scholarly journals Adapting through learning and knowledge acquisition: the cases of four global family firms

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 274-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Seng Kok
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Future Events

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to investigate the importance of knowledge as a tool for adaptation and competitive advantage through qualitative research, exploring the cases of four global family firms; and second, to develop a theoretical framework based on the knowledge-based view (KBV) of the firm to facilitate understanding of learning and knowledge acquisition among family firms. Design/methodology/approach This investigation focusses on the cases of four family firms, two operating in a developed (Australia), and two in an emerging economy (Uruguay). In-depth, face-to-face interviews were conducted with firm owners, co-owners and one manager. Findings Regardless of firms’ operating environment (OECD, emerging economy), similar outcomes were revealed. Indeed, firm management’s ability to gather, contextualise and synthesise knowledge, including tacit knowledge, emerged as crucial to adapt to new challenges in their business environment. Several tenets of the KBV emerged, including those associated with knowledge to solve emerging problems, specialisation through knowledge acquisition and applying specialised knowledge to produce. Importantly, firms’ ability to anticipate future events through tacit or new knowledge acquisition became evident. Originality/value The study makes two key contributions that represent originality and value. First, the presented theoretical framework facilitates understanding of various dimensions of knowledge, their resulting influence on firms’ preparedness to adapt to events in their business environment, and potential implications on their competitive advantage. Second, by qualitatively examining the participating family firms, the study addresses a recognised research gap, notably, that research investigating this group has been predominantly quantitative.

scholarly journals Micro enterprises, self-efficacy and knowledge acquisition: evidence from Greece and Spain

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 419-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Seng Kok ◽  
Nikolaos Sakellarios ◽  
Seamus O’Brien
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Social Cognitive ◽  
Explicit Knowledge ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Theory Of The Firm ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Knowledge Based

Purpose The purpose of this exploratory study is to investigate the significance of self-efficacy and knowledge acquisition among micro businesses operating in challenging economic environments. The study uses social cognitive theory (SCT) and the knowledge-based theory of the firm (KBTF), and it proposes a refinement of these theoretical frameworks in the context of the study. Design/methodology/approach A case method was chosen, and face-to-face interviews with 14 owners of firms in island and rural regions of Greece and Spain were conducted. Findings Content analysis identified the importance of self-efficacy, primarily illustrated by entrepreneurs’ determination and self-motivation, propensity to take risks and ability to anticipate consequences of their actions. Acquisition and accumulation of explicit knowledge, particularly through generational or mentoring processes, and subsequent wealth of tacit knowledge, also emerged as very significant in preparing and guiding entrepreneurs. Various links between the adopted theories and findings emerged, particularly regarding forethought, vicarious learning (SCT) and specialisation in knowledge acquisition (KBTF). Originality/value The proposed theoretical refinement based on the SCT and KBTF paradigms allows for a more rigorous, in-depth reflection on the links between cognitive elements present in the participating micro entrepreneurs and knowledge-based attributes on their ability to increase organisational resilience. The study also contributes toward the micro business literature and addresses a knowledge gap, particularly, in that contemporary research has not explored entrepreneurial motivations among small firm entrepreneurs. Finally, the practical implications emerging from the findings provide a platform for various stakeholders (associations, government agencies) to appreciate and support entrepreneurs’ needs, notably, of acquiring, increasing and sharing knowledge.

scholarly journals The family business, adversity and change: A dynamic capabilities and knowledge-based approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Seng Kok ◽  
Michelle O’Shea
Keyword(s):  
Family Business ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Capabilities Approach ◽  
Research Gaps ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
The Family

While the growth of family business (FB) research is undisputable, knowledge gaps have been recognized, notably, regarding the lack of a strategic management theory, and a predominance of quantitative over qualitative methods when researchers examine FBs. This study seeks to address these research gaps. First, the study proposes a framework based on the knowledge-based view framework and the dynamic capabilities approach to examine adaptation to adversity and to a changing business environment through the case of Hawkshead Relish Company, a family firm operating in the United Kingdom. Second, it employs a qualitative approach. Face-to-face interviews, on-site observations and archival information of the firm helped reveal the association between dynamic capabilities, knowledge acquisition, networking and innovation. Sensing, seizing and transforming were manifested within and through the organization’s strategy and practice. Overall, the framework emphasizes how the above associations are applicable to family firms when adapting to adversity and change.

