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1 – 10 of 22Katherine Ortegon and Pilar Acosta
The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, as few universities have assessed their ecological footprint (EF), a benchmark for Colombian universities is presented. Second, a…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, as few universities have assessed their ecological footprint (EF), a benchmark for Colombian universities is presented. Second, a practical calculation tool for measuring the EF in educational institutions (EIs) is developed. The purpose of this tool is to facilitate the process of assessing the EF in EIs that are starting sustainability initiatives and to unify criteria with those already involved.
Design/methodology/approach
The development of the Ecological Footprint for Educational Institutions (EFEI) calculator is detailed showing the seven categories analyzed and the adaptation to the Colombian context.
Findings
Results are presented from a case study of EFEI implementation at Universidad Icesi. Furthermore, the relation between these results and the action taken to mitigate EF at the university is detailed.
Practical implications
Colombian EIs have recently joined the sustainable campus movement. The EF methodology and this tool serve to assess impacts and identify what EIs can do to ameliorate their environmental stewardship.
Social implications
EIs are called on to lead by example in terms of sustainability, not only in teaching and researching cutting-edge technologies but also in being sustainable and transferring this knowledge to future generations.
Originality/value
First, an EF benchmark for Colombian universities is presented. In addition, a unified methodology for EIs is developed. The availability of a standard tool will encourage other EIs to move forward in the effort to achieve a sustainable campus.
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Ana M. Arboleda and Acosta Pilar
This paper evaluates consumers' responses to claims regarding fruit sustainability. The authors compared the effects of this factor on consumers' moral satisfaction and purchase…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper evaluates consumers' responses to claims regarding fruit sustainability. The authors compared the effects of this factor on consumers' moral satisfaction and purchase intention with respect to 12 sustainability claims.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed-model experiment was conducted with seven fruits (i.e. guava, pineapple, red apple, green apple, red grape, green grape and avocado) to evaluate the effects of the 12 sustainability claims on purchase intention through moral satisfaction, relative to a control condition.
Findings
The results show that claims of supporting local farmers are those that move consumers the most. Claims regarding local farmers' production positively affect moral satisfaction and purchase intention.
Practical implications
This paper takes a consumer behavior approach to sustainability, enabling organizations to consider consumer behavior outcomes that could affect their strategic investments and commitment to social responsibility.
Originality/value
Food-related studies have not produced consistent results with respect to the relevance that sustainability claims have for consumers. This study differs from previous studies, as it focuses on fruit, a product that is important for social and environmental sustainability issues. This study demonstrates that, in the case of fruit, sustainability arguments are meaningful to young consumers through the mediating effect of moral satisfaction. Thus, the effect of claims is predicted by the meaning these arguments have for the consumer.
Propósito
Este artĂculo evalĂşa las respuestas de los consumidores a los argumentos de sostenibilidad en una fruta. Se comparan los efectos de este factor en la satisfacciĂłn moral y la intenciĂłn de compra de los consumidores con respecto a 12 argumentos de sostenibilidad.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Se realizó un experimento de modelo mixto con siete frutas (guayaba, piña, manzana roja, manzana verde, uva roja, uva verde y aguacate) para evaluar los efectos de los 12 argumentos de sostenibilidad sobre la intención de compra a través de la satisfacción moral, en relación con una condición de control.
Hallazgos
Los resultados muestran que las afirmaciones de apoyo a los agricultores locales son las que más influyen en los consumidores. Las afirmaciones relativas a la producción de los agricultores locales afectan positivamente a la satisfacción moral y a la intención de compra.
Implicaciones prácticas
Este trabajo adopta un enfoque de la sostenibilidad basado en el comportamiento del consumidor, lo que permite a las organizaciones considerar los resultados del comportamiento del consumidor que podrĂan afectar a sus inversiones estratĂ©gicas y a su compromiso con la responsabilidad social.
Originalidad
Los estudios relacionados con la alimentaciĂłn no han arrojado resultados consistentes respecto a la relevancia que los argumentos de sostenibilidad tienen para los consumidores. Este estudio difiere de los anteriores, ya que se centra en la fruta, un producto importante por cuestiones de sostenibilidad social y medioambiental. Este estudio demuestra que, en el caso de la fruta, los argumentos de sostenibilidad son significativas para los consumidores jĂłvenes a travĂ©s del efecto mediador de la satisfacciĂłn moral. AsĂ, el efecto de los argumentos se predice por el significado que estos tienen para el consumidor.
