Innovations In Distribution Research Articles

Innovación en los ecosistemas de distribución turística: el papel de los intermediaries y nuevos agentes

Tourism distribution is facing new challenges characterised by accelerating innovation cycles, a shift from traditional to digital business models, and ever-deepening technical know-how, which provide organisations with new opportunities to expand their capabilities and become more competitive. We aim to achieve a comprehensive and updated synthesis of current research approaches to innovation in tourism distribution ecosystems and provide proposals for future studies. This is one of the first thematic reviews to concentrate on how the tourism distribution ecosystem can be understood comprehensively through the application of the 6C framework. The study aims to conduct an in-depth review of 53 selected papers obtained from a specific search criterion employed across widespread repositories of Scopus and Web of Science databases, capturing the period from Jan 2001 to August 2023. In business ecosystems, advancements in information and communications technologies have triggered radical innovations in tourism distribution with the emergence of players with new business models. This affects traditional players who must innovate to remain competitive. An organisational analysis shows that new online players lead product innovation, whereas traditional distributors rely more on process innovation. Organisational innovation has emerged as necessary for both.

A weighted Gompertz-G family of distributions for reliability and lifetime data analysis

This article is set to push new boundaries with leading-edge innovations in statistical distribution for generating up-to-the-minute contemporary distributions by a mixture of the second record value of the Gompertz distribution and the classical Gompertz model (weighted Gompertz model) using T-X characterization, especially used for two-sided schemes that provide an accurate model. The quantile, ordinary, and complete moments, order statistics, probability, and moments generating functions, entropies, probability weighted moments, Lin’s condition random variable, reliability in multicomponent stress strength system, reversed, and moments of residuals life and other reliability characteristics in engineering, actuarial, economics, and environmental technology were derived in their closed form. To investigate and test the flexibility, viability, tractability, and performance of the proposed Weighted Gompertz-G (WGG) generated model, the shapes of some sub-models of the WGG model were examined. The shapes of the sub-models indicated J-shapes, increasing, decreasing, and bathtub hazard rate functions. The maximum likelihood estimation of the WGG-generated model parameters was examined. An illustration with simulation and real-life data analysis indicated that the WGG-generated model provides consistently better goodness-of-fit statistics than some competitive models in the literature.

How COVID-19 is Revamping Journalism: Newsroom Practices and Innovations in a Crisis Context

ABSTRACTWorldwide audiences became interested in COVID-19-related news, as the health emergency generated a sharp increase in information consumption. Drawing on the literature of crisis innovation, this study aims to understand the transformations that have taken place in the Spanish journalistic industry and the innovations implemented during the pandemic. The research questions are: How has COVID-19 fostered innovation in work organisation in the Spanish newsrooms? What other innovations were launched by the Spanish media during the pandemic? The methodology is based on semi-structured interviews conducted with a purposive sample of 20 media practitioners and 20 experts on journalism innovation (academics and journalists) in Spain. Results show that newsroom practices have evolved through telework, collaboration and other factors, and that digital transformation was accelerated in legacy media. In many outlets, the science section was increasingly relevant, working in a coordinated way with the areas of data visualisation and design to produce relevant content. Also, fact-checkers played an important role in fighting misinformation. The pandemic has speeded up some ongoing innovations in news production, newsroom organisation, distribution, and commercialisation in a significant way. Thus, COVID-19 understood as a crisis situation has had an impact on news products and it has affected journalistic culture.

