Mechanisms adopted by social enterprises for effective volunteer-based operations

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liliana Ávila ◽  
Marlene Amorim
Keyword(s):  
Economic Value ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Formal Structure ◽  
Volunteer Management ◽  
Volunteer Work ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Structured Approach

Purpose This paper aims to describe an exploratory study aiming to identify the mechanisms adopted by social enterprises for effective operations based on volunteer work. Design/methodology/approach An inductive multiple case study method was used addressing three social enterprises whose operations rely on a volunteer workforce. Findings Volunteer-based operations benefit from the establishment of a formal structure, involving different levels of volunteering complemented with other mechanisms, namely, educate and train, empower and connect. Special attention must be given to first-level volunteers, reinforcing the range of practices to motivate and engage them, as they serve as intermediaries between the paid employees and lower-level volunteers. Practical implications The study provides valuable insights for managers for the implementation of effective operations, building on volunteer work, aiming at the generation of social and economic value. Social implications Due to their innovative character, social enterprises are well-positioned to mobilize more and more qualified volunteers for a significant change in their communities. Adopting a more strategic and structured approach to volunteer management can enable these organizations to take advantage of it. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature on social enterprise by identifying a set of mechanisms adopted for effective volunteer-based operations. It also contributes to the literature on volunteer management by addressing an underexplored context.

scholarly journals Understanding the robotic restaurant experience: a multiple case study

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faruk Seyitoğlu ◽  
Stanislav Ivanov
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Robotic System ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The World ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Restaurant Experience

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the robotic restaurant experience of travellers around the world and understand the components of robotic restaurant experience. Design/methodology/approach Travellers who had experienced a robotic restaurant were purposefully selected as a sample group for the study. As the robotic restaurants are limited around the world, multiple case study method has been chosen to gather richer data. A user-generated content technique which is a form of qualitative case study method has been benefited to gather data from travellers’ reviews. Findings The results reveal a model of components of robotic restaurant experience that include six main themes: attraction for kids, robotic system, memorable experience, ambience related attributes, food related attributes (economic value and gastronomic aspects) and deficiencies (in robotic system, in ambience related attributes and in food related attributes). Originality/value This paper is one of the first to investigate the robotic restaurant experience of travellers around the world. Moreover, it contributes to the research on restaurant experience and offers a model of components of the robotic restaurant experience.

Towards a multi-level servitization framework

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 810-827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sambit Lenka ◽  
Vinit Parida ◽  
David Rönnberg Sjödin ◽  
Joakim Wincent
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Manufacturing Firms ◽  
Service Orientation ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Multi Level

Purpose The dominant-view within servitization literature presupposes a progressive transition from product to service orientation. In reality, however, many manufacturing firms maintain both product and service orientations throughout their servitization journey. Using the theoretical lens of organizational ambivalence, the purpose of this paper is to explore the triggers, manifestation and consequences of these conflicting orientations. Design/methodology/approach A multiple case study method was used to analyze five large manufacturing firms that were engaged in servitization. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 35 respondents across different functions within these firms. Findings Servitizing firms experience organizational ambivalence during servitization because of co-existing product and service orientations. This paper provides a framework that identifies the triggers of this ambivalence, its multi-level manifestation and its consequences. These provide implications for explaining why firms struggle to implement servitization strategies due to co-existing product and services orientations. Understanding organizational ambivalence, provides opportunity to manage related challenges and can be vital to successful servitization. Originality/value Considering the theoretical concept of ambivalence could advance the understanding of the effects and implications of conflicting orientations during servitization in manufacturing firms.

E­commerce structures for retail and service franchises

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanna Kremez ◽  
Lorelle Frazer ◽  
Scott Weaven ◽  
Sara Quach
Keyword(s):  
Business Strategy ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Preliminary Model ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Order Fulfilment ◽  
Franchise Networks ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth investigation of e-commerce strategy implementation in mature franchise organisations from both franchisor and franchisee perspectives.Design/methodology/approachThis research employed a multiple case study method where the e-commerce strategies of two mature franchise organisations were investigated in depth. Franchising experts were interviewed to provide an additional dimension to this study.FindingsThis research found that e-commerce must be integrated with the overall business strategy for optimal franchise performance. Since all parties to the franchising relationship are affected by the introduction of e-commerce, both the franchisees’ and the franchisor’s interests must be considered when the strategy is being developed. In addition, the consumer’s perspective is central to how e-commerce is structured, and franchisees are best placed to know their customers’ needs because they are directly involved in operating their business and interfacing with customers.Practical implicationsA preliminary model for e-commerce structures in service and retail franchising has been developed that depends on the nature of the business, the distribution arrangements and the order fulfilment arrangements. The two main avenues in e-commerce structuring were centralisation and decentralisation.Originality/valueThis study contributes to knowledge through an in-depth investigation of the internal process of e-commerce implementation in franchise networks from both franchisor and franchisee perspectives.

