This study examines the press coverage of initiatives taken by three companies, in three different countries, to propose chip implants to their employees ('insideable' technology). The study sought to identify prevalent topics, the motivations and measures taken by the companies, the drivers and barriers of employees towards the chips, and the issues raised by experts in the newspaper articles. Content analysis was performed, with each Case being analysed separately. Then, overarching themes and differences are observed. The ethical considerations driving perception of technology have to do with privacy, the proportionality principle, harm and safety. People accepting the technology do not mention such constructs, they focus on the possibility of being pioneers and the convenience offered by the technology. Societal acceptance, through the gaze of others and the infrastructure developed in the different countries to use microchips, also plays a role to drive personal and work-related acceptance of insideables. A modelling to investigate the acceptance of insideables taking into account different dimensions of acceptability is proposed

La réalité augmentée permet aux consommateurs d’interagir avec un produit dans le contexte de leur choix et d’une manière personnalisée avant l’achat, créant de nouvelles affordances. Il est nécessaire d’évaluer le potentiel de cette technologie et de ses caractéristiques pour pouvoir l’intégrer de manière stratégique dans les activités de commerce en ligne et commerce mobile. Etant donné que le développement des technologies s’effectue à une échelle globale, une approche investiguant différents pays doit être privilégiée. Cet article apporte un éclairage sur la perception de la réalité augmentée dans 4 pays européens et offre un guide pour mener des études comparatives avec la méthode Q. Les résultats suggèrent que des phénomènes de divergence et de convergence sont à l’œuvre, appelant à une approche différenciée pour les différents utilisateurs européens dans le cadre du développement et de la promotion d’applications de réalité augmentée.

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Purpose Researchers are expected to find ways to make citizens participate in research to support responsible and open conceptions of science. New methods for engagement need to be found in order to facilitate engagement. The public needs to build its knowledge and be presented with time for reflexion so as to give an informed opinion on a given topic. Traditional consensus conferences are costly, and surveys are not building citizens’ understanding of science. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach The author presents a case where engagement was realized based on Q-method and technique. A research protocol and the results of the engagement are presented. Findings This case shows that an adapted version of Q can lead to meaningful engagement for citizens and relevant data for researchers. Participants enjoy the process and can become advocates for a topic. The data collected allow to map out points of views which can be used to inform policy and research. Originality/value From a practical point of view, this paper suggests a new way to proceed to citizen engagement with science. It also opens research questions related to the use of the method itself.

Purpose Once Facebook transformed into Meta, a race to enter the metaverse began in all sectors of the economy. Being first has financial, technical and strategic costs, even if it can allow creating barriers to prevent others entering and establishing one’s brand as innovative. Being late, however, enables companies to benefit from more mature infrastructure and learning opportunities, but they risk being followers rather than leaders and missing opportunities. This study aims to discuss when organizations should consider entering the metaverse first, or whether they should come to it later. Design/methodology/approach To identify these conditions, 15 business strategy experts ranked 25 statements against each other about the metaverse and first- and late-entrant strategies. Findings When comparing the points of view of the 15 experts, four perspectives emerged. Three perspectives state that being a first mover can lead to a sustainable competitive advantage when organizations have strong capabilities regarding research and development, change management, learning and managing knowledge. The fourth perspective is skeptical that entering first can lead to a competitive advantage, given the high level of uncertainty surrounding the development of the metaverse. Practical implications A list of considerations when deciding to enter the metaverse is provided to managers. Originality/value This paper shifts the discourse on the metaverse from a technology-driven discussion to a strategic-asset-and-capabilities discussion.