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Taking the subordinates’ perspective, this paper aims to explore the supervisor-subordinate relationships and how daily interactions, personal ties and connections with the supervisors contribute more significantly, positively or negatively, to the subordinates’ well-being.

This exploratory study is based on the thematic analysis of data collected from two rounds of in-depth semi-structured interviews with 21 participants in a Portuguese utility company.

The subordinates’ perceptions of the nature and quality of their relationships with supervisors were found to have considerable effects on well-being. Positive effects were identified when subordinates feel emotionally supported and believe that supervisors truly care about them and are genuinely willing to listen to their concerns, but the most significant effects on the subordinates’ well-being are produced when the perceived authenticity of the supervisor allows the relationship to evolve into a state of relational closeness, and the subordinates connect with the person-as-real, the human being behind the mask who is playing the supervisory role. These findings reflect features of the cultural setting where the study was conducted.

The study provides evidence to support the argument that a better understanding of supervisor-subordinate relationships and their effects on well-being requires an integrated approach that considers the valuable contributions of different literatures and theoretical frameworks and the multiple dimensions of that relationship, including personal and non-work dimensions. This approach is particularly relevant in cultural contexts where these dimensions might play a critical role in work relations.

Tomando la perspectiva de los subordinados, el artículo explora las relaciones supervisor-subordinado y cómo las interacciones diarias, los vínculos personales y las conexiones con los supervisores contribuyen de manera más significativa, positiva o negativamente, al bienestar de los subordinados.

Este estudio exploratorio se basa en el análisis temático de los datos recopilados en dos rondas de entrevistas semiestructuradas en profundidad con veintiún participantes en una empresa de servicios públicos portuguesa.

Se encontró que las percepciones de los subordinados sobre la naturaleza y calidad de sus relaciones con los supervisores tienen efectos considerables en el bienestar. Se identificaron efectos positivos cuando los subordinados se sienten apoyados emocionalmente por los supervisores y creen que realmente se preocupan con elles y están genuinamente dispuestos a escuchar sus preocupaciones. Los efectos más significativos en el bienestar de los subordinados se producen cuando la autenticidad percibida de los supervisores permite que la relación evolucione hacia un estado de cercanía relacional, y los subordinados se conectan con la persona real, el ser humano detrás de la máscara, que es el supervisor.

Este estudio proporciona evidencia que respalda la idea de que una mejor comprensión de las relaciones supervisor-subordinado y sus efectos en el bienestar requiere un enfoque integrado que tenga en cuenta las valiosas contribuciones de diferentes literaturas y marcos teóricos y las múltiples dimensiones de esa relación, incluidas las dimensiones personales y no laborales, para dar sentido a las relaciones supervisor-subordinado en contextos culturales donde podrían desempeñar un papel fundamental.

A partir da perspectiva dos subordinados, o artigo explora as relações supervisor-subordinado e como as interações diárias, os laços pessoais e as ligações com os supervisores contribuem de forma mais significativa, positiva ou negativamente, para o bem-estar dos subordinados.

Este estudo exploratório baseia-se na aplicação da análise temática aos dados recolhidos em duas rondas de entrevistas semiestruturadas e em profundidade a vinte e um participantes, em exercício de funções em empresa portuguesa de serviços públicos.

Os dados recolhidos permitem concluir que as percepções dos subordinados sobre a natureza e a qualidade das suas relações com os supervisores têm efeitos consideráveis no bem-estar. Foram identificados efeitos positivos quando os subordinados sentem que os supervisores os apoiam emocionalmente e realmente se preocupam com os subordinados e estão genuinamente dispostos a ouvir as suas preocupações. Os efeitos mais significativos no bem-estar são obtidos quando dos subordinados percepcionam a autenticidade do supervisor, permitindo que o relacionamento evolua para um estado de proximidade relacional, e os subordinados se conectam com a pessoa real, o ser humano por detrás da máscara: o supervisor.

O estudo fornece evidência que permite sustentar o argumento segundo o qual uma melhor compreensão das relações supervisor-subordinado e dos seus efeitos no bem-estar exige uma abordagem integrada que tenha em conta as contribuições valiosas de diferentes literaturas e quadros teóricos e as múltiplas dimensões da relação supervisor-subordinado, incluindo a dimensão pessoal e não profissional, particularmente relevantes em contextos culturais em que estas podem desempenhar um papel crítico.

Social entrepreneurship is increasingly recognised for addressing complex social issues, yet its definition remains vague. Although social entrepreneurs are often celebrated as virtuous agents of positive change, they experience complex challenges and ethical dilemmas in their daily work. This paper aims to explore the lived experiences of social entrepreneurs in Portugal and to identify the ethical issues influencing their work.

By using a phenomenological research approach, this study conducted 20 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Portuguese social entrepreneurs. The interviews examine their life experiences to uncover the challenges and ethical issues they face.

This study identifies key areas where ethical tensions arise influencing the emergence of challenges for social entrepreneurs. These areas include the absence of a specific legal framework for social enterprises, complexities in human resource management, partnership dynamics, financial sustainability pressures, issues of transparency and accountability and the risk of mission drift.

This study offers valuable insights into the ethical dimensions of social entrepreneurship, emphasising that social entrepreneurs, like those in non-profit sectors, face significant ethical dilemmas. These findings offer valuable insights for researchers and practitioners to expand their understanding of social entrepreneurship. By recognising these challenges scholars and policymakers can foster a more informed and nuanced discourse on the field.

This study contributes to the underexplored intersection of ethics and social entrepreneurship, providing new insights into the ethical realities faced by social entrepreneurs in Portugal.

