Exploring SMEs’ qualitative growth and networking through formalization

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-415
Author(s):  
Matilde Milanesi ◽  
Simone Guercini ◽  
Annalisa Tunisini
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Industrial District ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Managerial Strategy ◽  
Individual Traits ◽  
Institutional Actors ◽  
Horizontal Network

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the role of networking through formalization, namely, the adoption of specific contractual forms, in triggering small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs’) qualitative growth. The paper adopts an approach to SMEs’ growth that stresses the multi-dimensionality nature of the concept, which includes not only size but also relationship and capability growth. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative methodology is used, based on the study of cases of SMEs from an Italian fashion district, connected by a specific contractual form – the so-called “network contract” (NC) – promoted by the national government. Two cases of NCs are presented, a vertical and a horizontal network. Findings The paper highlighted the positive influence of NCs, intended as a managerial strategy not only aimed at collaboration, on the growth paths of SMEs but also stressed that the influence of NCs cannot be isolated, but acts virtuously together with other variables. Such variables include entrepreneurs’ and managers’ individual traits, the context – industrial district in the two cases under study – in which SMEs operate, the presence of an external actor that stimulates the adoption of NCs. Originality/value The focus on qualitative growth, which can be triggered by the formalization of business relationships through contractual forms, contributes to the debate on the nature and content of SMEs’ growth. The awareness of the variables that contribute to SMEs’ growth is crucial for both entrepreneurs and institutional actors who want to create the conditions to undertake paths of qualitative growth.

scholarly journals Interfunctional coordination: the role of digitalization

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 404-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
José L. Ruiz-Alba ◽  
Rodrigo Guesalaga ◽  
Raquel Ayestarán ◽  
Javier Morales Mediano
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Top Executives ◽  
Main Driver ◽  
Negative Side Effects ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Integrated Study

Purpose This paper aims to investigate interfunctional coordination (IC) in a B2B context. More specifically, it explores the role of digitalization as a strategic driver for an effective IC. Design/methodology/approach Following a qualitative methodology, three studies have been integrated: Study 1 (focus group with 5 participants), Study 2 (31 in-depth interviews with top executives) and Study 3 (online focus group with 9 experts). Findings One finding is that digitalization is the main driver for IC and can be considered strategic. Other findings show that digitalization can enhance IC, but it was also found that digitalization can have negative side effects on IC. Originality/value This study contributes to the understanding of the importance of digitalization on IC and also contributes to the conceptualization of IC as a dynamic capability.

scholarly journals Effects of team unlearning on employee creativity

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 531-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makoto Matsuo
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Employee Creativity ◽  
Manufacturing Firm ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose Although unlearning is considered an essential step for creativity, little is known about the relationship between team unlearning and employee creativity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of individual reflection between team unlearning and employee creativity. Design/methodology/approach The research model was tested using multisource survey data from 164 employees in 28 teams at a manufacturing firm and a service firm. Findings The results of the multilevel analyses indicated that team unlearning had a positive influence on supervisor-rated employee creativity, fully mediated by individual reflection. Practical implications It should be noted that employee creativity is not automatically enhanced through team unlearning. Managers should encourage members to reflect on their work practices following team-unlearning exercises for the purpose of enhancing their creativity. Originality/value The findings contribute to the existing literature by demonstrating that reflective practices play significant roles in linking team unlearning with employee creativity. This study explored preceding literature examining employee creativity in terms of the unlearning process.

Enablers of supply chain integration

2016 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 838-855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bill Wang ◽  
Paul Childerhouse ◽  
Yuanfei Kang ◽  
Baofeng Huo ◽  
Sanjay Mathrani
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Strategic Alliance ◽  
Interorganizational Relationships ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Supply Chain Integration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Process Coordination

Purpose – Previous research on supply chain integration (SCI) enablers has primarily focussed on interorganizational relationships, the purpose of this paper is to broaden the discussion to include interpersonal relationships (IPRs). Design/methodology/approach – Based on a comprehensive literature review, a series of propositions are postulated and synthesized into a conceptual model of how IPRs maintain and enable SCI, which is decomposed into strategic alliance, information sharing, and process coordination. Findings – The authors find that IPRs including personal affection, communication, and credibility, have a positive influence on SCI, and these links are mediated by interorganizational relationships including trust, commitment, and power. Originality/value – The framework developed in this study provides new insights into the role of interpersonal networks in interorganizational relationships, which lead to SCI.

