Lag In Adoption Research Articles

A Technology-Gap Model of ‘Premature’ Deindustrialization

We propose a parsimonious mechanism for generating premature deindustrialization (PD). In the baseline model, the Baumol effect drives the hump-shaped path of the manufacturing share. Countries follow different paths due to the difference in the sector-specific adoption lags. The condition for PD under which countries differ only in technology gap implies that the cross-country productivity dispersion is the largest in agriculture. Moreover, when calibrated to match Rodrik’s (2016) findings, it is the smallest in manufacturing. In three extensions, we add the Engel effect, international trade, and catching up by late industrializers, to demonstrate the robustness of the mechanism. (JEL F11, L16, L60, O14, O33)

2225 Geriatric patients in virtual wards; technology adoption style, ease of use, and adherence to remote monitoring technology

Abstract Introduction NHS England is committed to the expansion of virtual wards, necessitating patient engagement with home care technology. Literature suggests there is a technology adoption lag among older populations. We investigated if this lag was evident in geriatric virtual ward patients. Methods Data from three NHS trusts using a virtual care platform (March 2021–August 2023) were aggregated to assess differences in perceived ease of use, technology adoption style, and measures of adherence. All patients received the Telehealth Usability Questionnaire Ease of Use (EOU) subsection (higher scores indicate higher EOU). Patients completed surveys via tablet, wore monitoring devices, and took blood pressure readings. We dichotomised age (<75 vs. 75+) and used Fisher’s exact and Wilcoxon-Mann–Whitney tests. Results Of 857 patients, 36.9% were geriatric (mean age 81.5 years). The younger group (mean age 59.1 years) had 541 patients. Gender was evenly split between age groups (p = 0.62). Median EOU scores were 5.5 (geriatric) and 6.2 (younger) (p < 0.001). Geriatric patients were more likely to avoid or delay technology adoption (82% vs. 56% in younger patients, p < 0.001). Geriatric patients had higher adherence to the wearable device (median 95.3%) compared to younger patients (93.3%, p < 0.001). Blood pressure (median 81.6%) and survey adherence (median 83.3%) did not significantly differ between groups (p = 0.076, p = 0.0501). Conclusions Despite perceptions and literature suggesting older patients are less comfortable with technology, our findings demonstrate high engagement in virtual ward technology. While differences exist in technology adoption and EOU scores, geriatric patients exhibit equal or higher adherence to remote monitoring tasks. These results challenge stereotypes and underscore the importance of incorporating technology in geriatric care.

The Determinants of Low Wheat Productivity in Kenya

Agriculture contributes 24% directly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 60% of the export earnings and about 75% of industrial raw materials. Food crops subsector contributes about 30% to the Kenyan GDP. Among the cereals in Kenya, wheat is the second most important after maize. Wheat has a substantial contribution to poverty reduction, food security and creation of employment. Due to the high growth in population, increased urbanization, and related changing trends in food consumption patterns, the demand for wheat and wheat products is on the increase. Demand for wheat products is apparent in the preference of confectionery, pasta and breakfast cereals. Wheat demand in Kenya has been swelling hence production has not been able to certify it leading to importation of huge quantities to fill the gap between demand and supply. Increased imports diminish local prices. This becomes a disincentive leading to decline in wheat production. In regard to the importance of wheat enterprise in the country, a survey was conducted to determine factors that have led to decline in wheat production and there after give recommendations for future research. Primary data was collected by use of structured questionnaires to a sample size of 344 wheat farmers in selected wheat producing counties of Kenya. Results of the survey reveal that factors contributing to low wheat production consists of: pests, diseases and Shortage of improved wheat variety seed, droughts, heavy rains, and high cost of farm inputs. Through wheat research, the country will increase production, reduce the amount of wheat imports hence save the country’s foreign exchange. The study was undertaken in Narok and Nakuru Counties of Kenya. A sample size of 344 farmers was involved in the survey. Njoro BWII the most famous variety accounting for 30.4% of the total wheat varieties cultivated followed by Kwale (10.41%), Kenya Korongo (10.28%), Eagle10 (6.17%), and Kenya Kingbird (5.21%). All these (5) varieties collectively account 55.71% of the total varieties cultivated by the farmers in the study areas. Some of the varieties are more than 20years old. This indicates that wheat varietal turnover is very low. As a recommendation, to improve wheat production in Kenya, adoption of the new improved technologies should be accelerated to reduce the adoption lag period, varietal turnover rates should be increased and wheat production risks eliminated or minimized. Additionally, appropriate development programmes and policies promoting new technologies should target disease and pest management, input and output distribution, seed multiplication and diffusion.

