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To study and validate the relationship between the development of Chinese non‐state‐owned enterprise (Chinese non‐SOE), and cultivation of scientific and technological competence empirically.

Correlation analysis in SPSS is used to analyze the correlation between Chinese non‐SOE and cultivation of scientific and technological competence based on the statistic data released by China Statistical Bureau from 1987 to 2005. Furthermore, their relationship is validated by means of Granger causality test in Eviews 3.0.

This paper finds serial GDP of Chinese non‐SOE is a first difference stationary, while serial total funds of S&T activities of Chinese non‐SOE is a second difference stationary. After they are adjusted to be difference stationary, we find that there is not only a positive correlation, but also a bilateral Granger causality between the two variables.

From the point of view of a practitioner engaging in China trade, this study suggested that when all level governmental departments and all Chinese non‐SOE establish economic development strategies and policies for cultivating scientific and technological competence, the interaction relationship must be taken into consideration in order to avoid negative impact on the sustainable development of Chinese non‐SOE.

This study provides reference and benchmark to Chinese non‐SOE's development and will help to enhance its international competence.

Drawing on resource-orchestration theory (ROT), this study investigates the influence of market intelligence and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on international performance of born global (BG) small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets with the mediating role of global technological competence. Quality focus is used as a moderator between global technological competence and international performance.

Data were gathered through a survey, and PLS-SEM was employed for hypotheses testing with a sample of 256 BG SMEs.

The results showed that market intelligence, EO, global technological competence and quality focus positively relate to international performance. Moreover, market intelligence and EO are positively associated with global technological competence. Besides, global technological competence significantly mediates the relationship between market intelligence, EO and international performance. Finally, quality focus strengthens the positive relationship between global technological competence and international performance.

Our research demonstrates that if management utilizes or invests on market intelligence, EO, global technological competence and quality focus, then the BG SMEs will increase their international performance.

The paper contribution lies in its focus on exogenous constructs (i.e. market intelligence, EO, global technological competence and quality focus) to determine the international performance of born global SMEs in emerging markets.

Although studies of “core competence” appear frequently, the concept lacks a clear definition that allows one to operationalize it and use it to develop falsifiable predictions. We propose a definition based on the phenomenon that core competence is typically applied to – adaptations to different external context. Sourcing insight form the paradigm of organizational ecology, we develop arguments rooted in theories of structural inertia and environmental imprinting. Empirical analyses of failure rates of entrants in the Italian automobile industry confirm our propositions that core competence is a source of competitive advantage when industry entry is based on relevant capabilities and a source of inertia and obsolescence when core competences need to be substantially altered. We conclude that whether core competence materializes as a dynamic capability or exposes the firm to liability to selection and obsolescence is a random process. Its outcome hinges on environmental variation and the resulting firm-environment (mis)alignment and is thus largely beyond managerial control.

The relationship between technology and strategic competitiveness is investigated. It is suggested that effective management of employees and equipment can speed technological advances to customers. However, managerial technological knowledge of the production process and technical aspects of equipment are of paramount importance for the successful implementation of any competitive strategy. Future areas of empirical investigation through testable propositions are suggested. Each proposition is a hypothesis and major study in itself, and it is hoped that future researchers will statistically analyse each proposition to confirm or deny its validity.

In today's turbulent environment, customers are playing a more important role in competition, which can be reflected by customers as co‐producer, value co‐producer, or co‐developer of knowledge and competencies, etc. Accordingly, business priority should be given to what customers really value. Unlike previous studies, which emphasize market performance mainly from the internal or firm's perspective, this paper proposes that firms should prioritize customer‐focused performance, defined totally from an external perspective of targeted customers. The paper examines the important role of customer‐focused performance and its interactive relationships with other dimensions of the overall performance system, and goes further to analyze the components and dynamics of customer‐focused performance. Finally, attention is given to the dynamic competence building and leveraging process and its key elements, which determines the customer‐focused performance in perspective of resource‐based views. Important propositions are presented and future implications discussed.

In this paper I begin to answer the neglected question of “When to downsize?” Specifically, is downsizing and the associated reskilling of workforces an appropriate response to technological discontinuity? Based on past organizational literature written about technological discontinuity, downsizing, and reskilling, I develop a theoretical framework that indicates when downsizing following a technological discontinuity will increase organizational effectiveness. Propositions are developed based on this framework. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for managers and future researchers.

This paper aims to explain how small- and medium-sized firms (SMEs) create information technology (IT) business value through blended IT outsourcing (ITO). The explanatory framework it proposes enables SMEs to replicate IT capability outcomes (i.e. enhance their economic, strategic and technological competences, namely, ITO success) by endorsing an ITO strategy catalyzed by IT vendor integration.

