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The purpose of this paper is to explore how emerging market firms (EMFs), in the face of intense international competition within global value chains (GVCs), continuously accumulate the knowledge and capabilities needed to support leapfrog upgrading. Based on this, this paper aims to construct a process model of the dynamic evolution of EMFs’ control over GVC core activities.

This paper conducts a longitudinal case study of Ninestar Corporation, a leading company in the Chinese printer industry, to investigate its leapfrog upgrading practices. From the perspective of dynamic capabilities theory, the study explores the dynamic processes and intrinsic mechanisms through which EMFs achieve the evolution of their control over GVC core activities.

It is revealed that the dual-dimensional expansion of controlling the core activities of GVC from vertical functional architecture to horizontal product architecture is the pathway for manufacturing enterprises in emerging economies to achieve leapfrogging upgrades. It is also found that the dynamic capabilities of EMFs undergo iterative evolution during the upgrading process. The self-reinforcing logic and the path-creation logic of dynamic capabilities are the internal mechanisms for controlling GVC core activities to achieve the breakthrough in both the vertical functional division chain and the horizontal product division chain.

This paper provides an insightful case for how EMFs can achieve leapfrog upgrading in the new normal of global trade patterns. It explores how these firms can gain control over GVC core activities through the evolution of dynamic capabilities. The research findings extend the boundaries of the theory of firm upgrading.

This study aims to contribute to the debate on the firm’s innovative determinants. Drawing on the relevance of internal resources, such as the knowledge base, in developing the innovative practices, it also considers the multiplier effect of network competence, defined as the ability to develop and consciously manage relationships with other actors in the territory.

The study is based on data obtained from personal interviews with managers and oenologists from the wineries that adhered to the Protected Designation of Origin in the Alicante province/region.

The results confirm the positive effect of the knowledge base. In addition, it shows that increased competence in managing the firm’s relational context allows it to obtain external knowledge inputs, which, combined with internal knowledge, benefits its innovative practices.

This study contributes to a better understanding of how companies can improve their innovation by combining internal knowledge with developing and strengthening links with other agents in the territory.

This study aims to investigate how co-evolutionary interactions between multinational enterprises (MNEs) and local actors shaped resource-intensive industry development over several decades, examining the economic, industrial and social implications of these interactions. It details the long-term effects of MNEs’ activities on the host country’s economic and social development and unfolds the path-dependent sequence and mechanisms of occurrence.

In a historical case study of Uruguay’s forest-based pulp sector during the 1970s to 2023, the authors analyze data from interviews with local industry actors and from company archives, academic publications and public environmental organizations.

The findings untangle the path-dependent co-evolution between MNEs’ activities and local actors and the resulting gradual development of the local industry. The increasing commitment of MNEs to the host country and their engagement with business and social communities impact the development of the industry’s technology basis, activity networks, identity and market. Spillovers and linkages occur in these interactions, driving industry development processes forward. The authors also reveal how MNEs attempt to address the social and environmental tensions associated with their operations to support their long-term presence in the host country.

The authors contribute to the MNE-assisted development literature by untangling the specific mechanisms of MNEs’ engagement in local industry development over a long-term period and elaborating on its industrial and social implications. The authors enhance knowledge about spillovers by capturing a wide range of spillover and linkage effects and assessing their long-term impacts on industry development.

The authors offer insights into how policymakers can tailor instruments for attracting MNEs by adopting a long-term perspective regarding the implications for local development and accounting for economic, industrial and social impacts. This approach can maximize beneficial outcomes from MNEs’ presence and limit tensions between MNEs and local actors.

This historical case study illustrates the complexity of MNEs’ engagement with local actors over time, including various tensions and positive developments. It illustrates the importance of social acceptance in achieving quality linkages between local and foreign actors.

This historical analysis untangles the path dependency in the long-term impacts of MNE-assisted development, illustrating the value of a temporal perspective.

In the past 30 years, the subject of “Entrepreneurial University” has been very popular in scientific publications, according to the effects of the entrepreneurial university on the urban economy. Researchers have conducted several studies to create an appropriate structure due to the new missions universities had after the introduction of this subject, but these efforts have sometimes led to the parallel work of the established units or the lack of responsible units for some goals within the university.

The main goal of this study is to achieve the structural and functional model of an entrepreneurial university. For this purpose, 54 articles that specifically dealt with the creation and activities of the entrepreneurial university were studied using the thematic analysis method. Two groups of themes were categorized, one related to the structure of the entrepreneur university and the other related to the functions of the entrepreneur university.