A Holistic Evaluation of BIM Implementation Barriers in the Indian Construction Industry: Pre- and Post-Adoption Perspectives

ABSTRACT The existing Building Information Modelling (BIM) research does not provide a holistic understanding of pre- and post-adoption barriers to its implementation, especially in developing countries such as India, where BIM adoption lags. First, a total of 32 barriers to BIM implementation were identified after a comprehensive literature review. Second, after discussion with experts, the barriers were classified into 23 pre- and 21 post-adoption barriers. Next, the barriers were ranked based on 218 completed survey responses from professionals working in 125 organizations in the Indian construction industry. Finally, an independent samples t-test was conducted to understand differences in the perceptions of different groups of participants. The top five pre-adoption barriers were (1) high hardware costs, (2) high software costs, (3) low adoption across the supply chain, (4) low market support, and (5) unclear benefit evaluation. In comparison, the top five post-adoption barriers were (1) high ongoing cost (license renewal, training cost, etc.), (2) shortage of skills and expertise, (3) unclear benefit evaluation, (4) client’s lack of understanding, and (5) user resistance. Moreover, clients, contractors and consultants shared different views on very few barriers, which shows that these barriers are prevalent across different types of organizations in the Indian construction industry.

Data-driven review on gender and rice varietal trait preferences in Bangladesh

In Bangladesh, farmers adapt to changing conditions through the adoption of improved varieties containing new or combined traits. The diverse varietal adoption decisions among farmers stem from gender-based differences in trait preferences. This review synthesizes existing knowledge to assess the nature, extent, and causes of gendered disparities in rice varietal trait preferences among farmers and consumers in Bangladesh. To enhance the data-driven nature of this review, we not only scrutinized secondary articles (45 documents) and databases but also incorporated and analyzed primary data on varietal adoption and trait preferences. The analysis revealed a pronounced need for rice breeding programs in Bangladesh to integrate both market and climate-smart traits, aligning with gender-specific needs in developing optimal rice product profiles. Analysis of primary data unveiled substantial variations in women and men farmers’ varietal trait preferences, influenced by factors like income, access to farming information, household size, land size, and decision-making. Consequently, addressing gender-differentiated trait preferences in the development of improved rice varieties is crucial to curtail farmers’ varietal adoption lag in Bangladesh. The findings underscore the necessity of systematic identification and integration of gender-differentiated varietal trait preferences into rice breeding programs. Failure to account for such preferences may disadvantage the gender-responsiveness of developed varieties and limit the anticipated impact. Therefore, understanding the biophysical, social, and cultural dynamics of diverse farmer groups from a gender perspective is imperative for achieving gender-responsive rice variety development in the context of Bangladesh. This process involves identifying key gender concerns for integration into rice breeding programs, ensuring a comprehensive approach to sustainable agriculture.

The Impact of Digital Innovation on Accounting Practices: The Case of Romanian Public Schools

