Entrepreneurial Orientation, Innovation and Performance of Value-system Actors

The purpose of this study was to explore entrepreneurial orientation as a cognitive construct attributable to individuals and its relationship with innovation and performance from an industry ecosystem perspective. The study adopted a mixed design approach involving exploration of the factors and a diagnosis of their hypothesized relationships. A mixed sampling of members of a leather industry association and the linked industry institutions was carried out with a 76% response rate achieved. Quantitative data was collected from key decision-makers as informants of firms in Kenya’s leather industry using a questionnaire for guided interviews. The Delphi Technique and a pilot study (Cronbach’s Alpha 0.700 – 0.772) were used to establish instrument reliability. Factor analysis was performed on the study variables using Principal Component Analysis before inferential analysis. Entrepreneurial orientation showed validity as a second-order latent construct comprising three cognitive dimensions, namely vision for growth, opportunity recognition and calculated risk-taking. Entrepreneurial orientation and its antecedents were established as determinants of performance of value-system actors in an industry (R2=0.422, F=13.417, p=0.000). It further showed that this relationship is partially mediated by innovation by the firms (Sobel test Z-value = 3.30449610, p=0.00095147). The study recommends extension of this research to other industries.

Bangladesh toward Digital Financial Inclusion: FinTech Experience

Digitalization in financial services, in another way financial technology or FinTech, has drastically extended financial intermediation while customers are experiencing and engaging with the development of new digital products and competencies. Nevertheless, over two billion people worldwide remain out of accessing financial services that make financial inclusion an equally important concern for all economies, including Bangladesh. Over the last few years, a good number of academic literature has been made on FinTech covering how essential it is to serve the unbanked and underbanked countries. This study tries to provide an inclusive survey of relevant literature on FinTech and its potential to disruptive financial intermediation globally and nationally. Therefore, a descriptive research design has been adopted entirely based on secondary resources and mostly relying on the Global Findex database, International Monetary Fund (IMF) releases, and Bangladesh Bank reports. It has been evident that digital financial inclusion is connecting more and more people to the financial system at a growing pace resulting in substantial welfare benefits throughout the nation. Even if the active use of mobile money systems, digital banking, especially internet banking, is reshaping our bank. However, there is much work to be done compassing the challenges and the threats of FinTech as important policy issues for the existing financial landscape. In conclusion, this study provides an insight into the country's digital financial system and contributes to further study in relevant disciplines.

Impact of Deceptive Advertising on Women Buying Behavior: A Study on Cosmetics Industry of Bangladesh

Deceptive advertisements harm consumers by causing them to have false beliefs about the nature of the products being advertised and thereby causing them to make different purchasing decisions than they would have made otherwise. This is particularly evident in the cosmetics industry in Bangladesh where recently, various forms of advertising techniques deceptive in nature are urgently and increasingly adopted to enhance sales figure and to establish a strong market share. In this quantitative research, the study estimates the relationship of women response against deceptive advertising. The researcher has reported the results of a questionnaire survey of 227 women of this industry using convenience sampling from four different areas in Dhaka city. The findings acquired through using basic statistical tools like descriptive analysis, factor analysis and following multiple linear regression model to provide new insights into deceptive advertising. The impact of deceptive advertising on women buying behavior is highly significant across most of the social and health impact variables like affecting lifestyle, stereotype role, social class, several side effects, fail to give promised services, consequences of cosmetics products.

Employment of Ex-Drug Addicts as a Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative: The Malaysian Employer’s Perspective

Relapse together with stigma and perceptions are serious challenges that need to be addressed promptly. Past literature is with the view that the issue of relapse occurs due to several stressors, including unemployment. Scant frameworks exist on the strategic development that promotes the employment of ex-drug addicts to reduce the relapse rate. In the same vein, this study seeks to discover the misperception and stigma surrounding the employment of ex-drug addicts in Malaysia as well as to explore employers’ views in hiring those ex-drug addicts as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative. This study is consistent with qualitative research based on interviews with eight Malaysian employers. This study found that the hiring of ex-drug addicts as a part of the company’s CSR initiatives may(a) reduce the relapses of drug addicts (b), it will uplift the CSR ratings of the subjected companies and (c), it will increase the compliance of the companies with Sustainable Development Goals through the subjected CSR initiatives. In line with that, this study proposed a novel strategic framework by aligning the subjected CSR initiative with social sustainability and subsequently to Sustainable Development Goals. The proposed strategic framework will insight policymakers and employers into contributing to sustainable development through hiring ex-drug addicts.

Managing Functional and Innovative Entrepreneurship Centres for Global Competitiveness in Public Universities in South-South, Nigeria

This study investigated approaches and challenges of managing functional and innovative Entrepreneurship Centres for global competitiveness in public universities in South-South, Nigeria. The study adopted descriptive survey design and was guided by two research questions and two hypotheses. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 487 from the population of 9,735 academic staff in the 14 public universities in South-South, Nigeria. Data was collected using a survey questionnaire instrument which was validated for reliability at 0.88. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyse the research questions while z-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that in South-South, Nigeria were not globally competitive. Some of the approaches that could be deployed to improve their global competitiveness included using diverse means to enhance entrepreneurial behaviours and mindsets of the students and adopting extensive use of visuals, digital tools and multimedia to enhance their creativity. The challenges identified include inadequate funding, poor university-industry partnership on Research & Development and inadequate infrastructural facilities. It is recommended that Entrepreneurship Centres in public universities in South-South, Nigeria should be adequately funded and they should adopt relevant approaches in order to become globally competitive.