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Stephanos Anastasiadis, Stephanie Perkiss, Bonnie A. Dean, Leopold Bayerlein, Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez, Alec Wersun, Pilar Acosta, Hannah Jun and Belinda Gibbons
Sustainability is one of the leading challenges of our age, and higher education plays a vital role in supporting the implementation of sustainability initiatives. There has been…
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainability is one of the leading challenges of our age, and higher education plays a vital role in supporting the implementation of sustainability initiatives. There has been substantial progress in business schools introducing sustainability into courses with extant literature detailing case studies of sustainability education and student perceptions of their learning. The purpose of this paper is to address the gap in literature from educators' perspectives on their experiences of introducing sustainability teaching using specific teaching tools for sustainability.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a case study on a sustainability teaching tool, WikiRate, that was embedded into business and management courses at seven higher education institutions from across the globe. Interviews were conducted after course delivery to gain insights into the practical challenges of designing and implementing a sustainability education activity.
Findings
The findings show that educators perceive sustainability as a complex issue, presenting a challenge to teaching in university systems whose normative curricula are rooted in instrumental problem-solving. Furthermore, educators described challenges to their own learning in order to implement sustainability into curricula including the need for compromises and adaptions.
Originality/value
This empirical study reports on educators' experiences embedding sustainability into their courses through an innovative teaching tool, WikiRate. This paper has implications for reframing how we can approach sustainability education and presents discussion ways to teach complexity without reduction or simplification.
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Esmeralda Crespo-Almendros, M. Belén Prados-Peña, Lucia Porcu and Juan Miguel Alcántara-Pilar
This study seeks to analyze the influence of the consumer's perceived benefits deriving from two different promotional incentives offered via social media on the perceived…
Abstract
Purpose
This study seeks to analyze the influence of the consumer's perceived benefits deriving from two different promotional incentives offered via social media on the perceived quality of the heritage complex.
Design/methodology/approach
A quasi-experimental study was carried out among online users, implementing two different promotional stimuli. Facebook was selected as the social network through which the promotional incentives were offered in the experiment. The sample was obtained via a panel of Internet users provided by Sondea Internet SL.
Findings
The results showed that the benefits perceived by the tourists will depend on the sales promotion type offered. On the one hand, free VIP pass was found to be mostly related to hedonic benefits that positively affect perceived quality. On the other hand, 2Â Ă—Â 1 offer would be perceived as a utilitarian benefit and is likely to exert a fairly negative effect on perceived quality.
Practical implications
Tourism managers and practitioners are encouraged to analyze the characteristics of certain types of sales promotions, as each promotional incentive bears different values and associated benefits. The findings of this study suggest managers and practitioners to implement non-monetary promotions to enhance brand equity and perceived quality. Thus, it is paramount for the managers of cultural institutions and heritage sites to trust in sales promotions which can be very helpful if they are designed carefully.
Originality/value
This study pioneers the analysis of the impact of the benefits associated with different typologies of sales promotions on social networks on the perceived quality of a heritage site.
Objetivo
Este estudio busca analizar la influencia de los beneficios percibidos por el consumidor derivados de dos incentivos promocionales diferentes ofrecidos a través de las redes sociales sobre la calidad percibida del complejo patrimonial.
Metodología
Se realizĂł un estudio cuasi-experimental entre usuarios en lĂnea, implementando dos estĂmulos promocionales diferentes. Facebook fue seleccionada como la red social a travĂ©s de la cual se ofrecieron los incentivos promocionales en el experimento. La muestra se obtuvo a travĂ©s de un panel de internautas facilitado por Sondea Internet SL.
Recomendaciones
Los resultados mostraron que los beneficios percibidos por los turistas dependerán del tipo de promociĂłn de ventas ofrecida. Por un lado, se descubriĂł que el pase VIP gratuito se relaciona principalmente con los beneficios hedĂłnicos que afectan positivamente la calidad percibida. Por otro lado, la oferta 2 × 1 se percibirĂa como un beneficio utilitario y es probable que ejerza un efecto bastante negativo en la calidad percibida.
Originalidad
Este estudio es pionero en el análisis del impacto de los beneficios asociados a diferentes tipologĂas de promociones de ventas en redes sociales sobre la calidad percibida de un sitio patrimonial.
