Human Factors, Business Management and Society

AHFE International

Accelerating Open Access Science in Human Factors Engineering and Human-Centered Computing

Human Factors, Business Management and Society

book-cover

Editors: Vesa Salminen

Topics: Management and Leadership

Publication Date: 2022

ISBN: 978-1-958651-32-2

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1002244

Articles

Future Ecosystem Ensuring Competitiveness in Continuous Co-Evolution

The world is changing rapidly, and it is difficult to form clear understanding of future challenges and opportunities. Continuous demand on sustainability, carbon neutrality, circular economy and life cycle material chain management has changed societies and all industries fast. However, sustainable development and competitiveness are always based on being economically viable and circular economy itself is an economic theory. The amount of usable data in business environment is at the same time exponentially increasing. Technology opportunities as well are prominent to use the data in managing by data for the purpose of business co-evolution. Competitive landscape is shifting from well-defined industries to broader ecosystems and traditional enterprise boundaries are breaking down. This also means for busines transition towards platform economy e.g. enterprise production lines to networked intelligent value chains and ecosystems. Companies need in this disruptive situation an ecosystem strategy and analysis, which type of business model they are utilizing. Businesses are networking and transforming into ecosystems, emphasizing the management of interface processes. It is essential to understand digital ecosystem supporting business co-evolution. Data is a valuable currency that gives fuel for innovation and data driven co-evolution. Capturing of new data from various sources and executing it in business in transition requires human- oriented data-driven business architecture and strategy alignment on that basis towards circular economy business model and continuous coevolution. Circular economy ecosystems are based on economic theory, and they are not working if they are not economically viable. The goal of this article is to identify and analyze the life cycle material flow in circular economy in different business areas and find various business models and similarities in business practices. At the same time, this article attempts to develop framework for the strategic management of complex change through sustainable co-evolution in order to achieve a competitive edge for companies.This research is partly constructive, conceptual and analytical, because it introduces pathway to ecosystem strategy and introduces experiences of applying different evolutionary circular economy business models. Data for this concept creation has been collected over several years on continuous flow from ten different regional applied research and development projects. The data sources have also been interviews and workshops executed during projects on foresight and scenario planning basis. The researchers have been able to participate on creation of several regional ecosystems. Researchers have contributed on ecosystem strategy planning, decision making and continuous development practices.The complexity of co-evolution is difficult to manage without ecosystem- based approach. A generic perception of this research is that successful ecosystem needs clear ecosystem strategy and should set up a shared vision and evolutionary roadmap to serve as basis for common value creation, co- operation and ecosystem leadership. All ecosystem players can focus attention of ecosystems in the value propositions that are being pursued, not in corporate identity. It is important to understand that ecosystem is value driven. Ecosystems are defined around the roles, positions, and flows across the partners that create a value proposition. Nearly all business fields and enterprises face the need for transition towards data- driven circular economy business model and continuous coevolution through digital ecosystem.

Vesa Salminen, Heikki Ruohomaa, Minna Takala

Conference Proceedings

Matching B2B-Partners in the Sharing Economy

The sharing economy offers great potential for companies to access resources in a more sustainable way, to create knowledge synergies or to save costs. This potential is particularly attractive to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as it provides access to scarce resources that otherwise are not affordable. However, sharing resources in B2B is not yet widespread. Therefore, in this project, which is supported by the Swiss federation, we aimed at promoting sharing between SMEs. To do so, we developed tools supporting different phases of sharing projects. This paper focuses on the initial phase of a sharing project where SMEs interested in sharing need to find partners. The tool we developed for that purpose supports partner matching. To develop the tool, we started with an extensive literature review to identify the factors that contribute to a successful sharing. This review revealed a total of about 40 success factors. From these, the most critical factors were selected through expert judgment and testing as described below. This resulted in a final set of 16 factors deemed important and demonstrated to be distinctive. Expert judgment to validate the success factors was conducted by the means of interviews (n=10) with representatives of Swiss SMEs interested in B2B sharing. Beside factor validation, results from the interviews showed that companies have a very heterogeneous understanding of what factors are important for a successful sharing. The importance assigned to the different success factors seemed to strongly depend on characteristics of the resource to be shared and on the importance of a particular resource to the individual SME's business. We concluded that consensus on the importance of success factors is not a prerequisite for successful sharing. Rather, it is important that the different objectives and associated expectations for sharing are not incompatible. Thus, the success factors can help identify potential areas of incompatibility and thus clarify where consensus needs to be found and where heterogeneous views will not have a negative impact on a successful partnership. To test the success factors, we operationalized and integrated them into a diagnostic tool that allows interested companies to self-assess and enables them to find potentially suitable sharing partners. This tool was tested by Swiss SMEs (n=10). Based on the tests, two version of the diagnostic tool were developed: A short version with five items that supports platform-based online matching, and a long version with 16 items that supports a more comprehensive negotiating process between partners willing to share resources. The two versions of the tool, the operationalized criteria as well as the tool application will be presented in the paper.

Luca Niederhauser, Toni Waefler, Sebastian Huber, Uta Juettner, Karina Von Dem Berge, Charles Huber, Simona Burri

Conference Proceedings

Regional Innovation Ecosystems Fostering Sustainable Development

Since 2014, European Union has recommended European regions to conduct development activities based on Smart Specialisation. Smart Specialisation is a place-based approach characterised by the identification of strategic areas based both on the analysis of the regional strengths and potential of the economy. It aims to enhance prosperity of European regions by creating enabling conditions, accelerating research, development and innovation activities as well as supporting Entrepreneurial Discovery Process (EDP) with wide stakeholder involvement. This outward-looking approach embraces open innovation ecosystems supported by collaborative activities combined with effective monitoring mechanisms. This paper examines experiences of the creation and implementation of smart specialisation strategies across Baltic Sea Region and at Häme Region in Finland. The paper introduces results of a SmartUp BSR –project. The study builds on ten cases in nine countries of the Baltic Sea Region. Large number of regional stakeholders involved in regional smart specialization strategy processes participated in project events to share their experiences and best practices. The aim was also to encourage participants to include Sustainable Development Goals 2030 into regional development activities. Activities also included innovation camps and pilots, which endorsed and accelerated activities related to strategy content and chosen spearheads. This also enhanced stakeholder participation and international collaboration widening the scope of the innovation ecosystem. The paper takes a deeper look as a case example of Häme Region, Finland. At Häme region open regional portfolio management tools were created, piloted and taken in use to support implementation of regional smart specialization strategy. Prior to development a benchmarking study was conducted with 18 Finnish regions. The aim was to support collaboration among regional stakeholders, provide flexible monitoring and reporting practices over the time and collection of new development ideas for the future. Experiences of new portfolio management tool practices were openly shared with other Finnish regions and interested stakeholders.The goal of this paper is to share experiences from ecosystem based leadership and management practices for regional development to support active stakeholder participation stakeholder and sustainable development.

Minna Takala, Taina Tukiainen

Conference Proceedings

Complex Scenario Design for Investigating Cognitive Process for Problem-Solving Collaboration

Complex problem solving (CPS) has been a field that uses computer-simulated scenarios and has been applied in problem-solving-related studies. However, the problem scenario has not been thoroughly discussed as an essential factor in determining the reliability of the studies. Consequently, there are no systematic principles for scenario design in CPS studies. This study was performed to establish fundamental standards for complexity analysis in the CPS scenario design. We created a high-fidelity problem scenario to investigate the cognitive processes in CPS discussions. The reliability of the system and scenario was validated by five industrial experts. The findings of this study can be applied to future experiment designs, meta-analysis methods, and study replications.

Yingting Chen, Taro Kanno, Kazuo Furuta

Conference Proceedings

How Information Flows in Industrial Symbiosis and what are the Gaps and Discontinuities?

The aim of circular economy is the efficient use of materials, but it is hampered by lack of information. Literature shows that lack of information causes challenges to close the waste loop. Developing material flows require understanding about the challenges between companies. Our research question is: How information flows in Industrial Symbiosis and what are the gaps and discontinuities? As industrial symbiosis, we mean business relation, where waste material is circulated as an input to another company. This paper presents a qualitative case study in Finland with three cases with different material flow: biowaste, glass waste and e-waste. We noticed that the reason why accurate information is not shared, might relate to the information systems that company are using, as they might give estimations only in the meetings held quarterly, or they forget to inform other company of it. Another reason might be the business model, as the waste material using company might buy the material.

Anne-Mari Järvenpää, Jussi Kantola, Vesa Salminen

Conference Proceedings

Are Blockchain Functions Required for Sharing Economy Business? : From the Perspective of Customers

The current blockchain business emphasizes its advantages from the business developers' perspectives. However, research on the customer's perspective on the blockchain technology itself is rare; it has been difficult to prove whether it is necessary for customers. To verify the necessity of the blockchain in the business, we investigated the customer's perspective by grasping how much the business customers need blockchain functions, especially in the sharing economy business sector. In this study, we defined the functions with which blockchain technology can provide customers in the business. Thirty participants evaluated what blockchain functions are necessary for sharing economy business. They responded that seven of the blockchain functions were necessary for sharing economy business.

Young In Koh, Sung H. Han, Junseong Park

Conference Proceedings

5G Cottage Network as Platform in Renewing Innovations

With telecommunications connections, data transfer capacity will increase and enable new services and products in growing markets, just as has happened with the development of 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G. New ITC-based technologies, combined with high-speed telecommunications networks, enable new products and services, supply chains and new business models. The exploitation and potential of 5G cannot be seen only as a technology and enabler of new ICT-based technologies but should be approached from the perspective in which new technologies bring new ways of communicating and create a new culture of communication.The goal of this article has been to introduce rapid implementation, development and innovation of the capabilities provided by 5G.The 5G Cottage Network and operating environment has created the basis for this new operating culture, commonly agreed standards and operating methods. The goal of this research has been to indicate and justify that the rapid utilization of telecommunications connections and new ICT-based technologies will enable efficient implementations on a large scale, regardless of technology, country or culture.

Heikki Ruohomaa, Vesa Salminen

Conference Proceedings

Systems Intelligence, Perceived Performance and Wellbeing

Systems intelligence (SI) takes systemic, an employee-level, pragmatic, bot-tom-up, behavioral and interactional approach to organization. A goal of this research is to explore relation between SI and both perceived performance of organization and wellbeing. We conducted a survey with health care and ed-ucation organizations. Organizational Systems Intelligence (OSI) correlated positively with perceived performance of organization, work engagement, mental work ability, and negatively with perceived stress. In addition, per-ceived performance had stronger correlation with OSI than wellbeing measures. This research underlines importance of addressing SI as a part of human resource development in organizations.