Toward next-generation green solar cells and environmental sustainability: impact of innovation in photovoltaic energy generation, distribution, or transmission-related technologies on environmental sustainability in the United States

Photovoltaic is emerging as a cost-competitive source of energy generation and has experienced a decade of substantial cost decline. Recognizing that innovation in sustainable technologies can substantially contribute to the sustainable generation of energy, the federal government, universities, and industries in the USA have invested considerably in innovative solar technologies involving photovoltaic energy generation. However, the association between innovations in photovoltaic energy generation, distribution, or transmission-related technologies (IPVEGRT) and carbon dioxide emissions is unclear. The present study significantly contributes to energy economics by inspecting the nexus between IPVEGRT and carbon dioxide emissions, renewable energy consumption, the expansionary monetary policy, international collaboration in green technology development, gross domestic product per capita, and trade openness in the USA from 1990Q1 to 2018Q4. The results indicate that IPVEGRT helps reduce carbon dioxide emissions. International collaboration in green technology development and renewable energy consumption was negatively associated with carbon dioxide emissions, while expansionary monetary policy, gross domestic product per capita, and trade openness were positively associated with carbon dioxide emissions. The two-way causality between IPVEGRT and carbon dioxide emissions and between international collaboration in green technology development and carbon dioxide emissions was validated. Finally, a one-way causality between expansionary monetary policy, carbon dioxide emissions, gross domestic product per capita, and carbon dioxide emissions was validated.

Postpandemic innovative trends in logistics, distribution and supply chain

This scientific output describes the weaknesses of material flows and the lack of resilience of supply chains, which resulted in the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. This unpleasant situation has presented the whole of logistics with new challenges and problems, which society and industry have tried with their approach to achieving non-stagnant logistics processes, which were therefore threatened mainly by the pandemic. The article describes old but mainly new trends and innovations in logistics, distribution and supply chain, which are also the result of accelerated digital transformation.

Management of Innovations in Organic Food Distribution and their Impact in Times of Covid-19 Pandemic and Electronic Economy in Poland

Purpose: The major goal of this study is the identification and assessment of innovations in organic food distribution and their importance in times of pandemic and electronic economy in Poland, especially actions undertaken by special chain stores of organic food. Approach/Methodology/Design: A study of a selected chain store was carried out in 2021 by the Mystery shopper method in Warsaw, Wroclaw, Swarzedz and Poznan. It was comprehensive and of nationwide character. The results were compared with customers’ opinions in which way a comprehensive assessment was achieved. Additionally, the study presents information about the development of chain stores in Poland including those which sell organic foods. Characteristics of organic food customers in the time of pandemic and electronic economy have been presented as well as the concept and classification of innovation and innovative solutions implemented in similar chain stores abroad. Findings: Implementation of technological innovation was assessed for a selected specialist chain store. Innovative, 24 hour, phone application based customer self-service with no personnel present (24/7) meets customers’ expectations and is well rated by most of them (well and very well by 81%). Customers’ comfort and communication were best rated, time efficiency slightly lower, whereas reliability was given the lowest, though better than good, score. Practical Implications: The study provides clients with the possibility of doing shopping with assistance of a consultant when needed, and it offers a chance for an individual, unattended purchase with the use of an application for those who avoid direct contact with other people in the time of pandemic and want to choose the product by themselves. Such a system is an option between the traditional form of stationary retailing and online shopping. Originality/Value: The proposed solutions are to contribute to the development of organic food market and marketing in the studied area.

Analysis and Visualisation of Research Trends in Hydrogen Fuel: A General Review

Hydrogen fuel is one of the clean fuels that can replace non-renewable energy sources. Engineering innovations in extraction and distribution are the key challenges to this alternative fuel[1].The bibliometric analysis had been conducted to understand the active authors, organizations, journals, and countries involved in the research domain of “Hydrogen fuel”[2], [3]. All published articles related to “Hydrogen fuel” from “Scopus”, were analyzed using the VOS viewer to develop analysis tables and visualization maps.This article had set the objective to consolidate the scientific literature regarding the “Hydrogen fuel”and also to find out the trends related to the same.The most active journals in this research domain were identified as International Journal of Hydrogen Energyand Journal of Power Sources.The most active country was the United States of America. The leading organizations in this research domain were the Russian Academy of Sciences of Russia and Argonne National Laboratory of the United States of America.The most active authorswere Tomasov A.A and Jacobson M.Z.

