Communication Technology Sector Research Articles

Legal Challenges in the Development of Information and Communication Technology SMEs in Jabodetabek Region, Indonesia

The Jabodetabek region of Indonesia has had notable growth in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector, primarily due to the efforts of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs encounter a complex network of legal obstacles that impede their growth and ability to compete. Using a mixed-methods approach that includes both quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, this study explores these issues. The findings draw attention to important legal difficulties, such as limited access to legal services, contract conflicts, cybersecurity concerns, intellectual property issues, and regulatory compliance. The competitiveness and development of SMEs are significantly impacted by these issues. Comprehensive legal and legislative changes are advised to address these problems. These include simplified rules, strict enforcement of intellectual property rights, effective dispute resolution procedures, cybersecurity assistance, and improved access to legal services. This study highlights the significance of a supportive legal framework for innovation and economic growth, adding to our understanding of the legal aspects of ICT SME development in Jabodetabek.

Navigating the challenges of female leadership in the information and communication technology and engineering sectors

PurposeThis paper addresses the issue of the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions within the information and communication technology (ICT) and engineering fields. The study examines the complex issue of vertical segregation and gender equality by exploring the barriers that women encounter and the potential coping strategies they adopt to advance in their careers.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews with 17 women at middle and upper management levels in the ICT and engineering sectors. This approach aims to better understand women's workplace experiences and gain deeper insights into the nature of the barriers they face.FindingsThe study identifies four main factors hindering women's progression toward senior management positions, namely working hours, work-family conflict, social role stereotypes and second-generation bias. The results also offer useful insights into the coping strategies adopted by women to overcome these barriers.Practical implicationsThe study highlights the persisting underrepresentation of women in senior positions, indicating a societal and organizational lag in terms of inclusion and equity. It underscores the importance of developing effective policies to address the challenges faced by employees striving to balance their work and family commitments. Training is recognized as an important tool for raising awareness about gender stereotypes among employees and reducing second-generation bias.Originality/valueThis study provides valuable lessons derived from its findings, including potential strategies that organizations can implement to help women navigate and overcome workplace barriers in the ICT and engineering fields.

New Perspectives in Innovation Failure Analysis: A taxonomy of general errors and strategic management for reducing risks

In turbulent environments, one of the fundamental problems is the high risk of failure in new innovation projects that affects organizational behaviour and performance of firms and also nations. The study here clarifies the theoretical structure of project-level failure proposing a new definition, based on systems approach (Innovation failure is when organization does not achieve the main goal of project because of a set of errors), and a taxonomy of three general types of error in innovation failures: errors in planning and/or design, in project execution/implementation and in marketization. A case study research clarifies the proposed framework of innovation failures with examples from pharmaceutical sector, aerospace and aircraft industries, and information & communication technology sector. Results suggest that the failure in innovation projects is due to proposed errors associated mainly with bounded rationality of organizations in dealing with goal difficulty, environmental complexity and uncertainty. Different strategies of problem solving to reduce errors and risks leading to innovation failures and improve technological development are proposed, such as learning processes, adaptation perspective, game theory approach, stage-gate method, etc. The proposed systemic concept of innovation failure and related taxonomy of general typologies of error can guide R&D managers, designers, analysts, and policymakers etc. to know main determinants of failure in innovation projects and how appropriate strategies can improve organizational performance and R&D processes of firms for competitive advantage in markets and society.

Safeguarding Traditional Crafts in Europe

This entry discusses the challenge of safeguarding crafts in Europe. Safeguarding is defined herein as the systematic process of understanding, representing, preserving, and valorizing crafts following the recommendations of UNESCO and the UN-World Tourism Organization. The abovementioned challenges are discussed through a multidisciplinary prism starting from the scientific challenges in the information and communication technologies sector and expanding the discussion to ethical, legal, and policy-making measures and recommendations to safeguard crafts as a form of tangible and intangible cultural heritage but also as a source of growth and impact for the communities that practice them. To this end, the role of education and training for craft preservation is discussed, considering that the declining number of practitioners and apprentices is considered today the main threat to their preservation.

