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Effectuation in decision-making to respond to market uncertainty in high technology industriesQuiroga Fernandez, Ingrid Nataly, Hohyama, Tadayuki, Tran, Loi January 2017 (has links)
Uncertainty is inherent in the process of entrepreneurial activities and has caused a high failure rate of startups. In fact, 46% of new ventures run out of business within 4 years of operation, according to Statistic Brain Research Institute. On the other hand, a type of uncertainty that entrepreneurs need to prioritize varies depending on the industry. In high technology industries, severe problems are frequently caused especially by market uncertainty due to continuous technological developments and industries’ volatile characteristic. In entrepreneurship research, Sarasvathy introduced the concept of effectuation in 2001. Since then, the theory of effectuation has been studied by a number of researchers, as successful entrepreneurs have incorporated this theory. However, empirical evidence of effectual processes covering the applicability in high technology industries has not been testified yet. Therefore, the main purpose of this research is to fill this gap and find an answer to our research question, how do entrepreneurs effectuate in decision-making to respond to market uncertainty in high technology industries? We implemented a quantitative investigation by conducting an online survey of entrepreneurs in high-technology industries. The main findings and conclusions are that entrepreneurs in high-technology industries apply both causation and effectuation. However, causation is slightly more implemented than effectuation. Additionally, we found that experimentation-driven approach helps entrepreneurs in high-technology industries deal with market uncertainty as supplementation of effectuation.
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Survival, R&D propensity and technological capability: factors impacting the innovation performance of new technology-based firms in South Africa.Ndlovu, Wonder January 2016 (has links)
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management,
University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Management with specialisation in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation. University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, March 2016 / New technology-based firms (NTBFs) or technopreneurs are assumed to be one of the most important sources of economic value creation and development. Apart from bringing innovation with high growth and impact potential, NTBFs are faced with high uncertainty and demand a supporting environment that enhances firm’s performance. It can be concluded that new firms or new incubatees operate in competitive settings and demand systems that aid them to realize sustainable growth. Globally, there is a well-established body of knowledge that scrutinizes factors and relationships between factors that enhance NTBFs innovation performance. Majority of existing literature concurs that there are numerous variables of factors that can influence the product or service performance in respect to turnover. Within sub-Saharan Africa, technology incubation support programmes are seen as factors that affect a firm’s performance. However, the rise of NTBFs, the startups concept and technology incubator practices are all very much in their infancy in South Africa.
From this point of view, it is significant to qualify the existing global body of knowledge to Gauteng’s context in order to identify the right mix factors impacting innovation performance of new technology-based firms. Factors such as survival, research and development (i.e. R&D propensity) and technological capability are seen as levers that impact new technology-based firm’s innovation performance. In a narrow sense, in this study, we aim to extend existing research by identifying determinant factors related to survival, R&D propensity and technological capability as independent variables; and analyse the nexus of these factors and innovation performance, the independent variable.
We prudently identify startup firms that are in technology and embrace innovations while most of these new startups are still in an early development stage and receive comprehensive investment from university or government innovation in Gauteng. A total of 206 NTBFs were surveyed. Initially, the study employs exploratory factor analysis to first estimate the underlying variables and estimate of latent loadings. Subsequently, the correlations between survival, technological capability, R&D propensity and innovation performance measurements were tested.
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The findings suggest that there is no relationship between the number of years under the incubation management and producing new products and services that firms can launch to new market to gain profits in order to survive. Particular, in South Africa, the technology incubator movement is still in an infancy stage; hence for firms starting new ventures and producing products, it is difficult. The evidence from this study also found no relationship between survival (i.e. access to knowledge and collaboration) and innovation performance i.e. turnover. On the other hand, it was expected that investing vigorously in R&D would create patents, publications, products and services which would impact turnover. In opposition, the empirical results found no statistical relationship between R&D propensity and turnover. Our results should also be interpreted in the broad sense; measuring R&D propensity should be viewed with the understanding of complexity in measuring R&D impact to turnover. The study also found no relationship between marketing and firm turnover. Although theoretical studies suggest applying marketing capability is a key in launching and commercialising innovations, these firms tend to place more focus on product developments and pay less attention to marketing capabilities.
