Knowledge exchange and knowledge protection in interorganizational learning: The ambidexterity perspective

Are knowledge exchange and knowledge protection conflicting or complementary? Although facilitating knowledge exchange and protecting core proprietary knowledge are important in interorganizational learning, extant studies often regard them as conflicting activities. Few studies have discussed the mechanisms that can help firms achieve both. In this current study, we extend the concept of ambidexterity to the interorganizational learning context and suggest several mechanisms that can enhance knowledge exchange and knowledge protection simultaneously. We conducted a survey and the empirical results reveal that experience sharing and shared interpretation are positively associated with knowledge exchange success. Hostage arrangement enhances the level of knowledge protection, whereas reciprocal investment has no effect on knowledge protection. Furthermore, ambidexterity (the product term of knowledge exchange success and knowledge protection) significantly affects the performance of a firm. Finally, we discuss the implications of this research and offer suggestions for future research.     

The non-linear impact of oil price on the oil demand

ABSTRACT

A panel smooth transition regression model was adopted to analyse the non-linear impact of oil prices on oil demand. Data for 42 countries was obtained from the International Energy Agency for the time period spanning from January 1990 to June 2017. The results indicate that a threshold value does exist. Furthermore, when the oil price was lower than this threshold value, a positive relationship between oil price and oil demand was observed. When the price of oil was higher than the threshold value, however, a negative relationship between price and demand was found.     

An empirical study of the impact of information technology intensity in strategic investment decisions

This paper focuses on two issues of the management of strategic information technology investment decisions (SITIDs). First, it examines the outcomes of strategic investment decisions (SIDs) according to the extent of IT intensity in the investment project (termed IT-ness). Second, IT-ness is assessed in realtion to a numberr of dimensions, including decision formulating process, evealuation process and decision content. Empirical testing is based on a sample of 80 SIDs from Taiwanese enterprises. Thw results show that IT-ness is negatively associated with the effectiveness of SIDs and several constructs in the decision process. The implicaitons of this for the evaluaiton and management of SITIDs, and on agenda for further research into the effectiveness of SITIDs, are discussed.     

Investigating passengers’ intentions to use technology-based self check-in services

As more and more airlines have introduced technology-based self check-in services, it has become increasingly important to understand the factors affecting airline passengers’ attitudes toward this new form of check-in services and also their intentions, especially from Asian passengers’ perspectives. An empirical study was conducted among Taiwanese airline passengers using the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the basic research model while considering additional factors for further analysis such as external stimuli, perceived service quality, perceived behavioral control, need for service, and perceived risk. The findings revealed that attitude and external stimuli best explain passengers’ behavioral intentions to use the kiosks, whereas perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use have little effect on their intentions. These findings suggest that airlines in Taiwan should persuade passengers to acquire a more positive attitude toward the new check-in kiosks and should consider implementation of incentive strategies in encouraging passengers to adopt the self check-in service.     

Health insurance and savings over the life cycle—a semiparametric smooth coefficient estimation

Individuals save for future uncertain health care expenses. This is less efficient than pooling health risk through insurance. The provision of comprehensive health insurance may raise welfare by providing the missing market to smooth out consumption through the life cycle. We employ a semiparametric smooth coefficient model to examine the effects of the introduction of the National Health Insurance in Taiwan in 1995 on savings and consumption over the life cycle. The idea is to estimate the coefficients of health insurance which vary with age. Our results suggest that younger households are more sensitive to the risk reductions, and that they demonstrate a greater response in the reduction of their precautionary saving. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Simultaneous one-sided prediction intervals for a two-parameter exponential distribution using complete or type II censored data

Summary Simultaneous prediction intervals for observations inl future samples from a two-parameter exponential distribution are considered. The prediction limits depend upon a previously available complete or type II censored sample from the same distribution. An equation is derived from which the prediction factor is determined and exact prediction limits are illustrated with a numerical example.     

Abdominal MR imaging following antegrade air introduction into the intestinal loops

Air was used to distend the gastrointestinal tract and act as a contrast medium to effectively delineate the other abdominal organs/masses and to outline intraluminal or mural lesions. We used a nasogastric tube to introduce air into the stomach. Metoclopramide was administered to propel air throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Bowel peristalsis was then controlled by scopolamine butylbromide. Most of the alimentary tract could be distended by air. The normal bowel walls were barely visible between intraluminal signal-void air and extraluminal high-signal fat. Intraluminal tumor, wall thickening, and adjacent structures could be clearly delineated.     

Retrograde air insufflation in MRI: A technical note

Retrograde air insufflation was employed to distend the colon and the ileum in 18 patients and five volunteers for magnetic resonance examination. Good and moderate marking of the ileum was obtained in 18 cases. The colon was nearly completely distended in every case. Intraluminal tumor, mural thickening, and extraluminal lesion were outlined by intraluminal air and surrounding air-distended bowel. This study shows that retrograde air insufflation is a useful method to mark the colon and most parts of the ileum.     

Intraday return spillovers and its variations across trading sessions

The main purpose of this paper is to study the intraday return spillovers and their real time variations amongst selected technology stocks. Based upon randomly selected technology stocks in terms of multilateral analysis, we find the following evidence. Firstly, we find that positive spillover effects are discernible amongst medium- and large-sized stocks, with the effects being directionally asymmetric between different size groups. Secondly, we find that for most stocks, the full effects of the firm-specific shocks over other stocks are realized within approximately 30 min to 2 h. Finally, we show that the spillover effects tend to follow an M-shaped intraday pattern. Our results suggest that during the opening and closing sessions, trades motivated by information spilled over from other firms are relatively subordinated, with the trading at these times being largely dominated by those based upon common market factor or firm-specific fundamental information.     

Involvement theory in constructing bloggers' intention to purchase travel products

Blogs recently have demonstrated their enormous marketing potential, and more and more travel advertisements are being posted in blogs. In light of this observation, this study aims to provide insights into the structural relationship among travel bloggers' involvement level, the advertising effect from blog messages, and travel bloggers' intention to purchase travel products. A travel blogger's purchase intention model was constructed and empirically tested. A total of 900 questionnaires were distributed to identified travel bloggers; 398 valid responses were returned. The data were examined with Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results demonstrated the positive impact resulting from the ad effect as well as the ad effect on purchase intention, which could be verified in travel blog environments. It also indicated that high-involvement travel bloggers are more likely to form favourable impressions with regard to ads in travel blogs. Travel blogs play a positive role in the processing of ad messages; brand management is essential to business marketers since brand attitude is the most influential factor related to the ad effect on purchase intention. Meanwhile, while ad attitude is not significantly effective concerning purchase intention, it remains essential in forming brand attitudes. Several implications for posting advertisements in travel blogs will be discussed and suggested in this paper.