scholarly journals The impact of cluster networking on business performance of Croatian wood cluster members

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 39-61
Author(s):  
Ivana Rašić Bakarić

Abstract This paper investigates the link between cluster membership and performance of clustered companies. The object of the study is the Croatian Wood Cluster (CWC). The paper presents the results of a survey of 34 members of the Croatian Wood Cluster operating in wood and furniture industries. The survey was conducted in order to identify and analyse perceptions and attitudes of CWC members towards CWC objectives, activities and performance; the cooperation strength among cluster members and that with the players outside the cluster; the effects of clustering on the operational performance of the clustered SMEs; business and economic setting in Croatia, barriers for the work of the CWC and the relevancy of government policy measures. The empirical results indicate that the economic performance of the clustered companies is significantly predicted by the cooperation with public institutions, financial institutions and professional associations (such as the Agency for Investments and Competitiveness) provided by the CWC and by the access to cluster resources such as horizontal cooperation, fairs, exhibitions etc. Additionally, an access to credit, customers and competitors shows a significant positive effect on finance-based performance of the clustered companies. On the other hand, cooperation among cluster members and cooperation with scientific, high education and research institutions show no significant relationship with the company performance.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-189
Author(s):  
Eva Stichhauerova ◽  
Miroslav Zizka ◽  
Natalie Pelloneova

This article focuses on the impact of clusters on performance in five selected industries. Focused on increasing the competitiveness of regions and enterprises, clusters are currently considered one of the most essential tools of industrial policy. This includes the Czech Republic, where cluster initiatives have been systematically supported since 2004 by operational programmes. The goal of this research was to determine whether cluster organizations have a positive effect on the performance of their member enterprises in various industries. Another goal was to verify the relation between the financial and innovative performance of the member enterprises. The research was carried out on a sample of five clusters in the automotive, IT, furnituremanufacturing, packaging and machinery industries, with Data Envelopment Analysis used for this performance evaluation. The enterprises were divided into three groups: companies that are members of cluster organizations, companies that are active in the same region and industry but are not members of a cluster group, and companies from the respective industry that operate outside the region of the given cluster. The results of the study indicate that in four industries (automotive, IT, packaging, machinery), member companies of cluster organizations achieve better results than non-members or firms active in other regions. On the other hand, it was not possible to prove a positive relation between company performance and their registered industrial rights, neither from the perspective of cluster membership nor their activity in the respective industry and region.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3866
Author(s):  
Joana Costa ◽  
Ana Rita Neves ◽  
João Reis

Open innovation is proved to be determinant in the rationalization of sustainable innovation ecosystems. Firms, universities, governments, user communities and the overall environment are called to contribute to this dynamic process. This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of the impact of open innovation on firms’ performance and to empirically assess whether university-industry collaborations are complementary or substitutes for this activity. Primary data were collected from a survey encompassing 908 firms, and then combined with performance indicators from SABI (Spanish and Portuguese business information). Econometric estimations were run to evaluate the role of open innovation and university-industry collaboration in the firm innovative propensity and performance. Results highlight the importance of diversity in collaborations with the academia and inbound open innovation strategy as enhancers of firm performance. The two activities reinforce each other. By testing the impact of open innovation practices on company performance, the need for heterogeneity in terms of contact type and university is also demonstrated. Findings cast light on the need to reformulate existing policy packages, reinforcing the ties with academia as well as the promotion of open innovation strategies. The connection to the innovation ecosystem needs to be further encouraged as well as the promotion of persistent connections with the knowledge sources in an open and multilateral framework.


2021 ◽  
pp. 27-49
Author(s):  
Janga Bahadur Hamal ◽  
Rishi Raj Gautam

This paper aims to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on stock market volatility and market return as well as the impact of government response to the COVID-19 pandemic on stock market performance. To analyze the same, the paper has adopted Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach and conducted a review of 40 journal articles published between between2020 to mid-2021. The paper identified that the short-term impact of the COVID-19 outbreak and government policy measures had a significant and adverse impact on stock market volatility, return and overall performance. In the longer term, the stock markets slowly started to stabilize and revive. This effect on the stock market was also attributed to investor sentiment and thus, in the later stages, targeted government response had a positive effect on boosting investor confidence towards the market.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Monge González ◽  
Juan Antonio Rodríguez Álvarez

