The antecedents of relational capital in key exporter-importer relationships

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Miocevic

Purpose – During their process of going international, small and medium-sized manufacturing firms seek to establish long-term relationships with key importers in order to minimize the risks of doing business in a foreign market. In the process of establishing long-term relationships, exporters aim to create relational capital with key importers. Yet, the body of international marketing literature that addresses the importance of relational capital in exporter-importer (E-I) relationships is still underdeveloped. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of relational norms on relational capital in key E-I relationships under the moderating influence of formal and informal institutional distance. The study’s conceptual framework was developed by integrating relational exchange and institutional theories. Design/methodology/approach – The study was carried out by using a survey methodology. Data were obtained by questionnaire from a sample of 122 small and medium-sized exporters from the manufacturing industry in Croatia. In order to test the hypotheses, the ordinary least squares technique was employed. Findings – The findings support the hypotheses, implying that the development of relational capital requires relational efforts in terms of reliance and relational bonding norms. Additionally, the empirical data suggest that the dimensions of formal and informal institutional distance significantly moderate the relationships between relational norms and relational capital. Originality/value – The value-added of this study is embedded within the theoretical framing and empirical testing of the antecedents of relational capital in key E-I relationships in the context of the institutional distance between partners, which has been neglected by previous studies in the field.

2017 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 937-950 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minna Jukka ◽  
Tatiana Andreeva ◽  
Kirsimarja Blomqvist ◽  
Kaisu Puumalainen

Purpose This study aims to examine relational norms in cross-cultural business settings. Cross-cultural business partners may differ in their normative orientations toward relational exchange. Owing to the high extent of international trade, there is a need for developing a more nuanced understanding of cross-cultural relational exchange. Design/methodology/approach The repertory grid method was used to elicit the personal constructs characterizing the perceptions of business-to-business (B2B) relational exchange for 22 Russian and Finnish managers. These items were further categorized into categories of relational elements drawn from relational exchange literature using a content analysis. Then, the category means of scored importance and scored evaluations of domestic and foreign business partners were tested statistically. Findings Relational norms of flexibility, information exchange, long-term orientation, mutuality and solidarity were equally important to both Russian and Finnish managers. The importance of a business partner’s ability seems to be culturally dependent. Sharing the same cultural background might have an adverse effect when evaluating poorly functioning business relations. Research limitations/implications The validity of these findings is limited to this context and material. Future research should repeat cross-cultural comparisons of the relational norms with more data and other nationalities. Practical implications Firms should focus on long-term orientation and mutual targets to form well-functioning cross-cultural business relationships. Originality/value This study provides new knowledge into B2B marketing literature by revealing the role of relational norms, business partner’s ability and shared cultural background on functionality of cross-cultural business relations. It also demonstrates the use of the repertory grid method in studying perceptions of relational norms.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-430
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Kurczewska ◽  
Michał Mackiewicz

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify human capital factors that pertain both to setting up and successfully running a business. To achieve this objective, the authors apply and extend the theory of career choice offered by Lazear (2005) that explains individual selection into entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approachThe authors hypothesise that individuals with broader educational and professional backgrounds are more likely to start a business and are more likely to run a business in the long term. The authors tested the hypotheses using unique data from 800 current entrepreneurs, 800 employees who were previously entrepreneurs and 842 employees with no entrepreneurial experience, by means of a logit regression with robust standard errors and extensive robustness checks.FindingsThe authors empirically show that individuals with more diverse educational and professional backgrounds tend to have both greater chances of starting a company, as well as a higher probability of entrepreneurial success. Surprisingly, having managerial experience proved to exert a negative influence on the likelihood of starting a business while having an insignificant impact on the odds of entrepreneurial success.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings are informative for those planning or pursuing an entrepreneurial career, but they are also relevant for the purpose of entrepreneurship education.Originality/valueThe author's extend the body of research supporting Lazear's (2005) theory by showing that broad education and professional experience not only contribute to a higher propensity to start a company but they are also success factors in business per se.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ömer Esen ◽  
Gamze Yıldız Seren

PurposeThis study aims to empirically examine the impact of gender-based inequalities in both education and employment on economic performance using the dataset of Turkey for the period 1975–2018.Design/methodology/approachThis study employs Johansen cointegration tests to analyze the existence of a long-term relation among variables. Furthermore, dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) and fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) estimation methods are performed to determine the long-run coefficients.FindingsThe findings from the Johansen cointegration analysis confirm that there is a long-term cointegration relation between variables. Moreover, DOLS and FMOLS results reveal that improvements in gender equality in both education and employment have a strong and significant impact on real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in the long term.Originality/valueThe authors expect that this study will make remarkable contributions to the future academic studies and policy implementation, as it examines the relation among the variables by including the school life expectancy from primary to tertiary based on the gender parity index (GPI), the gross enrollment ratio from primary to tertiary based on GPI and the ratio of female to male labor force participation (FMLFP) rate.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-Ting Lin ◽  
Ying-Yu Chen ◽  
David Ahlstrom ◽  
Linda C. Wang

