotional value. With the help of mini cases, this article explains four measures firms can use to create fortunes for themselves as well as for poor customers by avoiding affordability and adaptability traps.     

老年旅游市场旅游行为分析及开发对策

老年人出游一般都是出于注重身体健康、追求知识文化、探亲访友、追求宗教信仰和强调自我实现的旅游动机。老年人可以自由支配的时间充裕,收入支配方面比较自由,消费观念也发生了变化,使老年旅游市场有着巨大的发展空间。当前存在的主要问题是我国老年旅游市场缺少专门为老年旅游者设计的产品,缺乏完善的医疗保障服务,促销策略也较为单一。旅游企业应针对老年旅游者的决策行为、消费行为和购后行为的特征,定制老年旅游产品、提供人性化的服务、采用多样化的促销组合策略,以更好地促进我国老年旅游的发展。     

Ethical Guidelines for a Networked World under Construction

Networked computer systems simultaneously destroy and build up old and new kinds of global and local jobs. Digitally networked ultra-modern structures in work, company and administration bring us turbulent times. This development is analyzed from an ethical, technological and economical point of view and illustrated by empirical data. The main emphasis of this article is placed on considerations, from the point of view of business ethics, of the conception of workplaces – in the office, at home and abroad (mobile work) – equipped for computer-supported information exchange. In order to make better use of these new technologies, ethical, action-oriented guidelines should be considered.     

方书起:玩古董已成我的习惯

<正>他今年已经51岁了,一个女儿笑称他已步入老龄的年轮。而在这51年的光阴里,有三十多年的时间他都在和古董打着交道。收藏、鉴赏、估价、出货……一件又一件古董在他手中经历着各自的运转轮回。他就是方书起。     

Characteristics of food‐wasting consumers in the Czech Republic

This paper investigates food waste at the consumer stage of the food chain. The authors conducted a questionnaire survey with 259 respondents to identify the key characteristics of food‐wasting consumers and to suggest strategies to improve food‐wasting behaviour. The results of the survey confirmed that the rate at which food is wasted depends on the age, economic status and education of the person managing food in a household, on the household's income per person and on total household income. Younger people, students, economically active people and people from higher‐income households (both per household and per person) waste more, while pensioners waste much less than other groups. However, the sex of the food manager is not associated with food waste. These demographic characteristics should be considered when designing consumer education campaigns focussed on changing consumer motivation and behaviour. This paper also recommends other solutions tailored for specific demographic groups: Younger people and students may be influenced by the actions of opinion leaders within social networks, and technical devices enabling better food management could help them reduce waste. Supporting work‐life balance, broadening the network of food delivery services and implementing corporate initiatives that support food waste prevention could help economically active people reduce their food waste. Additionally, offers of ready‐to‐eat food should be expanded for people with higher incomes.     

The evaluation factors of adopting SoLoMo services: the hybrid fuzzy MCDM approach

SoLoMo services are emerging mobile services, which combine different software and hardware techniques, enabling users to obtain location-based information at any time and place as well as exchange, interact, and communicate messages with other people in real time. Since SoLoMo services contain two types of the most widely used mobile applications, different users might have different needs for and expectations on these services. This study proposed a three-stage hybrid fuzzy multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) model and applied fuzzy analytic network process (FANP) and the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) to analyze, from an angle of integral SoLoMo services, the critical factors evaluated by users in adopting SoLoMo services. In addition, this study also discussed how the users make their choices after they have weighed between the privacy consideration and the use of complete SoLoMo services. The analysis results reported that popularity degree of service, information accuracy of service, privacy risk, maintaining affection and friendship with others, and location-based store information search are the top five ones among these critical positive and negative factors considered by users while adopting SoLoMo services. Furthermore, the analysis indicated that for achieving information accuracy of service, location-based store information search, and maintaining affection and friendship with others, SoLoMo service users would tolerate more privacy risk.