Ajax Persaud

Harnessing Scientific and Technological Knowledge for the Rapid Deployment of Global Innovations

Abstract Since the mid-1980s, multinational corporations have been internationalizing their R&D operations in order to tap into the scientific and technological knowledge bases of other countries. This study investigated the knowledge management mechanisms used to leverage knowledge from the global R&D network. We found that the effectiveness of the knowledge creation and diffusion process is inextricably linked to the media used to capture knowledge. Tacit knowledge is best captured by personal interactions, explicit knowledge is best captured using technologically supported media, and the externalization and internalization of knowledge are best achieved through informal communities of practices.

Proximity, knowledge transfer, and innovation in technology-based mergers and acquisitions

This paper presents the findings from a qualitative study on the extent to which three dimensions of proximity – geographic, cognitive, and organisational – impact knowledge transfer and innovation post-merger and acquisition (M&A). Findings show that the elements of proximity substantially influence both knowledge transfer and innovation although the nature of the impact varies and is influenced by the type of management interventions or lack thereof post-M&A.

Purchasing organic products: role of social context and consumer innovativeness

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how individual innovativeness and social factors shape consumers’ purchase decisions of organic products. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on an online survey of 988 Canadian participants. Structural equation modelling was used to test the relationships between social identity, social influence, perceived value and purchase intention within a multi-group framework to show the moderating effect of consumer innovativeness. Findings The results show that the two social dimensions – social identity and social influence – influence purchase intention and the perceived value of organic products partially mediates these relationships. Further, the personal characteristic, “consumer innovativeness”, moderates these relationships. Research limitations/implications Although the sample consists of a higher proportion of younger participants, the results are consistent with theoretical arguments and empirical evidence, which underscores the importance of generational differences in organic product purchases. Practical implications Managers need to develop a more nuanced understanding of how social influence and social identity play different roles in the purchase intentions of consumer innovators vs later adopters. This knowledge can guide practical segmentation, targeting, positioning and promotion strategies. Originality/value This study complements the individual innovativeness predispositions literature by showing that the consideration of social factors leads to a more nuanced understanding of consumers’ purchase intention than either set of factors separately. It also contributes to the literature on adoption of organic products by introducing consumer innovativeness dimension as a key factor.

Promotional marketing through mobile phone SMS: a cross-cultural examination of consumer acceptance

Abstract This current study investigates a special effect of consumer behaviour – how store coupons, i.e. special discounts offered by retail stores, influence consumer behaviour. The scope of this research addresses the cross-cultural effect of consumer behavioural expectations by marketers. Based on a literature review and the theoretical basis of the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) model, we propose an extended theoretical model to examine cross-cultural effects on the dependent variable of behavioural intention to accept store coupons sent through mobile phone short messaging services (SMS). The study was conducted using consumers in Canada and Bangladesh. The final model, developed through a statistical analysis conducted by LISREL, identified that culture has a potential impact on consumer behaviour in this specific response-stimulus model. It also recognized that any specific consumer phenomenon, such as consumer acceptance of mobile phone-based promotional marketing through SMS, cannot be completely captured by the UTAUT2 model.

Proximity, Knowledge Transfer, and Innovation in Technology-Based MaAs

This paper presents the findings from a qualitative study on the extent to which three dimensions of proximity -- geographic, cognitive, and organizational -- impact knowledge transfer and innovation post-M&A. Findings show that the elements of proximity substantially influence both knowledge transfer and innovation although the nature of the impact varies and is influenced by the type of management interventions or lack thereof post-M&A.

A model of new product success and accelerated learning in collaborative new product teams

Summary This paper proposes a model of the relationship between accelerated team learning and new product success in a technology-intensive environment. The research integrates the organizational learning and new product development literature with in-depth personal interviews with twenty-six new product team members and three R&D vice presidents of three companies within the electronics and telecommunications industry to develop a conceptual model. Our research shows that the commonly held view of a positive, unconditional relationship between learning and new product success is not tenable and that other contingencies must be considered. Also, learning activities must be strategically selected and managed. However, before passing judgment on the extant research or the logic underlying a positive relationship, our model needs to undergo rigorous testing in replication studies to establish its validity.

Quality and Acceptance of Crowdsourced Translation of Web Content

Organizations make extensive use of websites to communicate with people. Often, visitors to their sites speak many different languages and expect that they will be served in their native language. Translation of web content is a major challenge for many organizations because of high costs and frequent changes in the content. Currently, organizations rely on professional translators or machines to translate their content. The challenge is that professional translations is costly and too slow while machine translations do not produce high quality or accurate translations even though they may be faster and less expensive. Crowdsourcing has emerged as a technique with many applications. The purpose of this research is to test whether crowdsourcing can produce equivalent or better quality translations than professional or machine translators. A crowdsourcing study was undertaken and the results indicate that the quality of crowdsourced translations was equivalent to professional translations and far better than machine translations. The research and managerial implications are discussed.

Offshoring and Outsourcing of R&D and Business Activities in Canadian Technology Firms

A substantial amount of empirical research has been conducted on the offshoring/outsourcing practices of U.S., European, South Korean, and Japanese technology firms. However, there is very little research evidence on the strategies of Canadian firms. This leaves a gap in the literature that we aim to fulfill by providing empirical evidence of the practice among Canadian manufacturing firms. The evidence presented is based on t he 2009Survey of Innovation and Business Strategy conducted by Statistics Canada. This survey provides the largest and most comprehensive data in Canada on this topic. The data suggest that only a very small proportion of Canadian manufacturing firms offshore/outsource their R&D and other business activities and only a select few countries. The primary motivations for Canadian firms to offshore/outsource their R&D and business activities are to reduce costs and to gain access to new markets. The managerial, policy, and research implications of the results are discussed.

Value relevance of the voluntary disclosure of advertising expenditure: evidence from Canada

This paper investigates whether the voluntary disclosure of advertising expenditure by Canadian firms is value relevant. The analysis is based on a matched sample of 876 firms listed on the Canadian Toronto Stock Exchange over the period 2007-2014. There were 438 firms that disclosed their advertising expenditures, which we refer to as disclosers and 438 firms that did not disclose, which we refer to as non-disclosers. The findings suggest that advertising expenditure is positively related to firm value, a firm size effect exists and that only for certain sectors is this expenditure value relevant. We also found a positive relationship between market value and advertising expenditure for discloser firms. The results are stable across several econometric models that control for endogeneity. The implications for disclosure strategies of firms are discussed.

Do Gendered Social Institutions and Resources Promote Women Entrepreneurial Intentions

Women’s entrepreneurship has garnered substantial research interest over the years. The majority of the previous research investigates the nascent entrepreneurship rate, while fewer studies investigate entrepreneurial intentions. This study focuses on the relationship between womens entrepreneurial intentions and institutional and personal variables. This study uses data from Global Entrepreneurship Monitor and Social Institutions and Gender Index databases and covers forty-three countries. Both factor analysis and linear regression methodologies are employed. The results show that if women have entrepreneurial skills, willingness to conquer the fear of failure, and social network to get contacted with other entrepreneurs, they are more likely to have entrepreneurial intentions. However, the more women have access to land, bank loans, and property other than land, the less likely they are to intend to become entrepreneurs. Also, social services for womens careers and fair entrepreneurial opportunities for women do not have significant impact on womens entrepreneurial intentions. The theoretical and empirical implications of the results are discussed.