Late Entrants Research Articles

The window of opportunity: a case study of the battery electric vehicle in Thailand

Purpose Thailand, although a late entrant, has emerged as a significant center for the production and export of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in Asia. With the arrival of a disruptive battery-electric vehicle (BEV), this study aims to investigate whether Thailand can exploit this window of opportunity to leapfrog. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses data sourced from Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property to analyze electric vehicle (EV) patent applications. This paper collected qualitative data and conducted interviews with several EV manufacturers. Findings Although Japanese automakers dominate essential EV technology patents, they trail behind Chinese automakers, which benefited from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in EV sales. The incumbents, Japanese and Western, choose to expand their production of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid vehicles. ICE technology does not constrain new entrants, such as Chinese automakers, Japanese newcomers and Thai newcomers. Compared to Japanese carmakers stuck with ICE and HEV technologies, they have been transitioning to BEVs at a faster pace. BEV has opened the door for large Thai indigenous energy corporations to enter the automotive industry by focusing on niche areas (nonfour-wheel vehicles) and supporting businesses like charging stations. In summary, Thailand has successfully attracted foreign direct investment (FDI) into the EV sector, but it has not yet succeeded in developing indigenous technologies related to EVs. The Thai automobile sector fails to leapfrog because it is too tied up with Japanese automotive production networks and has an unfavorable FTA with China. Originality/value This study sheds light on the limitations of an industrial development strategy relying on openness to trade and FDI without adequately strengthening indigenous technologies and firms, as the country adopting the strategy fails to leapfrog when the window of opportunities created by disruptive technologies arrives.

Unveiling Users Perspective

The public library is an abode of information and knowledge, committed to education, culture, and Library advocacy. Though public libraries are called “people’s University” and cater to varied categories of users and their infinite information needs without any discrimination but still in India many such libraries are still not providing effective services to the user community. In India, out of 28 states, 19 states have already enacted library legislation with the latest entrant being Telangana State (2015) and though Haryana State enacted the Act in the year 1989 but still very few comprehensive studies conducted either by any public library or the users’(RRRLF). Well, the present study attempts to check out the ground reality of the State Central Library along with 2 District Libraries of the State of Haryana in terms of library collection, services, facilities, and user satisfaction. A descriptive survey research design was employed, and 500 library users across three public libraries were surveyed using a structured questionnaire, out of which 396 responses(n=396) were found eligible for the analysis. The study found an improvement in the use of public libraries in the region but identified some inadequate facilities like lack of enhanced library services along with updated collection, and poor internet/ICT services as major factors affecting user satisfaction. The findings suggest that the Haryana government should increase funding to public libraries to acquire adequate information resources and ICT facilities, thereby increasing the utilization of public libraries and meeting the information needs of the users.

The teaching pathologists association of Mumbai: A legacy that lives on.

The Teaching Pathologists Association of Mumbai was started by two doyens of pathology, Dr V. R. Khanolkar and Dr. P. V. Gharpure. They were the heads of the departments of pathology at Seth G S Medical College and Grant Government Medical college. The first meeting of the association was held in July 1935 at the Grant Medical College. The idea of the meetings was to know about the work done in other institutes and was attended by staff and students of these institutes. Soon Haffkine Institute joined, followed by Tata Memorial Hospital, TN Medical College, and Lokmanya Tilak Medical College in the late 1960s, with the latest entrant being HBT Medical College in 2023. The meetings that started in 1935 have continued till date (2023) with over 500 meetings being conducted so far. The nature of the meetings was in the form of a presentation by a postgraduate or faculty member. It was left to the discretion of the head of the department. This has been a unique association with no formal office bearers and runs purely on the understanding and cooperation of the senior teachers of these institutes. It has nurtured the spirit of mutual cooperation among the various medical institutes in Mumbai with the exchange and sharing of views and material. This article describes the beginning and subsequent growth of this association, the likes of which are yet to be seen elsewhere.

