Topic: Worldwide Adoption of 3G Technology and Inventory Management
Speaker: Shaoguang HUO
Date & Time: 14:00-15:00 January 1, 2026
Online Venue: Tecent Meeting #868-427-544
Organizers: School of Accounting, Dongbei University of Finance and Economics; Liaoning Province Capital Market Finance and Accounting Graduate Innovation and Academic Exchange Center
Abstract:
We find that the global adoption of third-generation mobile broadband (3G) networks significantly reduces inventory stockpiling, driven by a managerial learning mechanism where 3G enables managers to access customer feedback and real-time market data through social media, improving demand forecasting accuracy. To validate this channel, we demonstrate that managers exhibit increased likelihood, frequency, and accuracy in their earnings forecasts following 3G adoption. Furthermore, the impact of 3G adoption on inventory management efficiency is more pronounced for consumer goods firms and those facing higher demand uncertainty. However, this effect is attenuated in firms located in countries with higher labor union density, as increased labor risk associated with 3G adoption leads to precautionary inventory accumulation that partially offsets efficiency gains. Our findings are robust to alternative measures of social media penetration and are further validated through analysis using the U.S. sample. Overall, our study underscores how 3G networks empower managers to leverage real-time information to enhance inventory management efficiency.
Introduction of Speaker:
Shaoguang HUO received his Ph.D. from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. He specializes in interdisciplinary research at the intersection of accounting, finance, and operations management. His research findings have been presented at leading international conferences, such as the Hawaii Accounting Research Conference, the Accounting and Business Research – Fudan University Joint Conference, and the INFORMS Manufacturing and Service Operations Management Conference.
Special Attention:
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