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The similarities between the developments of the United States (U.S.) and China into global powers (countries with global economic, military, and political influence) can be analyzed through big data analysis from both countries. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether or not China is on the same path to becoming a world power like what the U.S. did one hundred years ago.

The data of this study is drawn from political rhetoric and linguistic analysis by using “big data” technology to identify the most common words and political trends over time from speeches made by the U.S. and Chinese leaders from three periods, including 1905-1945 in U.S., 1977-2017 in U.S. and 1977-2017 in China.

Rhetoric relating to national identity was most common amongst Chinese and the U.S. leaders over time. The differences between the early-modern U.S. and the current U.S. showed the behavioral changes of countries as they become powerful. It is concluded that China is not a world power at this stage. Yet, it is currently on the path towards becoming one, and is already reflecting characteristics of present-day U.S., a current world power.

This paper presents a novel approach to analyze historical documents through big data text mining, a methodology scarcely used in historical studies. It highlights how China as of now is most likely in a transitionary stage of becoming a world power.

Information and communications technology (ICT) offers enormous opportunities for individuals, businesses and society. The application of ICT is equally important to economic and non-economic activities. Researchers have increasingly focused on the adoption and use of ICT by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) as the economic development of a country is largely dependent on them. Following the success of ICT utilisation in SMEs in developed countries, many developing countries are looking to utilise the potential of the technology to develop SMEs. Past studies have shown that the contribution of ICT to the performance of SMEs is not clear and certain. Thus, it is crucial to determine the effectiveness of ICT in generating firm performance since this has implications for SMEs’ expenditure on the technology. This research examines the diffusion of ICT among SMEs with respect to the typical stages from innovation adoption to post-adoption, by analysing the actual usage of ICT and value creation. The mediating effects of integration and utilisation on SME performance are also studied. Grounded in the innovation diffusion literature, institutional theory and resource-based theory, this study has developed a comprehensive integrated research model focused on the research objectives. Following a positivist research paradigm, this study employs a mixed-method research approach. A preliminary conceptual framework is developed through an extensive literature review and is refined by results from an in-depth field study. During the field study, a total of 11 SME owners or decision-makers were interviewed. The recorded interviews were transcribed and analysed using NVivo 10 to refine the model to develop the research hypotheses. The final research model is composed of 30 first-order and five higher-order constructs which involve both reflective and formative measures. Partial least squares-based structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is employed to test the theoretical model with a cross-sectional data set of 282 SMEs in Bangladesh. Survey data were collected using a structured questionnaire issued to SMEs selected by applying a stratified random sampling technique. The structural equation modelling utilises a two-step procedure of data analysis. Prior to estimating the structural model, the measurement model is examined for construct validity of the study variables (i.e. convergent and discriminant validity).

The estimates show cognitive evaluation as an important antecedent for expectation which is shaped primarily by the entrepreneurs’ beliefs (perception) and also influenced by the owners’ innovativeness and culture. Culture further influences expectation. The study finds that facilitating condition, environmental pressure and country readiness are important antecedents of expectation and ICT use. The results also reveal that integration and the degree of ICT utilisation significantly affect SMEs’ performance. Surprisingly, the findings do not reveal any significant impact of ICT usage on performance which apparently suggests the possibility of the ICT productivity paradox. However, the analysis finally proves the non-existence of the paradox by demonstrating the mediating role of ICT integration and degree of utilisation explain the influence of information technology (IT) usage on firm performance which is consistent with the resource-based theory. The results suggest that the use of ICT can enhance SMEs’ performance if the technology is integrated and properly utilised. SME owners or managers, interested stakeholders and policy makers may follow the study’s outcomes and focus on ICT integration and degree of utilisation with a view to attaining superior organisational performance.

This study urges concerned business enterprises and government to look at the environmental and cultural factors with a view to achieving ICT usage success in terms of enhanced firm performance. In particular, improving organisational practices and procedures by eliminating the traditional power distance inside organisations and implementing necessary rules and regulations are important actions for managing environmental and cultural uncertainties. The application of a Bengali user interface may help to ensure the productivity of ICT use by SMEs in Bangladesh. Establishing a favourable national technology infrastructure and legal environment may contribute positively to improving the overall situation. This study also suggests some changes and modifications in the country’s existing policies and strategies. The government and policy makers should undertake mass promotional programs to disseminate information about the various uses of computers and their contribution in developing better organisational performance. Organising specialised training programs for SME capacity building may succeed in attaining the motivation for SMEs to use ICT. Ensuring easy access to the technology by providing loans, grants and subsidies is important. Various stakeholders, partners and related organisations should come forward to support government policies and priorities in order to ensure the productive use of ICT among SMEs which finally will help to foster Bangladesh’s economic development.