Kia India: Foray Into Electric Passenger Vehicle Market

Kia India, the wholly owned subsidiary of South Korea based Kia Corporation, was unquestionably a late entrant in the highly competitive Indian passenger vehicle (PV) industry. Its ingress was nonetheless well planned and its strategic initiatives were adeptly executed. A well-conceived product portfolio juxtaposed with an astute segmentation, targeting and positioning strategy enabled Kia India establish itself as an inspiring brand in a hyper competitive Indian automobile marketplace. Timely launch of trend-leading PVs formed part of Kia India’s growth story. Kia drove into the electric PV (E-PV) segment with the launch of EV6. Will the recent product launches enable Kia India add more superlatives to its name? Is there a need to revisit the product portfolio and analyse the status of different models that the company has hitherto launched in the country? How can Kia India continue its storied journey in India?

Perceptions of future teachers of Therapeutic Pedagogy on an intercultural music workshop

ABSTRACT Pupils who are late entrants to the Spanish education system may require a response from Therapeutic Pedagogy. They, as children of immigrants, may have educational needs such as socio-cultural adaptation and the need for respect and non-discrimination of their culture and religion. From an intercultural approach, the music classroom could provide a scenario of coexistence based on social inclusion and cultural exchange. Based on these assumptions, the ‘Caribbean Music Workshop’ was developed within the framework of the subject ‘Physical, plastic and music education and its didactics in special educational needs’. It is a subject of the Therapeutic Pedagogy Major of the Primary Education Teacher Training Degree at the University of Valencia. With the aim of assessing the perceptions of the future Therapeutic Pedagogy teachers about the workshop, at the end of the activity the students filled in a questionnaire with their considerations about the relevance of the intervention and other benefits it could bring to the pedagogical and therapeutic work. After a mixed analysis, the results revealed that the workshop represents a valid intercultural proposal to promote the social inclusion of students who are children of immigrants, as well as to address other educational needs.

Effect of Twin Island Configuration on Airwake Aerodynamics over Generic Aircraft Carrier using CFD

The technological advancements have led to the evolution of numerous concepts in an aircraft carrier’s topdeck design, the twin island concept being the latest entrant. An aircraft carrier’s bluff body geometry presents many challenges to the pilot, landing on deck being the most critical. The present study aims to undertake a computational investigation of the aerodynamic analysis of a Twin Island GAC (Generic Aircraft Carrier) conceptualized vis- à-vis its base variant. The flow over the twin island GAC flight deck and downstream is analysed using various transverse planes perpendicular to the flow direction as detailed in the paper. Subsequently, a parametric study was undertaken for understanding the effects of longitudinal translations of the two islands with respect to the baseline GAC position. The results depict the advantage of certain variants of twin islands over a single island, and ~68 % reduction in turbulence is achieved along the glideslope by one of the variations which could aid in reducing pilot workload. The data can act as a catalyst for utilization and incorporation in future floating platform designs and further studies in this field.

The Effect of Market-Entry Timing on a Firm’s Speed and Cost of Entry

This paper examines the effect of market-entry timing on a firm’s speed and cost of entry in a setting where a firm needs to build a plant for market entry. Based on our developed analytical model, we provide seven scenarios of the market-entry timing effect on a firm’s entry speed and cost. We test hypotheses in the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry. We use Wooldridge’s three-step instrumental variable (IV) approach to account for endogeneity bias. We find that a late entrant has (1) a shorter time-to-build and (2) a higher cost-to-build relative to an early entrant. Further, (3) the late entrant positively moderates the negative relationship of time-to-build and cost-to-build (i.e., the negative relationship of time-to build and cost-to-build becomes less negative for the late entrant). These empirical results are consistent with the prediction of when both revenue effect (i.e., revenue curve shift) and cost effect (i.e., cost curve leftward shift) exist.