Knowledge acquisition via internet-enabled platforms

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 74-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charmaine Glavas ◽  
Shane Mathews ◽  
Rebekah Russell-Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
International Business ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Multiple Case ◽  
Study Methodology ◽  
Flow Of Information

Purpose Technology has profoundly transformed the international business environment, particularly regarding the flow of information and the way in which knowledge is acquired and shared. Yet, the extent of this transformation is still underappreciated. The purpose of this paper is to examine how small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) owner/founders acquire and utilize knowledge for internationalization via internet-enabled platforms. Design/methodology/approach The empirical analysis draws on multiple case study methodology to examine 13 Australian SME owner/founders and the knowledge they acquire from utilization of internet-enabled platforms. Findings The analysis reveals four differing types of internet-enabled experiences: “technical internet-enabled experiences,” “operational internet-enabled experiences,” “functional internet-enabled experiences,” and “immersive internet-enabled experiences.” The findings indicate that internet-enabled experiences can generate both explicit and tacit forms of knowledge for the pre, early and later phases of internationalization. Practical implications The findings provide a structured approach by allowing SMEs to “plot” themselves against the classification of internet-enabled experiences to denote their level of technological involvement, and for discerning the types of knowledge that can be acquired. The findings are particularly helpful for owner/founders, highlighting that internet-enabled platforms are affecting the ways in which knowledge can be acquired and applied to international businesses processes. Originality/value The findings extend the conventional notion of knowledge acquisition for international business by highlighting how information and knowledge can be acquired via internet-enabled platforms. The findings lay the necessary groundwork for building an evidence base and theoretically extending the concept of knowledge acquisition via internet-enabled platforms.

Developing a model for supply chain agility and innovativeness to enhance firms’ competitive advantage

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (7) ◽  
pp. 1511-1534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Jou Chen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Dynamic Capabilities ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supply Chain Agility ◽  
It Integration ◽  
The Impact

Purpose Developing agility and innovativeness as dynamic capabilities are important for firms to sustain their competitive advantage in today’s global economy. The purpose of this paper is to develop and empirically test a framework to investigate how the supply chain agility and innovativeness are achieved through IT integration and trust in members of supply chain and how these, in turn, can enhance firms’ competitive advantage. Design/methodology/approach This research employs a survey method and data are collected from senior managers working in the supply chain or IT area. The model and hypotheses are tested utilizing data from 204 usable Taiwan manufacturing firms via structural equations modeling methodology. Findings The study demonstrates that both IT integration and trust in supply chain members significantly enhance supply chain agility and innovativeness, which in turn positively affect firm’s competitive advantage. The results indicate that IT integration and trust are antecedents and major joint partnership resources for improving supply chain agility and innovativeness. Research limitations/implications Data are collected from manufacturing industry in Taiwan and single respondent from each firm, the generalizability of current findings to other industries or countries should require additional investigation. Practical implications The study suggests that a firm should focus on IT integration and trust in supply chain members to achieve supply chain agility and innovativeness. To take advantage of supply chain agility and innovativeness, through maximizing firm’s competitive advantage, firms should continually adapt to the fast changing business environment and search for creative ways to satisfy new market needs. Originality/value Given the attention paid to supply chain agility and innovativeness in terms of importance to responding to business uncertainty and competitiveness, and more recently, as important capabilities in managing supply chain management, this paper investigates how IT integration and trust can contribute to supply chain agility and innovativeness. Provide evidence regarding the impact of IT integration and trust on agility of supply chains, innovativeness and competitive advantage.

Knowledge acquisition efficiency, strategic renewal frequency and firm performance in high velocity environments

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (9) ◽  
pp. 2035-2055
Author(s):  
Kilho Shin ◽  
Liliana Pérez-Nordtvedt
Keyword(s):  
Data Collection ◽  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
High Velocity ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Strategic Renewal ◽  
South Korean ◽  
Site Survey ◽  
Data Collection Process

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate what type of knowledge enhances the frequency of strategic renewal for organizations operating in high velocity environments. It also investigates whether strategic renewal frequency is beneficial, rather than harmful in such environments. Design/methodology/approach The study followed a two-step data collection process involving pilot interviews and an on-site survey data collection procedure. The authors first conducted face-to-face pilot interviews with 16 fashion retailers lasting 30 min to 2 h. They then tested their hypotheses by using a sample of 152 South Korean fashion retailers, as the fashion industry is a prototypical high velocity environment. Findings Firms that have a higher rate of strategic renewal frequency outperform those with a lower one. Moreover, the frequency of strategic renewal mitigates the ill effects of lack of legitimacy not imbued by a franchisor’s backing. Finally, firms can increase the frequency of their strategic renewal efforts by accessing knowledge from their main customers more efficiently. Originality/value The results of this study provide a refined picture of the role of knowledge acquisition efficiency and strategic renewal frequency in the pursuit of competitive advantage in high velocity environments.

