Taiwan's Industry Research Articles

Current Progress of EUV Spectral Responsivity Calibration for EUV Lithography at CMS/ITRI

Abstract To support the development of advanced EUV lithography for the semiconductor industry in Taiwan, a calibration system for photodiodes’ spectral responsivity was established. The current system utilizes the synchrotron radiation light source and the method is traceable to PTB, Germany. The wavelength range is from 10 nm to 15 nm, including the most often used 13.5 nm. Several techniques were studied to compensate for light source fluctuation and to reduce the measurement uncertainty. The relative expanded uncertainty of the spectral responsivity calibration at 13.5 nm is 4.6 % (k=2). A wafer-type EUV radiant power meter designed to be used in EUV lithography chambers is being developed. Our goal is to develop simple and reliable methods for on-site EUV optical power measurement and dose estimation.

Enhancement of Marina Service Quality of Yacht Tourism in Taiwan: A Euclidean Distance of Importance-Performance Analysis

In spite of COVID-19 struck tourism industry, the trend of yachting tourism is steadily increasing and provides a way for the tourism industry to resume after the epidemic. Marinas, a vital component of yachting tourism, deeply effects the yacht owners’ satisfactions and the coastal destinations attraction. Since the marina industry in Taiwan is still in its early stages, this study aims to identify ideal service quality standards to enhance competitiveness. With a limited cohort of 69 yacht owners in Taiwan possessing yachts exceeding 20 gross register tonnage (GRT), insights from our research, which engaged perspectives from 50 yacht owners, provide valuable understanding into their satisfaction regarding marina services in Taiwan. As the first study to explore key factors of marina service experience among yacht owners, this study applies importance-performance analysis (IPA) and Euclidean distance to provide the development strategy and improvement priority of Taiwan marina service. Overall, the result from improving IPA technique which adopted Euclidean distance reveal that yacht owners generally thought that the improvement priority of marina service quality is sewage, bilge water, and oil sludge treatment facilities, fueling facilities, high-voltage shore power facilities, land storage space. It is noteworthy that marina managers should embark on improving marina physical facilities as development strategy which highlight the performance of marina service quality for yacht owners and the improvement in those facilities can be developed to either increase the marina competition or to resume tourism industry.

Integrating CSR and Business Strategy into Social Innovation: Insights from Taiwan’s Cultural and Creative Industries

ABSTRACT Design/methodology/approach This study’s contributions lie in the use of multiple methods and data collected from developing industries from cultural and creative industries in Taiwan. Purpose This study aims not only to emphasize the importance of corporate social responsibility (CSR) for businesses but also to examine how CSR activities affect communities while ensuring that the firm meets its necessary social performance standards. Findings The results show the multiple mediation mechanism of business strategy, multiple moderation effects of marketing orientation in the initial stage, and the role of social entrepreneurial self-efficacy in the final stage of improving the social innovation. Practical implications This study considers how CSR could affect the results of business strategy, whereby cultural and creative firms should embrace social responsibility behavior altruistically rather than merely seeking economic benefits but focus on social innovation to improve their own competitive advantage. Originality/value This study argues that the relationship among CSR, business competitive strategy and firm innovation performance is more complex than previous business management studies have revealed.

Research on the Food Service Industry in Central Taiwan

This study examined the changes in business models in the food service industry of Taiwan in the postpandemic era. After staying at home for a more prolonged period during the pandemic. More consumers choose to cook at home to save costs, leading to a booming homemade food market. This trend greatly increases the popularity of convenient meal kits, semi-finished products, and do-it-yourself (DIY) meal sets. It not only caters to consumers’ interest in cooking but also provide convenient and quick solutions for food preparation. Food and beverage businesses have successfully expanded their market reach by developing high-quality homemade food products and utilizing social media and e-commerce platforms for sales. The immediacy and wide audience coverage of social media economy have enabled influencers and food bloggers to directly demonstrate the use and effects of meal kits and DIY dining through live streams and short videos. This approach attracts large numbers of followers to purchase these products, thereby quickly enhancing product awareness and sales. Collaborating with social media has become an effective marketing strategy for food and beverage businesses because it increases brand exposure and allows for product adjustments and improvements based on immediate consumer feedback. This study aims to analyze the post-pandemic restaurant industry through the lens of business models. By conducting interviews with restaurant owners across various sectors in central Taiwan, the research will explore how they confronted the challenges during the pandemic and how they have adjusted their business strategies in the aftermath. The objective is to identify future strategies suitable for the Taiwanese culinary market. This study employs business model theory and interview methodology to investigate six companies within Taiwan's restaurant industry. Through comprehensive analysis, the research aims to determine how the restaurant industry should adjust its strategic direction in the post-pandemic era. The interviewed restaurants implemented various adjustments during the postpandemic period, including arranging for industry–academia collaboration, enhancing employee training and incentives, strengthening restaurant recognition and sense of pride among employees, diversifying dish presentation, improving customer service systems, providing customized services, increasing investment in social media, reinforcing supplier relations, and expanding into new distribution channels. The study results indicate that food and beverage businesses can further explore the potential of social media economy, develop more products suitable for online promotion, and continually optimize marketing strategies by leveraging data analysis and market research to meet consumer demands.

