Isabel Maldonado, Carlos Pinho, Carla Lobo and Luis Pacheco
This study aims to analyse the relationship between the internationalisation performance of the company and, on the one hand, the factors that determine the internationalisation…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyse the relationship between the internationalisation performance of the company and, on the one hand, the factors that determine the internationalisation strategy and, on the other hand, the factors considered as inducers of this internationalisation process. The purpose of this study is to relate the determinants and inducing factors of the internationalisation process with the performance of internationalised companies, trying to assess how these determinants and these factors contribute to better performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors sent out a questionnaire to Portuguese exporting companies, containing questions regarding determinant factors associated with both the characteristics of origin market and target market of the internationalisation process and internationalisation inducing factors. The questionnaire results were subjected to a regression analysis.
Findings
The results indicate a positive relationship with the characteristics of the domestic market, more specifically with the need to reduce and diversify risk and the need to win new markets and consumers. Regarding the characteristics of the foreign market, there is a positive relationship with the determinants: follow customers and favourable perspectives of growth in the new market. In relation to the internationalisation inducing factors, those factors that the entrepreneur recognises as the triggers of the internationalisation strategy, the researchers found the existence of a positive relationship with formal and informal contact networks, as well as specific employee skills, international experience and strong propensity for entrepreneurship and risk-taking.
Research limitations/implications
This study presents some limitations. On the one hand, the fact that the authors used the questionnaires, which seemed to be the most adequate approach, brings as a drawback the reduced number of answers. Further collection is in order to increase the sample under study. On the other hand, the literature presents different approaches that may be tested as well as the possibility of including other types of variables that the researchers will address in future studies.
Originality/value
By analysing the relationship between company performance in the internationalisation process and the factors that determine and induce this internationalisation process, this study seeks to identify which factors entrepreneurs should favour and strengthen to obtain a better performance in the internationalisation process. In addition, the authors use the concept of inducing factors that represent the firm's characteristics that trigger the internationalisation strategy. In a complementary perspective, the authors intend to contribute to the identification of the factors that new Portuguese entrepreneurs should pay more attention to, when starting their internationalisation process and that will improve their performance.
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Cristina I.M.A.S. Fernandes, João J.M Ferreira, Carla Azevedo Lobo and Mario Raposo
A key point in the internationalisation process of companies comes with the choice of international market. Following this choice, the results companies may thereby obtain help in…
Abstract
Purpose
A key point in the internationalisation process of companies comes with the choice of international market. Following this choice, the results companies may thereby obtain help in measuring their level of international performance. This study aims to measure the impact of internationalisation processes in keeping with company market orientations (MOs) through measuring their effect on international performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors obtained the data from a questionnaire sent out by email to a total of 8,103 exporting companies and/or with interests in exporting (the study population) registered in the AICEP-Portugal Global database that provided the email addresses of the company representatives responsible for internationalisation. The authors received a total of 320 valid responses (sample).
Findings
The results display a positive MO effect both on internationalisation processes and on international performance. The authors also note the importance of studying the influence of strategic orientations on internationalization processes, motivated by the particular SME’s characteristics.
Originality/value
The authors aim to contribute to the study of the influence of the MO, both upstream and downstream, thus seeking to verify its impact on internationalization processes.
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Anderson R. Galvão, Carla Marques, Carolina Monteiro and Carla Mascarenhas
This study aims to understand the role of the creative entrepreneur in the development of his business.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand the role of the creative entrepreneur in the development of his business.
Design/methodology/approach
For the development of this study, primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five creative entrepreneurs in the Douro region. To triangulate the information, interviews were also carried out with four heads of local institutions, namely, a university, two municipalities and a business incubator.
Findings
The results obtained suggest that creative entrepreneurs play an important role in the development of their business, since creativity and innovation are fundamental for the sustainability of their business. However, the results suggest that the main difficulties experienced by this type of entrepreneurs are related to poor knowledge and interest in management. As a rule, poor management knowledge leads to the emergence of several obstacles, related to sales, stocks, production costs and bureaucracy.
Research limitations/implications
This study contributes to the existing literature by providing new insights into the main difficulties of creative entrepreneurs, how they overcome these obstacles.
Practical implications
The results obtained provide important information for policymakers. The creation of management training programs and cooperation incentives can be important for the growth and development of this type of company. In addition, it shows that it is necessary to create specific policies to encourage and support creative entrepreneurs, since they have different specifications than most entrepreneurs.
