Ana Belén Alonso-Conde, Javier Rojo-Suárez and Sandra Rentas
First, this paper aims to study the extent to which students in business administration degrees are aware of the characteristics of the business ecosystem. Second, the degree of…
Abstract
Purpose
First, this paper aims to study the extent to which students in business administration degrees are aware of the characteristics of the business ecosystem. Second, the degree of knowledge of the benefits resulting from the interaction between the university-based business incubators and the universities are studied.
Design/methodology/approach
To focus the discussion, a survey is conducted, asking students their preferences as future professionals, as well as their knowledge about specific sources of financing, namely, venture capital and crowdfunding and other networks useful to foster the creation of companies such as business incubators.
Findings
Results reveal that the students under study mostly prefer to work as employees in a company. Additionally, these results suggest a poor knowledge from students regarding specific aspects related to entrepreneurship and, more specifically, business incubators. These empirical results underline the need to shift the focus of subject programmes towards a greater focus on entrepreneurship. Additionally, the results also draw attention to the need of fostering the relationship between business incubators and universities, so that students become aware of the support that these networks can provide to entrepreneurs in the early stages of business projects.
Research limitations/implications
The data analysis for this study is built based on a survey of students attending specific finance courses at a Spanish public university. It is worth noting that in this study we have based on the supply side whereby future research might focus on the point of view given by the firm’s recruitment of business administration students. In addition, to strengthen the conclusions drawn from this study, further research should increase the sample period and the outcomes achieved at other universities in different regions.
Practical implications
In terms of policy implications, the empirical findings highlight the relevance of understanding the effectiveness of entrepreneurship programmes, given the budgetary expenditure involved in entrepreneurship education.
Originality/value
The relevance of the issue has been highlighted through a literature review of the past 10 years. In terms of policy implications, the empirical findings highlight the relevance of understanding the effectiveness of entrepreneurship programmes, given the budgetary expenditure involved in entrepreneurship education.
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María Lourdes Arco-Castro, María Victoria López-Pérez, Ana Belén Alonso-Conde and Javier Rojo Suárez
This paper aims to identify the effect of environmental management systems (EMSs), commitment to stakeholders and gender diversity on corporate environmental performance (CEP) and…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to identify the effect of environmental management systems (EMSs), commitment to stakeholders and gender diversity on corporate environmental performance (CEP) and the extent to which an economic crisis moderates these relationships.
Design/methodology/approach
A regression analysis was conducted on a sample of 14,217 observations from 1,933 firms from 26 countries from 2002 to 2010. The estimator used is ordinary least squares with heteroscedastic panel-corrected standard errors (PCSEs), which allows us to obtain consistent results in the presence of heteroscedasticity and autocorrelation.
Findings
The results show that EMSs and stakeholder engagement are mechanisms that drive CEP but lose their effectiveness in times of crisis. However, the presence of women on boards has a positive effect on CEP that is not affected by an economic crisis.
Research limitations/implications
The study has some limitations that could be addressed in the future. We present board gender diversity as a governance mechanism because its role is strongly related to non-financial performance. Future studies could focus on other corporate governance mechanisms, such as the presence of institutional or long-term investors. In addition, other mechanisms could be found that can counteract poor environmental performance in times of crisis. Finally, it might be useful to contrast these results with the crisis generated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Practical implications
The results obtained have important practical implications at the corporate and institutional levels. At the corporate level, they highlight, as essential contributions, that environmental management systems and stakeholder orientation are not effective in times of economic crisis, except for with the presence of women on the board.
Social implications
Following the crisis, the European Commission has promoted gender diversity on boards as a mechanism to improve the governance of entities – improving, among other aspects, sustainability. In this sense, another one of the practical implications of the study is support for the policies that the European Union has implemented over the last two decades.
Originality/value
The paper analyses how a crisis affects the moral and cultural institutional mechanisms that promote CEP. Gender diversity on the board of directors not only promotes environmental performance but also appears to be a governance mechanism that ensures this performance in times of crisis when the other mechanisms lose their effectiveness. The study proposes specific policies that help maintain environmental performance in an economic crisis.
