Search results
1 – 10 of 13Aristides I. Ferreira, Timo Braun, Helena Carvalho, António C.M. Abrantes and Jörg Sydow
Many start-ups do not survive the first few years of business. Previous studies suggest that networks play a role in start-ups' success, but this positive effect has limits. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Many start-ups do not survive the first few years of business. Previous studies suggest that networks play a role in start-ups' success, but this positive effect has limits. The purpose of this paper is to answer the call for a better understanding of the dark side of networks and the variables that condition variables' effect on the likelihood of start-ups' survival.
Design/methodology/approach
A longitudinal research design includes 139 start-ups (102 from Germany and 37 from Portugal) and a total of 252 participants. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM)was applied to estimate all the coefficients, to test the mediation (H1), the moderation (H2) and the moderated mediation (H3) while considering the economic situation of the start-up (sales growth), start-ups' networking behavior, creativity orientation and ultimately the likelihood of survival.
Findings
Based on an empirical study from two different countries, the results show that effective networking is contingent on the start-up's economic situation and creative potential. Specifically, the results point to situations in which early sales growth may lead to external networking, which, in contexts of low creativity-oriented start-ups, can compromise the start-ups' success.
Originality/value
Based on the findings, the authors compare scenarios in which networking increases the chances for start-up survival with situations where networking can have adverse effects. This study highlights the importance of considering specific start-up parameters, such as start-ups' economic situation and level of creativity orientation, in the business venturing literature.
Details
Keywords
Bruno F. Abrantes, Miguel Torres Preto and Nelson Antonio
Dynamic capabilities yield positive effects to firm-specific advantage formation. Paradoxically, the body of literature on capability diffusion is scarce. The purpose of this…
Abstract
Purpose
Dynamic capabilities yield positive effects to firm-specific advantage formation. Paradoxically, the body of literature on capability diffusion is scarce. The purpose of this study is to focus, thus, on this dearth of literature with an emphasis on exploring the transferability function.
Design/methodology/approach
An integrative review of literature on the dynamic capabilities view covers the organizational context determining capability sharing, supported by strategic communication and business networking theories for the fashioning of global capabilities’ administration model (GCAM).
Findings
Individual motivations and formal modelling of capabilities’ transference have been overlooked in previous research. Largely with a top-down orientation, the current paradigm of their diffusion is profoundly shaped by the organizational structure and its global governance practices.
Research limitations/implications
The GCAM’s architecture, based on transnational administration and hybrid transferability, opens horizons for multinational companies to develop their own capability management systems and is at the same time a new scholarly avenue in the field.
Originality/value
This study explores an untapped research gap and the formal modelling of a GCAM, while reconciling some of the weaknesses of academic research and industry practices.
Details
Keywords
Bruno Fernandes Abrantes, Miguel Torres Preto and Nelson António
This paper aims to explore the characteristics of capability exchange within internationalizing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of the Portuguese metallurgic and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore the characteristics of capability exchange within internationalizing small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of the Portuguese metallurgic and metal-mechanic sectors.
Design/methodology/approach
Multiple case research instrumentalizes a (manifest) content analysis based upon qualitative data gathered from the interviewing of the strategic apex of four multinational enterprises, codified in the light of the well-known Weber protocol.
Findings
The results uncover the existence of a multi-diffusional approach with a bi-directional regime of transferability, where reciprocal transference is non-simultaneous. Operational rigidities are asserted to be stifling the diffusion of capabilities across subsidiaries and hindering higher economies of learning.
Research limitations/implications
The current paradigm of international capabilization of the sector requires substantial enhancements in its design for the benefit of the firm’s international competitiveness, growth and wealth.
Originality/value
Organizational capabilities are a determinant of competitiveness. Hitherto, the phenomena of (capabilities) mobility and transferability are still acknowledged as a clear gap. This study opens, therefore, avenues on international capabilization in relation to the modeling and testing of global dynamic capabilities and its replicability across industries.
Details
Keywords
Miguel Pina Cunha, Stewart Clegg, Arménio Rego, Luca Giustiniano, António Cunha Meneses Abrantes, Anne S. Miner and Ace Volkmann Simpson
The purpose of this paper is to explore how a number of processes joined to create the microlevel strategies and procedures that resulted in the most lethal and tragic forest fire…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how a number of processes joined to create the microlevel strategies and procedures that resulted in the most lethal and tragic forest fire in Portugal's history, recalled as the EN236-1 road tragedy in the fire of Pedrógão Grande.
