Joaquín Gómez-Gómez, Micaela Martínez-Costa and Ángel Rafael Martínez-Lorente
Despite the widespread use of excellence models as a self-assessment tool in the past two decades, little is known about the underlying logic behind the way that promoting…
Abstract
Purpose
Despite the widespread use of excellence models as a self-assessment tool in the past two decades, little is known about the underlying logic behind the way that promoting organizations give weight to their criteria, and whether these scores align with business reality. This paper aims to analyze whether these scores coincide with the vision of managers and the real situation of business today.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses three different methods and two kinds of data to review the evolution of scores on criteria in excellence models since their creation and empirically analyses and compares the results with the vision of the managers.
Findings
The results show that the estimated weight of criteria in the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model (both directly perceived by managers and obtained with the statistical analysis) do not coincide with the value that the promoting organization has given to them, in its current version or in the previous versions.
Research limitations/implications
This paper is focused exclusively on industrial companies so one discussion point that can serve as a basis for future research is to study whether there is any difference in the distribution of points between industrial organizations and services, or between private and public organizations.
Practical implications
The results show that, depending of the methodology used to evaluate the weight of each element of the excellence model, these weights could be different and are different from those proposed by EFQM. Therefore, if managers want to use the EFQM model of excellence for self-evaluation purposes, they should define their own weights for each element, in accordance with their own company characteristics. Leadership, strategy, people, partnership & resources and processes could have more or less importance in promoting the success of a business, according to the specific situation of each company.
Originality/value
This study has been made using three different methods and two kinds of data.
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Joaquín Gómez Gómez, Micaela Martínez Costa and Angel R. Martínez Lorente
The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model is widely used as a management tool in companies. Consequently, it is of great importance to understand the…
Abstract
Purpose
The European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model is widely used as a management tool in companies. Consequently, it is of great importance to understand the relationships within it, and inform managers about appropriate ways to manage events in order to get the desired results in general, and for specific interest groups (stakeholders). The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper analyzes the internal relationships of the EFQM model using empirical data from a sample of 199 Spanish companies. Four managers in each company were interviewed, to eliminate single respondent bias. Structural equation modeling is used for the analysis.
Findings
The results obtained from the empirical analysis provide evidence of an underlying logic in the EFQM model that does not match the official model. New significant relationships between the enablers and results not considered in the official model have been found.
Research limitations/implications
The study focusses on Spanish industrial companies with 50-500 workers and uses a cross-sectional design.
Practical implications
Managers should look at the EFQM model as a tool for finding their own way to excellence, but it is not a precise map, because the model may have some problems of definition. Managers should introduce its elements only after deep reflection on its benefit for their company.
Originality/value
Despite the previous research on this issue, there is still no clear consensus. Relationships that are not reflected in the theoretical model have been identified.
Joaquín Gómez Gómez, Micaela Martínez Costa and Ángel R. Martínez Lorente
As with the ISO 9000 standard, some doubts arise from the scientific literature about the impact of the EFQM model in companies' success. This paper aims to present an analysis of…
Abstract
Purpose
As with the ISO 9000 standard, some doubts arise from the scientific literature about the impact of the EFQM model in companies' success. This paper aims to present an analysis of the relationships in the 2003 version of the EFQM model using data from the actual self‐evaluations of 68 organizations. It also analyzes if there are possible differences in the EFQM implementation between public and private organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
The Partial Least Squares (PLS) method is used to test hypotheses.
Findings
Results show that the model does not behave in the way that the designers of the EFQM expected. Two of the results variables are not sufficiently correlated with the others to be part of the complete model. When the model is tested without these two variables, the connection between enablers fails, since policy and strategy, people, and partnership and resources do not have statistically significant effects on the process. There is a slightly higher achievement in the group of manufacturing/private companies compared with the group of public/educational institutions.
