Commercialization
Leila Namdarian; Ali Naimi-Sadigh
Abstract
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Abstract Background and Objectives: Commercialization of research is a process that transforms the knowledge produced in universities and research institutes into marketable products or services. Given its importance in higher education, commercialization of research has recently attracted the attention of policymakers in Iran. This study was thus intended to design effective strategies for commercialization of research in Iranian research institutes by identifying the drivers and barriers to its implementation. Moreover, it was attempted to formulate the commercialization strategies for the Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc) based on the identified drivers and barriers. Methodology: Based on the data of interviews with 30 IranDoc experts, the drivers and barriers to commercialization in Iranian research institutes were identified and then categorized into internal factors (i.e., strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (i.e., opportunities and threats) using the definitions of strength (S), weakness (W), opportunity (O) and threat (T). In order to complete the list of factors, the researchers asked the IranDoc experts to comment on the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of commercialization in IranDoc using a questionnaire. Afterwards, SWOT matrix was used to formulate appropriate strategies for IranDoc. Findings: Based on the findings, four strategy groups including defensive strategies (WT), competitive strategies (ST), conservative strategies (WO), and aggressive strategies (SO) were identified for the implementation of commercialization in IranDoc. Besides, the analysis of the internal-external factor evaluation (IE) matrix revealed that WT group strategies and ST group strategies were the first and second priorities for the commercialization of research findings in IranDoc, respectively. It is thus recommended that IranDoc apply defensive strategies (WT) in order to decrease the weaknesses and avoid the threats (WT) of commercialization of research findings. These strategies include conducting joint research and development projects, empowering researchers, managing knowledge flow, increasing the motivation of researchers to commercialize their research findings, and also attracting support from the industry sector and other organizations. Discussion: In order to formulate an effective strategy for commercialization of research findings, it is imperative that the experts and policymakers gain an accurate understanding of the important factors (i.e., drivers and barriers) for research commercialization in research institutes. It is thus suggested that the commercialization strategies of IranDoc be developed based on the list of identified drivers and barriers to research commercialization in Iran. It is hoped that the formulated research commercialization strategies for IranDoc contribute to the commercialization of research products in other similar research centers in Iran.
Maryam Saberi; Mohsen Nowkarizi; Mohammad Hossein Dayyani
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Attention to the users and their attitudes is one of the important concerns of designers of information systems which has led to the design of several models for acceptance and use of technology. One of these models is the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology ...
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Background and Objectives: Attention to the users and their attitudes is one of the important concerns of designers of information systems which has led to the design of several models for acceptance and use of technology. One of these models is the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model, which consists of four main dependent variables of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions and two main independent variables of intention and behavior, and use (user).On the other hand, despite the efforts and costs involved in designing scientific databases in Persian language, these databases have so far failed to find their proper place among scholars and the scientific community of Iran. The set of IRANDOC databases is among these databases. Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to determine the position of the main variables (dependent and independent) of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model among users of the IRANDOC databases. Methodology: The approach adopted in the present research is quantitative and in terms of purpose it is an applied research. Also, it is a survey. The statistical population of this study included all potential users of the set of the IRANDOC databases (known as Ganjineh). The size of the research population was infinite. For this reason, the Morgan formula was used to determine the sample size for indeterminate statistical population. The number of sample members of this study was 325. Simple random sampling method was used. Finally, 250 questionnaires (77% of the total distributed questionnaires) were received and considered as the final sample. In this study, a questionnaire was used as a tool for surveying the variables of research and data collection. In order to measure the research variables, a pre-prepared standard questionnaire based on UTAUT model, including six sub-variables and twenty one items was used. Since the tool was designed by the developer of the model, for the instrument's validity only experts were used to adapt the English to Persian translation. Cronbach's alpha was calculated as 0.94. To determine the rating of each item in the tool, the 5 value Likert scale was used. In order to analyze data, descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (factor analysis and one sample T-test) were used. Findings: The findings of this study are presented in three sections: 1. Study of the status of variables based on the average of the participants’ opinion: In this section, it was found that the "performance expectancy" variable had a higher score. 2. Comparison of the mean of UTAUT model: In order to determine the effect of each of the sub-variables of acceptance and use from the IRANDOC databases users’ views and also to calculate the position of these components factor analysis was carried out. It was found that among the independent variables, the "effort expectancy" variable was more influential concerning the acceptance and use of the IRANDOC database than other related variables. Meanwhile, there was no difference between the two dependent variables (behavior intention and use) in influencing the acceptance and use of the users of these databases. 3. Comparison of acceptance status and use of the IRANDOC database with the average status: The results of one-sample T-test and comparison with the average condition (3) showed that with the exception of the "use" variable, the remaining variables were higher than the average. Also, the comparison of the overall UTAUT model (the acceptance index and the technology utilization) with the average showed that the index was also above the average. Discussion: Based on the effect of influential variables, the “effort expectancy" variable had a higher score than other variables .Accordingly, it seems that from the viewpoint of users of the set of the above mentioned databases, the ease of use (user-friendliness) of these databases has had the greatest impact on the acceptance and use of them. Moreover, the results of the research showed that the level of all the main variables of the UTAUT, with the exception of the use (user), was higher than the average (3). This finding is debatable from two perspectives: firstly, the users of IRANDOCT databases have largely accepted and used these databases due to their specific characteristics (such as the diversity of information resources, the age, availability, speed of access Resources, and updates). On the other hand, the results of the present study showed that the use variable (user) was in the middle position, unlike other variables of the model. Also, the comparison of the mean user opinion confirmed this finding as the mean of this variable was lower than other variables. This result can be explained by the fact that other variables, appear to affect the user's use of the databases. In summary, the results of this study show that the design of scientific databases should be carried out with a futuristic and accurate attention to the factors affecting the acceptance and utilization of these technological tools, so that the cost, the usefulness of the databases and information resources are guaranteed.
