Browsing by Author "Mudalige, D"

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item: Conference-Full-text
Analysis of tech-diversification strategies adopted by technopreneurs: a case study on internationally oriented coconut toddy tech-based small and medium enterprises
(Business Research Unit (BRU), 2022-12-01) Fernando, WMSN; Dasanayaka, SWSB; Mudalige, D
The coconut industry is an important source of foreign exchange and employment generation for Sri Lanka. This internationally recognized ‘Coconut tree’ or ‘Kapruka’ provides substantial contribution to the wellbeing of domestic people as well as the country’s economy through its foreign earning generation. Pathiraja (2017) stated that in the global arena, export demand function widens its spectrum for more coconut related other products as a function. The main purpose of this research is to evaluate the performance of the TSMEs with the usage of different tech-diversification strategies adopted by the internationally oriented coconut toddy TSMEs. Secondary objectives of this research are identification of the impact and relationship of tech-diversification strategies on the TSMEs performance and determination of the optimum level of crop tech-diversification which maximizes performance of TSMEs. The ratio measures and aggregate measures from financial and physical measures are concerned for the methodology. For the sampling frame, a 58 sample of internationally oriented coconut toddy TSME technopreneurs in Madampe, Dummalasooriya, Kuliyapitiya and Narammala areas in Puttalam and Kurunegala districts in Sri Lanka considered for data collection with the usage of Simple Random Sampling technique. Findings of this research study revealed, overall tech-diversification strategy of the internationalized coconut toddy TSMEs is at a moderate tech-diversification level when considering aggregate financial measures. The level of tech-diversification should maintain at a moderate to high level where continuous and reasonable financial performance should be identified and adequately measured against the tech-diversification levels continuously.
item: Conference-Full-text
Barriers to use of artificial intelligence on energy conservation in government buildings: awareness as a moderating function of technology acceptance
(IEEE, 2021-07) Jayaratne, W; Dasanayaka, SWSB; Mudalige, D; Adhikariwatte, W; Rathnayake, M; Hemachandra, K
Government Buildings enable occupation to thousands of inhabitants, including customers and the management. In these places, everybody uses free energy since nobody feels the need for conservation as there is no impact to their pocket at the end of the month. According to the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) of Sri Lanka sources, the electricity cost of these places exceeds 7.5Billion Rs. It is approximately equivalent to 3% of the annual turnover of CEB. Because of this free energy, nobody is interested in conserving it even though there is a severe energy shortage. Therefore, there is an empirical novelty in investigating this abandoned resource towards conserving energy with artificial intelligence (AI) devices. The study identified five major factors that disturb the use of devices with artificial intelligence. The same instrument develops as the policy directive on the conservation of energy in government buildings.
item: Article-Full-text
Exploring the role of individual level and firm level dynamic capabilities in SMEs’ internationalization
(Kluwer Academic Publishers, 2019) Mudalige, D; smail, N; Malek, M
This paper presents a multi-level model that examines the impact of dynamic capabilities on the internationalization of SMEs while taking into account the interactions among them. The purpose of the research is to understand the applicability of dynamic capabilities at the individual and the firm level to the SME internationalization process in developing country context and to assess to what extent a firm’s asset position and individual level dynamic capabilities influence the generation of firm level dynamic capabilities in SMEs. First, the dynamic capabilities theory was theoretically linked to the internationalization phenomenon. The relationships among firm-level dynamic capabilities, individual-level dynamic capabilities (owner specific dynamic capabilities), and internationalization were identified. The research framework and hypotheses were developed and empirically tested with 197 SMEs. The findings established that owner-specific dynamic capabilities have a positive influence on both firm dynamic capabilities and internationalization, and firm dynamic capabilities positively influence internationalization. It was also found that the market assets position measured as perceptual environmental dynamism positively influenced firm dynamic capabilities but structural and reputational asset positions of SMEs did not influence generation of firm dynamic capabilities. Moreover, firm dynamic capabilities had a mediation effect in the relationship between owner-specific dynamic capabilities and internationalization. Theoretically, this confirms the relevance of dynamic capability theory to internationalization and the possibility of integrating existing internationalization theories. Entrepreneurs, SME managers, and policy-makers could gain valuable insights on how entrepreneur and firm capabilities lead to better international prospects from this outcome.
item: Conference-Full-text
Human resource practices and turnover intention: a case study on internationalized tech-based small and medium gem and jewellery manufacturers in Kurunegala district of Sri Lanka
Fernando, WMSN; Dasanayaka, SWSB; Mudalige, D
Internationalized Tech-based Small and Medium Enterprises (TSMEs) are one of the major elements in the present globalized world scenario. In contemporary circumstances, Human Resources (HR) have become the most noteworthy asset for internationalized TSMEs as the ‘intellectual capacity’ is directly associated with the achievement of TSME’s objectives through efficient and effective management of technology, resources and people while balancing the cost structure of the internationalized TSMEs at an optimal level. It is essential to perfectly match the internationalized TSME’s small number of people with their specific job roles within the internationalized TSMEs so as to face the dynamic globalized business context whereas the turnovers directly affect the TSME’s sustainable growth and development. There is a dearth of research regarding the effects of human resource practices on turnover intention in Tech-based Small and Medium Gem and Jewellery Enterprises in Sri Lanka. A sample of 176 employees was selected using Multi-stage random sampling from the Gem and Jewellery TSMEs which are located in the Kurunegala District. Both descriptive and inferential techniques were used to analyze data. As per the findings, it was observed that the employees are satisfied with the existing human resources practices in the Gem and Jewellery TSMEs in the Kurunegala district. In accordance with the correlation coefficient analysis, there is a strong negative correlation between HR practices and turnover intention. In addition, all six human resource practices (Job Information, Job Analysis, Career Development, Work-Family Balance, Supervisor Support and Compensation) identified within this study context, affected the employee turnover intention within an internationalized TSME in a negative manner.