Originality/value
This study provides empirical evidence on the ability to explore the intersection between individual entrepreneur creativity and business success. Furthermore, this study demonstrates: i) how your creative entrepreneur management knowledge affects your business; ii) the main difficulties of this type of entrepreneurs; iii) how they have overcome these difficulties; iv) how creative entrepreneurs cooperate with each other.
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Julia Anne Silano, Carla Treloar, Thomas Wright, Tracey Brown, Colette McGrath and Phillip Snoyman
This commentary aims to reveal how a steering committee has effectively responded to advancing accessibility to harm reduction resources, hepatitis C virus (HCV) policy and health…
Abstract
Purpose
This commentary aims to reveal how a steering committee has effectively responded to advancing accessibility to harm reduction resources, hepatitis C virus (HCV) policy and health strategies within adult prison settings in New South Wales (NSW).
Design/methodology/approach
By reviewing the audit approach taken by the of the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network and Corrective Services New South Wales Harm Reduction Reference Group (JHFMHN/CSNSW HRRG), this commentary emphasizes the committee’s success in identifying contemporary harm reduction issues that affect people in custodial settings. This commentary is a compilation of data gathered through the 2018 JHFMHN/CSNSW HRRG audit and corresponding program materials. Conclusions regarding the effectiveness of the working group’s audit were drawn by critically appraising the JHFMHN/CSNSW HRRG’s Final Audit Report (JHFMHN and CSNSW, 2018) with reference to current harm reduction literature.
Findings
The HRRG has provided leadership, professional representation and strategic advice on the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of best practice harm reduction strategies in prison settings. The HRRG developed and maintained networks and information exchange between the state-wide HCV health network, corrections services and the NSW harm reduction sector at large. Public health partnerships and advocacy that involve all key players, such as the HRRG, will continue to be crucial to remove barriers to enhancing HCV harm reduction measures especially in NSW prison settings.
Social implications
Strategies such as primary prevention and treatment can mitigate the spread of HCV in the custodial system. This audit of access to harm reduction resources was conducted on behalf of the diverse group of professionals, scholars and stakeholders comprising the HRRG. This audit and other advocacy efforts of this committee can facilitate future access to quality healthcare and the necessary policies required to support a healthier prison population at large.
Originality/value
Collaborating with health authorities, researchers and social service workers can enable prison health-care systems to be guided by wider health workforce programs and public health standards. This collaboration can reduce the professional isolation of custodial health-care staff and promote a balanced approach to harm reduction policies by ensuring an equitable focus on both health and security imperatives.
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Rab Nawaz Lodhi, Muhammad Asif, Carla Del Gesso and Cihan Cobanoglu
This qualitative study aims to investigate the critical success factors (CSFs) driving the adoption of virtual reality (VR) in the hospitality industry, shedding light on key…
Abstract
Purpose
This qualitative study aims to investigate the critical success factors (CSFs) driving the adoption of virtual reality (VR) in the hospitality industry, shedding light on key determinants for successful implementation.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on a diverse set of interviews conducted in Italy, Pakistan, the USA and Turkey, this study uses thematic analysis facilitated by NVivo 12 to comprehensively explore and identify the CSFs influencing VR adoption within the global hospitality industry.
Findings
This study identifies distinct CSFs at various phases of VR adoption in the hospitality industry. Preimplementation emphasizes budget planning and stakeholder engagement, implementation highlights safety training and feedback mechanisms and postimplementation underscores the importance of innovation, feedback utilization and maintenance for sustained success. These findings offer a strategic roadmap for VR integration in hospitality.
Practical implications
The study informs hospitality industry stakeholders of crucial success factors for VR adoption, thereby guiding strategic decision-making. Sustained VR integration success is ensured by emphasizing budget planning, stakeholder engagement, safety training, feedback mechanisms and postimplementation innovation.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this groundbreaking research is the first in-depth investigation into CSFs for the adoption of VR in the hospitality industry. This research advances our understanding of and provides fresh guidance for effective VR integration by revealing novel insights into the key variables at various deployment phases.
