ISSN 1995-459X print E-ISSN 2312-9972 online ISSN 2500-2597 online English
Editor-in-chief Leonid Gokhberg
|
2021. vol. 15. No. 1
|
Strategies
|
6–18
|
Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS) are problem-solvers for other organizations. The coronacrisis affects KIBS directly, but also means that their clients are confronting new problems. How are KIBS addressing these two sets of challenges? This paper draws on material available in the trade and industry press, on official reports and statistics, and the early academic studies addressing these themes. We find that KIBS have been active (alongside other organizations) in providing a substantial range of services aimed at helping their clients (and others) deal with various contingencies thrown up by the crisis. Not least among these is the need to conform to shifting regulatory frameworks, and requirements for longer-term resilience. KIBS themselves have had to adapt their working practices considerably, to reduce face-to-face interaction with clients and within teams collaborating on projects. Adaptation is easier for those whose tasks that are relatively standardized and codified, and it remains to be seen how far a shift to such activities - and away from the traditional office-based venues of activity - is retained as firms recover from the crisis. KIBS are liable to play an important role in this recovery from the crisis, and policymakers can mobilize their services. Some KIBS are liable to be critical for rendering economies more resilient in the face of future pandemics and we argue that these firms are also important for confronting the mounting climate crisis. |
|
19–29
|
The development of online communication platforms has given rise to the phenomenon of the gig economy. A new economic model that embraces a variety of forms of short-term employment is rapidly spreading around the world, becoming an everyday reality and transforming the labor market. The article analyzes the factors influencing the dynamics of this process and its main effects. Testing the main hypothesis showed that the development of technological infrastructure, despite its importance, does not fully explain the unevenness of the penetration of the gig economy and the variations in its impact upon different sectors, professions, and skill levels. Gig economy drivers are subject to further study, but already now we can state the need for targeted measures to adapt the economy to the new model, including retraining or creating alternative employment opportunities for “traditional” workers giving up jobs in favor of gig-employed ones. |
Innovation
|
31–38
|
The motives behind merger and acquisitions (M&A) are often linked with the opportunities to obtain knowledge and technologies in order to enhance the competitive advantages of companies. In particular, the acquisition of digital technologies through mergers and acquisitions with ICT companies is especially relevant. However, the efficiency of such deals is often low and calls into question the implementation of digitalization strategies of companies. In this study we employ an approach for assessing the efficiency of M&A deals with ICT companies by using the DEA method. Applying regression analysis, it was found that the high level of research and development expenses of acquirers can negatively impact the efficiency of the M&A deals with ICT companies. |
|
39–54
|
Rapid technological progress is one of the basic processes in the modern world. It is an integral part both in the field of labor and employment and in leisure and recreation. The request for an accelerated implementation of digital technologies in the economy and social sphere, which is inherent in one of the national development goals of the Russian Federation, makes this topic more important. In the presence of technological challenges, people have to adapt to constantly emerging innovations. Meanwhile the perception of innovations together with other individual characteristics and socioeconomic characteristics of different social groups could be considered determinants of openness to technological innovations. Based on this assumption, the authors of this article set the following objectives: they evaluate the openness of the population to innovation (through the construction of the index), examine the perception of innovation (by identifying factors of the perception of new technologies), and test the relationship between openness to innovation and the perception of new technologies. The multi-domain index of openness to innovation combines assessments of individual attitude, acceptance, and trust in innovations related to various spheres of the population’s life. The perception of innovation is revealed through the Technology Acceptance Model and includes: perceived ease of use of new technologies; the perceived usefulness of new technologies; perceived security and reliability of new technologies; and perceived elitist features of new technologies. This study demonstrates that openness to innovation depends upon the perception of new technologies and is differentiated among population groups. |
Science
|
56–65
|
