The virtual takeover: The influence of virtual reality on consumption

Looking to current trends, this paper explores the influence of Virtual Reality (VR) on consumption. Specifically, we focus on the influence that VR has on consumer spending by suggesting that identities created in VR will influence consumption behaviour in the real world. While other forms of technology allow consumers to create alternative identities, we suggest that the unique aspects of VR, bolstered by forthcoming advances, will make identities created in VR relatively more self-important and more salient in real world consumption. We also propose implications for marketing research and practice.     

The influence of information communications technology (ICT) on cash management and financial department performance: An explanatory model

We delineated the extent to which various facets of information communications technology (ICT) are used and are perceived as useful by treasury managers, focusing on three indicators of financial department performance: cost savings, improvements in the quality of the information, and enhancements in the use of scenario simulations for decision making. Specifically, we examined the relationship between ICT use in cash management functions within financial departments, perceptions of the importance of cash management to treasury managers, and their perceptions of the usefulness of ICT to financial department performance. The theoretical and applied implications of these findings are discussed. Copyright © 2009 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A meta‐analysis of the UTAUT model: Eleven years later

The unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) has been widely used to investigate factors influencing the adoption and use of information systems and technologies (IS/IT). However, studies using UTAUT are not conclusive in terms of statistical significance, direction, and magnitude. Through a meta‐analysis of empirical studies on UTAUT from 2003 to 2013, we determine how parsimonious, accurate, and robust UTAUT is at predicting acceptance and use of technology. A meta‐analysis of 74 publications reveals that performance expectancy, effort expectancy, and social influence explain IS/IT adoption, while behavioural intention is the most often measured dependent variable operationalized as a proxy for system use, supporting the strength of UTAUT as an explanatory model of IS/IT acceptance and use. Copyright © 2016 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Strategic orientation and new product performance: The roles of technological capability

Although prior research has examined the linkage between strategic orientation and new product performance, existing empirical evidence suggests exploration of the effects of a firm's internal factors on this linkage is required. This study aims to fill the marketing literature gap by addressing how technological capability moderates the strategic orientation‐new product performance relationship. This study measures new product performance as a two‐dimensional construct to avoid the oversimplified bias. Research hypotheses are tested using a sample of 121 information system product projects and a hierarchical regression approach is utilized. Results show that (a) technological capability strengthens the market orientation‐performance relationship and (b) technological capability affects the financial performance effects of market and technology orientations via market performance. Copyright © 2014 ASAC. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Virtually Perfect Corporation*

This case provides an example of a high technology company that is expanding and is facing cash flow constraints. It details financial reporting issues relating to the company’s most recent set of financial statements. It requires students to assume the role of a newly appointed auditor, to prepare a report analyzing the key issues and to provide advice to the owners of the Company. Students are faced with a set of integrated financial accounting and reporting issues. The case incorporates some overview audit issues, but it is most suitable as a capstone case in intermediate financial accounting, for use in either undergraduate or MBA courses.     

Tourism and information technologies

The apparent mismatch between tourism and technology can be reconciled by a closer examination of the tourism production system (TPS) and the technologies likely to affect it. It is found that a whole system of information technologies (SIT) is being adopted by all segments of the travel industry. The SIT, however, will not attack the human content of tourism. Rather, it will affect the core information-intensive areas of management, organization, product blending and packaging, marketing, distribution and industry linkages. Factors likely to affect the diffusion of the SIT in tourism are identified. Implications of technology adoption for future organization, management, and distribution of tourism services are drawn out.     

The Effect of Humanizing Robo‐Advisors on Investor Judgments*

We examine the effect of humanizing (naming) robo‐advisors on investor judgments, which has taken on increased importance as robo‐advisors have become increasingly common and there is currently little SEC regulation governing key aspects of their use. In our first experiment, we predict and find that investors are more likely to rely on the investment recommendation of an unnamed robo‐advisor, whereas they are more likely to rely on the investment recommendation of a named human advisor. Theory suggests one reason that naming a robo‐advisor may have drawbacks pertains to the complexity of the task the robo‐advisor performs. We explore the importance of task complexity in our second experiment. We predict and find that investors are less likely to rely on a named robo‐advisor when the advisor is perceived to be performing a relatively complex task, consistent with our first experiment, and more likely to rely on a named robo‐advisor when the advisor is perceived to be performing a relatively simple task, consistent with prior research on human‐computer interactions. Our findings contribute to the literature examining how technology influences the acquisition and use of financial information and the general literature on human‐computer interactions. Our study also addresses a call by the SEC to learn more about robo‐advisors. Lastly, our study has practical implications for wealth management firms by demonstrating the potentially negative effects of making robo‐advisors more humanlike in an attempt to engage and attract users.