A Study on Uncertainty Management and Impacts of RFID Adoption

• Main Authors: Rushikesh Khire, 柯羅許
• Other Authors: 陸大榮
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/37779264366296916603

碩士 === 國立中興大學 === 科技管理研究所 === 97 === Abstract An increasing variety of firms are adopting RFID to improve their efficiency of operations and gain competitive advantages, however, it does not come without uncertainties such as standards, costs, business environment and untested markets. This study intends to contribute firms adopting or not adopting RFID to explore roles plays by uncertainties and their impacts to provide a clearer view for strategic development. Different challenges such as technical, adoption, security, economic, knowledge, standard and business are faced by RFID adopting firm. Also RFID adopting firm attempts to coordinate with other RFID adopted firms which can put limitations on the suppliers and generates supplier issues such as supplier deficiency, supplier power and supplier reliability. Hence the research questions developed seek to understand the effect of supplier deficiency and supplier power on RFID adoption. It will also important to understand relationship management with suppliers in the process of integration. So far RFID technology has not developed any breakthrough applications. Moreover the different standards makers (like ISO, EPC and others) have become a barrier for the interoperation amongst the members of RFID adopters. To fulfill demands of multiple customers, multiple standards have to be adopted by early adopters. Hence it is important to understand effect of early adoption of RFID on firms. The framework of the study consists of five hypotheses which include supplier deficiency, supplier power, internal adoption, early adoption and information systems inducement. The uncertainties threatening RFID adoption can be view from internal and external perspective of a firm. External perspective is concerned about the adoption of RFID in supply chain in which supplier issues like supplier power and supplier deficiency are considered however internal perspective is regarded as internal RFID adoption. Information system inducement and early adoption can be viewed from external as well as internal perspective. To explore diversity in different firms and to understand the phenomenon behind RFID adoption form previous perspectives phenomenographical approach was used to develop different perspectives and behaviors of RFID adopting firms indicating similarities and differences of their thinking. Interviews were conduced in central and north region of Taiwan. Conclusion of this study is that, supplier power and supplier deficiencies can act as a source of uncertainty for RFID adopting firms. But most of the interviewed firm would prefer to follow powerful supplier which would increase RFID adoption. Supplier deficiency could be a source of stimulation for RFID adoption however most of the firms would not prefer to adopt RFID. Firms with higher resources in terms of skilled employee, revenue, coordinated supply chain network and IT readiness would like to adopt RFID at early stages but firms with lower resources are susceptible for risk on early adoption. Firms can loose flexibility while selecting particular standard for satisfying a customer. Making relations with standard specific suppliers will increase risk. In house users of RFID don’t require global standards also they are not in hurry for standards.