Cultural intelligence of entrepreneurs and international network ties

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 421-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peerayuth Charoensukmongkol

Purpose – This paper aimed to investigate whether the cultural intelligence (CQ) of entrepreneurs is associated with the quality of the relationships firms develop with foreign networks. Design/methodology/approach – The samples include small and medium manufacturing firms in Thailand. Data were collected with a self-administered questionnaire survey. A list of 1,000 firms was randomly selected from the directory of Thai exporters. A total of 129 surveys were returned. Partial least square regression was used to analyze the data. Findings – The results revealed a positive association between the CQ of entrepreneurs and the quality of the relationships that small and medium enterprises (SMEs) had with foreign customers, foreign suppliers and foreign competitors. The quality of the relationships was also associated positively with export performance. However, there was no significant evidence for the role of the quality of relationships with foreign competitors in export performance. Research limitations/implications – The use of cross-sectional data makes it difficult to claim causality between the constructs. Moreover, the CQ and export performance measures that use subjective evaluation may cause bias. The small sample size also limits the generalizability of the results. Practical implications – The results suggested that CQ is a key capability entrepreneurs must develop to conduct business more successfully in foreign markets. Social implications – Because SMEs are considered a key driver of a country’s economic development, CQ training could be an important choice on which the government should focus. Furthermore, as the world economy is more integrated, CQ training can significantly help people improve cross-cultural communication skills which are essential for them to be successful in today’s globalized economy. Originality/value – Despite the increasing popularity of CQ research, evidence for its contribution to the ability of entrepreneurs to develop good relationships with foreign firms is lacking. The main contribution of this study is to bridge this research gap by providing empirical evidence.

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyue Chuan Chong ◽  
Chin Chai Yeow ◽  
Choon Wei Low ◽  
Pei Yew Mah ◽  
Diep Thanh Tung

Purpose Halal products were a norm in the Muslim countries; however, halal food products were not only being consumed by Muslims nowadays. People are concerned about their daily needs, especially their food and spend in this modern society. Customers nowadays are more educated, and all the information can be easily accessed by just a click. Previous literature found that customers are looking for quality products and products that are safer to be consumed. Design/methodology/approach The purpose of this study investigates non-Muslim customers’ intention in consuming halal food products in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Using 321 non-Muslim responses from Klang Valley, partial least square regression was used to examine the factors influencing the customer’s purchase intention on halal products. Findings The results show that product quality, product price, product availability and product safety significantly influence the purchase intention of urban non-Muslim on halal food products. The result implies that product quality is the most significant factor compared with other variables. Originality/value The data and results may contribute to the relevant authority to form a proper plan to improve Malaysia’s halal food items.


2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 1015-1038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarra Berraies

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of the metacognitive, cognitive, motivational and behavioral dimensions of the middle managers’ cultural intelligence (CQ) on firms’ innovation performance in a context of cultural diversity and the mediating role of knowledge sharing in this relationship. The author deepens the analysis by exploring the moderating role of collaborative climate (CC) on the link between CQ and KS. Design/methodology/approach A survey was conducted on 186 foreign middle managers working in Tunisian firms. The data analysis was performed via the partial least square method. Findings The results revealed that middle managers’ metacognitive CQ has a positive effect on KS, which in turn enhances firms’ innovation performance. In this line, KS partially mediates the relationship between metacogntive CQ and innovation performance. Findings also indicate that CC moderates the link between three dimensions of CQ, namely metacognitive, behavioral and motivational CQs and KS. Originality/value The paper sheds lights on the contribution of middle managers’ CQ and the CC within firms to the KS and innovation performance in a context of cultural diversity. At the best of the author’s knowledge, the links among these variables had not been empirically examined, especially involving samples of middle managers. This study offers important insights for managers by providing them with tools to improve KS and firms’ innovation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 225-243
Author(s):  
Md. Nur Alam ◽  
Imtiaz Masroor ◽  
Md. Noor Un Nabi

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to find out whether risk perception can affect rapidity in international market entry. Also, this paper tries to find out whether the decision-making approach, effectuation, can moderate the pathway between risk tolerance and internationalization speed. Design/methodology/approach A hypothetico-deductive methodology has been used to conduct this study. Using partial least square regression, this study tested and proved two developed hypotheses based on a sample of 101 software and IT-enabled services firms in Bangladesh. The sample was selected using non-probability sampling techniques, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed from the extant literature. Findings All of the hypotheses proposed in this study have been accepted. The results show that the effectual approach of decision-making negates the risk perception of the entrepreneur and speeds up the internationalization process of that firm. Research limitations/implications The implications of this study are inherent in the entrepreneurial cognition and decision-making approach (effectuation). This study provides an insight into risk perception and the rapidity of internationalization, which can spur future development in this field. Originality/value Rapidity in internationalization of small- and medium-sized enterprises depends on a significant number of factors, one of which is the decision-making approach. The decision-making approach followed by the firms can have an effect on the speed of internationalization. This paper connects the dots between the rapidity of entry to foreign markets with a cognitive variable, risk perception. This paper developed two hypotheses to measure the relationship between risk perception of the entrepreneurs and the rapidity in international market entry with moderation of the decision-making approach.


