In the process of introducing emerging technologies to business and management, the interplay between these technologies and human beings is critical. The current thesis examines how emerging technologies may make a difference in operations and how various behaviors play a role. The thesis includes two chapters studying specific applications of blockchain technology to nonprofit and agribusiness sectors, as well as one chapter considering the general technology adoption issues in introducing new products. From a methodology perspective, the dissertation deploys diverse methods ranging from analytical models to surveys and experiments. The contribution of the current thesis is twofold. First, though the impact of emerging technologies on operations is recognized as an important...[ Read more ]

In the process of introducing emerging technologies to business and management, the interplay between these technologies and human beings is critical. The current thesis examines how emerging technologies may make a difference in operations and how various behaviors play a role. The thesis includes two chapters studying specific applications of blockchain technology to nonprofit and agribusiness sectors, as well as one chapter considering the general technology adoption issues in introducing new products. From a methodology perspective, the dissertation deploys diverse methods ranging from analytical models to surveys and experiments. The contribution of the current thesis is twofold. First, though the impact of emerging technologies on operations is recognized as an important issue, relevant research is insufficient. The thesis complements the literature in the field. Second, the topics presented in the thesis are all motivated by practical problems in the industry, so the findings are not only of theoretical significance but also insightful in a realistic sense.