Adoption readiness in service innovation: the case of digital money

One challenge for firms seeking to develop new services is to understand the conditions likely to affect the rates of adoption. Understanding relative degrees of ‘adoption readiness’ provides innovators with information to choose market segments and indicates opportunities to influence adoption environments. However, there is a little research into the adoption readiness of countries upon which firms can base their new service development decisions. This paper considers these issues through the case of digital money, a service innovation some claim to have the potential to provide major economic and social benefits. Defined as ‘currency exchange by electronic means’, we conceptualise digital money as a socio-technical system, and propose a Digital Money Readiness Index. This composite index integrates institutional, financial, technological, economic, industrial and social attributes to measure adoption readiness. We identify four stages of readiness and systematically analyse the factors that drive under or over adoption of digital money technologies.     

“These devices have not been made for older people's needs” – Older adults' perceptions of digital technologies in Finland and Ireland

This article examines how older adults use and perceive digital technologies in Finland and Ireland. These two countries are at different stages regarding two important global trends – demographic ageing and digitalization. Finland, being the fastest ageing society in Europe, is also one of the leaders in implementing digital technologies in social and health care services. In contrast, Ireland is a demographically younger and less digitalized society. Drawing on focus group discussions on the usage of digital technologies, conducted with older adults in both countries, we analyse how digital technologies are adopted and viewed by older generations. The analyses showed that older adults associate digitalization with both advantages and drawbacks. To encapsulate these two contrasting aspects, we developed the term Janus-faced conceptions of technology. This concept encapsulates how the successful adoption of digital technology facilitates everyday activities whereas the inability to utilise technologies results in feelings of alienation and being out-of-touch. The digital divide was found to occur not only between generations but also between different socioeconomic groups of older adults.     

Personal experiences of digital public services access and use: Older migrants’ digital choices

This paper presents a study of the personal experiences of older migrants as they use digital technologies and electronic services. Focusing primarily on digital health and social services, the aim of this research is to gain a better understanding of the digital divide at a micro-level. The concept of digital choice is used to analyse the personal decisions that lead to an engagement with digital technologies and internet services or a disengagement from online tools. A qualitative case study of Russian-speaking migrants in Finland utilised participant observation, interviews, and diaries to gain insights into the adoption of digital public services from the user perspective. This paper contributes to the view of digital engagement as a complex and multifaceted process that involves socio-demographic determinants, as well as individual agency and social context. The key findings of this study show that individual efforts and personal attributes, such as habits, sense of trust, and fears, play critical roles in shaping digital engagement. The context of ongoing digitalisation in the public sphere is discussed as an important push factor influencing the research participants’ adoption and use of digital services.     

Exploring behavioural intentions toward smart healthcare services among medical practitioners: a technology transfer perspective

Recently, a variety of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven smart healthcare services are rapidly emerging in the medical market, such as intelligent image analysis, surgical navigation systems, and aided diagnosis. However, one of the major challenges is practitioners’ hesitation and unwillingness to employ these new technologies in medical practice. This study focuses on identifying the influential factors of adoption intention of smart healthcare services for both clinicians and non-clinicians from the perspective of technology transfer. Through collecting 484 questionnaire data from doctors in Anhui, China, we find support to show that perceived usefulness (PU), attitude, and the experience of using mHealth are key factors that influence both clinicians and non-clinician’s adoption intention. Meanwhile, it is confirmed that subjective norm has a positive effect on only clinicians’ behavioural intention (BI) while perceived risk (PR) has a negative impact on only non-clinicians’ attitude. Among all the constructs, the experience of using mHealth has the strongest positive effect on doctors’ adoption intention on smart healthcare services, a positive impact on the PU and perceived ease of use, and a negative impact on the PR. This study provides an improved understanding of doctors’ BI of smart healthcare services, and practice guidance for product development and marketing strategies.     

