Manufacturing Connect_Lancashire

Last registered on November 05, 2020
View Trial History

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Manufacturing Connect_Lancashire
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0006707
Initial registration date
November 04, 2020

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
November 05, 2020, 8:03 AM EST

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

Country
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Region
Lancashire North West

Primary Investigator

Name
Lawrence Green
Affiliation
Manchester Metropolitan University
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Melissa Conlon
PI Affiliation
Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
PI Name
Simon Bolton
PI Affiliation
Edge Hill University

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2020-06-01
End date
2022-01-31
Keywords
Firms & Productivity
Additional Keywords
Performance, technology, SMEs
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Abstract
Manufacturing Connect_Lanchashire (MC_L) is a new initiative designed to aid SMEs in gaining a better understanding of performance-enhancing digital business technologies. It is funded as part of the Business Basics 3 programme by Innovate UK/BEIS. The work will explore with SME participants the ways in which digital technologies can make measurable improvements to business performance, and aid participants in tackling the common pitfalls experienced during technology adoption/implementation. The project was awarded to a consortium comprising Edge Hill University (lead), Advance Manufacturing Research Centre and Manchester Metropolitan University in May 2020. Work commenced in June 2020 and will run until February 2022.
External Link(s)
Link to main project website (still in development)

Registration Citation

Citation
Bolton , Simon , Melissa Conlon and Lawrence Green. 2020. "Manufacturing Connect_Lancashire." AEA RCT Registry. November 05. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.6707-1.0
Sponsors & Partners

Partner

Name
Edge Hill University
Type
ngo
URL
https://edgehill.ac.uk

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
The intervention, based on previous successful experience of delivering ASP - involves the delivery of case-based and experience-informed content. The latter is designed to increase awareness and understanding of the benefits of performance enhancing digital technologies in the context of contemporary manufacturing industry. The intervention is applied in two phases: first, ‘connect to grow’ workshops, in which materials focus on setting out the broader benefits of technology usage and exploring/reducing barriers to adoption. Second, ‘Growth Demonstrator’ workshops in which the focus is on building knowledge of situated/specific benefits and building confidence with respect to construction of business plans and identification of relevant supports. The control group will have all materials delivered in an on-line format. The same is true for the intervention group, however, the latter will also enjoy access to peer-to-peer support activities and facilities. The trial is designed to test the impact of the peer-to-peer element on intention to adopt (and actual adoption of) relevant technologies.
Intervention Start Date
2020-11-30
Intervention End Date
2021-12-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Increased 'intention to adopt' business-enhancing technologies
Realised adoption of technology
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Increased awareness and understanding
Increased knowledge and understanding
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The intervention is applied in two phases: first, ‘connect to grow’ workshops, in which case-based materials focus on setting out the broader benefits of technology usage and exploring/reducing barriers to adoption. Second, ‘Growth Demonstrator’ workshops in which the focus is on building knowledge of situated/specific benefits and building confidence with respect to construction of business plans and identification of relevant supports. The control group will have all materials delivered in an on-line format. The same is true for the intervention group, however, the latter will also enjoy access to peer-to-peer support activities and facilities.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Clinstat
Randomization Unit
Individual manufacturing SMEs
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
160
Sample size: planned number of observations
160
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Two arms with 80 SMEs in each
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
IRB Approval Date
IRB Approval Number
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials