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Purpose: In the post-COVID-19 era, the hospitality industry is rapidly moving towards digitalization, which requires employees to upgrade their knowledge and skills. Some employees resist those changes and refuse to upgrade their knowledge, skills and ways of doing things. Therefore, there is a need to understand this unexplored area and so this study examines employee intentions to embrace digital technology from the perspective of upgrading their skills and knowledge. The study investigates the moderating role of the employees' resistance to change motive (RCM) on their intention to embrace digital technology, especially in the post-COVID-19 pandemic scenario. Design/methodology/approach: The research is conducted using dynamic capability view (DCV) theory and status quo bias (SQB) theory. Drawing on the existing literature in this area, a theoretical model is developed, which is validated using the structural equation modelling technique to analyse data from hospitality industry employees. Findings: The results indicate that employees' dynamic capability plays a significant role in employees' upgrading their skill and knowledge capabilities, and this significantly improves employee intention to embrace digital technology. It also finds that the employee RCM plays a significant role in the relationship between upgrading skill capability and their knowledge capability to relation to embracing digital technology. Originality/value: The findings could be used by hospitality managers to better understand employee intentions with regard to adopting digital technology, challenges faced and the way forward.
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Food supply has been a constant source of concern for mankind. In the present context, with food security a priority of European and national policies, an analysis of pig farming in a representative NUTS2 administrative level of Romania that emphasizes the proportion of households raising at least one pig and the main factors influencing farmers to adopt or give up swine breeding could allow a much clearer understanding of this phenomenon that lies at the border between cultural tradition and socio-economic necessity. This study uses mixed methods that complement each another to help reveal this complex phenomenon in the analyzed territory. Cluster analysis shows the concentration of swine breeding and maps its spread in terms of both subsistence and larger farms, and qualitative interviews prove the motivation of farmers to continue in this occupation. As a primary result, the study visualizes the spatial distribution of pig farming in the rural environment of Valcea county, Romania, from a diachronic perspective in the post-communist period. It also reveals areas of differing concentrations of both very small-sized farms, which prioritize meeting their own food needs, and larger farms, which prioritize commercial production to supplement their revenue streams. Both categories, but particularly the latter, are of particular interest in a period in which the socio-economic environment after 1990 - marked by economic restructuring, unemployment, population migration, the economic crisis of 2008-2010, the pandemic of 2020-2021, and the most recent energy crisis - periodically highlights the importance of rural areas in ensuring food security and sufficiency at both the local and regional levels.
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Professional services firms face evolving client needs and can better meet these needs through digital transformation. We offer the case of Clio, a leading provider of cloud-based legal technology for law firms to better serve their clients. With the onset of COVID-19, the company recognized that remote client access and services, previously embraced by early adopters, would now become essential for all law firms' survival. The company's response resulted in dramatic growth and the transition from a customer base of early adopters to customers spanning most of the innovation adoption curve. Clio's success throughout this period is attributable to three core elements of the company's strategy: (1) Deep, culturally-rooted commitment to customer success, (2) Research-based understanding of the needs of both law firms and their clients, and (3) Industry thought leadership and assistance. These elements generalize beyond Clio and the pandemic and will help guide any organization seeking to become not just a vendor but an essential partner to its customers. © 2022 IEEE Computer Society. All rights reserved.
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Andhra Pradesh is one of the major tomato producing states in the country. The presents tudy was conducted to identify the adoption pattern of 448 variety of tomato in Ananthapuramu district of Andhra Pradesh which was released by IIHR, Bangalore. The study also includes identification of the major factors for adoption and find out the major attributes of innovation that led to the adoption of 448 variety. An ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. The study included 40 respondents chosen by purposive sampling method. Data was collected with the help of well-structured interview schedule through telephonic interview due to COVID-19 pandemic. The statistical tools used for analysis are mean, standard deviation, cumulative frequency and percentage analysis. Profile characters of the respondents viz., age, educational status, occupation, farm size, farming experience, annual income, frequency of exposure to agricultural messages, scientific orientation and cropping pattern were studied. Based on the mean and SD values the respondents were classified into adopter categories. The results of the adopter categorization showed that two-fifths (40.00%) of respondents belonged to early majority and only 5.00 percent were innovators. Among the factors affecting adoption of 448 variety of tomato, majority (80.00%) adopted due to their own interest and with the influence of friends and neighbours. Compatibility (95.00%) and observability (82.50%) of the variety played an important role among the attributes of innovation for the adoption of 448 variety of tomato among the respondents.