Design/methodology/approach
Using an inductive theory development approach, the authors consider how the urgency and scale of perceived danger coupled with failures of system-wide communication led fire teams to improvise repeatedly.
Findings
The paper shows how structure collapse led teams to use only local information prompting acts of improvisational myopia, in the particular shape of corrosive myopia, and how a form of incidental improvisation led to catastrophic results.
Practical implications
The research offers insights into the dangers of improvisation arising from corrosive myopia, identifying ways to minimize them with the development of improvisation practices that allow for the creation of new patterns of action. The implications for managing surprise through improvisation extend to risk contexts beyond wildfires.
Originality/value
The paper stands out for showing the impact of improvisational myopia, especially in its corrosive form, which stands in stark contrast to the central role of attention to the local context highlighted in previous research on improvisation. At the same time, by exploring the effects of incidental improvisation, it also departs from the agentic conception of improvisation widely discussed in the improvisation literature.
Details
Keywords
Federica Doni, Antonio Corvino and Silvio Bianchi Martini
Lately, sustainability issues are increasingly affecting all sectors, even if oil and gas industry is highly required to improve its social performance because of the societal…
Abstract
Purpose
Lately, sustainability issues are increasingly affecting all sectors, even if oil and gas industry is highly required to improve its social performance because of the societal pressure to environmental protection and social welfare. Sustainability concerns and corporate governance features and practices are more and more connected because sustainability has been perceived as a crucial topic by owners and managers. In this perspective, the empirical analysis aims to explore whether and to what extent, sustainability-oriented corporate governance model is linked with social performance.
Design/methodology/approach
By adopting a multi-theoretical framework that includes the legitimacy theory, the stakeholder theory and the resource-based view theory, this analysis used a sample of 42 large European-listed companies belonging to the oil and gas industry. The authors run fixed effects regression models by using a dependent variable, i.e. the social score, available in ASSET4 Thomson Reuters, and some independent variables focused on sustainable corporate governance models, stakeholder engagement, firm profitability, market value and corporate risk level.
Findings
Drawing upon the investigation of a moderating effect, findings display that stakeholder engagement is positively associated with corporate social performance and it can be considered an important internal driver able to shape a corporate culture and most likely to address corporate social responsibility issues.
Research limitations/implications
This study confirms the need to develop an organizational and holistic approach to corporate governance practices by analyzing internal and external governance mechanisms. From the managerial perspective, managers should opt for a sustainable corporate governance model, as it is positively correlated with corporate social performance.
Originality/value
There is an urgent need to investigate sustainability issues and their potential association with firm internal mechanisms, particularly in the oil and gas industry. This paper can extend the current body of knowledge by pointing out a positive relationship between stakeholder engagement and firm social performance.
Details
Keywords
Ricardo Machado Leo, Guilherme Freitas Camboim, Ariane Mello Silva Avila, Fernanda Maciel Reichert and Paulo Antônio Zawislak
This paper aims to identify the winning combination of innovation capabilities for selected Brazilian agribusiness firms along different value chain links.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the winning combination of innovation capabilities for selected Brazilian agribusiness firms along different value chain links.
Design/methodology/approach
Adopting a quantitative approach, the authors analyzed the relationship between innovation capabilities and innovative performance of 300 agribusiness firms through a multi-regression technique.
Findings
The results showed that transaction, management and development capabilities can improve agribusiness firms’ performance in underdeveloped value chains.
Research limitations/implications
For future research, the authors recommend analyzing further links such as traders and retailers to find the innovation capability for the entire agribusiness value chain.
Practical implications
Upstream firms should adopt new management techniques and tools, efficiently using their resources, while downstream firms should absorb and transform new technologies into products and processes.
Social implications
The authors suggest formulating public policies that propose the recombination of innovation capabilities to organize agribusiness firms and avoid commodity-oriented market dependence.
Originality/value
The literature on agribusiness explains innovation at the chain level, based primarily on scientific advancements rather than on innovation at the firm level. In this sense, this study provides empirical evidence that can help boost innovation in agribusiness firms.