Knowledge transfer in family business successions

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Britta Boyd ◽  
Susanne Royer ◽  
Rong Pei ◽  
Xiaolei Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Family Business ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Family Businesses ◽  
Theory And Practice ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Business Environments ◽  
Theoretical Reasoning

Purpose – Knowledge often is the fundament for strategic competitive advantage. Thus, it is highly relevant to understand better how knowledge is transferred from one generation to the next in family businesses. The purpose of this paper is to link the competitive advantage realisation in family businesses to the success of transferring strategically valuable knowledge in different business environments to the next generation. Design/methodology/approach – Building on the contingency model of family business succession (Royer et al., 2008) knowledge transfer in family businesses from different cultures is investigated in this paper. From a resource-oriented and transaction cost inspired perspective two family businesses with a similar industry background from China and Europe are compared regarding knowledge transfer in the context of family firm succession taking into account the respective transaction atmosphere. Findings – Different successions for two long-lived family firms are illustrated in a systematic fashion: based on the theoretical elements suggested both cases are described to get insights into the usefulness of the theoretical reasoning developed. On the basis of these, the cases are compared with each other and conclusions for both cases are drawn. Implications for theory and practice as well as avenues for future research are sketched. Originality/value – The focus of the current study is to gain more insight into long-lived family businesses by comparing two cases over a period of more than 200 years with regard to strategically relevant resources as well as the underlying transaction atmospheres. Implications for family firms depending on the resource types and transaction atmosphere are discussed.

Family firms, family generation and performance: evidence from an emerging economy

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Badrul Muttakin ◽  
Arifur Khan ◽  
Nava Subramaniam
Keyword(s):  
Firm Performance ◽  
Family Firms ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Family Ownership ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Generation Family ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Better Than

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of family ownership on firm performance. In particular the authors investigate whether family firms outperform non-family firms and whether first generation family firms perform better than second generation family firms in an emerging economy using Bangladesh as a case. Design/methodology/approach – This study uses a data set of 141 listed Bangladeshi non-financial companies for the period 2005-2009. The methodology is based on multivariate regression analysis. Findings – The result shows that family firms perform better than their non-family counterparts. The authors also find that family ownership has a positive impact on firm performance. The analysis further reveals intergenerational differences where family firms and performance are associated positively only when founder members act as CEOs or chairmen. However, when descendents serve as CEOs or chairmen family firms are associated with poorer firm performance. Originality/value – The authors extend the findings of previous studies that investigate the family ownership and firm performance relationship in developed economy settings, but neglected emerging economies. The study also informs the literature about the intergenerational impact of family firms on performance in an emerging market.

scholarly journals INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL AS STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE OF THE ORGANIZATION

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 1545-1551
Author(s):  
Svetlana Trajković
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Positive Relationship ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Knowledge Based Economy ◽  
Long Run ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
The World

The ability to manage knowledge becomes an increasingly important strategic activity in today's so-called. knowledge economy. To prioritize the preservation and improvement of intellectual capital, creating and disseminating knowledge within a modern organization, is becoming an increasingly decisive factor in achieving and maintaining its competitive advantage. The only viable advantage of a modern organization comes from what the company knows and how effectively is used what it knows and how quickly it acquires and uses new knowledge. There is a positive relationship between the intellectual capital and the performance of an organization. Intellectual capital is in correlation with the organization's future performance, and the growth rate of intellectual capital is in a positive relationship with the organization's performance, while the contribution of intellectual capital to improving the organization's performance varies, and is the result of strategic management of the organization itself. In this context, only the learning organization, which is constantly looking for new, innovated and / or enhanced knowledge in the field of activity, has the conditions, chances and opportunities to move forward in the real world. In the modern world, the world of a knowledge-based economy, a competitive advantage that is sustainable on the narrow paths, can only be achieved if the organization takes a lasting commitment to learn, invest in people and their intellectual potential, to support the need of people to continuously explore, learn and accept new, more complete and applicable knowledge. Regarding this, investing in the intellectual capital in the short term may be a significant cost to the organization, but in the long run, any investment in the development of intellectual capital - new knowledge - both scientific, general theoretical, and practically applicable will have a multiplier positive effect on the future business of the organization. The experience of organizations from the world of work has unambiguously confirmed this. Namely, companies that base their business on exactly human cognitive and scientific potentials have the advantage, that is, the world's leading companies are in terms of profit. First of all, these are companies in the field of low-tech technologies, and they are not quite necessary because they are notorious. But, from the experience of such organizations, they can and / or have to learn all the organizations they intend to succeed in a modern, very turbulent business environment. This is especially important for those organizations that intend to be leaders in an area or branch of business. Today, leadership is not realized solely on the basis of the number of pieces produced by a product or on the basis of the number of transactions with the environment, on the contrary, the leader is the organization of work that is imposed as an organization where the intellectual, and parallel with it, also the human capital prevails. Because, it is known, also in practice, that only when people feel in a certain organization friendly, only then do they give their maximum contribution. Only in conditions of complete freedom, some seemingly lucid ideas become "full of hits" in realizing and meeting the needs of the market and people who market it.