Today, digitalization has covered all areas of the social system. The introduction of innovative technologies and ERP systems in the accounting field helps significantly increase the efficiency of financial management. At the same time, certain industries, such as public schools in Romania, still do not take full advantage of accounting automation. This article examines the adoption of accounting automation through ERP solutions in university educational institutions in Romania and explores the advantages and obstacles that come with this shift. In this study, a thorough analysis of the data collected through the survey was carried out. A questionnaire with questions was sent to 100 educational colleges in Romania. The questionnaire contained questions aimed at gathering information about the level of automation, the types of technology used, the difficulties faced and the benefits. Institutions of various sizes with various funding sources – from regular to high schools – were chosen for the study. Implementing automated accounting systems in institutions in Romania has shown noticeable benefits, enhancing efficiency and transparency while ensuring accuracy in operations. However, limited financial resources and inadequate digital expertise challenge the adoption of ERP technologies and other sophisticated solutions. The study results show that digitalization levels differ significantly across education levels, with high and secondary schools being the most digitized, while pre-kindergarten and primary schools lag in adoption. Key obstacles include constraints and a shortage of expertise, particularly impacting high school and secondary educational establishments. The research provides recommendations to enhance the digitalization process in Romania's pre-university educational institutions.

The Impact of technology Acceptance and technology Compliance Costs on SMEs’ business Resilience

"The importance of digitalization among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) is undeniable, especially when the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is also focusing on how to connect SMEs in Southeast Asia through digitalization. Many incentives have been provided by the government to encourage SMEs’ involvement in digital transformation such as grants and training for SMEs to adopt digitalization in daily operations; however, digitalization did not attract the participation of all SMEs. As such, the issue of SMEs’ tendency to lag in technological adoption becomes the main concern of this study, since many SMEs are unable to internationalize digitally because they were not initially designed to scale that way. In addition, managing businesses using online platforms is also challenging, especially when higher costs are involved. Nonetheless, changing this situation by removing the barriers may help SMEs to build the resilience needed for future uncertainties. Therefore, this study attempts to examine the relationship between technology acceptance and technology compliance costs toward business resilience among SMEs. A structured questionnaire was developed, validated, and distributed to SME owners via an online survey form from May 2021 to December 2021. A total of 215 SMEs completed the questionnaire and they were included in the data analysis, which was carried out using SPSS version 20. The findings showed that the two factors under technology acceptance, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, had a significant positive relationship with business resilience. In this regard, SMEs’ lack of new technology acceptance would have an adverse effect on their business performance. In addition, compliance costs were also found to have a positive and significant relationship with business resilience. Hence, SMEs’ investment in technology platforms and provision of employee training to use digital platforms will positively affect their business resilience. In view of the digitalization of SMEs becoming an important national agenda, the findings of this study will further support and motivate SMEs to adopt the current technology and engage in digital transformation. Ultimately, the study justifies the policymakers’ urgent attention to actively encourage SMEs to transform their businesses before they are left behind."

Process Evaluation of the Optimized Provision of AT for Impaired Upper Extremity Function Within the OMARM Study.

A quality standard for the ICF-oriented provision of arm supports and robotic arms was designed. To facilitate this new working method, tools were developed in co-creation with all stakeholders. Professionals received training and were asked to apply the new working method among their clients who participated in the intervention group of the OMARM project. To find out whether the provision had changed following the introduction of the quality standard, and to gain insight into the usage of tools and the perceived added value, a process evaluation was conducted after 3, 6 and 9 months by an online survey. In sum, the new working method was applied to 43 of 137 clients, and tools were used 105 times. Opinions on perceived changes, benefit, and practicability varied widely. Although tools were developed in co-creation with all stakeholders, several professionals' satisfaction with the developed way of working is lower than expected and its adoption lags.

Identification and Prioritization of Challenges in Accessing ICT Tools by Agricultural Extension Professionals in Northern Districts of West Bengal

