Vertical Integration, Transactions Costs, and Technology Adoption - In the Insurance Industry

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Forman ◽  
Anne Gron
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Vertical Integration ◽  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Transactions Costs

Managers’ perception of mobile technology adoption in the Life Insurance industry

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 507-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
Visvanathan Naicker ◽  
Derrick Barry Van Der Merwe
Keyword(s):  
Technology Adoption ◽  
Mobile Technology ◽  
Life Insurance ◽  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Perceived Usefulness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Level Of Education ◽  
Life Insurance Industry

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the factors that influence the adoption of mobile technology by considering the information technology (IT) managers’ perception. The research identified the key challenges managers faced and whether management would adopt mobile technology or not. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative approach was used for this research, whereby an explanatory research was utilised. Questionnaires were developed and distributed to respondents who were in management and leadership positions and who were responsible for IT within their organisations. Demographic variables of age, gender differences, level of education, level of experience and culture were tested for association to the perceived factors and adoption. A χ2 of association was used to test the association between demographic variables and mobile technology adoption. Findings The results found that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived complexity and perceived cost are important factors for adoption. However, perceived risk was a key factor in the adoption of mobile technology. Mobile strategy adoption must consider perceived risk factors central to the adoption. The younger generation (20 to 40) years found it easier to adopt technology than the older generation of 41 years and older. Individuals with a post matriculation level of education understood the importance of risk and cost required for adoption. Research limitations/implications Purposive sampling from a single industry (Life Insurance) was used. Limited literature was available regarding managers perception of mobile technology adoption in the Life Insurance industry. Practical implications The research offers managers insight into the important factors that need to be considered in adopting mobile technology. Originality/value With mobile technology being pervasive, the research seeks to provide managers with the insight in managing the adoption of the technology.

Determinants of Organisational Size: Bhp and Vertical Integration 1885–1915

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Blackmur
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
Vertical Integration ◽  
Institutional Economics ◽  
New Institutional Economics ◽  
Transactions Costs ◽  
Strategic Issues ◽  
Broken Hill ◽  
Company Limited ◽  
Critical Attention ◽  
Point Of Departure

AbstbactOne of the most important strategic issues for managers involves deciding the size of the organisation. Factors which influence this decision include economic, social and political change. The boundaries of the organisation are thus not fixed, and are in part contingent upon the particular characteristics of the environmental context. Theoretical progress in the discipline of strategic management, as far as it relates to matters of organisational size (and structure), requires that serious consideration be given to the analysis of the dynamics of vertical integration which is available in the New Institutional Economics literature. One of the most interesting strands in this literature is the Transactions Costs Economics developed by R.H. Coase and O.E. Williamson. This paper provides an overview of the Coase-Williamson theory of vertical integration. It then uses this theory as a point of departure in conducting an empirical discussion of decisions to integrate vertically taken by one of the world's largest mining enterprises, The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, during the first 30 years of its existence. The paper seeks to demonstrate that theorising in strategic management is enriched if analytical (albeit critical) attention is paid to advances in the economics of organisation.

Determinants of Organisational Size: Bhp and Vertical Integration 1885–1915

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas Blackmur
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Management ◽  
Vertical Integration ◽  
Institutional Economics ◽  
New Institutional Economics ◽  
Transactions Costs ◽  
Strategic Issues ◽  
Broken Hill ◽  
Company Limited ◽  
Critical Attention ◽  
Point Of Departure

AbstbactOne of the most important strategic issues for managers involves deciding the size of the organisation. Factors which influence this decision include economic, social and political change. The boundaries of the organisation are thus not fixed, and are in part contingent upon the particular characteristics of the environmental context. Theoretical progress in the discipline of strategic management, as far as it relates to matters of organisational size (and structure), requires that serious consideration be given to the analysis of the dynamics of vertical integration which is available in the New Institutional Economics literature. One of the most interesting strands in this literature is the Transactions Costs Economics developed by R.H. Coase and O.E. Williamson. This paper provides an overview of the Coase-Williamson theory of vertical integration. It then uses this theory as a point of departure in conducting an empirical discussion of decisions to integrate vertically taken by one of the world's largest mining enterprises, The Broken Hill Proprietary Company Limited, during the first 30 years of its existence. The paper seeks to demonstrate that theorising in strategic management is enriched if analytical (albeit critical) attention is paid to advances in the economics of organisation.

Impairment Questions and Answers

1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 4-5
Keyword(s):  
Insurance Industry ◽  
Organized Labor ◽  
Injured Workers ◽  
Disability Benefits ◽  
Uniform System ◽  
Questions And Answers

Abstract Controversy attends use of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) in defining injured workers’ permanent partial disability benefits: States desire an efficient, nonsubjective way to determine benefits for nonscheduled injuries and are using the AMA Guides to define the extent of disability. Organized labor is concerned that use of the AMA Guides, particularly with modifications, does not yield a fair analysis of an injured worker's disability. From its first issue, The Guides Newsletter emphatically emphasized and clearly stated that impairment percentages derived according to AMA Guides criteria should not be used to make direct financial awards or direct estimates of disability. The insurance industry and organized labor differ about the use of the AMA Guides in defining permanent partial disability (PPD). Insurers support use of the AMA Guides because they seek a uniform system that minimizes subjectivity in determining benefits. Organized labor is particularly concerned about the lack of fairness of directly equating impairment and disability, and if the rating plays a role in defining disability, additional issues also must be considered. More states are likely to use the AMA Guides with incorporation of additional features such as an index to PPD.

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