Wireless Internet via mobile devices (WIMD) is leading the world into another spectrum of communications and means of conducting day‐to‐day business and life activities. Full bloom of wireless Internet services depends on user acceptance, as well as technology improvement. This paper develops a technology acceptance model for wireless Internet via mobile devices (TAM for wireless Internet), a conceptual framework to explain the factors influencing user acceptance of WIMD. By revising the technology acceptance model (TAM) to represent some unique features of the wireless system under study, TAM for wireless Internet proposes that constructs such as individual differences, technology complexity, facilitating conditions, social influences, and wireless trust environment determine user‐perceived short and long‐term usefulness, and ease of using WIMD. These, in turn, determine user intention and willingness to adopt WIMD. Twelve propositions are developed to promote and facilitate future empirical research relating to WIMD.

The impact of web site interactivity on e‐commerce has been emphasized in industry and empirical literature. The purpose of this paper is to focus on image interactivity technology (IIT) of a web site and apply the technology acceptance model (TAM) to examine factors influencing consumers' attitude toward an online retailer.

Data were collected from 206 respondents using a between‐subject experimental design and were analyzed using LISREL 8.54 to examine a proposed model.

Results of the present study support the positive effect of web site IIT on attitude and behavioral intention toward the online retailer and show TAM aspects help explain the effects of IIT on consumer responses. All three aspects of TAM, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and perceived enjoyment, significantly enhanced consumer attitude and behavioral intention towards an online retailer. Hedonic shopping orientation had a significant effect on one aspect of TAM (perceived enjoyment) and utilitarian shopping orientation had a significant effect on two TAM aspects (perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use).

Limitations of the present study include sampling, which prevent the generalization of our results to all internet users.

IIT may be a valuable strategy for online retailers; however, these retailers need to develop useful, easy to use, and enjoyable IIT features that appeal to both hedonic and utilitarian shoppers.

The study was the first attempt to examine the role of TAM in explaining the relationship between IIT and resulting consumer responses.

This research examines antecedents to consumer adoption of a popular form of online entertainment - fantasy sports leagues. Employing Davis' (1989) Technology Acceptance Model as a theoretical framework, the study found that attitude toward the televised sport (American professional football), perceived ease of using in relation to fantasy sports websites, perceived knowledge of the sport and subjective norms all played a role in explaining participants' attitudes and behavioural intentions towards playing fantasy football.

The primary purpose of this paper is to test and augment the original technology acceptance model (TAM) with three external variables: computer attitude, computer self‐efficacy and personality to study the use of the internet of the business executives not addressed previously.

The study is based upon survey approach to collect the primary data from 105 business executives selected randomly. The study tests and augments the proposed model by using structural equation modeling techniques and explained 42 percent of the variance as shared by the three variables. The final model has shown the influence of computer attitude and self‐efficacy on the TAM component. Finally, perceived usefulness (PU) directly affects the executives' use of the internet.

The results show that computer attitude has a significant effect on perceived ease of use (PEOU). Whereas, computer self‐efficacy has significant but negative effect on PU and has a positive and significant effect on PEOU.

The study has its own limitations and suggests that with the inclusion of some more variables R² could be enhanced and would be further improved by controlling the response biasness due to the self‐reported items. The study also lacks direction in assessing the problems faced by the executives at the inter‐organizational level.

The study has practical significance as at the inter‐organizational level these external variables are under the direct control of the top management and by capitalizing on them through structured training program improved self‐efficacy and by adding variety to the task of executives, the management could further expedite the use of the internet.

This preliminary work adds value to the existing knowledge and supports the previous work that PU belief segments have relationship to predict the behavior intentions to use the technology. The study concludes that business executives consider ease of use as a fundamental belief that helps them to achieve the usefulness component of the technology.