Satu Jumisko Pyykko, Juha Törmänen, Kimmo Vanni, Raimo P Hämäläinen, Esa Saarinen

Conference Proceedings

Field Research of Environment Identity System Based on Corporate Identity System

Since the 1980s, CIS has been a methodology for many enterprises to improve their brand image. The full English name of CIS is Corporate Identity System. CIS originated from the United States, then developed and perfected in Japan, and began to rise in China in 1980s. Because CIS developed earlier in Taiwan, it has reference value for the correct introduction of CIS in the mainland.On this basis, through continuous practice, MOMA design team put forward a new analysis of CIS. As one of China's top ten design companies and design innovation demonstration enterprises, MOMA design is committed to providing customers with comprehensive solutions from product prototype definition, concept design, structure design, supply chain integration and brand building. MOMA design in the field of nearly 20 years of groping, has been highly recognized by the industry, and the composition of CIS enterprise identification system has a new interpretation, thinks that CIS should include five subsystems: MIS(Mind Identity System), BIS(Behavior Identity System), VIS(Visual Identity System), PIS (Products Identity) System and Environment Identity System (EIS). CIS has been developing for more than 40 years in China, and countless entrepreneurs, practitioners and scholars have gradually perfected their ideas and continuously incorporated some new ideas. However, relatively few literatures can be retrieved in the research of EI. With the advent of sustainable design and digital economy, MOMA design in the long-term project practice that "environment" for the development of corporate image is a state of crisis and opportunity, to a certain extent, has played a key role, and the enterprise's demand for external environment is also growing. In this paper, EI of CIS five elements is taken as the research object and the concept of "field" is adopted. "Field" is derived from Bourdieu's field theory. Field refers to "network or configuration of objective relations between positions". Field, capital and habitus constitute the core of Bourdieu's sociological theory, which embodies the characteristics of relational thinking. Capital is the quantity and type controlled by actors, including economic capital, cultural capital, social capital and symbolic capital. Habitus is an actor's temperament of perception, judgment and action according to different fields. Bourdieu believed that each field should explore the special practical experience of the local nature, and be used as a general field theoretical analysis method, as the construction principle and reproduction mechanism of field practical space. Therefore, relevant scholars extend "CIS field" and "CIS field effect", considering the transverse field mutual relations among the five elements of CIS. This paper takes EI as the sub-field of CIS, considers the mining of EI vertical field to improve the overall integrity of CIS, uses field theory to analyze the macro field, meso field and micro field in environmental identification, subdivides the environment contained in each field, and sort out the overall logical framework of EIS. Then through the case of MOMA design, using capital and habitus as media to verify the cross relations between the three dimensions of the segmentation of environmental identity system. This paper aims to further improve CIS and put forward the importance of EI, hoping to promote the collaborative evolution of enterprises themselves, enterprises with enterprises and enterprises with the outside world in this field, and also hope to bring certain reference value to some practitioners and academic staff.

Wei Ding, Xinyue Yang

Conference Proceedings

On Demand Loans Real Time Service: Essential User Feature by the Banks in Society 5

Investing for a Sustainable Future is driving major client buying behaviors and long-term corporate strategies. We are currently at the transition between the 3rd Industrial Revolution (the computer / Internet based information industry), and the 4th Industrial Revolution (driven by digital transformation, AI, IoT, Blockchain), emerging into the 5th Industrial Revolution. This transition drives an unprecedented connection of business to purpose, democratizing technology for consumers with ease of use and integration of cyberspace with physical space In addition, Covid-19 has acted as a catalyst accelerating the virtual way people work, learn, buy, and how businesses interact with their consumers, partners, and one another, which will be forever changed. With much of life shifted online, such use of embedded finance products, transacting with e-commerce systems, etc. now demands a new level of data gathering, sharing, and management. This change in life drives the optimization of the entire social and organizational systems. In the Financial Services industry, “Buy Now, Pay Later” (BNPL) is one of the strongest trends, that redefines processes around digital payments, embedded lending, and e-commerce. With BNPL, retailers could minimize the risk of capital management during a period of huge economic uncertainty, worldwide lockdowns, and the temporary closure of non-essential physical stores. BNPL type process naturally evolves into digital frictionless user experience, replicated across channels, expanding into services such as event tickets and vacations (tailored to behavioral patterns and personalized shopping recommendations), offerings on interest-bearing financing and over-the-top payments with any merchant via their smartphone apps, QR codes, and virtual cards, making a range of goods and services more affordable.What would be the next moves? Winners in this market will be companies that combine strong consumer and merchant relationships into a composite cross-industry business process that translates to a robust value proposition and a potentially new set of business models. BNPL does not only produce monetary benefits. Because the providers have relationships with consumers and merchants, they generate powerful insights from the data exhaust, and can provide merchant partners with valuable data to understand :•Who their customers are and their target customer segments. •The types of products customers prefer. •Where customers shop. •Trading and micro-lendingIn the future, Data wallets will enable both individuals and businesses to control their participation in the new ecosystems based on their preferences, augmented by ecosystem-centric loyalty schemes, providing the foundation for new engagement models.Sustainability Linked Loans (SLLs) will support the achievement of the borrower’s environmental and social objectives, & United Nations ESG / sustainability metrics. People, Jobs, Economic Inclusion, and Sustainability will be at the heart of everybody. Banks need to turn BNPL into an opportunity, by applying technology and optimizing, automating, and even monetizing, through exponential technologies like BPA and AI. Banks should leverage their huge base of retail customers with a variety of credit products, and many established banking providers, that have merchant acquiring services. It is essential for businesses that intersect payments, lending, and e-commerce to formulate a BNPL strategy

Elizabeth Koumpan, Ram Ravishankar, Periasamy Girirajan

Conference Proceedings

Smart Countryside Community in Quadrable Helix Development

The Fourth Industrial Revolution will bring unprecedented change to countryside and its society and business environments. Countryside has to compete with large centers and cities that are evolving rapidly and providing new opportunities for their residents.Forssa Town, which is located in the heart of three of Finland's largest cities, has decided to build innovation ecosystem to support their development work. Use case introduced in this article is physical and data infrastructure of traffic environment.During the study has been applied an ecosystem development approach, in which the city, the university, businesses and residents form a quadrable helix entity. It was ought to create a rapid development approach to the development and regeneration of rural cities.The goal of this article has been to implement an ecosystem- based approach for countryside city to develop it’s competitiveness and vitality under the pressures of urbanization in large cities. This research has used qualitative and quantitatively analytic methodology. The data analyzed has been tuned in terms of human behavior and values of the inhabitants moving on the area.

Heikki Ruohomaa, Minna Takala, Vesa Salminen

Conference Proceedings

Linkage Between the Usage of Digital Technologies and Emotional Competence

Emotional competence is critical for 21st century society, where digital technologies permeate all spheres of life, requiring a rethinking of human relationships in both private and working life. The need for technological detoxification is increasingly being discussed, however at the same time the inevitability of intervention of digital technologies in everyday life is understood. There is still a gap of knowledge regarding the impact of the use of digital technologies on the emotional competence. Moreover, different scholars see both the harm of digital technologies on the emotional competence and the positive impact of digital technologies on the development of emotional competence when digital technologies activate the system of human senses.The paper aims at closing this gap by examining the linkage between the use of digital technologies and the emotional competence (Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, and Relationship Management). In doing this, the quantitative data were collected from questionnaires distributed in Lithuania using simple random sampling (178 responses). The research has shown that the use of digital technologies can have both positive and negative effects on emotional competence. Respondents who use digital technologies as a means of communication develop their interpersonal emotional competence (social awareness, and relationship management), but it was found that the use of some social media are negatively related to the personal emotional competence (self-awareness, self-management).

Asta Savanevičienė, Lina Girdauskiene, Rosita Jocytė

Conference Proceedings

Smart ships and the evolution of cruise target. How smart technologies are affecting the relationship of customers with spaces and services

This research investigates the evolution of spaces and services for customers in the naval and nautical sectors, through the method of case study analysis. The spread of smart technologies has deeply transformed our society in every context, generating relationships based on network systems and new forms of communication among people, objects and surrounding environments. In the cruise and yacht sectors smart technologies have affected the sea travel, leading companies to rethink spaces and services for customers. The results show how smart technologies can improve the quality of travel on board, offering new opportunities than on former ships, and at the same time indicate critical factors derived by the use of these new technologies.

Giuseppe Carmosino, Andrea Ratti

Conference Proceedings

Transforming Energy Marketing Practices for Enhanced Solar PV Adoption

The adoption and use of solar PV systems is a complex and multifarious process influenced by personal, social, economic, technical and regulatory factors. Solar PV companies involved in the sales and interaction with the customers can play an important role in facilitating adoption. Companies’ ability to effectively market the product, disseminate information, frame value offerings and address consumers concerns can play an important role in this regard. The small size of the domestic market, an amplified competition and limited resources highlight the need to alter the way companies have been carrying out their operations. The qualitative study explores how solar PV companies can transform their marketing operations by integrating through the use of advanced digital technologies to facilitate the process.

Shah Rukh Shakeel, Arto Rajala

Conference Proceedings

Assessment of Marketing Strategies Adoption and Competitiveness Among Quantity Surveying Firms In The Digitization Era

The ability of business outfits to successfully connect end-users to their goods and services determines their success. Business success in this sense is regarded as the longevity, profit, ability to be constantly engaged, among others. Like other professionals, the quantity surveying practice is bound by different ethics, which include how QS firms can carry out marketing. This study aims at investigating how the different marketing strategies adopted by QS firms and the factors affecting the adoption. Data was solicited through well-structured questionnaires. 74 formed the respondents; this is a mixture of indigenous, expatriate and mixed ownership. The factors were divided into internal and external microeconomic and macroeconomic environmental factors. The results showed that business philosophies of the owner (internal environment), national economic blueprint (external macroeconomics environment), competitive conditions of the market and state of the economy (external microeconomics environment) are the most important factors affecting the adoption of marketing strategies by quantity surveying firms. The study, therefore, recommends that Quantity surveying principal managers should be versed and open in their business philosophies so as to be able to change with the technological trends and changes in the economy (external microeconomic and macroeconomic factors).

Beauty John, Samuel Adekunle, Success Enebeli, Clinton Aigbavboa

Conference Proceedings

The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Job Seeking and Competence Development

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the public and private sectors create new opportunities worldwide. One of such domains where the elements of AI play a critical role are recommendation systems related to finding a new job and offering training suggestions. Based on current literature, only a few attempts are made to implement intelligent recommendation systems in public sector environments such as employment agencies. In this regard, the existing state-of-the-art models should be explored for creating AI-enabled e-services helping unemployed citizens to find suitable jobs or to receive training suggestions based on their profiles. While job recommendation and training suggestion is still a constantly evolving area of research, the task of the current study is to support this research domain by firstly mapping the state-of-the-art AI techniques used in the current job and training recommendation system research literature. Secondly, in collaboration with multiple stakeholders in the Estonian public sector and universities from Latvia and Finland to conceptualize citizen-centered public service architecture that uses AI and is accessible to every European citizen.