Modelling and analysis of big data platform group adoption behaviour based on social network analysis

Due to the importance of big data technology in decision-making, production and service provision, enterprises have adopted various big data technologies and platforms to improve their operational efficiency. However, the number of enterprises that have adopted big data is not promising. The purpose of this study is to explore the current status of big data adoption by Chinese enterprises and to reveal the possible factors that hinder big data adoption from the group behaviour network perspective. Based on a real case survey of 54 big data platforms (BDPs), four types of networks—i.e., the enterprise-platform network, enterprise network, platform network and industry similarity and difference (ISD) network—are constructed and analysed on the basis of social network analysis (SNA). This study finds that among Chinese enterprises, the level and scope of big data adoption are generally low and are imbalanced among industries; the cognitive level and adoption behaviour of enterprises on BDPs are inconsistent, the compatibility of BDPs is different, and the density and distance-based cohesion of networks are weak; although the current big data adoption behaviours of Chinese enterprises have formed some structural features, core-periphery structures and maximal complete cliques are found, and the current network structure has little impact on individual enterprises and platforms; enterprises in the same industry prefer to adopt the same kind of big data technology or platform. Based on these findings, several strategies and suggestions to improve big data adoption are provided.     

Rethinking digital financial inclusion: Evidence from Bangladesh

A growing body of literature is advancing the impact of financial inclusion and digital finance on marginalized populations. However, mainstream scholarship has not focused on understanding the potential drivers and challenges of digital approaches to financial inclusion. This study aims to investigate the mismatch between assumptions implicit in the financial inclusion discourse and ideas of access and use of digital technologies and seeks to move the discourse forward through a comprehensive framework for digital financial inclusion. Our study showed that the social dynamics of financial engagement with new technologies require a move beyond a simple individualistic adopter/non-adopter binary framework and ‘supply oriented’ financial infrastructure. We conclude that although digital services have eased and bridged the gap of physical access to financial services, such services have not been utilised due to lack of basic connectivity, financial literacy and social awareness. This article theoretically contributes to digital financial services adoption literature by offering a significant critical overview and a new perspective on both digital finance and financial inclusion mechanisms.     

Mapping the barriers of AI implementations in the public distribution system: The Indian experience

With increasing digitization, private organizations have started adopting modern technology to improve the effectiveness and transparency of their system. In countries like India, where most public services are under government control, technology adoption is nascent due to various obstacles. The study considered artificial intelligence (AI) the most popular technology and identified 18 critical adoption barriers in India's public distribution systems (PDS). The study is further extended to find the contextual relationship among barriers using interpretative structural modeling (ISM) and prioritize them using the analytical network process (ANP) method. The study identifies lack of trust in technology, lack of AI literacy, and political issues as significant barriers to AI adoption in PDS. The hybrid methodology used in this study proposed five different strategies for effective and smooth implementation of AI in PDS, which would help the policymaker plan the same.     

数据驱动的智能医疗产品服务系统设计研究

目的 面向医疗领域,探究以数据驱动的智能产品服务系统框架,以数据驱动价值创造,为新型医疗系统解决方案提供理论指导。方法 运用文献研究和典型案例分析法,概述了目前医疗服务的现状与挑战,梳理了智能产品服务系统的发展脉络,并通过文献的归纳整合,对面向医疗领域的智能产品服务系统数据进行总结分类,构建了以“产品—服务—环境—用户”四个方面数据驱动的智能医疗产品服务系统设计框架,结合代表性的医疗产品案例,详细阐述了具体的数据驱动范式和价值共创过程。结论 智能产品服务系统在医疗领域具有巨大的研究潜力,业务流程和服务的数字化,加上新的信息通信技术的出现,使信息的集成与整合创新成为可能,医疗场景的海量数据也得以发挥更大的潜在价值。数据驱动的智能医疗产品服务系统设计框架为该领域的设计策略研究和方法开发奠定了基础,同时为数据驱动的智能医疗产品服务系统设计实践提供了一定理论支撑和指导。     