Implementing corporate sustainability

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 378-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Elena Windolph ◽  
Stefan Schaltegger ◽  
Christian Herzig
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Corporate Sustainability ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Institutional Factors ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Sustainability Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications ◽  
Corporate Practice

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to conduct an empirical analysis among large German companies to enhance the understanding of whether and which institutional factors influence the application of sustainability management tools. Stepping from corporate sustainability visions to implementation requires the application of management tools. A multitude of sustainability management tools have been proposed in literature. Research on their application in corporate practice is, however, scarce. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a survey of large German companies and publicly available data, this paper tests the influence of corporate sustainability networks, indices, standards and the awareness of sustainability management tools on their application in corporate practice. Findings – A particularly strong positive relation exists between awareness and application of sustainability management tools. Standards are also found to have a positive influence, while the influence of networks and indices is less strong. Our findings suggest that the application of sustainability management tools can be fostered through the promotion and increasing awareness of tools. Research limitations/implications – The analysis is based on a survey of large German companies. Factors of institutional isomorphism are tested. Further research is needed for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the influence of further aspects such as competitive and psychological factors. Practical implications – The findings of this paper suggest that the application of sustainability management tools can be fostered particularly well through increasing awareness and the active promotion of tools. Networks, indices and standard help increase awareness. Originality/value – The analysis unveils the role of institutional factors influencing the application sustainability management tools in corporate practice.

scholarly journals The outset of U-I R & D relationships: the specific case of biological sciences

2015 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Linhares Pinheiro ◽  
José Carlos Pinho ◽  
Cândida Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sciences ◽  
Social Capital ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Investment ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
Relational Resources ◽  
University Industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to draw insights from the actors-resources-activities (ARA) model and social capital literature to identify relevant activities shared by university-industry (U-I) actors prior to R & D cooperation. Design/methodology/approach – Based on a qualitative methodology, a series of interviews were carried out with researchers from the biological sciences domain. Findings – This study found that, at the outset of U-I links, companies’ motivations are strongly organizational, while academics are motivated at a personal level. The interactions grow from low-risk activities to partnerships on complex tasks, and depend on relational resources framed within the ARA and social capital theories. Results showed that shared interests are present at the outset of U-I links and grow thereafter. Trust and commitment were not ubiquitous at the outset, but rather at later stages of the cooperation, as a result of the developed interdependencies. Research limitations/implications – The combination of the ARA model and social capital in U-I links highlighted the different relationship levels (individual vs organizational), the disparities between early and established ties, and the interplay between low- and high-investment activities underlying researchers’ relationships. Several managerial contributions are presented for universities to promote greater integration with industry partners. Originality/value – A new direction of research is presented towards lower levels of U-I cooperation, taking into account the relational resources and the activities shared in each level. This work distinguished the different actors’ motivations and clarified the role of trust and commitment at the outset of U-I links. This first assessment of Portuguese U-I interactions within the biological sciences provided valuable insights for both academics and practitioners.

The mitigating role of holistic thinking on choice overload

2017 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilgim Dara Benoit ◽  
Elizabeth G. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Situational Factors ◽  
Decision Making Process ◽  
Choice Overload ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Holistic Thinking ◽  
Individual Traits ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose This paper aims to demonstrate how and why holistic thinking mitigates the negative impact of large assortments on satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach Five between-subject experiments demonstrate the mitigating role of holism on choice overload across a variety of contexts. Findings While large assortments create overload feeling, holistic thinking mitigates the negative impact of overload feeling on satisfaction for both chronic (Studies 1a and 1b) and decision-specific (Studies 1b and 1c) holistic thinkers, as well as those who adopt a more holistic thinking style because of the decision goal (Study 2) or incidental priming (Study 3). Research limitations/implications This paper introduces a new moderator of choice overload effects – holistic thinking – and shows how it mitigates the negative indirect effect of assortment size on satisfaction. This paper contributes to the literature on assortment size effects and shows that even when assortment size increases overload feeling, this negative impact of assortment size can still be reduced. Practical implications Marketers with large assortments can reduce the negative impact of overload feeling and increase satisfaction by promoting the hedonic features of the products and encouraging holistic thinking. Similarly, consumers can reduce the negative impact of overload feeling by approaching their consumption more holistically either because of their individual traits or situational factors. Originality/value This research contributes a new moderator to the choice overload literature: holistic thinking. In doing so, it adopts a broader consideration of the decision-making process underlying overload effects and pinpoints how (i.e. by which path) holistic thinking mitigates the negative impact of large assortments.