The potential of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) for agriculture in the form of various knowledge management portals has been harnessed by various agricultural developmental organizations and so on. But still, there is a gap in the rural community's adoption and access to such technology. There are many reasons for this adoption lag, in the case of identifying such focused issues in accessing the ICTs, will be the key to addressing those challenges. In such a resilient backdrop, this article investigates by identifying and prioritising the challenges in accessing ICT tools for sustainable agriculture by agricultural system actors in the northern districts of West Bengal. The present study was conducted in two northern districts of West Bengal viz. Cooch Behar and Alipurduar districts. Two hundred respondents included from these two districts were selected randomly for the present study. The sample includes 60 percent of the farmers and 40 percent of extension personnel including scientists from State Agriculture University, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Assistant directors of State Department of Agriculture, input dealers and grassroots-level extension professionals working in various farmers, clubs and NGOs. These respondents were interviewed through a structured, pre-tested interview schedule developed to measure the extent of ICTs usage designed with the help of the online Google forms and offline interview schedule. The obtained data were processed with the help of statistical tools like frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and Rank Based Quotient (RBQ). The constraints identified were, ‘lack of training and practical exposure towards ICTs’ (64.8%), followed by ‘high cost of ICT tools (64.55%), ‘insufficient local language information’ (62%), ‘low network connectivity’ (60.90%), ‘unavailability of different ICT tools’ (60.60%), ‘lack of skill in handling ICTs’ (58.65%), ‘lack of confidence in operating ICTs’ (55.40%), ‘high cost of repairing for ICT devices’ (49.40%), ‘irregular power supply’ (37.95%), and ‘lack of awareness of benefits of ICTs’ (36.40%).

Human capital and the diffusion of technology

This research provides novel evidence that human capital affects the diffusion of technologies across countries. More human capital is associated with shorter adoption lags and greater intensity of use of new technologies, providing a link between education and economic backwardness.

A Systematic Review of the Business Contingencies Influencing Broader Adoption: Modern Methods of Construction (MMC)

The existing body of knowledge on the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) reflects their benefits and relative advantages, particularly in addressing contemporary construction challenges. However, the uptake of such methods is minimal, particularly in the public construction sector. The low uptake has led MMC firms to liquidation due to the lack of an economy of scale. Studies, particularly recently, explain that the low adoption rates are linked to the inappropriateness of existing business models responsible for driving broader demand. This paper assumes that the lag in MMC adoption could be related to the ability of supply business models to communicate confidence to demand. Public clients are foreseen as important target customers, acquiring influential status across the industry, with an expected potential to drive innovation adoption across the sector. A systematic review method allows scholars to assess existing literature by critically locating and analysing relative publications to approach the study’s aim. Through utilising this method, the study classifies the arguments against the Business Model Canvas (BMC), and argues the results with respect to contingency theory, and in turn, synthesizing a new meaning that reveals the considerations needed to boost business model performance when penetrating the public sector. Hence, the critical analyses of 70 studies relative to MMC, led to proposing the contingencies that are believed to better structure business models. Results suggest that MMC firms can embrace specific reforms and gain more momentum when communicating confidence to public client organisations; however, a guideline that conceptualises the interactions between the elements and their influence on the decision-making does not exist, and this may be inhibiting coherency on how MMC businesses drive broader demand. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to utilise the contingency theory as an attempt to disseminate previous efforts to explain the low adoption of MMC in the UK public sector.

Clinical uptake of precision medicine advances in NSCLC: A case study in RET fusions.

32 Background: Precision medicine has revolutionized cancer care in advanced NSCLC and new actionable biomarkers and targeted therapies are emerging at an unprecedented pace, creating myriad opportunities to improve care and mitigate the often-dire sequelae of traditional cancer therapy. Delays in uptake of testing and biomarker-guided treatment for patients with NSCLC and EGFR activating mutations or ALK fusions are well documented despite clear evidence-based practice, guidelines, and expert recommendations. In this study, we analyze healthcare professionals (HCPs) awareness and application of RET fusion testing and integration of recently approved selective RET inhibitors into practice for appropriate patients with advanced NSCLC. Methods: From 1/2020-6/2022, multiple educational activities were developed to provide HCPs with evidence-based expert and guideline recommendations on assessment of and therapy selection for RET fusion–positive NSCLC. The activities comprised live symposia associated with 4 major oncology and pathology conferences (AMP, USCAP, ASCO, AACR), 3 regional live workshop series across the US, 3 live webinars, and 2 on-demand videos. Baseline polling questions designed to assess key aspects of HCP knowledge and practice patterns were repeated at each activity. Results: Across all activities at baseline, on average only 38% of responding HCPs correctly identified RNA NGS as the most sensitive testing assay for detection of RET fusions and 36% accurately selected the appropriate targeted therapy for patient case with a KIF5B-RET gene fusion. From 2020 through 2022, with each new group of learners across different scopes of practice, we found suboptimal awareness of optimal RET fusion testing methodology and choice of therapy for patients with RET fusion–positive NSCLC (table). Optimal responses were slightly higher among learners attending conference-associated symposia vs live workshop series and online education. Conclusions: The use of optimal testing assays for RET alterations across patients with NSCLC remains low and many HCPs continue to lack awareness of appropriate targeted therapy for patients with RET–fusion positive NSCLC > 2 years after the first approved indication for this biomarker. These results underscore a lag in adoption of optimal precision medicine approaches for NSCLC among oncology HCPs and the need for expert guidance and educational activities to optimize individualized, biomarker-driven treatment approaches. An analysis of patterns by HCP role (MD, NP/PA, RN, Pharmacist) will be presented.[Table: see text]