Reconfiguring global pharmaceutical value networks through targeted technology interventions

Targeting a series of advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) ‘interventions’ provides the potential for significant step changes across the pharmaceutical value chain, from early stage ‘system discovery’ and clinical trials, through to novel service supply models. This research explores future value network configurations which, when aligned with disruptive shifts in technology (process and digital), may enable alternative routes to medicines production and the delivery of additional value to ‘end-users’, i.e. patients and health care providers. We draw on a categorisation of AMTs that may enable a shift from the traditional ‘batch’ and centralised manufacturing paradigm of ‘make-to-stock’, towards more re-distributed ‘continuous’ manufacturing and ‘make-to-order’ models. Despite reported benefits in the academic literature (e.g. reduced footprints, improved quality, enhanced flexibility and inventory savings), current adoption rates of continuous technologies in this sector remain low (c. 5%). This paper presents new data sources, in our study of AMT adoption in a global pharmaceutical context – assessing the barriers to implementation, and the pathways to delivering future continuous manufacturing scenarios. Our findings capture the high level of disparity in viewpoints, highlighting the uncertainties and transformational challenges ahead – in terms of opportunity areas, technological readiness and a future vision for the sector, as a whole.     

Investigating acceptance of telemedicine services through an extended technology acceptance model (TAM)

BackgroundDeveloping countries around the globe are striving continuously to provide free access to health care services. Telemedicine services represent a significantly increasing form of an adequate health care delivery mechanism in developing countries.Research objectiveThis research study was aimed at investigating the factors influencing the acceptance of telemedicine services among the rural population of Pakistan. Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was used as a theoretical framework for this research, with the inclusion of several other antecedents.Research methodA face-to-face survey method was used to collect research data from 275 participants. The data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares (PLS) method.ResultsThe findings suggest that usage intention of telemedicine services is a function of perceived ease of use, technological anxiety, social influence, perceived ease of usefulness, trust, facilitating conditions, perceived risk, and resistance to technology.ConclusionsThis research study confirms the applicability of TAM with the inclusion of additional variables to model the adoption of telemedicine services in developing countries. The study offers valuable information for policymakers and health service providers for understanding the facilitators and inhibitors influencing the large scale implementation of telemedicine services. The research findings regarding factors including perceived risk, trust, facilitating conditions and resistance to change can aid in the design and adequate provision of telemedicine services in developing countries.     

Telehealth and COVID-19: Using technology to accelerate the curve on access and quality healthcare for citizens in India

The current COVID-19 pandemic has reinstated the importance of telehealth as a business model for accelerating the accessibility of healthcare and improving the quality of healthcare for citizens of a country. Telehealth service has a tremendous potential in a developing country like India where the healthcare facilities in India are heavily concentrated in urban cities while their majority (67%) of the population resides in rural areas. At the same time, a high teledensity of almost 90% supports telehealth overall reach. However, the growth of telehealth in India till now has been sluggish but the corona virus (COVID-19) crisis has redefined the telehealth ecosystem by reducing the risk of infection through person-to-person contact. In this study, we explore the perception of healthcare users towards telehealth services and analyze the key enablers for the telehealth services in the current scenario. We collected data from 1170 participants through personal interview. The results of the study shows a considerable segment of the population is having high healthcare need, have aspirations for accessing better healthcare for themselves and their family members and use ICT to a significant extent. At the same time, they have positive attitude towards telehealth and socio-demographic factors like age, geographical location, educational qualification, family size affects the attitude towards telehealth services. The results of the study shows there is a significant market for telehealth services in India to be explored by the technology firms, hospitals and other healthcare stakeholders and going forward it has an enormous capability to transform the complete healthcare ecosystem, especially in developing countries like India post the COVID-19 crisis.     

