The field of radiation oncology (RO) involves the use of highly advanced techniques to treat cancer and safely spare healthy organs. The discipline has experienced rapid growth in the past 25 years, with technological advancement as the driving force. Available data and an instrument to effectively measure the accessibility of innovation in the field were lacking. The purpose of this study was to investigate the accessibility of innovative services in RO in the United States and assess possible diffusion patterns. Two hundred and forty medical physicists practicing in RO in the United States completed a custom Internet-based survey. The diffusion of innovation theory was used as the theoretical framework for the study. A quantitative cross-sectional analysis was performed to assess how innovation scores may vary depending on individual and organizational factors. ANOVA, Spearman correlation, and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. University affiliation, urbanicity, appreciation, and motivation were found to be statistically significant factors affecting accessibility to innovative services. Statistically significant barriers preventing innovation were lack of evidence, increased complexity, staffing constraints, lack of interest from others, lack of interoperability, and lack of reimbursement. Medical physicists are in a leadership position to influence the adoption of innovative services in RO. Encouraging the utilization of innovative and Food and Drug Administration-approved techniques may improve cancer outcomes and consequently have a positive social change effect on public health.

According to previous studies, inertia towards new technology is broadly researched in established companies, specifically among senior employees. However, the existing literature leaves a research gap for inertia experienced among young employees, specifically in an organization that operates in the information technology industry. This study aims to investigate inertia among early stage employees towards new technology. The main purpose of this study is to answer the research question: How to overcome inertia of multinational early stage employees towards the new technology in their daily workflow in an international sales organization? To answer the research question, a qualitative research approach was chosen, and a single case study was conducted. The empirical data was gathered through semi-structured interviews. The scope of research is limited to the sales development representatives of Company A, who are based in EMEA. After the data collection, the analysis was carried out with a thematic coding approach. The findings showed that the managers are having tremendous responsibility when it comes to the adoption process of a new digital tool, and some of them are not showing interest towards the new technology. Hence, the lack of communication was concluded as the main cause of inertia among young employees. The authors created a framework for fighting against inertia (FAI). The use of FAI framework results in supporting the management team to overcome resistance towards new technology.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(経済学) / 甲第21522号 / 経博第590号 / 新制||経||288(附属図書館) / 京都大学大学院経済学研究科経済学専攻 / (主査)教授 矢野 剛, 教授 塩地 洋, 教授 田中 彰, 教授 三重野 文晴 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Economics / Kyoto University / DGAM

Given that the Chinese economy has experienced rapid growth over the last decade, developing Internet banking and transforming traditional lines of products into web sites beyond "brick and mortar" local branches will be the main drivers for both Chinese banks and foreign banks to tap into the available of Chinese savings. The primary objective of this study is to integrate trust and uncertainty theoretically into the Decomposed Theory of Planned Behavior in investigating determinants that affect Internet banking adoption in a developing country. Thus, this research attempts to evaluate empirically adoption models for Internet banking and employs an integrated model to investigate the factors of Internet banking adoption in Mainland China. Sample date will be collected from Chinese college students in Mainland China. The structural equation modeling technique will be employed to test the proposed hypotheses. This study collected data from two public universities in Shandong Province, China. The results of statistical analysis suggested that beliefs of social norms, behavioral control, and trust have significant influences on an individual's intention to adopt Internet banking service. Within this sample of Chinese students, only perceived image on its attitude belief was not significant. The new knowledge generated in this research study will increase our understanding in financial, accounting, management of information system, business administration, and decision making related to the adoption of Internet banking in Mainland China.

Volvo Construction Equipment står inför en stor omställning liksom många andra företag, då maskinerna ska elektrifieras och automatiseras. Agenda 2030 har 17 olika hållbarhetsmål (SDG) och mål nummer fem är jämställdhet, att män och kvinnor ska ha samma förutsättningar, rättvis fördelning av makt, resurser och inflytande. Detta vill Volvo CE ta i beaktning både när de skapar nya maskiner och vid rekrytering.  Syftet med examensarbetet är att undersöka hur företaget kan bli mer medvetna om hur de utvecklar maskiner och system utifrån ett jämställt perspektiv. Arbetet resulterade i ett verktyg med fem kriterier. Under varje kriterium finns frågor som Volvo CE kan ställa tidigt i produktutvecklingsprocessen, för att väcka tankar om hur de kan jobba för att nå SDG fem i Agenda 2030. Utöver verktyget har en framtidspersona skapats utifrån ett framtidsscenario och externa intervjuer, för att visualisera vilka framtidens kunder och användare kan vara.  Maskinerna ska uppfylla många krav och jämställdhet kan vara något som inte tas hänsyn till om det inte jobbas aktivt med. Det finns redan externa krav på Volvo CE att arbeta med jämställdhet för att nå Agenda 2030 och verktyget ska inte fungera som ännu ett krav utan förhoppningsvis en ögonöppnare och inspiration för hur jämställdhet kan tas hänsyn till i produktutvecklingsprocessen. / Volvo Construction Equipment is, like many other companies, facing a transformation where machines are becoming electric and automatic. There are 17 sustainable development goals (SDG) in Agenda 2030, where goal number five is equality, meaning that men and women have the same opportunities, a fair share of power, resources, and influence. Volvo CE wishes to consider this in development of new machines and in recruitment.  The purpose of this project is to investigate how the company can become more aware of equality when developing new products. The project resulted in a tool with five criteria. Below each criterion are questions that can be asked early in the product development process to raise awareness, thoughts, and new questions about how they are working with equality to achieve SDG five in Agenda 2030. Except the tool, a future persona has been created based on a future scenario and external interviews.  There are many requirements that need to be fulfilled regarding the machines and equality can easily be overlooked if not actively worked with. There are already external requirements on Volvo CE to actively work with equality within projects to reach Agenda 2030 and the tool is not supposed to apply new requirements but hopefully work as an eye opener and inspiration for how equality can be considered in the product development process.

