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.
Details
Keywords
Rocio Serrano, Washington Macias, Katia Rodriguez and María Isabel Amor
The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess the expectations of university teachers about the importance of generic competences in Higher…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess the expectations of university teachers about the importance of generic competences in Higher Education Institutions of Ecuador (E-DUC, acronym in Spanish), based on the competences typology from the Tuning Latin America Project.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire with Likert scales was administered to 458 university teachers from seven universities in Ecuador. Exploratory and confirmatory analyzes have been carried out to validate the theoretical model.
Findings
After the validation process, four groups of generic competences were confirmed and the measurement model showed high levels of reliability, as well as content and construct validity.
Research limitations/implications
Since tuning project has an international scope, the research could be replicated in other Latin American countries for comparability purposes regarding teachers’ perceived importance of generic competences in teaching activity. In addition, further research can relate teachers’ expectations with teaching performance and other constructs, based on a broad theoretical framework.
Practical implications
These technical characteristics allow the use of E-DUC as an instrument to measure the expectations of teachers on the general competences that are worked on in higher education in Ecuador. Data about these perceptions are useful for the design of teachers’ training programs, curriculum reforms and other higher education policies.
Originality/value
It is the first research carried out in Ecuador and Latin America in order to validate a scale for measuring the expectations of teachers about the importance of the generic competences proposed in the Tuning Latin America Project.
Details
Keywords
Ana María Barrera-Rodríguez, Paola Andrea Echeverri-Gutiérrez, Isabel Redondo-Ramírez and Leidy Hernández-Ramírez
This article develops a review of the university social responsibility literature to identify the most influential countries, authors, journals, and institutions, their structure…
Abstract
Purpose
This article develops a review of the university social responsibility literature to identify the most influential countries, authors, journals, and institutions, their structure, and research lines.
Design/methodology/approach
The review was carried out from a bibliometric and network analysis of documents published in the Web of Science database.
Findings
In total, 192 documents were found that were scientifically mapped in this field. From the network analysis, four research perspectives were identified: strategic impact management policy, user and its stakeholders, service-learning and its contribution to user, and theories, approaches, and strategies of University Social Responsibility (USR). Finally, the agenda for future research are presented.
Originality/value
The present work carries out a bibliometric and network analysis that seeks to contribute to the literature on USR, identifying its current perspectives and future lines of research.
Details
Keywords
Carmen Gago-Cortés and Isabel Novo-Corti
The persistence of shanty towns in cities is a major public issue due to the situation of poverty and abandonment of its inhabitants. Despite public authorities are concerned…
Abstract
Purpose
The persistence of shanty towns in cities is a major public issue due to the situation of poverty and abandonment of its inhabitants. Despite public authorities are concerned about this serious issue, they often fail to address suitably the problem due to their short-term goals. The purpose of this paper is to assess the public policies and green economy projects to improve the quality of life of people living in shanty towns in northwest Spain from the point of view of sustainable development and the interaction between social, economic and environmental areas.
Design/methodology/approach
A systemic causal diagram is proposed for the empirical analysis. It has been contrasted through the study of the various actions undertaken in some shanty towns in Spain. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to complement this analysis.
Findings
As a result, the study shows that the actions should not only be limited to providing access to adequate housing, but should also require more extensive cross-cutting projects. In this, green economy policies are shown as a good choice for improving the quality of life and development of the population.
Originality/value
The study highlights the potential of green economic policies to mitigate environmental problems in slum areas and to support the social and economic development of its inhabitants. This paper provides some lines of action to improve the efficiency of public policies implemented in these cases. Thus, benefits in multiple areas such as social, environmental and urban could be generated.
Details
Keywords
Franciéle Carneiro Garcês-da-Silva, Dirnele Carneiro Garcez and Leyde Klebia Rodrigues da Silva
This chapter historicizes the social construction of racism in Brazilian society and its relation to the development of the library and information science (LIS) field. It is a…
Abstract
This chapter historicizes the social construction of racism in Brazilian society and its relation to the development of the library and information science (LIS) field. It is a theoretical-reflective research built on the scientific literature of the field of LIS and related areas that aims at reflecting on social justice in Brazilian libraries and creating strategies to confront institutional racism. The authors develop five main points to understand Brazilian racism: the myth of racial democracy, structural and institutionalized racism, the whitening ideology, whiteness, and the epistemicide of black knowledge. The authors then discuss racism and the promotion of white supremacy in library teaching and professional action in libraries. Black US American and Black Brazilian Librarianship movements show that the activism and political action of black librarians advance the development of informational counter-narratives. Finally, the authors recommend three strategies for social, racial, and informational justice in the LIS field: including ethnic-racial studies in basic university courses curricula; building diverse, inclusive collections that account for ethnic-racial themes and authors; and considering “Pretuguese” keywords while indexing, in order to counter exclusion and promote epistemic repair. The authors conclude by advocating for these strategies to steer LIS professional and educational spheres toward contributing to forward an anti-racist society.
Details
Keywords
Eduardo Fayos-Solà, Laura Fuentes Moraleda and Ana Isabel Muñoz Mazón
Destination management is in urgent need of analytical and policy tools, and even more so in the context of tourism for development programs. Understanding both structural…
Abstract
Destination management is in urgent need of analytical and policy tools, and even more so in the context of tourism for development programs. Understanding both structural elements and dynamic processes are essential. This chapter describes a model of destinations which considers three types of structural components: factors/resources, attractors (of tourism demand), and support systems. It analyzes as well the optimizing behavior of destination stakeholders, both endogenous and exogenous, as a way to understand destination dynamics. The model can be applied in the strategic positioning of destinations as well as in achieving competitiveness and sustainability—ultimately contributing to development—through tourism policy plans and governance processes. The model was born in the context of a European Eureka–ComTur research project, and has been tested in a variety of destinations.
Details
Keywords
Ana-Maria Parente-Laverde, Izaias Martins and Laura Isabel Rojas de Francisco
This study aims to analyze the effect of institutional dimensions and corporate reputation (CR) on the performance of Latin American companies using a study framework built on…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to analyze the effect of institutional dimensions and corporate reputation (CR) on the performance of Latin American companies using a study framework built on institutional theory.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors used a panel data analysis of 45 companies from the 6 biggest economies in Latin America for 5 years.
Findings
The authors found a positive effect between institutional independence and transparency perception, certifications, social norms, chief executive officer (CEO) international experience, board of directors' networks and CR with international performance (IP) and a negative effect between property rights protection and the perception of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with performance.
Originality/value
The uniqueness of this paper is based on the analysis of institutional and reputational variables on the IP of firms from emerging markets.
Propósito
Este estudio busca analizar el efecto de las dimensiones institucionales y la reputación corporativa en el desempeño internacional de las compañías latinoamericanas, desde una perspectiva de la teoría institucional.
Diseño/metodología/enfoque
Los autores usan un análisis de datos de panel de cuarenta y cinco compañías provenientes de las seis economías más grandes de Latinoamérica, durante cinco años.
Resultados
Se encontró un efecto positivo entre la interdependencia y la transparencia institucional, certificaciones internacionales, normas sociales, experiencia internacional del gerente, las redes de la junta directiva y la reputación corporativa con el desempeño internacional. Así mismo, se encontró un efecto negative entre la protección a la propiedad intelectual y la percepción de responsabilidad social con el desempeño.
Originalidad
La excepcionalidad de este artículo se basa en el análisis de variables institucional y reputacionales en el desempeño de compañías provenientes de mercados emergentes.