If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -Given the dramatic technology-led changes that continue to take place in the marketplace, researchers and practitioners alike are keen to understand the emergence and implications of online brand communities (OBCs). The purpose of this paper is to explore OBCs from both consumer and company perspectives. Design/methodology/approach -The study provides a synthesis of the extant OBC literature to further our understanding of OBCs, and also puts forth future priorities for OBC research. Findings -A conceptual framework is provided that extends our understanding of OBCs and consumer engagement. Four key OBC dimensions (brand orientation, internet-use, funding and governance) are identified and three antecedents (brand-related, social and functional) are proposed of consumer-OBC engagement. Originality/value -This study is the first to explore key dimensions of OBCs, and the differing but related perspectives of the consumers and organizations involved.
<b><i>Background:</i></b> Over the past few years, various new types of technologies have been introduced, which have been tailored to meet the specific needs of older adults by incorporating gerontological design principles (i.e., “gerontechnologies“). However, it has been difficult to motivate older adults to adopt and use these new technologies. Therefore, it is crucial to better understand not only the role of personal drivers but also the family influences on older adults. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> This research goes beyond traditional technology acceptance theories by investigating the role of personal (e.g., inherent novelty seeking) and interpersonal drivers (e.g., influence of family) in stimulating older adults to use gerontechnologies. Nine hypotheses, building on traditional and new technology acceptance theories, were developed and tested. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> This research applies a cross-sectional study design. Therefore, a face-to-face survey instrument was developed building on a qualitative pilot study and validated scales. Three hundred and four older adults (minimum age = 70 years) were willing to participate as well as one of their family members. Structural equation modeling was applied to analyze the hypothesized conceptual model. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Our results extend the seminal technology acceptance theories by adding personal (i.e., inherent novelty seeking <i>p</i> = 0.017) and interpersonal drivers. More specifically, it was found that the attitude toward gerontechnologies was influenced by family tech savviness (i.e., people who often use technology), as this relationship is fully mediated through the social norms of older adults (<i>p</i> = 0.014). The same was found for older adults’ trust in the family member’s technology knowledge (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.001). Here, the relationship with older adults’ attitude toward gerontechnologies was partially mediated by the older adults’ trust in technology. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> This study identified important personal and interpersonal drivers that influence attitudes toward and intentions to use gerontechnologies. To foster technology acceptance among older adults, it was found that it is important to strengthen the trust in and the attitude toward gerontechnologies. Furthermore, family members’ knowledge and beliefs in technology were the keys to promoting the actual use of gerontechnologies among older adults. Furthermore, the families’ trust in gerontechnologies and the provision of access to technology can improve their attitudes toward technology and usage intentions for the older relative.
ObjectiveIn this systematic review on drug price comparison studies, we report on recent determinants of drug prices in a national and international context to facilitate regulation of drug prices by purchasers and policymakers worldwide. Determinants of drug prices were divided into non-modifiable and modifiable and were categorised as pertaining to a country’s income level, pharmaceutical market system and its policies and government.Primary outcomeDeterminants of drug prices or price variance.DesignWe systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library for peer-reviewed articles published between 2004 and 22 July 2020 that reported an association of the primary outcome with one or more determinants. We performed a best-evidence synthesis of these associations for determinants covered in at least three studies.Results31 publications were included. Only one publication described net drug prices and 30 described retail drug prices. Five modifiable determinants were associated with lower retail prices: generic market portion, discounts, tendering policies, central (governmental) purchasing and pricing regulation schemes. The originators market portion and a system in which mark-ups are common were associated with higher retail prices. Retail prices were highest in the USA, even compared with other high-income countries. A positive association between national income level and drug retail prices could not be established among middle-income and high-income countries. Retail prices were highest in low-income countries when adjusted for purchasing power parity.ConclusionsLiterature on determinants of net drug prices is extremely sparse. Various healthcare system interventions, market-specific and governmental regulations are consistently associated with lower retail prices. Some interventions are easily implementable in developing or middle-income countries, such as tendering, central purchasing and fixed pricing regulation schemes. Net drug price comparison studies are needed to overcome the lack of price transparency and to quantify the effectiveness of policy measures on net drug prices.
ObjectivesTo assess whether there is a difference between the net prices of medical products used by Dutch hospitals and, if there is, how this difference can be explained.DesignCross-sectional self-administered electronic survey.SettingWe surveyed the prices paid for 17 commonly used medical products, such as pacemakers, gloves and stents in 38 Dutch hospitals (including general, specialised and academic hospitals) in 2017. Hospitals voluntarily and anonymously provided these data and received a personalised free benchmark tool in return. This tool provides information about the variance in prices of the medical products they buy.Participants38 out of 79 hospitals entered and completed the study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresActual price paid excluding Value Added Tax (VAT) per item, the order size per year, total spending for an assortment group and total spending for all products purchased from a specific supplier were measured.ResultsWe found large price variations for the medical products surveyed (average coefficient of variation of 71%). In general, these differences were hard to explain (average R2of 26%). Only purchasing volume (for 8 out of 17 products) was significantly associated with the net price paid by a hospital. Total spending for an assortment group (in euros with a specific supplier) and total spending (for all products in euros with a specific supplier) were not related to the net price paid.ConclusionsWe conclude that only purchasing volume is associated with lower prices paid. Total spending for an assortment group and total spending for all products purchased from a specific supplier are not. These results are in stark contrast to expectations based on economic theory. Other sources of differences in bargaining power might explain these findings. Further research might involve comparing prices across countries.
Managing a portfolio of interdependent innovation projects requires various forms of coordination. Coordination is important to mitigate risk and control resource utilization, but also to ensure that the end users experience the outcome of various innovation projects as integrated solutions to their needs. Simultaneously achieving control and user focused harmonisation in a project portfolio is not an easy task and may be hindered by organizational structures and coordination practices that focus on the internal division of labour and budgets rather than on taking a user perspective. In our case study in a public service organization we analyse the impact of the presence of one powerful stakeholder and anonymous and invisible end users on practices of coordinating a portfolio of service innovation projects.
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