Consistent with existing literature, the study found that there is a positive relationship between technological capability - innovativeness and innovation performance i.e. turnover. This is in line with the researcher’s position that generation, developing and implementation of new ideas leads successful performance of innovation, while we have contended that adapting or modifying existing technologies, emphasising introduction of new products, marketing of tried and true technologies and using previous research to implement technologies as determinant factors to technological capability (i.e. Technology Adaptation) impacts innovation performance. The results of the study concluded that there is a relationship between Technology Adaptation and innovation performance. In regards, competitive environment, the study found that no relationship between introducing innovation ahead of competitors and innovation performance. It was expected that these firms would avoid taking risks, these firms are not equipped with resources to experiment innovation methods or lead in new market identification.
The empirical evidence generated from this study is significant and contributes to the existing body of knowledge for this reason: the study advances literature of measurements of innovation performance which varies from one study to the other. / GR2018
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Social impact of high-tech enterprises in an emerging marketLamprecht, Stephanus Jacobus January 2017 (has links)
A research report submitted to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, University of the Witwatersrand, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, 2016 / The successful commercialisation of high-tech products and services require an appreciation of the social context in which such products and services are introduced. The market for high-tech products and services in emerging markets are drawing increasing involvement of small and medium sized firms that are either developing high-tech products and services, or selling such products and services imported from developed markets.
The need for basic services at the citizen level in emerging markets necessitate firms to adapt the commercialisation strategies and ultimate sales of products and services to address basic needs.
Drawing on the theory of social impact measurement, social enterprise selfefficacy and entrepreneurial orientation, this research aims to assess the way in which emerging market firms – using primarily South African firms in the research sample offering high-tech products and services - have had to adjust commercialisation strategies, so as to take cognisance of the social context specific to the target markets.
Data was collected from a number of high-tech firms operating in, or offering hightech products and services to emerging markets. The data was subsequently analysed based on the social impact measures, social enterprise self-efficacy and entrepreneurial orientation constructs found in literature, to assess the overall social impact of high-tech SMEs in an emerging market, being predominantly South Africa. The researcher introduced a tailor-made variable, Success by drawing on various data items collected from respondents, such as the age of the firm, and changes in recent employment and turnover figures.
The results point to a positive and statistically meaningful relationship between the Success of such firms in the final sample, and the need to demonstrate social impact considerations in the business strategies of such firms offering high-tech products and services in an emerging market. The research outputs align with theory in so far as social impact not being the primary driver of such high-tech firms, but rather a necessary by-product of ensuring sustainability and success, and the need to adapt to the contextual realities present in an emerging market.
This is one of the first studies to test the social impact of high-tech firms in an emerging market, especially in so far as outlining the need to expand commercialisation strategies to incorporate social impact awareness. By applying the theory of self-efficacy to social impact, the findings point to the need for hightech firms in emerging markets to not only take note of social needs, but to adapt firm strategy to integrate social impact considerations into the commercialisation strategies, so as to be successful. In other words, to be successful, such high-tech firms need to both talk-the-talk, and walk-the-walk.
