ICBR-2018 (1st)

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    Factors determining the intention to adopt cloud computing by finance companies in Sri Lanka
    Tharanga, CHMD; Perera, I
    Cloud computing has become the most evolving technological innovation that reduces the processing cost while increasing the availability, flexibility, reliability and processing throughout. Though this is an emerging technology and the rest of the worlds’ finance companies are implementing it, Sri Lanka’s finance companies have not gained the competitive advantage of adopting cloud technology as yet. This study therefore has made significant efforts on analysing what factors determine the intention to adopt cloud computing by the finance companies of Sri Lanka. Selective factors from Innovation Diffusion Theory and Technology-Organization-Environment framework such as relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, security, top management support and technology readiness were considered. From the total of 45 licensed finance companies in Sri Lanka, 35 companies were targeted to collect primary data. Survey-based questionnaire method was used to collect data. A statistical analysis was carried out using IBM SPSS Statistical Software v.23, and hypotheses were tested based on the results of multiple regression. According to the regression model, it is recognised that relative advantage and compatibility are significant factors which predict the adoption of cloud computing. It has also analyzed the moderating impact on finance resource allocation on the relationship between independent variables (seven factors) and adoption of cloud computing. Findings suggest that financial resource allocation would not have a significant impact on the model’s ability to determine adoption of cloud computing.
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    Critical success factors of international technology transfer: a case of the Norochcholai Coal Power Project in Sri Lanka
    Jayaratne, W; Dasanayaka, SWSB; Mudalige,D
    Success and failure of Norochcholai Coal Power Plant (NCPP) in terms of technology transfer aspect is a debatable subject in Sri Lankan energy scene. This NCPP is the country’s largest coal power based energy generator which came into the operation in three steps of 300MW as Phase 1 in the year 2011, Phase II in year 2013 and Phase III in year 2014. The total investment of the project was 1.35 Billion USD and out of which 450Million USD was received as a soft loan from the Export and Import (EXIM) Bank of China. The project construction was undertaken by the China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC) of China and it successfully came in to the light amidst the enormous amount of objections coming from different environmental and social pressure groups. After few years of operation, this power plant failed several times causing thousand hours of generation loss while incurring nearly 6.5 Billion Rupees reduction of income to the national economy due to the unavailability of the plant as per the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) Annual Report 2015. In consequent to this, most of the expectations diluted and the negative impacts of environmental, social and cultural factors were highlighted by the media several times. Therefore, the identification of critical success factors during the technology transfer stage of this power plant is of extremely important subject. The main methodology of this study is secondary data, complements with interviews with various stake holders. It reviewed 34 success factors of technology transfer and found that 14 factors are critical success factors in terms of technology transfer. The recommendations of this study can be used as guides for designing suitable mechanism for technology transfer aspect of incoming coal power plants in Sri Lanka and other countries of similar background.
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    Facilities management value addition in enhancing business profitability in hotel industry in Sri Lanka
    Nishanthy, T; Soorige, SDA; Rathnasiri, HWTP
    Facilities management (FM) is a globally established profession which is constantly growing. It involves in the organization’s growth by providing the best support services to the organization’s core business activities. FM is not only considered as a profession which delivers support services but a profession which is necessary for the organization to run a smooth operation while improving the productivity, market share, profitability with added value to the organization. However, though FM has been perceived as an important profession, the use of FM is still not well established in the Sri Lankan context to gain integrated value addition for business. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the Value Addition from Facilities Management in Enhancing the Business Profitability focusing in the hotel industry in Sri Lanka. A comprehensive literature review was carried out first discussing on hotel business, business profitability, and criteria of business profitability, FM functions, and contribution of FM for the business profitability. A quantitative mixed research approach was followed by a detailed questionnaire survey and case study interviews. Data analysis technique of the questionnaire survey involved RII method. Findings of the questionnaire survey consisted of Ten (10) most significant factors affecting business profitability and eleven (11) most significant FM functions which enhance the profitability of hotel sector. Findings of the case study revealed the way that identified FM functions which are involved in creating a value addition to enhance the business profitability in hotel sector.
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    Building services maintenance: an outsource service provider selection via scoring model
    Wanigasinghe, PC; Mahakalanda, I
    Building services outsourcing has become popular as it gives a peace-of-mind for the firms by contracting operation and maintenance of the building services to an external expert party for an agreed period and for agreed fee. However, the main issue faced by a firm is to select the most suitable outsource. The objective of this study is to identify critical service provider selection factors, in the area of building service maintenance outsourcing in property management and, to construct a scoring model that can be used at the decision making level. We have chosen quantitative/ structured questionnaire survey research approach. Expert views helped to identify the service provider selection factors in the premises and property management sector in Sri Lanka. We deploy Fuzzy Delphi Methods (FDM) to ranking and identifying weights of the service provider selection factors. Then Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) model computes the weights of the screened factors by performing pair-wise comparisons. These weighted factors can be used to construct the service provider selection model.
