Annapoornima M. Subramanian

Is Usage a Missing Link in Explaining the Perceived Learning Outcome of Technology-Mediated Learning?

Information systems (IS) researchers have demonstrated that usage is a key variable in explaining the performance impact of information technology. However, existing technology-mediated learning (TML) studies have not examined the influence of usage on learning outcome and the factors that determine the usage of TML. To address this research gap, our study presents and tests a TML model by drawing insights from two research streams. First, following the IS literature, we incorporate the impact of technology usage on individual performance. Second, building on the social cognitive theory, we study the influences of self-efficacy beliefs (system and subject domain) and affective responses (affect and anxiety) on technology usage. Based on 503 matched responses collected using two-stage questionnaire surveys, our analyses confirm the significance of usage in mediating the effects of system self-efficacy and anxiety on perceived learning outcome, but not in mediating the effects of affect and subject-domain self-efficacy. We find strong support for the influences of self-efficacy beliefs on affective responses. Self-efficacy beliefs of the users are also observed to change over time and perceived learning outcome plays a significant role in explaining this change. Our research enhances the existing TML theory by producing useful insights regarding the influence of social cognitive factors of learners on the usage of TML and how usage mediates the influence of these variables on perceived learning outcome.

Editorial Managing Innovation in Emerging Economies: An Introduction to the Special Issue

The 11 papers in this special issue focus on managing innovation in emerging economies. The papers cover a good spectrum of topics, methodology, industry as well as geographical location. Collectively they draw observations from Brazil, China, India, Philippines, South Africa, and Taiwan.

Technology licensing and innovation performance: evidence from Chinese latecomers in high-tech industries

As a catalyst for endogenous technological change, inward technology licensing (ITL) can improve a firm’s innovation performance. This paper investigates the effect of learning by licensing and choice of licensed-in technologies on innovation performance. We extend the ITL strategy to the latecomer context, addressing two critical factors: (1) number of licenses and (2) age of licensed-in technology. We hypothesize about the relationship of the licensee’s innovation performance with the number of licenses and age of licensed-in technology, as well as the moderating effect of the licensee’s absorptive capacity. Based on a sample of 154 Chinese high-tech firms, empirical evidence is found in support of our arguments. This study is the first to consider the significance of the age of licensed-in technology to innovation performance and found that the number of licenses has a curvilinear (an inverted U) relationship with innovation performance. We also confirmed the significant moderating effect of absorptive capacity on the above two relationships.

Key management processes to technology transfer success

The success rate of technology transfer from government laboratories is quite low. This paper combines findings from academic research to provide valuable managerial insights. We conclude that technology transfer factors identified so far actually relate to four management processes: project management, strategy management, innovation management, and relationship management.

New insight into technology licensing strategy and innovation performance: Evidence from Chinese latecomers in high-tech industries

As a catalyst for endogenous technological change, inward technology licensing can improve firms innovation performance. This paper investigates the effect of learning by licensing and strategic choice of technology licensed in on subsequent innovation performance. We extend the inward technology licensing strategy to the latecomer context, addressing two critical factors: (1) number of licenses and (2) age of technology licensed in. We hypothesize about the relationship of the licensees innovation performance with number of licenses and age of technology licensed in, as well as the moderating effect of the licensees absorptive capability. Based on a sample of 154 Chinese firms from four high-tech industries, empirical evidence is found to support our arguments.