The Investment Evaluation Standards and Process of Venture Capital Industry in Taiwan: Taking T Venture Capital Company as an Example

Abstract The venture capital industry is characterized by high risk and high reward, demanding sharp market insight and strong assessment capabilities. This article examines the evaluation criteria used by T Venture Capital Company in selecting investment targets, offering a reference for the industry. The study utilizes a case study method, focusing on an experienced venture capital firm identified through the Taiwan Venture Capital Association's 2022 roster. Key findings from interviews and document analysis highlight five main criteria used by T Company: 1. Adjusting evaluation based on the investment stage and industry specifics. 2. Focusing on the entrepreneurial team’s background, skills, passion, and vision. 3. Prioritizing technological innovation and business model sustainability. 4. Ensuring a clear exit strategy with ongoing communication. 5. Conducting thorough due diligence for sound investment decisions. The study reveals that T Company relies on a mix of data, judgment, and flexibility in its decision-making process, adapting to each unique situation. Keywords: Venture Capital, Evaluation Criteria, Entrepreneurial Team, Technological Innovation, Due Diligence.

Exploring association rules overseeing subcontractor quotation behaviors: An empirical study in the construction industry of Taiwan

Exploring association rules overseeing subcontractor quotation behaviors: An empirical study in the construction industry of Taiwan

Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Needs in Health Care Sectors-A Critical Analysis of Social Innovation in the Health Sector in Taiwan.

Social innovation is often used as a mechanism to jump-start public-private partnerships to leverage resources to achieve social impact; the analysis of sustainability and the impact of corporate social responsibility (CSR) cannot be emphasized enough. Due to advances in the information and communication technology industry in Taiwan, this paper aims to explore whether these advancements drive CSR as a form of social innovation to meet health needs in Taiwan. This paper uses a case study to look at CSR programs in the health sector in Taiwan. Corporations with diverse missions and different CSR approaches that are available on the internet are selected. The analysis of the case study takes a qualitative, exploratory approach to shed light on current initiatives. The majority of CSR programs in Taiwan are private sector activities that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic; current CSR activities in Taiwan are driven by awards, public relations, and external interests. Corporations in Taiwan have the potential to address the health care gaps of urban-rural health utilization among Taiwanese indigenous communities. It is recommended for corporations to (1) develop partnerships with public health experts or to (2) employ CSR personnel with health care backgrounds who can navigate the intersection between health, business, and policies to develop CSR strategies. Further evaluation of the projects mentioned in this paper to assess the direct and indirect impact on health outcomes could provide a more comprehensive understanding of the field of CSR in the health sector in Taiwan.

Utilizing principal component analysis to enhance machine learning in bankruptcy prediction: A comparative investigation

In the global economic environment, bankruptcy prediction is essential for managing financial risks. With the advancement of machine learning techniques, accurate prediction using these methods has become a research focus. This study explores the efficiency and accuracy of improved machine learning models for bankruptcy prediction through principal component analysis (PCA). By utilizing a dataset from the banking industry in Taiwan, this paper compares the performance of PCA with and without processed data using logistic regression modeling. The research methodology includes data preprocessing, PCA downscaling, and subsequent model training and testing. The key research question is whether PCA preprocessing can significantly improve the operational efficiency and predictive accuracy of the model. It is found that the model with PCA outperforms the model without PCA in terms of processing time and accuracy. This suggests that PCA can effectively improve the performance of bankruptcy prediction models and provide a more effective tool for financial risk management. These findings provide useful insights into other areas of financial analysis using machine learning and support the value of applying PCA in predictive modeling.