Several nonprofit associations have implemented assessment and certification programs intending to produce institutional improvement for member organizations. Using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a foundation, this study develops and tests an extension of TAM with organizations that chose to participate in one such program, (the Louisiana Standards for Excellence organizational assessment), and with those that did not. The results of this quantitative study largely validate TAM and indicate that dimensions such as usefulness, access barriers related to resources, attitudes, executive director pro-activity and behavioral intent all influence the decision to pursue voluntary certification. These findings advance current theory and contribute to the foundation for future research aimed at understanding user-adoption behavior in a general sense, and more specifically, in the nonprofit sector.

As the use of Web‐based learning technologies to supplement college classroom instruction has increased, a key issue for faculty members is how to entice their students to accept these technologies. Research suggests that student experience with the technologies may influence their acceptance. The technology acceptance model was used as a framework to study the effect of student experience with Web‐based learning technologies on their acceptance of those technologies. Analysis showed that experience with the technology positively influenced perceived ease of use. Perceptions of ease of use and usefulness positively influenced attitudes towards the technology. Attitude positively influenced intention to use, and intention positively influenced usage. Results suggest that as student experience with a technology increases, they perceive it to be easier to use and more useful, and therefore, are more likely to use it. When introducing the technology, instructors should emphasize how easy the technology is to use and how useful it is in improving grades.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of internet on the e-lifestyle of the youth of emerging markets (EMs) in contemporary digital world using Ghanaian youth as a case study.

Survey data were obtained from students of five leading universities in Accra, the nation’s capital, between February and June 2017. Of the 300 questionnaires administered, 276 were usable representing 92 per cent collection rate. Respondents were randomly approached and oriented on the object of the study and asked to complete the instrument voluntarily using the face-to-face approach at student events. Both the exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and the structural equation modelling procedure of partial least square (PLS-SEM) were used to analyse the data.

From the study, drivers of the e-lifestyle of youth in EMs were listed in order of importance: socio-importance, interest, entertainment, necessity, novelty, academic, transaction and concern needs. Surprisingly, the quest for academic information does not motivate the youth to surf the internet compared to aspiration to satisfy social, interest and entertainment-driven needs.

E-lifestyle addiction compels the youth to surf the internet via mobile phones, computers and other devices for e-lifestyle satisfaction, requiring internet service providers, marketers and academics to develop innovative e-lifestyle products to stimulate continuous internet usage of internet by the youth.

This study provides practical insight for internet service providers, web and application developers and members of the academic community to consciously develop internet-based products that direct the youth towards fulfilling e-lifestyle motivation.

The convergence of the youth on the internet will in no doubt impact social behaviour, thereby influencing lifestyles.

As very little work has been done on youth e-lifestyle in EMs, this study serves as a pioneering work in EMs using Ghanaian youth as a case study. Ironically, students of EMs spend less time on the internet doing academic concerns compared to social activities. Additionally, the importance of transaction (payments) needs as a driver of internet use among the youth has been emphasised in this study.

This paper aims to propose a framework that integrated the technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and technology-organization-environment (TOE) and extended the constructs to enrich literature and capture some peculiarities of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs). Individually, the frameworks of extant TAM, TPB and TOE are insightful to the understanding of e-commerce adoption but a bit parochial in their constructs and so, can rarely provide clear lenses to deal with SMEs.

The adoption of e-commerce depends largely on the users’ conscious assessment of the influencing constructs as proposed, among others, in theories of reasoned action, TAM, TPB and TOE. This paper reviewed, synthesized and extended the constructs of these models in an integrated framework. The proposed integrated framework led to 18 propositions to promote and facilitate future research, and to guide explanation and prediction of e-commerce adoption in an organized system.

The introduced constructs in the integrated framework (e.g. company mission, individual difference factors, perceived trust and perceived service quality) introduce socio-technical systems and improve the theoretical base of adoption.

Neither the adoption drivers nor the constructs in the theoretical framework are mutually exclusive and exhaustive; rather, they are complementary and could incorporate other factors. Although the theoretical implications of the findings of this paper extend the scope of adoption drivers, the proposed framework needs to be tested empirically.

The integrated and extended theoretical framework links three adoption drivers and attempts to improve existing knowledge on e-commerce adoption and to provide bases for more informed decision(s).