Innovations in distribution channel?a case of hero cycles

You would have surely heard about car loans @ 7.75% but have you ever come across ‘bicycle loans?’ In 2013, Hero cycles, the world's largest bicycle manufacturer announced that it will be tying up with microfinance institutions (MFIs) across India to ensure that the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) can get easy access to finances to buy bicycles. Creating a new sales channel using microfinance institutions (MFIs) to reach the weaker sections of society was a road never travelled. Bicycle industry is a price-sensitive industry because the domestic demand for bicycles comes from the low-income population. Also, in India the penetration of bicycles in rural areas is extremely poor. It is interesting to look at how the industry would reach the enormous untapped potential in the rural areas to maximize its bicycle sales through microfinance. The research paper intended to explore the genesis of a new sales channel by providing microfinance to rural women entrepreneurs. What were the challenges in creating a new sales channel? How the company overcame the challenges of the new sales channel? For the bicycle industry, it's a new, unconventional sales model and we need to figure out how far the industry can peddle on microfinance institutions (MFIs) to sell bicycles in India.

Friends or foes? A meta-analysis of the relationship between “online piracy” and the sales of cultural goods

Economic theory posits that consumers’ response to technological innovations in distribution of cultural goods may have both positive and negative effects on the sales of these goods. Access to unauthorized cultural content – often referred to as “online piracy” – may reduce demand for the authorized distribution through substitution or raise it (through complementarity and similar effects). The empirical evidence speaks to both positive and negative correlation between unauthorized distribution and authorized sales. We review and discuss the accomplishments in the field so far and provide a quantitative analysis of the empirical literature, the meta-analysis. While numerous and interesting measures and methods have been developed, estimating reliable causal effect remains a challenge. There are also substantial differences between film and music industry. On the whole the literature fails to reject the null hypothesis of no effects on sales.

How journalists innovate in the newsroom. Proposing a model of the diffusion of innovations in media outlets

This paper explores how innovation emerges in the media through the views of journalists who are leading the process of newsroom change in Spain. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews with 20 journalists working in some of the most innovative outlets, according to the 2014 Index of Journalism Innovation in Spain (García-Avilés, Carvajal-Prieto, De Lara-González, & Arias-Robles, 2018). The results highlight the importance of innovations in content production, internal organization, distribution, and commercialization as the drivers of change in the media industry. Our study also reveals several factors that shape both the practice and implementation of innovations in newsrooms. We draw on these factors to outline a model of diffusion of media innovation.

Managers Fail to Innovate and Academics Fail to Explain How

I am stunned by the failure of so many organizations to create the capability for generating streams of new products and services over time. Organizations capable of ongoing innovation can create more profits, more value, more employment, more growth, and more adaptability to transformations in technologies and markets (BCG study of investor returns). Generating streams of innovation is even more important now, especially for organizations in emerging economies, because industrial transformations and global grand challenges (Ferraro, Etzion, & Gehman, 2015) demand continuous innovations in products, programs, business processes, and strategies. For example, digitalization is transforming business models from vertical industrial silos such as consumer goods, materials, or financials to horizontal platforms that orchestrate networks, create technologies, and provide services (think Amazon, Alibaba). New markets and technologies emerge unpredictably but will produce major economic and social changes. Emerging economies more directly face grand challenge complexities of poverty, water scarcity, inequality, and climate changes. Innovations in emerging economy organizations are also very complex, since they often include innovations in sales, distribution, and business models along with rigorous product design and development processes.

