The purpose of this paper is to apply an efficient hybrid computational numerical technique, namely, q-homotopy analysis Sumudu transform method (q-HASTM) and residual power…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to apply an efficient hybrid computational numerical technique, namely, q-homotopy analysis Sumudu transform method (q-HASTM) and residual power series method (RPSM) for finding the analytical solution of the non-linear time-fractional Hirota–Satsuma coupled KdV (HS-cKdV) equations.
Design/methodology/approach
The proposed technique q-HASTM is the graceful amalgamations of q-homotopy analysis method with Sumudu transform via Caputo fractional derivative, whereas RPSM depend on generalized formula of Taylors series along with residual error function.
Findings
To illustrate and validate the efficiency of the proposed technique, the authors analyzed the projected non-linear coupled equations in terms of fractional order. Moreover, the physical behavior of the attained solution has been captured in terms of plots and by examining the L2 and L∞ error norm for diverse value of fractional order.
Originality/value
The authors implemented two technique, q-HASTM and RPSM to obtain the solution of non-linear time-fractional HS-cKdV equations. The obtained results and comparison between q-HASTM and RPSM, shows that the proposed methods provide the solution of non-linear models in form of a convergent series, without using any restrictive assumption. Also, the proposed algorithm is easy to implement and highly efficient to analyze the behavior of non-linear coupled fractional differential equation arisen in various area of science and engineering.
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Francesco Caputo, Elisa Giacosa, Alberto Mazzoleni and Mario Ossorio
The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence regarding the contributions of ambidextrous workforces as a source of value for dynamic companies and organizations facing…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to provide evidence regarding the contributions of ambidextrous workforces as a source of value for dynamic companies and organizations facing emerging market turbulence.
Design/methodology/approach
Using structural equation modeling, the paper analyses the data collected via a semi-structured questionnaire administered to a sample of 1,227 employees from 37 Italian small- to medium-sized enterprises to investigate the effect on companies’ economic performance of ambidextrous workforce-related elements such as study background, previous work experience, work flexibility and soft capabilities.
Findings
The research shows that multidisciplinary human resources’ study background, previous human resources’ work experience and human resources’ soft capabilities are positively linked to companies’ return on sales, providing indirect evidence about the role of ambidextrous workforces in supporting companies facing emerging market turbulence.
Originality/value
The research demonstrates the relevant role of human resources in supporting companies to better align themselves to the emerging social and economic variety.
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Davide Di Fatta, Francesco Caputo and Gandolfo Dominici
Analyzing the entrepreneurial ecosystem related to the ARCA consortium, the purpose of this paper is to study the relationships among the start-up firms inside an incubator.
Abstract
Purpose
Analyzing the entrepreneurial ecosystem related to the ARCA consortium, the purpose of this paper is to study the relationships among the start-up firms inside an incubator.
Design/methodology/approach
Thanks to the adoption of the relationships concentric model and the density concentric model, the paper highlights the role of relational conditions for innovative projects in partnership among the incubated firms. Reflections herein are tested via a qualitative research approach based on a single case study: the ARCA consortium.
Findings
This research found that about 32 percent of relationships inside the incubator support the emergence of short-term relationships among the incubated firms. Furthermore, about 18 percent of the relationships support the emergence of strong collaborative strategies for the implementation of long-term relationships resulting in innovative pathways: innovative projects in partnership.
Originality/value
The most interconnected firms inside the incubator are those that play a central role also in the innovation pathway developing the higher number of innovative project in partnership. This finding emphasizes a correlation between collaborative relationships and innovation inside an incubator ecosystem.
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Antonio Corvino, Francesco Caputo, Marco Pironti, Federica Doni and Silvio Bianchi Martini
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the relationship between relational capital (RC) and firm performance, by investigating the moderation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the relationship between relational capital (RC) and firm performance, by investigating the moderation effect of firm size and its key role in defining conditions for competitive advantage.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses the interpretative lens of the resource dependence theory, and refreshes consolidated studies rooted in RC. It identifies a set of variables to measure the influence of RC on firm performance, including the cost of goods sold, interest expenses and earnings per share. Content analysis was used to capture specific features of corporate disclosure tools using 51 items pertinent to RC. The authors used a specific disclosure index drawing on data collected from 73 listed firms in France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Data covering the period from 2011 to 2013 were analyzed using six regression models.
