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The purpose of this paper is to shift the idea of competitive strategy from the for-profit to the non-profit context and to explain how social enterprises (SEs) get advantages over competitors within and outside the social sector.

Based upon a sample of 63 SEs located in Greece, the exploratory research employs factor analysis to answer which strategic options they have to compete. Subsequent analysis of variance and correlation analysis were performed to answer if competitive strategic options relate to impact SEs generate.

The empirical findings identify and empirically validate a variety of strategic options based on four pure (low cost, low cost sustainability, low cost focus and differentiation focus) and one hybrid (efficient differentiation) types of competitive advantage. Additional evidence shows that hybrid compared to pure strategic options link more influentially to impact in terms of positive environmental, social and economic contributions.

Apart from providing some explanations of how mission-driven businesses compete, it helps widening the debate of pure vs hybrid strategies beyond the commercial sector. Contrary to what the authors already know, the evidence presented here shows that strategic purity and hybridization co-exist in the social sector.

This is the first study with empirical evidence on competitive strategies from businesses in the third sector emphasizing how SEs ensure competitive advantage along with impact potential. Consequently, the authors respond to recent calls for more survey-based, quantitative evidence in the social entrepreneurship field.

The purpose of this research is to find out the influence of the roles of Research and Development (R&D) laboratories of Multinational Corporations (MNCs); and of employee‐related characteristics on future career preferences of knowledge professionals in these laboratories. Career preferences include managerial, technical, project‐based and entrepreneurial paths.

This study draws on a large scale study of 921 professionals employed in 70 R&D units of MNC subsidiaries operating in Greece. Four ordered probit regression models were run with employee career preferences forming the dependent variables.

Two R&D laboratory roles (Support Laboratory and Locally Independent Laboratory); and age and education of the employee stand out as predictors of career preferences of examined professionals.

Notwithstanding that this is a study that took place in a country with an advancing economy, it is seemingly the first that incorporates the roles of R&D laboratories as potential predictors of career paths. Moreover, the idiosyncrasies of the Greek national context are provided as possible explanations that justify why some hypotheses based on prior literature were not supported.

MNC knowledge professionals employed in R&D units are a special group of employees whose career paths may be different from those of other groups. Thus, MNC management should tailor‐make career preferences for them.

This research is one of the few empirical studies providing evidence on career paths of employees in MNC R&D units; and suggests possible predictors that have not been put forward hitherto.

Reviews the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoints practical implications from cutting‐edge research and case studies.

This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context.

It was established that in the Greek public sector, extrinsic rewards such as salary and job security were more available than intrinsic rewards, like the opportunity to be creative and “make a difference”. This backs up the existing literature and supports a theory that public sector companies expect employees to be motivated in much the same way private sector employees are. The results of this survey do not show us what is important to people in their job – it shows us what their employers think motivates them in their job. The fact that the results for advancement and feedback on specialised skills and creativity were so low indicates that the company perceives these things are not important to their workers, otherwise they would be offering them as a means of an incentive.

Provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world's leading organizations.

The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy‐to digest format.

The purpose of the paper is to advance understanding for the nature and essence of Asia Pacific multinational enterprises' (MNEs) knowledge‐related competitiveness in the Balkans.

A questionnaire‐based survey was carried out in 56 Asia Pacific MNEs located in the Balkans. By using descriptive statistics the extent of technology centralization is identified, the sources of technology MNEs use in their operations and the essence and roles of decentralized research and development (R&D) departments are evaluated.

Technological demand‐side influences and the traditional centripetal forces in Asia Pacific MNEs are still quite strong. Among all countries under investigation, only in Greece and Slovenia are signs found of some original product development work and creative activities.

In order to have a better understanding for knowledge‐related competitiveness of Asia Pacific MNEs in the Balkans regional economic and labor conditions, more sophisticated industry characteristics and the strategic orientation of MNEs towards the region should also be considered.

A useful source of information for academics, business people and local governments that seek to promote value added investments in their countries.

This paper fulfils an identified gap in the literature by investigating MNEs' technology strategies in an EU peripheral region. To the extent of one's knowledge there are no relevant studies that survey the extent of technology (de)centralization of Asia Pacific MNEs in the Balkan countries from the perspective of empirical reality.

The purpose of this paper is to advance the understanding of the relationship between work motivation and organisational performance in the extended public sector, by testing empirically common elements of existing theoretical frameworks.

A unique questionnaire‐based survey was carried out in three organisations/corporations where the state is the major stakeholder. Of the 1,000 questionnaires distributed, 454 were returned and included in the analysis. By using descriptive statistics the provision of extrinsic rewards and intrinsic motives in the extended public sector of Greece was identified.

Findings show that the public sector in Greece is more likely to provide extrinsic than intrinsic rewards, however the latter seems to be related to better organisational outcomes. Both individuals' ability and demographic characteristics are core determinants of employees' motivational preferences.

The core of this paper tests empirically the relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation with performance in a country of EU “periphery”. Caution should be exercised in generalizing the results for more advanced economies.

Organisational leaders and public management in Greece need to conceive work motivation as a complex system and recognize the importance of intrinsic incentives. Originality/value – There is currently limited evidence on the impact of motivation in the performance of the extended public sector. This research is one of the very few that has been made from the perspective of employees. To the extent of the author's knowledge, this is the first time that a detailed public sector level analysis on work motivation has been presented for Greece.