Markko Liutkevicius, Sadok Ben Yahia

Conference Proceedings

Multidisciplinary Teamwork in Machine Learning Operations (MLOps)

Machine learning operations (MLOps) is an emerging and complex subject area involving experts from several fields and backgrounds. Its main purpose is to enable a more standardized and effective approach to building and maintaining machine learning systems. Machine learning projects have an extremely high failure rate. One of the reasons behind this is the lack of teams designed for building these systems. At the same time, machine learning projects can carry great business risks. This paper takes a scoping review approach in assessing the state of the current literature about multidisciplinary teamwork within the context of MLOps. Most of the literature reviewed on collaboration and teamwork focuses on the intimately related field of data science. These articles are analyzed, and a synthesis is presented of the gaps in the current literature for collaboration within data science. Recommendations for further research directions are given for MLOps.

Tapani Honkanen, Jonny Odwyer, Vesa Salminen

Conference Proceedings

Change of Education and Training Business in the Age of 5G

Regions are facing a huge competition, to attract companies, businesses, inhabitants, students etc. and this way to improve living and business environment, which is rapidly changing due to the impact of digitalization.On the other hand, for the point of view of the industry, the availability of skillful labor force and innovation environment are crucial factors. In this context, qualified staff has been seen to be able to utilize the opportunities of digitalization and response the needs of future skills. World Manufacturing Forum has stated on year 2019- report, that in next five years 40% of workers have to change their core competences. Through digital transformation, the use of new technologies like cloud, mobile, big data, 5G- infrastructure, platform- technology, data- analysis, and social networks with increasing intelligence and automation, enterprises can capitalize on new opportunities and optimize existing operations to achieve significant business improvement.Digitalization is going to be an important part of everyday life of citizens, and present in the working day of the average citizen and employee in the future. For that reason, also education system and education programs on all levels of education from diaper age to doctorate have been directed to fulfill this ecosystem strategy. The Fourth Industrial Revolution will bring unprecedented change to societies, education organizations and business environments. The goal of this article is to identify how education, education content, the way education is proceeded and overall whole the education business is changing. Most important is how we should respond to this inevitable co- evolution.The purpose of the study is to verify how the learning process is boosted by new digital content, new learning software and tools and customer- oriented learning environments. The change of education programs and individual education modules can be supported by applied research projects. You can use them in making proof- of- concept of new technology, new way to teach and train and through the experiences gathered change education content, way to educate and finally education business as whole.Applied research projects can be used to make proof of concept- phases on real environment field labs to test technology opportunities and new tools for training purposes. Customer oriented applied research projects are also excellent environments for students to make assignments and use new knowledge and content and teachers to test new tools and create new ways to educate. New content and problem-based learning is used on future education modules.This research has used qualitative and conceptual analytic methodology. The data analyzed has been collected from case study environments and transdisciplinary digital transformation projects. Project settings have also been testing environments for new education tools and contents. In this article are introduced some case study experiences on customer oriented digital transformation projects and how gathered knowledge on new digital content and new way to educate has influenced on education supported. Case study is related on experiences of research projects, customer- oriented field labs/learning environments and education programs of Häme University of Applied Sciences.

Heikki Ruohomaa, Vesa Salminen, Heidi Ahokallio-Leppala

Conference Proceedings

Influence of Content-Oriented Information Management Activities on the Creation of National Memory

The transformation of information society has caused changes in memory creation processes since the amount of information is indeterminately larger. Processes on the institutional level have transformed digital, organizations function differently, which probably causes changes in the content of the information to be preserved. The proposed paper will look at the institutional level activities that affect the content of the preserved information based on the two-year qualitative case study induced by an Estonian public sector institution. Results synthesized in the context of the theoretical approach allow us to claim that due to the nature of the development of memory and history, the human factor remains in the selection/appraisal processes.

Karin Oolu, Ingrid Pappel

Conference Proceedings

Relations of Different Features in Time Management: Procrastination

Time is the most important resource for leaders. Other resources can be added or reduced but time is imperative. Resources such as personnel, capital or facilities are crucial tools for leaders, but their usage is always time dependent. People’s productivity, and hence organizations´ performance are heavily related to their time usage. On the one hand, some leader can enhance organization´s performance in a very short time period, even when work is not very efficient, and on the other hand, a leader who is very efficient may even damage the organization. Therefore, especially leaders should have conscious awareness towards their conscious awareness towards time. In my former research I have shown that people´s conscious awareness towards time, time reality, has a lot of different varieties and individuals could possess totally different or very similar time reality between different people. Also, we have found that there is correlations between time management and innovativeness. Purpose of this study is to find how different time management features are related to each other’s and what conclusions we can derive from those.Time, however, is not an easy concept to handle for leader or even understand it. It has many different faces towards people. The challenge is that chronological time, where the business and management are done, is not nearly suitable when human relations and leadership are handled. Individuals´ experiences towards time differentiates to one another and different situations are constantly changing the experience for individual. Therefore, quite often, leaders recognizes that it is hard to have schedules to match or plans to actualize within an agreed time. Some people fit more easily to same time reality with leader than others. Therefore it is crucial to find out which features of time management are related to each other’s.Study was done by developing and utilizing application called Chronos & Kairos which main purpose is to reveal individuals conscious awareness and give possibility for thorough research for peoples´ differences when experiencing time. Research data collection was executed in 2014 – 2015 and consisted of 108 individual respondents answering to application. Respondents were students from Turku University of Applied Sciences. Students were mostly from engineering and business degree programs and represented full-time students and part-time (working adult) students. Respondents answered propositions in two different systems and answered all together 2 times for 176 statements. This gives 38.016 different individual variables to research data mass. Research was made by utilizing Co-Evolute research tool, compositions for statistical analysis were done with Excel and closer statistical analysis was made by SPSS.Study results show which features of time management are related to each other and how. Future research aspects and recommendations are also issued in this paper.

Tero Reunanen

Conference Proceedings

Consumer Behavior in Product Disposal: Mapping the Field

The disposal of products within the framework of the discipline of consumer behavior is a decision-making process. In this process, consumers make at least two decisions: the first to stop using a still usable product and the second to select a disposal method. Among the most common methods of disposal are storing products, giving them away, donating them, selling them, or throwing them away. The main difference between disposal and recycling behavior is that in the former the product is still usable, while in the latter the decision is regarding the waste of a product. Product disposal behavior has notable consequences for both consumers and society, which is why a growing number of academics have been attracted to this field of study. Given the growing body of literature that is being generated, the present study aims to generate an image of the body of existing documents on this subject in order to guide future research. The present study used the Scopus database to search for content, as it is a database that presents a good balance of quality and coverage. The search keywords were disposal AND {consumer behavior}. The search was carried out in November 2021. The results were limited only to literature generated in English. As a result, 158 documents were obtained. On this basis of documents, the present study carried out various bibliometric analyses. There is an increasing annual trend in the number of publications (19 in 2019, 29 in 2020, and 39 in 2021). The United States and its institutions are the main countries of affiliation of the authors. Additionally, the European Commission is the main funder. In order to determine the main topics of interest of the research, an analysis of the co-occurrence of words in the contents of the titles and abstracts was carried out using the VOSviewer software. The results showed the existence of three content clusters: 1) decision-making for disposal, 2) types of products disposed of, highlighting electronics, clothing, and food, and 3) social and environmental implications of the disposal of products. The current study ends by discussing the implications of these results.

Jorge Cruz-Cárdenas, Ekaterina Zabelina, Olga Deyneka, Carlos Ramos, Andrés Palacio Fierro

Conference Proceedings

Establishing a Student-Community Book Club for Civic Engagement

This paper articulates the reasons and the implementation steps for the forming of a student-community book club that aims to build small communities motivated by Raghuram Rajan’s 2019 book: The Third Pillar: How Markets and the States Leave the Community Behind. We believe humans and societies survive based on rational dialogues. A book club of this type can provide escape valves for individuals holding strong unbendable beliefs on how society should function, which has dichotomized America since 2016. Themes generated from books (fictions or non-fictions) contain scientific or humanistic views can encourage community network building of the type that will broaden people's view, rather than focus on specific disagreements. Disintegration of various factors, according to Rajan, is the crisis that communities all over the world are facing. Building communities have always been some historical endeavors, resulting often from wars and land grabbings. The urgent needs to do so now are due to technological changes. Technologies are disrupting the lifestyles in the world that can amplify as well as compromise disagreements. A web-ground co-development is necessarily for bringing out the goods while managing the bad of technologies.

Frank Lorne, Jamel Vanderburg, Aanchal Sharma, Jaan Malik, Rishabh Neb, Kitti Sandhu, Siva Sateesh Pitchuka, Anvitha Satti, Pooja Telagu, Reshwanth Reddy, Ganesh Reddy Bollapu

Conference Proceedings

Comparison Between Technostress Instruments Among Education and Health Care Sectors

Background: Online meetings in Teams, Zoom and Google Meet have become a relevant part of daily activities in business, research and education. The Covid-19 pandemic forced employees to move from physical meetings to online meetings with very limited time to familiarize themselves with interfaces and functionalities of the applications. It has widely been reported that use of technology may stress people, and the phenomenon is known as technostress. However, the research about technostress due to online meetings and used tools has still been scarce. Objective: We aimed to measure technostress due to online meetings and its factors among university teachers and researchers, and clerical employees. We also aimed to compare which measure (dependent variable) would be the most reliable. Methods: A survey was conducted and the data were handled by SPSS-26 statistical package and AMOS. Statistical analyses were done by linear regressions, correlations, analysis of variance, and both experimental and confirmatory factor analysis. The used dependent variables of analyses were the sum variables of Cohen-4 stress measure and Salanova's technostress measure. Results: Analyses showed that increased online meeting hours due to Covid-19 pandemic has statistically significant impact on perceived technostress. The impact of user interfaces of online meeting tools on perceived technostress was the most relevant factor. Other significant factors were e.g., information security and topics of the meetings. Technostress between genders was statistically non-significant but age was a significant factor. Cohen-4 stress measure was not adequate for technostress assessments, whereas Salanova's technostress measure worked well. Conclusion: Covid-19 pandemic has had an impact on the use of online meetings tools. Even if tools have been useful and the relevant part of office work, the use of tools may affect technostress. The most relevant factor for technostress was the user interfaces. Based on the result, we recommend software companies to focus on developing user interfaces and assessing user experiences of online meeting tools.