Research limitations/implications
This paper is an exploratory study. A deeper analysis of the agency criteria might produce improved results. It would also be possible to examine sub‐criterion levels. Each enabler in the model is composed of different sub‐criteria and the relationships among them have not been explored in the literature. The question that needs to be addressed is whether the inclusion of enablers in the EFQM Excellence Model can be justified on empirical grounds.
Originality/value
Previous research has been conducted using secondary data. The study has been made using the real self‐evaluations of organizations, evaluations that have been validated by official staff of the EFQM organization. In addition, whereas much of the previous research analysed the 1999 version of the model, this paper focuses on the latest version of 2003.
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David Rodríguez-Gómez, Joaquín Gairín, Fabio Dovigo, Kati Clements, Miguel Jerónimo, Lisa Lucas, Elena Marin, Saana Mehtälä, Fernanda Paula Pinheiro, Sue Timmis and Mihaela Stîngu
Higher education (HE) systems in Europe have been identified as an essential element for promoting economic competitiveness since the Bologna Declaration in 1999. The aim of the…
Abstract
Higher education (HE) systems in Europe have been identified as an essential element for promoting economic competitiveness since the Bologna Declaration in 1999. The aim of the Bologna Process was to expand access to educational opportunities, fostering participation in post-compulsory education by creating the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). Inequalities in training because of geographic, ethnic or social origin, and inequalities in job opportunities, salaries, and incomes are critical dimensions of social development in HE. The development of policies, including those concerning education, that extend access to opportunities is essential to prevent such exclusion becoming permanent. The Access4All project aims to promote the educational and social inclusion of underrepresented groups as well as of non-traditional learners.
In this chapter, the project’s main results are reviewed, with: (1) a brief overview of inclusion policies and practices in European HE; (2) an operational definition of “good practice” and criteria for selecting examples of good practice for inclusion in HE; (3) a self-assessment tool enabling the characterization of institutional capacity for innovation and of inclusion policies and practices; and (4) a model for promoting strategic planning, focusing on inclusion in HE.
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Enakshi Sengupta, Patrick Blessinger, Jaimie Hoffman and Mandla Makhanya
The chapters in this book focus on student experiences in higher education (HE) and how these experiences shape their future as contributors to the knowledge economy, which is…
Abstract
The chapters in this book focus on student experiences in higher education (HE) and how these experiences shape their future as contributors to the knowledge economy, which is being gradually replaced by natural resources. The chapter authors in this volumes stress on the value of mentorship program with a focus toward mentoring those who are neglected and underprivileged. Programs that help students with visual or audio impairment has been discussed along with bridge programs, which might help in imparting an inclusive and equitable HE with accessibility to all. Case studies from Ghana to South Africa, Glasgow, and Australia are discussed to increase motivation and willingness among educators and students to apply new skills and foster new teaching experiences that can help shape effective learning outcomes for students.
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Joaquín Monreal-Pérez and Gregorio Sánchez-Marín
The purpose of this paper is to study the internationalization of family firms, exploring specifically if the transition from family control to non-family control (losing family…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to study the internationalization of family firms, exploring specifically if the transition from family control to non-family control (losing family managerial influence) affects a firm’s export activity.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on panel data for Spanish firms from 2006 to 2012, a random effect tobit and probit regression and a propensity score matching were run on a sample of 225 firms moving from family to non-family control (switchers) matched with 4,213 firms remaining under family control (non-switchers).
Findings
Although from a static viewpoint family controlled firms export less than their non-family counterparts, from a dynamic perspective family firms remaining under family control (non-switchers) are associated with a fall in export activity in comparison with family firms transitioning to non-family control (switchers). Both findings are related back to the socioemotional wealth (SEW) perspective.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of this study shed light on the trade-offs that family firms experience in order to balance their desire to increase their internationalization (and the risk associated with it) and their wish to maintain SEW.
Practical implications
The findings should encourage family owners and managers to take long-term strategic decisions leading to internationalization which, although risky, will prevent subsequent loss of SEW in terms of family control.