Indoor air quality and its effects on humans—A review of challenges and developments in the last 30 years

A reflective approach is adopted in analyzing the reviews on the impact of indoor air quality on humans over the last 30 years (1986–2016). The major findings reiterate the concerns of indoor air pollution (IAP) and provide a deeper understanding of how contaminants contribute to, and interact to accentuate the adverse effects on humans. Issues which have emerged and increased in importance are indoor chemistry, airborne infection, and the impact on performance. Societal trends of rising affluence of the middle class, increased population density in cities, introduction of new synthetic materials, reliance on childcare facilities have led to greater intensity of exposure to IAP. Responses to climate change, energy conservation and singular strategies to manage the complex challenge of IAP have not been effective in alleviating the deterioration of indoor air quality. Innovations in air distribution, air cleaning, modularization of indoor environmental devices/systems, and leveraging on smart technologies and sensing systems which incorporate algorithms that optimizes indoor air quality with conventional performance indicators are important advancements towards a holistic solution. User engagement, both as a sensor and indicator of preferences, when integrated with such innovations, may usher in the next important paradigm towards achieving acceptable indoor environmental quality beyond the current definitions of acceptability from population-based criteria to one that embraces the individual on an as-needed, when-needed and as-preferred basis.

B.316 - Evaluation of technological innovations in storage and distribution of radiological data

B.316 - Evaluation of technological innovations in storage and distribution of radiological data

Crisis at the Bottom of the Pyramid: A Case Study of Micro-Finance in India

The micro-finance industry in India is in the midst of the most severe crisis in its 25 years history. The genesis of the problem was the clash between the original micro-finance goals of poverty alleviation with the profit maximization goals of the micro-finance institutions. In the state of Andhra Pradesh, micro-finance institutions have been accused of lending practices that adversely affected the lives of the poor borrower, to the extent that they were driven to commit suicide. This led to government intervention with an ordinance that effectively stopped collection of micro-debt and prohibited new micro-loans in the state. The Andhra Pradesh government action led to a 600 fold decrease in financing to the very poorest of India’s citizens. The more systemic outcome from this was the lending freeze by the banks to the micro-finance sector, not just in the state but all across India. The crisis that erupted initially in the state of Andhra Pradesh in the early October 2010 had its contagion spread across the whole country and globally. This current stalemate brings to fore the importance and urgency of getting the right policy for the micro-finance sector. This paper provides background and insight to the crisis which raises important questions about the evolution of micro-finance market. This paper also delineates the three distinct aspects where the government needs to play a pivotal role for sustainable development of micro-finance in India. The first role is to protect the rights of the micro-borrower, the consumer of the micro-financial services. The second role is that of prudential oversight of risk taking by firms operating in micro-finance. The third role is a developmental role where the key issues are diversification of access to funds, innovations in distribution and product structure and the use of new technologies. Each of these roles needs to be placed in an existing or a new regulatory agency.

Indirect Kicks: Leveraging Innovations in Content and Distribution for the Benefit of Major League Soccer

I argue that innovations in content and distribution can serve as catalysts to allow Major League Soccer (MLS) to more quickly and fully realize its future growth potential. The paper has four parts following the introductory section. Part two provides background on the current North American soccer landscape from a content and distribution perspective. After this largely contextual section, part three delves into an analysis of several diverse initiatives that the league can explore in the pursuit of its market-expansion objectives. Subsequently, the fourth part extends the discussion to distribution, laying down a strategy for the league in periods both prior to and following the expiration of its US television broadcast contracts after the 2014 season. Finally, part five briefly brings together the conversation in the preceding sections.

Special issue on innovations in fashion retailing and distribution

Special issue on innovations in fashion retailing and distribution

A Policy Response to the Indian Micro-Finance Crisis

Recent events in India have brought a fresh focus upon the problem of regulation in the field of micro-finance. This paper delineates the three distinct aspects where government needs to play a role. The first is to protect the rights of the micro-borrower, the consumer of micro-financial services. The second is that of prudential oversight of risk-taking by firms operating in micro-finance, since this could have systemic implications. The third is a developmental role, emphasising scale-up of the micro-finance industry where the key issues are diversification of access to funds, innovations in distribution and product structure, and the use of new technologies such as credit bureaus and the UID. Each of these roles need to be placed in an existing or a new regulatory agency. There is a case for creating a new regulatory agency which unifies the consumer protection function across all financial products.

