As the interest in sustainable development increases, businesses can benefit from aligning their orientation with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It remains unclear, however, how focusing on a broader or narrower set of SDGs affects enterprises' economic performance. This study examines the impact of a communicated SDG orientation on the economic performance of social enterprises and traditional commercial businesses. Using natural language processing (NLP) techniques to analyse textual content from 661 enterprises' websites, we found a positive relationship between the communication of a narrow set of SDGs and enterprises' economic performance. The extent of this effect is similar between social and traditional commercial enterprises. Therefore, stakeholders may value an enterprise's SDG orientation strategy that focuses on a narrow set of SDGs in distinct purpose-driven institutional contexts.

Social enterprises are receiving increasing recognition as businesses that address global challenges for a better and more sustainable future. However, social enterprises can struggle to communicate their values to obtain long-term viability. Little is known about measuring an enterprise's promotion of social values, which we call socially-oriented language, nor when such language helps or harms social enterprise performance. In this research, we draw on Artificial Intelligence techniques, in particular natural language processing techniques (NLP), to measure socially-oriented language on the basis of textual data. Furthermore, we explore the relationship between levels of socially-oriented language and business performance. Our findings suggested that social enterprises under-promote their social values compared to traditional firms, and they do not gain performance advantages when they do. This research breaks important ground in social enterprises and social entrepreneurship research by providing novel insights into sustainability issues in organizational identity and its communication with business performance. Moreover, it provides scholars with a method for measuring socially-oriented language that traditional approaches cannot measure.

Whilst access to the internet is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in highly populated, urban areas, for much of the planet web connectively is still largely absent. This is mainly due to geographic remoteness, but bad connectivity or governmental controls might also prevent web users from accessing desired resources. The authors have previously outlined a general approach to cope with such situations, which they termed “Web in your Pocket” (WiPo). WiPo assumes that the user has a smart device to which appropriate data, ideally in curated form, can be pre-loaded so that it remains accessible offline. In this chapter, the authors present the potential usability of WiPo by considering three important use-cases (tourism, health, and search and rescue) demonstrating the vast potential of WiPo. The chapter concludes by considering the practical issues that need to be overcome before it might be implemented in real-world situations.

In response to a lack of existing theory explaining the possible association between cloud-based technology (C-BT) deployment and emergency management, this paper explores the perceived value C-BT can provide within the emergency management sector, with a specific focus on natural disasters. The research used multiple data sources including semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and observations to achieve triangulation in findings. The adoption of grounded theory analysis has resulted in the identification of key elements influencing perception of C-BT deployment in natural disasters. Findings indicate that organizational readiness, coordination, individual perception, individual readiness, C-BT characteristics, and non C-BT redundancy constitute the key dimensional elements influencing the perceived C-BT usage in natural disasters. The findings serve as a knowledge base for emergency professionals in both New Zealand and other countries that are also coping with frequent natural disasters to enhance their organisational and individual readiness in C-BT usage in natural disasters, leading to more effective emergency management performance. about the phenomenon that contributes to the theoretical model development about the factors influencing emergency professionals’ perceptions in C-BT deployment in natural events. Thirteen main propositions have been formulated that suggest the influences of the perceived C-BT usage relate to the organisational readiness, individual readiness, technology characteristics and non-C-BT redundancy. Organisational readiness and individual perception has the stronger effect on perceived C-BT deployment in natural events. From a practical viewpoint, the findings can serve as a knowledge base for the emergency professionals in both New Zealand and other countries that are also coping with frequent natural disasters to enhance their organisational and individual readiness in C-BT usage in natural events, leading to more effective emergency management performance.

In response to a lack of existing theory explaining the possible association between cloud-based technology (C-BT) deployment and emergency management, this paper explores the perceived value C-BT can provide within the emergency management sector, with a specific focus on natural events. The research utilised multiple data sources including semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and observations to achieve triangulated findings. The adoption of grounded theory analysis has resulted in the identification of key elements influencing the perception of C-BT deployment in natural events. Findings indicate that organizational readiness, coordination, individual perception, individual readiness, C-BT characteristics, and non C-BT redundancy constitute the key dimensional elements influencing the perceived C-BT usage in natural events. The findings serve as a knowledge base for emergency professionals in both New Zealand and other countries that are also coping with frequent natural disasters to enhance their organisational and individual readiness in C-BT usage in natural events, leading to more effective emergency management performance.