Details
Keywords
Ana Luísa A. Vaz, Fernando A.F. Ferreira, Leandro F. Pereira, Ricardo J.C. Correia and Audrius Banaitis
The concept of smart city has recently become more topical in academic and policy discussions. This idea is considered a complex, non-consensual subject since its definition has…
Abstract
Purpose
The concept of smart city has recently become more topical in academic and policy discussions. This idea is considered a complex, non-consensual subject since its definition has not yet been agreed upon by most authors in the relevant fields. The need to identify and measure smart city indicators has also given rise to many different evaluation procedures. However, the available frameworks have yet to overcome challenges in structuring and measuring all the evaluation parameters of the cities in question. Thus, methods still need to be developed and applied that can structure criteria used to assess smart city success.
Design/methodology/approach
This study sought to show cognitive mapping's tangible usefulness as an expedient tool for strategic analysis, using smart cities as a complex object of study. To this end, various cognitive maps were constructed and compared using the Strategic Options Development and Analysis (SODA) approach.
Findings
Cognitive mapping's advantages and limitations in the strategic visualization research context are analyzed and discussed.
Originality/value
The authors know of no prior work reporting comparative analysis of this methodological approach in the same research context.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to provide an assessment of tourism promotion in tourist destinations and airports (TPTDs) and to organize and classify the literature on tourism promotion, with…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an assessment of tourism promotion in tourist destinations and airports (TPTDs) and to organize and classify the literature on tourism promotion, with the aim of staging the importance of this topic and encouraging future research in the projection of tourism and marketing sectors.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) database to analyze the bibliometric in TPTDs topic from 2000 to 2021. Additionally, the paper also uses the visualization of similarities (VOS) viewer software to map graphically the bibliographic material. The graphical analysis uses bibliographic coupling, co-citation, citation and co-occurrence of keywords.
Findings
This study provides an amended new definition of tourism promotion, which is the efficient management of a destination’s resources and strategic plans by destination marketing organizations (DMOs) to adapt the tourism supply to market trends and will empower tourists to visit such destinations. Furthermore, results also show a new paradigm applied to TPTDs topic and classified in five first-order research streams. Digital and mobile marketing, infrastructure, branding, quality, accessibility and information factors about a specific destination which are mostly demanded by tourists are considered as an important means of promotion for the tourism industry.
Originality/value
The contribution of this study is important to identify new challenges and opportunities for researchers, DMOs, airport and airlines operators and stakeholders, as disentangling existing contradictions and applying new theoretical framework to make better future decisions by researchers and organizations to provide higher quality to new research in the context of the TPTDs.
Details
Keywords
The purpose of the paper is to describe the development of the Portuguese document supply system with particular emphasis on the role of the National Library but also in its…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to describe the development of the Portuguese document supply system with particular emphasis on the role of the National Library but also in its academic and public library sectors.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is descriptive in nature.
Findings
Portugal emerged from a long period of monarchy and dictatorship, profited from being a EU member, and libraries are now exploiting the advantages of information technology particularly for the benefit of remote users.
Originality/value
This is probably the first overview of historical and recent developments in document supply in Portugal.
Details
Keywords
Mitra Samadi, Seyed Reza Mirnezami, Mohammad Sadegh Khayyatian and Mohammad Torabi Khargh
This study aims to compare the level of organizational capabilities of the exporter and non-exporter Iranian knowledge-based firms in the sector of chemical technology.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to compare the level of organizational capabilities of the exporter and non-exporter Iranian knowledge-based firms in the sector of chemical technology.
Design/methodology/approach
By combining 18 different indicators, a framework is designed to demonstrate organizational capabilities. The technological, manufacturing, R&D, marketing, organizing and financial capabilities of 732 Iranian knowledge-based firms in the sector of chemical technology (90 exporters and 642 non-exporter firms) are identified between 2015 and 2020. The analysis is based on the Chi-square test and logistic and probit regression.
Findings
The results indicate that technological capability, unlike the other five capabilities, is higher in non-exporter firms, and the level of marketing capability is greater in exporter firms, with the highest difference between the two groups.
Originality/value
The research suggests that knowledge-based firms should be evaluated based on export history; there should be some specialized export facilitating packages for both exporter and non-exporter firms; and some baskets from products with related and specialized fields of application should be formed to facilitate international marketing. The results can be a basis for managers and policymakers to improve the firm’s capabilities and competitiveness at the international level.
Details