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on Information and Communication Technologies |
| By: | Thierry Pénard (CREM, UMR CNRS 6211, Faculty of Economics, University of Rennes 1, France); Rozenn Perrigot (CREM, UMR CNRS 6211, Graduate School of Management (IGR-IAE Rennes), University of Rennes 1, France) |
| Abstract: | Many retailers use the Internet not only to provide final customers with information about their products/services, but also to allow these final customers to buy their products/services online. In the particular case of franchising, franchisors and franchisees can create their own websites, which may raise some issues, mostly in terms of uniformity and encroachment. The aim of this paper is to characterize franchisors’ e-commerce strategies by studying their website functionality. Franchisors can use their website to facilitate consumer search. They can also provide content and tools to promote online purchasing (e.g., promotion codes, online payment, delivery options). Why are some franchisor websites more “search oriented”? What are the factors that influence the provision of informational tools and/or transactional tools? This empirical study is based on a detailed observation of 130 e-commerce websites of franchisors operating their chains in the French market. Results of the three-stage least square regression models (3SLS) show that the percentage of company-owned stores within a chain has a significant and positive impact on the range of “purchase online” functionality and a neutral effect on the range of “search online” functionality. Moreover, the two types of functionality appear to be complementary on franchisor websites. Finally, in more mature franchise chains, franchisors who own a large proportion of stores are less able to exert their decision power and expand the range of online purchase functionality. |
| Keywords: | Franchising, e-commerce, encroachment, synergies, search online, purchase online |
| Date: | 2015–11 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:tut:cremwp:201517&r=ict |
| By: | Jan van der Linden |
| Abstract: | This study discusses the production and use of ICT in Belgium, and identifies its strengths and weaknesses in comparison with the neighbouring countries. It covers both ICT goods and services, noting that the production of services is almost seven times as high as the production of goods. In this study, the use of ICT is limited to their use as a production factor, but not as a consumption good. In the Belgian economy, ICT industries are characterized by their dynamism, with a high entry rate, a high labour productivity and a relatively strong profitability. Moreover, ICT services significantly contribute to foreign trade. ICT industries are closely linked with the Belgian economy. Compared to the neighbouring countries, however, ICT industries have a smaller share in the economy and a smaller share in the foreign trade of goods. Moreover, innovation in terms of patent applications is disappointing, and ICT capital has a relatively small and even diminishing contribution to economic growth. Within the Belgian ICT sector, telecommunications relatively stand out compared to the other ICT industries, with a relatively large share in the economy and services exports. They are the main user of ICT products, and can thus boost the development of ICT. |
| JEL: | L63 L86 L96 |
| Date: | 2015–10–15 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpb:wpaper:1507&r=ict |
| By: | Klotz, Michael |
| Abstract: | Dieses Arbeitspapier gibt einen Überblick über aktuelle Normen und Standards, die für das Projektmanagement (PM) von Bedeutung sind. Als relevante Normungsorganisationen werden die International Organization for Standardization (ISO), das Deutsche Institut für Normung (DIN) und das US-amerikanische American National Standards Institute (ANSI) bzw. das Project Management Institute (PMI®) berücksichtigt. Bei den Standards werden solche Organisationen als relevant erachtet, die in der Lage sind, den von ihnen publizierten Standard einem breiten, im Projektmanagement tätigen Adressatenkreis publik zu machen, Dienstleistungen, wie z. B. Schulungen anzubieten, und eine Weiterentwicklung des Standards sicherzustellen. Insgesamt werden 18 PM-Normen und sieben PM-Standards beschrieben. Die Darstellung umfasst beispielsweise die Normenreihen DIN 6990x und ISO 2150x, aber auch ANSI/PMI®-Normen, wie den in der Praxis weit verbreiteten PMBOK® Guide. Im Rahmen der Projektmanagement-Standards werden u. a. die ICB - IPMA Competence Baseline und PRINCE2® behandelt. Auch Standards für die Prüfung von Projekten finden Berücksichtigung, z. B. der Prüfungsstandard Nr. 4 des Deutschen Instituts für Interne Revision e.V. (DIIR) zur Prüfung von Projekten. Jede Beschreibung enthält eine prägnante Inhaltsangabe, den formellen Status der Norm bzw. des Standards und Links für die eigene Recherche. Insofern soll dieses Arbeitspapier nicht nur eine aktuelle, systematische Zusammenstellung bieten, sondern es stellt auch eine Hilfestellung für ein schnelles Orientieren und Nachschlagen dar. |
| Keywords: | ANSI,DIN,DIIR,IDW,ISO,PMI,Projekt,Projektmanagement,Normen,Standards |
| JEL: | L15 M10 M21 M42 |
| Date: | 2015 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:simata:0715029&r=ict |
| By: | Maixé-Altés, J. Carles |
| Abstract: | This study provides information on how the process of technological globalization was implemented prior to the Internet and what its limits were, which certainly helps to understand how computers are changing the world. One can see divergent patterns in the process of introducing computers (using the worldwide savings bank industry as a reference). However, the foundations of this divergence should be situated within an idiosyncratic and not an asymmetric landscape as a consequence of the role that adoption/appropriation processes (the end-user as an active participant) play in the perspective of technological diffusion. |
| Keywords: | retail banking, world savings banks industry, computers, ICT, computing history |
| JEL: | N20 N70 |
| Date: | 2015–11–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:67785&r=ict |