Context-based Factors Research Articles

Context-based factors that influence healthcare information system implementation in resource-constrained public hospitals

Technology-based interventions in healthcare are often anticipated to improve the quality of healthcare services. These expectations are based on a perceived belief in the ability of technology to alleviate some of the challenges associated with manual, paper-based healthcare service delivery. As a result, the drive to implement healthcare technology has gained significant traction in recent years. Unfortunately, the implementation efforts of most health-related technologies have been tainted with several challenges such as fragmentation, lack of interoperability, and co-ordination. As a result, data management and health-related information dissemination across various levels of healthcare systems have been jeopardized. The objective of this study is to identify context-based factors that influence healthcare information systems (IS) implementation in resource-constrained public hospitals. The emphasis is on the public healthcare landscape in South Africa. A qualitative methodological approach was employed. Semi-structured interviews with purposively sampled participants in a public healthcare hospital provided primary data. The findings indicate that factors such as implementation of policies, planning and support strategies, and analysis of healthcare IS’s fitness for purpose in healthcare workflows processes influence successful healthcare IS implementation. Addressing these factors is critical if public healthcare hospitals are to realise fully the transformative potential of technology-based interventions. The contributions made in this paper may be useful to the relevant government bodies, policymakers and other stakeholders interested in advancing adequate healthcare service delivery using healthcare IS.

The role of authorial context in mathematicians’ evaluations of proof

We report on a series of task-based interviews in which nine mathematicians were asked to evaluate a series of six mathematical arguments, purportedly produced either by fellow mathematicians or undergraduate students. In this paper, we attend to the role of context in mathematicians’ responses, leading to four themes in expectations when evaluating the proofs that they read. First, mathematicians’ evaluations of identical arguments were sensitive to researchers’ manipulation of authorship, with most accepting arguments purportedly produced by a colleague while taking a more critical view of that same argument if produced by an undergraduate student. Our thematic analysis of interview responses led to three context-based factors influencing mathematicians’ responses when evaluating student-produced texts: course goals, instructors’ expectations, and assessment type. In the final section, we consider implications for researchers focused on understanding common practice amongst mathematicians as well as the pedagogic consequences of our findings for practice in the classroom.

Effects of COVID-19 lockdown on university students\u2019 anxiety disorder in Italy

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vulnerability of specific population sections, with regards to economic and work conditions, mental and physical well-being, and context-based factors, emphasizing the need for timely policy measures aimed at counteracting the Italian economic framework’s fragility—which poorly adapts to unexpected circumstances. Identifying the most vulnerable groups is, therefore, essential with a view to carrying out targeted measures. Concerning University, the economic downturn caused by COVID-19 could likely result in a decrease in enrollments to both the first and further years of study, with significant consequences on the future of students and the system as a whole. The class of students is of great interest, as it is made up of individuals differing from each other in many ways. Our investigation is aimed at observing anxiety levels filtering the perception of one’s anxiety state in a highly stressful time such as the pandemic from the usual anxiety levels. This evaluation allows us to evaluate the similarity of individual behaviors during the lockdown period with those from the previous period.

Digital platforms for business-to-business markets: A systematic review and future research agenda

The evolution of digital platforms has transformed the way businesses operate. Digital platforms have become popular and common in Business-to-Business (B2B) markets, thereby leading to increased interest of researchers. Even with the increasing interest, the field suffers from the lack of a comprehensive approach towards plugging the gaps left behind. This review presents a synthesis of the last ten years of research on digital platforms in B2B markets. Based on Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) and Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) frameworks for adoption of innovation, the current study identifies the technological, organizational, and environmental context-based factors that play a major role in adoption of digital platforms in B2B markets. We also present a detailed overview of the research in terms of publication timeline, geographical distribution, industrial context, theory used, and methodology employed. In addition, we identify some significant gaps and set a future research agenda.