Efficiency evaluation of intellectual capital for value creation: a case study of the semiconductor industry in Taiwan

PurposeThis study constructs an efficiency evaluation framework for assessing the human, structural and relational capital in the semiconductor industry of Taiwan. Furthermore, we analyze whether there are significant differences in efficiency across different levels concerning the industry supply chain (upstream, midstream and downstream), employee service tenure, capital scale and company establishment years.Design/methodology/approachThis study focuses on Taiwanese semiconductor companies, utilizing data sourced from the Taiwan Economic Journal (TEJ) Database for the period spanning 2017 to 2021, encompassing a total of five years. Due to the nondisclosure of intangible asset values by all companies, an effort was made to ensure a comparable baseline by excluding companies with incomplete or missing data. Finally, empirical analysis was conducted on a sample of 64 companies using the dynamic network data envelopment analysis method.Findings(1) Overall efficiency demonstrates structural capital as the most prominent, followed by relational capital, while human capital shows relatively poorer efficiency. (2) To enhance the efficiency of intellectual capital, priority should be given to improving the efficiency of outputs related to intellectual property rights such as patents. (3) The midstream segment exhibits the best efficiency in both structural and relational capital. (4) Companies with longer employee service tenures exhibit superior efficiency in human capital in the long run. (5) Companies with extended establishment years and larger capital scales demonstrate superior efficiency in both human and structural capital.Originality/valueReflecting on past literature, scholars have primarily focused on the relationship between intellectual capital and firm efficiency, often emphasizing the overall efficiency of intellectual capital. However, within organizations, human capital, structural capital, and relational capital are interrelated. This study, for the first time, assesses the efficiency of these three components within an organization. The research addresses the challenges in analyzing the efficiency of intellectual capital and introduces a highly contemporary approach – dynamic network data envelopment analysis (DNDEA). Using the semiconductor industry in Taiwan as a case study, this paper conducts empirical analysis in a captivating and worthy industry. Therefore, the ideas presented in this paper are original.

Bank board diversity on risk and value: evidence from Taiwan

ABSTRACT This study uses the banking industry in Taiwan to investigate how board diversity affects bank’s risk and value. The results show that board gender diversity reduces bank’s risks with lower non-performing loans and financial leverage, while board ethnicity diversity also decreases non-performing loans but not leverage. Both gender diversity and ethnicity diversity improve bank value measured by Tobin’s Q. Our results are robust across different model specifications, after controlling for time-invariant unobservable bank characteristics and addressing the concerns of endogeneity and causality. We show that the gender diversity in government-held banks is more effective in managing risk and enhancing value than that of the private banks. Both gender and ethnicity diversity appear to be the Holy Grail in the Taiwanese banks as they can enhance bank value and lower bank risk. Our results provide important policy implications for the banks and regulators in Taiwan and other markets.

An exploration of operational efficiency, market efficiency, and sustainable development in the banking industry

AbstractSustainable development is the primary goal of the current global economic transformation. The banking industry, as an intermediary institution within the financial system, not only serves as a crucial foundation for national economic development but also plays a key role in the global transition to sustainability and a low‐carbon economy. Banks can leverage the influence of financing to direct funds towards sustainable ventures and simultaneously develop green financial products, guiding ordinary consumers to make more environmentally friendly choices. How the banking industry can effectively improve operational efficiency while considering sustainable development is one of the key focuses of ongoing development in the banking sector. The main aim of this study is to incorporate the aspect of sustainable development into the evaluation of operational efficiency, aligning with the goals of corporate sustainable development. It allows for an analysis of how decision‐makers in the banking industry can adjust resources to maintain stable and sustainable profitability while promoting sustainable development. This study selected 13 financial holding banks and 19 non‐financial holding banks in Taiwan as research subjects, covering the period from 2016 to 2021. Utilizing a meta assurance regions (AR) parallel dynamic two‐stage slacks‐based measure model with “operational stage” and “market and sustainability parallel stage,” the research explores the efficiency performance of banks considering sustainable development. It examines the differences in efficiency performance at various stages among different types of banks. The research findings are as follows: (1) among the banking industry in Taiwan, operational stage efficiency ranks the highest, followed by sustainable stage efficiency, while market stage performance lags behind. (2) Financial holding banks outperform non‐financial holding banks on average in operational stage, market stage, and sustainable stage efficiency. (3) Fubon Financial, TFH, CATHAY HOLDINGS, and SKFH are benchmark performers among financial holding banks. (4) Non‐financial holding banks exhibit a higher average technical gap ratio compared to financial holding banks, indicating that non‐financial holding banks have fewer inefficient areas to improve. However, the technical efficiency of both groups of banks approaches each other over the years. (5) In the sustainable stage, financial holding banks demonstrate superior environmental indicators and corporate treatment efficiency compared to non‐financial holding banks.