The implications of the research extend to the way high-tech SMEs approach commercialisation in emerging markets, as well as the team composition of such high-tech firms in order to integrate the necessary skills and experienced resources beyond those necessary for technological commercialisation, thereby having also human resources with the necessary skills and experience needed to take cognisance of, and adapt to relevant social impact contexts. / XL2018
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Consumer purchase behavior of information technology products: an analysis of consumer evaluation processes and the application of network marketing.January 1996 (has links)
by Kam Suet-Shan, Yu Sik-Ching. / Thesis (M.B.A.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-72). / ABSTRACT --- p.i / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.ii / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.v / LIST OF TABLES --- p.vi / CHAPTER / Chapter I. --- "INTRODUCTION, RELEVANCE AND OVERVIEW" --- p.1 / The Information Technology Industry --- p.1 / How This Paper Structured --- p.3 / Chapter II. --- MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING --- p.5 / Definition of Multi-level Marketing (MLM) --- p.5 / Evolution of Multi-level Marketing in the US --- p.6 / Operation of Multi-level Marketing --- p.8 / Introduction and Sponsoring --- p.8 / Signing with the Company --- p.8 / Retailing the Products --- p.9 / Distributing the Products --- p.9 / Establishing a Network --- p.10 / Realization of Profits and Earnings --- p.10 / Chapter III. --- COMPARISON OF MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING AND TRADITIONAL DISTRIBUTION --- p.12 / Traditional Distribution Channel --- p.12 / The Difference between MLM and Traditional Distribution --- p.13 / Distribution Structure --- p.14 / Relationship with the Company --- p.16 / Selling Target --- p.17 / Relationship with the Customers --- p.17 / Chapter IV. --- MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING IN HONG KONG --- p.18 / Development of Multi-level Marketing in Hong Kong --- p.18 / Multi-level Marketing in Skin-care and Cosmetic Products Retailing --- p.21 / Multi-level Marketing in Health Food Products Retailing --- p.23 / Chapter V. --- EVALUATION OF THE MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING --- p.26 / Characteristics of Products Using MLM --- p.26 / Marketability --- p.26 / Good Quality --- p.27 / Consumable --- p.27 / Mass Market Demand --- p.27 / High Profit Margin --- p.28 / Characteristics of Companies in Hong Kong Using MLM --- p.28 / Restriction of Retail Outlet --- p.29 / Informal Structure --- p.29 / Motivation and Supporting System --- p.29 / Warehousing --- p.30 / Computerized Database Networking --- p.30 / Problems of Multi-level Marketing when Applied in Information Technology Industry --- p.30 / Chapter VI. --- OVERVIEW OF REFERRAL (SINGLE-LEVEL MARKETING) CONCEPT --- p.32 / Application of Referral in Other Industries --- p.33 / Chapter VII. --- RESEARCH METHOD --- p.35 / Research Objectives --- p.35 / Research Design --- p.35 / Cognitive Component --- p.35 / Affective Component --- p.38 / Conative Component --- p.38 / Data Collection --- p.38 / Sampling --- p.39 / Questionnaire Dissection --- p.40 / Q1 - Q2 --- p.40 / Q3-Q4 --- p.40 / Q5- Q7B --- p.41 / Q7C - Q7E --- p.41 / Chapter VIII. --- RESULTS --- p.42 / Demographics --- p.42 / Age --- p.42 / Marital Status --- p.43 / Education Level --- p.43 / Occupation --- p.44 / Monthly Income --- p.44 / Analysis --- p.45 / One-Sample t Tests --- p.45 / Chapter IX. --- LIMITATIONS --- p.51 / Chapter X. --- MARKETING PLAN --- p.53 / Target Customers --- p.54 / Product --- p.54 / Price --- p.57 / Place --- p.57 / Promotion --- p.58 / Get an Initial Set of Customers --- p.59 / Attract Existing Customers to Participate in the Network Marketing (Referral) Program --- p.60 / Encourage Existing Marketers to Refer Others --- p.61 / Chapter XI. --- CONCLUSION --- p.64 / APPENDIX / Chapter I. --- LIST OF MULTI-LEVEL MARKETING COMPANIES REGISTERED IN THE DIRECT SELLING ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG LTD --- p.66 / Chapter II. --- SAMPLE QUESTIONS --- p.67 / REFERENCES --- p.70 / Books --- p.70 / Periodicals --- p.71
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Job Attribute Preferences of the Workforce in Polish High Technology EnterprisesSisavic, Florian Michael 01 January 1993 (has links)
A key precept in work place motivation theory is that management knows what job attributes are valued by the employee. Management can benefit by asking employees what they want from their work experience (i.e., job attribute preferences), rather than assume they know. This is particularly important to Polish high technology companies that are in transition to a free-market economy and to Polish workers who must be appropriately motivated to compete globally.