2020 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 483-501
Author(s):  
Rajesh Rajaguru ◽  
Roshni Narendran ◽  
Gayathri Rajesh

PurposeSocial loafing is a key inhibitor in group-based student learning and is a key challenge in administering group-based assessments in higher education. This study examines differences in the effects of antecedents of social loafing (disruptive behaviour, social disconnectedness and apathy) on work quality by comparing student-created and instructor-created groups. The study also investigates how group members' efforts to “pick up the slack” of social loafers in the two kinds of groups moderate the effect of antecedents of social loafing on work quality.Design/methodology/approachPost-graduate students from two different sessions of the Marketing Management unit participated in the study: 95 students from session 1 and 90 students from session 2. One session represented student-created groups and the other session represented instructor-created groups. Each group consisted of five students. Partial Least Square (PLS) estimation using SmartPLS was used to assess the direct and interaction effects.FindingsThe results indicate differences in the effects of the antecedents of social loafing such as apathy and disruptive behaviour on work quality for both student-created and instructor-created groups. Social disconnectedness was found to have no significant effect on work quality. Interestingly, the study found significant differences in the effects of “pick up the slack” on the work quality of student-created and instructor-created groups. Members of student-created groups who picked up the slack of social loafers improved the work quality for unit assessment. This effect was not significant for instructor-created groups.Originality/valueExtant literature on social loafing predominantly focusses on its effect on students' work quality and educational achievement. This study contributes to the literature by investigating how the student-created and instructor-created group members' efforts to pick up the slack of social loafers moderate the effects of the antecedents of social loafing on work quality.


Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 286
Author(s):  
Ofélia Anjos ◽  
Ilda Caldeira ◽  
Tiago A. Fernandes ◽  
Soraia Inês Pedro ◽  
Cláudia Vitória ◽  
...  

Near-infrared spectroscopic (NIR) technique was used, for the first time, to predict volatile phenols content, namely guaiacol, 4-methyl-guaiacol, eugenol, syringol, 4-methyl-syringol and 4-allyl-syringol, of aged wine spirits (AWS). This study aimed to develop calibration models for the volatile phenol’s quantification in AWS, by NIR, faster and without sample preparation. Partial least square regression (PLS-R) models were developed with NIR spectra in the near-IR region (12,500–4000 cm−1) and those obtained from GC-FID quantification after liquid-liquid extraction. In the PLS-R developed method, cross-validation with 50% of the samples along a validation test set with 50% of the remaining samples. The final calibration was performed with 100% of the data. PLS-R models with a good accuracy were obtained for guaiacol (r2 = 96.34; RPD = 5.23), 4-methyl-guaiacol (r2 = 96.1; RPD = 5.07), eugenol (r2 = 96.06; RPD = 5.04), syringol (r2 = 97.32; RPD = 6.11), 4-methyl-syringol (r2 = 95.79; RPD = 4.88) and 4-allyl-syringol (r2 = 95.97; RPD = 4.98). These results reveal that NIR is a valuable technique for the quality control of wine spirits and to predict the volatile phenols content, which contributes to the sensory quality of the spirit beverages.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Risoluti ◽  
Giuseppina Gullifa ◽  
Stefano Materazi

