Yi-chen Lan

Corporate Incentives to Disclose Carbon Information: Evidence from the CDP Global 500 Report

We investigate how the Global 500 companies respond to the challenge of climate change with regard to their carbon disclosure strategies. This paper is motivated by a growing body of research that examines the role of large companies in carbon disclosure responsibility and practices. We consider the impact of social, financial market, economic, regulatory, and institutional factors on the motivation to voluntarily participate in the 2009 Carbon Disclosure Project. We find that economic pressure is significantly associated with the decision. That is, companies facing direct economic consequence are more likely to disclose. Companies in greenhouse gas (GHG) intensive sectors show the same tendency. In addition, big companies have a higher propensity for disclosing, suggesting that social pressure plays an important role. We also provide possible explanations as to why a large proportion of our sample firms refuse to disclose. Furthermore, our results suggest that the proxies for information needs of investors are not associated with a higher propensity to disclose the amount of their emission footprints. In sum, it appears that the major driving force for climate change disclosure comes from the general public and government rather than from the other major stakeholders such as shareholders and debtholders. Our results are robust after controlling for other influences.

Toward a unified knowledge management model for SMEs

Adoption of knowledge management (KM) has become the emerging agenda in developing business strategies. However, due to the resources and budget constraints, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) fail to realize and recognize the potential benefits of KM, hence they are reluctant to participate in advancement and transformation of knowledge management. Moreover, SMEs are usually encountering ambiguity and uncertainty of adopting and implementing KM. This study examines the infrastructure and process capabilities of Taiwanese SMEs and conducts a comparative analysis of KM in SMEs in Hong Kong. The research results indicate that a successful KM implementation depends on a harmonious amalgamation of infrastructure and process capabilities, including technology, culture and organizational structure. This analysis may also help in understanding the government role in providing necessary assistance to the SMEs for pursing KM.

Global Integrated Supply Chain Systems

A sample of chapters: Global Integrated Supply Chain Implementation: The Challenges of E-Procurement Designing Integrated Supply Chains A Framework for Analyzing Information Systems in an Integrated Supply Chain Environment: The Interaction Approach An Agent-Based Collaborative Negotiation System for Global Manufacturing Supply Chain Management The Critical Success Factors in Supply Chain Implementation Enabling the Glass Pipeline: The Infusion of Mobile Technology Applications in Supply Chain Management Determinant of E-Based Success Attributes for Integrated Supply Chain Systems Data Continuity Challenges in Global Supply Chains.

Corporate Incentives to Disclose Carbon Information: Evidence from Global 500

We investigate how the Global 500 companies respond to the challenge of climate change with regard to carbon disclosure strategy. This paper is motivated by a growing body of research that examines the role of large companies in carbon disclosure responsibility and practices. Based on the previous research, we consider the impact of economic, regulatory, social and financial market factors on motivation of Global 500 to voluntarily disclose carbon information in Carbon Disclosure Project in 2009. We find that the economic factor is significantly associated with the voluntary carbon disclosure decision. That is, companies that face direct economic consequence are more likely to disclose carbon related information. Companies in carbon intensive sectors show the same tendency. In addition, large companies have more propensity to disclose carbon information, suggesting social or political pressure plays an important role in such a decision. In addition, we provide evidence of why a large proportion of our sample Global 500 firms refuse to disclose carbon information. Our results suggest the information needs of investors for carbon footprints do not appear relevant to the carbon disclosure decision. In sum, the tendency of Global 500 to disclose carbon information is likely explained by economic and social pressure, and the major driving force for climate change disclosure comes from the general public and government, rather than other major stakeholders such as shareholders and debtholders. Our results are robust after controlling other influences.