Kimmo Vanni, Antti Syvanen, Jarmo Viteli

Conference Proceedings

Micro-refresh to Restore Intellectual Concentration Decline During Office Work: An Attempt at Quantitative Effect Evaluation

There have been many studies on improving intellectual concentration. Concentration on intellectual work such as working in office tends to decrease over time, and this needs to be prevented in order to improve intellectual work efficiency. In conventional office work, for example, a 10-minute break was taken every hour. However, in this case, their concentration is gradually getting lower by the next break. There is a possibility of suppressing the decline in intellectual concentration by interspersing short breaks of a few seconds to a few tens of seconds and give environmental stimulus to improve their refresh in a shorter cycle. In this study, we named this break "micro-refresh" and aimed to show its effect on improving intellectual concentration by experiments, and then to study the environmental control method to introduce it appropriately in the actual working environment. The "micro-refresh" differs from the conventional "microbreak" in that it effectively encourages office workers to refresh themselves in a short period of time. In other words, this research aims to actively encourage office workers to refresh themselves through some kind of stimuli, such as controlling the office room environment.As a basis for this study, therefore, it should be firstly confirmed by an experiment that the effect of micro-refresh can be measured quantitatively. Especially, short breaks of a few seconds to tens of seconds were forcibly given to the experimental participants during the cognitive task, and the difference in intellectual concentration was confirmed using objective indicators.In this measurement, a comparison problem developed by Ueda et al1). was used as a cognitive task. As a simulated micro-refresh, an experimental system has been developed in which the screen changes to all gray after an arbitrary time has passed and the answer to the problem being solved at that time is completed. The interval between the screen changing was set to 7 minutes and 30 seconds, and the time until the changed screen returned to the task was set to 20 seconds. Three university faculty members performed a 25-minute cognitive task with and without the simulated micro-refresh. Their intellectual concentration was measured as an index, “CTR (Concentration Time Ratio)”1), which expresses concentration time ratio among total working time and was calculated from response time data of the cognitive task. As a result, all three participants had higher CTR when the simulated micro-refresh was given than those without it. Although this was just a preliminary experiment and the measurement was insufficient, it suggested that the effect of micro-refresh on intellectual concentration could be measured quantitatively and that micro-refresh might be effective in improving intellectual concentration.As a future prospect, controlled experiments with a larger number of participants to show the effect of micro-refresh should be conducted, and then environmental control methods that can appropriately introduce micro-refresh in actual work environments should be studied.1) Kimi Ueda, Hiroshi Shimoda, Hirotake Ishii, Fumiaki Obayashi, Kazuhiro Taniguchi: Development of a New Cognitive Task to Measure Intellectual Concentration Affected by Room Environment, The Fifth International Conference on Human-Environment System, 2016.

Kakeru Kitayama, Orchida Dianita, Kimi Ueda, Hirotake Ishii, Hiroshi Shimoda, Fumiaki Obayashi

Conference Proceedings

Development of Social Workers Stress Tolerance in the Process of their Professional Activity

The process social workers of different ages develop their high stress tolerance is the subject of study analysis in the article. A theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of "stress" is carried out, the content and essence of high stress tolerance and the essence of the concept of “high stress tolerance of the personality of social workers” are determined as an integrative dynamic structure that activates the ability to comprehend the specifics of a stressful situation and its own capabilities to overcome it, adequately react emotionally to various stressors, to change stressful (stress-producing) conditions and maintain the effectiveness of the activities performed.The features of the professional activity of social workers are considered. It was found that the overwhelming majority of social workers of all age categories have an average level of high stress tolerance, which indicates that in many stressful situations associated with the characteristics of their professional activities, they are able to regulate their own emotions, perform professional tasks at the proper level and maintain an optimal operability level.

Oksana Kravchenko, Marina Mishchenko, Olena Soroka, Anna Levenets, Valentyna Korolchuk, Serhii Myronets, Svitlana Tsymbal, Iryna Vahotska, Natalia Hotsuliak

Conference Proceedings

An Analysis of the Effect of Integrated Thermal Control on Cognitive Task Performance Using Time-Series Changes in Intellectual Concentration

In today’s developed information society, improving the performance of intellectual work is considered important not only for increasing corporate profits but also for improving occupational health, including improving work-life balance. Therefore, various methods have been attempted to improve intellectual work performance. Since the workplace environment during intellectual work is known to affect performance, many efforts have been made to improve intellectual work performance by devising the workplace environment. Based on the knowledge from many studies which have focused only on the environment during working or only on the environment during breaks, the authors have proposed integrated thermal control, which combines and controls both the environments during working and breaks, and have examined the effect of this proposed control on the performance of intellectual work.In our previous studies [1-3], we have shown the performance-enhancing effect of integrated thermal control throughout the day using the concentration time ratio (CTR), which is a performance evaluation index of the ratio of time when workers concentrated on their work during their working time. However, although performance during work changes moment by moment due to accumulation of fatigue and other factors, time-series changes in intellectual performance during work was not examined, and the details of the effects of integrated thermal control on performance remain unclear.Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze and evaluate the effects of integrated thermal control on work performance in more detail by focusing on the time-series changes in concentration on intellectual work. For the analysis, the answering time data of the cognitive task for intellectual concentration evaluation [4], which was obtained by 44 participants performing 4 sets of 30 minutes each in the integrated thermal control condition using airflow and control conditions, was used to calculate the time-series changes of intellectual concentration based on the idea of conventional CTR calculation method. The calculated time-series data was separated by Ward’s method of clustering. As a result of clustering, for example, the number of data included in the cluster that tended to decrease in concentration during the 30-minute work period decreased in the integrated thermal control condition compared with the control condition. Results suggested the possibility that the integrated thermal control improved intellectual performance throughout the day by suppressing the decline in concentration during each working period.[1] Kimi Ueda, et al.: An experimental study on integrated thermal control of office room and break room to improve intellectual concentration, Roomvent & Ventilation 2018 Conference, pp.43-48, 2018.[2] Soma Kawamoto, et al.: An Experimental Study on Airflow Control to Improve Intellectual Concentration, Roomvent & Ventilation 2018 Conference, pp.31-36, 2018.[3] Kimi Ueda, et al.: A Study of Analysis Framework to Construct Mechanism Model of Intellectual Productivity Changes Affected by Workplace Environment, The 8th International Conference on Applied Human Factors and Ergonomics, pp.121-131 2017.[4] Kimi Ueda, et al.: Development of a new cognitive task to measure intellectual concentration affected by room environment, The Fifth International Conference on Human-Environment System ICHES2016 Nagoya, 2016.

Kimi Ueda, Kohei Yumura, Hirotake Ishii, Hiroshi Shimoda, Fumiaki Obayashi

Conference Proceedings

Social Support in a Self-Organizing Project Team

The competitive environment is in turbulence and businesses are in a rapid digital and sustainable transition. This means challenges for organizations and the leadership of teams. Leadership is under uncertainties and pressure coming from inside and outside the team. Also, project team members face many stressful situations that cause uncertainty. Uncertainty stemming from the pressure of project work can be managed through social support. Projects are characterized by being time-limited and goal-oriented. For this reason, project teams face tough time pressures, which increase the workload of their members.Additionally, project teams are put together for a specific task, so their members may not have worked with each other before. A project team and even individual team members may work independently through self-organized tasks while having the same team objective. The basic nature of project work means that project team members are in a position from the beginning of a project where they can face quite a lot of uncertainty and stressful situations. In this work, social support refers to the means of interaction that alleviate the feelings of uncertainty that arise in stressful situations (Mikkola 2020). A project team tends to pay more attention to task-oriented processes, leaving less attention to relationship-centered interaction processes (DePoel et al. 2014), which include social support. Social support is known to have several positive effects in working life (Reinardy 2009).The goal of this research is to describe the perceptions and experiences of team members about social support. The following aspects of social support were analyzed: How is social support and its relevance understood? What factors promote and hinder social support?In this article social support is described from the perspective of project team members in working life. Because social support is constructed and mediated through interaction between project team members, it was essential to look at it through its manifestation.The research setting in this research is qualitative because it describes the team members’ perceptions and experiences. The goal of this research was to collect genuine opinions on this topic, so thematic individual interviews were conducted. A semi-structured thematic interview was chosen to hear people’s perceptions, which enabled a more in-depth treatment of the phenomenon. Social support’s manifestation in the project team was analyzed according to the perceptions and experiences of interviewees.The results of this research help to understand the importance of social support for project teams. The results increase understanding of how social support manifests itself in team interaction and what factors promote and hinder its delivery and application. In addition, they deepen the understanding of what social support is needed for and what implications it is seen to have from the perspective of team members.Ref.De Poel, F., Stoker, J., Van der Zee, K. 2014. Leadership and organizational tenure asymmetry as determinants of project team effectiveness. Group & Organization Management, 39 (1), 532–560.Mikkola, L. 2020. Supportive communication in the workplace. Mikkola, L. & Valo, M. (toim.) Workplace communication. New York: Routledge.Reinardy, S. 2009. Beyond Satisfaction: Journalists doubt career intentions as organizational support diminishes and job satisfaction declines. Atlantic Journal of Communication, 17 (3), 126–139.

Carita Salminen, Anju Marjamaa, Vesa Salminen

Conference Proceedings

Ethical Guidelines for Human-Centered Design Activities

Recently, ethical considerations have become increasingly important in various situations. Human-centered design (HCD) activities are no exceptions. Because there have been no ethical guidelines for HCD-related activities in Japan, the human-centered design organization (HCD-Net) has published specific ethical guidelines for HCD activities. The guidelines provide general rules on ethical considerations for HCD specialists and ethical provisions for investigation, research, and deliverables. The guidelines have been published on the HCD-Net website. All researchers and practitioners engaged in HCD-related activities are expected to adhere to these guidelines when making ethical decisions.