scholarly journals Disclosure of Social-Economic Value in the Social Enterprise. Stimuli from an Italian Multiple Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 53
Author(s):  
Antonietta Cosentino
Keyword(s):  
Economic System ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Social Value ◽  
The Social ◽  
Multiple Case

The growing interest in the financial, social and environmental sustainability of all organizations as a whole, as well as the growing sentiment for their responsibility towards the community, lead organizations to face the challenge of evaluating and communicating their non-financial performance through the social accounting. The issue assumes a peculiar meaning within social enterprises (SEs) aimed at pursuing the general interest. In these organizations, the disclosure of the value created for both internal and social stakeholder raises to rank of survival condition because the development, reputation and credibility of the SEs are closely linked to the institution's ability to reach and communicate externally the social value created. This work aims to highlight the peculiar resources of the SEs and demonstrate that, in most cases, they allow SEs to achieve financial sustainability. Social and economic value will be assessed and the share of income that cannot be distributed, regardless of the relevant regulatory provisions, will be emphasized. To achieve these goals, a multiple case study is used to measure the value added distributed to internal and external stakeholders by adapting Mook model to SEs. The results show that volunteering and donations contribute not only to the social value generated by SEs but to their economic sustainability as well, being considered as the engine of development of the economic system as a whole. This paper contributes to the literature by focusing on the contribution of liberalities and volunteering to consolidate the financial structure of the SE and to development of the economic system as a whole.

The dynamics of SME growth processes and the role of enabling constraints: an evidence-based theoretical framework

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Gancarczyk ◽  
Joerg Freiling ◽  
Jacek Gancarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Growth Process ◽  
High Growth ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Growth Processes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Theoretical Contribution ◽  
Multiple Case

PurposeThis paper aims to explain the dynamics of entrepreneurial decisions and actions (D&As) in the small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) growth process. The study focuses on the changing portfolio and relationship governance and captures these dynamics by using the concept of “enabling constraints” (ECs).Design/methodology/approachIn-depth, long-term and multiple-case study method was adopted based on six high-growth SMEs. Pattern-matching and alternative template approach formed a basis for developing a research framework, further corroborated and advanced in the empirical study.FindingsThe research provides empirical evidence of ECs as entrepreneurial perceptions that both limit (constrain) the range of accessible options and facilitate (enable) new opportunities. This study’s results point to how owner-managers' judgments about growth motives and rationales constrain their choices and how they enable new directions, acknowledging the changing context.Originality/valueThis work contributes to the research on SME growth processes by specifying their dynamics in terms of a creative mutual causality. Here, D&As stem from entrepreneurs' perceptions that are affected by the context, with the latter also shaped by prior decisions and actions. This theoretical contribution has been synthesized in the form of a framework of ECs in the SME growth process with related propositions.

The Members Engagement of Health-Oriented Brand Communities in Iranian Social Networks: Developing Suitable Content Strategy

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kianoush Nazari Ameleh ◽  
Pejman Jafari ◽  
Farhad Ghaffari
Keyword(s):  
Case Study Method ◽  
Consumer Engagement ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Brand Communities ◽  
Health Clinics ◽  
Meaningful Relationship ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Content Strategy ◽  
Tone Of Voice

Introduction: Creating engagement with generated content has become a major challenge for health-oriented brand communities. Therefore, the present study seeks to fully understand the brand - consumer and consumerconsumer engagement with the content generated by the Instagram social network health clinics. Method The present study was conducted in two steps. In the first step, data was collected by interviewing nine native experts and a review of previous studies. And designed research model with the axial, open, and selective coding. In the second step, with the Nethnography method, 1572 posts of Instagram 8 health clinics were coded for 1 year period and analyzed by SPSS using multiple variance analysis and correlation tests. In general, the present study was conducted as a multiple case study method. Results: 95% confidence level there is a meaningful relationship between content type, hashtag, content agility (except saved post and discovery percentage), content day (except discovery percentage and reach), content context (except profile visit and percentage discovery) and tone of voice (except like, impression, discovery percentage and new follower) with brand-consumer engagement and also between the content type, content day, content context, content agility (except mention), tone of voice (except comment) and hashtag (except mention) with consumer-consumer engagement. Conclusion: In order to creating engagement, we must raise brand-consumer and consumer-consumer engagement, this requires the production of appropriate content.

