scholarly journals Robotopias: mapping utopian perspectives on new industrial technology

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rhiannon Firth ◽  
Andrew Robinson

PurposeThis paper maps utopian theories of technological change. The focus is on debates surrounding emerging industrial technologies which contribute to making the relationship between humans and machines more symbiotic and entangled, such as robotics, automation and artificial intelligence. The aim is to provide a map to navigate complex debates on the potential for technology to be used for emancipatory purposes and to plot the grounds for tactical engagements.Design/methodology/approachThe paper proposes a two-way axis to map theories into to a six-category typology. Axis one contains the parameters humanist–assemblage. Humanists draw on the idea of a human essence of creative labour-power, and treat machines as alienated and exploitative form of this essence. Assemblage theorists draw on posthumanism and poststructuralism, maintaining that humans always exist within assemblages which also contain non-human forces. Axis two contains the parameters utopian/optimist; tactical/processual; and dystopian/pessimist, depending on the construed potential for using new technologies for empowering ends.FindingsThe growing social role of robots portends unknown, and maybe radical, changes, but there is no single human perspective from which this shift is conceived. Approaches cluster in six distinct sets, each with different paradigmatic assumptions.Practical implicationsMapping the categories is useful pedagogically, and makes other political interventions possible, for example interventions between groups and social movements whose practice-based ontologies differ vastly.Originality/valueBringing different approaches into contact and mapping differences in ways which make them more comparable, can help to identify the points of disagreement and the empirical or axiomatic grounds for these. It might facilitate the future identification of criteria to choose among the approaches.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanhaiya K. Sinha ◽  
Chad Saunders ◽  
Simon Raby ◽  
Jim Dewald

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating role of previous venture experience on the relationship between learning breadth and innovation breadth, defined as the range of innovation types within a firm, and the impacts on SME performance.Design/methodology/approachA theoretical model was developed, and hypotheses were tested using step-wise multivariate regressions on survey data from 509 North American SME respondents.FindingsThe results demonstrate that the previous venture experience of a firm's top management plays a key role in enhancing the innovation breadth for a given level of learning breadth. There is a curvilinear relationship between innovation breadth and learning breadth, and increases in innovation breadth lead to increases in firm performance.Practical implicationsThe results indicate that organizations seeking higher performance returns by expanding their breadth of innovations need parallel attention on higher learning breadth in order to adequately capture the value from this broader set of innovations.Originality/valueThe paper contextualizes learning and innovation in the SMEs and argues that the consideration of diversity (breadth) of learning and innovation can help us understand their performance implications across industries. It also extends the effect of previous venture experience (PVE) of the leadership team in explaining performance. Beyond their ability to address external factors, PVE has a moderating effect on the relationship between learning and innovation breadth across the organization. Previous venture experience serves as both a guide and catalyst for investments in learning activities that lead to a broader range of innovation activities across the firm.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 571-588
Author(s):  
Ahmed A. Diab ◽  
Ahmed Aboud ◽  
Arafat Hamdy

Purpose The purpose of this study is to address the impact of the related party transactions (RPTs) on firm value. The authors bring evidence from a usually ignored empirical setting: an African emerging market. Design/methodology/approach In particular, the authors focus on companies listed on the Egyptian stock market using a sample of EGX 30 from 2012 to 2017. Findings Unlike the literature, the authors find no significant relationship between RPTs and market value. Practical implications This research provides insights for policymakers and other interested parties concerning the perception of RPTs in Egypt. Originality/value The reported different findings of this study assure the intermediary role of the context and the local culture in the relationship between RPTs and firm value, in contrast to the negative view that is mostly reported in the literature.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-126
Author(s):  
Mehir Baidya ◽  
Kamal Ghose ◽  
Bipasha Maity

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to see the role of advertising in the middle of sales-price relationship of two entrepreneur brands in India. Design/methodology/approach – Quarterly data on sales (in units), advertising (net of inflation) and price (net of inflation) have been compiled for two entrepreneur brands over a period 2007-2012. First, elasticity of price is estimated by regressing sales on price. Next, the response of price elasticity to advertising is captured using a semi-logarithmic regression model. Findings – Results reveal that price and sales are inversely related and advertising influences price elasticity negatively. Practical implications – Findings suggest that entrepreneurs/managers should allocate more funds to advertising and at the same time should charge a higher price point in order to increase revenue. Originality/value – By showing a new way of how to measure the effectiveness of advertising beyond traditional ones (inform, persuade or remind) of two entrepreneur brands this research definitely adds some value in the literature of marketing.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 531-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makoto Matsuo

Purpose Although unlearning is considered an essential step for creativity, little is known about the relationship between team unlearning and employee creativity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of individual reflection between team unlearning and employee creativity. Design/methodology/approach The research model was tested using multisource survey data from 164 employees in 28 teams at a manufacturing firm and a service firm. Findings The results of the multilevel analyses indicated that team unlearning had a positive influence on supervisor-rated employee creativity, fully mediated by individual reflection. Practical implications It should be noted that employee creativity is not automatically enhanced through team unlearning. Managers should encourage members to reflect on their work practices following team-unlearning exercises for the purpose of enhancing their creativity. Originality/value The findings contribute to the existing literature by demonstrating that reflective practices play significant roles in linking team unlearning with employee creativity. This study explored preceding literature examining employee creativity in terms of the unlearning process.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 37-39