Jun Iio, Atsushi Hasegawa, Shigeyoshi Iizuka, Seiji Hayakawa, Hiroshi Tsujioka

Conference Proceedings

Design Challenges and Principles of Hustar Footwear Exoskeleton

The current information society has been reported to have begun in 1976 and has included five different stages of development, from inception to globalization (Nevalainen 1999). Current society is in a new phase of transition, where applications of digitalization such as artificial intelligence and human-centered robotics are becoming a relevant part of every person’s life in working life, school and leisure. There are already concepts for the future society called 5.0 (Sato & Arimoto 2015) where researchers have considered what issues may change and how changes may happen (Cabinet Office 2019).Wearable intelligence can be defined broadly but it combines textiles and technology and includes sensors (traditional, bacteria-based, etc.), software applications, intelligent textile materials (phase change polymers, textiles), smart design (mass customization, value-based design, etc.) and services (platform economy). The products of wearable intelligence can be wearable sensors, smart textiles and shoes, exoskeleton robots, and fabrics, which are smart and connected to sensor networks and services (AI cloud). Currently, the market expects that researchers would develop efficient, lightweight and reliable exoskeleton robots that make use of high-speed 5G mobile networks and AI. However, the greatest part of the developed exoskeletons is for upper body and they are made from traditional materials and with traditional approaches which emphasize technical issues.The aim of the study was to plan a new approach for designing footwear exoskeleton. The objective was to design a footwear exoskeleton design approach which takes into account smart textile materials, smart sensors, sustainable design, testing data and user expectations. We found that smart footwear exoskeleton design requires professionals from design and user experience, ICT and programming, material and textile technology, mechatronics and energy, and biomechanics domains. As conclusion the ecosystem of smart footwear exoskeleton robotics is still in novice stage and new design approaches are needed, especially now when Society 5.0 may increase demand for assistive technology.

Kimmo Vanni, Satu Jumisko Pyykko, Xuequn Zhang, Yeye Xu, Shiqiang Zhu

Conference Proceedings

Digital Assistive Technology as a Path towards Successful Aging in the Baltic Sea Region

Population aging is a major societal challenge worldwide, and the Baltic Sea region is no exception. This challenge has increased interest in successful aging through digital assistive technology (DAT). This paper seeks to shed more light on the potential impact of DAT on successful aging by offering deeper insight into the needs and expectations of older people as well as the barriers to and challenges in providing DAT solutions. Given the nature of the research questions, a qualitative approach was employed, and a multiple-case study was conducted in six Baltic Sea region countries: Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia, Denmark, and Finland. The central finding of the study revealed that older people and technology providers perceived DAT solutions as of utmost importance in supporting successful aging. The study also contributes to the discussion of the need for a more holistic and multidimensional approach to successful aging by proposing to incorporate the impact of technological advances into a conceptual framework that outlines more comprehensively the components of successful aging.

Marina Weck, Kirsten Maibom, Kimmo Vanni, Michael Smærup

Conference Proceedings

Cross-Border Communication and Service Provision within Silver Economy Domain: How to Sustain a Collaborative Platform for Seniors Services

The paper examines technological and organizational complexity related to cross-border data exchange and communication among public entities, private sector and seniors on the platform called Silver Hub. We need to look at challenges raised while designing architecture and business cases supporting service provision within the silver economy domain. In this project we have identified the main obstacles related to creation of the sustainable business strategy for the collaborative platform during its development. It is relatively easy to create a sustainable software architecture for the platform. However, creating a sustainable business model is much more complex. In addition to the business plan, it also requires a well-thought-out architectural vision which responds to stakeholders’ requirements. In order to be competitive, transparent and compliant, it makes sense to pursue ISO 9001, which in turn leads to the need for risk-based process management and continuous improvement. To make the platform sustainable, the external context must be analyzed to identify risks and opportunities. Based on the business plan, the organizational objectives and KPIs must be developed. Taking into consideration the business objectives, the strategic action plan will be created. Additionally, the business processes must be analyzed to determine the bottlenecks and main obstacles to achieve determined KPIs and objectives. Identified risks should be evaluated and mitigation action ought to be planned, as well as processes must be changed accordingly. As process-based risks are related to people, partners, customers, assets, IT, documents, resources, legislation, etc., the risk management approach must be determined via an internal control system, which monitors business functions. Thus, the organization and processes supporting the developed platform are much more complicated and quite often such complicity is underestimated.Moreover, in Enterprise Architecture management we need to focus on topics like sustainable process management and continuous improvement, organization and competence management, documented knowledge management, IT and risk management.In addition, there is a clear need to understand the problems a service user or a service provider could encounter. Developed Silver Hub platform helps to distribute innovative solutions to the problems faced by the aging population helping seniors live more independent and comfortable life with the use of digital means. However, we see the platform is tackling the challenges to meet the seniors needs that the governments are currently facing. Involvement of the seniors and their representatives more in their co-creative activities and wider participation during the implementation stages of service innovation helps overcome the gap.Thus, this experience research paper presents main findings that occurred during different project phases, based on what we derived recommendations with a relevant business plan, which contributes to the enterprise architecture designing cycle. That also includes the understanding of the country-based specifics with respect to cultural, political and legal context. Additionally, we have designed a framework as a structure for building collaboration and cross-border data exchange between innovation actors within the silver economy domain in the Baltic Sea Regions.

Taivo Kangilaski, Ingrid Pappel, Markus Sihvonen, Marina Weck

Conference Proceedings

Enhancing Open Innovation: The Co-Creation of an Open Innovation Toolkit

The aim of this paper is to explore and describe, how a methodology for collecting and reviewing tools and methods on open innovation, can integrate and operationalize stakeholders involved in processes of open innovation development. The authors originally did this through the realization of an open innovation toolkit with a scope of use applying a Quadruple Helix Model of innovation, which recognizes four major actors in the innovation system: Science, Policy, Industry, and Society. Specifically, the actors were involved in development or implementation of health and welfare technology aimed for older adults. The result of this paper is an outline of methodology used for implementing the OIT and in doing so, involving QH actors in the process

Mads Lund Andersen, Marina Weck, Michael Smærup

Conference Proceedings

Conceptual Description of the Key Attributes of Human Resource Management Practices in a Developing Economy

Human resource management practices are implemented to build an organisation supportive of cooperation and interaction, promote human and social development, and encourage career growth. There is evidence that studies have been conducted in diverse fields to identify the elements that contribute to the success or failure of the application of human resource management practices (HRMPs). However, the key attributes of HRMPs as critical factors for successful human resources (HR) performance and productivity are unknown in the Nigerian construction industry. Based on this, the paper reviewed the literature on existing conceptual models of HRMPs frameworks. Through the detailed review of the journal, conference papers, and academic thesis, fifteen (15) HRMPs attributes were identified. However, the top elements were determined by assessing the level of influence of the attributes on a five-point Likert scale through mean ranking. The top six (6) factors were training and development, recruitment and selection, performance appraisal, rewards, communication, and emotional intelligence. The study recommended that HR should acquire more knowledge beyond their current job to optimize performance. Most suitable applicants should be allowed to fill existing vacancies. There should be an evaluation of employees' performance that brings about rewards. Finally, workers' state of mind that balances their responses brings about a sound communication system. The developed model indicates the practical implications of the HRM system for the construction industry. Therefore, combining these factors enhances effective HR performance and productivity in the industry.

Helen Ifedolapo Babalola, Clinton Aigbavboa

Conference Proceedings

Effects of Social Media on B2B Sales

Social Media already plays an essential role in the business-to-consumer (B2C) environment. Platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram are successfully applied in B2C sales to attract new customers. The usage of social media in B2C sales is profoundly analyzed. However, scholars imply that there exist fundamental differences to the application in business-to-business (B2B). On the one side, social media in sales gains increasing attention from B2B companies that seek practical advice for using social media in sales. On the other side, scholars imply that there is limited knowledge on applying social media in B2B sales. Against this backdrop, our paper presents an overview of recent research on social media in B2B sales.Therefore, we conduct research focused on social media in B2B sales. We search in scientific databases such as Business Source Premier, Science Direct, Emerald, Springer Online Library, Wiley Online Library, and Google Scholar to identify relevant literature to this highly topical research theme. Based on our literature research, our paper aims to answer two research questions: What is social media, and how can it be applied in the B2B sales process? What are the effects of social media on B2B sales?To answer our first research question, we provide definitions of social media and explain its application in B2B sales. Additionally, this section describes recent developments of social media and social CRM. This first section will build the fundament for our further research on social media in B2B sales.To answer our second research question, we try to determine how social media affects the sales practices within the B2B sales process. Therefore, we analyze the identified literature in detail. We can find out three main effects of social media on B2B sales based on this. First, the information situation is changing and leading to new challenges in sales. Second, social media profoundly changes the relationships between customers and sales. Third, social customer relationship management must be established as a new management approach to meet the customers’ new requirements. Afterward, we present a discussion on social media in B2B sales, summarize our results, and present relevant future research questions.Summing up, our proposed paper gives a profound overview of social media and how it can be applied in B2B sales along the sales cycle. It investigates the main effects on B2B sales by presenting three key changes. Our paper closes with a discussion that suggests future research questions and advice to B2B companies.

Heiko Fischer

Conference Proceedings

Antecedents of Intention to Use Voice Commerce Applications and its Impact on Recommendation Intention

The present study is based on a representative online survey of online shoppers conducted in Germany. To explain consumers´ intention to use voice-commerce applications and its impact on recommendation intention an integrated explanatory model was developed. The model is based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT 2), which was expanded to include the constructs of “perceived risk” and “recommendation intention”. The postulated associations were studied using regression analysis. “Performance expectancy” and “social influence” are the factors that have the strongest (highly significant) influence on the intention of the surveyed German online shoppers to use voice-commerce applications. For “hedonic motivation” a weaker (significant) influence can be confirmed. “Effort expectancy” has no significant effect. “Privacy risk” has a weak but highly significant negative influence on the intention to use a voice commerce application. Perceived “functional risk” has no significant effect. The “intention to use” a voice commerce application has a strong and highly significant influence on the “recommendation intention”.Keywords: voice commerce; voice assistant; hedonic motivation; performance expectancy; effort expectancy; social influence; privacy risk; functional risk; intention to use; recommendation intention

Silvia Zaharia, Elena Adolphs

Conference Proceedings

Innovative Exploration of Art Toy Design Based on Personality Trait Theory

With the prosperity of Chinese cultural industry, art toys are loved by more and more people and have become an emerging industry with great market potential in the field of cultural industry. Many art toys appear in the form of personification and have certain personality which can be recognized by consumers. it is the personality perception of art toys from consumers. The purpose of this research is to explore the association rules among self-rated personality traits, personality perception to anthropomorphic art toys from respondents and preference degree to anthropomorphic art toys from respondents in order to summarize some innovative sales and design suggestions and strategies about art toys based on personality traits theory by the method of clustering analysis and Apriori algorithm. The research results provide a quantitative reference tool and design route for the IP design of art toys in order to help the development of cultural and creative product design in China.