This study aims to analyze and compare students’ perceived mastery of their reasoning-for-complexity competency (sometimes called complex thinking or complex reasoning) and its sub-competencies in entrepreneurship and engineering programs in a higher education institution. The objective of this analysis was to prove that entrepreneurship is a valid discipline for developing scientific thinking in its training programs, on par with its development in STEM areas, particularly engineering education.

This study used a descriptive, cross-sectional analysis of the responses of 230 students of entrepreneurship and engineering at a private university in Mexico concerning their perceived achievement of reasoning-for-complexity competency and its sub-competencies (systemic thinking, critical thinking and scientific thinking). This study used a structured questionnaire instrument. This study compared the differences between the means of two independent groups, validated through a statistical Student’s t-test.

The results indicated that reasoning for complexity is a relevant component in entrepreneurship and engineering education. Students perceived mastery of scientific thinking sub-competency higher in entrepreneurship than in engineering, particularly regarding skills and attitudes. The results for critical and systemic thinking showed no significant differences.

This study suggests that developing scientific thinking in entrepreneurship training could strengthen the capacities and skills of students in educational institutions in countries like Mexico. Furthermore, entrepreneurship with the scientific method in the training processes may enable students to approach complex scenarios and devise scientifically validated solutions.

By addressing scientific thinking as a sub-competency of reasoning-for-complexity in entrepreneurship education, this paper advances the concept that scientific thinking can be a strength in entrepreneurship education. This study provides a basis for scaling the reasoning-for-complexity competency, especially scientific thinking in various disciplines, particularly in a cross-disciplinary setting like entrepreneurship education.

This paper proposes an evaluation approach for analyzing excellence management practices at a regional level based on experts’ assessment.

Using the National Quality Foundation’s Management Excellence Model (MEG), 19 management excellence practices were identified and tailored for small- and medium-sized industries (SMIs). Data were collected through a survey with 25 experts who assessed these practices in the context of Brazilian manufacturing SMIs. The analysis utilized Fuzzy TOPSIS Class (FTC), and a sensitivity analysis was also conducted.

The proposed evaluation approach integrates a reference model for management excellence (MEG), an analysis method incorporating uncertainty (FTC), and results that enable decision-makers to make well-informed choices. Of the 19 practices assessed, 15 were classified as “unacceptable,” while four were rated as “regular,” and none as “expected.” Key challenges relate to practices in information security, knowledge, innovation and change management.

The study’s primary limitation is the use of non-probabilistic sampling and its focus on the Brazilian context. However, the extensive knowledge and experience of the experts in manufacturing SMIs and the need for studies addressing specific regional contexts should be noted.

The findings reveal a significant gap between ideal management practices and the actual state of SMIs, especially in emerging markets.

This research introduces a novel approach that combines a reference model tailored for SMIs with a multicriteria decision-making method, offering valuable insights for decision-makers and guiding future research.

The resource-based theory (RBT) explains that the management control system (MCS) represents a resource that complements dynamic capabilities by steering employees toward strategies, leading to superior performance. This study aims to identify the impacts of the MCS and dynamic capabilities such as entrepreneurship, innovation, organizational learning and market orientation on financial performance.

The research sample included 200 managers from grain-producing agribusiness organizations in Brazil. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to conduct a symmetric analysis, while fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was applied for an asymmetric analysis.

In the symmetric analysis, the linear association model did not fully explain how the use of MCSs and dynamic capabilities drive financial performance. However, the findings indicate that diagnostic and interactive MCSs positively affect dynamic capabilities. In the asymmetric analysis, the results suggest that the high financial performance of the analyzed organizations can be achieved without considering the need for Entrepreneurship or Innovation.

The study broadens and complements the interpretive scope of previous studies and allows for comparisons.

MCSs must be used in a balanced and synergistic manner (diagnostic and interactive), with an emphasis on monitoring goals and discussions with managers. This is important and contributes to developing internal capabilities, which are embodied in decisions and actions, potentially impacting financial performance. These results are crucial for Brazilian agribusiness organizations, as they provide actionable insights into how the strategic use of MCSs can directly enhance financial performance. By revealing that the balanced and synergistic use of diagnostic and interactive MCSs fosters dynamic capabilities such as innovation and market orientation, the study offers practical guidance for managers aiming to boost organizational effectiveness. This research not only informs management practices but also positions Brazilian agribusinesses to remain competitive in a global market.

This study has generated new discussions based on possible combinations and interactions between MCSs and dynamic capabilities to predict high organizational performance. In practical terms, MCSs and dynamic capabilities can be designed in various manners to reach optimal performance levels.

Administrative processes play a crucial role in various sectors, often contributing to cost overruns and delays. While lean concept has been extensively applied in many industries, there is a recognized need for further research on the integration of lean in administrative processes. To address this research gap, this study aims to systematically analyse the implementation of lean in administrative processes, providing a sector-wise comparison to explore its prospects for the construction industry.

A systematic literature review was conducted by adapting the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses method. Eighty-six research papers are subjected to descriptive and content analysis on different tools applied in lean integrated administrative processes in health care, education, public administration and other sectors.

The research study reveals common lean tools irrespective of sector. Moreover, specific tools used for a particular sector are analysed. Out of the various lean tools and techniques, value stream mapping, 5S and Kaizen are highly acknowledged tools in every sector of lean intervention. Furthermore, ECRS is applied explicitly in the education sector. Furthermore, it is noted that Suppliers, Inputs, Process, Outputs and Customers (SIPOC), 5whys, load levelling and control charts are identical to administrative processes in lean health care. Furthermore, Spaghetti charts and Kaikaku are only adapted to administrative processes in the public administration sector, and causal loop diagrams are used explicitly in administrative processes in the construction sector.

This study contributes to research by developing a guideline to design lean intervention for a lean-integrated administrative process in any sector which still needs to be transformed into lean. Hence, this study will be a cornerstone for incorporating lean principles for administrative processes in construction sector.