Greening the knowledge-based economies: Harnessing natural resources and innovation in information and communication technologies for green growth

The quest for green growth through the sustainable use of natural resources (NRs) and innovation in information and communication technologies (IICTs) has gained the utmost significance in the modern era, and the knowledge-based economies (KBEs) have been at the leading edge of embracing sustainable methods for accomplishing sustainable development objectives. However, the relationship between NRs, IICTs, and green growth remain unexplored. This study evaluates the impact of IICTs and NRs, alongside other key factors such as contractionary export policy (CEP), expansionary export policy (EEP), fossil fuels consumption (FFC), the labor force (LF), and gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) on green growth. Findings confirm that IICTs, NRs, GFCF, LF, and EEP positively affect green growth. The current research employs Slope homogeneity test, cross-sectional dependency test, Westerlund and Edgerton cointegration test, and cross-sectional augmented autoregressive distributed lag estimator to achieve the study's objective. These results highlight the significance of integrating environmentally conscious procedures and relying on technological advances within the information and communication technology sector to promote green development and ecological integrity. In addition, the study indicates that a growing reliance on FFC and the implementation of CEP harm green growth, underscoring the necessity of moving to renewable energy sources and promoting favorable trade policies. This study suggests that policymakers should emphasize IICTs, effective NRs management, GFCF, labor skills, EEP, and the transition to greener energy. Moreover, they should incorporate ecological factors in their trade practices to reconcile economic growth with sustainability goals.

Implementation and evaluation of a multi-level mental health promotion intervention for the workplace (MENTUPP): study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial

BackgroundWell-organised and managed workplaces can be a source of wellbeing. The construction, healthcare and information and communication technology sectors are characterised by work-related stressors (e.g. high workloads, tight deadlines) which are associated with poorer mental health and wellbeing. The MENTUPP intervention is a flexibly delivered, multi-level approach to supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in creating mentally healthy workplaces. The online intervention is tailored to each sector and designed to support employees and leaders dealing with mental health difficulties (e.g. stress), clinical level anxiety and depression, and combatting mental health-related stigma. This paper presents the protocol for the cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) of the MENTUPP intervention in eight European countries and Australia.MethodsEach intervention country will aim to recruit at least two SMEs in each of the three sectors. The design of the cRCT is based on the experiences of a pilot study and guided by a Theory of Change process that describes how the intervention is assumed to work. SMEs will be randomly assigned to the intervention or control conditions. The aim of the cRCT is to assess whether the MENTUPP intervention is effective in improving mental health and wellbeing (primary outcome) and reducing stigma, depression and suicidal behaviour (secondary outcome) in employees. The study will also involve a process and economic evaluation.ConclusionsAt present, there is no known multi-level, tailored, flexible and accessible workplace-based intervention for the prevention of non-clinical and clinical symptoms of depression, anxiety and burnout, and the promotion of mental wellbeing. The results of this study will provide a comprehensive overview of the implementation and effectiveness of such an intervention in a variety of contexts, languages and cultures leading to the overall goal of delivering an evidence-based intervention for mental health in the workplace.Trial registrationPlease refer to Item 2a and registration ISRCTN14104664. Registered on 12th July 2022.

The contribution of informal learning in the integration process of immigrants into the labour market: Individual and organisational perspectives in selected sectors

AbstractIn Germany and Canada, the integration of immigrants into the labour market is closely related to the various approaches towards the recognition and validation of informal learning. This paper aims to analyse the informal learning measures undertaken by immigrants as well as those offered by employers in the health and information and communication technology sectors during the labour market integration process. The study focused on nurses as well as IT project managers and programmers. The comparison focuses on the occurrence and quality of the four dimensions of the dynamic model of informal learning from an individual and an organisation perspective. The results show similarities between these two perspectives regarding the relevance of the four dimensions in the integration of immigrants into the labour market. In addition, clear differences between the two investigated sectors as well as country‐specific differences appear.