Originality/value
This work provides evidence concerning family firms’ willingness to undertake risky activities, such as internationalization, considering the threats to their wealth.
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José Arias-Pérez, Joaquin Alegre and Cristina Villar
There has been a great interest in the literature in understanding the incidence of information technology capabilities (ITC) on innovation performance (IP). Recently, it has been…
Abstract
Purpose
There has been a great interest in the literature in understanding the incidence of information technology capabilities (ITC) on innovation performance (IP). Recently, it has been proven that this relationship is mediated by organizational factors requiring an additional effort in terms of information processing in a rational and analytical manner, including strategic market orientation and absorptive capacity; however, the role of emotions in this discussion has not been widely addressed. A scenario in which emotions are inhibited, in particular, emotional capability (EC), prevents the activation of other forms of cognition relating to intuition, experience and empathy. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to analyze the mediating effect of EC on the relationship between ITC and IP.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors analyzed the statistical significance of the indirect effects through structural equations.
Findings
The results show the existence of partial mediation of EC. Therefore, it is evidenced that less rational constructs, such as EC, serve as a bridge between ITC and IP, on account of the improvement in information processing, the level of information technology (IT) use and virtual communication.
Originality/value
This finding is quite significant because it forces innovation researchers and practitioners to reconsider the prevailing study perspective that explores only analytical mediators, which implies an additional effort in terms of rational processing of information. All this because there is a risk of accentuating the cognitive overload and increasing the levels of stress that lead employees to stop receiving and using information provided by IT services, which compromises the possibility of obtaining better results in innovation.
Propósito
En la literatura ha habido un gran interés por analizar la incidencia de las capacidades de tecnologías de información (CTI) en el desempeño innovador (DI). Recientemente ha quedado claro que esta relación está mediada por factores organizacionales que implican un esfuerzo adicional en términos de procesamiento racional y analítico de información, entre ellos, la orientación estratégica al mercado y la capacidad de absorción. Sin embargo, el papel de las emociones en esta discusión no ha sido considerado. Un escenario en el que la capacidad emocional (CE) no está siendo considerada supone la no activación de otras formas de cognición relacionadas con la intuición, la experiencia y la empatía. Por lo tanto, el propósito de este artículo es analizar el efecto mediador de CE en la relación entre CTI y DI.
Metodología
Se analizó la significancia estadística de los efectos indirectos mediante ecuaciones estructurales
Resultados
Los resultados muestran la existencia de una mediación parcial de CE. Por lo tanto, queda evidenciado que constructos menos racionales como la capacidad emocional sirven como un puente entre CTI y el DI, por cuenta de la mejora en el procesamiento de la información, el nivel de uso de tecnologías de la información y la comunicación virtual.
Originalidad
Este hallazgo es bastante interesante dado que obliga a los investigadores y profesionales dedicados a la innovación a reconsiderar la perspectiva de estudio hegemónica que explora únicamente mediadores analíticos, lo cual implica un esfuerzo adicional en términos de procesamiento racional de la información. De este modo, se maximiza el riesgo de acentuar la sobrecarga cognitiva e incrementar los niveles de estrés que llevan a los empleados a dejar de recibir y utilizar la información proveniente de los servicios de TI, lo que compromete la posibilidad de obtener mejores resultados en innovación.
Palabras claves
Transformación digital, Procesamiento de información, Pensamiento intuitivo y analítico, Innovación digital, Inteligencia emocional, COVID-19
Tipo de papel
Trabajo de investigación
Objetivo
Tem havido um grande interesse, na literatura, em compreender a incidência das capacidades das tecnologias da informação (CTI) no desempenho da inovação (DI). Recentemente, ficou comprovado que esta relação é mediada por fatores organizacionais que demandam um esforço adicional em termos de processamento da informação de uma forma racional e analítica, incluindo a orientação estratégica do mercado e a capacidade de absorção. Contudo, o papel das emoções nesta discussão não tem sido amplamente abordado. Um cenário em que as emoções são inibidas, em particular, a capacidade emocional (CE), impede a ativação de outras formas de cognição relacionadas com a intuição, a experiência e a empatia. Portanto, o objetivo do documento é analisar o efeito mediador da capacidade emocional na relação entre a CTI e a DI.