Robotic process automation adoption: contextual factors from service sectors in an emerging economy

PurposeThe study aimed to examine the robotic process automation (RPA) contextual (center of excellence and scalability) and the multidisciplinary (TOE) determinants of RPA adoption in service industries in the emerging economy.Design/methodology/approachTen factors were identified through literature surveys and popular studies grounded in technology, organization and environment. SPSS AMOS SEM is used for scale measurement and hypotheses testing. A sample of 313 respondents was collected from middle to above middle management executives of service industries from India. The authors tested the hidden layers and non-linear relationships using artificial neural network (ANN) analysis.FindingsThe low complexity, center of excellence (CoE), and industry/business partner pressure were significant to the RPA adoption in service industries in emerging economies. Counterintuitively, the scalability showed a negative influence on the RPA adoption, and the process capability did not show influence. The results of SEM and ANN were consistent.Research limitations/implicationsThis research can unfold the RPA adoption scholarly debate to multiple services industries beyond the telecom sector in emerging economies.Practical implicationsRPA is a disruptive technology on the artificial intelligence (AI) continuum. It has the potential to change the ways of working and enable technology-driven transformation. However, despite having thriving service industries that can benefit from RPA, emerging economies lag in adoption compared to the developed nations.Social implicationsThe RPA and automation can bring transformation to human society. Large economies such as India and China have large-scale demand for services, and the waiting lines are a common issue struggled by society. RPA can address the scalability issues of several services.Originality/valueThis study is among the first to examine technology-organization-environment (TOE) with RPA, including RPA contextual variables such as the CoE and scalability. Literature reports TOE applications on several emerging technologies of Industry 4.0 such as cloud, blockchain, big data and 3 Dimensional Printing (3DP), but no or little reported studies around RPA in services industries in emerging markets.

Harm reduction implementation among HIV service organizations (HSOs) in the U.S. south: a policy context analysis and results from a survey of HSOs

BackgroundHIV service organizations are integral to serving communities disproportionately impacted by the HIV and opioid epidemics in the U.S. South. Addressing these intersecting epidemics requires implementation of evidence-based approaches, such as harm reduction. However, little is known about the extent to which Southern HIV service organizations implement harm reduction. This manuscript examines: 1) the implementation context of harm reduction in the South, 2) Southern HIV service organization implementation of harm reduction, and 3) the impact of different contexts within the South on HIV service organization implementation of harm reduction.MethodsTo examine implementation context, authors analyzed nation-wide harm reduction policy and drug-related mortality data. To examine HIV service organization implementation of harm reduction, authors performed frequency distributions on survey data (n = 207 organizations). Authors then constructed logistic regressions, using state mortality data and policy context as predictors, to determine what contextual factors predicted HIV service organization implementation of harm reduction.ResultsDrug-related mortality data revealed an increased need for harm reduction, and harm reduction policy data revealed an increased political openness to harm reduction. Frequency distributions revealed that approximately half of the HIV service organizations surveyed reported that their organizations reflect a harm reduction orientation, and only 26% reported providing harm reduction services. Despite low utilization rates, HIV service organizations indicated a strong interest in harm reduction. Logistic regressions revealed that while increased mortality rates do not predict HIV service organization implementation of harm reduction, a harm reduction-friendly policy context does.DiscussionThis study highlights how regions within a high-income country can face unique barriers to healthcare and therefore require a unique understanding of implementation context. Study findings indicate a rapidly changing implementation context where increased need meets increased political opportunity to implement harm reduction, however there is a lag in HIV service organization adoption of harm reduction. Financial resources, capacity building, and continued policy advocacy are required for increased HIV service organization adoption of harm reduction.