The Dynamic effects of Foreign Direct Investment Services and Energy Consumption on Information and Communication Technology Sector

This study scrutinises the influence of foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, energy consumption on Information and Communication services (ICTs) in selected economies of South Asia. This research is based on heterogenous and second generation framework of panel data-set from 1999 to 2021. This study used augmented mean group (AMG), mean group (MG), and common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) assessors, which further promotes the substantial and favourable influence of FDI services, and energy consumption on ICTs. However, the impact of terrorism is insignificant on ICTs in the region of South Asia. The results indicate that economies of these region must embrace investment reform measures in order to draw FDI into the services sector, increase exports of services, and progress towards economic stability.

Digitalization in the conservation of natural resources and sustainable development

Digitalization is the transformation of the processes of human activity into such a form that uses digital technologies. The aim of this chapter is to provide a comprehensive overview of digital technologies used in the conservation of natural resources and sustainable development, and to present the situation in this area in the Republic of Srpska. In the observation processes digital technologies expand the boundaries of cognition by creating new information. By changing the way we look at things, digital technologies change our way of thinking, help us in understanding complex systems and in reasoning. They are an indispensable part of decision support systems, and by automating the process they facilitate the implementation of activities. The first part of this chapter describes the digital technologies used in the process of observation, from the simple to the cognitive sensors, wireless sensor networks, remote sensing, the Internet of things and services in the cloud, and reasoning and decision making supported through digital technologies such as big data technologies, Geographic information system, artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The role of automation and robotics, as well as embedded and cyber-physical systems in the field of conservation of natural resources and sustainable development is presented. The impact of digital technologies on education and access to information in the field of natural resources is also analyzed. Then, in the second part of the chapter, an overview of the state of digitalization in the Republic of Srpska in the segments related to water and mineral resources, land use and cover, forest resources and biodiversity is given. As everywhere in the world, the management of natural resources in Republika Srpska is becoming increasingly complex, because it is necessary to reconcile the need for accelerated economic growth with the preservation of natural resources, to meet the needs of the present, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. On the path to sustainable development, Republika Srpska is making great efforts by acting at the national level and engaging in global initiatives. The activities carried out for the purpose of sustainable development of agriculture, sustainable use of natural resources, in the field of green energy, Industry 4.0 and sustainable tourism, as well as in the field of education and access to informationare presented. For now, the activities are mainly related to the development of information systems, while the application of other digital technologies is at a very low level. It is evident that the exploitation of natural resources, agriculture and a large part of the industry of Republika Srpska continue to rely heavily on outdated methods. A discrepancy was noted between the well-developed information and communication technology sector and the application of digital technologies in the conservation of natural resources and sustainable development. Special attention is paid to the review of scientific research activities in which digital technologies are used for the preservation of natural resources and sustainable development of the Republic of Srpska. The analysis of scientific research activities in this area indicates the fragmentation of research and the small number of multidisciplinary teams, as well as the lack of significant institutional support. In order to make better use of the advantages that digitalization could bring in the preservation of natural resources and sustainable development of Republika Srpska, a multidisciplinary scientific approach and a management policy that is comprehensive, integrated, explicit, open and responsible are needed, as well greater involvement of society as a whole.

The role of social start-ups in entrepreneurial behaviour: the search for efficiency

PurposeIn a world where sustainability is a major aim at all socioeconomic levels, social entrepreneurship plays an important role in achieving the goals that have been set. The purpose of this study is to broaden the knowledge of social start-ups, social incubators and founding teams, highlighting the value of each one. The aim is to use quantitative analysis to determine the possible link between social incubators and social start-up success and identify the founding team profile of social start-ups from each sector according to a sector-based ranking.Design/methodology/approachBootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to calculate the efficiency of social incubators and social start-ups and thus quantify the impact, in terms of increased efficiency, of social incubators on social start-ups. Then, using cross-efficiency methodology, a synthetic index was used to analyse the founding team profile of social start-ups. The study is based on primary data from a survey of Spanish social incubators and social start-ups.FindingsThe study provides strong quantitative evidence of the positive effect of social incubators on the development of social start-ups. The size of this effect exceeds the know-how of start-ups. In terms of efficiency gains, this research quantifies the impact of social incubators on this entrepreneurial ecosystem. This impact exceeds 35%. The study also shows that the strongest social start-ups are in the food and information and communication technology (ICT) sectors. The founding teams in these cases have a strong business background, have a high educational level, receive subsidies and express a desire to retain control of the company.Originality/valueThere is an extensive literature dedicated to the analysis of the behaviour and characteristics of traditional incubators, accelerators and start-ups. However, despite the recent rise of social entrepreneurship, studies of social incubators and social start-ups remain scarce. This study provides two novel findings. (1) It shows the importance of creating a social start-up in a context where it receives support throughout all its development stages, providing quantitative insight into the contribution of social incubators and social start-ups. (2) It reveals the profile of founding teams in the highest-ranked business sectors.