Towards Criteria Based Allocation of Capstone Projects for an Enhanced Learning Experience

The success of industry-based projects (capstone projects) used in computing course depends on a number of factors. These are: i) characteristics of the information system and the client perception, ii) individual student and group characteristics, iii) development methodology used, and iv) the support and supervision provided. Generally academics use a dasiatrial-by-errorpsila approach in striking the right balance between these factors for the success of capstone projects. As oppose to this approach, here we lay the foundation for a criteria-based allocation of projects, with the objective of enhancing student leaning experience. As the first step, this paper analyzes the correlation of two dimensions: a) the complexity level of the IS (one dimension of characteristics of the IS) and b) group mean Grade Point Average-GPA (one dimension of characteristics of the student group); and the success of a project. Data collected from 32 projects is presented and analyzed here in exploring the above-mentioned correlation.

Reengineering a Green Business

A green environment is a social as well as business issue. Business enterprises, as a large part of the global community, are obliged to make endeavours toward an environmentally sustainable operation that reflects their corporate social responsibility. One of the effective approaches of making business operations more environmental friendly is to undertake business process reengineering with the strategic focus on green perspective. This paper discusses the reengineering of a green business from its process viewpoint. This reengineering of business processes is undertaken in the context of five areas of green business characteristics necessary, effective, efficient, agile, and measureable and their corresponding life cycles. This analysis paves the path for an in-depth research agenda for developing and operating green business processes in organizations. The framework is explained with five key phases namely, 1 examining business processes with green process characteristics, 2 integrating business processes with the environmental standards, 3 green business process redesign, 4 training programs development and change management, and 5 performance monitoring and process improvement. The paper concludes with a suggestion of the framework validation and future research directions.

A Comparative Analysis of Knowledge Management in SMEs

Organizations have long been acknowledged that knowledge management (KM) is an important aspiring tool for gaining competitive advantages and improving performance. However, many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) face the issues of recognition of real benefits, participation of advancement and transformation. Therefore, they are usually encountering ambiguity and uncertainty of adopting and implementing KM. This study is extended to SMEs along with incubated companies and micro-businesses, and conducts a comparative analysis of KM in SMEs in Taiwan and Hong Kong. The research results indicate that a successful KM implementation depends on a harmonious amalgamation of infrastructure and process capabilities, including technology, culture, and organizational structure. This analysis may also help in understanding the impact of knowledge sharing between government and SMEs, and creating new business values for SMEs.

Overcoming the Barriers to Accessing Government Online Services in Australia: The Case of Selected Non-English Speaking Migrants

Australia has an inherent desire to afford migrants with a wide range of opportunities, so it naturally follows that government online services should also be available to migrants with a non-English speaking background NESB. Despite the admirable efforts of governments and local agencies in Australia to provide such services, the reality is that many NESB migrants are not taking advantage of these available services. This case study investigates possible reasons for this issue, as well as suggestions for improvement. In addition, this study, involving interviews with 30 selected Arab residents, identifies language and low computer skills as among the primary reasons why many NESB migrants are discouraged from using government online services in Australia. The results of this case study, in combination with the extensive literature on the topic, show that Australia should implement ICT-based or e-government policies, programs, and services that more accurately reflect migrant cultures and languages so that migrant integration can be more fully accomplished. Specifically, this article presents a NESB model that adopts the value of user-centricity or a more individual-focused approach to government online services in Australia.

Adoption of enterprise information system (EIS) in Malaysian small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

Enterprise information systems (EIS) are commonly adopted by large corporations rather than small ones because of the formers financial ability. However, in the Information Era, non-adoption is not an option for any firm size hence, the aim of this paper is to assess the adoption of EIS in small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Malaysia. One thousand questionnaires were sent to the respondents that were identified through purposive sampling technique. Two hundred and twenty or 22% completed ones were returned. The findings revealed that 48.8% of the SMEs in Malaysia have implemented the EIS platform between 2003-2005 and 28.8% have been utilizing the enterprise system before the year 2000. This implies that SMEs are early adopters of EIS and as such, should not have any problems with efficiency and productivity. Maintaining the organizational performance through information and communication technologies utilization would further enhance the SMEs competitive advantage.