This study uses covariance-based structural equation modeling to test the proposed research model. Data are collected from 251 knowledge-intensive business SMEs located in Science and Technology Parks in Spain.

The results demonstrate empirically that SMEs can replicate IT capability benefits (i.e. enhance their non-IT competences) through blended ITO in which IT, conceptualized as a transversal supporting activity, is outsourced to an IT vendor while the value creation process remains with the buyer. The integration (i.e. process integration and information sharing) of an IT-proficient vendor catalyzes ITO success. More specifically, the results show that, although process integration is not directly related to competence enhancement, fosters information sharing, which directly facilitates ITO success. The results also show that IT vendor proficiency accounts for ex ante trust.

Managers should think of transformational ITO as a strategy to enhance firm competences. For blended ITO strategies to succeed, managers must have a comprehensive understanding of the business they run, as it is important to create conditions that foster inter-firm information sharing. To achieve these conditions, managers should take special care in selecting boundary spanners, who are the pivotal links in competence enhancement.

While most research focuses on ongoing trust (i.e. trust develops as ITO evolves), this study focuses on initial (i.e. ex ante) trust and analyzes IT vendor proficiency (expert, experienced and reputed) to examine trust as an antecedent of ITO. This study also draws on previous conceptualizations of vendor integration to develop and analyze a two-step integration model to explain how IT vendor integration (i.e. process integration and information sharing) catalyzes enhancement of the buyer’s non-IT competences. This study focuses on SMEs, which are often neglected in ITO studies.

This study focuses on intellectual capital (IC) as a driver of better business performance. Recent studies suggest that a set of variables may mediate this relationship. This research discusses the mediating role of dynamic capabilities, network competence, technological capabilities, absorptive capabilities and innovation performance between intellectual capital and business performance.

The conceptual model is tested using a sample of 533 Portuguese firms by means of a structural equation model.

It confirms that intellectual capital impacts business performance. Moreover, this only happens indirectly through the mediating chain defined by the variables dynamic capabilities, network competence, technological capabilities, absorptive capabilities and innovation performance.

This study analyzes new mediator variables between the dimensions of the intellectual capital and Portuguese business performance.

Unlike previous studies which emphasize market oriented performance from the perspective of firms or customers, but mainly internally, the paper proposes that firms should prioritize customer‐focused performance defined totally externally from the perspective of targeted customers, which are the fundamental drivers of purchasing or repurchasing behaviors of customers and consequently the key to successful competition in the customer‐centered era. Then, the role of customer‐focused performance in the overall business performance system is examined. After the components and dynamics of customer‐focused performance are analyzed, much attention is given to its key determinants in perspective of a resource‐based view, which aims mainly at bridging the current gaps between strategic management and service management. In addition, important propositions are presented and future implications are discussed.

Tourists must possess technological competence, as technology becomes increasingly ubiquitous in travel. However, few studies have investigated tourists’ technological competence (TTC). Thus, this study aims to develop a valid and reliable scale for measuring TTC.

In the development of the scale, the authors first reviewed the literature and consulted experts to formulate an initial set of items. The items were then reduced using exploratory factor analysis, and the measures were validated through confirmatory factor analysis. Two distinct sets of data were collected to develop and validate the TTC scale.

The final scale has 21 items and five factors: searching and booking for travel information online, using self-service systems, operating VR/AR technologies, using apps for travel and using technology at tourist destination. After analyzing the reliability, construct validity, criterion-related validity and known-group validity, the TTC scale has been established as a measurement tool with acceptable reliability and validity.

The authors proposed the concept of technological competence in tourists and developed a scale to measure it. In addition to filling research gaps, understanding the items relating to TTC can help promote tourism education in the digital and technological age and provide reference for those developing technological services at tourist destinations.

随着科技在旅行中的应用普及, 游客必须具备科技使用能力。然而, 关于游客科技使用能力（TTC）的研究很少。因此, 本研究开发了一个有效可靠的量表来衡量TTC。

在量表的开发中, 我们首先回顾了文献, 并咨询专家, 制定了一组初始测量项目。然后通过探索性因素分析缩减项目, 并通过验证性因素分析验证了测量。我们收集了两组不同的数据来开发和验证TTC量表。

最终的量表包含21个项目和5个因子：在线搜索和预订旅行信息, 使用自助服务系统, 操作虚拟现实/增强现实技术, 使用旅行应用程序, 以及在旅游目的地使用科技。在分析可靠性、构造效度、标准相关效度和已知群体效度后, TTC量表已被确定为具有可接受的可靠性和效度的测量工具。

我们提出了游客的科技使用能力概念, 并开发了一个用于衡量的量表。除了填补研究空白外, 了解与游客科技使用能力相关的项目可以帮助推动数字化和技术时代的旅游教育, 并为那些开发旅游目的地科技服务的人提供参考。