Huawei smartphone business competition – fighting, surrendering, winning or losing?

Learning outcomes This case study is focused on strategic management of Huawei in sustaining the competitive position in the smartphone market. The discussions in the case study begins with the big picture of “Made in China 2025” policy and China’s 14th Five-Year Plan 2021–2025 attempting to change the country’s image from imitation to innovation. The case study then focuses on Huawei, the major provider of network equipment and smartphones, with the alignment of the national policy. The case demonstrates the difficulties faced by Huawei as a result of US ban. The students are challenged to perform in-depth discussions on various issues guided by the instructor using this Teaching Note. The teaching objectives are as follows: students should be able to analyse Huawei business environment and its strategic capabilities in the smartphone market; students should be able to evaluate the extent to which the effects of US sanction would have on Huawei smartphone operation; and students should be able to evaluate the strategies for Huawei to regain a leading position and achieve competitive advantage in the global smartphone market. Case overview/synopsis Huawei is the leading company in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. Ren Zhengfei, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Huawei, has set the vision of building a global company that could rival the best in the world. Huawei’s heavy investments in research and development (R&D) have brought the company to be a leading brand in the international market. Huawei was charged as a security threat by the Donald Trump administration in 2019. The USA and its allies banned Huawei products, causing the smartphone shipments plummeted dramatically. The case presents a protagonist, Ren Zhengfei, CEO of Huawei, who built the business from a small company to a leading global ICT company. The growth of Huawei was struck by the US sanction with the supply chain being disrupted by a shortage of advanced chip technology to run the smartphone business. The dilemma addressed in this case study is concerned with how Ren Zhengfei could steer the company out of the crisis. Complexity academic level This case study was written for use in the courses of Innovation Management and Technology Strategy. The case is designed to support learning at various levels including the graduate, postgraduate and executive classes. Apart from the guided questions (assignment questions provided in the next section), the instructors should consider which specific areas of Huawei should be further explored to support the class discussions to benefit the students at different levels. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CCS 11: Strategy.

Research on the Items of Importance and Satisfaction for Employability in the Korean Information Communication Technology Sector

This study discusses the employability of the workforce in relation to information communication technology. There is a difference in understanding in terms of items of importance/satisfaction during/after employment processes when considering organizations related to the information technology workforce. An empirical analysis of Korean employability based on literature from Asia was conducted. It indicated that differences in the perception of the 12 items comprising importance and satisfaction related to employability could potentially lead to job mismatch. We acquired an adequate sample of 296 respondents, consisting of various organizational employees. The sample was balanced in terms of gender and large or small/medium organizations. After establishing the rank of preferences among items, a difference analysis between/among groups through demographic variables was conducted. As a result, the need for additional disciplines or courses, the arrangement of preferred rank, and methods for enhancing skills from university or education/practice institutes for “interpersonal or team-working skills” and to “communicate effectively” with a higher rank among the general skills of importance/satisfaction were derived. Therefore, technology did not replace human personalities, communication skills, and human attributes such as human cooperation. This study can help address labor shortages and support sustainable employment in organizations, even if an empirical test is rare compared to descriptive statistical analyses.