Implicaciones prácticas
Se alienta a los gerentes y profesionales del turismo a analizar las caracterĂsticas de ciertos tipos de promociones de ventas, ya que cada incentivo promocional tiene diferentes valores y beneficios asociados. Los hallazgos de este estudio sugieren que los gerentes y profesionales implementen promociones no monetarias para mejorar el valor de la marca y la calidad percibida. Por tanto, es primordial que los gestores de las instituciones culturales y los sitios patrimoniales confĂen en las promociones de venta que pueden resultar muy Ăştiles si se diseñan con cuidado.
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Daniel Palacios-Marqués, Simona Popa and María Pilar Alguacil Mari
The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of online social networks and competency-based management on innovation capability.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of online social networks and competency-based management on innovation capability.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper is theory-confirming. Theoretical relationships were tested using an empirical study of 289 firms from the Spanish biotechnology and telecommunications industries.
Findings
Results confirm that online social network use for internal cognitive processes (e.g. reading, searching and storing information) and external cognitive processes (e.g. sharing and co-creating knowledge) positively affects knowledge transfer. This knowledge helps firms to achieve superior competency in R&D to succeed in innovation programs.
Research Limitations/implications
All survey respondents were from Spain, which may limit the generalizability of findings. A longitudinal approach was not used. However, doing so would make it possible to explore time lags between online social network use, competency-based management and innovation.
Practical Implications
This paper highlights the potential as well as the limitations of online social networks and competency-based management in promoting innovation capability. Businesses must consciously manage the assimilation and use of online social networks to benefit from them.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the literature by identifying effects on innovation capability at the meso-level (i.e. online social networks). Findings highlight the need for a shift in focus away from collaborating and interacting in online social networks (micro-level) and organizational contexts (macro-level) so as to improve innovation capability.
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Ana Reyes Pacios and María Pilar Pérez-Piriz
The purpose of this paper is to review the websites of 22 national libraries in Ibero-America to determine whether and how effectively they display these organisations’ mission…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to review the websites of 22 national libraries in Ibero-America to determine whether and how effectively they display these organisations’ mission statements, as well as any convergence/divergence among these texts.
Design/methodology/approach
A review was conducted of the national library websites of ABINIA’s 22 members to locate their respective mission statements. The statements identified were analysed and evaluated against the positioning and presence criteria and wording proposed by experts.
Findings
Website content clearly attests to national libraries’ eagerness to publicise their mission statements, which are readily accessible in most cases. Their functions are represented to a more or less standard pattern. Most are portrayed as institutions responsible for custodying, enriching, preserving and disseminating their countries’ cultural legacy. Other purposes mentioned include the promulgation of and accessibility to the heritage custodied.
Practical implications
The paper may prove useful for professional librarians involved in drafting or revising their organisation’s mission statement in the wake of changing circumstances or on the occasion of the formulation of a new strategic plan.
Originality/value
Of the very short number of analyses of libraries’ mission statements published to date, none discusses national libraries. This is the very first study of national library mission statement in Ibero-America. It forms part of a line of research dealing with national library mission statements defined and available on institutional websites for countries anywhere in the world.
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Julia Ferrandiz, Pilar Fidel and Andrea Conchado
The purpose of this paper is to improve the current knowledge of the effects of a higher education program for entrepreneurs, integrated in an entrepreneurial ecosystem, in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to improve the current knowledge of the effects of a higher education program for entrepreneurs, integrated in an entrepreneurial ecosystem, in the entrepreneurial intention of the students.
Design/methodology/approach
For this, group dynamics have been carried out with the students to know the process of entrepreneurial learning, the acquisition of competences, the mentoring received and the influence of the program in its entrepreneurial intention in the short and medium term.
Findings
The results suggest that the program positively influences students’ entrepreneurial intention, especially in the medium term. In particular, they point out that working personal skills in the program contribute to the development of their entrepreneurial project. On the other hand, mentoring requires a more methodical accompaniment and a greater degree of specialization of the mentors.
Research limitations/implications
This research represents an excellent first step toward a better understanding of the factors that influence entrepreneurial intention. In addition, they lead to improve existing knowledge about the impact of entrepreneurial higher education. The only limitation of the paper is given by its nature as a case study.
Practical implications
The case study aims to provide the results of the practical experience of a higher education program in entrepreneurship and serve as a basis for future lines of research that address the research gap based on the need of identification of best practices in entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial behavior.
Social implications
This work brings practical experience that inspires diverse social actors as managers of higher education programs, managers of ecosystems entrepreneurs and public institutions.
Originality/value
Our findings respond to previous concerns on the results of programs aimed at training future entrepreneurs. Besides, this work describes an interesting case study based on a postgraduate program, while most of the previous studies have been limited to undergraduate programs.
