chapter 3 - Bentham Science

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Forecasting with Innovation Diffusion Applications of Spreadsheets in Education The Amazing Power of a Simple Tool 161 4. The fourth or late majority stage makes up another 34% of the market. Late majority adopters do not adopt products until after all risks have been identified and when the adoption becomes an economic necessity or when there is social pressure to adopt. 5. The fifth and final stage, which accounts for the final 16% of the market are commonly referred to as laggards. Laggards frequently wait to adopt a new technology until the next technology generation has entered the market. Fig. (9.2) provides a graphic representation of the adopter categories [2]. Fig. (9.2): Distribution of adopter categories. The constant examination of products as they move through their life cycles is crucial to a firm’s success. Managers are challenged with developing new strategies, examining ongoing strategies, and eliminating non-competitive strategies for a product’s diffusion into markets. Many times it is the primary job of the operations and marketing managers to forecast a product’s diffusion. Within the business discipline the product life cycle and forecasting can be linked using what is called innovation diffusion theory [3]. Innovation diffusion theory has received considerable attention since its inception in the 1960’s. The diffusion of innovation can be defined as the process by which an innovation is imparted on members of society through certain channels over time [4]. Seminal works in the area of technological change and rates of imitation were completed by Fourt [5] and Mansfield [6]. A detailed discussion of using diffusion models in product forecasting can be found in [7]. The work by Fourt [5] and Mansfield [6] are the basis for research in diffusion modeling by Bass [8]. The Bass model for new product growth and innovation diffusion has been used to forecast numerous products in many different industries [5, 6, 8–13]. A comprehensive review of the contributions to this literature through the 1970’s is provided in [14] and on into the 1980’s in [15]. An excellent article comparing nine growth and innovation diffusion models, including Mansfield’s and Bass’ models, can be found in [13]. The influence of information technology diffusion on large and small businesses is discussed in [9, 10]. Additional insights are provided in [16–20]. This chapter extends the work by [21] to the original Mansfield model applied to the technology industry where successive generations of the technology exist. The model is developed and then tested using modem sales from 1994-2009. The diffusion model is applied to each successive generation of modem innovation: 14.4k, 28.8k, 56k, broadband < 3.6Mbps, and broadband > 3.6Mbps. Two forecasting models for the > 3.6Mbps technology are developed, analyzed, and reported on.
Applications of Spreadsheets in Education The Amazing Power of a Simple Tool, 2011, 173–240 173 School Mathematics with Excel Jan Benacka Department of Informatics Constantine the Philosopher University, Nitra, Slovakia CHAPTER 10 Address correspondence to: Dr. Jan Benacka, Department of Informatics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Constantine the Philosopher University, Tr. A. Hlinku 1, SK-94974 Nitra, Slovakia; Tel: (+421) 37-6408- 678; E-mail: jbenacka@ukf.sk Abstract: The use of computers is pervasive in education at both the secondary and university levels. Learner-oriented computer programs have the potential to motivate students to learn mathematics. One such computer program is Microsoft Excel, which for many years has been embraced by educators as the ideal platform for providing students with hands-on activities that enhance their learning. By design, Excel (or spreadsheets in general) lends itself to transparent problem formulation and minimal programming requirements. In this chapter I will present several spreadsheet applications that I have developed over the years. The applications are aimed at introducing concepts in the teaching of mathematics at the secondary level and introductory calculus as well. Keywords: calculus, linear algebra, Euclidean geometry, stereometry. 10.1 Introduction During my 14 year teaching practice at grammar school (ages 15–19) where I taught mathematics, physics, and informatics in common, mathematical, and informational classes, I started developing spreadsheet applications for visualizing mathematical relationships. I have developed the following sets of applications: • Elementary functions • General functions and calculus (derivatives, integrals, and so on) • Equations, inequalities without a parameter • Equations, inequalities with a parameter • Systems of linear equations Mark Lau and Stephen Sugden (Eds) All rights reserved – c○2011 Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Page 2 and 3: Applications of Spreadsheets in Edu
Page 4 and 5: To my wife Keddy and daughter Helga
Page 6 and 7: Part III - Management Sciences 7. P
Page 8 and 9: ii PREFACE This e-book is devoted t
Page 10 and 11: iv The chapters contained herein we
Page 12 and 13: vi Wee Leong Lee School of Informat
Page 16 and 17: Fault Analysis in Power Systems App
Page 18 and 19: Use of Spreadsheets for Analyses Ap
Page 22 and 23: Optimal Control of Dynamical System
Page 24 and 25: Spreadsheet Conditional Formatting
Page 26 and 27: 84 Applications of Spreadsheets in
Page 36 and 37: Teaching Portfolio Theory Applicati
Page 46 and 47: Graduates’ Use of Technical Softw
Page 52: 276 Applications of Spreadsheets in

chapter 3 - Bentham Science

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?