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The demand for online food delivery has increased considerably throughout the world during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumers' habits in searching for information on and making decisions about ready-to-eat food have changed remarkably during this time. The purpose of this research is to explore consumers' use of online food delivery services (OFDS) during the pandemic via applications (apps) and the moderating role played by the consumers' perceived trust in the information. Data were collected from 246 users through e-mail and structural equation modeling using PLS-3 was used to analyze the data. We have shown 12 recent insights into OFDAs behavioral intention. We found that information and food service attributes influence the perceived usefulness of OFDS and ultimately shape the respondents' intention to use it. Behavioral intention toward OFDS and perceived trust have a considerable influence on the use of OFDA. This research offers insights into the effects of the pandemic on the food delivery market and shows the dynamics of the interrelationships among various information- and restaurant-related attributes that lead to actual use.
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The development of Chinese edible fungus industry in recent years not only had favorable policy environment such as targeted poverty alleviation and a large health industry, but also was suffered the temporary impact of COVID-19. Under this situation, this paper analyzes the fundamentals of Chinese edible mushroom development, and its stability and internality, considering the countermeasures to meet the transfer of the global edible mushroom innovation center and recognizing the importance of independent innovation and original innovation in the science and technology of edible mushroom industry. It hoped to realize the reform of Chinese edible mushroom industry in terms of innovation mechanism, talent training and R&D investment, and joint efforts to achieve a strong edible mushroom country.
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This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on food insecurity in the United States, using data from the Household Pulse Survey. Our primary research design exploits variation in vaccine eligibility across states over time as an instrumental variable to address the endogeneity of vaccination decision. We find that vaccination had a substantial impact on food hardship by reducing the likelihood of food insecurity by 24%, with even stronger effects among minority and financially disadvantaged populations. Our results are robust to alternative specifications and the use of regression discontinuity as an alternative identification strategy. We also show that vaccine eligibility had a positive spillover impact on food assistance programs, specifically by reducing participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which suggests that vaccination policy can be effective in alleviating the fiscal burden of the pandemic on the government. Furthermore, our analysis indicates that vaccinated individuals exhibit increased financial optimism, as measured by expectations about future loss of employment and income as well as ability to make mortgage and debt payments. Based on the point estimates, the implied elasticity of food insecurity with respect to financial optimism is between -0.57 and -0.86. Our findings suggest that the COVID-19 vaccination program has implications that extend beyond the direct health benefits. Taken together, our results underscore the critical role of medical innovations and health interventions in improving economic optimism and food security, especially among vulnerable populations, during public health crises.
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PurposeAlthough prefabricated construction (PC) technology has attracted considerable attention worldwide because of its significant role in the global fight against COVID-19, market-driven adoption is still limited. The mechanisms for PC technology adoption have yet to be defined, which inhibits its diffusion in the construction market. This study aims to reveal the intrinsic motivation and action mechanism for PC technology adoption.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the technology acceptance model (TAM), the study integrates characteristics from the diffusion of innovation theory to propose a multifaceted model for explaining practitioners' PC technology adoption behavior from technology, organization and environment contexts. The proposed theoretical model was empirically examined via a survey of 234 professionals in mainland China using the partial least squares-structural equation modeling technique.FindingsThe outcomes indicated that relative advantage, corporate social responsibility and market demand are significantly positively related to practitioners' perceived usefulness from PC technology. Regulatory support and trading partner support have noticeable positive effects on practitioners' perceived ease of use from PC technology. Perceived ease of use is found to positively influence perceived usefulness, and both of them have a positive influence on the attitude toward adopting PC technology. Attitude is further confirmed as an important predictor of adoption intention, which would lead to actual PC technology adoption behavior.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors' knowledge, this paper is the first attempt to explore industry perceptions toward PC technology adoption, providing valuable guidance for the effective diffusion of PC technology and laying a reliable foundation for research on other construction innovation adoption in post-COVID-19.