Analysis of Samsung Smartphone Buying Decision Determinants

In the era of globalization, Business dynamics are characterized by a very tight competition. In the communications technology sector, the massive use of mobile devices by the millennial generation has driven the number of mobile devices used in Indonesia. Based on data, smartphone users in Indonesia in 2015 were 44.07 million, but starting in 2022, smartphone users have jumped by 89.96 million. Seeing this phenomenon, smartphone companies are increasingly eager to penetrate the smartphone product market in Indonesia. Smartphone companies are trying to create quality products with features that are expected to be able to match the needs according to the consumers’ character of Indonesia. The Samsung company ranks first regarding smartphone market share in Indonesia in 2022. Smartphone market competition is not only a matter of quality, but also the trust of its products as well as other features. In this context, the author needs to conduct a study related to the factors that determine samsung smartphone buying decisions. This study aims to examine the phenomenon of customer decisions, in terms of product quality and trust. The results showed that product quality had a positive and significant effect on customer trust. Product quality have a positive and significant effect on buying decisions. Customer trust has a positive and significant effect on buying decisions. Product quality has a significant effect on buying decisions through trust. Keywords: product quality, trust, buying decisions.

Organizational cybersecurity readiness in the ICT sector: a quanti-qualitative assessment

PurposeCyberattacks are becoming increasingly widespread, and cybersecurity is therefore increasingly important. Although the technological aspects of cybersecurity are its best-known characteristics, the cybersecurity phenomenon goes beyond the detection of technological impacts, and encompasses all the dimensions of an organization. This study thus focusses on an additional set of organizational elements. The key elements of cybersecurity organizational readiness depicted here are cybersecurity awareness, cybersecurity culture and cybersecurity organizational resilience (OR). This study aims to qualitatively assess small and medium enterprises’ (SMEs) overall level of organizational cybersecurity readiness.Design/methodology/approachThis study focused on conducting a cybersecurity organizational readiness assessment using a sample of 53 Italian SMEs from the information and communication technology sector. Informed mixed method research, this study was conducted consistent with the principles of the explanatory sequential mixed method design, and adopting a quanti-qualitative methodology. The quantitative data were collected through a questionnaire. Qualitative data were subsequently collected through semi-structured interviews.FindingsAlthough many elements of the technical aspects of cybersecurity OR have yielded very encouraging results, there are still some areas that require improvement. These include those facets that constitute the foundation of cybersecurity awareness, and, thus, a cybersecurity culture. This result highlights that the areas in need of improvement are exactly those that are most important in fighting against cyber threats via organizational cybersecurity readiness.Originality/valueAlthough the importance of SMEs is obvious, evidence of such organizations’ attitudes to cybersecurity are still limited. This research is an attempt to depict the organizational issue related to cybersecurity, i.e. overall cybersecurity organizational readiness.

COLLEGE OF COMPUTER STUDIES ALUMNI WOMEN’S PERCEPTIONS OF WORKING IN THE ICT INDUSTRY

ABSTRACT The information and communication technology sector are taking on an increasingly significant impact on the global economy. Women are in high demand for highly qualified workers to meet the growing demand of this expanding sector. The context for this paper is the ongoing under-representation of women from the College of Computer Studies in the ICT industry, as well as the industrys complexities in retaining women, especially at senior levels. Data on the demographic composition of women from College of Computer Studies alumni in the ICT industry are presented. Furthermore, the author focuses on their domestic management and caring responsibilities, as well as the changes in their professional methods that were brought about as a direct consequence of these responsibilities. Given recent government and business discussions over work-life balance and flexible working in the ICT sector, which are partially in response to the need for a more diversified ICT workforce, these facts are highly relevant. In addition to discussing the career histories of female ICT workers, the author investigates their perspectives of compensation and benefits, working conditions, the talents they possess, and the recognition they may or may not receive in their current positions. They provide evidence of a long-hours and presenteeism culture in the ICT business, as well as gendered informal networks inside the industry. Additionally, they analyze the perspectives of female ICT workers about the industrys current and potential future image. The findings emphasize the continuous masculinization of ICT employment, as well as some of the obstacles women encounter while working in statistically and symbolically male-dominated environments. KEYWORDS: Women in ICT, Women ICT Careers, Perceptions, ICT Workforce

ICT environmentalism and the sustainability game

Abstract Over the past three decades, corporate branding has trended strongly towards environmental conscientiousness and green rhetoric, often heralded under the term “sustainability” – a broad and mutable rhetorical strategy that not only serves industry self-interest but is mobilized by civil society actors as well. This tension is especially apparent in the information communication technologies (ICT) sector. Employing Wittgenstein’s concept of the language-game, this article describes how sustainability has been deployed by tech companies, and how these efforts have also been contested – and strategically mobilized – by activist environmental non-profits and critical scholars seeking to reform tech sector practices. Combining environmental communication, political economy, and discourse analysis, we investigate the conceptualization and communication of sustainability as a discourse within and against the sector.

