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Designing a talents training model for cross-border e-commerce: a mixed approach of problem-based learning with social media

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Abstract

Cross-border e-commerce has developed rapidly integrating the global economy. Research has presented some solutions for the challenges and barriers in cross-border e-commerce from the perspective of the enterprise. However, little is known about the requirements of cross-border e-commerce talents and how to train them. In this paper, we firstly conducted semi-structured interviews to acquire the requirements of cross-border e-commerce talents. Business and market knowledge, technical skills, analytical ability and business practical ability were found to be the four core requirements. Then, we integrated problem-based learning and social media to design a talents training model for cross-border e-commerce and did a program to evaluate effectiveness of the model. Finally, its effectiveness was evaluated from the four evaluation dimensions of attitude, perceived enjoyment, concentration and work intention. The talents training model was improved according to the suggestions.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71571045), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in UIBE (Grant No. CXTD10-06), Program for Excellent Talents in UIBE (Grant No. 18JQ04), and the Foundation for Disciplinary Development of SITM in UIBE for providing funding for part of this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Information Technology and Management, University of International, Business and Economics, 10 Huixin East Street, Beijing, 100020, China

    Xusen Cheng & Linlin Su

  2. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 763131, Karlsruhe, Germany

    Alex Zarifis

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  1. Xusen Cheng
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  2. Linlin Su
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Correspondence to Xusen Cheng.

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Cheng, X., Su, L. & Zarifis, A. Designing a talents training model for cross-border e-commerce: a mixed approach of problem-based learning with social media. Electron Commer Res 19, 801–822 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10660-019-09341-y

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