The role of management accounting in international entrepreneurship

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 381-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine Mitter ◽  
Martin R.W. Hiebl
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
International Entrepreneurship ◽  
Management Accounting ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case

Purpose This paper aims to analyze the role of management accounting in international entrepreneurship. Its role, thus far, has been a neglected topic in research on accounting and international entrepreneurship, although some quantitative findings indicate the positive influence of management accounting on internationalization capability. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on a multiple case study of Austrian firms and draws on the resource-based view of the firm as well as effectuation/causation logics. Data for this study were collected via semi-structured interviews, press reports, company chronicles, organizational brochures and websites of the analyzed case firms. Findings The paper finds that management accounting may indeed serve as a key capability for international entrepreneurship. However, reliance on this capability seems to be contingent on the phase of international entrepreneurship and pathway and mode of internationalization. Research limitations/implications The findings add to the accounting literature by showing that the phase as well as the mode and pathway of international entrepreneurship may serve as contingency factors for management accounting, which have been overlooked in the literature. At the same time, they also contribute to the international entrepreneurship literature by offering an initial view on the neglected capability of management accounting. Originality/value This is the first study to analyze the role of management accounting in international entrepreneurship.

The need for reassurance and modern food consumption

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 880-893
Author(s):  
Wejdene Yangui ◽  
Nibrass Hajtaïeb El Aoud
Keyword(s):  
Theoretical Model ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Moderating Factors

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the determinants of the need for reassurance, while emphasizing the role of perceived traceability. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected through individual interviews, and analyzed by thematic analysis. Findings – Results showed that the traceability of modern foods is low perceived by the consumers. This indirectly influences the need for reassurance toward the modern foods by reducing the confidence in these products and strengthening the feeling about the risk associated to their consumption. Research limitations/implications – The major limits of this paper concern the development of the research model through the means of an exploratory study. This can affect the possibility to generalize results since the described hypotheses are not quantitatively validated. Another limit is concerned by the non-investigation of moderating factors, which can be the object of future researches. Originality/value – This paper is one of the few efforts integrating the need for reassurance in a theoretical model of consumer behavior, and explaining its origins. This justifies the use of a qualitative methodology.

scholarly journals Vulnerable adults in police custody

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-8
Author(s):  
Ian Cummins
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Literature ◽  
Police Custody ◽  
England And Wales ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Vulnerable Adults

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to discuss the recent National Appropriate Adult Network (NAAN) report on the role of the appropriate adult. Design/methodology/approach This paper is based on the NAAN report and a review of relevant policy and research literature. Findings There to Help 2 highlights that there are still significant gaps in the provision of appropriate adult schemes across England and Wales. These gaps potentially place vulnerable adults at increased risk. Originality/value This paper is a review of recent research.

Overcoming counter-knowledge through telemedicine communication technologies

2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (7/8) ◽  
pp. 730-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Cegarra-Sanchez ◽  
Juan-Gabriel Cegarra-Navarro ◽  
Anthony Wensley ◽  
Jose Diaz Manzano
Keyword(s):  
Learning Process ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Communication Technologies ◽  
Regional Hospital ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
Exploration And Exploitation ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type

Purpose Knowledge acquired from sources of unverified information such as gossip, partial truths or lies, in this paper it is termed as “counter-knowledge.” The purpose of this paper is to explore this topic through an exploration of the links between a Hospital-in-the-Home Units (HHUs) learning process (LP), counter-knowledge, and the utilization of communication technologies. The following two questions are addressed: Does the reduction of counter-knowledge result in the utilization of communication technologies? Does the development of counter-knowledge hinder the LP? Design/methodology/approach This paper examines the relevance of communication technologies to the exploration and exploitation of knowledge for 252 patients of a (HHU) within a Spanish regional hospital. The data collected was analyzed using the PLS-Graph. Findings To HHU managers, this study offers a set of guidelines to assist in their gaining an understanding of the role of counter-knowledge in organizational LPs and the potential contribution of communication technologies. Our findings support the proposition that the negative effects of counter-knowledge can be mitigated by using communication technologies. Originality/value It is argued in this paper that counter-knowledge may play a variety of different roles in the implementation of LPs. Specifically, the assignment of communication technologies to homecare units has given them the means to filter counter-knowledge and prevent users from any possible problems caused by such counter-knowledge.

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