In the structural dimension; this study proposes to introduce the vice-chancellor of technology and entrepreneurship within the university, which has units such as the university incubator, the technology transfer office and other units related to entrepreneurship in its sub-category, and the government–industry relations office in charge of establishing government and industry relations within the university. In addition, to avoid the parallel work of the entrepreneurial units this study suggests using the level of technological readiness as an index for promoting to another unit.

The findings can be used by policymakers in higher education and the national and local governments.

In the context of severe environmental pollution and resource shortage, this study aims to examine how knowledge flows affect the green activities of firms. Specifically, this paper explored whether the firms’ knowledge flows, namely, knowledge inflow (KIF) and knowledge outflow (KOF), play a moderating role in relationship between corporate environmental responsibility (CER) and green innovation in Chinese high-polluting firms.

The analysis was carried out based on a panel data set of 305 heavy-polluting Chinese listed firms from 2010 to 2020. Meanwhile, this paper adopted the fixed model to empirically attest the proposed hypotheses regarding the relationships among CER, knowledge flows and green innovation.

The results indicate that there is a U-shaped relationship between CER and green innovation, while the two dimensions of knowledge flows exert opposing effects on the nonlinear link between CER and green innovation. Specifically, KIF positively moderates the effect of CER on green innovation, whereas KOF negatively moderates the effect of CER on green innovation.

This study demonstrates how green innovation can be influenced by CER and, moreover, provides a more nuanced understanding of the value of knowledge management (KM) in firms’ green activities. In this way, this paper answers the call for understanding the importance of green transformation in the context of KM.

In line with the noticeable trend toward automation in internal audit functions, and considering Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which prioritizes technological innovation, the purpose of this study is to explore the adoption of robotic process automation (RPA) within the KSA’s various sectors of internal auditing domain, with a particular emphasis on understanding the challenges and evaluating the impact on audit efficiency.

Using a quantitative research design, this study uses a bootstrapping approach and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to meticulously analyze data collected from 138 certified internal auditors around KSA.

This study reveals associations between the regulatory environment, data security, vendor reputation, intention to adopt RPA and internal audit efficiency.

The study findings offer valuable insights for auditors, policymakers and industry practitioners involved in RPA adoption initiatives. The organizations can use these results to develop informed strategies for navigating the challenges and maximizing the benefits of RPA implementation in internal audit functions.

This study contributes significantly to the existing literature by delving into the adoption of RPA, with a particular emphasis on understanding the challenges and evaluating the impact on audit efficiency, specifically in the context of KSA – an area that has not been extensively studied.

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) premise is complicated for an MNE subsidiary operating across a geographically dispersed heterogeneous environment and conceptual literature on MNE subsidiaries’ CSR, a function that makes-or-break legitimacy in the home and host environment, is at best scattered. This paper aims to bridge that gap by reviewing the literature on three levels and plotting all those idiosyncratic counter-institutional forces into a single framework.

After reviewing the literature on MNE subsidiaries’ CSR through institutional lens, this paper conceived a three-dimensional matrix of institutional force fields and mapped the quadrants with meta-level strategies that subsidiaries can assume. This paper further conceptualizes a linear flow model of subsidiary CSR.

An MNE subsidiary’s CSR premise could be plotted into a matrix structure of institutional force fields, with subsidiaries assuming strategies to balance these forces. This paper postulate that institutional complexities influence the CSR strategy of a subsidiary, subjected to firm-specific logic. This paper propose that for an MNC subsidiaries CSR, there is a systematic deviation path from Carroll’s hierarchical pyramid model to a need-based pyramidal model.

The three-dimensional force field matrix model with respective strategies that subsidiary could assume is proposed for the first time. The linear flow model of a subsidiary CSR is also new to literature.

The aim of this article is to highlight the major part played by executives in the escalation of corporate social irresponsibility (CSI). Based on the upper echelons theory, the authors developed a model which shows the essential role of CEOs in explaining CSI. The authors proposed that the key personality traits of CEOs—narcissism—, as well as their power, could explain the degree of CSI.

Due to the significant methodological challenges when investigating CSI, the authors explored a novel method for measuring CSI in order to assess the degree of irresponsible behaviors. The authors build a CSI scale based on the perceptions of key informants, i.e. experts with diverse professional backgrounds. The authors apply CSI scale in a sample of 84 Spanish companies that were involved in CSI.

The results of the authors’ empirical study show the positive and significant influence of CEO narcissism and CEO power on the degree of CSI.

On the one hand, corporate irresponsibility scandals have relevant social consequences and practical implications. On the other hand, narcissism is a natural feature of managers in top positions that is increasing in societies.