Cyberscience and the Knowledge-Based Economy. Open Access and Trade Publishing: From Contradiction to Compatibility with Non-Exclusive Copyright Licensing

Open source, open content and open access are set to fundamentally alter the conditions of knowledge production and distribution. Open source, open content and open access are also the most tangible result of the shift towards e-science and digital networking. Yet, widespread misperceptions exist about the impact of this shift on knowledge distribution and scientific publishing. It is argued, on the one hand, that for the academy there principally is no digital dilemma surrounding copyright and there is no contradiction between open science and the knowledge-based economy if profits are made from non-exclusive rights. On the other hand, pressure for the ‘digital doubling’ of research articles in open access repositories (the ‘green road’) is misguided and the current model of open access publishing (the ‘gold road’) has not much future outside biomedicine. Commercial publishers must understand that business models based on the transfer of copyright have not much future either. Digital technology and its economics favour the severance of distribution from certification. What is required of universities and governments, scholars and publishers, is to clear the way for digital innovations in knowledge distribution and scholarly publishing by enabling the emergence of a competitive market that is based on non-exclusive rights. This requires no change in the law but merely an end to the praxis of copyright transfer and exclusive licensing. The best way forward for research organisations, universities and scientists is the adoption of standard copyright licences that reserve some rights, namely Attribution and No Derivative Works, but otherwise will allow for the unlimited reproduction, dissemination and re-use of the research article, commercial uses included.

Cyberscience and the Knowledge-Based Economy, Open Access and Trade Publishing: From Contradiction to Compatibility with Nonexclusive Copyright Licensing

Open source, open content and open access are set to fundamentally alter the conditions of knowledge production and distribution. Open source, open content and open access are also the most tangible result of the shift towards e-Science and digital networking. Yet, widespread misperceptions exist about the impact of this shift on knowledge distribution and scientific publishing. It is argued, on the one hand, that for the academy there principally is no digital dilemma surrounding copyright and there is no contradiction between open science and the knowledge-based economy if profits are made from nonexclusive rights. On the other hand, pressure for the `digital doubling' of research articles in Open Access repositories (the `green road') is misguided and the current model of Open Access publishing (the `gold road') has not much future outside biomedicine. Commercial publishers must understand that business models based on the transfer of copyright have not much future either. Digital technology and its economics favour the severance of distribution from certification. What is required of universities and governments, scholars and publishers, is to clear the way for digital innovations in knowledge distribution and scholarly publishing by enabling the emergence of a competitive market that is based on nonexclusive rights. This requires no change in the law but merely an end to the praxis of copyright transfer and exclusive licensing. The best way forward for research organisations, universities and scientists is the adoption of standard copyright licenses that reserve some rights, namely Attribution and No Derivative Works, but otherwise will allow for the unlimited reproduction, dissemination and re-use of the research article, commercial uses included.

Diet and food preparation: Rethinking early hominid behavior

At least four innovations in nutrient sources, preparation, and distribution underlie the transformation of our evolutionary ancestors into modern humans: the digging, preparation, and consumption of tubers and rhizomes; the technological mediation of hunting and butchering of animal prey; the socially mediated redistribution of animal prey; and the control of fire for cooking. The emergence of technologies for processing hard-to-obtain or difficult-to-digest foods such as animal protein, savanna tubers, rhizomes, and perennial bulbs probably precipitated changes in energy availability and expenditure that directly affected gut proportion and indirectly affected sexual dimorphism, fetal weight, and brain size.1, 2 The indigestibility or toxicity of several potential food items, including rootstocks and carrion, could be extremely important for understanding hominid adaptations to the mosaic ecology of late Plio-Pleistocene South and East Africa.3–5 Primate consumption of rootstocks, seeds, and meat, which is often assumed to be essential for hominid adaptation to the savanna-woodland, is constrained by digestion-inhibiting agents in underground storage organs and by the rapid bacterial contamination of carrion. These potential restrictions on hominid food choice have led me to argue that hunting rather than scavenging, together with technologically assisted extractive foraging and food preparation, was an essential parts of the earliest hominid behavioral repertoire.4, 6.