Miao Liu, Jiaqi Fang

Conference Proceedings

Understanding Specialist Sales Aspects in Recruitment Process

The labor shortage of experts will increase as current experts retire, which has moved the recruitment culture closer to expert sales. The competitiveness of companies is also affected by the availability of experts in the labor market. The aging population of globally developed countries is bringing an unprecedented labor shortage to the labor market. As companies globalize, the nature of work has spread around the world. For experts, Covid-19 brought more and more opportunities for work, teleworking, and this in itself has changed the situation in the labor market. The importance of recruitment and communication in the direction of significant change. The automation of the industry and various job search platforms have made the job more demanding than previous passive recruitment.The purpose of this study is to investigate the commercialization of current expert recruitment. It is also intended to take into account the importance of identifying specialty sales as part of the recruitment process. The accelerated process and the aging of the population have changed the skills needs of recruitment professionals that this study seeks to identify. By identifying and comparing different theoretical and practical methods, we aim to detect change in the recruitment process through research. Recruitment itself has been more passive in the past and sales active interaction. At the moment, it is not enough to open a job to find the right expert, but as part of finding the right expert, expert recruitment includes a variety of recruitment consultants, sourcing experts, headhunters and headhunting services. The study highlights the model that followed the recruitment stages from a sales perspective. This model allows the use of sales tools as part of the recruitment process.

Maria Yllikäinen

Conference Proceedings

Importance of Integrated Marketing Communication in the Digital Promotion of Products and Ideas in Private and Public Sectors

Marketing communication is not limited to the implementation of promotional activities of a product or a message, it requires an integrated approach using various practically applicable and ever-expanding ways of marketing communication to be implemented through various communication channels for addressing the target audience more precisely. It is the integrated marketing communication (IMC) activities that help increase the organization's competitiveness and result-oriented efficiency both in private and public sectors. In response to changes in the external environment, organizations can use IMC as a strategic management process that helps to facilitate the transition from tactical advertising components into a single strategy. Purpose of the article: The purpose of the research was to study and assess IMC in the context of digital marketing and its influence upon product promotion. The object of the research is integrated marketing communication. The subject of the research is the influence of IMC upon product promotion. The study is based on scientific papers published by Latvian and foreign scholars, general and special literature, and periodicals. To attain the goal of the research, the following qualitative methods of economic research were used: case study, grouping and profiling, evaluation, market investigation, research and observation, and comparative analysis. The hypothesis set prior to the research aims at increased loyalty of the target audience as a result of IMC; however, it is not widely used and has spillover setbacks particularly in public domain. The research question therefore is to detect what are the key impact factors` peculiarities in IMC efficacy and its impediments. Findings: The research confirmed the hypothesis that IMC in the context of digital promotion facilitates consumer loyalty, but just up to a critical point of digital intervention`s negative aspects; also, IMC for digital promotion has a growing trend, but is still a relatively little used type of communication in the marketing communication strategy of organizations. The results of the research are of both theoretical and practical value.

Santa Bormane, Roman Putans

Conference Proceedings

Consumer Acceptance for Using Personal Data

Research backgroundDigitalization has been accelerating by the COVID-19 pandemic. Some service fields are offered only via the face-to-face selling channel before starting using the remote channel. The proper use of customers' data, such as their lifestyles, preferences, and behavior history, makes these services more valuable for both customers and companies. However, currently the data utilization infrastructure, law and consumers’ knowledge is not established enough.HypothesesThis study aims to clarify the structure of consumer acceptance for their data usage by a survey in the medical fields. We verified the three hypotheses by using the conjoint analysis. H1. If people have a high knowledge and involvement in personal data, they use the Central route for no PD disclosure from their own devices. H2. If people have a high knowledge and involvement in medical care, they use the Central route for the benefits of personal data usage. It means better recommendations of clinics or hospitals.H3. If people have a high knowledge and involvement in PD or Medical Care, they use the central route for the trustworthiness of an AI application’s developer. It is related to both risk and benefit, which means No PD disclosure and recommendations. For conjoint analysis, we put the 3 attributes and the two levels. Level 1 represents the central route, and level 2 represents the peripheral route. Attribute1’s level1 explains the technology limiting PD use just inside their smartphones. Attribute1’s level2 explains that large companies highly evaluate and use this technology. Result of analysis and discussionWe made segments by PD and Medical knowledge and involvement into four segments. Segment 1 is high PD and high Medical Care, segment 2 is high PD - low medical care, segment 3 is low-high, segment 4 is low-low. All 4 segments place the highest emphasis on attribute 1, no personal data disclosure from their own devices. Look at the graph, the blue bar shows it. As for the direction of the preference, the central route is preferred by All 4 settlements, but it is more strongly preferred by HH and HL, those are the segments more interested in PD. There is no difference in the other two attributes.Regarding to the understanding of the explanation of attributes, no PD disclosure and recommendation, the segments that were more interested in medical care segments show a higher understanding. The segment HL, which is the most sensitive to the PD, shows the highest level of understanding of the trustworthiness of the AI application’s developer. Since many such application developers are small start-ups, it is difficult to determine their trustworthiness. That’s why this segment, which is sensitive and more skeptical to AI applications, has a higher understanding of this aspect. FindingsAll segments are weighted toward no PD disclosure, and prefer the central route for this attribute. The higher the knowledge and involvement in PD, the more the central route is preferred. The benefit concern segment understands the no PD discloser and recommendation. The PD sensitive segment understands the trustworthiness of companies.

Keiko Toya

Conference Proceedings

Data Driven Sustainable Business Strategy

This paper describes e-Tilat use case which is Seniotek company’s new product. The use case describes application of Data Driven Business Model (DDBM) in product development and business operations for the new e-Tilat product. The research question is: Is it possible for a small SME to achieve business advantage by applying DDBM and can it bring true value for its customers and its products end users? The research has been conducted by analyzing real life use case where municipality of Liminka acquired Seniortek’s new innovative e-Tilat system to provide sport facility reservation services for its residents. Based on use case analysis, it is obvious that applying DDBM did provide proven advantage for all interest groups; end users, Liminka municipality and Seniortek.

Markus Sihvonen, Marina Weck

Conference Proceedings

The Future of the Employee’s Right to Disconnect in the European Union and Latvia

The right to disconnect refers to a worker's right to be able to disconnect from work and refrain from engaging in work-related electronic communication, like emails and other messages, during non-work hours and holidays. The Latvian Labor Law does not directly determine the right to disconnect from digital devices, however, such rights arise from certain legal norms. Examples of the provisions of the Labor Law relate to the general rules on rest periods and breaks in work. The recent research results of remote work during Covid-19 pandemic conducted by the author show that for 69.3% of respondents working remotely possibility to disconnect from digital devices outside working hours (when the assigned work tasks have been completed) is extremely crucial. If the rights to disconnect are not explicitly regulated, the risk of disbalance between work and private life is at stake. The increase in workload during the emergency caused by COVID-19 was indicated by 42.7% of respondents in Latvia. That shows that another problem of lack of regulation of rights to disconnect could be unpaid overtime. The research shows that 14.7% of respondents were not paid for overtime work when working from home. The practice shows a critical need for sustainable and predictable changes in the legal system to protect employees’ rights and thus ensure stable employment in general in Latvia. It was also recently decided by Employment Committee MEPs that EU countries must ensure that workers are able to exercise the right to disconnect effectively. Some of the member states in the European Union have recently implemented the right into their legal system (Portugal, Spain, France), but each member state takes a different approach. That means that discussion is no longer if there is a need to implement the “right to disconnect” in national legal acts, but how to implement the right efficiently not only at a national level but at the EU level as well.The goal of the research is to provide an in-depth analysis of the legal status of the “right to disconnect” in the legal system of the European Union and Latvia. In order to reach the goal, the author is using various scientific research methods. The paper is based on a quantitative research method and analytical, comparative, case law analysis method to provide valid conclusions on the current role of the “right to disconnect” in Latvia and the European Union. The author also offers recommendations on how to implement the “right to disconnect” efficiently to avoid violation of employees’ rights and ensure a sustainable work environment.In the result, the author has concluded that the biggest impediment of the employee's right to disconnect is the lack of clear legislative preconditions that would encourage businesses to preserve employees' freedom to disconnect, resulting in a more sustainable working environment - both in the office and remotely.Finally, the author concludes that there is a need to adjust regulation in Latvia to meet the needs of widespread use of remote work. The author also concludes that a significant role to protect employees’ right to disconnect is for governmental authorities to explain the right to disconnect to employees and employers.

Marta Urbane

Conference Proceedings

Economic Impact of COVID-19 on Real Estate Prices in Slovakia

The Slovak real estate market is relatively young compared to developed countries. Real estate is one of the assets with a low risk of loss, but also with low liquidity. Real estate prices are subject to changes caused by economic cycles. Due to the rapidly changing market conditions, already realized real estate is considered a relatively certain investment, while investments in its construction are marked by high risk. Real estate prices are determined by several socio-economic and demographic factors.The COVID-19 disease also raised levels in the real estate market. None of us expected the crisis caused by the new coronavirus. Although many forecasters agree that the economic crisis is a phenomenon that recurs cyclically about every 10 years, few would have predicted the enormous global proportions it could have.The article aims to answer the questions of how the corona crisis-affected real estate prices in Slovakia and how prices will develop until the end of 2021.

Andrej Adamuscin, Miroslav Panik, Julius Golej

Conference Proceedings

The Impact of Covid-19 on Students. A Multi-correspondence Analysis

The present paper has the aim of analyze the effects of Coronavirus disease 2019 on students’ lives. With that objective we carry out a multiple correspondence analysis which seeks to account for the existing structures in the relationships between variables included in that study. It also allows us to look at the relationships from the sublevels of the categories of each variable. The key areas where negative effects on household income have affected students are related to the number of household members receiving income, the type of income the head of household receives, and the amount of money received by the household. The main results are related to a significant correlation in the purchases of food before COVID-19 and the purchase of clothing before and after COVID-19. This finding is important because it shows a close relationship between the purchases of goods and services (food and clothing) among the respondents. Additionally, the variables related to the type of income of the head of the household before and after COVID-19 are highly correlated. Likewise, the amount of income before and after COVID-19 and income recipients before and after the pandemic are also correlated, but less significantly. Finally, the labor stability has changed drastically for some students and family workers.

Jorge Guadalupe-Lanas, Jorge Cruz-Cárdenas, Hugo Arias-Flores, Mireya Zapata

Conference Proceedings

Analysis of the Variables that Affect China's Presence in International News in the Context of Coronavirus

Western media coverage of Covid19 had a focus of special interest in China during 2020, due to globalization and the pandemic nature of the crisis. The news agendas deepened and debated the responsibility of the Asian power in the spread of the disease. However, China's international attitude and diplomatic actions based on donations of medical supplies and vaccine development also began to spread. The research uses econometric models in linear probability to determine which are the main variables that explain Chinese public diplomacy in the news of 24 countries. The investigation shows that the western media give China a high level of interference in the origin of the pandemic. However, the results indicate that certain features of Chinese public diplomacy entered significantly in the news that mentioned the Asian giant, spreading a type of international leadership that disputes positions with the global hegemony of the United States.