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Carla Denize Venzke, Marco Antônio Siqueira Rodrigues, Alexandre Giacobbo, Luciana Ely Bacher, Iona Souza Lemmertz, Cheila Viegas, Júlia Striving and Shaiane Pozzebon
The purpose of this paper is to apply reverse osmosis (RO) to the treatment of industrial wastewater from a large petrochemical complex in Southern Brazil, in order to verify the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to apply reverse osmosis (RO) to the treatment of industrial wastewater from a large petrochemical complex in Southern Brazil, in order to verify the conditions of liquid effluent reuse and improve them, especially to reduce the consumption of natural water by some production structures such as boilers and cooling towers.
Design/methodology/approach
The petrochemical wastewater was submitted to pretreatment using a sand filter and activated carbon filters. Tests were conducted using RO equipment with a production capacity of 0.25 m3h−1 composed of a spiral membrane module with a membrane area of 7.2 m². Pressures of 8, 12 and 15 bar were applied with reject flow maintained constant at 10 Lm−1.
Findings
The experiment results indicated optimum RO performance since more than 90 percent extraction was obtained for most of the compounds present in the petrochemical wastewater.
Originality/value
By checking the aspects involved, as well as providing some relevant considerations about, this study promotes the application of RO to get a satisfactory water reuse in similar industries, thereby decreasing both the volume of water extracted from wellsprings and the amount of wastewater released into water bodies.
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Migena Proi, Carla Di Mattia, Giampiero Sacchetti, Natalia Battista, Silvia Cozzolino, Pierluigi Nucci, Mauro Serafini and Maria Angela Perito
This study investigates the relationship between the hedonic pleasure of trying new food and emotional responses to insect-based bakery products.
Abstract
Purpose
This study investigates the relationship between the hedonic pleasure of trying new food and emotional responses to insect-based bakery products.
Design/methodology/approach
A laboratory tasting was conducted with 131 Italian high school students in the province of Teramo (Italy). Participants completed a questionnaire to assess their general hedonic liking of new food and ranked the intensity of negative and positive emotions after tasting the food products.
Findings
The findings show that general hedonic liking of new food significantly influences both negative and positive emotions. In the case of negative emotions, individuals who declared to like trying new food were more likely to experience lower levels of disgust, fearful, worry and distrustful. Meanwhile, in the case of positive emotions, individuals who liked trying new food had a greater probability of feeling higher levels of calm, energy, enthusiasm and contentment. We further found that women were more likely to experience negative emotions (i.e. disgust, fearful and worry) to a higher extent than men.
Practical implications
The results add useful information about food and marketing research by showing which emotions should be encouraged or avoided in the case of consumers with different degrees of liking new food.
Originality/value
This study is the first to assess how hedonic liking impacts emotions in the case of an insect-based food.
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Carla Maria Freitas Da Costa Freire and Lídia Costa Alves
The experience of working from home, which people had to deal with in the aftermath of the global pandemic crisis, was a test of resilience and does not necessarily have to be…
Abstract
Purpose
The experience of working from home, which people had to deal with in the aftermath of the global pandemic crisis, was a test of resilience and does not necessarily have to be analysed in a negative light. In this sense, this study aims to analyse the impact of the perceived schedule flexibility, in the context of telework, on stress and satisfaction with family life among academic staff. To this end, a model was implemented to analyse the mediation role of family–work conflict.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected from 248 questionnaires presented to educators and office staff at universities when teleworking was initiated due to the pandemic confinement. Structural equation analysis was designed to test the study hypotheses.
Findings
By applying a model which uses the effect of mediation of the family–work conflict, the results revealed that the perception of flexibility resulting from telework influences stress at work, as well as satisfaction with family life among academic staff.
Originality/value
There is a need to study the conditions required in the implementation of telework. This study is specifically intended to deepen some of the findings of previous studies in this area and to provide a greater understanding of how perceived flexibility can contribute to a decrease in stress and higher levels of satisfaction by reducing family interference with work.
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Silvia Pereira de Castro Casa Nova, Isabel Costa Lourenço and Renato Ferreira LeitãoAzevedo
This study aims to analyse the impacts of an institutional change process on a specific higher education institution in Europe and the trade-offs between the faculty perceptions…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyse the impacts of an institutional change process on a specific higher education institution in Europe and the trade-offs between the faculty perceptions of success and the organization image during this process, in light of the identity institutional theory.