Desenho
Analisámos o significado estatístico dos efeitos indiretos através de equações estruturais.
Resultados
Os resultados mostram a existência de uma mediação parcial da CE. Portanto, é evidenciado que construções menos racionais como a CE servem de ponte entre o CTI e a DI, devido à melhoria do processamento da informação, do nível de utilização das TI e da comunicação virtual.
Originalidade
Esta descoberta é bastante significativa porque obriga os investigadores e profissionais da inovação a reconsiderarem a perspectiva de estudo predominante que explora apenas os mediadores analíticos, o que implica um esforço adicional em termos de processamento racional da informação. Tudo isto porque existe o risco de acentuar a sobrecarga cognitiva e aumentar os níveis de estresse que levam os funcionários a deixarem de receber e utilizar a informação fornecida pelos serviços de TI, o que compromete a possibilidade de obter melhores resultados na inovação.
Palavras-chave
Transformação digital, Processamento da informação, Pensamento intuitivo e analítico, Inovação digital, Inteligência emocional, COVID-19
Tipo de manuscrito
Artigo de pesquisa
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Maria-Teresa Gordillo-Rodriguez, Joaquín Marín-Montín and Jorge David Fernández Gómez
The aim of this paper, which analyses the use of sports celebrities in advertising discourse, is to understand the strategic use to which brands put them in their commercial and…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper, which analyses the use of sports celebrities in advertising discourse, is to understand the strategic use to which brands put them in their commercial and corporate communication on Instagram.
Design/methodology/approach
To this end, a content analysis was performed on the Instagram posts of the brands Santander, Movistar, Red Bull and Iberdrola during the period 2021-2022.
Findings
The results indicate that, strategically speaking, these brands use the celebrity endorsement strategy to pursue emotional objectives and to adopt a position depending on the type of user. Likewise, these findings show that they single out uniqueness as the principal celebrity characteristic, while also mainly leveraging sports values, especially competence. These values represented by sports celebrities are markedly social in nature, which implies that they enjoy a degree of public recognition that is transferred to the brand to which they lend their image.
Research limitations/implications
The conclusions connect celebrity endorsers with strategic branding issues and aspects of sports.
Originality/value
An empirical approach is followed here to study the representation of sports celebrities in the advertising of well-known brands linked to the sports world.
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Joan Freixanet, Joaquin Monreal and Gregorio Sánchez-Marín
The purpose of this study is to examine how family governance and technological capabilities influence the conversion of new knowledge obtained from exports into various…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine how family governance and technological capabilities influence the conversion of new knowledge obtained from exports into various innovation outputs, a phenomenon called “learning-by-exporting (LBE).”
Design/methodology/approach
To properly examine the causal links proposed in the study, first, the control for endogeneity. Second, a propensity-score matching longitudinal analysis is conducted, a particularly robust empirical method that enhances reliability in non-experimental data, over an average sample of 663 manufacturing companies for the period 2007 to 2014.
Findings
Family firms’ innovation strategies and abilities render them more likely to convert the new knowledge from exporting into product innovation and more efficient in this endeavor than non-family firms. This diverts family firms’ typically limited resources from process innovation, and they have a smaller LBE effect than non-family firms in terms of process innovation.
Originality/value
The study contributes to the internationalization literature by producing a more nuanced view of the learning-by-exporting effect which considers the type of innovation outcomes developed following export activity. It also helps to identify some of the firm-specific factors that shape the relationship between exports and innovation, by empirically examining for the first time the role of family governance in innovation capabilities and decisions.