The authors’ findings may help CEOs, TMTs and corporate boards to acknowledge potential sources of CSI decreasing its likelihood through counterbalancing CEO's power and considering the dark side of narcissism.

On the one hand, corporate scandals have relevant social and practical implications. On the other hand, narcissism is a natural feature of managers in top positions that is increasing in societies.

In this paper, the authors highlight the role of CEOs characteristics and their firms as the key actors for explaining and understanding the degree of CSI.

本研究擬強調行政主管在加劇企業無社會責任感上所扮演的主要角色。我們根據高層梯隊理論, 開發了一個模型, 來顯示執行長如何在解釋企業無社會責任感上所起的關鍵作用。我們提出一個見解, 就是: 執行長的主要人格特質-自戀和其權力-或許能解釋企業無社會責任感的程度。

由於面對在關於企業無社會責任感的研究法上的重大挑戰, 我們探索了一個估量企業無社會責任感的新穎方法, 以能對企業無社會責任感行為的程度進行評估。我們根據主要的資訊提供者的觀念和看法, 制定了一個企業無社會責任感的等級 (這些主要的資訊提供者均為具有不同專業背景的專家), 我們在84間西班牙公司的樣本裡, 使用了這企業無社會責任感等級, 而這些公司均涉及企業無社會責任感的。

我們這實證研究的結果顯示, 執行長的自戀和其權力, 對企業無社會責任感的程度, 起著正面和顯著的影響。

在本學術論文裡, 我們強調了執行長的特徵和他們的公司, 是瞭解和解釋企業無社會責任感的程度的關鍵行為者。

一方面, 企業無社會責任感的醜聞會帶來相關的社會後果和實務方面的影響;而另一方面, 自戀是高層主管的自然特徵, 而這些特徵, 在我們的社會裡不斷增強。本研究的結果, 或許可幫助執行長、高層管理團隊和公司董事會去承認企業無社會責任感的潛在原因, 並以透過平衡執行長的權力和考慮自戀的陰暗面而減低企業無社會責任感產生的可能。

This study explores a sustainable method for repairing road potholes using a composite material made from waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles and local aggregates. This study aims to address plastic waste management challenges and provide a cost-effective and durable road maintenance solution.

PET bottles were collected, sliced, cleaned and melted at 280°C. Coarse and fine aggregates were characterized per Central Materials Laboratory (CML) standards. Mixtures with varying PET and aggregate ratios were prepared, molded into specimens and tested for mechanical properties following ASTM D1559-89 and ASTM D3967 standards.

The optimal mixture (30% PET, 30% sand and 40% gravel) outperformed conventional asphalt mixtures, achieving a Marshall stability of 59.78 kN, indirect tensile strength of 5,909 kPa and a resilient modulus of 36,145 MPa, exceeding Tanzanian road construction standards.

Although laboratory results are promising, further field trials are needed to evaluate the long-term performance and durability of the plastic-aggregate composite in real-world conditions.

This solution offers a cost-effective, sustainable option for road pothole repair, especially in developing countries with budget constraints and significant plastic waste.

By repurposing plastic waste and providing durable road maintenance, this research supports the United Nations' SDGs, promotes environmental conservation and fosters economic development through improved transportation infrastructure.

This innovative method uses waste plastic bottles as a standalone repair material, eliminating petroleum or cementitious binders and promoting a circular economy. This approach utilizes waste streams, thereby reducing maintenance costs and addressing plastic waste issues.

Inspired by the internationalisation paths to prosperity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), where narcissistic leaders are diligent about organisations but also pursue their dark goals, this study aims to concurrently examine two avenues for the internationalisation of narcissistic leaders in SMEs concerning the function of team organisational citizenship behaviours (OCB): corporate social irresponsibility (CSI) and digital business model innovation (BMI).

This study utilised a quantitative design emphasising mature theory research, and data was analysed using multiple regression analysis and Hayes' process model. The data for this study was collected via surveys from 270 SMEs in Vietnam.

The study showed that narcissistic Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) can penetrate the global market profoundly by utilising both the righteous path, which is based on the power of the times via BMI, and the unethical path, CSI. However, team devotion via OCB can mitigate the unethical conduct of narcissistic CEOs.

The study endeavoured to find a path to internationalisation for SMEs in emerging markets with high economic openness and increasingly close connections with international markets, via two strategies for SMEs to conquer the international market more successfully, and with utilising the foundations of CEO narcissism and team citizenship behaviour.

This study contributed to the theory of SME internationalisation by employing the resource-based view and upper-echelon theory, with the updated Uppsala model as its foundation.