Drones in Modern Warfare: Utilization in India-Pakistan Cross-Border Terrorism and Security Implications

The drone is the latest entrant in the ever-volatile India-Pakistan cross-border terrorism imbroglio. According to media reports, the use of the drones to send payloads, weapons, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) has substantially increased in the last two years. This technology has been a boon for the terrorist outfits based in Pakistan which are using Chinese drones to drop payloads and plan terrorist attacks in Indian cities. This article discusses how the drone is emerging as a new frontier of warfare; drone development in India and Pakistan; emerging instances of cross-border terrorism via drones; security implications therein and also possible solutions which lie ahead.

The role of leisure-time physical activity in youth for lifelong activity—a latent profile analysis with retrospective life course data

Considering the positive health effects of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), youth is an important life stage to promote lifelong LTPA. However, the stability of LTPA over the life course is low, and specific predictors of LTPA in youth for lifelong activity have some shortcomings, e.g. neglecting the interacting factors of LTPA within individuals. Therefore, from a person-oriented approach, patterns of LTPA behaviour in youth considering time- and context-related aspects and their relationships with lifelong LTPA were investigated. Life course data from n = 1519 Swiss inhabitants aged between 25 and 76 years were recorded retrospectively using a validated questionnaire (CATI method). Latent profile analyses were used to find the optimal profile solution and for the association with lifelong LTPA auxiliary conditional effect models (controlled for age) were applied. Six distinct patterns emerged. Overall, mostly inactive youth are also the least active in adulthood, whereas several other patterns are associated with a mainly continuous LTPA throughout adulthood. More precisely, multiple constellations in youth occurred to be physically active in at least 80% of the years in adulthood: (1) early starters regarding LTPA in a rather self-organised setting but not with many different LTPAs; (2) late entrants with a variety of different activities and organisational settings; or (3) a high expression in every variable investigated. Consequently, there is not just one type of LTPA behaviour in youth linked to lifelong activity, which indicates that certain aspects of LTPA in youth can be compensated by each other. Implications for LTPA promotion can be derived.

Can entrepreneurial marketing compensate for late market entry? A moderated mediation analysis

The study tested whether entrepreneurial marketing (EM) can create unique resource advantages for startups and small firms and compensate for late market entry. The authors collected the responses from 509 fast-food restaurants in Kuwait and analyzed the data through structural equation modeling. The evidence supports a direct effect of time-in-market on market share. However, customer-focused market penetration strategies (MPS) mediated the relationship between time-in-market and market share. Further, innovative, culturally influenced customer relationship management (CRM) moderated the impact of time-in-market and MPS on market share, compensating for late market entry.The authors utilize the Resource Advantage (R-A) Theory to inform market entry literature and provide novel solutions to resource-constrained late entrants who can offset the advantages of early market entrants and gain market share through an entrepreneurial marketing approach. It offers a practical approach for implementing entrepreneurial marketing in assisting small firms in seeking market advantages despite late entry and resource limitations. The study's findings have implications for small firms and marketing managers of late-entrant firms, who can leverage innovative MPS and CRM incorporating cultural artifacts to generate behavioral, emotional, and psychological engagement leading to higher market share.

Research on Co-opetition Strategy of New Energy Vehicle Companies Based on Stackelberg Game: Taking Tesla and BYD as Examples

With the support policies of various countries, new energy vehicles are developing rapidly. The promising prospect of new energy vehicle market also leads to the competition between oligopolistic companies intensify. Based on Stackelberg game model, this paper analyzes the problem of production and revenue between Tesla and BYD in the state of competition and cooperation. The research results of this paper show that: without considering the difference of entry cost and marginal cost between the two companies, the optimal strategy of both companies is to cooperate in making production decision and suggest the corresponding countermeasures in the cooperation mode. In order to maintain the leading edge of both parties in the industry, Tesla and BYD should combine resources to reduce entry cost and marginal cost, widen the cost gap with late entrants, and reduce competitive pressure. The research in this paper has important practical significance for the future development of new energy vehicles.