This study attempts to better understand the job attribute preferences of Polish managers and workers, the potential gaps between Polish managers' perception of their workers' preferences (system), and how these preferences are affected by the worker's personal economic situation (sub system) and by business organization type (supra system). Managers and workers from five Polish high technology enterprises were surveyed on-site regarding their job attribute preferences. The results compared to a similar survey done with six American high technology firms(Eder 1988).
Consistent with Maslow's prepotentcy theory, workers who tended to be optimistic about their personal economic situation rated all five extrinsic job attributes higher and four of the five intrinsics lower than those workers who tended to be pessimistic. Polish workers at firms that operated under central planning had only a few differences in their job attribute preferences indicating a strong supra-system or organizational effect on individuals in the firm.
Contrary to what was expected, the Polish managers and workers rated a number of intrinsic attributes higher than their American counterparts suggesting a pent up need for intrinsic-type motivational policies.
Polish managers appeared to be closer and more in touch with their workers than their American counterparts. American managers clearly underestimated the importance of intrinsic job attributes and overestimated the importance of the extrinsics, while Polish managers accurately predicted most of the workers' job attribute preferences.
The results also raised questions regarding the stability of job attributes and the concept of clusters of extrinsic and intrinsic groups of job attributes.
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Engineers, entrepreneurs & wealth-creation from idea to productCampbell, Alistair John, n/a January 2003 (has links)
The paradigms that examine and describe the nature of the entrepreneurship process
have generally been linear, following the lead of the more mature management and
physical sciences. This emulation of linear methodologies has occurred despite
indications from authors such as Bygrave, Shaver and Mitton of their being less
appropriate at this relatively early stage of the social science of entrepreneurship. When
examining the nature of a phenomenon such as entrepreneurship, statistical correlations
and linear descriptions are limited to confirmation of existing hypotheses. The
underlying assumption is that the correct questions are known. However this
assumption becomes moot when seeking to include the many unpredictable, non-linear
aspects that add the key human vitality of entrepreneurship. This research seeks to move
toward a more complete description than linearity alone is able to capture.
The research presents a non-linear paradigm, being a holistic combination of the
rational evidence of entrepreneurship and what might be termed the spiritual or
intangible aspects that together constitute the observed craft of entrepreneurship. The
research highlights the dynamic skill-set used by entrepreneurs to balance key elements
in the entrepreneurial process, in a way that achieves a relational coherence. The focus
is on the high-tech industry which is especially prone to the use of linear descriptions of
the entrepreneurship process which takes a new idea and leads it to become a successful
product.
Interviews with entrepreneurship practitioners involved in the creation of new ventures
in the high-tech industry form the database against which this non-linear paradigm is
investigated. The results confirm that the success of the entrepreneurial process depends
on far more than the linear descriptions that are commonly used to describe the process.
Once the basics are in place, entrepreneurs appear to shift their focus to achieving a
multi-dimensional integration among what they identify as the key elements in the
entrepreneurial process. This is achieved despite apparent disorder and chaos being
evident in the process of new venture creation.
Entrepreneurs appear to make sense of the confusing non-linearity by focussing on the
relational attributes among elements in the new venture. The use of the non-linear
relational paradigm (NLRP) developed from the results of this research, enables a more
holistic understanding of the empirically observed process of entrepreneurship. This has
some significant implications for the management and evaluation of nascent technology
enterprises.
