Environmental sustainability and their factors in SMEs: A multiple case study of Spain and Chile

Environmental Sustainability (ES) is a growing concern for society’s development while identifying companies’ need to define sustainability-based strategies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have an essential role; generating more than 60% of employment in Europe and Latin America. Numerous research exists regarding large companies’ situation on environmental topics, yet little exists on SMEs at the practical and theoretical levels. Thus, determining the variables that affect the application of ES is very relevant. This study analyzes in-depth ES factors and drivers from the SMEs’ perspective, exploring the variables influencing their implementation in these companies. The methodology employed is in-depth interviews, applied to a sample of 17 SMEs in Spain and 25 SMEs in Chile. The main findings suggest that Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), Customer Orientation (CO), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) influence ES adoption in both countries, showing similarities in the driving reasons behind them, but with certain differences in their implementation (affected by institutional context influences). Furthermore, the level of knowledge affects decision-making related to the development of high-level environmental practices.

Moderating effect of the extension fit and involvement in the relationship between the parent heritage brand attitude and extension loyalty. Application to the monumental complex of the Alhambra and the Generalife

Objective: This work proposes a model of formation of brand extension loyalty of a heritage brand parent based on the attitude towards the heritage brand parent, taking into account the mediating effect of the brand parent image and the moderating effects of the fit between the heritage parent brand and the brand extension as well as the involvement towards the product category. Methodology: An experimental study has been carried out with 328 tourists visiting the heritage destination and manipulating two levels of adjustment. A moderate mediation regression model was established using the PROCESS 3.4 software. Conclusions: The effect of the attitude towards the heritage brand on the loyalty towards the extension occurs through the image of the heritage brand. This effect is enhanced in low setting and high involvement conditions. The involvement moderates the direct effect regardless of the degree of brand extension fit. Implications: Implications are provided for the management of companies that use a heritage brand to compete in the market as well as for managers of cultural heritage.

Explanatory and predictive drivers of entrepreneurial orientation and innovation capacity: Evidence from family enterprises

This paper aims to identify potential explanatory variables of the entrepreneurial orientation and innovation capacity (EO-IC) of family enterprises (FEs) through a comparative study of family businesses in Spain and Latin America. The innovation literature reports a paradigm shift whereby the dynamic boost provided by corporate governance and productivity is playing an increasing role as a driver of EO-IC and sustainable competitive advantage. This issue acquires particular relevance in the ase of family firms, where entrepreneurial and innovation capacities are characteristically hampered by socio-emotional and risk-aversion factors. We construct a panel of data on 182 large family enterprises (1,820 observations) domiciled in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Spain, drawing on the Thomson Onebanker and ORBIS databases for the period 2008-2018. The results reveal the emergence of new explanatory variables for the structure of the family-firm EO-IC framework, some related to productivity; others more basically to corporate governance. They also show that, in Latin America, the use of business efficiency (productivity) factors in the planning and potentiation of EO-IC by family firms is hampered by the institutional (legal, regulatory, labour and educational) environment, where traditional factors such as firm size and ownership concentration are more relevant. In the Spanish case, however, the evidence points to a transition from traditional inputs towards business efficiency and productivity-related factors.

How does Integrated Marketing Communication boost guest satisfaction? A proposal through ecological knowledge and value co-creation

The growing need to increase the effectiveness of the hotel sector communication drives to investigate the ways on how to intensify this communication effects. IMC approach based on sustainability starts to be increasingly important among other alternatives. The present work aims to examine the relationships between IMC for sustainability, ecological knowledge, co-creation of value and satisfaction. A theoretical model is proposed based on the relationships that are studied. The fieldwork was conducted among 303 hotel guests in Kyiv (Ukraine). The results reveal that the IMC for sustainability has a significant influence on satisfaction; furthermore, the findings show that satisfaction increases when ecological knowledge and the co-creation of value mediate this relationship, showing themselves as ways to promote the effect of the IMC. Finally, concerning the trip purpose, it is observed that for business guests, compared to leisure guests, IMC has a greater effect on the level of ecological knowledge, which in turn leads to a higher degree of satisfaction with the hotel.