Prospective study of radiological and functional outcomes of humeral mid-shaft fractures by anterior bridge plating technique

Background: The humerus can be considered the most versatile bone in the human body. Can be successfully approached by a variety of methods for fracture fixation including functional bracing, plating (posterior, lateral, and anterior), and intramedullary nailing (antegrade and retrograde). Notably, many humeral fractures can be successfully managed conservatively due to the wide range of acceptability for reduction. Anterior bridge plating (ABP) which utilizes the minimally invasive approach popularly known as the minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO) technique can be said to be the latest entrant in this list. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of ABP. Methods: The study was carried out from July 2020 to July 2022 in DR. D. Y. Patil medical college and hospital, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, involving 32 patients who met the selection criteria and were operated at the tertiary care centre. Informed consent was obtained from all the patients for use of their clinical and imaging data. Ethical committee approval was taken. The assessment of the patients was done based on functional and radiological outcomes periodically. Results: Majority of patients belongs to age group 18-25 years (46.87%). Majority of side of injury were found right side (65.62%). In most of the cases, the extent of the displacement of fractures were 2-5 cm (71.87). Conclusions: In conclusion ABP is a very good technique in treating mid-shaft humeral fractures with minimal soft tissue dissection, smaller scars, and early return to overhead activities.

Predicting out-of-school suspensions among youth in care in England: A national cohort study

Previous research has indicated that youth in care are at a disproportionally high risk of being suspended from school. Yet, research on this topic is scarce despite the detrimental effects such disciplinary actions can have on the educational development of this vulnerable group. Therefore, the goal of this study was to explore a longitudinal path model of factors associated with the risk of being suspended from secondary school among a national cohort of 3699 children placed in care in England. Using data from the National Pupil Database and the Children Looked after Database, children were tracked from School Year 2 through School Year 9 in order to test the direct and mediated effects of individual factors (i.e., gender, eligibility for free school meals, special educational needs, and belonging to an ethnic minority background), care factors (i.e., age of entry into care, reason for out-of-home placement, placement type and length of time in care) and educational factors (i.e., school type, achievements, absences and suspensions in Year 6 and school type in Year 9) on the risk of suspension in Year 9. Results indicated that approximately 1 in 5 children in care in England (19.4%) are suspended at least once during their secondary School Year 9; these proportions markedly exceed those previously found among their general population peers. Children found to be most at risk for out-of-school suspensions were (a) males; (b) late entrants into care; (c) children who had behavioral, emotional, or social difficulties; and (d) children with a history of suspensions. Surprisingly, being eligible for free school meals and having lower academic achievement was related to a decreased risk of being suspended. These findings are discussed in consideration of the interrelationships among variables and the mediating pathways found. Implications for schools and educators catering for youth in care are also discussed.

How does competition in the development of artificial intelligence affect a firm’s technology search strategy? Evidence from the U.S. pharmaceutical industry

ABSTRACT During technological shifts in which new technology threatens to substitute for existing technology, how do firms search for such new technology? Although several studies have demonstrated the benefits of collaboration among firms in the development of new technologies, research in this stream has largely overlooked the potential roles of competition. Our empirical analysis of U.S. pharmaceutical firms’ adoption of artificial intelligence in 2000–2019 shows that early and late entrants learn from each other. Specifically, late entrants learn basic technology from early entrants, and early entrants learn applied technology from late entrants.