The paper draws on evidence of predatory publishing obtained from the 4 year-long Harbingers research study of the changing scholarly communication attitudes and behaviour of early career researchers (ECRs). The project featured longitudinal interviews for its first 3 years with 116 ECRs researching science and social sciences who came from China, France, Malaysia, Poland, Spain, UK and USA. The interview data provided the building blocks for a questionnaire survey in the 4th year, which obtained 1600 responses from a global audience, which included arts and humanities ECRs and those from Russia. These studies investigated predatory publishing as part of general questioning about scholarly communications, in other words, in context. The main finding from the interview study were: 1) ECRs generally do not publish in predatory journals; 2) they only allude to them lightly and mainly in the context of open access publishing; 3) they no longer acquaint all open access publishing with predatory journals. The questionnaire found that, as in the case of the interviews, complaints that open access is low quality publishing are diminishing, however, this positivity has been partly offset by increased concerns about the dangers of predatory journals. |
Green economy
|
67–73
|
This study analyzes the diffusion of battery electric vehicles (BEV) in the world and evaluates the vehicle charging stations based on the European Union (EU) scenario. Initially, the global BEV sales data from 2005 to 2018 are fitted with the two most frequently used econometric logistics and Bass diffusion models. Further, the study identifies the different stage adopters, forecasts the consumption of BEVs, and examines the velocity and acceleration of BEV diffusion. Finally, future charging stations are examined to meet the BEV sales demand. Results suggest that the adoption of BEVs demonstrates a better fit on the Bass model where the global BEV market is estimated to grow from 5,3 millions in 2019 to near 40 millions units by 2030, and with the reference of the EU countries’ adoption scenario, the global charging stations will be increased from near 2 millions in 2019 to near 10 millions units by 2030. |
|
74–85
|
The transition to a “green” economic model is a complex strategic task that requires a combination of two previously incompatible development vectors: maintaining dynamic economic growth and preserving the natural environment on a long-term basis. No country has yet been able to cope with such complexity, nevertheless, an active search for a new balanced model continues, with the development of appropriate strategies. China is among the countries moving in this direction. The article analyzes the influence of social, economic, and environmental factors on the prospects for the development of a green economy and the preservation of natural areas in China. The dynamics of changes in the ecological situation from 1970 to 2018 is investigated. The authors propose a methodology for assessing the state of the environment based on demographic dynamics, economic indicators, and the level of technological development. Over the past 50 years, China has experienced intensive industrial development, as a result of which the degradation of valuable natural assets is increasing in most regions. At the same time, efforts are being made in a number of provinces to remedy the situation through the formulation of new policies, the first results of which have been already visible. The government has established a new environmental legislation designed to scale the green practices of the pioneering regions throughout the country, including the trend toward the de-urbanization of individual megacities and others. The implementation of this strategy will be facilitated by the expansion of interdisciplinary scientific research, the development of complex technological solutions, and development programs that simultaneously take into account various factors. |
|
86–96
|
Small, medium, and micro enterprises make important contributions to economic growth and employment. Based on evidence from of the tire processing industry in Ecuador, this article assesses the development prospects for such companies in the context of the transition to a circular economy. The methodological basis of the study is scenario planning. Five scenario hypotheses are proposed and the probability of their implementation is estimated. The most optimal scenario (in which all five hypotheses are realized) is feasible and subject to a set of measures, including the development of new management and marketing tools, the involvement of universities and research centers in the creation of new low-cost waste processing technologies, and the organization of a special fund to support research and development in companies focused on the circular model. |
|
97–105
|
Green education and development has a great impact upon improving the environmental performance of companies. Using the example of Iranian small and medium-sized oil and gas enterprises, the article evaluates the practices’ effect on environmental performance. The survey covered 386 employees from 30 companies. The most common measures of green human resources management were analyzed. All these practices have a positive and significant effect on the environmental performance of companies. The action of green education and development was introduced as the most effective measure. The results also demonstrated that four practices of green human resources management have a positive and significant impact upon performance due to environmental knowledge. Companies can use the findings of this research in implementing the green human resources management practices and continuous improvement of the environmental performance. |
|
|