The automotive industry is undergoing probably the most far-reaching changes that have ever affected it. The outward manifestations of change are the emergence of the connected vehicle as the norm rather than the province of up-market cars competing on the presence of innovative ICT-driven features, the race to develop fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) and the switch to more environmentally sustainable alternative fuel vehicles. The main enabler of these fundamental developments is technological change. But technology is also a driver of change, this is nowhere more obvious than in the application of ICTs in the transport arena. But technological changes of this magnitude also lead to changes in industry structure, a shift in the basis of competition from features and performance to functionalities, and a growing reliance on knowledge that is new to the traditional industry. This paper addresses one aspect of this milieu of developments, that is the emergence of cybersecurity threats to the modern highly-computerised vehicle. Countering such problems requires a high degree of knowledge sharing in the industry and particularly between car manufacturers and their supply networks. This article collects, synthesises and analyses some primary evidence from cybersecurity experts in the industry. The overall conclusion reached is that, in the view of auto-cybersecurity specialists, the level of knowledge-sharing is inadequate. The article presents a number of potential explanations for this phenomenon; the common feature of these explanations is the existence of significant tensions and lack of trust in the knowledge environment.

This paper brings together three major areas which are prone to be seen independently of one another. These are the wide-ranging, ubiquitous and rapidly advancing developments in transport technology; the impacts of a growing ageing population and urbanisation. The interaction between these megatrends forms the broad context against which developments in transport services and mobility must be planned and evaluated. This issue is explored through a consideration of the needs and preferences of older drivers who form a rapidly increasing proportion of the population.

This report has been produced as part of the FP7-funded research project INTRASME (Innovative Transport SME Support Action) which aims to improve the capacity and capability of European SMEs to develop and implement products more rapidly in the low carbon transportation sectors. This report presents results of work on how SMEs acquire new technologies and develop new products and services and the value SMEs get from participating in EU R&D Transport programmes, focusing on the barriers SMEs face in exploiting their innovations and how these can be overcome. The report identifies strategies associated with the successful commercialisation of technology, and produces recommendations for the European Commission on support for SMEs.

Online learning has been used in accounting education for many years; arguably the subject matter lends itself to this kind of delivery. In this research the authors apply the Inputs-Environment-Outcome (I-E-O) model to investigate the ways in which students’ participation in the online learning environment, their views of the use of technology and perceptions of instructor interactivity affect their performance on an intermediate accounting module. The subjects were all students at the Hashemite University in Jordan. The I-E-O model was estimated using structural equation modelling (SEM) techniques. The results suggests that the two most important variable in explaining student performance (outcome) are prior performance on the prerequisite module (an input variable) and student participation in the online learning environment (an environment module). However, the relationships between prior performance, participation and current performance are richer and more complex than a simple direct link between prior performance and current performance.

The provision of enhanced information is a useful and cost-effective means of encouraging travel patterns which are both optimal from the individual's point of view and promote wider social policy ends. Personalized travel information systems have been evaluated as part of the EU-funded OPTIMISM and INTRASME projects. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is used as a framework for identifying ways in which such systems can be further improved. The main conclusion is that the most important feature in encouraging the adoption of such systems is their perceived usefulness rather than how easy travellers think they might be to use. However, there are a number of inhibitors to adoption. These include habit, the familiarity of existing route patterns and the limited capacity of users to evaluate information quickly.

The primary question addressed in this paper is: what are the impacts of demographic factors on students' adoption of LMS?The paper investigates and identifies some of the major factors affecting students' adoption of an e-learning system. Participants in the study consisted of undergraduate students taking first basic computer literacy classes at the Arab Open University (AOU) in Jordan. Data collection was conducted via survey of 470 students. Data was analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) to identify some demographic (e.g. gender, age, income, and computer ownership) influences on the factors that affect students' adoption of LMS (for example, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, intention to use, subjective norms, Internet experience, system interactivity, self-efficacy, and technical support).The results showed significant gender differences for Internet experience and self efficacy. Significant age differences were found for perceived usefulness, intention to use, and self-efficacy. Significant income differences were found for perceived usefulness, intention to use, technical support, Internet experience, system interactivity, and self-efficacy. Significant computer ownership differences were found for perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and Internet experience.The paper concludes by discussing the potential implications of the results for e-learning practice.