Significant Challenges in Digital Payments with Reference to Digitalization of Small Retail Stores in Indian Context - A Theoretical Assimilation

Due to the entry of huge supermarket chains and internet merchants, the traditional business model of small retail convenience businesses in India is coming under growing pressure. The digitalization of small retail establishments was examined in this study utilizing a qualitative technique and the Technology-OrganizationEnvironment framework as the theoretical underpinning. Our analysis indicated a high reliance on low value cash and credit-based transactions and low levels of adoption of digital technologies for managing supply-side and customers-side activities. Small retail establishments' capacity to go digital is being hampered by ineffective procedures, shoddy physical infrastructure, inadequate access to and unreliability of digital technologies, and costs. The current digital era is characterized by a significant amount of continuing, ICT-led technological progress and ever-increasing rivalry. New and late entrants are concerned about their future in the face of fierce rivalry, while established enterprises and early entrants are concerned about rising competition and shrinking profit margins. Digital disruption has reduced the lifecycles of company models, making business model innovation essential to attaining financial success. Small retailers' inability to comprehend the changes and resources needed to meet the challenges is evidenced by their expressed ambiguity and inherent contradictions regarding the advantages of transparency, perceived sense of control, tax implications, and mistrust of external regulations in the context of digital commerce.

Should school fee abolition be comprehensive? An evaluation of Mozambique

Previous empirical studies tend to attribute the impact of school fees to improvements in schooling access or quality. First, in this study, we argue that the implementation of school fee abolition programs varies widely across countries; therefore, its success or failure is unique. Second, evaluation of fee elimination programs should not be viewed as the results of eliminating fees per se but as part of a comprehensive program package since they are usually combined with other interventions. This paper attempts to quantify the impact of the primary school fee abolition program in Mozambique implemented over 2004 and 2005. The country took a unique approach. The government pilot-tested the program, planned it years ahead, and put other interventions in place to prepare for shocks associated with enrollment surge. Using the relevant age cohort to determine a child’s exposure to the program, we found that from 2005 through 2008, the enrollment probability of the official primary school age (6−12) children was statistically and significantly higher by 11.6% points. When treatment intensity was allowed to vary across age, we found that age 9 benefitted the most, and there were potential positive spillover effects on secondary school enrollment as enrollment probability increased significantly across all ages up to age 18. The impact is also widespread across urban, rural areas and both genders, but it particularly has much larger effects on the more vulnerable group of children, the poor in rural areas and girls. Our analysis also highlights an ample number of late entrants in Mozambique as in most developing countries. The results show that the program, reducing the cost of education, has successfully raised enrollment rates among younger official school-age children.

The Guns of April: Status Anxiety as Motivation for Italian – Possibly Even American – Intervention in the First World War

ABSTRACT Over the past several years, there has been a renewed scholarly interest in the origins, waging, and consequences of the First World War. This interest has resulted partly from a quirk of timing given that between 2014 and 2019, a series of centennial commemorations kept minds focused on a conflict that many take as the most consequential war the world ever experienced. On the other hand, interest has been stimulated not so much by the past as by the future of international security, with the “return” of the prospect of Great Power war beginning to concentrate minds in ways not experienced for a generation. Since much – but not all – of this renewed interest in Great Power war relates to China’s “rise” assessed through the prism of “power-transition theory”, it is natural to analogise from the events that led to 1914. In this, at least one interesting question remains relatively unexplored: are decisions to join a war already in progress prompted by a different calculus from decisions to go to war at the outset? In particular, does “status anxiety” warrant more attention as a determinant of policy-making than it has heretofore received on the part of late entrants? This analysis argues that it does and makes the case by analysing the decision of one latecomer, Italy, to join the First World War in April 1915. Although the chief focus is on Italy, the conclusion raises the possibility that status anxiety may also have been of importance in the American decision to go to war two Aprils later.