Research with young children, critical literacy and new technology is limited (Burnett, 2009; Carrington, 2006; Marsh, 2005.) The purpose of this study is to describe the literacies produced in a second grade classroom, through podcasting, where the teacher attempted to frame my teaching from a critical literacy perspective. The study of this classroom reveals the literacies that come within a critical literacy structure for learning as well as those developments that were significant during the classroom's creation of a podcast. Such efforts also reveal the social practices of a teacher and her students as well as the identity and positioning work of selected individuals. A case study approach was used to provide the unique details that describe the classroom experiences of students engaged in such literacy work. The information that this study provides will be useful to researchers and educators as they seek to understand the shifts and possibilities of what critical literacy involves in a second grade classroom. Key findings include changes in the children's literacy learning when engaged in critical literacy and the literacy work that occurs with the use of technology. / Ph. D.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / October 22-25, 2001 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / There are clear signs that data recorders using solid-state and disk-based technologies now represent a serious alternative to conventional linear and rotary tape recorders for a broad spectrum of data capture applications. As the number of RFQs specifying these so-called ‘new technology’ solutions increases, virtually every major manufacturer has responded with announcements of new off-the-shelf products. A NATO technical support team has even been tasked with drafting standards for certain aspects of solid-state and disk recorders. But what has caused this sudden explosion of interest? Strange to say, in almost every case it has been the perceived shortcomings of the new technologies which have forced the issue. For all their advantages, solid-state and disk recorders are essentially only temporary storage devices. To overcome this problem manufacturers have found it necessary to address the total data capture/storage/distribution/archiving scenario – with some interesting results. It is in the ‘data handling’ area therefore that some of the most significant advances are to be found. This Paper offers an overview of some of the new technology solutions now available - RAID (Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks), JBOD (Just a Bunch Of Disks) and FLASH memory recorders. New paradigms for airborne, mobile and laboratory data collection, handling, analysis and archiving are discussed, demonstrating that (for once) the migration path has been carefully thought through, with industry-standard data interfaces, true computer connectivity (Windows and UNIX) and familiar control techniques. It concludes that many users with a keen interest in replacing legacy products for whatever reason can now do so with confidence and minimal disruption to their day-to-day operation while nevertheless gaining access to the important benefits which ‘new technology’ solutions can offer.

In 2011, Energy saving (mud) stoves were introduced in villages around the Kachung Forestplantation in rural Uganda as part of an effort to support local sustainable development. Initial fieldwork showedthat the stoves had not been adopted as much as the apparent benefits would suggest. This has been a commonissue with improved cooking stove projects around the world. In order to find out why the stoves are notadopted, 67 women in charge of the cooking were interviewed additionally participant observations of cooking,other daily work routines and building stoves conducted, as well as interviews with other relevant stakeholders.Results show that women struggle to find enough firewood and are bothered by the smoke produced whencooking, which makes them generally very interested in improved mud stoves. Indeed many women hadadopted a local version of the mud stove in order to ease the burden of firewood collection. The reason for notadopting a mud stove in general can be mainly attributed to work burden in constructing it. As for the moresophisticated energy saving mud stoves introduced, additional factors were that the implementation strategyshows weaknesses in how the knowledge on how to build the stove is supposed to spread. Further, the stoveintroduced is rather complex in the way it is supposed to be built, which makes it difficult to spread theknowledge of how to build it. The implementation strategy needs to be revised under consideration of the localcircumstances in order to achieve a higher adoption rate.