Purpose This paper aims to use the institutional and information-processing perspectives to explore their association with between internationalization and the Penrose effect phenomenon for business groups (BGs). Design/methodology/approach The authors use ordinary least squares regression models to test arguments about data pertaining to 101 Taiwanese BGs’ foreign direct investments. Findings The results indicate that greater levels of depth and scope in the process of internationalization during one period may negatively affect rates of growth in the following period. The results further demonstrate that institutional distance moderates the relationship. Research limitations/implications Using the perspective of information-processing demands, the authors provide alternate explanations regarding the relationship between the process of internationalization (depth, scope and rhythm) and the Penrose effect. Originality/value Owners and managers should focus on both the depth and the scope of internationalization. BGs are likely to incur high dynamic adjustment costs, which then limit the rate of BGs’ growth. Managers should balance international market uncertainty with current managerial resources when determining how deeply and broadly to expand internationally and where to enter. In addition, as recent major panel studies suggest, management capabilities and practices can improve significantly, which has a positive effect on firm growth and performance. This does require the careful development and acquisition of the managerial resources needed for internationalization.


2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bang-Ning Hwang ◽  
Tsai-Ti Chen ◽  
James T. Lin

Purpose – The purpose of this study was to identify the key third-party logistics (3PL) selection criteria for the integrated circuit (IC) manufacturing industry in Taiwan. The IC manufacturing industry seeks global sourcing, and is facing increasing pressure due to fierce market competition. More than a cost reduction strategy, 3PL is a strategic tool for IC manufacturers to gain a competitive advantage in a global supply chain complex. Design/methodology/approach – The triangulation method that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches was used in the study. The qualitative approach of focus group discussions was adopted to establish the decision framework, and the quantitative approach of the analytic hierarchy process was used to explore the relative importance of the 3PL selection criteria. Finally, an in-depth proof-by-example interview was undertaken to provide an insightful interpretation of the research results. Findings – The research shows that performance is the most important criterion group, followed by cost, service, quality assurance, intangible and information technology. At the detailed sub-criteria level, document accuracy, problem-solving capability, continuous cost reduction, value-added services and associated cost control capability are the top five criteria. Research limitations/implications – This study focused on the IC manufacturing sector in Taiwan. Multi-country and multi-industry studies are recommended to help further validate and generalise the research findings. Originality/value – Due to its application of triangulation, this study is a pioneering work on the 3PL selection criteria in a high-tech manufacturing industry. Furthermore, the value of this research is that it enhances the body of knowledge of 3PL selection by identifying certain emerging selection criteria, it could serve as a guideline for IC manufacturers in planning logistics outsourcing actions and it could significantly contribute to the efforts of 3PL providers in evaluating whether they comply with customer needs and adhere to core competency development.


2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 320-341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dario Miocevic ◽  
Robert E. Morgan

Purpose The academic inquiry of operational capabilities (OCs) has claimed focal interest in mainstream strategy research. Recent theoretical advances suggest these capabilities are a fundamental trigger to the identification and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities. However, the extant literature has been, at best, partial with regard to empirical insights that integrate OCs with entrepreneurial opportunities. Addressing this theoretical lacuna from the standpoint of organisational learning theory, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the interplay between OCs and entrepreneurial opportunities and their overall impact on exporting SME’s growth. Design/methodology/approach To realise the empirical aims a descriptive research design employing a survey methodology was used. The authors are generated data from a sample of 117 exporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Croatia. Ordinary least squares regression was employed to test the conceptual model and five derived hypotheses. Findings The findings demonstrate that market-sensing capabilities are vital in enhancing exporting SME’s opportunity recognition capacity and the rate of international opportunity exploitation that leads to increased firm growth. Also, study findings show that the link between the increased rate of international opportunity exploitation contributes more to the growth when exporting SMEs have highly developed adaptive and innovation capabilities. Research limitations/implications This study brings to surface some novel insights about how exporting SMEs can better design their export marketing strategy. The results suggest, OCs occupy key role in the exporting SMEs international venturing efforts by delivering higher growth. Originality/value The study contributes to the export marketing strategy field by offering empirical evidence that both capability and opportunity-based views should be assessed simultaneously in explaining exporting SME’s competitiveness. Finally, we offer valuable theoretical and practical implications as well as avenues for further research that should extend our knowledge in the field.