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    Design thinking for business and entrepreneurship: accelerating innovation in higher education in Sri Lanka
    Beligatamulla, G
    "Design thinking" is a popular concept in today's business and in many transdisciplinary educational settings which are focussed on innovation. Globally, many universities facilitate design thinking for students both in design and non-design contexts. This concept paper put forward the possibility of using design thinking as a catalyst to support innovation in higher education: particularly in the context of business and multi-disciplinary educational settings in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan universities have lack of engagement with facilitating design thinking for students. However, there are few public universities obsessed with innovation, entrepreneurship and business design in Sri Lanka. This article reviews extant literature relevant to design thinking in higher education context while providing a few examples of design thinking courses. Then the paper discusses the current state of the design, innovation and entrepreneurial education in public universities across Sri Lanka by selecting a few Masters of Business Administration (MBA) courses. Finally, the evidence of the study highlights that there are possibilities of facilitating design thinking in Sri Lankan higher education.
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    Unified protection for the informed decision in business transactions by legal test
    Premaratne, U
    Consumers and companies alike require to make countless informed decisions in the context of commercial activities. Going beyond the trivial purchase of a substandard good or service, the informed decision is a choice made after a comprehensive evaluation of the reasonably predicted possible outcomes of each potential option. A typical example would be a consumer without expert knowledge in energy, investing in a solar power system. Under such circumstances the consumer has to be aware if there will be a benefit compared to the no action alternative which requires both information provided by the manufacturer and possible reliance on expert opinion. Venture capitalists and hedging fund managers face similar circumstances where they need to invest based upon informed decisions of the subject as well as the risks. This paper investigates the available legal remedies in both local and foreign jurisdictions for consumers and companies when deprived of an informed decision due to restriction of information, deception or perfidy. Based on this, a judicial test is formulated to allow a generalized protection of the informed decision in business transactions.
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    Business growth of a hospitality IT solutions provider: a success case of Intahub (Pvt) Ltd
    Mendis, S; Jayakody, G; Fonseka, T
    The hospitality IT solutions industry of Sri Lanka can be considered as an oligopoly market, with few established Sri Lankan players and a couple of global and regional giants catering the high-end customers. Intahub (Private) Limited entered the market in 2015 with an innovative product, which was not offered by the Sri Lankan players. Within the three-year journey, the company has achieved a significant business growth, competing with quarter century old firms. The main purpose of the study was to explore the drivers that contributed to the business growth of Intahub. Business growth being the outcome of the case framework, four key drivers were identified contributing towards the business growth. The environmental moderator identified at Intahub was the competitive environment. Several secondary data sources were used in obtaining the preliminary information related to the case. This was followed by primary data gathering techniques, such as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Selection of employees covered both solution development staff and marketing staff, representing different levels of the organization. Collected qualitative data was analysed using the thematic analysis method. Entrepreneurial characteristics were identified as a key contributor, where the solid education background, compelling �entrepreneurial story�, prior experience, and social networks of the owner have contributed towards the success case of Intahub. Human talent of the company has favourably contributed towards its success case, where competencies and commitment of employees have been more dominant. However, employee contribution has been less dominant at Intahub. Strategic alliances were identified as another key driver. Factors contributing towards a long-lasting relationship were identified as picking a good partner, equal sharing of benefits among the partners, and enhancing the trust by keeping their commitments. Value innovation through buyer value creation and cost elimination
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    Exploring opportunities and barriers of community based entrepreneurship within handloom communities in Sri Lanka
    Wanniarachchi, T; Dissanayake, DGK; Downs, C
    Community based entrepreneurship (CBE) is an entirely different economic development approach from the traditional manufacturer’s base. Also CBE is considered as a promising solution to the livelihood development of small communities in developing countries and acknowledge that it has highest potential in contributing to the economic development as well. Opportunities for CBE within craft traditions have long been recognized as a significant area for development with potential to improve the socio-economic condition of communities. Therefore, this paper attempts to investigate potential openings and barriers for entrepreneurship development in the handloom weaving communities in Sri Lanka. The underpinning research is based on the qualitative exploratory stage of an ongoing study. Based on case study and participatory action research (PAR) approaches, a purposive sampling technique was used to select craftsmen from two handloom communities. The results were analysed taking an emic focus to properly represent findings from participant’s terms and viewpoints in line with our PAR approach. Data was then conceptualized, coded and categorized. The findings of the study reveals that there are opportunities for CBE alongside with the ongoing economic processes of the country and also a number of corresponding challenges that need to be addressed for the sustainable development of Sri Lanka through empowering traditional craft communities and direct them with the mainstream market. Currently possessed operational skills, in hand resources and the use of ethical manufacturing process could positively contribute towards this CBE initiation attempt appreciating the group approach with mutual trust among communities. Also CBE has identified key barriers to develop as: lack of entrepreneurial skills, absence of direct market access, shortfall in networking and communication skills,
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