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This special issue contains 12 papers dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the foodservice industries and the response of restaurateurs to the crisis. Specific topics covered include, among others: online food delivery app adoption behaviour during the pandemic;restaurant crowdfunding during the pandemic;the impact of temporary COVID-19 legislative moves on the ability of food enterprises to pivot;restaurant patronage during the pandemic;COVID-19 policies and recommendations for foodservice reopening;managerial decision-making during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the sustainability initiatives of foodservice businesses;and consumer risk perception of online food delivery during the pandemic.
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This article explores how Bangladeshi immigrants who run and own restaurants in the West Midlands of England (UK) participated in forms of innovation in response to the challenges created by COVID-19. Contributing to debates on innovation and diversification in the ethnic minority entrepreneurship literature, we explore through qualitative interview data how restaurant owners innovatively engaged with particular resources to secure their survival and longer-term futures in localised economies. This form of innovation is significant as it occurs among a population of entrepreneurs who have traditionally been portrayed as reluctant to innovate and embrace change. Our study therefore explores how a long-held culturally rooted reluctance to innovate intersects with a contemporary need to innovate for a demographic responding to the crisis. We theorise the form of innovation we identify as situated between a forced bricolage and a neoclassical approach to innovation. © The Author(s) 2021.
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Purpose>This paper explores innovation adoption in inter-organizational healthcare networks. The authors develop theoretical speculations to investigate better the role of artificial intelligence (AI) as an innovative tool to improve buyer-supplier relationships, creating better performance outcomes.Design/methodology/approach>The research is based on a theoretical investigation aiming at exploring the role of AI-based solutions for managing buyer-supplier relationships. The conceptual approach allows us to identify some research streams (e.g. co-working collaborations in supply chain management) by proposing a matrix that helps clarify the analysis's directions.Findings>The results show the importance of AI that can help the operator in accessing supplier information, including current prices, available stocks, and delivery status, thereby reducing the risk of information asymmetry. AI is intended not only as a technology tool but also as an innovative solution to promote business relationships and support vertical alliances through the value chain between buyer and supplier.Originality/value>This paper can help healthcare actors examine the choices behind their operational strategies by providing transparency of the activities and availability of information in real-time. Finally, our study reflects the future directions to enhance the cooperation and innovation adoption among healthcare operators.
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In order to summarize the experience of COVID-19 prevention and control, review the glorious course of the 70th anniversary of China's patriotic health campaign, and realize the Healthy China. This paper summarizes the great achievements of China's patriotic health campaign in the past 70 years, and reviews the trend of sustainable vector management, especially the progress of China and Zhejiang Province in the construction of patriotic health campaign organization, vector monitoring, early warning, informatization, prevention and control and research work in the last 10 years. The results found that the patriotic health campaign has significantly improved the health level of the Chinese people. Zhejiang Province has demonstrated and led the comprehensive monitoring of vector and vector infectious diseases, and exploration of sustainable vectors management in rural area, first to carry out the "construction of eliminate four vector villages focusing on mosquito-free and fly-free", and promoted the patriotic health campaign at a high level. The paper considers that the patriotic health campaign is a successful practice of our Party's mass line to health prevention. The experience of COVID-19 prevention and control shows that, Prevention and control the communicable disease needs the concept of patriotic health campaign and the support of public health, all for the people's health, The Times call for a patriotic health campaign with Inheritance of history, rich connotation and innovative methods. We must re-understand the extreme importance of communicable disease prevention and control, pay more attention to the potential harm of vectors in the cross-species transmission of communicable diseases, give full play to the unique role of patriotic health campaign in disease prevention and control and safeguarding people's health, and accelerate the Healthy China action.
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The Covid-19 pandemic that hit the country in early 2020 has changed the lifestyles of people around the world. Day after day, the impact of this pandemic seems to be endless but the number of daily cases in Malaysia is increasing and the situation is very worrying for the country. Based on this scenario, facing this pandemic is an urgency while addressing it is a necessity that all Malaysians, including public university (PU) citizens, should face. The main objective of this paper is to identify the need for product innovation during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as direct involvement of the PU in the East Coast zone of Malaysia namely Kelantan, Terengganu, and Pahang. Seven PU were selected namely UniSZA and UMT in Terengganu, UiTM, USM and UMK in Kelantan as well as UMP and UIAM in Pahang. The selection was made based on direct involvement in the development of innovative products based on the internet search. It also recognizes the capabilities, expertise, and facilities available especially in the areas of design, technology, and manufacturing. The information presented in this paper is fully obtained through literature studies, direct observations, and findings from previous research. Several examples of innovative products such as sanitation tunnels, personal protective equipment, cubical and disinfectant fluids developed by the seven PU's are presented and clearly described in their manufacturing, technology and uses. This paper concludes that the contribution of the innovative products provided by the PU had a huge impact on the country. This noble effort is a testimony of the love among Malaysians that is very strong in the face of misfortune, and it must be continued for the well-being of the people and the prosperity of the country.