IoT patent roadmap for smart logistic service provision in the context of Industry 4.0

Abstract

Industry 4.0 enables the management of factories manufacturing products with complexity and flexibility. The corresponding logistic services must provide greater accuracy and efficiency in logistic operations. The Internet of Things (IoT) is an important aspect for smart logistics in the context of Industry 4.0. For instance, intelligent logistics models use IoT integrated technologies, e.g. radio frequency identification (RFID), wireless sensor network (WSN) and cloud computing, to enhance the traceability and decision supports of logistic processes in real-time speed, high accuracy, and flexibility. This research focuses on analyzing the related technology roadmaps for the adoption of IoT technologies in smart logistic services. A case research is conducted specifically to identify the relationship between IoT-oriented technologies and deployed advanced logistic services. The logistic operations are organized into an ontology schema based on a four level service framework. The research proposes a roadmap approach to visualize the patent allocations and evolutions corresponding to logistic services at each level. Although the patent roadmap methodology is generic, this research focuses on the two industry leaders, which are UPS and IBM. Using the roadmap methodology, the IoT enabled smart logistic patents are analyzed to identify technology-related business strengths and strategies.     

基于情境感知的机构养老服务设计策略研究

目的 探究情境感知在机构养老服务中的应用,满足老人的个性化养老需求,提升养老机构的资源分配效率和用户体验,促进机构养老服务的持续性创新发展。方法 首先,梳理情境感知理论的发展以及情境感知服务流程,同时分析归纳出机构养老服务的现状特征和问题;其次,结合情境感知介入机构养老服务的优势及特性,将机构养老的服务情境因素划分为用户、环境、任务、资源四类,同时采用桌面调研、用户访谈等方法对用户的需求进行分析总结;最后,基于上述四种情境因素提出设计策略,构建机构养老服务体系框架。结论 情境感知理论应用于机构养老服务之中,强化了系统情境信息的感知能力,从多维度视角挖掘动态情境下用户的需求,主动提供针对性的服务,简化用户操作路径,提升养老服务的用户体验。     

How digital platform capability affects the innovation performance of SMEs—Evidence from China

Today, more and more enterprises are achieving co-innovation across borders by joining digital platforms. However, many SMEs face difficulties in developing and benefiting from strong digital platform capability (DPC) due to limited experience, resources, and funds, which hinders innovation opportunities. This study constructs a model to explore how SMEs can enhance their innovation performance (IP) by adopting digital platforms based on resource orchestration theory. We then introduce ecological institutional norms (EIN) as the moderating variable to observe whether effective platform governance impacts enterprises' value co–creation (VCC) and IP. We conduct a questionnaire survey on 346 SMEs in China's manufacturing industry that participate in digital platforms, and the regression analysis and the bootstrap test results indicate that (1) DPC has a significantly positive impact on IP; (2) DPC has a significantly positive impact on VCC; (3) VCC partially mediates DPC and IP; (4) EIN positively moderate the relationship between DPC and VCC and positively moderate the mediating effect of VCC. These findings add to the literature on digital platforms theoretically and fill the gap in research on how participation in digital platforms can enhance enterprises' innovation and development from the perspective of SMEs. Finally, the study has important managerial implications for SMEs to cultivate DPC, carry out VCC, and participate in platform governance.     

Can public service broadcasting survive Silicon Valley? Synthesizing leadership perspectives at the BBC,PBS, NPR,CPB and local U.S. stations

Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) is generally characterized by a remit to provide high-quality news, educational content, cultural enrichment and entertainment as free public goods with as broad a public reach as possible while also filling critical gaps in the media ecosystem (a multifaceted principle called universality). However, in the current online environment, the ability to reach audiences is increasingly intermediated by online platforms managed by powerful technology companies who do not necessarily share the same objectives or values as PSBs. Interviews were conducted with PSB executives and managers working on digital products and strategy in the U.K. and U.S. to examine the challenges and tensions PSB entities face in the context of growing commercial platform power and the strategies emerging in response, such as investing in new platforms and digital infrastructures rooted in traditional public service values. The study also discusses differences in capacities to respond to platform power between the decentralized U.S. PSB system and centralized U.K. system. Finally, the study discusses some theoretical and practical implications, and suggests some ways PSB services might survive and thrive with robust fidelity to democratic needs.     