An Empirical Analysis of the Factors Influencing Social Entrepreneurship: A Gendered Approach

Purpose: This study examines how entrepreneurial ecosystem factors (entrepreneurial finance, entrepreneurial education, physical and commercial infrastructure, culture, and R&D transfer activities) shape social entrepreneurial activities (SEA) of men and women. Design/methodology/approach: Panel data from 35 countries are examined through General Methods of Moments (GMM) with Arellano Bond tests for the period of ten years (2005-2014). Findings: Our results indicate that women are more likely to get involved in creation of social ventures. Further, the selected six entrepreneurial factors modify SEA in a significantly different manner for both genders. Originality/value: Based on this analysis, this study is the first to provide deeper insights for improving the assessment of social entrepreneurial activities in efficiency and innovation driven economies within the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Competitive dynamics of strategic groups in the Portuguese banking industry

The objective of this paper is to analyse the retail banking behaviour in Portugal (2008–2010, 2011–2013 and 2014–2016), by taking into account the financial and economic assistance programme (FEAP) – monitored by the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund – that Portugal went through and that started in 2011. With competitive dynamics it is possible to understand the evolution of competitive strategies of the institutions of a strategic group within a given time horizon. Data were collected after consultation of reports and accounts of Banks from Banco de Portugal database. The results were analysed and discussed in light of the theory of strategic groups and their competitive dynamics allows us to conclude that: Banks implemented different competitive strategies; Strategic groups have dissimilar resources; and Strategic groups display different strategies. The 2008–2010 period can be considered as a ‘deregulated’ period, the 2011–2013 as a period of ‘imposed regulation’, and the 2014–2016 as a period of ‘strategic consolidation’ with strategic changes that have prompted strategic groupings of the various institutions as consequence of a low mobility barrier strategy.

The impact of social media and e-WOM on the success of reward-based crowdfunding campaigns

Crowdfunding (CF) is a financial tool that has faced an impressive growth over the past few years, and provides an alternative form of fundraising entrepreneurial projects. However, not all CF campaigns are successful in attracting the investors’ interest and obtaining the pledging goal. As CF is built over internet platforms, digital marketing strategies have been used to improve awareness and engage people to contribute with small amounts of money for a given CF campaign. Hence, this paper intends to study the effect of social media and electronic word of mouth (e-WOM) on the CF campaigns’ outcomes and whether these digital marketing strategies might influence the small investors’ decision to support or not a reward-based CF campaign. Using a sample of data from the second largest American reward-based CF platform (Indiegogo), we have applied the multiple OLS regression analysis, to assess the causal effect of various sets of variables in the success rate of a CF campaign. The findings show that social media and e-WOM strategies play a critical role and have a positive significant impact on a CF campaign.

Non-monetary price perceived in e-peer-to peer accommodation. Airbnb guests’ perspective

Price is considered as a key variable in predicting buying behavior. However, few studies have focused on how non-monetary price is affected and can affect other components of the consumer endogenous variables. This paper seeks (1) to analyze the effects of antecedents of behavioural price (past experience, the benefits and risks of peer to peer accommodation services) on the guest perceived price, and (2) to determine the effect of this price and past experience on guest intentions. With a sample of 136 Airbnb guests and the use of SEM, results show that past experience, financial risk, and time risk influence the non-monetary perceived price. This price and past experience affect guest intentions. This paper tries to bridge certain gaps detected in the literature: (1) we propose to extend the two main factors underlined, considering non-monetary costs, (2) this paper focuses on peer consumers because there is a lack of specification in previous studies due to authors have not differentiated users into host or guest when they analyse intentions, (3) previous literature has research in Airbnb prices but not in the factors that affect price, not in behavioural price strategies, and (4) much of the work to date has been qualitative in nature, whereas this study takes a quantitative approach.

Satisfaction and loyalty in musical festivals. Study based on the level of jazz musical knowledge

El principal objetivo de esta investigación es la realización de una segmentación, en base a los conocimientos musicales de los distintos géneros del Jazz, de los asistentes al festival de Jazz QurtubaJazz de Córdoba (España). Asimismo, se analizan, sobre la base de dicha segmentación, las motivaciones, la satisfacción y la lealtad de los asistentes al evento, La metodología utilizada en esta investigación se ha basado en la utilización de diversas técnicas multivariables y en la aplicación de los estadísticos H de Kruskal-Wallis y U de Mann-Whitney. Entre las conclusiones más significativas del estudio, destaca la existencia de patrones diferentes respecto a la satisfacción y a la lealtad según los conocimientos de los asistentes sobre los distintos géneros del Jazz. En este aspecto cabe destacar, como carácter diferenciador, el importante papel de las motivaciones de índole más cultural. La principal aplicación práctica de esta investigación consiste en conocer la motivación que lleva a los espectadores a asistir a los festivales de tipo musical, especialmente a los festivales de Jazz. Asimismo, esta investigación contribuye a tener un mayor conocimiento sobre los aspectos que aportan una mayor satisfacción a los asistentes y que puede servir como base a las entidades organizadoras para mejorar los aspectos menos valorados por el público asistente.