University-industry collaboration importance in innovative brazilian industrial firms: a sectorial model

This article examines empirically the university-industry collaboration (UIC) importance in innovative firms on Brazilian industry. This relation is considered an important tool for economic growth in innovation-led firms. It was used a hierarchical regression model for 25.667 innovative industrial firms in the year 2005, the innovation involves product, process, or organizational change. The Total Factor Productivity was introduced as independent variable, because it can be used in all firms as performance measure, and it was average centralized. The TFP is explained by firm’s internal capabilities, and in industry by the UIC importance. The found results are upward average (positive sign), and downward average (negative sign). The sectorial impact of UIC in the TFP is positive, but near zero. The internal capabilities present exchanged signs between the firm and the industry, only innovative labor have both signs positive. The random effects identify nine industries with upward productivity gains, 8,26 % of total Brazilian industry, and these industries are traditional, low-tech intensity, only the automotive industry is medium-technology. Twenty industries have downward productivity gains, 18,35 % of total Brazilian industry, and between them are high-technology industries, as diverse capital tools, and electronics.

Self-Expansion or Internalization as the Two Processes of Vertical Integration: What Informs the Decision?

In vertical integration literature, the two processes leading to vertical integration, namely, (1) self-expansion of the scope of activities based on internal capabilities and (2) internalization of activities with external capabilities have not been distinguished. However, using internal capabilities or incorporating external capabilities is an alternative decision for managers and distinguishing them is crucial in practice. The purpose of this study is to distinguish self-expansion separated from internalization and to explain systematically when they likely occur. This study develops a unique vertical integration model by integrating transaction cost economics and the capability approach. With the model, we systematically analyzed the occurrence of (1) self-expansion and (2) internalization. Results reveal that the firm prefers self-expansion to internalization if it is easy to build the capabilities internally or difficult to procure them from outside the firm and if the costs of acquiring a firm or business with the required capabilities or the governance costs of the activities with external capabilities are high and vice versa. Our model leads to more understanding of vertical integration.

Core Competencies Identification and Development: Evidence from Oil and Gas Exploration Company

Background Key trends say that to stay as a primary energy source for the upcoming years Oil & Gas companies shall concentrate their efforts on efficiency and technologies, including digital. The situation in the Exploration sector is challenging, as there are almost no "easy" resources left to explore. One of the ways to build a further development strategy for the Oil & Gas Exploration Companies is to define and build development plans for their core internal capabilities. To boost their efficiency, companies shall concentrate their attention and efforts around their core competencies. Purpose The principal aim of this paper is to suggest the method of identifying the internal sources of competitive advantage (the core competencies of an organization) and building the plans of their development on the example of the selected Oil & Gas Exploration Company. Methodology A case study was carried out utilizing the methods synthesized by the author basing on the critical analysis of the previous conceptual and research studies, including strategic architecture, value chain analysis, POCCI model and both quantitative and qualitative methods. The identification of core competencies was based on a discussion nature of focus group activities organized in the form of strategic sessions among the top management level of the selected Company. Findings Five core competencies were identified for any Oil & Gas Exploration Company: managing personnel motivation and development, managing uncertainties, regional / basin analysis, building an integrated business-case, and geological modelling. These results were validated and proved by a crosscheck analysis, final discussions with the focus group and a round table discussion among industry experts, consultants and top managers of major oil companies. Discussions and recommendations for further development The validity of methods suggested by the author is proved, however, some points of further methodology were identified during the research. The clear understanding of internal capabilities, the core competencies development level and what is the company is capable of today and tends to be capable of in the future will become one of the most valuable parts in every strategic decision-support package. The clear picture of identified and estimated competences together with an on-going benchmarking becomes a valuable guide in systematization and managing the company's development.

Perceptions of barriers to innovate in Colombian manufacturing firms: an analysis by technological intensity

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that impede innovation in Colombian manufacturing firms, as measured by the level of technological intensity. Design/methodology/approach The authors used data from 1,850 firms to determine the barriers associated with information and internal capabilities, risks and environment. Findings The main results of this study confirm that potentially innovative firms of low technological intensity are more likely to ascribe high importance to obstacles associated with information and internal capabilities, when compared with innovative firms. The abandonment of innovative projects, family-operated enterprises and investment in R&D are all related to an increased perception of obstacles to innovation, while investments in information and communication technologies have an opposite effect. Variables as partnerships and export behaviour, have different effects depending on the level of technological intensity. Originality/value This study investigates the obstacles to innovation of a firm as determined by its characteristics and as measured against its level of technological intensity. Previous studies have investigated barriers to innovation in technologically advanced sectors (Lachman and López, 2019) and technology-based SMEs (De Moraes Silva et al. 2020) or how the technological intensity of the firm determines access to university knowledge for overcoming barriers (Kanama and Nishikawa, 2017). The only study to analyse barriers to innovation by measuring a firm’s technological intensity was conducted into Mexican manufacturing and services sector companies by Santiago et al. (2017).

Cancer Care in a Time of COVID: Lung Cancer Patient’s Experience of Telehealth and Connectedness

Objective: To explore lung cancer patient’s experiences of telehealth during COVID-19 restrictions.Methods: 30 patients with lung cancer were recruited. Data was collected using a qualitative exploratory design with semi-structured interviews. Transcripts were thematically coded using NVivo software.Results: Five key themes were identified. Maintaining resilience: participants acknowledged they were self-reliant prior to their diagnosis, and that the sense of their own internal capabilities was a source of comfort for them; Importance of pre-established relationships with healthcare professionals: the sense of connection established prior to the telehealth consultation supported participants to engage with healthcare professionals. The need for connectedness was amplified by a sense of isolation. Seeking help: participants sought help from services that they perceived as being “expert”; Convenience: factors such as costs and saving time were highlighted; Preferences for consultation type: majority of participants identified physical and emotional comfort being in their own space. For a small number of patients, continuing a face to face assessment was important due to expectation based on previous experience. Conclusion: The use of telehealth was supported during the management of COIVD-19. Connectedness and convenience were key to the level of comfort and confidence for patients with lung cancer using telehealth during ‘lockdown’.

The Role of Managerial Accountants and the Implementation and Monitoring of the Balanced Scorecard Metrics: A Literature Review

Organizational leaders use many management tools when planning and controlling. One of the most widely used is the Balanced Scorecard (BSC) metrics. Based on a literature review method used, this paper explored the dynamics that influence organizations to overlook the inputs of managerial accountants when using BSC when measuring organizational performance. We found that a misfit between the strategy of the firm and the firm’s internal capabilities and skills and the inability of the financial perspective to predict and improve financial performance to be predominant factors to overlook the inputs of managerial accountants when using BSC.