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings A positive relationship exists between employee career development and job performance. The impact can become more substantial when the process of career development becomes the joint responsibility of employee and firm. This makes it imperative to identify individual and organizational factors most able to enhance the relationship and achieve desired outcomes. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. 786-802 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristijan Krkač

Purpose The supposedly radical development of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised questions regarding the moral responsibility of it. In the sphere of business, they are translated into questions about AI and business ethics (BE) and corporate social responsibility (CSR). The purpos of this study is to conceptually reformulate these questions from the point of view of two possible aspect-changes, namely, starting from corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) and starting not from AIs incapability for responsibility but from its ability to imitate human CSR without performing typical human CSI. Design/methodology/approach The author draws upon the literature and his previous works on the relationship between AI and human CSI. This comparison aims to remodel the understanding of human CSI and AIs inability to be CSI. The conceptual remodelling is offered by taking a negative view on the relation. If AI can be made not to perform human-like CSI, then AI is at least less CSI than humans. For this task, it is necessary to remodel human and AI CSR, but AI does not have to be CSR. It is sufficient that it can be less CSI than humans to be more CSR. Findings The previously suggested remodelling of basic concepts in question leads to the conclusion that it is not impossible for AI to act or operate more CSI then humans simply by not making typical human CSIs. Strictly speaking, AI is not CSR because it cannot be responsible as humans can. If it can perform actions with a significantly lesser amount of CSI in comparison to humans, it is certainly less CSI. Research limitations/implications This paper is only a conceptual remodelling and a suggestion of a research hypothesis. As such, it implies particular morality, ethics and the concepts of CSI and AI. Practical implications How this remodelling could be done in practice is an issue of future research. Originality/value The author delivers the paper on comparison between human and AI CSI which is not much discussed in literature.


2014 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 340-348
Author(s):  
Miantao Sun

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to review the achievements of Chinese educational management in the past 30 years, conclude the characteristics of Chinese educational management and indicate the problems of Chinese educational management and the countermeasures. Design/methodology/approach – This paper reviews the research of educational management in China in the past 30 years from four aspects: research purpose, research methods, research contents and disciplinary system. Findings – The paper sums up the main achievements, the main characteristics and the main problems of Chinese educational management in the past 30 years. It suggests that the disciplinary relationship should be further clarified; the role of disciplinary research accomplishments has to be further developed and the specialization level in disciplinary research needs to be further improved. Practical implications – This paper indicates the direction for the construction of Chinese educational management in the future: to further clarify the relationship among related disciplines; to put the role of the research results into full play; to further improve the specialization level of disciplinary research. Originality/value – This paper contributes to the construction of Chinese educational management both theoretically and practically.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 58-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Suzete Semedo ◽  
Arnaldo Coelho ◽  
Neuza Ribeiro

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how authentic leadership (AL) predicts creativity both directly and through the mediating role of affective commitment (AC) and job resourcefulness (JR). Design/methodology/approach Data collected from a questionnaire administered to a sample of 543 employees have been analyzed. The model was tested using structural equation modeling. Findings The findings show that AL predicts AC, JR and creativity. The findings also show that AC and JR predict creativity. In other words, leaders’ authenticity increases employees’ creative spirit and, thus, employees’ ability to overcome obstacles and meet challenges at work and their emotional bond play an important role (mediators) in this relationship. Practical implications The results of this study are conclusive and contribute to a better understanding of AL and its implication for employees’ emotional bond, their ability to overcome obstacles and their ability to introduce new and useful ideas. This study provides evidence that organizations should focus on training leaders with authentic characteristics. Originality/value This study considers both AC and JR as mediators of the relationship between AL and creativity. Therefore, the originality of this study lies in the integration of these four concepts in a single study to provide a model that depicts the chain of effects between AL, AC, JR and an employee’s creativity.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhumika Gambhir ◽  
Anindita Bhattacharjee

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to highlight how Artificial intelligence (AI) and its subsets are changing the face of the accounting and finance (A&F) profession. Expectations from A&F professionals are changing due to the expeditious changes in technology. This paper proposes new skill set expectations from these professionals. Design/methodology/approach This is a viewpoint paper based on the opinions/views of the employees working in medium and large organizations in A&F in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The employee viewpoints were gathered through an emailed questionnaire. Findings This paper illustrates the need to embrace technology and acquire the necessary skills to work in conjunction with machines. This will help A&F professionals to meet the changing expectations of employers. Practical implications This paper emphasizes the usefulness of training, learning, and development of the skills necessary for A&F professionals to work with AI and its subsets. Originality/value This paper discusses how AI will bring in challenges and opportunities in the future. It suggests how A&F professionals can embrace technology (driven by AI) and understand to work with it.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Annika Krick ◽  
Jörg Felfe ◽  
Sarah Pischel

PurposeDrawing upon the job-demands resources and the job demands-control-support model, the authors examined the buffering effect of health-oriented leadership (HoL) in terms of staff care on the relationship between job demands and employee health and job satisfaction.Design/methodology/approachCross-sectional data from two studies (N1 = 314 and N2 = 260) were analyzed using moderation analyses.FindingsStudy 1 showed that staff care mitigates the effect of job demands on strain and health complaints. Study 2 found that staff care also buffered the effect of job demands on general health and job satisfaction.Practical implicationsParticularly under high job demands, staff care is an important resource for employees' health and satisfaction. Organizations should promote leaders' staff care.Originality/valueFindings provide further evidence for the beneficial role of leaders in terms of HoL.


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