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Research on Blockchain implementation in the Pharmaceutical Supply Chains (PSC) is lacking despite its strong potential to overcome conventional supply chain challenges. Thus, this study aims to provide critical insight into the nexus between Blockchain and PSC and further build a conceptual framework for implementation within the pharmaceutical industry. Following a systematic literature review and text mining approach, 65 interdisciplinary articles published between 2010 and 2021 were studied to capture the decade long developments. Descriptive and thematic analysis showcases nascent developments of Blockchain in PSC. The drivers and barriers to adoption, implementation stages, and applications identified through the thematic analysis guide in setting the agenda for future research, primarily focussing on the use of Blockchain for drug counterfeiting, recall issues, along with other sector-specific challenges such as patient privacy, regulations and clinical trials. Research on Blockchain for PSC has been slow compared to other sectors, but has accelerated since the Covid-19 pandemic. Identified influential factors, implementation process and apparent applications are expected to influence researchers and practitioners in developing a roadmap for adopting Blockchain in the pharmaceutical industry. The proposed conceptual framework is novel and provides valuable directions to producers, regulators and governments to implement Blockchain in the pharmaceutical industry.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted agriculture in India in many ways, yet no nationally representative survey has been conducted to quantify these impacts. The three objectives of this study were to evaluate how the pandemic has influenced: (1) cropping patterns and input use, (2) farmers' willingness to adopt sustainable agricultural practices, and (3) farmers' COVID-19 symptoms. Phone surveys were conducted between December 2020 and January 2021 with farmers who had previously participated in a nationally representative survey. Values are reported as weighted percent (95% confidence interval). A total of 3,637 farmers completed the survey;59% (56-61%) were small/marginal farmers;72% (69-74%) were male;and 52% (49-55%) had a below poverty line ration card. A majority of farmers (84% [82-86%]) reported cultivating the same crops in 2019 and 2020. Farmers who reported a change in their cropping patterns were more likely to be cultivating vegetables (p = 0.001) and soybean (p<0.001) and less likely to be cultivating rice (p<0.001). Concerning inputs, 66% (63-68%) of farmers reported no change in fertilizers;66% (64-69%) reported no change in pesticides;and 59% (56-62%) reported no change in labor. More than half of farmers (62% [59-65%]) were interested in trying sustainable farming, primarily because of government schemes or because their peers were practicing it. About one-fifth (18% [15-21%]) of farmers reported COVID-19 symptoms in the past month (cough, fever, or shortness of breath) and among those with symptoms, 37% (28-47%) reported it affected their ability to work. In conclusion, COVID-19 infections had started to impact farmers' productivity even during the first wave in India. Most farmers continued to grow the same crops with no change in input use. However, many expressed an interest in learning more about practicing sustainable farming. Findings will inform future directions for resilient agri-food systems.
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EHealth is defined as the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) for health, a concept that has evolved in the last two decades, along with advances in this field. Given the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, ICTs have played an important role in society, informing the scope, risks and care of this disease, facilitating the care and monitoring of patients and allowing the logistics of Nations and organizations, among many other aspects. Additionally, technology has been a protagonist in the medical and scientific community, in the search for knowledge and understanding about the new coronavirus Sars-Cov-2, from its appearance in a Chinese town to the worrying impact by the new circulating variants, derived from the genetic mutation of the pathogen. This research study by Alphafold, GISAID and MasterOfPores, innovative technologies of public access, free and of high scientific reliability, which make up a new methodology in mutagenic detection, structural modeling and antigen research, in the fight against COVID-19 and its new variants. Finally, ICTs have been and will continue to be vital in the fight against COVID-19, in the research and development of antigens that make it possible to immunize a large part of the world's population.