Clinical application of precision medicine among oncologists: A case study in RET-targeted therapy.

e18705 Background: Precision medicine has revolutionized cancer care across multiple tumor types and new actionable biomarkers and targeted therapies are emerging at an unprecedented pace, creating myriad opportunities to optimize care and mitigate the often-dire sequelae of traditional cancer therapy. Many oncology healthcare professionals (HCPs) in practice are not employing optimal testing methodologies to detect biomarkers in patients who could benefit from novel targeted therapies. In this study, we analyze HCP awareness and application of RET alteration testing and integration of recently approved, new-generation selective RET inhibitors into practice for appropriate patients with NSCLC and thyroid cancer. Methods: In August 2020 HCPs were surveyed on RET alteration testing and use of RET-targeted therapeutics in their current practice. Study eligibility criteria included active HCPs in an oncology, pulmonology, or pathology practice. A curriculum of live and online educational activities was then developed for any interested oncologists and pathologists on RET alteration testing and/or targeted therapy for RET-altered lung and thyroid cancers. These activities included case studies, polling, and evaluations that provided additional insight on self-identified practice trends. In June 2021, at the completion of the educational program, eligible HCPs were surveyed again on RET alteration testing and selection of RET inhibitor therapy for appropriate patients. Results: In August 2020, 123 practicing HCPs completed the initial survey and 33% were testing patients for RET gene alterations and 18% were aware of the most sensitive testing assay for detection of RET fusions. 25% and 7%, respectively, were aware of the current indications for RET inhibitors in RET fusion–positive NSCLC and RET-altered thyroid cancer. Self-identified practice trends identified among the unselected cohort of 12,537 individual HPCs participating in the educational activities also demonstrated similar lack of appropriate testing for RET alterations and use of RET inhibitors. In June 2021, 60 practicing HCPs completed the follow-up survey and 40% were testing patients for RET gene alterations and 25% were aware of the most sensitive testing assay for detection of RET fusions. 52% and 22%, respectively, were aware of the current indications for RET inhibitors in RET fusion–positive NSCLC and RET-altered thyroid cancer. Conclusions: The rate of broad testing for RET alterations across patients with NSCLC and thyroid cancer remains low and many HCPs lack understanding of when to consider treating with a RET inhibitor. These results underscore the lag in adoption of optimal precision medicine approaches in oncology and the need for expert guidance and educational activities to optimize individualized, biomarker-driven treatment approaches for patients with cancer.

Unbundling institutional determinants of innovation

AbstractWhy are some nations wealthy, while others remain mired in poverty? Prior literature suggests technological innovation and strong institutions are uniquely conducive to long‐term economic growth. Property rights institutions (PRIs) afford protection from expropriation by the government and political elites, while contracting institutions (CIs) allow private parties to conduct commercial transactions. In this study, we systematically examine the relative effects of PRIs and CIs on innovation. Using an instrumental variable (IV) approach and two‐stage least squares regression framework, our results suggest that PRIs have a strong positive effect on innovation, while CIs do not. Constraint on executive, protection from expropriation of the government, and protection of private property are proxies for PRIs, while legal formalism, procedural complexity, and number of procedures are proxies for CIs. We find strong empirical evidence that PRIs have statistically significant effects both on innovation intensity and time lag in innovation adoption, while the impacts of CIs on these measures of innovation are generally insignificant. Our findings are relevant to policymakers today as developing countries look to innovation to reignite their economies and avoid the middle‐income trap.

