Population decentralization policies: the experience of Taiwan

"Social and economic policies and programs adopted by the government of Taiwan have slowed the pace of population concentration and prevented the highly concentrated distribution of population experienced by many developing countries. After presenting a brief analysis of Taiwan's population growth and distribution during the past three decades, this text examines the policies and programs credited with having curbed population concentration. They include both spatial development policies established for the purpose of decentralizing the population and its economic activities, and development policies that, although not designed expressly to curb population concentration, have had such an effect."     

Hotel Selection Criteria Used by Mainland Chinese and Foreign Individual Travelers to Hong Kong

Given the growing number of outbound tourists from Mainland China to other parts of the world, it is important that hoteliers are aware of the different needs of this group of travelers. This study examines differences in the importance ratings of hotel selection criteria between Mainland Chinese and foreign individual travelers to Hong Kong. The results indicate that Mainland Chinese travelers placed different levels of importance on the various attributes examined than did their non-Chinese counterparts. They are generally more demanding than foreign respondents, despite the fact that the budgets they allocate for accommodation are smaller both in percentage and in absolute dollars.     

The timing of fostering complementary innovation: exploring the antecedent of industry platform emergence

This paper concentrates on exploring the antecedent of industry platform emergence in order to clarify the appropriate timing of opening the platform to successfully architect innovation by external complementors. An industry platform is defined as a core component of a technological system, which facilitates firms in orchestrating complementary innovation leading to the creation of network effects. Literature on industry platforms has mainly paid attention to investigating strategies that firms can implement to foster platform ecosystems. Relatively little research has been done on analysing the suitable timing of increasing platform openness. This incomplete understanding may cause confusion in the use of the industry platform concept, when deciding on the timing of encouraging complementary innovation. To explore this issue, a case study approach was employed to collecting and analysing research data. A total of five case studies were conducted. The case study findings suggest that the appropriate user acceptance of a product platform can be regarded as the antecedent of platform emergence, and this can help firms decide on the timing of opening the platform for the purpose of successfully steering complementary innovation. The research findings have made theoretical contributions to knowledge and have provided firms with practical implications.     

Factors Affecting Third-Generation Mobile Services: Applying the Purchase Intention Model

Based on the theoretical framework of the Purchase Intention Model, this study integrated the constructs of perceived over performance, perceived relative advantage, network effects, perceived enjoyment, and individual optimal stimulation level to investigate the factors affecting third-generation (3G) mobile service adoption behavior in Taiwan. Data was collected from 322 potential services users in Taiwan. The empirical results indicated that perceived need and perceived enjoyment were key factors that determined whether or not an individual would adopt 3G service. Furthermore, this study confirmed the importance of perceived over performance and relative advantage on the perceived need for 3G service. Perceived price was also found to be positively correlated with purchasability, but purchasability and network effect did not significantly impact adoption behavior. At the end of this paper, we discuss several implications for 3G service management practices and future research regarding innovative technology acceptance.     

Effects of Personality on Service Quality in Business Transactions

This study describes the relationships among a salesperson's personality, similarity in terms of personality between salesperson and purchase representative (rep), and service quality perceived by purchase reps. The following findings were obtained: (1) agreeableness of a salesperson was negatively related to the responsiveness perceived by purchase reps; (2) salesperson neuroticism was negatively related to purchase rep perceptions of assurance, empathy, and overall service quality; and (3) the similarity in extraversion between salesperson and purchase reps was negatively correlated with purchase rep perceptions of reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and overall service quality.     

Selecting an Optimal Region by Fuzzy Group Decision Making: Empirical Evidence from Medical Investors

Since China opened its medical services market in 1989, its health care industry has become the focus of international investment. This study employs the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to establish an evaluation model of optimal region selection for joint-venture hospitals or clinics in China. On the basis of the combined perspectives of thirty experts, this study adopts six criteria and nineteen sub-criteria for selection. It considers the Surrounding Bohai Bay (SBB), Yangtze River Delta (YRD), Pearl River Delta (PRD), and other economic zones as potential locations for the establishment of medical institutions. The findings reveal that government policies, demand conditions, and investment strategy are relatively highly weighted criteria. The order of priority for economic zone selection is as follows: YRD, PRD, SBB, and other economic zones. These results can help foreign investors in selecting appropriate investment regions.     

An Exploratory Study of the Otaku Adolescent Consumer

High accessibility to Internet technology and popularization of focus media has given rise to various emerging subcultures among the younger generation who constantly seek novelty. The otaku is such an adolescent subculture of avid collectors who have a special lifestyle and who are obsessed with anime products. This study explores this specific adolescent segment's traits and purchasing behavior patterns. A focus‐group interview was conducted with some adolescent otaku to allow them to express their opinions and purchasing behaviors. Then, a questionnaire was developed based on the interview's findings, and data from a survey of 105 respondents were collected. Exploratory factor analysis was applied to extract the otaku's trait factors, while confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were used for the verification of the scale and structural model, respectively. The results show that the adolescent otaku present an obsessive preference for visual perception. The main factor influencing the otaku's purchasing intentions in terms of animation, comics, and games (ACG) is their strong interest in and participation willingness toward ACG. Strategic marketing directions applied to this adolescent group should emphasize information visualization to entice their buying behavior.     

Impact of Asynchronous Learning Networks in Large Lecture Classes

The evolution of the computer-assisted personalized approach (CAPA) system and its use in large lecture classes is described. Increased individual student contact in these large classes of over 400 students has been established by implementing an asynchronous learning network (ALN). The two systems complement each other and provide the means to monitor and promote individual student performance at any time during the semester. During one semester poorly performing students were individually contacted by personalized e-mail to inform them of their standing and to encourage better performance. Results of this combined technological approach are presented.     

Dynamic organizational learning: a narrative inquiry into the story of Huawei in China

In this paper, we apply a model derived from dynamic capability theory to analyse the evolution and development of Huawei as an emerging MNC that is also a dynamic learning organization. We show how this firm has evolved through four distinct eras, characterized in succession by imitation, improvement, integration and cross-disciplinary engagement. Each era has involved a sequence of steps, beginning with opportunities, and followed by path, position, processes and transformation. Through much of its history, Huawei drew heavily on outside expertise. By contrast, the contemporary Huawei has become self-sufficient, as progressive transformations have enabled the firm to acquire dynamic capability for developing unique client-driven solutions by combining knowledge from diverse internal expert communities.