Determining strategic shifts between codification and personalization in operational environments

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna Venkitachalam ◽  
Hugh Willmott
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Size ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Education ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Operating Environments ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Use Of Knowledge

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to indicate that managers responsible for decision making often have a limited appreciation of strategic shifts between codification and personalization of knowledge in different operational environments. This study is motivated by a concern to illuminate the influence of diverse business environments in the shift between strategies of knowledge in organizations. Design/methodology/approach – A qualitative multiple case-study method was adopted to research four case organizations drawn from multiple industries – manufacturing, research, education and consulting – that are positioned within contrasting operating environments (i.e. local, national, international and multinational, respectively). Findings – Results from the case studies suggest that four factors condition shifts between codification and personalization strategies in different operational environments that are of critical significance for the effective use of knowledge in organizations. The authors have also found that strategic shifts between codification and personalization are continuous and emergent. Originality/value – The study suggests that the combination of multi-operational types and four elements (i.e. competition, organizational size, organizational structure and information technology) are highly relevant for determining the shifts between codification and personalization strategies in organizations.

Perceptions on self-regulation and transaction friendliness relevant to smart contracting

2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 286-308
Author(s):  
Maria Claudia Solarte Vasquez ◽  
Mait Rungi ◽  
Katrin Merike Nyman-Metcalf
Keyword(s):  
Design Research ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Private Governance ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Mixed Approach

PurposeThis paper aims to report on signs of public awareness and empowerment among the general public that are presumed to determine the viability of the smart contracting (SC) approach and identifies prevailing concerns regarding individual transactional experiences.Design/methodology/approachA mixed approach was followed to explore perceptions of self-regulation and transaction friendliness by using an interpretative multiple case study method and by presenting a descriptive summative analysis of the data.FindingsOn self-regulation, the study reveals spread awareness, empowerment, contractual competences and responsibility. Regarding transaction friendliness, subject matter influences transaction experiences the most, and trust and engagement are the most problematic factors. The findings support the viability of SC, endorsing the application of proactive perspectives in legal and managerial practice.Research limitations/implicationsThe study confirms the foundational assumptions of SC, identifies key transactional issues that should be further addressed to improve the functionality of digital trade environments and contributes to the consolidation of the legal design research field on transaction usability.Practical implicationsThe findings point to the viability of SC. Organizations and practitioners are given indications on transaction upgrade priorities and invited to adopt and help disseminate the proposal.Social implicationsThe expansion of a collaborative transactional culture can reduce legal disputes, improving the legal environment of business and strengthening private governance regulatory models.Originality/valueThis is the first empirical study on the viability conditions of the SC-approach, identifying transactional usability testing and intervention priorities.

Talent acquisition in startups in India: the role of social capital

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kumar Mukul ◽  
Gordhan K. Saini
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Industry Standards ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Talent Acquisition

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the talent acquisition practices adopted by startups and understand how small entrepreneurs leverage social capital to address the talent acquisition challenges faced by them, and; identify some of the unique parameters adopted by startups in talent acquisition. Design/methodology/approach This study uses a multiple case study method to explore the talent acquisition practices in startups in India. The study included six case studies on startups in Hubli city of North Karnataka in India. Findings This paper finds that startups (especially in smaller cities) face challenges such as lower quality of talent pool, absence of a brand name, inability to provide competitive salary and other benefits as per industry standards and locational disadvantages in talent acquisition. Thus, entrepreneurs leverage their social capital for talent acquisition by handpicking talent on the basis of familiarity or credible networks and recommendations. Incubation centres provide institutionalized sources of social capital to help them attract good talent. This study finds that employee-culture fit and trust play important role in acquiring talent in startups. Practical implications The study has implications for startup entrepreneurs, recruitment service providers, incubation centres, trainers, policymakers, etc. The study provides useful insights to the startups with regard to their recruitment practices. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature in the domains of talent acquisition, startups and social capital by describing hiring challenges faced by startups and exploring the mechanisms used by them in overcoming such challenges.

Gastronomy tourism through tea and coffee: travellers’ museum experience

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faruk Seyitoğlu ◽  
Eda Alphan
Keyword(s):  
Data Gathering ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Negative Experiences ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tour Guides ◽  
The World ◽  
Shopping Experience ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Museum Experience

Purpose The main aim of the present research is to investigate the tea and coffee experience of travellers around the world and clutch the dimensions of tea and coffee museum experience. Design/methodology/approach Travellers who had experienced tea and coffee museums were purposefully selected as a sample group for the study. As tea and coffee museums that are benefiting from user-generated content (UGC) are limited, a qualitative multiple case study method has been chosen to enrich more comments and obtain more data. For the data gathering, as a UGC platform, TripAdvisor was benefited. Findings According to an inductive content analysis of reviews, the model of dimensions of tea and coffee museum experience that consist of nine main categories revealed: educational experience, authentic experience, memorable experience, participatory experience, shopping experience, atmosphere, facilities, employees and tour guides and negative experiences (negative staff attitudes and skills, lack of foreign language explanations and cleanliness). Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the tea and coffee museum experience of travellers around the world. It contributes to the gastronomy literature by providing the dimensions of the tea and coffee museum experience.

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