Impediments to Blockchain Adoption

ABSTRACTSatoshi Nakamoto (2008) published a seminal paper on a promising digital currency application and proposed a distributed ledger technology (DLT) to support it. Shortly thereafter, in 2009, bitcoin and the customized DLT that supports it were established. Although the DLT described by Nakamoto (2008), which packages data into blocks that are then cryptographically chained together (i.e., “block chain,” or “blockchain”), possesses features that are desirable for some business applications and/or their auditors, over a dozen years later there is not yet a widescale adoption of blockchain for business operations. This paper explores functionality, data and process integrity, and regulatory concerns as potential explanations for the lag in mainstream business and accounting adoption. We also contextualize some of the concerns that are likely to have delayed blockchain implementation by providing a framework of questions directed at both researchers and practitioners.

Has Excel Become a “Golden Hammer”: The Paradox of Data Analytics in SME Clusters

ABSTRACTDemand for data analysis skills in the accounting profession is well-documented and necessarily informs accounting curriculum and pedagogy. This empirical survey study focuses on small- and medium-sized entities (SMEs). SME cluster research suggests different adoption rates for technology between this segment and large firms. Investigating SME demands for skills and abilities of new job entrants differs from the large organizations that served as the original drivers of analytic skills and technology recommendations. Findings in this study suggest SMEs continue performing their leading accounting tasks using Excel spreadsheets and lag in adoption of data analytics technology. SMEs are a significant business sector in the economy, competing with large firms but with fewer resources. The findings presented here may inform educators in SME markets regarding SME firms' need for a unique skillset from new hires.

Open-Source tools in R for forestry and forest ecology

Forestry and forest ecology research potentially lags behind related fields such as ecology, biodiversity, and conservation research in the employment of open-source software solutions, specifically the R programming language. A direct comparison of the last decade of published research literature from the top 20 ecology and forestry journals shows that R is utilized in over 30% of the literature for ecology, yet in less than 10% of the forestry literature. Open-source computing environments, such as R, Python, and Julia, increase the visibility and reproducibility of scientific research and foster collaborations through the removal of proprietary software restrictions. The lag in adoption of open-source software in forestry and forest ecology could be hindering collaboration, data sharing, and reproducibility. Here we survey the available packages in the R programming language with specific utility for forest-related research. We found more than 100 available packages which we systematically categorized by research category: community analysis; dendrochronology; forest mensuration and inventory; hydrology; informatics/IoT; modeling; phenology; and remote sensing. We present worked examples for a subgroup of R software packages for each category to demonstrate their potential and utility. In these examples we used open-source data sets of our own selection. Additionally, we collected this information into an R metapackage, ForestAnalysisInR, an R Shiny-based solution that allows users to query the R packages we have identified to find those best suited for their analysis needs in a quick and efficient way.

What Influences Farmer’s Adoption Lag for Soil and Water Conservation Practices? Evidence from Sio-Malaba Malakisi River Basin of Kenya and Uganda Borders

Agricultural intensification and expansion efforts aimed at feeding increasing populations have led to soil degradation globally. Due to their suitability for resource-constrained farmers, and potential positive impacts on agricultural land improvement, Soil and Water Conservation Practices (SWCPs) are recommended as a solution to soil degradation in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA). However, the adoption rates of SWCPs are low and farmers who adopt them do not adopt on time. There is a lag between the time when farmers first learn about SWCPs and the time of adoption. This study examines the factors influencing adoption lag for Soil and Water Conservation Practices among smallholder farmers in the Sio-Malaba Malakisi River Basin border region of Kenya and Uganda. We utilize data collected from 506 randomly selected households and use the duration analysis model to analyze the data. Results show that the average adoption lag of SWCPs in the study area was about 10 years. Further, reduction in adoption lag is associated with household size, number of accessible markets, access to credit, age of the household head, farm size owned, and tropical livestock units. On the other hand, access to off-farm income and household location in Uganda are associated with increased adoption lag of SWCPs. Participation in social groups, households being male-headed, and education of the household head showed mixed effects on adoption lag, depending on the SWCP of focus. Strengthening farmer social networks and access to credit and markets are recommended as possible interventions to promote the timely adoption of SWCPs.