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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 paper aims to explore the impacts of a blockchain network implementation to support purchasing processes of a Brazilian public organization.

The Grumbach method was used to build the scenarios. Five experts with knowledge in blockchain and experience in public procurement were consulted on 20 possible preliminary events, defining their probability of occurrence and relevance. The data obtained were processed in Puma software, which returned a selection of ten definitive events, based on probability, relevance and standard deviation indicators, generating a map of prospective scenarios.

Three following scenarios are shown, the ideal scenario, the one with greater implantation benefits and fewer complications; the trend scenario, more likely to occur under current conditions; and the most likely scenario of occurrence, according to experts. The results indicated which simulated events are drivers (motives), and which are influenced (dependent). They were categorized as opportunities or threats to the deployment of the technology.

Although public procurement processes are standardized by Brazilian legislation, new events may arise from the replication of the model in different organizations. The research revealed the need for practical testing in a simulated public procurement environment.

The article explores the interaction between disruptive network technology and processes linked to public sector efficiency. Studies on electronic government point to the future of public management.

This study aims to examine two questions that contribute to understanding the organizational corporate governance forms of the so-called New World: What have been the social and cultural forces that gave rise to the institutional features of the Anglo-Saxon corporate states and the Hispanic patrimonial states? And how have these traits influenced the governance forms of North American and Latin American firms?

A comparative historical analysis methodology that dates back to the colonial foundations of the New World was used. Analysis categories were derived to allow us to reflect on the phenomenon studied and support the hypotheses while deriving observations that explain the historical relationships of the state types and their capitalisms with contemporary corporate governance. The research also considered case analysis in context, presented as specific empirical evidence.

The paper maintains that the historical social and cultural forces that were configured in the New World shaped the institutional features of the Anglo-Saxon corporate states with liberal capitalism and the Hispanic patrimonial states with hierarchical capitalism, and that these features are related to the predominant organizational corporate governance forms in North American and Latin American firms, respectively.

This paper provides insights into the social, cultural and institutional factors that gave rise to corporate and patrimonial states and their relationships with the different types of organizational corporate governance. It introduces a categorization into the literature with three types of organizational corporate governance (e.g. corporatist, patrimonial and hybrid). This allows progress in linking corporate governance theories with a managerial focus and governance perspectives oriented to economic and social development.

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.

Meat is a crucial source of protein and other nutrients for human health. However, excessive consumption of meat products is not advisable due to their elevated sodium and animal fat levels. Hence, there is a strong recommendation for reducing sodium and fat content in meat products. This study aims to delve into the current sodium, total and saturated fat content of meat products in the Brazilian market.

A total of 1,600 products underwent analysis.

The highest sodium concentrations were identified in jerked beef (5.48 g/100 g), charqui (5.21 g/100 g) and salted pork meat (2.58 g/100 g). In contrast, the highest total and saturated fat levels were observed in bacon (35.33 and 12.50 g/100 g), salami (26.00 and 9.25 g/100 g) and pork coppa (22.00 and 9.75 g/100 g). Most meat products were categorized as medium in terms of sodium (77.75%), total fat (52.93%) and saturated fat (48.25%). However, many meat products exhibited high total and saturated fat levels.

This study represents the first comprehensive examination of the sodium, total fat and saturated fat content listed on the labels of many meat products in Brazil.

This study examines the effects of firm-level collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) on workers’ welfare within Spanish firms, focusing on the trade-off between wage inequality and mean wage levels within firms. Results indicate that while firm-level CBAs contribute to increased intra-firm wage inequality, they also significantly enhance intra-firm average wage levels, with these positive effects being consistently observed across firm types and employee skill levels. Most notably, the increase in mean wages tends to offset the adverse effects associated with wage disparities, thereby leading to an overall improvement in workers’ welfare within firms. These findings provide crucial policy implications, advocating for tailored approaches in supporting effective collective bargaining practices that can foster equitable wage growth and enhance workers’ welfare, particularly in smaller firms and those employing low-skilled workers. Our results underscore the importance of firm-level negotiations in shaping equitable and prosperous labour market outcomes in contemporary economic settings.

Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) is a strategy and approach that enables organizations to manage risk strategically from a systems standpoint. The ERM assists businesses in structuring their systems to generate strategic flexibility (SF), which leads to increased firm performance (FP) through strategic enterprise management (IS-SEM) and strategic momentum (SM).

The study is based on data gathered in Brazil and India. The complex link was discovered using partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) using 330 Brazilian and Indian sample sizes.

The findings show that ERM influences IS-SEM and SM, which improves SF and FP. Furthermore, the study claims that IS-SEM can help improve strategic momentum and flexibility in the face of environmental uncertainty (ENU). Thus, it indicated that specific combinations of ENU connected with ERM and IS-SEM lead to obtaining high and extremely high levels fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) post hoc analysis of strategic momentum and flexibility.

The findings help executives understand how ERM and accounting information systems (AIS) can help achieve SM and SF, hence promoting FP in situation specific ENU setups in developing economies. The findings enhance executives' comprehension of how ERM and IS-SEM can significantly contribute to achieving SM and SF, thereby driving FP in the situation-specific ENU configurations in developing economies.

Research indicated that specific combinations of (ENU) connected with ERM and IS-SEM lead to obtaining high and extremely high levels fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) post hoc analysis of strategic momentum and flexibility.

First, this study assesses the link between research and development (R&D) expenses and firm efficiency. Second, this study explores how family control moderates the link between the two.

This study uses two measures of time-based firm efficiency, namely, a window slacks-based measure (WSBM) and a window epsilon-based measure (WEBM) of data envelopment analysis (DEA). Then, 216 firm-year observations are analyzed in the Taiwanese cultural and creative industries from 2005 to 2017.

This study finds that R&D expenses significantly worsen firm efficiency, and that family control positively moderates this effect. A further test separating the sample into family-controlled and nonfamily-controlled firms indicates that R&D expenses negatively affect the efficiency of nonfamily-controlled firms but positively affect that of family-controlled firms.

The existing literature has examined the link between R&D expenses and corporate performance. However, the process by which R&D expenses affect corporate performance from a production perspective remains unknown.

Overall, this study provides insights for policymakers to scrutinize resource management and R&D expenses from the production and resource-based perspectives.

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.

This study aims to synthesize evidence on health literacy assessment in parental educational practices of parents/caregivers of newborns from 0 to 13 months old.

A scoping review. We synthesized qualitative and quantitative research according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Database selection was based on specific content coverage of peer-reviewed articles in the biomedical and life sciences (PubMed) and health sciences and education (Scopus). We included articles complete original articles in English and/or Portuguese from peer-reviewed indexed journals whose reporting of evidence was in line with the objectives of this study: studies with parents and caregivers of newborns from 0 to 13 months old. Two independent reviewers extracted data and inconsistencies were resolved in a discussion between them and the third reviewer.

A total of 345 articles were recruited, and 342 were excluded. The most studied age group was 2 months old. Regarding geographic location, most studies were carried out in the USA. All articles were published after the year 2010 and carried out only with fathers and mothers, excluding other caregivers (e.g. relatives and professionals).

Only one instrument is focused on health literacy in parental educational practices.

We observe that this is a little-researched theme. All caregivers of young children face important barriers to understanding and implementing basic child health tasks (e.g. providing adequate nutrition, safety and medication).