Internet of things in libraries and focus on its adoption in developing countries

Purpose The purpose of this study is to x-ray the issues surrounding the adoption of Internet of Things (IoT) in libraries from the perspective of developing countries. Design/methodology/approach This study theoretically reviewed the adoption of IoT in libraries in developing countries. Findings This study revealed context-based factors such as technological, organizational, environmental and security/privacy factors as determinants of IoT adoption in libraries of developing countries. Originality/value The value of this study arises from the need to study the adoption of technological innovation such as the IotT from the lens of developing countries and proffer solution to its associated challenges.

Contextualized Knowledge Reduces Misconceived COVID-19 Health Decisions

How do we resolve conflicting ideas about how to protect our health during a pandemic? Prior knowledge influences our decisions, potentially creating implicit cognitive conflict with new, correct information. COVID-19 provides a natural condition for investigating how an individual’s health-specific knowledge (e.g., understanding mask efficacy) and their personal context (e.g., outbreak proximity) influence their protective health behavior endorsement, as information about the virus, its spread, and lethality has changed over time. Using a dual-process-model framework, we investigated the role cognitive conflict has on health decision-making. We used a computer mouse-tracking paradigm alongside geographical information systems (GIS) as a proxy for context. The results support a contextualized-deficit-model framework in which relevant knowledge and context-based factors help individuals override cognitive conflict to make more preventative health decisions. Findings from this study may provide evidence for a more effective way for experts to combat non-adherence due to conflicting health information.

A systematic review of AI technology-based service encounters: Implications for hospitality and tourism operations

The hospitality and tourism industry faces serious challenges during public health emergencies such as COVID-19. Managers are concerned not only about how to maintain business and provide humanized services but also about social distancing. This study presented artificial intelligence (AI) technology-based service encounters as a possible solution and examined the antecedents and consequences of the encounter triad including customers, employees, and AI. Based on a systematic literature review, the study identified 4 modes of AI technology-based service encounters: AI-supplemented, AI-generated, AI-mediated, and AI-facilitated encounters. In addition, the study developed an integrated model to specify the factors that influence AI technology-infused service encounters in general and the customer service outcomes that result from the encounters. The findings contribute to service management and AI application theoretically and practically. • AI technology-based service encounter s solve the challenge of providing hospitableness while maintaining distance through two ways: avoidance and coping. • Four modes of AI technology-based service encounters were identified: AI-supplemented, AI-generated, AI-mediated, and AI-facilitated encounters. • Public health emergencies influence AI technology-based service encounters through customer-based, firm-based, and context-based factors. • An integrated model explains the influence of AI technology-based service encounter on customer service outcomes in the COVID-pandemic.

Digital Supply Chain Management in the Videogames Industry: A Systematic Literature Review

As industries mature, they rely more heavily on supply chain management (SCM) to ensure effective operations leading to greater levels of organisational performance. SCM has been widely covered in many industrial areas and, in line with other burgeoning sectors such as Tourism, an industry focus provides the opportunity to look in-depth at the context-based factors that affect SCM. Developments in digital distribution and rapid technological innovations have resulted in an increased focus on Digital Supply Chains (DSCs), which bring about significant changes to how consumers, customers, suppliers, and manufacturers interact, affecting supply chain design and processes. Through a systematic review of the Videogames Industry Supply Chain Management literature, which serves as a pertinent contextual example of a DSC, we look at how supply chains are affected by structural, market and technological change, such as increased platformisation, disintermediation and the proliferation of digital distribution. We distil these findings into a new research agenda, which identifies themes in line with extant DSC research, provides a series of relevant practice recommendations and identifies opportunities for future research.

Consumer acceptance and continuance of mobile money

This research provides empirical results on context-based factors that determine the use of mobile money in Africa by employing a unique secondary data which provides a new perspective on the technology acceptance model (TAM) application. The hypothesised research model tests the context-based constructs to determine how these constructs affect peoples' intentions and attitudes towards the continued use of mobile money. Exploring these constructs provides an understanding of the insights into the marketing campaigns and growth of mobile money providers. The empirical results suggest that the availability of electricity is an important factor for mobile phone functionality and ongoing use of mobile money in the long run. There is also a correlation between regulations that are perceived to be enabling and the intentions of individuals to continue using mobile money. However, there is a negative correlation between rural dwellings and the intentions of individuals to adopt the use of mobile money which finds its basis in the inadequate mobile networks and national grid systems in rural areas.