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Araceli Rojo-Gallego-Burin, Francisco Javier Llorens-Montes, Maria N. Perez-Arostegui and Mark Stevenson
To analyze the effect of an ambidextrous supply chain strategy (ASCS) – i.e. the combination of exploration and exploitation practices – on each of the four dimensions of supply…
Abstract
Purpose
To analyze the effect of an ambidextrous supply chain strategy (ASCS) – i.e. the combination of exploration and exploitation practices – on each of the four dimensions of supply chain flexibility (SCF): information system, operating system, sourcing and distribution flexibility. Further, to evaluate the influence of implementing the ISO 9001 standard on the relationship between ASCS and SCF, and whether this certification directly affects the level of SCF. We ground our model in Resource Orchestration theory.
Design/methodology/approach
To perform this study, the authors used data collected from a sample of 145 non-ISO-certified firms and 157 ISO-certified firms.
Findings
ASCS does not affect all four dimensions of SCF in the same way. Rather, its effect is contingent on the presence of the ISO 9001 certification. An ASCS is shown to have a positive effect on information system flexibility irrespective of the presence of ISO 9001 certification whereas for the other three dimensions of SCF, the effect of ASCS is dependent on ISO 9001 implementation. Meanwhile, ISO 9001 implementation itself does not affect the level of SCF.
Practical implications
Managers can use the findings to configure their supply chain strategy based on the specific dimension(s) of SCF they seek to develop by implementing ASCS. Further, the results inform managers about the incentives for implementing ISO 9001.
Originality/value
Although prior studies have shown that an ambidextrous strategy enables firms and organizational units to adapt to the environment, there have been few prior studies on ambidexterity in a supply chain context. Further, although the extant literature has suggested that the ISO 9001 may facilitate ambidexterity, this link has remained largely theoretical. In fact, there is very little prior evidence on how the practice of ISO 9001 affects the supply chain.
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Gaston Perman, Mariana Prevettoni, Tami Guenzelovich, Marcelo Schapira, Javier Saimovici, María Victoria González, Roxana Ramos, Leonardo Garfi, Lucila Hornstein, Cristian Gallo Acosta, María Florencia Cunha Ferré, Silvana Scozzafava and Carlos Vassallo Sella
Our objective was to evaluate the cost-utility of a health and social care integration programme for frail older adults in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Abstract
Purpose
Our objective was to evaluate the cost-utility of a health and social care integration programme for frail older adults in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a study of the programme’s effectiveness, a Markov model was conducted to assess its cost-utility. The active intervention was the health and social care integration programme, and the control was the best standard of care so far. The setting was the patients' home of residence. A third-party payer perspective and a lifelong time horizon were adopted. All transition probabilities, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs were estimated from the effectiveness study. A discount rate of 3.5% was applied to costs and benefits. Costs are expressed in international dollars (Int$), calculated according to the International Monetary Fund’s purchasing power parity rate. Different sensitivity analyses were performed. The model was built in Excel 365. Construct validity, verification during model construction and internal consistency of the results were assessed.
Findings
The programme had an average cost of Int$18,768.22/QALY, and the control Int$42,609.68/QALY. In the incremental analysis, the programme saved Int$26,436.10 and gained 0.81 QALYs over the control. In the sensitivity analyses, in 99.96% of cases, the programme was less costly and more effective.
Practical implications
The cost savings can facilitate the scalability.
Originality/value
The health and social care integration programme for frail older adults was more effective and less costly than the best standard of care to date. This study contributes to the scarce evidence on the efficiency of integrated care strategies for frail older persons.
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Oscar Javier Montiel Mendez and Argentina Soto Maciel
The paper aims to relate the potential elements identified as the dark side of the family business (DSFB), where these elements can be productive or destructive. The “dark side”…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to relate the potential elements identified as the dark side of the family business (DSFB), where these elements can be productive or destructive. The “dark side” comprises an important contribution for entrepreneurship and family business (FB) studies, a novel perspective.
Design/methodology/approach
The relevant literature on entrepreneurship and FB was selected and analyzed according to the “dark side” framework.
Findings
The results suggest that many perspectives remain for research, starting with a clarification and a more precise definition, not only of the construct itself but also of the factors or forces that drive this dark side, from the entrepreneur/founder, the FB itself and the context. This approach considers a systemic position in which the context plays a significant and decisive role.
Practical implications
The paper has implications for the development of public policies. Business incubation entities, federal, state and local entrepreneurship/small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) programs, educational institutions and entrepreneurial families and their founders can become more aware and establish courses of action.
Originality/value
This paper makes a call to propose an initial point for conceptualizing the logic behind the DSFB for obtaining a deeper understanding with regard to future research. Researchers are encouraged to test the conceptual model further.