Author(s):  
Shubham Sharma ◽  
Usha Lenka

Purpose Organizational unlearning is easier said than done. Organizations are usually not cognizant of the ripe time to start questioning and discarding their existing paradigms and past success formulas. This paper aims to recommend the use of a financial metric, i.e. value-added statement, as a trigger to unlearning in organizations. Design/methodology/approach This paper uses a review of existing literature on organizational unlearning to highlight that although prescriptive studies on unlearning are abundant, “how” and “when” organizations should contemplate and discard the obsolete knowledge and routines is still inconspicuous. Findings Value-added statement is an adequate reporting measure that incorporates the contribution of organization toward not only its shareholders but also other stakeholders such as employees, providers of long-term finance, government, and public. It supplements income statement and provides an insight of how organizations are serving its interest groups. A decline in value addition by an organization in a reporting period can serve as a trigger to question the existing practices and break organization’s over-dependence on “one size fits all” approach. Originality/value Unlearning is considered as a means to attain financial performance in an organization. This paper attempts to recommend a financial metric which incorporates the economic, social, and environmental aspects of business, i.e. value-added statement. The rationale for not recommending other financial metrics as a trigger for unlearning is based on grounds of possible manipulation. Moreover, these financial statements are affected by legal, political, and economic context of a nation.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngoc Phu Tran ◽  
Duc Hong Vo

PurposeIn developed countries, banks are perceived to accumulate a higher level of intellectual capital than firms in other sectors. However, this perception has not been considered or tested in the context of an emerging market such as Vietnam, which has one of the most dynamic economies in the Asian region. This study estimates and compares the level of accumulation of intellectual capital and its four components by financial and nonfinancial firms in Vietnam. Furthermore, this study examines the relationship between intellectual capital and its components and the performance of financial and nonfinancial firms.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses data collected from the annual reports of 75 financial and 75 nonfinancial firms in Vietnam from 2011 to 2018. A modified value-added intellectual coefficient model is adopted to measure the level of intellectual capital at firms. Various aspects of intellectual capital are considered, including the efficiency of human capital, structural capital, capital employed and relational capital. In addition, the generalized method of moments is used to ensure the robustness of the findings.FindingsFindings in this study indicate that financial firms in Vietnam have accumulated a higher level of intellectual capital than nonfinancial firms. In addition, intellectual capital contributes positively to financial firms' performance. Three components of intellectual capital – structural capital efficiency, capital employed efficiency and relational capital efficiency – positively affect performance by financial firms.Research limitations/implicationsThis study is limited to financial and nonfinancial firms in Vietnam. Empirical studies in the future should incorporate the efficiency aspects of these types of firms because different industries might have different characteristics, in particular, their current efficiency level, which might cause differences in relation to the accumulation of intellectual capital.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide valuable evidence and implications for executives and policymakers in creating, managing and enhancing intellectual capital within the Vietnamese context, in particular in the financial sector.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical study conducted in the context of Vietnam, with the following two objectives: (1) to measure and compare the level of accumulation of intellectual capital by financial and nonfinancial firms in Vietnam; and (2) to examine the contribution of intellectual capital and its components to the performance by financial and nonfinancial firms in Vietnam.


Subject Economic diversification in Azerbaijan. Significance Speaking at the Asian Development Bank's annual board of governors meeting in Baku in early May, President Ilham Aliyev said low world oil prices had led the government to implement across-the-board cost-cutting measures to balance the budget. While Azerbaijan has always sought to reduce its dependence on the energy sector, both oil and natural gas exports will continue to be the backbone of economic growth, he declared. Diversifying the national economy away from hydrocarbons towards higher value-added industries and services remains the government's long-term key priority. However, it faces multiple structural challenges. Impacts Azerbaijan's exposure to the neighbouring Russian market will be below average. However, it will continue to be affected by its economic crisis, particularly in terms of migrant remittance flows. The government's capital spending cuts will have direct negative consequences for the downstream sector, regarded as a strategic objective.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 345-371
Author(s):  
Deryk Stec

Purpose This paper aims to examine how residues of ancient images have influenced one’s perspectives on management. Increased attention has been given to the absence of bodies within discussions of organisations; however, far less attention has been given to the interplay between organisations and images of one’s body. Design/methodology/approach By comparing the perceived benefits of studying sport (e.g. passion, embodiment and action) with the tensions that existed between athletic performances and an ancient image of the body, this paper draws attention to residuals that exist within discussions of organisations. Findings In a context where an image of the body encouraged moderation, the appropriate levels of heat, and the development of an immaterial and eternal soul, athletic performances, which were physical, extreme, focused on the body and generated excessive heat, were often problematic. These problems are then examined within the literature discussing current issues in management. Research limitations/implications Sport has the potential to facilitate one’s understanding of issues that management, consistent with ancient images of the body, has traditionally neglected (i.e. extremes, passion) and the possibilities of using embodied cognition to enhance our understandings of performance, teams and leading are discussed. Social implications As scientists become increasingly concerned about the long-term consequences of the reduced opportunities for cultural programs (sport, art, music, etc.), revisiting one’s assumptions is increasingly important, especially as athletics and philosophy once shared the same physical space. Originality/value By describing how residues from historical images of the body have influenced the thinking about organizing, this paper highlights the connection between the social and the biological and demonstrates how vestiges from the past influence contemporary discussions.


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