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Public health law is a legal concept not only regulating the provision of health services but also improving the quality of life and extending access to the service for the public members. Covid-19 opens access to health services for the people, and it serves as an indispensable part in the survival of the people, including the vulnerable people of adat law. This research aims to analyze the degree of success in implementing public health law in Tenganan Pegrisingan village-Bali in the scope of preparedness or response to the pandemic. This research employed socio-legal methods involving interviews, observation, and focus group discussion (FGD). Primary data were collected from interviews and FGD, involving the participation of the traditional chief, village head, and other adat figures in Tenganan Pegringsingan-Bali. The research analysis required a descriptive-qualitative approach. This research sees how the tenganan Pagringsingan tribe clings on to their sovereignty to survive and respond to the Covid-19 pandemic without leaving their framework governed by international and national laws. It leads to the research result revealing that the public health law in Tenganan Pegrisingan adat village combines traditional and modern elements and spiritual and science. This approach can set a model for other village communities. The leadership role of adat people that are inherent, strong, and obeyed has made public health law more properly managed and more effective in dealing with the pandemic. The supportive policy framework that is harmonized at all international, national, and regional levels and all over adat villages is a prerequisite to help maximize the potential of tribal public health system innovation.
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The Internet and social networks are considered as important sources of information for rural producers, regarding property management and agricultural activities. The objective of this work was to understand the influence of social networks on actors of the honey production chain, in Para state, regarding the changes of the production practices and the effect of the coronavirus pandemics on this process. This is an explanatory case study with qualitative approach carried out through semistructured interviews with beekeepers/ honey producers, and apicultural technicians, in Para state. The indication of WhatsApp as the most relevant social network for the beekeeping activity in this Brazilian state- for information exchange, remote technical assistance, broadcasting, and adoption of new technologies of production and marketing -, as well as the expansion of this relevance during the coronavirus pandemics, are the main contributions of this research that also can help to a more efficient planning of communication strategies for the technology transfer and innovation processes in the rural environment.
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The aim of this study was to develop higher-order scales for assessing sustainable supply chain management practices, innovation adoption, and sustainable firm performance in the restaurant sector. Three different higher-order scales were developed for assessing the SSCM, SFP and innovation adoption. The first scale for SSCM higher-order construct consisted of service–product supply chain management practices (SPSSCM), service–setting supply chain management practices (SSSSCM), and service–delivery supply chain management practices (SDSSCM). The second higher-order scale for sustainable firm performance (SFP) consisted of economic, operational, environmental, and socio-cultural performance. The third higher-order scale for innovation adoption (INNO) consisted of “product- and process-based innovation”, “marketing-based innovation”, “technology-based innovation” and “organizational innovation”. The face, content, construct, convergent, and discriminant validity was tested using pilot study, expert opinion, EFA, and CFA. With 178 responses collected from restaurateurs, managers, and supervisors of casual restaurants in Prachuap Khiri Khan province in Thailand, this study evaluates the direct effects of SSCM on SFP. It further evaluates the mediating role of innovation adoption between sustainable supply chain management practices and firm performance and the moderated mediation effects of socio-demographic factors such as age, gender, education, and experience. The results reveal that sustainable supply chain management practices can positively lead to sustainable firm performance. However, irrespective of the indirect effects of socio-demographic factors, adopting innovation completely mediates the relationship between sustainable supply chain management practices and firm performance.
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In order to survive the COVID pandemic that starter in 2020 and is still ongoing companies see a challenge to rebuild their business so it will be flexible and sustainable. It is especially important for companies from traditional verticals like transport who are not used to be digital. Innovation adoption will allow companies to face future crises with more agility and smaller profit losses. Even though the nowadays there are a lot of innovations to choose the level of innovation adoption rate is still relatively low. Most of them can be categorized as digital/IT because the companies need to execute the digital transformation process quite fast. The well-known innovation adoption models use general characteristics of an innovation such as trialability, complex in use and in design etc. but do not provide the users with practical recommendations and give less attention to the digital/IT element. Digital maturity models on the other hand result in practical recommendations on how to improve the adoption of digital and information technologies. In this article we suggest a conceptual approach - add a digital/IT maturity element to a characteristic-based model of innovation adoption. As a methodological support to a model several questionnaires for assessment the model's elements as well as the further research direction and design have been developed. © 2022 Elsevier B.V.. All rights reserved.