Learning and trainings play a vital role in mapping a community. In order to improve the quality of education globally, various programs and institutions are running. The effect of these programs and performance of the institutions can be measured by judging the skills of people who seek from them. We had analyzed the competency enhancement program of National Academy of Higher Education (NAHE) on the performance of college teachers by circulating a questionnaire among teachers who got trained from NAHE. Our results showed a strong correlation between teaching efficiency and training. It was also found that 71% teachers are satisfied with this program. Eighty percent teachers viewed that in-service teacher training is necessary for their professional growth. Forty percent teachers were viewed that National academy for higher education is playing effective role in teacher training. Results of the study showed that this program attained its objectives. Same type of follow-up study of the effect of pedagogical training on teaching in higher education was conducted by Ylanne in Finland in 2006. Results of that study showed that there were most positive changes occurred among teachers who gained more in-service pedagogical courses.On the basis of findings of our study it is recommended that there would compulsory in-service teacher training for college teachers.. It is also recommended that college teacher’s promotion would be linked with in-service teacher training. We think that this study will help in future planning of training program for college teachers.

The ever-increasing production of digital textual data in a wide variety of forms presents both opportunities and challenges to researchers. The opportunities derive from the rich availability of secondary data with which to work. The challenges are the familiar ones of lack of time and resources to undertake the analysis. The qualitative researcher is often faced with a trade-off between analysing a large amount of textual data at a cursory level and selecting (sampling) a small subset of that data for deeper analysis. This paper describes a new computer-aided technique for automatically analysing large amounts of textual data. The approach is proposed as an addition and a complement to the existing computer-aided qualitative data analysis software methods rather than as a substitute. The technique needs little investment either financially or in terms of learning to use the software. The particular software used has been developed principally for knowledge-management purposes; however it has clear potential for researchers. Examples of the use of the technique are given as well as suggestions for further applications. The paper also weighs the advantages and disadvantages of the technique compared with more familiar approaches.

Pakistan is a developing country and trying to overcome the fissure in the education. Higher Education Commission, Pakistan enforced the higher education institution to start B.S. Program (4 years) to brought up to international standards and to give broad-based knowledge to the students. In 2007, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), Pakistan decided to start the B.S. program in the Faculty of Social Sciences. This study intended to find out the experiences of the students about B.S. program at IIUI. The sample of the study is 140 students from four departments of Faculty of Social Sciences, IIUI. A questionnaire was used to collect the information about the B.S. program. The findings of the study are that majority of the students are satisfied with the B.S. program and course contents. But they reported that A.V. Aids are not available and teachers only adopting lecture and discussion method during teaching. Students are also not satisfied with the size of the class. It is recommended that IIUI must provide modern teaching technology in the class rooms to bring up to international standards and teachers should use it to enhance the learning of the students.

This research investigates and identifies some of the major factors affecting studentsâ?? adoption of an e-learning system at Arab Open University in Jordan. E-learning adoption is approached from the information systems acceptance point of view. An extended version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was developed to investigate the underlying factors that influence studentsâ?? decisions to use an e-learning system. The proposed model uses the actual use of an e-learning system. It is different from most of the prior TAM studies, which only used a single dependent variable (intention to use). The model was estimated using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The final models derived from this study indicated that beliefs of usefulness and ease of use partially mediate the relationship between external factors and intention to use and actual use of e-learning systems.

The primary questions addressed in this paper are the following: what are the factors that affect students’ adoption of an e-learning system and what are the relationships among these factors? This paper investigates and identifies some of the major factors affecting students’ adoption of an e-learning system in a university in Jordan. E-learning adoption is approached from the information systems acceptance point of view. This suggests that a prior condition for learning effectively using e-learning systems is that students must actually use them. Thus, a greater knowledge of the factors that affect IT adoption and their interrelationships is a pre-cursor to a better understanding of student acceptance of e-learning systems. In turn, this will help and guide those who develop, implement, and deliver e-learning systems. In this study, an extended version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was developed to investigate the underlying factors that influence students’ decisions to use an e-learning system. The TAM was populated using data gathered from a survey of 486 undergraduate students using the Moodle based e-learning system at the Arab Open University. The model was estimated using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). A path model was developed to analyze the relationships between the factors to explain students’ adoption of the e-learning system. Whilst findings support existing literature about prior experience affecting perceptions, they also point to surprising group effects, which may merit future exploration.