Hanns De La Fuente-Mella, Claudio Elórtegui Gómez, Ignacio Milies Valdivia

Conference Proceedings

Effects of Return to Work after the COVID-19 Pandemic

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the lives of all people. The vaccination process worldwide, in a way, is creating the necessary conditions to return to face-to-face attendance in daily work activities. In this sense, the research focuses on establishing whether people who are working in person have been affected by their daily activities in their work environment with other colleagues. An online survey was conducted, from which a total of N = 202 participants was taken. Aspects related to efficiency and effectiveness in the workplace, and whether stress affected their performance, were addressed. The results show that the biggest stress for participants is having to share activities with larger groups of people, regardless of whether biosecurity standards are respected.

Hugo Arias-Flores, Doris Pérez-Vega, Jorge Guadalupe-Lanas

Conference Proceedings

Student Satisfaction Towards Studies - Disciplinary, Demographic or Situation Related Variable?

Students´ satisfaction towards studies is one of the most interesting information for universities in student questionnaires. How satisfied our students are and how we could enhance the satisfaction or guarantee that it will be high also in future. The reasons why some students are more satisfied towards their studies than others are always crucial to develop organization and studies. Sometimes the reasons can be explained more easier way than others and sometimes the reasons are more critical to organizations future than others. We have already shown in our last article that student satisfaction is correlating with personnel´s felt justice. In this research we are scrutinizing things which are affecting to students´ satisfaction deeper. We are studying how if and how the available demographic variables are affecting to the results of felt satisfaction. It will also be interesting to note if there are some demographic variables that do not have an effect on the felt justice.This research will be conducted by utilizing two different questionnaire tool Student barometer. Student barometer is a questionnaire for higher education students in Finland. It´s objectives are to provide data and information for researchers, research institutes education developers and decision makers in the institutes. Student barometer handles a variety of different matters from student life by asking students´ opinions from quality of studies to their civil life activities and their expectations of the future. Student barometer data consists of 2165 individual students as respondents in year 2019. They answered at most to 201 different questions and propositions. As the questionnaire was dynamic and depended partly on the previous answers, not all the questions and propositions were targeted to all of the students. Also the students’ responses were grouped by their degree programs, which makes it possible to compare the felt justice of the staff members to that of the students per each degree program. We are studying data sets from year 2016 to 2021. Data is analyzed with Excel and SPSS. Samples were taken from the data mass and were composed to a statistical model with excel spreadsheet. Students were grouped under schools and arithmetic averages and standard deviations were calculated to each proposition. After calculating the arithmetic averages further analysis was done with SPSS statistical analysis program. In SPSS proposition’s correlations were analyzed by single tailed Pearson correlation.The overall research question is: Is there a correlation between student satisfaction and available demographic variables. If so, how can this/these correlations be interpreted and what conclusions can be made? Future research aspects and practical recommendations will also be issued in the paper.

Tero Reunanen, Vesa Taatila

Conference Proceedings

The Impact of Social Advertising on Student Adaptation in Higher Education Institutions

The article considers the organization of psychological and pedagogical work with first-year students. It is established that during the period of studentship young people are included in the system of relationships in a new social adult environment. In this regard, it is very important that young people are actively involved in the educational process in higher education institutions, successfully coping with the requirements for learning, receiving a set of necessary competencies that can be successfully applied in practice in the future. The main problems arising in the first-year students are outlined: the new system of education; a different mode, loading and requirements; a new social role; relationships with fellow students and teachers; problems in social and everyday life; independent life in the new conditions for nonresident students.Analysis of the scientific literature allowed us to conclude that a significant potential for solving the problem of student adaptation in higher education is social advertising.

Oksana Kravchenko, Olena Baldyniuk, Halyna Bondarenko, Yuliia Pidvalna, Tetiana Okolnycha

Conference Proceedings

Active Learning Methods to Enhance Higher Education in Business

The environment of a knowledge society is dynamic, active, oriented towards innovation. Therefore, the development of skills for the 21st century, such as the fundamental ones, content, and professionals in the Business career, is becoming more critical. Furthermore, the active-cooperative methodologies take more prominence in developing an undergraduate career in business and economics, whose significant increases with the uncertainty, social, and environmental changes that the pandemic is causing.Business education always has the challenge to achieve that student comprehend business dynamics and have the notions of decision-making. Therefore, active learning methods have been used for a long time, especially the case-study method. This research aims to explore the effectiveness of simulation-role playing techniques versus more traditional methods such as lectures. This study analyzes the case of the Business Administration Career at the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Valparaiso, whose program changed in 2009, including the new approach of design courses under the learning-by-doing philosophy, focusing, in particular, in the course Simulación Empresarial (Entrepreneurship simulation). Thus, researching the effectiveness of this type of experience in higher education is a real contribution to the development of knowledge to obtain a quality education.This subject uses active-cooperative learning methods through simulation and role-playing techniques. The students integrate teams that correspond to a firm in the industry. Each one has an executive occupation. The team has to present “yearly results” and stand up to the company board (the professors). Thus, role-playing, simulation, and TICs are essential parts of the course. This paper explores indicators and relationships that allow comparing alumni performance from both curriculums, the one more focused on traditional methods, called Control Group (CG – generations from 2001-2008)), and the ones identified as Experimental Group (EG – generations 2009-2016). Hence, it will provide a methodology to replicate in other Business Schools or other college careers. Previous research shows that the role-playing methodology allows a more significant commitment of the students with the object of study and the development of the activities of the specialty. In this sense, a role-playing methodology complemented with simulation and TICs involves active-cooperative learning, which integrates all the knowledge and behavior obtained during the career. Furthermore, it implies that the student, in order to be able to deliver appropriate arguments that support his/her decisions as a manager. The methodology applied is quantitative research, using regression analysis. Tree-decision analysis complemented these results. Considering that it is an exploratory analysis, it is necessary to choose an indicator for performance. The dependent variable chosen is the Comprehensive Exam grade; this exam assesses all the career subjects in an integrated manner. The independent variables are related to entry conditions, such as a grade average in secondary education, university selection standardized test score, gender. In addition, grades obtained on the different lines of the study plan were calculated, such as finance, marketing, economics, math -statistics, and others. Finally, as a dichotomic variable, whether the student took the course Entrepreneurship Simulation or not, to identify whether he/she belongs to the control or the experimental group. Results obtained from the regression model are consistent with the ones attained using the tree-decision model. The control and experimental groups are very similar, so the different programs do not depend on their characteristics. The Comprehensive Exam grade depends directly, for both groups, from their performance in Economics and Marketing and negatively to whether they took Entrepreneurship Simulation, considering 95% confidence interval. The entry variables or gender makes no difference in the grade obtained in that examination. The univariate analysis outcome determines that the Comprehensive Exam and Entrepreneurship Simulation grades are not related.Consequently, further research is needed to measure the effectiveness of the subject under study. The exam grade may be significantly lower in younger generations because: it is more consistent with traditional methods; after approving Entrepreneurship Simulation, the students may feel that it is just a mere requirement; they specialize more in the course that they used to do in the previous plan; and, the course may develop more soft competencies that the exam does not measure.

Ana María Vallina-Hernández, Hanns De La Fuente-Mella, Jose Barrera, Hugo Mansilla

Conference Proceedings

Shared Work Load and Team Spirit - Correlations between University Students and University Personnel

The felt load of life is often mirrored to well-being and how people feel. Typically organizations are looking the workload of their staff because that is the thing which organizations can affect and made adjustments. Organization´s culture often starts to change people to be alike and large tendencies and trends are carving people to feel and act as same. In this research we are looking how university students and personnel feel about heir workload and how they feel their team spirit and mood. This research will be conducted by utilizing two different questionnaire tools called Eezy Spirit and Student barometer. Eezy spirit is a questionnaire, which has been developed to study employee experience and it is widely used in Finland in different industries. It was chosen to be the one for studying the staff experience since it has questions about felt justice and personnel´s feelings towards management. Student barometer is a questionnaire for higher education students in Finland. It´s objectives are to provide data and information for researchers, research institutes education developers and decision makers in the institutes. Student barometer handles a variety of different matters from student life by asking students´ opinions from quality of studies to their civil life activities and their expectations of the future. This research will be based on material from Turku University of Applied Sciences (TUAS). Data will be gathered from Eezy spirit employee experience questionnaires done annually 2016-2020. The study was done to whole personnel in TUAS and number of respondents varied from 598 to 633 in different years. Respondents answered to propositions in Likert scale 1-4 and “I don´t know”. Number of propositions varied between years from 63 to 65. Respondents were grouped to units which were responsible for specific degree programs. Student barometer data consists of 2165 individual students as respondents in year 2019. They answered at most to 201 different questions and propositions. As the questionnaire was dynamic and depended partly on the previous answers, not all the questions and propositions were targeted to all of the students. Also the students’ responses were grouped by their degree programs, which makes it possible to compare the felt justice of the staff members to that of the students per each degree program. We utilize data sets between years 2016-2020. Data is analyzed with Excel and SPSS. Samples were taken from the data mass and were composed to a statistical model with excel spreadsheet. Staff members as well as students were grouped under schools and arithmetic averages and standard deviations were calculated to each proposition. After calculating the arithmetic averages further analysis was done with SPSS statistical analysis program. In SPSS proposition’s correlations were analyzed by single tailed Pearson correlation.The overall research question is: Is there a correlation between 1) workload for university students and staff 2) team spirit and relationships in organization? If so, how can this correlation be interpreted and what conclusions can be made? Future research aspects and practical recommendations will also be issued in the paper.

Tero Reunanen, Vesa Taatila

Conference Proceedings

The Impact of Refugees on Economic Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean

The aim of this article is to explore the relationship between refugees and the host country’s economic growth in Latin America and the Caribbean using a simulation modeling approach. There is a large body of work on the topic using statistics. However, one big challenge of conducting econometrics methods to unveil any correlation is that regressions are data dependent. Since the current available refugee data doesn’t truly represent the reality as there has been a quite substantial number of unregistered Venezuelan refugees in Latin America and Caribbean region since 2015. Using agent-based simulation modeling approach overcomes the challenges of data issue and passes by strict assumptions for an OLS regression to produce BLUE outcomes. In our ABM model, agents represent labors, defined as age between 16 and 65, and Venezuelan refugees. To evaluate the impact on gender inequality on employment in the host country, despite of age, agents also carry the attributes of gender, work capability, average education years, birth (matured female only), and death. Three countries Venezuela, Colombia, and Chile are modeled as patches in Netlogo . Countries own the attributes of GDP and GDP per capita at macro level. The simulated result based on the initial values suggests that in Latin America and the Caribbean, refugee growth and host country’s economy are positively correlated. In contrast, the simulated results suggest that the higher fertility rate negatively affects the labor value added outcomes. It could imply the more female refugees in the host country, the lower GDP will be. We also found that the life expectancy is correlated to economic growth, labor’s work capacity, and education years. Life expectancy could be an indicator of the overall quality of human capital. In brief, the findings might imply labor value added output or labor capacity is the driver of economic growth.