scholarly journals The relationship between investments in lean practices and operational performance

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 406-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Onofrei ◽  
Jasna Prester ◽  
Brian Fynes ◽  
Paul Humphreys ◽  
Frank Wiengarten
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Operational Performance ◽  
Complex Relationship ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Synergetic Effects ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Lean Practices

PurposePrior research has shown that operational intellectual capital (OIC) and investments in lean practices (ILP) lead to better operational performance. However, there have been no empirical studies on the synergetic effects between OIC components and ILP. More specifically, the question – can the efficacy of ILP be increased through OIC? – has not been studied. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to report the empirical results of potential synergetic effects between OIC, as a knowledge-based resource, and ILP.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical data used for this study were drawn from the fifth round of the Global Manufacturing Research Group survey project (with data collected from 528 manufacturing plants). The hypotheses are empirically tested using three ordinary least square (OLS) models.FindingsThe authors’ findings highlight the importance of leveraging a system of complementary knowledge-based resources (OIC dimensions) and addresses the need for the reformulation of lean theory in terms of the emergent knowledge-based view of the firm. The results facilitate greater understanding of the complex relationship between ILP and operational performance. Building on the contribution of Menoret al.(2007), the authors argue that OIC represents a strategic knowledge-based resource that is valuable, hard to imitate or substitute and, when leveraged effectively, generates superior operational and competitive advantage.Practical implicationsFrom a managerial standpoint, this study provides guidelines for managers on how to leverage OIC to enhance the efficacy of ILP. The authors argue that firms consider investing in OIC to increase the return from ILP, which, in turn, will enhance their operational performance and provide competitive advantage. The authors findings provide strong evidence of the importance of human, social and structural capital to enhance the efficacy of ILP.Originality/valueThis is the first research paper that extends the application of the intellectual capital theory in lean literature, and argues that the OIC contributes to the efficacy of ILP. The analysis facilitates greater understanding of the complex relationship between OIC dimensions, ILP and operational performance.

How competitiveness factors propel SMEs to achieve competitive advantage?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 315-338
Author(s):  
Shirzad Farhikhteh ◽  
Ali Kazemi ◽  
Arash Shahin ◽  
Majid Mohammad Shafiee
Keyword(s):  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Medical Device ◽  
Sales Force ◽  
Sales Promotion ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Single Use ◽  
Stone Cutting

Purpose This paper aims to assess the contribution of competitiveness factors in how small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) would access competitive advantage (CA) by focussing on industry structure and devise a conceptual model thereof. Design/methodology/approach The enterprises from three industries consisting of knowledge-based, single-use medical device producers and construction stone cutting each with different structures were assessed. The method is qualitative and quantitative where grounded theory and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) are applied. The initial survey involves 36 deep semi-structured interviews with some of the top managers of each of the three selected industries and a questionnaire distributed among 158 individuals with 46 structured questions. Findings The findings indicate that the micro-competitiveness factors are more contributive in achieving CA than macro factors as follows: in knowledge-based enterprises, customer relationship management (CRM), goods/services features and knowledge management are the most important variables. As to single-use medical device production industry, the sales force, sales promotion, and CRM are the most effective factors. Regarding construction stone-cutting industry, quality of the stone, sales promotion, and advertisement play the same role. The results of the EFA indicate that the three impressive factors, including capabilities of the enterprises, strategies of the enterprises and macro factors, are the extracted factors. Practical implications The findings here would assist SMEs’ managers in identifying the most essential factors in accessing CA. Originality/value The innovation of this study is that although there exist many studies on SMEs and their CAs, this study seeks the models of CA among SMEs in industries with different structures.

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