Economies of scale are often cited in the higher education literature as being one of the drivers for the deployment of e‐learning. They are variously used to support the notions that higher education is becoming more global, that national policy towards e‐learning should promote scale efficiencies, that larger institutions will be better able to compete in the future, and that there should be substantial investment in the development of e‐learning materials and online courses. These claims are discussed, but it is argued that the evidence is mixed. In particular, many of the supposed benefits of economies of scale derive from the related concept of economies of scope, and an understanding of how economies of scale and scope interact is important in analysing the future development of e‐learning. The article argues that economies of scope need to identified, better understood and planned for if we are to realise the potential economic benefits of e‐learning.

Modularisation is the predominant approach used in the modern automotive industry to widen the variety of products available in the market place at affordable prices. Modularisation has taken place in the context of increased global competition in the industry, a trend towards greater outsourcing of both module manufacture and development and greater volatility in consumer demand at the model level. Modularisation is both a strategy and a process. Like all shifts in the organisation of production in the industry there are potential limits to what can be achieved through modularisation. This paper explores some the extent to which the market itself may impose limitations on what can be achieved via modularisation.

An analysis of the issues surrounding the implementation of the DfES eStrategy (Harnessing Technology) in schools and colleges. Examines issues linked with learning platforms (VLEs) and Management Information Systems (MIS), collaboration, support for learners, mobile devices, curriculum, pedagogy, assessment (including e-portfolios), digital resources, access, complexity and change, people, buy in, leadership, shared understandings (vision), procurement.

Landscape review of integrated online support for learners and collaborative approaches to personalised learning activities.

PurposeThe bulk of research on approved profit sharing and SAYE schemes tends to focus on the effects of their presence/absence, which says little about how effectively such initiatives are implemented, particularly with regard to different categories of employee. This paper seeks to contribute towards filling that gap through comparing responses between different categories of employee, and the relative effects of differing forms of financial participation.Design/methodology/approachThe paper shows that the population for the study consisted of employees in a large (153,000 employees) retail organisation in the UK. A stratified proportionate random sampling procedure was adopted to include employees at the managerial/non‐managerial levels and in shareholder/non‐shareholder groups. A total of 1,000 questionnaires were mailed to a broad spectrum of employees and a total of 430 usable returns were received. The survey results were analysed using regression analysis.FindingsThe paper found that more junior employees are less likely to choose to actively buy into profit sharing and share ownership schemes; among workers in the lower job bands, the rewards accruing from participation in such schemes are likely to be the least, yet it is there that the effects of any undermining of collective solidarities are likely to be particularly pronounced.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper shows, while based on the case of a single large enterprise, this case study highlights something of the contradictions and limitations of flexible reward systems.Originality/valueThe paper highlights the divergent effects of individualized forms of participation. On the one hand, financial participation lengthens the reward cycle; employees will be encouraged to remain with the firm, to maximise their shareholdings. On the other hand, a greater individualisation of reward systems will undermine notions of collective solidarity; workers will have different agendas according to individual choices made regarding the scale of participation in such schemes. This central contradiction will be particularly pronounced among workers in the lower job bands, where the rewards accruing from participation in such schemes is likely to be the least, yet it is there that the effects of any undermining of collective solidarities is likely to be particularly pronounced.

PurposeTo examine the reasons why Renault of France and Nissan of Japan entered into a merger. Over the past decade the automotive industry has been subject to a spate of merges and take‐overs which not only brought about a considerable degree of consolidation, which made it increasingly difficult for smaller concerns such as Renault and Nissan to compete globally. This paper examines the reasons why these two merged and demonstrates how success was achieved in the short term.Design/methodology/approachThe main methodology applied was that of conventional pre‐ and post‐merger analysis models, but with a particular focus on that of Testa and Morosini which has been applied to other industries, but not so far to the automotive.FindingsThe conclusions drawn from the papers were that careful pre‐merger approaches had been made by both parties to each other and that Nissan had little alternative but to see Renault as a rescuer. Also illustrated is the role played by strong leadership in the process and the necessity of speedy implementation of post‐merger strategies. Decisions were taken swiftly and the short‐term goals set were achieved.Research limitations/implicationsLimitations centre on the short‐term nature of the paper which has a very narrow focus.Practical implicationsThese centre on the importance of a strong relationship between pre‐ and post‐merger strategy policies.Originality/valueThis lies in demonstrating the importance of the Testa‐Morosini model in cross‐border merger analysis.