Dandan Kowarsch, Jingyu Wang

Conference Proceedings

The Relationship Between National Culture and Risk-taking Among Countries: Should Researcher Rethink Competition?

This study explores the indirect impact of the cultural values of masculinity, individualism, and collectivism on a country's risk-taking levels using the risk-takers national-centric and cultural theories in fifty-one countries. The authors used secondary data from various sources, Sobel Test Calculator, bivariate, and multiple regression analysis to examine their hypotheses. Data sources incorporated were Hofstede's website study in 2011. In addition, data for the competition were obtained from the Global Competitiveness Report 2019 website. Furthermore, data for risk-taking were obtained from the Our World in Data website in 2019. Finally, data for the gross domestic product per capita income (PKY), country market capitalization (CMK), and country gross domestic product growth volatility (PDPGV) were borrowed from the World Bank's World Development Indicators 2019. The research results demonstrate a significant, positive, and indirect relationship between individualism and the country's risk-taking levels through competition. In addition, the results reveal a negative, significant indirect relationship between collectivism and a country's risk-taking levels throughout the competition. Nevertheless, the indirect relationship between masculinity and a country's risk-taking levels throughout the competition is not insignificant. These study findings contribute to the literature by illustrating the indirect impacts of national culture on unreasonable risk-taking decisions throughout the competition. According to the standard economic theories, corporate decisions should be decided only by economic considerations such as profit maximization. However, this study's findings show that culture and competition should be considered for risky corporate decisions. The results are harmonious with previous studies proving that cultural values shape how firms make decisions that are affected by the levels of competition and their national culture. Practitioners could use these study findings to improve culture training programs as well as international finance and international management applications. The findings could also strengthen the growing awareness among finance scholars, management scholars, and formal academic institutions.

John Kuforiji, Yousif Abdelrahim

Conference Proceedings

Analysis of Political Debate Programs to Identify the Elements of Political Transition Process in Chile

The Chilean political transition has experienced strong questioning in recent years, especially at the level of the younger generations. These aspects have been made visible in the social mobilizations that took place in Chile in 2019 and in a growing context of political polarization, perception of corruption towards institutions and criticism of the media, spaces conceived from an agreed or semi-sovereign democracy. As a way of analyzing the political communication experienced in these original contexts of the return of Chilean democracy, the research will take a series of programs of political debates, broadcast on television between 1989 and 1991, that is, at the very beginning of the transition as historical process. The objective is through the use of probabilistic econometric models to measure the characteristics of the political debate, through the political identification of the panelists, types of participation of the participants in these programs and the dominant topics between the interactions, as a way of putting in perspective the critics towards that moment.

Claudio Elórtegui Gómez, Hanns De La Fuente-Mella

Conference Proceedings

Innovative Transport Technologies of Ukraine: Sustainable Development, Economy, Infrastructure

Abstract. The state and development of the national economy depend on the sustainable development of transport. Increasing productivity of the economy branches determines the formation of the basis for achieving sustainable devel-opment for both states and individual territories. The aim of this investigation is an optimizing of activity of transport system of Ukraine, to develop international cooperation between Ukraine and European Union in the field of introduction of innovation technologies on transport. The authors examine the condition of Ukraine’s transport system, its production activities, and, in particular, the perspectives of introduction of innovative technologies in national transport system. A set of measures for economic stimulating the transport system has been offered. The state of the Ukrainian transport infrastructure has been analyzed and the possibilities of introduction of transport innovations, which are successful in the European Union, have been revealed. Keywords: Transport System Integration Economic Policy Transport Innova-tions

Alina Yakymchuk, Mykola Svets, Nataliia Ostapiuk, Oksana Zayachkivska

Conference Proceedings

Oppression Among Nations: Does It Influence Country’s Corruption?

Abstract—This research study empirically examines the relationship between oppression and corruption levels at the country level among one-hundred-fifty-three countries (153). The authors used Ibn Khaldun Theory of Education to develop the discussion and support the hypothesis. To test the study hypothesis, the study utilized secondary data from Freedom Human Index (2020), co-published by the Cato and the Fraser Institutes, and Corruption Perception Index (2020) developed by Transparency International. The authors in the study applied weighted least squares regression analysis, and the study results show a positive and significant relationship between oppression and corruption among countries. This study contributes to the literature by empirically identifying and validating a new factor influencing many countries' corruption. The results could also help policymakers understand the roots of corruption and reconsider new policies that eradicate corruption from its starting sources. The authors also discuss future research, the study limitations, and the study implications.

Yousif Abdelrahim, Russina Eltoum, Riham Hassan

Conference Proceedings

Big Data Analysis in Vehicular Market Forecasts for Business Management

Information in various markets constitutes the primary basis for making the right decisions in a modern and globalized world. Therefore, opportunities grow based on the availability of data and how the data is structured to obtain information that supports decision-making processes, Ogrean (2018) and Neubert (2018), and even more so when business dynamics revolve around satisfying the demand for the products or services offered, Jacobs and Chase (2009). This article proposes the analysis of the new vehicle market, through operational research techniques, addressing the behavior of vehicle sales for medium and long-term projections for business management. The analysis is developed through Markov Chains and time series analysis techniques, so a complementary approach is used to obtain predictions in future scenarios such as analysis in sales levels related to market shares. Choi et al (2018), indicate that one of the important applications of Big Data in business management is in the field of demand forecasts, becoming one of the common alternatives in prediction for data series over time. The data is taken from Statistics of the National Association of Sustainable Mobility, from 2016 to 2019 for new vehicles in the Colombian market, Andemos (2021). Merkuryeba (2019) proposes procedures between techniques that allow a comprehensive approach to forecasts and where the methods complement each other, it is through the use of the methodology in Markov chain models (Kiral and Uzun 2017), plus the methodology of the time series analysis (Stevenson et al 2015), which with a complementary approach, can reach a more detailed and comprehensive level of analysis for the statement about the future of the variable of interest: vehicle market sales for business management.The results showed that Markov chains were very useful in long-term analysis for sales forecasting and their analysis by market segmentation, for this the sales level is ranked according to the technique of Pareto. Another important contribution to the Markov chain in business management corresponds to the analysis disaggregated by sales rankings, for example in ranking 1 (first 5 brands), was obtained an expectation of value defined at 67.1% of the total sales level, also an internal analysis of this percentage ranking was carried out. Complementarily, for the alternative of times series analysis; we start from the analysis of the demand, where a seasonal behavior of vehicle sales is detected. Rockwell and Davis (2016) and Stevenson et al (2015), establish a procedure for estimating and eliminating seasonal components by using the seasonal index. Additionally, Weller and Crone (2012) and Lau et al (2018), recommend two common alternatives to measure forecast error and making decisions to selected the technique more adequate for business management: mean absolute deviation (MAD) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), finally, the result of the three techniques developed: moving average, exponential smoothing, and weighted moving average, the simple exponential smoothing, optimized through MAPE minimization is the selected technique, with which short and medium-term forecasts are defined.This study contributes directly to decision-making in the context of the marketing of new vehicles, as well as in academic settings in relation to research processes in data series under the configuration of big data. In this sense, it was demonstrate that the behavior of sales, segmented by market levels according to the participating brands, can be transformed into estimates of future behavior that establishes an orienting mapping of business objectives with respect to the possible level of participation in quotas of market. Finally, the methodological scheme under an epistemological perspective supported by technical decisions, represent an academic contribution of great relevance for business management, where is recommended to use the time series techniques for short and medium-term forecasts, while Markov chains for the prediction and analysis of the sales structure in medium to long term forecasts.

Lloyd Morris, Homero Murzi, Hernan Espejo, Olga Jamin Salazar De Morris, Juan Luis Arias Vargas

Conference Proceedings

Motivations, Success Factors and Challenges of Open Innovation for Start-ups

One of the urgent challenges that small and medium enterprises face is the need to follow a continuous growth-path, particularly essential for Start-ups where global challenges force companies to look for even smarter ways to grow. If entrepreneurs agree with the idea that not all smart people work for their company, the embracement of the paradigm of ‘Open Innovation’ is a logical step. In other words, a company does not have to be the owner of an idea to benefit from an idea. Henceforth open innovation explores and exploits knowledge by sharing the innovation processes with third parties creating new opportunities for companies to profit from innovation. However, despite the growing literature on open innovation, so far, there has been little discussion on how start-ups can benefit from open innovation. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the concept of open innovation and to develop insights on how Open Innovation can benefit entrepreneurs who are in the process of creating their own start-up company. Studies in this review employed, show that there is not a generally accepted definition of what open innovation is and how it can be applied to companies in general and start-ups in specific. Additionally, it was noted that most studies in the field have only focused on open innovation using the perspective of a larger company. Very little was found in the literature on the start-up perspective. Therefore this paper discusses the reasons and motives of why students start-ups are encouraged to adopt open innovation practices. Moreover, the success factors and challenges that start-up face that implements open innovation practices are vital for all entrepreneurs to study as via open innovation start-ups can overcome the initial barriers that most start-ups face. This paper focusses on different dimensions of open innovation for students - Open Innovation vs Closed Innovation; Inbound vs Outside-in Innovation; Antecedents of open innovation; models of Open innovation; Success factors and Challenges - and serves as a guiding tool for student entrepreneurs to self-assess their start-up, so they can adapt and change in their start-up before an open innovation practice can be successfully implemented. Taken together, the open innovation paradigm should be in the mind-set of every student entrepreneur right from the start of the development of the business idea and the implementation of the business model, so consequently, the chance of a profitable and sustainable business future will increase for the start-up company.

Florentin Popescu, Rob Warmenhoven

Conference Proceedings

Construction Project Failures Around the World: What Have We Learned So Far?

Project failure has become a global phenomenon in the built environment. Failures recorded on construction projects can be linked to various issues depending on the nature of the project, the synergy of the professional project team and external stakeholders. Also, external factors beyond the project team's control can lead to project failure. Given the different causes of project failure experienced globally, this study seeks to review project failure on monumental construction projects across the world. To achieve this, the study adopted an extensive review of literature to assess the causes of the failures recorded on the focused projects. The study also synthesised the different causes of failures recorded to project lessons learnt from the failed projects. Findings of the study revealed that lack of project planning before the inception of these projects and inadequate risk assessment contributed largely to the failures recorded on these projects.

Opeoluwa Akinradewo, Olushola Akinshipe, Clinton Aigbavboa

Conference Proceedings