Jane Lu Hsu, Chih-Hung Feng and Cherie Hsu
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how globalised business programmes in higher education in Taiwan fills latent gaps between business education and the local job markets…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how globalised business programmes in higher education in Taiwan fills latent gaps between business education and the local job markets from viewpoints of teachers, students in higher education, and those working in the job markets within five years of graduation. The distinction in viewpoints from teachers, students, and graduates is valuable in examining how globalised business programmes in Taiwan help students in competitiveness in the local job markets.
Design/methodology/approach
Six teachers (five males, one female) in business programmes from two national universities with teaching experiences ranging from 2 to 19 years were interviewed. Ten students (four males, six females) in business programmes from six universities ranging from junior to master’s level were interviewed. Nine people (five males, four females) who were working full-time in the local job markets within five years of graduation from business programmes were interviewed. A total of 25 subjects (14 males, 11 females) participated in the study.
Findings
In course-related issues, students seem to have difficulties in understanding certain issues with different cultural background, and this affects teachers using textbooks and cases with USA or European standpoints. In applicability, some teachers believe it is students’ responsibilities to know how to apply what they have learned in school in practice. Those graduates who are working in local markets explained that in reality they do not apply much of what they have learned in globalised business programmes at work. In crossing over the gap, some teachers try to include local cases in teaching materials.
Research limitations/implications
The argument in this study is not to lose the beauty of localisation in globalisation in business programmes in higher education. The latent gaps between globalised business programmes and local job markets can be crossed over with a strong foundation of training in theories in globalised business programmes plus some experiences obtained in working experiences.
Originality/value
Findings in this study provided new insights into gaps between globalised business programmes and local job markets, and how it can be crossed over with a strong foundation of training in theories plus experiences obtained in practical training. Generic competence and transferable skills in local business operations ought to be included in globalised business programmes.
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Sukanya Ayatakshi-Endow and Jiselle Steele
This paper aims to explore how women entrepreneurs in Brazil are managing their businesses and gendered role expectations at home in the context of Covid-19. Using the lenses of…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to explore how women entrepreneurs in Brazil are managing their businesses and gendered role expectations at home in the context of Covid-19. Using the lenses of business-family interface theoretical construct, the paper seeks to explain how women are navigating the business and family commitments in the pandemic context.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper adopts the interpretivist approach using Gioia methodology and 13 individual semi-structured interviews with women entrepreneurs in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.
Findings
The findings demonstrate that women implement numerous strategies including reliance on social relationships within the family, and externally, to manage the home-business expectations. The findings also reveal entrepreneurial resilience and adaptability in the face of a crisis that marks how women entrepreneurs navigate challenges in their entrepreneurial journeys.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the gender and entrepreneurship literature by giving greater visibility to women entrepreneurs in developing society in the context of the pandemic. This paper also demonstrates how negotiating gender roles can empower women entrepreneurs to challenge gendered norms.
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Subhalaxmi Mohapatra and Risha Roy
The present study aims to understand the role of the network of a woman entrepreneur in helping the business during a crisis with a focus on the stakeholders, namely, the…
Abstract
Purpose
The present study aims to understand the role of the network of a woman entrepreneur in helping the business during a crisis with a focus on the stakeholders, namely, the suppliers and the customers.
Design/methodology/approach
Case study method is used to address the research objectives and a case of a woman entrepreneur based in India is selected for the same purpose. An interpretive approach is used to understand the underlying phenomenon.
Findings
The analysis of the case illustrates how the three major aspects of the network, i.e. content, governance and structure, manifest from the supplier and the customers’ side and how do the same change during a crisis and may help the entrepreneur to overcome the crisis.
Research limitations/implications
The present study contributes to the theory of “network success hypotheses of entrepreneurship theory” by offering a manifestation of the same during a crisis faced by the entire network of the entrepreneur.
Practical implications
The findings provide insights on how an entrepreneur can use innovative ways of rethinking of the strategies during a crisis without compromising on the basic philosophy of the company.
Originality/value
The present study is one of a kind to identify the interplay between the entrepreneurial networks both from the customer and supplier sides of the firm during a crisis.
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Jiang Shuyi, Abdullah Al Mamun and Farzana Naznen
The world has been forced to implement movement restriction strategy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and industries have to embrace online technologies and social media…
Abstract
Purpose
The world has been forced to implement movement restriction strategy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and industries have to embrace online technologies and social media marketing activities (SMMAs) to continue their business operations. Considering the aftermath of COVID-19 on the business world, this study aims to explore the determining elements of SMMAs and analyse how these factors affect brand equity (BE), relationship equity (RE) and purchase intention (PI) among smartphone consumers in China. Five constructs of SMMAs, namely, entertainment (EN), interactivity (IN), trendiness (TR), customisation (CU) and electronic word-of-mouth (WM), were examined to examine the effects of SMMAs on BE and RE. Subsequently, the mediation effects of BE and RE on the relationships of all constructs of SMMAs with PI were analysed.
Design/methodology/approach
An online survey was conducted with the participation of 347 Chinese consumers who used social media platform managed by the smartphone brands as their marketing activities during COVID-19. The data were analysed via structural equation modelling using SmartPLS.
Findings
This study’s result showed the significant and positive influence of CU, TR and WM on BE and the strong and positive influence of CU, IN and TR on RE. Furthermore, BE was found to fully mediate the relationships of CU, TR and WM with PI, while RE was found to mediate the relationships of TR and CU with PI. The performance and impact factor analysis revealed RE as the most important factor for PI, followed by BE, CU and TR.
Originality/value
This study extended the authors’ knowledge and understanding about social media marketing, BE and smart phone PI during COVID-19. Findings of this study can assist smartphone brands in China to develop the most effective strategies for SMMAs, which can be tailored for consumers to maximise profits, even during any crisis when physical business activities are deemed difficult. Moreover, this study’s findings can benefit the government and policymakers in developing and regulating rules and regulations for e-commerce and social media commerce for all industries and areas.