In this work, an innovative screening platform based on MicroNIR and chemometrics is proposed for the on-site and contactless monitoring of the quality of milk using simultaneous multicomponent analysis. The novelty of this completely automated tool consists of a miniaturized NIR spectrometer operating in a wireless mode that allows samples to be processed in a rapid and accurate way and to obtain in a single click a comprehensive characterization of the chemical composition of milk. To optimize the platform, milk specimens with different origins and compositions were considered and prediction models were developed by chemometric analysis of the NIR spectra using Partial Least Square regression algorithms. Once calibrated, the platform was used to predict samples acquired in the market and validation was performed by comparing results of the novel platform with those obtained from the chromatographic analysis. Results demonstrated the ability of the platform to differentiate milk as a function of the distribution of fatty acids, providing a rapid and non-destructive method to assess the quality of milk and to avoid food adulteration.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilda Monoarfa ◽  
Agus Rahayu ◽  
Fitranty Adirestuty ◽  
Rizuwan Abu Karim ◽  
Azlin Zanariah Bahtar ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this study is to find out the level of influence of Islamic attributes and pull motivation to the satisfaction of Muslim tourists visiting Indonesia. Furthermore, this study may reveal where variables have a strong influence on the variable satisfaction of Muslim tourists. In addition, this study also wanted to know if Islamic attributes can influence the satisfaction of Muslim tourists with pull motivation as a moderating variable. Design/methodology/approach Using quantitative methods, this study analyzed the results of questionnaires that have been distributed to 200 Muslim tourist respondents who have visited Indonesia. To declare the hypotheses, the collected data were analyzed with structural equation modeling-partial least square using SmartPLS application version 3.2.7. Findings From this study, it was discovered that pull motivation has more effect on the satisfaction of Muslim tourists visiting Indonesia. Other results showed that both Islamic attributes and pull motivation simultaneously affect the satisfaction of Muslim tourists. Furthermore, Islamic attributes can affect pull motivation and pull motivation can also become an intermediary variable in bridging the impact of Islamic attributes on the satisfaction of Muslim tourists. Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study include the relatively small sample used and not yet taking foreign tourists as respondents. Besides that, you can also add several variables to complement this research in the future either as an intervening variable or a mediator variable. Practical implications To increase the satisfaction of Muslim tourists traveling to Indonesia, policymakers in Indonesia must further improve the facilities of the pull motivation aspect such as the cleanliness of tourist attractions, exotic locations and hygienic shopping centers. In addition, aspects of Islamic attributes must also be updated, such as aspects of adequate worship facilities and tourist attractions that apply the concept of halal for Muslims. Originality/value The originality of this study on the pull motivation variable as an intervening variable and adding the Islamic attribute variable in the case of Muslim tourist satisfaction.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 877-891 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojun Fan ◽  
Nanxi Ning ◽  
Nianqi Deng

PurposePrevious studies have considered customers' psychological responses to intelligent retail technology adoption, but have not considered how technology integration systems could promote the relationship between retailers and consumers. Based on the Stimulus–Organism–Response framework, this paper proposes a customer engagement model in a fully intelligent retail environment. The concept of the quality of intelligent experience is constructed from the perspective of customer experience, and the effect of the mechanism of smart retail on the customer engagement relationship is discussed.Design/methodology/approachUsing two surveys, this study analyzes 201 (in study 1) and 321 (in study 2) questionnaires by using structural equation model in partial least square software.FindingsThe analysis shows that the human–machine interaction, intelligent systems and the product content of the quality intelligent experience significantly impact customer engagement on smart retail.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was designed for general retail products, without distinguishing between different product types. Thus, it did not consider the moderating effect of product types.Practical implicationsThe findings enrich the intelligent retail technology field and provide operable guidance to help smart retailers improve customer relations.Originality/valueThis paper proposes a customer engagement model to describe how technology integration systems promote the relationship between retailers and consumers.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Bravo ◽  
Isabel Buil ◽  
Leslie de Chernatony ◽  
Eva Martínez

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to better understand the brand identity management process from the employees’ perspective. Specifically, it explores how the different dimensions of brand identity management influence employees’ attitudinal and behavioural responses. Design/methodology/approach An empirical study was carried out to test the proposed model. The sample consisted of 297 employees in the UK financial services sector. Hypothesis testing was conducted using partial least square regression. Findings Results indicate that effective brand identity management can increase employees’ identification with their organisations. Specifically, the most influential dimension is the employee-client focus. Results also show that organisational identification is a key variable to explain job satisfaction, word-of-mouth and brand citizenship behaviour. Research limitations/implications This study focusses on the UK financial sector. To explore the generalisability of results, replication studies among other sectors and countries would be useful. The cross-sectional nature of the study also limits its causal inference. Practical implications This study shows the importance of brand identity management to foster positive employee attitudes and actions that go beyond their job responsibilities. The model developed may help organisations analyse the impact of managerial actions, monitoring the potential effects of changes in brand identity management amongst employees. Originality/value Although numerous conceptual frameworks highlight the importance of brand identity management, empirical studies in this area are scarce. The current work extends previous research by empirically analysing the effects of the dimensions of brand identity management from the employees’ perspective.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Thierry Delatour ◽  
Florian Becker ◽  
Julius Krause ◽  
Roman Romero ◽  
Robin Gruna ◽  
...  

With the rising trend of consumers being offered by start-up companies portable devices and applications for checking quality of purchased products, it appears of paramount importance to assess the reliability of miniaturized sensors embedded in such devices. Here, eight sensors were assessed for food fraud applications in skimmed milk powder. The performance was evaluated with dry- and wet-blended powders mimicking adulterated materials by addition of either ammonium sulfate, semicarbazide, or cornstarch in the range 0.5–10% of profit. The quality of the spectra was assessed for an adequate identification of the outliers prior to a deep assessment of performance for both non-targeted (soft independent modelling of class analogy, SIMCA) and targeted analyses (partial least square regression with orthogonal signal correction, OPLS). Here, we show that the sensors have generally difficulties in detecting adulterants at ca. 5% supplementation, and often fail in achieving adequate specificity and detection capability. This is a concern as they may mislead future users, particularly consumers, if they are intended to be developed for handheld devices available publicly in smartphone-based applications.


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