Empresas de base tecnológica (EBT\'s) necessitam criar produtos inovadores para sobreviver e competir no mercado. A criação de produtos que sustentem a competitividade das empresas depende diretamente do seu processo de desenvolvimento de produtos (PDP). Para superar as limitações inerentes de uma pequena empresa que precisa investir em pesquisa e desenvolvimento (P&D), as EBT\'s podem optar por instalar-se em parques tecnológicos. Esses ambientes são conhecidos por reunir diversos atores como universidades, institutos e laboratórios de pesquisa, empresas, incubadora, capitalistas de risco, agências de inovação, dentre outros, que buscam criar um ambiente propício à inovação. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar como foi realizado o PDP em EBT\'s instaladas em parques tecnológicos. Além disso, foi investigado como os atores vinculados aos parques tecnológicos contribuíram para o PDP das empresas instaladas. A natureza da pesquisa é de cunho qualitativo, baseada no estudo de múltiplos casos, foram investigadas três empresas instaladas em parques tecnológicos das regiões Sul e Sudeste do Brasil. Nestas empresas foram estudados três PDP\'s, que resultaram nos seguintes produtos: monitor multiparamétrico, ondaleta e sistema de microfiltração. Os dados dos casos foram apresentados em duas matrizes de análise cruzada, sendo a primeira sobre como foi feito o PDP, e a segunda sobre como ocorreu as contribuições dos atores dos parques tecnológicos para o PDP das empresas estudadas. Dentre os achados desta pesquisa, destaca-se que o PDP dessas empresas e suas atividades de pesquisa tecnológica não são formalmente planejados. Na fase inicial do processo de desenvolvimento, as empresas utilizam sua própria equipe e buscam nas etapas seguintes a contribuição dos outros atores do parque. Verificou-se que a universidade foi um ator relevante em todos os casos estudados, contribuindo com as empresas por meio dos seus laboratórios de pesquisa e da relação informal de professores/pesquisadores com os colaboradores das empresas. Os produtos resultantes do PDP\'s das empresas foram identificados como inovações incrementais, inéditos para o mercado nacional, mas com tecnologias já conhecidas no mercado internacional. Uma das limitações desta pesquisa é inerente aos estudos de múltiplos casos cujos achados e conclusões não podem ser generalizadas para o universo das EBT\'s instaladas em parques. Por fim, sugere-se que sejam estudados o PDP de empresas instaladas em parque tecnológicos, que não estejam vinculados a universidades. / Technology-based firms (NTBF) need to create innovative products to survive and compete on the market. The creation of products that support the competitiveness of enterprises depends directly of your product development process (PDP). To overcome the inherent limitations of a small firm which need to invest in research and development (R&D), the NTBF can choose to install in technology parks. These environments are known for bringing together diverse actors such as universities, institutes and research laboratories, companies, incubators, venture capitalists, innovation agencies, among others, who seek to create an environment conducive to innovation. The objective of this research was to investigate how the PDP was held in NTBF installed in technological parks. Furthermore, we investigated how the actors linked to technological parks contributed to the PDP established firms. The nature of research is a qualitative study, based on a multiple case study of three firms installed in a technology parks in South and Southeast regions of Brazil. These firms were studied three PDPs, which resulted in the following products: multiparameter monitor, ondaleta and microfiltration system. The case data were presented in two arrays of cross-examination, the first was done on the PDP, and the second on the contributions of actors involved on the technological parks for the PDP of the firms studied. Among the findings of this study, it is emphasized that the PDP of these companies and their technological research activities are not formally planned. In the initial phase of the development process, companies use their own staff and seek in the following steps the contribution of the other actors in the park. It was found that the university was a major player in all the cases studied, contributing the companies through its research labs and informal contacts of professors/researchers with employees of the companies. Products made by PDP\'s enterprises were identified as inedited for the domestic market, but non inedited in the international market. One limitation of this research is inherent to multiple case studies, whose findings and conclusions can not be generalized to the universe of NTBF installed in parks. Finally, it is suggested that the PDP are studied installed in technological park companies that are not affiliated with universities.

This paper examines the effect of Business Tax to Value-Added Tax Reform (B2V Reform) of 2016 on the tax burden and research and development activities of High and New Technology Enterprises (HNTEs) in China. The initial hypothesis is that the B2V reform decreases tax burdens and encourages R&D activities of HNTEs. After analyzing the data from the Shanghai Stock Exchange High and New Technology Enterprise Index, however, it is found that the Reform does not significantly affect either the tax burdens or the R&D activities. Subsequent research reveals several explanations for the discrepancy, including firms’ labor-heavy capital structures for which labor costs do not qualify for value-added tax deductions as well as the issue of unused tax deductions from fixed asset purchases. This study informs policy makers how to revise and improve the reform to benefit high-tech companies with labor-intensive capital structures and others with significant upfront investment costs.