EQ Training for Management Cascades Value in the Field: UCB Pharma Case in Italy

In times of rapid change, how can we support managers to meet professional challenges successfully? How can each manager become an effective change agent? How can we promote professional development at all levels and improve communication skills appropriate for the different audiences with whom they must interface? This study explores emotional intelligence (EQ) as a key to unlocking managerial performance in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) corporate environments. Through a graduated and structured process that started in 2017, UCB Pharma Spa, a multinational pharmaceutical company, decided to invest in a pilot to develop the social and emotional skills of organizational members, from senior managers to staff associates. An action learning and change management model was used to design and facilitate the program intervention. Individual EQ and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven team assessments were used to target development efforts, as well as gather pre- and post-program data. The result was significant improvement in the quality of teamwork and people engagement, demonstrated by an increase in relational efficiency in 98% of cases.

The Impact of Placing Electronic Word of Mouth on Instagram on Consumers’ Purchase Intention: Case Study of Food Products in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Social media networks like Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, present promising opportunities for facilitating usability of e-WOM as a rising purchase decision-making tool. In tandem, this study aimed at looking into the impact of placing the e-WOM on Instagram on consumers’ purchase intention to food products in the KSA with a focus on purchase intention and decision. A quantitative research strategy was adopted through the survey method, where questionnaires were distributed through online survey-monkey to Instagram subscribers and dwellers of the KSA. Descriptive and inferential statistical data analyses were applied to generate useful information, and a documentary review was performed to supplement the primary findings. This study established that characteristics of e-WOM, attributes of the e-WOM reviewer, characteristics of social media site for e-WOM, demographic aspects of consumer, and reputation of the brand, influence effectiveness of e-WOM and customer purchase intention and decision on products. Significantly, it was established that quality, quantity, recency, and consistency, of e-WOM impact customer purchase intention and purchase decision towards food products. Nevertheless, it was ascertained that most respondents trust e-WOM as an objective and effective purchase decision-making tool. However, this study was conducted in the KSA and majorly employed quantitative rather than mixed-methods methodology, thus limiting its generalizability.This study originates from the need to improve marketing strategies given the growth of social media marketing against traditional marketing. Likewise, it adds value to existing knowledge about marketing practice and recommends further research in comparing the impact of e-WOM on customer purchase intention, decision, experience, and loyalty, across various social media sites and different nations for the generalized understanding of e-WOM as a marketing tool.

A Business Model Innovation Methodology for Established Organizations: Systematic Theory Validation

The goal of this paper is to validate a business model methodology in practice. The goal of the business model methodology is to generate new business models with disruptive potential by overcoming the blindness of organizations mindset. In total nine focus group workshops in automotive, home appliances and high-tech industry with defined tool set and methods are processed. By conducting the workshops in practice several methods of the theory could be validated and points of improvement identified.Among other findings, the applied methods of the new business model methodology are successful in identifying relevant levers for disruption. Even several starting points for new disruptive business models are found.In addition, the workshop participants’ feedback implicate that in contrast to other studies aligning the process of overcoming the organizational mindset within the business model innovation process, is more effective than implementing a prepending phase to it.In summary, the present research aims at contributing to the research gap within science regarding the consideration of organizational mindset within business model innovation. Conclusively, it becomes obvious that, while this research delivers a methodology, which serves as an indication on how to close the research gap of acknowledging organizational mindset within the beginning of the innovation process, further significant research gaps remain to be investigated. Thus, two research gaps are identified. First, the later stages of the business model innovation need further investigation. Secondly, the challenge of organizational mindset in the later steps have also not received sufficient scientific interest as yet.

A Comparative Analysis of Start-Up Entrepreneurship Support between the UK and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Start-ups in many countries face numerous challenges especially the inadequacy of financial and professional support. Lending to startups is perceived as risky due to the high possibility of business failures. Globally, there is a consensus on the significance of entrepreneurship particularly for social and economic development. Consequently, the correlation between startups and entrepreneurial support has attracted immense interests from researchers and policymakers.In this paper, the researcher sought to identify the support systems availed to startups in the UK and Sudi Arabia and compare the ease of establishing new businesses between the two countries. A qualitative and quantitative research approach was adopted with a sample of 100 participants from each country. The data collected wasanalysed using statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) and presented in the form of tables and graphs. The results showed that government support systems had a significant impact on the performance of startup entrepreneurship in the two countries under consideration. It was also found that startup entrepreneurship support systems were more favorable in the UK than in Saudi Arabia. In conclusion, the researcher formulated some recommendations for increasing support for startup entrepreneurship in both countries including the provision of practical programs for encouraging entrepreneurial mindsets, especially among learners.

Vegetable Production Challenges in Kpando Municipality: Perspective of Women Farmers

The study sought to evaluate vegetable production by women within the Kpando Municipality. To arrive at the set objectives, data was collected from sampled women who were into vegetable production in the study area. Questionnaire were used to collect data from the respondent on their socio-economic characteristics, production activities and challenges they faced in production and marketing of vegetable in the study area. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data collected from the respondents. The results of the study revealed that women in the study area had passion towards agriculture and as high as 33.2% of the respondents participated in a variety of farm activities. These activities included and preparation, sowing of seeds and fertilizer application. Challenges faced by the respondents included delayed access to inputs, lack of financial assistance (credit) and storage facilities. The paper concluded that productivity of the respondents could be improved significantly by improving women farmers’ access to productive resources such as fertilizers and credit. It is therefore recommended that fertilizers should be supplied to the farmers on time and the Kpando Municipal Assembly should liaise with financial institutions to support these farmers financially.