The NLRP's additional fix on the entrepreneurship process, can be used to inform the
venture capital industry when trying to predict the likelihood of success of prospective
ventures vying for funds. The NLRP's alternative view could also translate into more
appropriate new venture management once funded, and thus better success rates for
nascent ventures. The NLRP's insights on the way in which entrepreneurs create and
grow new ventures, can improve best-practice techniques for entrepreneurs and
influence the way in which entrepreneurship education is approached. Describing
innovation and entrepreneurship more holistically also has important implications for all
facets of industry that include a process of design, or seek to create wealth.
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The effects of the classroom flip on the learning environment a comparison of learning activity in a traditional classroom and a flip classroom that used an intelligent tutoring system /Strayer, Jeremy F., January 2007 (has links)
Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 201-210).
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Structured knowledge transfer in a high technology industryGullberg, Cecilia, Pelser, Pieter January 2006 (has links)
<p>Background: Due to the rapid change of conditions knowledge is becoming increasingly more importance today. Knowledge is now considered superior to technology and capital as a source of competitive advantage, however needs to be efficiently transferred and well managed to explore its full potential.</p><p>Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to map the process of structured knowledge transfer. This is done in two phases from host organisation to expatriate and from expatriate to home organisation. Secondary the results will indicate some major influences on the knowledge transfer process.</p><p>Research method: A case study of SAAB and Denel Aviatons has been selected for this thesis. Primary information was predominantly obtained through qualitative interviews with some quantitative survey support. The case study has been conducted with people involved in the structured knowledge transfer programme.</p><p>Results: The study shows that different types of knowledge is transferred and that knowledge moves through several stages as it gets transformed from raw data to action. It also captures the methods of knowledge transfer as it moves from velocity to viscosity. It has also been discovered that although the second phase within the case study is different than the first, that ideally it should be almost identical.</p>
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Formalization in high-technology venturesSölvell, Ingela January 2008 (has links)
This thesis investigates organizational formalization within the context of young Swedish high-technology ventures. The research provides four longitudinal case studies which approach the formalization process in vivo through multiple actor engagement, including a retrospect understanding of the initial development. Formalization has been considered an irrelevant lens for understanding the organization of new ventures and the development of formalized structures. If discussed at all it has been treated as a legitimacy challenge or a consequential problem of growth. A new strand of research gives other indications; it argues that the formalization of structures is among the earliest decisions taken during high-technology venturing. It is also suggested that the earliest decisions direct increased formalization. Emergent knowledge about early formalization, while an important platform, only captures part of the complex formalization process. The results of my research indicate that formalization is an ongoing process that develops in parallel through dual-actors. Management on the one hand, is hesitant and indecisive about how to increase formalization, but uses formalization as an instrument to direct focus among the employees. Employees, on the other hand, pursue formalization through a continuous mapping of core processes. These findings are brought together to reconceptualize formalization from a new venture perspective. The thesis offers a new research framework for future empirical investigation and theory development. / <p>Diss. Stockholm : Handelshögskolan, 2008</p>
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Structured knowledge transfer in a high technology industryGullberg, Cecilia, Pelser, Pieter January 2006 (has links)
Background: Due to the rapid change of conditions knowledge is becoming increasingly more importance today. Knowledge is now considered superior to technology and capital as a source of competitive advantage, however needs to be efficiently transferred and well managed to explore its full potential. Purpose: The primary purpose of this study is to map the process of structured knowledge transfer. This is done in two phases from host organisation to expatriate and from expatriate to home organisation. Secondary the results will indicate some major influences on the knowledge transfer process. Research method: A case study of SAAB and Denel Aviatons has been selected for this thesis. Primary information was predominantly obtained through qualitative interviews with some quantitative survey support. The case study has been conducted with people involved in the structured knowledge transfer programme. Results: The study shows that different types of knowledge is transferred and that knowledge moves through several stages as it gets transformed from raw data to action. It also captures the methods of knowledge transfer as it moves from velocity to viscosity. It has also been discovered that although the second phase within the case study is different than the first, that ideally it should be almost identical.
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