Findings
Firm size has a moderating effect on the relationship between RC and some variables linked to firm performance.
Originality/value
The study combines an internal and external perspective to investigate the interplay between firms and market environments, and therefore, enriches the ongoing debate concerning the relationship between RC and firm performance. It outlines possible ways through which RC can become an effective source of competitive advantage.
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Francesco Caputo, Armando Masucci and Luigi Napoli
This paper aims to investigate the possible enablers and barriers of value co-creation processes in pharmacy, with the aim of enriching previous managerial and organisational…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the possible enablers and barriers of value co-creation processes in pharmacy, with the aim of enriching previous managerial and organisational contributions in the pharmacy management domain.
Design/methodology/approach
Building upon the interpretative contributions provided by the service logic and systems thinking approaches, this paper proposes a multi-disciplinary conceptual framework to analyse enablers and barriers in the value co-creation process. The findings are analysed using a semi-structured survey completed by employees involved in pharmacy management which were verified by structural equation modelling to allow us to determine the relevance of the findings in a changing social and economic environment, improve skills and capabilities and analyse competitors.
Findings
This paper offers an exploratory picture of the opinions of the employees involved in pharmacy management, focussing on possible enablers and barriers for value co-creation and their correlation with pharmacy revenues.
Research limitations/implications
The reflections and empirical research herein are the first of many studies investigating research pathways supplying both providers’ and users’ perceptions in the pharmacy domain about the value co-creation process.
Practical implications
The empirical evidence shows the relevance of some dimensions in defining opportunities and barriers for value co-creation process and – consequentially – pharmacy’s economic performances.
Originality/value
This paper combines qualitative and quantitative approaches to enrich the theoretical and practical contributions to the field of value co-creation processes.
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Francesco Caputo, Fabiana Sepe, Enrico Di Taranto and Fabio Fiano
The paper aims to enrich current debate about human–technology dichotomy in socio-economic settings by decoding and systematizing the main phases through which it has been…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to enrich current debate about human–technology dichotomy in socio-economic settings by decoding and systematizing the main phases through which it has been approached in managerial and social studies.
Design/methodology/approach
A multi-interpretative framework is built thanks to the adoption of a qualitative approach inspired by the inductive logic, and for analyzing the historical evolution of the approach to human–technology dichotomy and for explaining them through an innovative conceptual model.
Findings
An innovative conceptual model is proposed for depicting connections and evolutions among the main four phases in the evolution of the approaches to human–technology dichotomy.
Research limitations/implications
Reflections and conceptual model herein can support researchers in rereading the multiple theoretical and practical contributions provided with reference to human and technology relations in socio-economic settings.
Practical implications
The paper can support managers and entrepreneurs in defining and evaluating managerial approaches for efficiently enhancing human–technology interaction.
Originality/value
The paper proposes an innovative conceptual model based on a multi-interpretative framework for decoding the historical evolution of the approaches to human–technology dichotomy in business settings. New variables are added to the current debate about the topic for building an original interpretive viewpoint.
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Francesco Caputo, Leonard Walletzky and Petr Štepánek
This paper aims to investigate the role of Smart Technologies and Big Data as relevant dimensions in affecting the emerging social and economic dynamics of society with the aim to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to investigate the role of Smart Technologies and Big Data as relevant dimensions in affecting the emerging social and economic dynamics of society with the aim to trace possible guidelines and pathways for decision makers and researchers interested in the governance of the Smart City’s ecosystem. The increasing attention to the domain of technologies and the amazing scenario that is emerging as a consequence of the influence of Smart Technology and Big Data in everyday life require reflection upon the ways in which the world is changing.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts the interpretative lens provided by the systems thinking to investigate the challenging domain of the Smart City. A qualitative and interpretative approach is adopted to reflect upon the role of technologies in everyday life.
Findings
The Smart City ecosystem is defined as a multilevel construct useful for understanding how technical and technological dimensions of the Smart City can be managed not only as supportive instruments but also as key pillars to support, facilitate and ensure an effective cognitive alignment among all the involved actors.
