34575 research outputs found
Sort by
Customer view on servitization: the influence of strategic goals and service mix offering on firm performance
No full textFollowing a mixed methods approach, this research investigates the reasons that lead B2B customers in the pharmaceutical sector to use different types of services and their impact on servitization outcomes and firm performance. Main findings show that base services are selected by B2B customers with the goal to develop profitability, but these base services produce no impact on servitization outcomes or firm performance. Advanced services are used to foster loyalty, profitability and competitive advantage, showing a significant positive effect on servitization outcomes and have an indirect impact on firm performance through servitization outcomes. Business customers should adopt a combination of services where base services are qualifiers needed to compete whilst a service mix combination would enable an optimization of their servitization outcomes and firm performance
Small-Scale Online Radio Stations: Developing a Conceptual Framework
No full textThis paper seeks to develop a framework and conceptual account for Small=Scale Online Radio stations (SSORs). There has been substantive growth among small-scale, online radio stations (SSORs) across the UK in recent years. SSORs are a
distinct, emerging type of cultural and media institution and represent a new form of radio broadcasting that appeared in the mid-2010s. These stations share four distinct characteristics: (1) They are local or ‘hyperlocal’: identified with a particular city, town, or region. (2) They broadcast exclusively online without licensing. (3) They operate on a voluntary basis and rely upon donations and fundraising to cover running costs. (4) Personnel tend to be drawn directly from local music and arts communities with stations serving as local hubs for creative industries. SSORs also tend to emphasise inclusion and accessibility and foster a sense of community. Stations can be entry points into creative industries for young people and their lower barriers to entry are especially significant for groups historically excluded or under-represented in music and related industries. SSORs operate with little, if any, commercial or public investment, run primarily via voluntary support and depend entirely on commercial platforms (e.g., SoundCloud, MixCloud) to broadcast and archive content. Our paper traces the development of SSORs across the UK by positioning them within a larger media landscape and emphasising their underappreciated role in fostering new cultural, political, and interpersonal infrastructures
China’s Digital Communications Strategy in Africa: Preliminary Perspectives from Zimbabwe and Kenya
No full textThis research examines China’s digital communications and infrastructure initiatives in Africa through a comparative analysis of Kenya and Zimbabwe. While existing scholarship has emphasized Africa’s structural dependence in the digital sector, relatively limited attention has been given to how domestic political, economic, and social contexts shape the outcomes of Chinese digital cooperation (Kwet, 2019; Nothias, 2020; Gagliardone, 2019; Atlantic Council DFRLab, 2023).
To address this gap, the research investigates five interrelated questions focusing on: the motivations underpinning China’s interventions; the main characteristics of its strategies in Kenya and Zimbabwe; their political, economic, and social impacts; how these impacts are distributed across actors and sectors; and the broader implications for African autonomy and the trajectory of China–Africa digital cooperation. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative comparative case study design, combining semi-structured interviews with three regional experts and extensive secondary evidence from policy documents, official reports, and international datasets. The analysis is thematically organised and informed by theoretical perspectives from political economy, soft power, geopolitics, and the digital divide. Findings show that deterministic dependency frameworks alone cannot explain China’s interventions. Outcomes were mediated by domestic conditions, including regulatory capacity, fiscal constraints, media freedom, and civil society engagement. While Chinese-backed infrastructure projects narrowed aspects of the digital divide, concerns about surveillance, data governance, and vendor lock-in complicated public trust and policy debates. The evidence demonstrates that African ownership and agency are decisive mediating variables, indicating that China’s digital strategies were negotiated within—rather than imposed upon—national contexts.
By bridging structural dependency and domestic agency, the study contributes to debates on digital geopolitics and China–Africa relations. It also provides policy insights for African governments seeking to leverage external investment while safeguarding digital sovereignty, inclusive governance, and sustainable
Colonialism, Extraction and Repair (Lisbon Architecture Triennale 2025)
No full text7th Lisbon Architecture Triennale:
The opening debate addresses some of the most complex dimensions of weight — looking at the ghosts, ruins and inherited pressures of extraction, colonialism and terraforming gestures — to interrogate how histories of violence haunt present ecologies and infrastructures, and how these unresolved spectres press upon cities, territories and bodies.
Participants: Kenny Cupers, Yara Sharif and Nasser Golzari (Architects for Gaza, University of Westminster
Gut microbes may have links with sleep deprivation
No full textCould there be a link between sleep deprivation and gut bacteria?
Sleep is one of the essential physiological needs for human survival, alongside food, water and air. But sleep is socially driven, influenced by environmental and personal factors, and a recent study suggests it may be affected by fragments from bacteri
‘Real-ising’ the Benefits of Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI) Management: An Interpretive Study
No full text‘he’s not just a dog… he’s something bigger… my family.’ A Qualitative Study on Dog Ownership and Emotional Well-Being
No full textBackground/Objectives: Dogs are widely regarded as reliable sources of companionship and emotional support. In many instances, they are not merely considered pets, but valued as integral members of the family who significantly influence their caregivers’ emotional and psychological health. Within this framework, this research examines how dog ownership through adoption may serve as both a protective and empowering factor against feelings of loneliness, while also fostering emotional resilience and a renewed sense of purpose in everyday life. Methods: Employing a qualitative research design, this study involved ten Greek participants, five women and five men, aged between 26 and 72, all of whom were the primary caregivers of their dogs. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews aimed at eliciting rich, in-depth personal narratives. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring emotional patterns and explore the meanings embedded in participants’ accounts. Results: The findings revealed that the human–dog bond functions as a stable emotional anchor, promoting non-judgmental connection and emotional security. Participants reported experiencing greater emotional expression, enhanced social engagement, and improved psychological balance. Conclusions: Overall, the results demonstrate how dog ownership through adoption may act as a protective factor against loneliness while fostering resilience and emotional balance, pointing to the broader mental health benefits of nurturing human–animal bonds
Oracle of Motivations: Exploring the Psychology of Link's Quest
No full textThe Legend of Zelda series captivates millions of players worldwide. We have followed Link, Zelda and Ganon through many quests, timelines and consoles. What can playing the Legend of Zelda games teach us about ourselves, others, and our place in the world? In this collection, eleven expert scholars from across psychology and the social sciences shed light on these questions. A must-read for fans of the games and budding social scientists alike, The Psychgeist of Pop Culture: The Legend of Zelda will uncover the secrets of the series and its impact on our real-world lives