Beacons have received considerable attention in recent years, which is partially due to the fact that they serve as a flexible and versatile replacement for RFIDs in many applications. However, beacons are mostly considered from a purely technical perspective. This paper provides a conceptual view on application scenarios for beacons and introduces a novel framework for characterizing these. The framework consists of four dimensions: device movement, action trigger, purpose type, and connectivity requirements. Based on these, three archetypical scenarios are described. Finally, event-condition-action rules and online algorithms are used to formalize the backend of a beacon architecture.

This study examined the influence of personality traits of small enterprise owners relating to the duration, frequency and intensity of their use of Facebook. The research method used unstructured and semi-structured interviews to capture the perceptions and personality traits of 29 small enterprise owners in New Zealand. The study found that the Facebook tasks of revising the business profile and regularly updating information on Facebook required the personality traits of being organized and thorough, rather than being imaginative and creative. A balance was required between the characteristics of being spontaneous and at the same time being cautious. The findings contribute a new perspective to the research on the personality traits of social media users, and adds to the small enterprise literature within the context of new technology adoption by its owners.

This book provides a comprehensive treatment of the rapidly changing world of web-based business technologies and their often-disruptive innovations. Web

This research explores the relationship between management support and knowledge sharing. Qualitative data gathered through semi-structured interviews was analysed using a Grounded Theory Methodology supported by nvivo qualitative data analysis software. The findings indicate that top and middle managers can play a significant role in supporting knowledge sharing. The primary roles that were found include the following: encouraging participation in decision-making; provision of recognition; breaking down organizational and personal barriers; building up of teams; training, encouraging or assigning others to carry out training; encouragement of formal and informal communication; encouraging learning; putting knowledge into practice; and, encouraging movement of employees. The research findings have significant practical implications for managers, who can gain a deeper understanding of the knowledge sharing culture of their companies and a clearer picture of what kind of factors influence a company's culture. Practitioners managing knowledge sharing within an organization can use these findings to improve their organization's current practices and contribute to the development of its social structure, thus driving knowledge-sharing effectiveness. This study extends previous research through the creation of a new, empirically-founded model that clarifies the levels of decision-making, the direction of decision-making, and the direction and type of knowledge that flows between top and middle managers and frontline employees. In addition, a model of management support for knowledge sharing is proposed. Copyright (c) 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Recent Middle Eastern developments illustrate how online social media can transform political discourse. However, little is known about how Arab governments choose to implement such applications. This research investigates contextual issues confronting government organisations and citizens when they decide whether to engage in meaningful dialogue using social media. A robust multi-method research design provides for a literature-derived framework to be refined in light of Oman-based case studies and participatory action research. Findings at the national level of enquiry indicate that strong influencers of social media acceptance for Arab government organisations and citizens are legislation and broadband availability. On the organisation side, financial, political and technical support is also essential. On the citizen side, digital divide issues concerning the high cost of services and lack of social media awareness and skills, plus two uniquely Arab concerns (criticism culture and dialogue culture) strongly influence citizen acceptance of government-led social media initiatives.

Purpose This paper aims to explore the relationship between face-to-face social networks and knowledge sharing. Design/methodology/approach Qualitative data gathered through 25 semi-structured interviews in five manufacturing firms were collected and analysed. A grounded theory approach was used to analyse the data, which was supported through NVivo qualitative data analysis software. Findings The results reveal that face-to-face social networks facilitate knowledge sharing in diverse ways. These include the use of multiple communication styles, brainstorming and problem-solving, learning and teaching, training, consultations and employee rotation. Practical implications The findings of this research are expected to help practitioners to comprehend the big picture and scope of the steps they take to facilitate knowledge sharing in organisations. Viewing knowledge sharing from a holistic perspective can help practitioners comprehend how face-to-face knowledge sharing fits with and complements other knowledge-sharing channels, such as electronic social media and document repositories. In addition, through face-to-face social networks, practitioners can leverage work groups to increase knowledge sharing, meaning that potential cost savings and improved work practices can be achieved. Originality/value For researchers, three new models are developed which provide new insights into the nature of the relationship between face-to-face social networks and knowledge sharing. The first model relates to brainstorming and problem-solving, the second to knowledge levels and the direction of learning and teaching and the third to factors influencing social networks and knowledge sharing.