<p>Este trabajo estima el impacto de los servicios financieros (diferentes del crédito) y los cursos de capacitación de corto plazo sobre las ventas reales, número de empleados, grado de formalización y acceso al crédito en el sistema financiero formal, de un conjunto de micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas clientes de una entidad de microfinanzas que opera en Costa Rica. Para ello, se emplea un panel de datos de cinco años (2006 a 2010) y modelos econométricos que tratan de controlar por atributos de las empresas, tanto observables como no observables, que afectan el desempeño de las variables sobre las cuales se mide el impacto. Los resultados señalan que aquellas empresas que recibieron servicios financieros diferentes del crédito lograron aumentar más el valor de sus ventas y el empleo, y también mejoraron su grado de formalización (aunque este resultado es débil estadísticamente), cuando se las compara con aquellas que no obtuvieron acceso a este tipo de financiamiento. Además, parecería ser que las garantías de participación y cumplimiento son el instrumento financiero que más impacta en forma positiva el desempeño de estas empresas. Por otra parte, no se obtuvo evidencia de que los servicios de capacitación de corta duración tuvieran algún impacto sobre el desempeño de estas empresas. Con base en todo lo anterior se plantean varias recomendaciones de política.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Abstract </strong></p><p>This paper considers the impact that financial services other than credit, and short term training courses have on total sales, employee number, level of formalization and access to credit in the regular financial system for a group of micro, small and medium size enterprises that are clients of a micro financing entity operating in Costa Rica. With this aim, data collected over five years (2006 to 2010), and econometric models that monitor a company`s performance by visible and non-visible attributes affecting measuring variables were used. Results show that the companies that received financial services other than the credit itself increased sales and employment more , and also improved their level of formalization (although the latter is statistically weak), when compared to others that did not had access to this type of financing. Also, it seems that participation and compliance guarantees are the most impacting financial instrument on company performance. On the other hand, no evidence was obtained about short training courses had any impact on company performance. Finally, some policy changes are recommended.<strong><br /></strong></p>


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 190-194
Author(s):  
BALUSAMY S ◽  
VENKATASUBRAMANIAM A ◽  
GIRI N

Until the late 1990’s the only form of media known to businesses were television, newspapers and radio, however in the early 2000s, a revolution in media was witnessed and the world was introduced to Social Media. Social Media is a just like any other Form of media is a tool used for communication but at the larger scale for social interaction using highly accessible and scalable Communication techniques. Social media has a positive impact and a positive influence on the company as well as the customers. Social media is becoming an essential tool for marketers, which is at a very minimum investment. In today’s’ scenario consumers judge a company based on their online presence, hence companies can innovate and simultaneously create a strong social presence by always catering to their customers’ needs and concerns.Internationally, companies have adopted Social Media as an essential tool for their marketing campaign; however the same is not adapted in India to a large extent. What are the benefits of Social media? What are the examples of Social media? This study understands the benefits,impact and importance of Social Media on business performance and growth.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-69
Author(s):  
Augustine Castro Singine ◽  
Mustafa Cahid Ungan

In an environment with ever changing customers’ needs and intensifying global competition, quality processes and supply chain (SC) are critical for organisational success. To satisfy customers, outsmart competition and improve performance, contemporary organisations are trying to improve on their processes through integrated supply chains. In an attempt to address this question and effectively contribute to this topic, a comparative meta- analytical evaluation along with key moderator and mediator analysis was conducted. In the lens of many theories, SCI from two perspectives; SCID (internal, suppliers, customer integration) with 67 studies and SCIF (information, operational, relational integration) with 25 studies was assessed on overall performance as well as on both operational and business performance. A quantitative meta-analysis based on Hunter and Schmidt (2004) which was performed through Jamovi, revealed the following: The meta-analysis results which were obtained through Jamovi provided significant correlation coefficients for SCID and SCIF respectively (ř = .476, p <.002) and (ř =.508, p <.001). Therefore, indicating that the association between SCID and performance is medium and positive, while that of SCIF and performance is positive and large. This is a clear indication that SCI from the perspective of SCID and SCIF yields different results, with SCIF having a relatively large effect. Moreover, on average SCIF both at aggregate and individual level has a slightly large effect on performance than SCID. Operational performance was the most influenced by SCID and SCIF, although operational and relational integration indicated a significant larger effect on business performance. Thus, individual SCID and SCIF constructs have different effects on business and operational as overall performance. All moderators though with different levels of interactions indicated a significant effect on both SCID and SCIF. Of the three mediators tested, customer integration had a 32% negative effect, SC agility showed an 89.1% full mediation effect with flexibility indicating a 53% significant effect.