Determinants of household use of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies in rural Ethiopia

The poor households living in low-income countries depend on traditional sources for basic energy service; which has a broader socio-economic and environmental adverse effect. To mitigate the problem policy measures were used to increase access to energy-efficient and renewable energy technology. However, there are few studies on demand-side particularly on the drivers of household joint technology adoption behavior. Against this backdrop, this paper examined the determinants of household behavior concerning the adoption decision of energy-efficient and renewable energy technology using cross-sectional data collected from 195 households in central Ethiopia. For identification, the generalized ordered probit model which is a more flexible discrete choice model was applied. The findings reveal that the richer the households, the more likely that they adopt both improved cookstoves and renewable energy technology because of the greater financial capacity to afford to pay the upfront cost of the technologies. Household size and assets such as landholding size and the number of cattle owned positively associated with the use of both technologies. Likewise, a high level of education attained by the head of the household likely reduces the likelihood of adoption of neither technology but increases the likelihood of adoption of renewable energy. Participation in off-farm income-earning activities likely increases the propensity to invest in renewable energy. Similarly, household membership in local cooperatives found to increase the propensity to invest in renewable energy technology. While access to credit found to increase the adoption of energy-efficient technology. The finding of this study implies that poverty reduction and education policies increase the propensity to invest in energy-efficient and renewable energy technology. Likewise, better access to credit, off-farm employment opportunities, and cooperatives are also important.     

Rightful resistance: How do digital platforms achieve policy change?

Many digital platforms have disrupted not only the market but also public policies. Platform companies have been shown to employ various political strategies such as lobbying and petitions to change restrictive policies. However, previous literature has failed to consider the unique nature of digital platforms, which involve actors across multiple sides of the platform, and its influence on platforms companies’ political tactics. This paper aims to address how the multi-sided nature of digital platforms impacts the way they achieve policy change. This paper conducts a case study of how Chinese ride-hailing companies facilitated the enactment of a new, favourable national policy in 2016. Drawing on the literature of contentious politics, it finds that policy change can be achieved via rightful resistance, through which digital platforms leverage divisions within the multi-sided digital platform and within the government to push the frontiers of what is politically permitted. In the context of digital platforms, rightful resistance means (1) seeking support from powerful third parties, (2) using the rhetoric of the central policies, and (3) co-opting the incumbents.     

基于“互联网+”平台的老年人数字化产品服务设计

“5G”时代背景下,推动老年人数字化产品服务设计的创新发展已成为迫切的需要。研究论述了“互联网+”平台下老年人数字化产品服务设计遵循的原则与老年人数字化产品发展的趋势和前景。通过分析传统产品设计行业中关于老年人产品设计的设计原则和方向,总结了当今老年人数字化产品存在的缺乏针对性和创新服务设计的问题。并且在老年人感官感觉特征、生理行为特征和心理情感特征的基础上,研究了老年手机等案例,分析并论述了老年人数字化产品服务设计的原则。以老年人数字化产品服务设计为例,探讨了“互联网+”模式下,针对特定群体的数字化产品服务设计应遵循的简洁性、易用性、安全性和可靠性基本原则,综合“互联网+”平台、产品服务设计、数字信息技术等创新平台与技术,为促进老年人数字化产品的发展提供了设计策略和参考。     

Digital divide gap convergence in Europe

The diffusion of broadband in Europe is shaped by the penetration rates of the individual European countries. However, the contribution of each country to the total level of diffusion is not the same, due to the existence of a digital divide among the countries. The digital divide is still evident and although diffusion keeps increasing, not all countries have the same rate of broadband adoption. Based on the above, a methodology measuring the digital divide gap is presented in the context of this research, together with forecasts regarding broadband convergence. Evaluation of the methodology was performed for the European countries examined from 2001 to 2009.