What determines customers’ engagement in the digital service process?

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine customer engagement behavior (CEB) in digital environments. Specifically, the paper seeks to determine the factors that affect CEB in the different parts of the digital service process. Design/methodology/approach A longitudinal, qualitative, single-case study is used to examine CEB in digital environments. The selected case company is a provider of streaming TV services. Both primary data, gathered from interviews, focus groups and participant observations in meetings with a selected focus group, and secondary data, gathered from company websites sources, were used. Findings This study shows that CEB is determined by different factors in different phases of the digital service process. Moreover, the results show that engagement is highlighted during the front-end phase of the process. During the back-end phase, the role of engagement is realized by maintaining and updating solutions. Originality/value The originality of the research is based on the study of CEB in the context of the digital service process. The factors that affect CEB are classified as customer-based, firm-based and context-based factors.

Public Administration Education in the CEE Countries: How has it Developed during the Recent Decades ?

Abstract This paper presents findings on the developments of PA education in 11 CEE countries and discusses various patterns based on the data on the historical background of PA education, forming thus the initial outcome of a more complex research carried out within the PAQUALITY project. The analysis is based around two main contextual factors: the role of imprinting (path-dependence) of the PA education in the framework of history and evolved PA ideologies, and the development of PA as discipline; and the role of institutional and HE legal factors on the current existence and status of PA education in the selected cluster of countries. The research question relates to the potential observation of differences in the development and current status of PA education in 11 CEE countries today. For this purpose, we utilize a co-variational international comparative case-study methodological approach, since this is a variable-centered approach, as it is acknowledged that a full-fledged theory might be absent in the framework of this specific investigation. The results indicate that we can argue in favor of the role of path-dependence in shaping PA education in CEE countries, where different starting points affected the outcomes in the content of current PA education. However, path-dependence is not to be taken as a sole factor corresponding to the development of the PA discipline in specific countries, as also more context-based factors and legal provisions do play the role. The outcome is that there is a lack of uniformity of PA education across CEE countries, where the country-specific context is the major factor in shaping the structure and content of programs, in some instances even creating new “sciences”. Although it would be expected to have some convergence in PA programs after almost three decades after the political and economic transformations started, we can even argue that PA education is more diverse now. This would give a specific role to the internalization and / or international accreditation in re-shaping and reversing the divergence processes in the future, but the anticipation for program consolidation might also be the factor that could have converging effects.

What difference does the context of activation make? Challenges and innovations in the Italian and Norwegian local welfare

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the role of trans-contextual processes of implementation and governance in the transformation of social and labor inclusion policies in Norway and Italy, including research and practical implications.Design/methodology/approachIt combines qualitative case studies with a framework that makes them comparable, namely, the Logics of Welfare.FindingsDifferences and similarities are related to regimes’ path dependencies as well as interactions between bottom-up and top-down dynamics of implementation. Their shifting logics and patterns enhance or hinder the local actors’ agency and enactment, and the systems’ capability to reduce the risks of exclusion. Results and the ways in which they are achieved are different, although in both cases the inclusion in the labor market remains a contended issue.Research limitations/implicationsThe comparison is based on two case studies. A further development of in-depth comparative analysis may improve our understanding of the role of contexts in the implementation of policy reforms.Practical implicationsReforms have limited capacity to achieve the expected outcomes, including due to a limited understanding of context-based factors. Practitioners and policy makers should take greater account of the latter and their active role in modifying them.Social implicationsThis paper provides a deeper comprehension on how policy practices affect citizens’ hard pathways toward inclusion.Originality/valueThrough a comparative context-based analysis, the paper shows important differences, similarities and shifting modes of operation in activation policy as well as the role of socio-organizational contexts and bottom-up mobilizations. It looks forward to the possible added value derived from a wider testing of such approaches.