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Nuria Gisbert-Trejo, Jon Landeta, Eneka Albizu and Pilar Fernández-Ferrín
The purpose of this paper is to explore the essential mentor characteristics for effective inter-organizational mentoring. This kind of HR development technique, where mentor and…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the essential mentor characteristics for effective inter-organizational mentoring. This kind of HR development technique, where mentor and mentee belong to different organizations, is becoming increasingly popular and so far has been scarcely studied.
Design/methodology/approach
First, a rigorous literature analysis to identify primary mentor characteristics for managers and professionals has been performed; second, a Delphi analysis has determined their relevance according to the opinion of 125 experienced mentors, mentees and program coordinators that have carried out inter-organizational mentoring processes in Spain; and third, an exploratory factor analysis has reclassified the mentor characteristics into a smaller number of factors.
Findings
In total, 29 relevant mentor characteristics have been identified and valued. The foregoing characteristics are related to seven underlying dimensions or factors that serve to characterize an effective mentor for inter-organizational mentoring programs.
Originality/value
The research extends the existing literature regarding mentor characteristics of those mentors who are engaged in inter-organizational mentoring. In addition, this work offers a valuable contribution to inter-organizational mentoring research based in a Delphi method that includes both academic and practitioner perspectives in a cultural context that may have not received previous attention. The findings can be valuable for both academics who investigate this topic of growing interest, and for practitioners who must face the selection and training of mentors.
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Pilar Ester Arroyo, Javier Liñan and Jorge Vera Martínez
When selecting manufactured foods, customers consider several product features. Given the contemporary trends of food consumption, the purpose of this paper is to determine the…
Abstract
Purpose
When selecting manufactured foods, customers consider several product features. Given the contemporary trends of food consumption, the purpose of this paper is to determine the influence that some demographic and psychographic key variables have on the chances of a consumer belonging to a market segment characterised by health-related food preferences.
Design/methodology/approach
The food choice scale is revised to develop a multidimensional measure of the factors underlying consumer food choices. Data of 288 sampled consumers were used to validate the scale and to group consumers into four segments based on the value assigned to several food-product meta-attributes. Depending on these food choice values, the study identified four dissimilar clusters: utilitarian, protecting, toning and highly demanding.
Findings
Consumers use multiple attributes when choosing food products. However, emerging segments tend to prefer health-related attributes over utilitarian or conventional attributes, such as price, flavour or accessibility. The consumers of these segments tend to be older, more health conscious and more prone to psychological health risks.
Originality/value
Demographic and psychographic traits tend to drive trade-offs between health- and non-health-related attributes when considering food products. Several multivariate methodologies were innovatively coupled to characterize consumers based on their healthy food preferences and individual traits.
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Muhammad Yasir and Abdul Majid
Following “AMO” framework and resource-based theory (RBT), the current study empirically examines the relationships between high-involvement human resource management (HI HRM…
Abstract
Purpose
Following “AMO” framework and resource-based theory (RBT), the current study empirically examines the relationships between high-involvement human resource management (HI HRM) practices, employee functional flexibility (FF) and innovative work behavior (IWB). Furthermore, the mediating effect of FF has also been tested.
Design/methodology/approach
Descriptive statistics, correlation, hierarchical regression analysis, baron and Kenny, PROCESS Macro and Sobel Test approach were used on a sample of 894 employees of manufacturing concerns.
Findings
Findings revealed a direct effect of HI HRM practices on FF and IWB. In addition, the results confirm that FF positively mediates between HI HRM practices and IWB. Furthermore, three dimensions of HI HRM practices, i.e. ability-enhancing (AE), motivation-enhancing (ME) and opportunity-enhancing (OE) HRM practices also predicted FF and IWB.
Practical implications
This study not only offers the empirical evidence to validate the findings of past researchers, but also provide insight how HI HRM practices flourish the mechanism of FF in manufacturing concerns. Furthermore, this study highlighted some interesting facts that should be meaningful options for HR managers to enhance the level of employees' FF and IWB.
Originality/value
Although the empirical evidence is well established that HI HRM practices have a substantial contribution for organizational performance, however, there is lack of studies that empirically examine the associations among HI HRM practices, employee's competencies and behaviors, as well as the mechanism through which HI HRM practices affect work related innovative behavior. Finally, in distinguishing from the past studies, this study explores HI HRM practices as an important predictor of FF in addressing the IWB.
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