Managing natural monopolies: interplay of the regulator and telecom companies in India

Learning outcomes The learning outcomes of this paper are as follows: to understand the characteristics of a natural monopoly such as telecommunications sector and impact of “network externality”; to understand the role of a regulator in maintaining a balance between competition and consolidation of telecom sector; to understand the importance of first-mover advantage in telecom sector and coping mechanism of late entrants; to understand different pricing mechanisms of “natural monopolies” that can be adopted to remain profitable; to understand social cost of price floor in telecommunications sector. Case overview/synopsis Indian telecom sector is going through a downturn where most of the private sector telecom service providers have reported huge losses, failed to pay adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues and reported decline in average revenue per user over a period of 3–4 years. Fierce competition in the sector leads to rock bottom calling and data charges. Bharti Airtel benefitted for being the first mover in terms of market share but with entry of JIO in 2016, the service providers have entered a price war. As a result, service providers have requested Mr. R.S. Sharma, Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to come up with a floor on calling charges and requested the government for a bailout package. Currently, Mr. R.S. Sharma, Chairman TRAI is facing a dilemma whether to regulate and come up with a floor on calling and data charges or leave the sector for market correction. Mr. Sharma can also recommend to amend the definition of AGR. Telecommunications sector exhibit the characteristics of a natural monopoly where there is a need of a regulator to introduce “competition for the sector” and “competition in the sector.” In India, TRAI is the regulatory body responsible for introducing “competition for the sector” by auction and “competition in the sector” by deregulating calling and data charges, maintaining at least three private and one public service provider, decreasing “switching cost” of the customers, etc. The case deals with the issues of why there is a need of a regulator in natural monopolies, how different chairmen of TRAI have successfully introduced competition “for” and “in” the sector, and how Indian telecom sector went through a downturn? What should TRAI do to maintain competition in the sector? Complexity academic level The case deals with the issue of managing telecommunications sector (a natural monopoly) by a regulator in the context of India. The regulator had successfully introduced “competition in the sector” and “competition for the sector.” This led to sharp increase in subscriber base and decrease in calling and data charges. Presently, fierce competition in the sector has left the service providers cash crunched. The case deals with the dilemma faced by the chairman of the regulatory body in India on whether the regulator should come up with a price floor or market correction. Study level: MBA, Executive MBA. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 10: Public sector management.

Servitisation on consumer markets: entry and strategy in Dutch private lease markets

ABSTRACT Servitisation, which occurs when products are offered with service components as product-service bundles, has increased rapidly in consumer markets during recent years because of digitalisation. Digital technologies have enabled the emergence of peer-to-peer marketplaces and made it possible for B2B lease and rental actors to push for B2C markets. Despite extensive research on servitisation, we know little of what kinds of companies can best exploit the opportunities created by it and how digitalisation affects inter-company relationships regarding these opportunities. This article addresses these research gaps by making a revelatory case study on the entry order and strategy of established B2B lease companies to enter the B2C private leasing and carsharing markets. We collect an interview-based dataset on key companies in the Dutch car lease market, that we analyse abductively. We find that knowledge of the opportunities, position in the value chain, and resources are focal elements that define which companies are pioneers, early followers, and late entrants. In contrast to former servitisation literature, manufacturing incumbent companies are not active in exploiting opportunities created by private leasing. Additionally, we discover that the leasing companies create capabilities for private leasing themselves whereas they partner to enable carsharing. We discuss the contribution of these findings to research on disruptive innovation, servitisation, and digital innovation.

Evolution of the Modern Voter: A Branding Perspective

The concept of branding is to be found in every aspect of our lives and on a day-to-day basis. It has made its presence felt in almost every domain of human existence to such an extent that a sense of surety and assuredness seeps in whenever we buy a branded product over an unbranded one based on our positive experience related to its usage. The concept of branding could be applied to the field of politics as well in the modern times based on the evolution of politics. Political branding has found its place in the modern scheme of things when one talks about the contemporary facet of polity. Such a phenomenon is quite popular in the western democracies and has been a late entrant in the Indian scenario but the effectiveness of the same is second to none. This research paper would delve into the rise of political branding pertaining to India thereby exploring its effectiveness in turning the tide as far as existing patterns of voting are concerned which were very much visible in the last general election of the nation. The work would also focus upon the performance of the regional political brands and how the electorate of India has came to vote differently in the two sets of election, national and state.