When employees behave unethically in the name of the company: the effect of cognitive moral development

Purpose This study aims to investigate the association between cognitive moral development (CMD) and unethical pro-organizational behaviour (UPB) by taking purchasing employees as research subjects. The moderating effect of perceived leader’s UPB is also explored. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through a two-stage questionnaire survey on purchasing employees in companies across a spectrum of industries in Taiwan, and 492 purchasing employees were analysed in the study. Findings Research findings reveal that employees at the conventional level of CMD are more likely to conduct UPB than those at the pre-conventional and post-conventional levels. Perceived leader’s UPB will moderate the association between CMD and UPB. Employees’ UPB is strongly associated with their CMD when they perceive their leaders as being likely to perform UPB. Originality/value Although a variety of factors influencing UPB have been proposed in the literature, none of them have analysed the association between CMD and UPB. However, CMD is one important factor affecting ethical decision-making. The present study can promote further understanding of the role of CMD in UPB and contribute to a growing body of research on CMD and UPB.

In response to global climate change goals, exploring the development strategy for decarbonizing the shipping industry in Taiwan

Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), Nitrous Oxide (N2O), and other gases are all greenhouse gases. However, the most significant contributor to climate change is CO2. Maritime decarbonization is a complex challenge with multiple pathways at different technological and operational readiness levels. As a concept, green shipping corridors are similar to special economic zones at sea. They provide a platform for stakeholders in the value chain to collaborate and implement new technologies and business models on a large scale. The most significant advantage of such an initiative is to help diverse and fragmented industries align and diversify their collective risks. The article employed a comparative literature analysis and interviewed relevant stakeholders to derive its conclusions. Based on this analysis, it advocates for taking action and implementing these measures by engaging stakeholders. Critical decisions concerning the green components of shipping corridors revolve around viable fuel pathways, policies and regulations, customer demands, and cross-value chain collaboration.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Revenue of the Catering Industry: Taiwan as an Example

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have reduced eating out, resulting in a severe drop in the revenue of the catering industry. Health risks have become a major factor affecting the revenue of this industry. Predicting the revenue of the catering industry during the COVID-19 pandemic will not only allow practitioners to adjust their business strategies, but also provide a reference for governments to formulate relief measures. To this end, this study proposes a fuzzy big data analytics approach in which random forests, recursive feature elimination, fuzzy c-means, and deep neural networks are jointly applied. First, random forests and recursive feature elimination are used to select the most influential factors. The data is then divided into clusters by fuzzy c-means. Subsequently, a deep neural network is built for each cluster to make predictions. The prediction results of individual clusters are then aggregated to improve prediction accuracy. The proposed methodology has been applied to forecast the revenue of the catering industry in Taiwan. The results of the experiment showed that the impact of new deaths on the revenue of the catering industry was far greater than the number of newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases.

ASSESSING THE DIFFUSION OF FINTECH INNOVATION IN FINANCIAL INDUSTRY: USING THE ROUGH MCDM MODEL

We develop a conceptual structure to explore how financial technology (FinTech) innovation is being implemented to deal with vague, inconsistent and ambiguous knowledge in actual world. The structure of this study is built upon the technology, organization, environment (TOE) context, which one uses the concept of multi-criteria estimation to measure the significance of FinTech innovation. We develop an integrated MCDM (multiple criteria decision-making) model through rough set theory help administrators obtain a strategic influence relation map for enhancing performance approaching towards the aspiration value. This model involves three steps: primary, we apply this rough number to define group views which reflect upon experts’ real experiences; second, we use the rough DEMATEL-based ANP-(RDANP) to acquire the rough influential weights and rough influential network relationship map (RINRM) based on this TOE structure and its corresponding attributes; finally, we utilize the rough modified VIKOR with the influence to analyze the gap between the performance value and the aspirated level. The empirical case was originated from financial industry in Taiwan. According to the weighting results the expected benefits, technology integration, and competitive pressure were the most important criteria. Our results also illustrate how FinTech innovation can be used for promoting financial services.

The AI integration service innovation model of real estate industry in Taiwan

The AI integration service innovation model of real estate industry in Taiwan

Entrepreneurial bricolage and innovation: the double-edged sword of knowledge diversity

ABSTRACT Innovation is crucial for firm growth but difficult to achieve, especially for resource-constrained firms. The extant literature suggests entrepreneurial bricolage is an adequate action for firms in a resource-constrained environment. Most studies argue that resource-constrained firms engaging in bricolage achieve innovation; however, some studies raise limitations and downsides of entrepreneurial bricolage. Empirical evidence of entrepreneurial bricolage’s impact has resulted in mixed results with no conclusive findings. This study proposes a contingency framework to clarify the impact of entrepreneurial bricolage on innovation exploratory and exploitative by examination of the moderating role of knowledge diversity referring to research on entrepreneurship and innovation management. Our analysis of 172 firms of the cultural and creative industry in Taiwan reveals resource-constrained firms utilising entrepreneurial bricolage simultaneously pursuing exploratory and exploitative innovation with two different conditions of high knowledge diversity. More specifically, knowledge diversity has a positive moderating effect on the influence of entrepreneurial bricolage on exploratory innovation, but it has a negative moderating effect on the influence of entrepreneurial bricolage on exploitative innovation. In addition, this study finds that entrepreneurial bricolage can help resource-constrained firms in generating new knowledge to explore and exploit opportunities from the available resources, but this can succeed only to a certain extent.