item: Article-Full-text
The Impact of incentives and regulatory regimes on changing customer behavior : a study based on the Power Utility Customer Segments in Sri Lanka
(2021-12) Jayaratne, W; Dasanayaka, S; Mudalige, D
This study aims to develop a scientific model to ascertain the impact of incentives, regulatory regimes, and new technology products on the behavior of different customer segments of the electricity market, in order to conserve energy and address the current problem of peak power deficit in Sri Lankan electricity sector
item: Conference-Full-text
Mediating effect of consumer behavior on the intention of self generation and energy conservation in Sri Lanka
Jayaratne, W; Dasanayaka, SWSB; Mudalige, D
This paper explores the mediating effect of subjective norms and perceived behavioral control of consumers on running their generators under the selfgeneration scheme of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB). 300 self-generating consumers in Colombo and Kalutara districts were investigated by means of structured questionnaire interviews to ascertain the nature of the issues prevailing with respect to the different incentive schemes introduced by the CEB. The data analysis was carried out using the Structural Equations Modeling technique available in AMOS 25 software package. The findings show that the bulk supply consumers who possess standby and prime power generators were found to be not financially strong to fully operate, the existing equipment too old and having poor performance, lack of fuel storage capacities at sites, environmental issues, lack of firm power to cover entire organization with available resources, high cost of generator spare parts, services and maintenance, lack of trained staff and bad previous experience on given incentive schemes etc. However, 70% of generator owners stated that the financial grant offered by the utility is insufficient to run their own generators whilst 33% of them do not possess the prime power to cater their total demand 24% of industrial consumers want CEB to hire a generator for them to operate during power outages considering the poor incentive level. At the same time, 47% of consumers expected a financial grant or possib e incentive to be paid in advance in order to relieve them from the additiona financial burden coming to their core business.
item: Conference-Full-text
Model for measuring the effect of utility interventions on change of consumer behavior on energy savings: a study based on Sri Lankan domestic sector
(IEEE, 2020-07) Jayaratne, W; Dasanayaka, SWSB; Mudalige, D; Edussooriya, C; Weeraddana, CUS; Abeysooriya, RP
Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) introduces different intervention mechanisms to conserve electricity from time to time. These interventions mainly include financial incentives, technical supports, and regulatory influences etc. But utility's sources reveal that those interventions are ineffective and waste of resources in the long run. Therefore, this paper examines the possible causes of such failures and suitable remedial actions. The proposed new model bridges the existing knowledge gap between the theoretical and empirical implications of energy conservation. Findings show that utilities have failed to match incentives, tariff regimes, regulations, and technology among different levels of consumer segments scientifically. Especially, the consumer groups belong to a monthly average consumption of 31- 90kWh, 91-120kWh, and 121-180 kWh are having a very high potential for energy conservation via various incentive schemes whereas consumers above 181kWh units have to be motivated towards energy conservation through various tariffs and regulatory influences. The consumers below 30kWh units bear no sense of responsibility and not even respond to generic energy conservation aspects or to regulatory regimes. Therefore, specific financial transfers and employment opportunities need to be introduced on this segment which is at the bottom of the pyramid.
item: Conference-Full-text
Use of levelized costs and screening curves to select the optimum generation mix for sri lankan electricity sector
Jayaratne, W; Dasanayaka, SWSB; Mudalige, D
Sri Lanka is facing problems in selecting optimum electricity generation mix due to the environmental pressures and economic constraints. With limited hydro resources which have already been harnessed up to maximum level, the only options available are diverting to alternative sustainable energy sources. In this context this study assesses the available generation alternatives for Sri Lanka in terms of financial, social and environmental constraints by using levelized generation cost and screening curves mechanism. Each generation option is thereby selected on analytical hierarchical process (AHP) technique based on four attributes of levelized cost, energy security, environment damage cost and social benefits and thereby optimum generation mix is decided. The identified generation options have been analyzed for next twenty year of life span for calculation of levelized generation cost, energy security and technological constraints, environmental damage cost and social benefits with analytical hierarchical process technique. Research findings show that coal and combined cycle diesel power stations are suitable for base load and high capacity operations at 80% to 90% loading at higher energy security with maximum social benefits. However, hydro and wind power stations are suitable for running at 30% to 40% loading at lowest levelized generation by minimizing environmental damage cost but not base load operations. Presently, Hydro power stations are running for base load operations which have been proven to be re-evaluated in this study despite the proposed generation mix does not include solar power generation due to many factors. Therefore, it is recommended to run existing hydro power generators at 30% to 40% loading at base load operations while coal and combined cycle diesel generators to be run at 80% to 90% throughout the clock. The methodology employed and the policies derived can be used as guides to similar types of research in other countries as well.