The purpose of this paper is to explore the link between R&D internationalization and finance decisions by providing survey evidence on the funding sources of R&D in light of recent perceptions of MNEs' decentralized knowledge-related competitiveness.

The study draws upon a survey of 83 decentralized R&D units located in countries outside the EU core of mature economies. Funding sources are classified as MNE-internal and external. Using simulation-based models, six ordered probit regression models were run with each funding source forming the dependent variable.

There are three significant findings. First, decentralized R&D funding relies mainly on MNE-internal sources. Second, decentralized R&D funding patterns reflect on the interdependencies within an overall MNE R&D strategy that is articulated through varied laboratory roles. Third, while the strategy-finance interaction is confirmed, the prevalence of parent funding is challenged. Instead, evidence recorded here suggests support for the decentralized, “subsidiary-focused” perspective that has recently regained a considerable momentum in the literature.

Notwithstanding that this study reinforces the interaction between strategic decisions and funding patterns, more work is required to identify the effects of other aspects of strategy on the funding sources of decentralized R&D activity. However, it is seemingly the first study that investigates MNEs' R&D financial decisions in economies outside the EU core, incorporating also a wide array of external funding sources.

Funding choices for decentralized R&D labs should be contingent upon their unique contribution to the competitive evolution of the MNE group. Further, R&D activity seems to leverage the autonomy of subsidiary managers.

This research is one of the very few empirical studies providing evidence on the funding sources of decentralized R&D laboratories, and suggests possible predictors that have not been put forward hitherto.

In this chapter, we investigate the interactions between governance quality and economic development. More specifically, we analyze how the institutions through which state authority is exercised influence the level of economic development. In that respect, governance could be considered as a quasi-factor of production which affects the country's economic growth and development, an issue that lies in the heart of institutional economics. The effect of governance on economic development is mainly played out via two channels. Namely, the quality of democracy, distinguished in political rights and civil liberties, and the level of corruption, associated with the exercise of state authority. Good governance is in principle associated with a high quality of democracy and a low level of corruption. Both generate positive effects on the level of economic growth and development, mainly due to their impact on state effectiveness and private and public investment. At the same time, there also exists an inverse causality: the level of economic development affects positively the quality of democracy and negatively the level of corruption which in turn tend to improve the quality of democracy. These coexistent mechanisms are associated with crucial policy issues which are largely neglected by the traditional theory of economic growth.

Purpose – We survey the export propensity of firms during the period of economic recession. Our aim is to complement existing literature, by considering the influence of home-country characteristics (corruption, bureaucracy, current financial situation, competition intensity) as predictors of firms’ export decisions.

Methodology – Combining diverse theoretical perspectives, we argue that firms’ export strategy can be reasonably modelled by integrating elements from the environmental determinism theory and the resource-based view of the firm. Research evidence on the factors impacting on export decisions is based on a sample of 136 (local and foreign) firms operating in Greece. A logistic regression model was run with export propensity being the dependent variable.

Findings – Our results indicate that not only firm-level variables (technological competencies and country of origin) are significant determinants of exporting, but considerable attention should also be placed on specific characteristics of the domestic environment. In particular, bureaucracy and the current financial situation seem to influence the managers’ decision to export.

Originality/value – This paper contributes to the field by highlighting the impact of the domestic factors on export propensity, which have been neglected among the micro-level export studies. Further, we present evidence for export propensity in an ‘intermediate-level’ EU peripheral economy during the current economic era.

Implications – Given that this study is based on a country hard hit by the economic recession, it provides useful implications for managers and policy makers.

The purpose of this paper is to advance understanding of the context and essence of foreign investments in an intermediate‐level economy and to revitalize the discussion on the differentiated strategic roles of subsidiaries within the multinational enterprise (MNE) network.

A unique questionnaire‐based survey – including 112 usable responses – was carried out. The role of subsidiaries is categorized according to their market and value‐added scope. Pair‐wise analysis has identified six roles for foreign operations (local servers, advanced replicas, regional operators, regional hubs, global specialists, and world product mandates). Average responses, frequency distribution and statistical analysis have been used in order to identify the prevalence of each subsidiary type in Greece.

Findings indicate that foreign operations in the focal country have a rather market‐seeking rationale. However, a considerable percentage of MNEs aims at widening the functional scope of their subsidiaries through knowledge‐seeking investments. Subsidiaries in Greece seem to escape from an introverted focus on the local market through an intense export orientation towards EU countries and the Balkan region.

The core of the paper is to identify subsidiary roles in a country of EU “periphery.” One should be very cautious in generalizing the results for more advanced economies. Moreover, limited attention is ascribed to firm‐specific determinants (e.g. size, years of operation, country of headquarters (HQs) origin) of subsidiary roles, and other environmental (e.g. situational constraints) characteristics.

Governments in small countries should provide the incentives for creating an attractive environment for more qualitative investments. International managers should not ignore the potentials for advanced knowledge‐related competitiveness of small countries. Foreign operations should reorient their investment interests in countries within regional blocs, since they can benefit from agglomeration economies.

A new classification for subsidiary roles is proposed. There is currently limited evidence on the differentiated subsidiary roles in a small economy. The paper is believed to be the first to present a detailed analysis, for Greece, of the strategic bases for MNEs' expansion.