Ronald F. Green, Joa Lisboa and Mahmoud M. Yasin
States that the usefulness of theory, developed in the UnitedStates, in international settings, is of particular interest. The widerthe domain to which theory can be applied, the…
Abstract
States that the usefulness of theory, developed in the United States, in international settings, is of particular interest. The wider the domain to which theory can be applied, the greater its value to the body of knowledge to which it belongs. Examines the applicability of Michael Porter′s Three Generic Strategy Typology (1980) in the developing manufacturing nation of Portugal. It was concluded that the typology is an excellent representation of the strategic orientations of manufacturing firms in Portugal. The existence of the strategic options of cost leadership, differentiation and focus were identified, in their pure form, through factor analysis. Regardless of the apparent lack of formal strategic planning processes, Portuguese manufacturing firms appear to be following internally consistent business level strategies.
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Colin M. Fisher, Ozumcan Demir-Caliskan, Mel Yingying Hua and Matthew A. Cronin
Organizational scholars have long been interested in how jazz musicians manage tensions between structure and freedom, plans and action, and familiarity and novelty. Although…
Abstract
Organizational scholars have long been interested in how jazz musicians manage tensions between structure and freedom, plans and action, and familiarity and novelty. Although improvisation has been conceptualized as a way of managing such paradoxes, the process of improvisation itself contains paradoxes. In this essay, we return to jazz improvisation to identify a new paradox of interest to organizational scholars: the paradox of intentionality. To improvise creatively, jazz musicians report that they must “try not to try,” or risk undermining the very spontaneity that is prized in jazz. Jazz improvisers must therefore control their ability to relinquish deliberate control of their actions. To accomplish this, they engage in three interdependent practices. Jazz musicians intentionally surrender their sense of active control (“letting go”) while creating a passive externalized role for this sense of active control (using a “third ear”). Letting go allows new and unexpected ideas to emerge, while the metaphorical third ear can identify promising ideas or problematic execution and, in doing so, re-engage active agency (“grabbing hold”). Examining the practices within creative improvisation reveals the complexity of the lived experience of the paradox, which we argue suggests further integration among organizational research on improvisation, creativity, and paradox.
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Mohammed Jaboob, Abdullah M. Al-Ansi, Manaf Al-Okaily and Marcos Ferasso
Artificial intelligence (AI) applications enable entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to make strategic decisions based on more accurate predictions and…
Abstract
Purpose
Artificial intelligence (AI) applications enable entrepreneurs in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to make strategic decisions based on more accurate predictions and modeling scenarios to achieve operational efficiency and profitability. This research aims to investigate the role of AI applications in enhancing strategic decision-making (SDM) through the mediating role of digital leadership (DL).
Design/methodology/approach
The sample included 306 Omani entrepreneurs from SMEs randomly sampled to collect data from different SME industrial incubators. To test hypotheses, structural equation modeling (SEM), regression and confirmatory factor analysis and Process V4 to test the mediating role of DL were used.
Findings
Results reveal that AI applications have a positive and significant impact on SDM and DL. Furthermore, DL has a positive and significant impact on SDM. The results also reveal that DL enhances the relationship between AI applications and SDM in Omani SMEs.
Originality/value
This research provides evidence regarding SMEs in the Arabian context and the ability of AI application adoption to improve productivity and sustainability in the economic sector.
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Daniela Salgado Carvalho and Teresa Fidélis
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the relevance of citizen complaints as a new source of information for local environmental governance. It represents an initial attempt to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to focus on the relevance of citizen complaints as a new source of information for local environmental governance. It represents an initial attempt to construct a fresh approach to the field.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper comprises a brief literature review around the concept of environmental governance, the role played by institutions, and the challenges of local environmental governance; an empirical study of a Portuguese municipality based on environmental complaints submitted to its City Council and a comparative analysis between the results garnered from the empirical study and the areas of intervention in the Municipal Environmental Plan.
Findings
The results suggest that the information gathered from public complaints on environmental issues has the potential to reveal the most significant environmental problems from the standpoint of local actors. This knowledge is relevant for self‐evaluation by local authorities whilst remaining a promising avenue for local public participation in decision‐making processes.
Originality/value
The authors take the view that concerns raised by local populations are important, latent sources of information that can have a positive impact on delineating necessary action for the management and resolution of local environmental problems.
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Rebecca K. Davidson, Wilson Antunes, Elisabeth H. Madslien, José Belenguer, Marco Gerevini, Tomas Torroba Perez and Raffaello Prugger
Consumer confidence in the European food industry has been shaken by a number of recent scandals due to food fraud and accidental contamination, reminding the authors that…
Abstract
Purpose
Consumer confidence in the European food industry has been shaken by a number of recent scandals due to food fraud and accidental contamination, reminding the authors that deliberate incidents can occur. Food defence methods aim to prevent or mitigate deliberate attacks on the food supply chain but are not a legal requirement. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how proactive and reactive food defence practices can help prevent or mitigate malicious attacks on the food chain and also food fraud, food crime and food safety. The authors look at how food defence differs from food safety and how it contributes to food supply chain integrity.
Design/methodology/approach
Food defence has been the focus of two different EU FP7 security projects, EDEN and SNIFFER. Food industry stakeholders participated in workshops and demonstrations on food defence and relevant technology was tested in different food production scenarios.
Findings
Food industry end-users reported a lack of knowledge regarding food defence practices. They wished for further guidelines and training on risk assessment as well as access to validated test methods. Novel detection tools and methods showed promise with authentication, identification, measurement, assessment and control at multiple levels of the food supply chain prior to distribution and retail.
Practical implications
The prevention of a contamination incident, prior to retail, costs less than dealing with a large foodborne disease outbreak. Food defence should therefore be integral to food supply chain integrity and not just an afterthought in the wake of an incident.
Originality/value
It is argued that food defence practices have a vital role to play across the board in unintentional and intentional food contamination incidents. The application of these methods can help ensure food supply chain integrity.
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Pedro Isaias, Francisco Reis, Clara Coutinho and Jose Alberto Lencastre
This paper examines the acceptance, of a group of 79 students, of an educational forum, used for mobile and distance learning, that has been modified to include empathic…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper examines the acceptance, of a group of 79 students, of an educational forum, used for mobile and distance learning, that has been modified to include empathic characteristics and affective principles.
Design/methodology/approach
With this study is proposed that the introduction of empathic and affective principles in educational forums is a useful and effective way to increase students’ participation and motivation in educational contexts. After an analysis of existing literature and research on the subject of empathic technology, the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) was used as a framework for the research model. The analysis of their acceptance is done via an extended version of the UTAUT that focuses on the use of the variable attitude toward technology and uses gender, age and experience as moderators. A partial least square technique has been used to test the nine hypotheses.
Findings
The results confirmed three of the nine hypotheses: performance expectancy and effort expectancy had a positive influence on the students attitudes towards empathic forums, while the effect of social influence and facilitating conditions was considered insignificant; social influence had a positive influence on the students’ behavioral intention to use emphatic forums, while attitude toward technology, performance expectancy, facilitating conditions and effort expectancy were considered not relevant.
Originality/value
The focus of this study was the influence of attitude toward empathic forums, used for mobile and distance learning, and the results establish the grounds for future research on attitude as an important determinant of technology acceptance.