Attention and purchase intention of sounding advertisements—A study on autonomous sensory meridian response of towel sound

AbstractIn the face of Taiwan's declining textile industry, companies strive to enhance product visibility but to little avail. Emphasizing personalized marketing in online advertising, they are exploring consumer‐preferred streaming adverts. However, the distracting nature of streaming media presents an obstacle. Herein, our research offers a solution. Utilizing audio autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR), evidenced to significantly amplify skin conductance rate and brainwave activity, consumer attention can be effectively garnered. Studies have found that watching videos with the sound effect of ASMR can help the audience concentrate. Changes in brainwaves and skin conductance rates, when consumers use towel product, can be used to explore whether the participants are affected by ASMR. The results showed that audio ASMR streaming significantly increased the skin conductance rate and the brainwave of left anterior frontal area. This means that audio ASMR can attract consumer attention. The survey results have shown that all hypotheses were supported.Practical ApplicationsThis research explores the use of autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) in online advertising for the declining textile industry in Taiwan. ASMR, a unique sound that captures attention and induces relaxation, has been shown to increase consumer concentration and purchase intention. By integrating ASMR into towel advertisements and analyzing participants' physiological signals, such as skin conductance rate and brainwave activity, the study found that audio ASMR significantly attracted consumer attention and increased purchase intentions. The findings suggest that textile companies should incorporate ASMR into their marketing strategies to effectively engage consumers and boost sales. Moreover, understanding audience preferences for specific ASMR sounds is crucial for achieving the desired advertising effects.

The Bioeconomic Analysis of Hybrid Giant Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × Epinephelus lanceolatus) and Green Grouper (Epinephelus malabaricus): A Case Study in Taiwan

Grouper aquaculture is a rapidly growing and dynamic industry within the Taiwan aquaculture sector that serves as an important source of income generation. Farming fishes at a better location (FFABL) is a promising production strategy. This study evaluated the production and economic performance of grouper farming in Taiwan. This investigation employed two steps: (1) a cost–benefit analysis to determine the main component affecting profitability; and (2) multivariate statistics to clarify the relationship between biological and economic factors. The findings suggest that the best choice of species is hybrid giant grouper that generates and highlights a positive income, viable benefit–cost ratio and profit rate. The study found the feed management of hybrid giant groupers requires more consideration due to its low feed conversion ratio. The producers need to replace trash fish in commercial feed during the production cycle to ensure better feed management. Finally, this paper argues that feed is the main constraint for grouper farming, which is sensitive to any change in feed productivity, and this constraint must be solved to sustain the grouper industry in Taiwan.

Establishing a Real-Time Prediction System for Fine Particulate Matter Concentration Using Machine-Learning Models

With the rapid urbanization and industrialization in Taiwan, pollutants generated from industrial processes, coal combustion, and vehicle emissions have led to severe air pollution issues. This study focuses on predicting the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration. This enables individuals to be aware of their immediate surroundings in advance, reducing their exposure to high concentrations of fine particulate matter. The research area includes Keelung City and Xizhi District in New Taipei City, located in northern Taiwan. This study establishes five fine prediction models based on machine-learning algorithms, namely, the deep neural network (DNN), M5’ decision tree algorithm (M5P), M5’ rules decision tree algorithm (M5Rules), alternating model tree (AMT), and multiple linear regression (MLR). Based on the predictive results from these five models, the study evaluates the optimal model for forecast horizons and proposes a real-time PM2.5 concentration prediction system by integrating various models. The results demonstrate that the prediction errors vary across different models at different forecast horizons, with no single model consistently outperforming the others. Therefore, the establishment of a hybrid prediction system proves to be more accurate in predicting future PM2.5 concentration compared to a single model. To assess the practicality of the system, the study process involved simulating data, with a particular focus on the winter season when high PM2.5 concentrations are prevalent. The predictive system generated excellent results, even though errors increased in long-term predictions. The system can promptly adjust its predictions over time, effectively forecasting the PM2.5 concentration for the next 12 h.