Originality/value
This paper provides a tangible evidence of the systems thinking contribution in analysing, understanding and managing dimensions and paths of social dynamics. A contribution to previous studies is provided with reference to systems thinking, Big Data and Smart City.
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Fabio Fiano, Marco Sorrentino, Francesco Caputo and Margherita Smarra
With the aim to enrich the ongoing debate about healthcare management, the paper has a twofold intent: [1] to emphasise the interpretative contribution that intellectual capital…
Abstract
Purpose
With the aim to enrich the ongoing debate about healthcare management, the paper has a twofold intent: [1] to emphasise the interpretative contribution that intellectual capital can provide to a better understanding of the relevant role of patients in the healthcare sector and [2] to investigate the relationships between the three main dimensions of intellectual capital – human capital, relational capital and structural capital – and patient satisfaction in the healthcare sector.
Design/methodology/approach
The intellectual capital framework is contextualised in the healthcare sector, and the relationships among patient evaluations of human capital, relational capital and structural capital and patient satisfaction are tested via structural equation modelling (SEM) using primary data collected with reference to a sample of 561 Italian patients involved in post survey treatments in three Italian hospitals.
Findings
The role of intellectual capital in supporting a better understanding of processes and dynamics of patient satisfaction in the healthcare sector is underlined. The empirical research provides possible guidelines for recovery patients centrality in healthcare management.
Originality/value
The paper shows how an intellectual capital framework can support a better understanding and management of dynamics and processes through which patient centrality and satisfaction in healthcare management can be enforced.
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Simone Pizzi, Andrea Caputo, Andrea Venturelli and Fabio Caputo
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate blockchain’s enabling role for sustainability reporting. This study extends the scientific knowledge about the impacts related to the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to evaluate blockchain’s enabling role for sustainability reporting. This study extends the scientific knowledge about the impacts related to the notarisation of mandatory sustainability reports through a publicly available blockchain.
Design/methodology/approach
Building on the idea journey framework, this paper presents the case study of Banca Mediolanum in Italy, a first-mover who notarised its non-financial declaration on a public blockchain to mitigate the information asymmetries that negatively impact stakeholder engagement.
Findings
The analysis reveals that the notarisation of the non-financial reports through a publicly available blockchain can represent a tool useful to mitigate the asymmetric information between organisations and stakeholders.
Practical implications
Although academics and practitioners have observed the benefits of its implementation, only a few companies have adopted blockchain systems to ensure their information’s reliability. The findings underline the opportunity for socially responsible organisations to signal their orientation towards sustainable development through the adoption of an innovative tool.
Social implications
The proliferation of non-financial reports prepared on mandatory basis mitigated the signalling effects related to the disclosure of non-financial information. The case study underlines the opportunity for socially responsible organisations to overcoming this criticism through notarisation.
Originality/value
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study about sustainability reporting practices and blockchain. This research contributes to the currently scarce discussion about the role of blockchain in non-financial reporting. In addition, the authors contribute to the scientific conversation about the need to rethink assurance in non-financial reporting practices.
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Tiziana Russo-Spena, Cristina Mele, Valtteri Kaartemo, Francesco Caputo and Marialuisa Marzullo
The COVID-19 wave spread all over the global market, affecting all industries. This paper aims to develop the understanding of how service systems can enhance their viability when…
Abstract
Purpose
The COVID-19 wave spread all over the global market, affecting all industries. This paper aims to develop the understanding of how service systems can enhance their viability when facing rapid systemic changes.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors use data from Reddit, and particularly the subreddit r/coronavirus, to identify posts that discuss the impact of coronavirus on business. The authors use an algorithm to scrape the data with business-related search terms and elaborate relevant posts.
Findings
The findings show key topics and related sentiments on the impact of COVID-19 on business. Service systems can enhance viability by identifying alternative paths for emerging opportunities (by being creative), seize opportunities offered by the changing environment (by being opportunistic), not compromise conditions for internal balance (by being resilient), focus attention on critical purposes (by being essential) and perform nonharmful actions (by being responsible).
Originality/value
This paper proposes a framework depicting five possible key enhancers of viability to face a systemic crisis. In brief, companies need to ensure that they are creative, opportunistic, resilient, essential and responsible.