An institution-based view of international entrepreneurship: A comparison of context-based and universal determinants in developing and economically advanced countries

The objective of this paper is to investigate the institutional characteristics of different geographic contexts that affect the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The study focuses on three categories of factors: (a) sociocultural, (b) political/legal, and (c) economic. Under economic factors, it examines competitive pressures in international markets, the nature of demands in international markets, domestic resources advantages, and domestic general economic characteristics. The paper identifies universal factors that influence the internationalisation of SMEs regardless of the location of the firm. These universal factors are distinguished from context-based factors, which are specific to the particular conditions of the people/location of the firm. A comparative analysis of cases from Italy and Iran allow us to find factors that are universal, others that are Iranian context-based, and one factor specific to the Italian context. Also, our analysis suggests the existence of some factors without significant influence in either country.

Personal characteristics, business relationships and entrepreneurial performance

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of individual and relational factors on new ventures’ performance. Particular emphasis is given to entrepreneurs’ personal attributes and business relationships (both social and institutional).Design/methodology/approach– Drawn upon a quantitative methodological approach, the current study relies on a survey questionnaire applied to a sample of entrepreneurial firms which were set up in the last four to five years in different industries.Findings– This study found that support from central government, from sector associations and from a financial institution evidenced a difference of means along three categories of entrepreneurial performance (low, moderate and high). The same result was found in the case of the entrepreneur's family support, previous knowledge about potential customers and previous experience in business. Influence from entrepreneur's personal characteristics, such as personal qualities; intuition that he/she is in the presence of an innovative and unique business and need for self-achievement, was also observed.Practical implications– Since entrepreneurial activity is considered an important driver of a country's economic development and growth, it is hoped that governments and sector associations put in place suitable policies and incentives to develop an entrepreneurial culture and mainly reduce the burden of bureaucracy for new ventures.Originality/value– The present study suggests that entrepreneurial performance is the result of a combination of personal and context-based factors and neither can be explained by a single set of entrepreneurial personal characteristics nor a set of more or less institutional relationships.

Psychological Need Fulfillment Among Workers in an Exercise Intervention

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceived factors affecting workers' participation in an exercise intervention and interpret the findings within self-determination theory (Ryan & Deci, 2000a; 2007). Research examining the impact of psychological need satisfaction on exercise outcomes is not well established (McDonough & Crocker, 2007; Ryan & Deci, 2007). Even less is known about the processes through which workers negotiate a range of individual, group and context-based factors to fulfill these basic needs in exercise settings. To provide such insight, focus group interviews were conducted with 10 factory workers to discuss their involvement in a 7-week exercise intervention. Results indicated that a negotiation of complementary and competing factors (i.e., skill acquisition and regaining physical capabilities, a sense of camaraderie, characteristics of the trainer, exercise context, a sense of obligation, scheduling) affected workers' need fulfillment, which ultimately affected their exercise adherence. The implications for health practitioners aiming to meet the psychological needs of workers involved in exercise interventions are discussed.

The Neoliberal Educational Agenda and the Legitimation Crisis: Old and new state strategies

In the context of globalisation and hegemonic neoliberalism, the state's ability to legitimate the economic system and its own policies cannot be assumed as a positive automatic effect. The economic and political conditions that once framed state action have changed, and it is reasonable to think that the emergence of a new accumulation regime implies also a shift in the traditional strategies used by the nation-state to legitimate its policy-making. This paper reviews how the neoliberal educational agenda develops a new political rationality that changes the traditional forms in which the state has managed its legitimation crisis. In addition, the paper argues that context-based factors, nationally specific, show that this political rationality may not be uniformly applied among different nation-states. The case of semiperipheral countries provides some evidence on the necessary combination of old and new strategies developed by the state to legitimate a neoliberal agenda.