How open innovation drives intellectual capital to superior organizational resilience: evidence from China's ICT sector

PurposeOpen innovation is regarded as the driven factor for organizational resilience, but open innovation's role and effect mechanism in leveraging organizational resilience has been limited explored. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationships between two types of open innovation and organizational resilience and the mediating effect of intellectual capital on open innovation and organizational resilience.Design/methodology/approachAfter a literature review, a research model including open innovation, intellectual capital and organizational resilience is proposed. Survey data are collected from information and communication technologies (ICT) sector in China and analyzed by using partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and Bootstrapping procedure to present results of each hypothesis test.FindingsResults indicate that inbound open innovation has a significant and direct impact on organizational resilience, while outbound open innovation has not. In addition, all three dimensions of intellectual capital were significantly correlated with organizational resilience and had mediating roles in the indirect effect of inbound open innovation and organizational resilience. Nevertheless, only social capital played a mediating role in the relationship between outbound open innovation and organizational resilience.Originality/valueThe study explores the relationships among open innovation, intellectual capital and organizational resilience in a comprehensive model, which is the first known study to highlight that open innovation can enhance organizational resilience through intellectual capital, and provides valuable suggestions for improving organizational resilience.

Place‐based subsidies and employment growth in rural America: Evidence from the broadband initiatives programme

AbstractThis paper studies the labour market effects of the Broadband Initiatives Program (BIP), a programme authorized by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to promote broadband deployment, mainly in rural areas. The BIP is one of the largest USDA broadband programmes implemented to date, providing more than $3.4 billion in grants and loans in FY 2010. We investigate the impacts of BIP investments on employment outcomes in BIP‐recipient Census tracts compared to similar tracts outside of BIP project service areas between the inception of the programme in 2010 and 2019. We use a quasi‐experimental research design that combines difference‐in‐difference regression with propensity score matching estimation to identify the causal effect of the BIP investments on employment outcomes. We find that the BIP investments had a positive overall effect on employment growth that increased over time. The subsidized investments had a greater effect on employment in startups than in incumbent businesses, in the goods‐producing sector and the information and communications technology sector than other sectors, and a greater effect in micropolitan census tracts than tracts located in metropolitan areas or in small town and remote rural locations.

Influence of Resource Allocation on Strategy Implementation in Commercialised State Enterprises in Zimbabwe’s Communication Technology and Courier Services Sector

The study sought to empirically examine the influence of resource allocation on strategy implementation in Commercialised State Owned Enterprises in the Communication Technology and Courier Services Sector of Zimbabwe (CSOEZ). The inquiry was based on a 5-point level of agreement Likert scale questionnaire with a total of 478 respondents completing the questionnaire out of a target population of 836, giving a 57% response rate. Survey data was presented through percentile descriptive statistics and measures of central tendencies of mean, mode and standard deviation whilst ANOVA was used for statistical analysis. The study’s regression analysis confirmed the positive relationship between adequate resource allocation and the number of unattained objectives during strategy implementation. The results of the study concluded that there is inadequate resource allocation during strategy implementation in commercialised state enterprises in Zimbabwe. The study recommended that strategy implementation direct workforce should actively participate in resource allocation; allocation of correct and adequate resources should be timely availed to support strategy execution processes and activities.

Balanced Scorecard Analysis as An Alternative Management Performance Measuring Tool: Case Study

The aim of this research is to analyze the performance of the Vocational Education Quality Assurance Development Center in the field of Marine, Fishery, Information and Communication Technology using the Balance Scorecard Perspective approach which analyzes four perspectives; financial, customer (in this case educators and education staff), internal business processes, and learning and growth. The research method was carried out qualitatively. The sample in this research is the financial report of the Center for Vocational Education Quality Assurance Development in the Maritime, Fishery, Information and Communication Technology sector (BPPMPV KPTK).