Design/methodology/approach
The impacts of this institutional change are analysed and discussed based on in-depth interviews conducted with faculty members of the accounting department in which they reflected upon academic success vis-a-vis the career assessment system adopted, followed up by those faculty members’ answering an electronic questionnaire about organizational identity and image perception (Gioia et al., 2000).
Findings
Considering the individual perspectives, faculty are concerned about their vocations and aspirations, with feelings of apprehension and insecurity, perceiving the institutional goals as too high and potentially unattainable. By shifting the priority towards research, costs in terms of losing the institutional excellence in teaching might arise, which has been traditionally keen to the institute’s organizational identity and consistent with faculty’s perceptions of academic success.
Research limitations/implications
As in any research endeavour, some limitations might emerge. First, the authors addressed the context of a specific business school, in a European country. It is certainly true that culture plays a role in terms of both organizational and national levels. The authors acknowledge this as a limitation. Nevertheless, this research takes a “local” stance, the logic of academic evaluation and its impacts on institutional and individual identity formation processes is a worldwide phenomenon. Second, in defining the authors’ selection criteria, the authors excluded the possibility of other voices to be heard, both in the department itself and in the business school. Regarding the department, the authors argue that those are the ones who could influence future decisions, considering that they are the only ones eligible for the governing bodies under the institute’s regulations. Regarding the business school, adding other department(s) means adding other discipline(s) to the authors’ analysis with specific and different dynamics of researching, publishing and teaching, which also impacts the expectations regarding career and academic success.
Practical implications
First, before beginning an institutional change process, it is necessary to assess the vocations and aspirations of its members. The solution requires to reanalyse academic career premises and to reconsider the weights given to each academic activity, or furthermore, to offer more than one career path, so as to make it flexible for each faculty to follow their vocations and aspirations or to adapt to life demands. Second, in terms of organizational identity and image, the challenge is to minimize the gap between the construed external image and the internal identity, striving to achieve a balance between teaching, research, outreach and service.
Originality/value
Because of the nature of the academic work, the authors propose that the application of the theory should be preceded by a careful consideration of what is academic success. The misalignments studied and reported here reveal a multilevel phenomenon, wherein individual academic identities are often in conflict with the institutional image. The authors’ study entails a contribution to the application of the identity institutional theory to academic institutions.
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Marylyn Carrigan, Victoria Wells and Navdeep Athwal
This paper aims to develop a deeper understanding of what (un)sustainable food behaviours and values are transmitted across generations, to what extent this transference happens…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to develop a deeper understanding of what (un)sustainable food behaviours and values are transmitted across generations, to what extent this transference happens and the sustainability challenges resulting from this for individuals and households.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 25 semi-structured in-depth interviews are analysed regarding the value of inherited food, family food rituals, habits and traditions, aspects of food production and understanding of sustainability.
Findings
Intergenerational transferences are significant in shaping (un)sustainable consumption throughout life, and those passed-on behaviours and values offer opportunities for lifelong sustainable change and food consumption reappraisal in daily life, beyond early years parenting and across diverse households.
Research limitations/implications
Participants were limited to British families, although the sample drew on multiple ethnic heritages. Future research could study collectivist versus more individualistic cultural influence; explore intergenerational transference of other diverse households, such as multigeneration or in rural and urban locations, or whether sustainable crossover derived from familial socialisation continues into behaviours and values beyond food.
Practical implications
The findings show the importance of families and intergenerational transference to the embedding of sustainable consumption behaviours. Mundane family life is a critical source of sustainable learning, and marketers should prioritise understanding of the context and relationships that drive sustainable consumer choices. Opportunities for intentional and unintentional sustainable learning exist throughout life, and marketers and policymakers can both disrupt unsustainable and encourage sustainable behaviours with appropriate interventions, such as nostalgic or well-being communications. The paper sheds light on flexible sustainable identities and how ambivalence or accelerated lives can deflect how policy messages are received, preventing sustainable choices.
Originality/value
The findings provide greater understanding about the mechanisms responsible for the sustainable transformation of consumption habits, suggesting intergenerational transferences are significant in shaping (un)sustainable food consumption throughout life. The study shows secondary socialisation can play a critical role in the modification of early behaviour patterns of food socialisation. The authors found individuals replicate food behaviours and values from childhood, but through a process of lifelong learning, can break formative habits, particularly with reverse socialisation influences that prioritise sustainable behaviours.