2012 ◽  
Vol 02 (09) ◽  
pp. 31-37
Author(s):  
AKINLO Anthony Enisan ◽  
ONI Isaac Oluwafemi

The paper examines the impact of microfinance on poverty alleviation in Ondo State, Nigeria. The paper is based on a survey of 240 beneficiaries of microcredit loans in Ondo State. The results of the analysis show that most beneficiaries of micro credit loans are educated youth between the age brackets of 18 and 40 years. Many of the beneficiaries utilized their loans to procure durable equipment needed in their small scale enterprises. The results show that loan empowerment has a significant positive effect on beneficiaries’ welfare. Access to credit allowed the beneficiaries take advantage of economic opportunities by providing a fundamental basis for planning and expanding business activities.


Author(s):  
Yundan Gong ◽  
Sourafel Girma

Abstract The impact of gender diversity on business performance has been featured prominently on the agenda of many politicians and business leaders in recent years. However, empirical results of the impact of gender diversity on firm performance have been ambiguous. This paper contributes to the literature by using propensity score-based estimation techniques on a large sample of UK firms to analyse the performance effect of appointing a first female board director. We look at financial and non-financial performance indicators and document significant effects on firm growth and labour cost efficiency, but rather fragile ones on accounting returns, such as profitability. We also document evidence of another threshold effect; namely, gender diversity appears to have its highest impact (its ‘ceiling’) when the proportion of female directors is approximately 30%. Carrying out a sensitivity analysis, we conclude that hidden bias must be implausibly high to be able to attribute the beneficial effects of boardroom gender diversity to unmeasured confounding.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3012
Author(s):  
Changjun Jiang ◽  
Sanggyun Na ◽  
Fengting Jiang

One of the primary tasks of supply-side reform is to promote the reform of fiscal and taxation systems. It is an important part of institutional innovation to coordinate fiscal and other reforms. From the perspective of the supply side, this paper discusses whether the adjustment of fiscal and monetary policies will have a positive impact on China’s capital market and economic growth. In this paper, a windows-EBM model is constructed to test the panel data of major economies between 2008 and 2016, discuss their impact on the efficiency of the capital market, and to make a comparative analysis on the strategies to improve the vitality of China’s capital market. We find that the impact of China’s macro policies on capital market efficiency during 2008-2016 shows a huge potential space for adjusting fiscal and monetary policies, because these input factors are obviously interchangeable in China’s supply-side reform. This is in line with the expected direction of China’s supply-side reform. This paper reveals the positive effect of supply-side reform on capital activity. Tax cuts and monetary policy measures are needed to balance capital markets and to ensure their active and sustainable development.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ricardo Zimmermann ◽  
Luis Miguel D.F. Ferreira ◽  
Antonio Carrizo Moreira ◽  
Ana Cristina Barros ◽  
Henrique Luiz Correa

PurposeThis paper investigates the effect of the fit between supply and demand uncertainty (SDU) and supply chain responsiveness (SCR) (SC fit) on business and innovation performance in Brazilian companies.Design/methodology/approachThe study presented an analysis carried out on an empirical study based on a sample of 150 manufacturing companies. Business and innovation performance of companies with different types of SC fit ( high–high and low–low fits) and misfit (positive and negative) are compared and discussed.FindingsThe results indicated that SC fit had a positive effect on both business and innovation performance. Further analyses suggested that companies with SC fit present similar business performance, independent of the level of SDU that characterizes the environment where they compete, while companies in environments with higher levels of uncertainty tend to present superior innovation performance. Companies with positive and negative misfit present similar performance.Originality/valueAn analysis of the literature showed that there is no consensus when it comes to the definitions and measurements of SC fit. The paper investigates the effects of SC fit on business and innovation performance, while previous empirical studies have mainly addressed its impact on financial performance. Moreover, this study compares the effects of two types of fit and two types of misfit and assesses SC fit in Brazilian manufacturing companies, analyzing the context of an under-researched reality.


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