The purpose of this paper is to develop a benefits realisation road‐map for ERP usage in the context of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a benefits realisation road‐map for ERP usage in the context of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs).
Design/methodology/approach
Direct interviews were used to collect data from a random sample of 48 MBA students and 87 business managers (CIO/IT directors and CFO roles).
Findings
The ERP benefits road‐map suggests that a long‐term vision is required in order to obtain a successful realisation of the potential benefits that ERP could bring. Thus, this analysis suggests that ERP benefits realisation dimensions are interconnected, and that managers should perceive ERP benefits realisation as a continuum cycle along the ERP post‐implementation. Furthermore, new ERP updates and maintenance projects must take into account the results of ERP benefits realisation auditing to review ERP configuration, correct possible mistakes, and improve the efficiency of some expected ERP benefits.
Research limitations/implications
Although the study focuses on the factors that influence ERP benefits realisation, it fails to differentiate between some factors that may influence the realisation of these benefits, such as size and type of company, ERP system implemented, and organisational context.
Practical implications
The results may help to improve the understanding of ERP success and satisfaction levels, both expected and perceived, from ERP stakeholders. The findings also suggest that auditing the realisation of ERP benefits is a crucial stage in ERP usage phase.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the current literature in the benefits of ERP systems by defining a benefits realisation road‐map to achieve the ERP benefits identified in the literature.
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The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effects of the international financial crisis on the food and beverage sector in Portugal, and the impact of a steep increase in…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effects of the international financial crisis on the food and beverage sector in Portugal, and the impact of a steep increase in the tax burden on this sector’s activity, together with the wider effects on the economy, enterprises and tourism in Portugal.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses information drawn from official national information sources, together with other empirical data.
Findings
The international financial crisis has caused severe damage to the food and beverage sector in Portugal. Since 2008, it has recorded successive reductions in key indicators: number of enterprises, employed persons and turnover. Besides this effect, the sharp rise in the tax burden has caused serious damage to the sector, leading to the closure of thousands of businesses, and the loss of thousands of jobs. The conjugation of these two factors, the economic and financial crisis and the increase in taxes caused serious disruption in the operation of businesses and the market as a whole.
Practical implications
It is hoped that this analysis (among others) will lead to a reduction in the tax burden on the food and beverage sector of the tourism industry. It is argued that this is an impediment to progress.
Originality/value
This article concludes that the current tax burden is undermining one of the main sectors of the Portuguese economy, which is vital to the country’s recovery. If it remains, there will be serious consequences for the image of Portugal, in terms of its tourism offer, its gastronomy and the excellence of service that is provided.
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Victor Wilfredo Bohorquez Lopez and Jose Esteves
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the underlying characteristics that enable the acquisition and appropriation of external knowledge, paying special attention to the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyze the underlying characteristics that enable the acquisition and appropriation of external knowledge, paying special attention to the relationship between external and internal networks to support this process.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study methodology is followed, using not only semi‐structured interviews but also secondary data to triangulate the obtained information. For the interviews, the authors have considered not only employees in different strategic positions, from middle management to top management, but also participants in the main supplier, to obtain a holistic perspective of the knowledge acquisition and appropriation in the innovation process.
Findings
For the improvements of the process of knowledge acquisition and appropriation, organizations should configure internal and external networks to support this process reorganizing their classical structures. Moreover, this process is enhanced by the support of top managers and innovation champions, which act as sponsors and facilitators of the project respectively, to ensure that the whole process runs smoothly. At the end, to deal with new kinds of projects that are completely different to previous ones, it is recommended to be open to new ways of organizing and structuring participants; hence, coordination and socialization mechanisms are important to reach not only potential absorptive capacity (associated with knowledge acquisition) but also realized absorptive capacity (associated with knowledge exploitation). This situation is even more relevant in Web 2.0 environments, where each participant has autonomy to participate actively, be just a passive participant, or cease to belong to the community.
Practical implications
The paper's findings could be useful to identify the determinants of knowledge acquisition and appropriation because they could guide organizations in the development of external and internal networks to support this process, which would be used to promote innovation within the organization; and with this identification, organizations could take actions based on their organizational requirements and goals. It is important to note that organizational boundaries are shifting from being closed to be permeable, enabling a better interaction with key partners and facilitating the knowledge exchange. However, this situation offers new challenges for organizations that want to be leaders in the near future because traditional organizations should shift their old paradigms, having an organizational culture more aligned with Web 2.0 philosophy (e.g. collaboration and sharing), which is the paradigm of the new digital economy.
Originality/value
This study is a step forward to understand the relationship between external and internal networks that act as enablers of knowledge acquisition and appropriation. The authors extend the knowledge‐based view by applying it in a Web 2.0 context, highlighting coordination and socialization mechanisms as critical success factors to integrate internal and external knowledge. Finally, the inclusion of interviews of employees from the main supplier of BBVA in these kinds of projects provides a holistic perspective of the process of knowledge acquisition and appropriation.
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Ana Carrasco-Huertas, Ana Reyes Pérez and Domingo Campillo García
This study aims to delve into the effectiveness of applying traditional and more advanced digital means to document elements of cultural heritage, in this case large-format…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to delve into the effectiveness of applying traditional and more advanced digital means to document elements of cultural heritage, in this case large-format cartography. Application of multimethod digitalisation to a school map of the American continent dating to the early part of the 20th century has served to address specific issues, notably its multilayers consisting of paper, inks and a protective varnish on a textile medium. Its large format is likewise an obstacle to its digital capture.
Design/methodology/approach
The method applied here resorted to three registration systems: single-shot photography, panoramic photography and photogrammetry. The first two widely serve to capture works of large-format, whereas the third is commonly used to record volumetric assets. A variety of parameters were applied, notably different focal lengths, capture methods and processing software. The images obtained in each case were subjected to qualitative and quantitative comparisons so as to analyse their differences in terms of resolution and accuracy when compared to the map's real measurements, key criteria when duplicating cartographic documents.
Findings
Although the final products gleaned from the digital photographs, panoramic photographs and photogrammetry fulfil the basic functions required to record documents housed in archives, libraries, museums and other cultural institutions, this study highlights new advances and complementary functions stemming from certain of these techniques.
Originality/value
Digitalisation is a tool that serves to register, preserve, disseminate and analyse cultural heritage. However, some of the available techniques have rarely been applied specifically to graphic and documentary artefacts. It is for this reason that this study intends to demonstrate their utility in the detailed study of this heritage typology. Moreover, optimising the school map into a digital form favours its dissemination and remote consultation while simultaneously minimising direct manipulation, hence improving its long-term preservation.
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María del Rosario González Ovalle, José Antonio Alvarado Márquez and Samuel David Martínez Salomón
The purpose of this article is to provide organized, synthesized information related to initiatives throughout the world based on knowledge‐based development (KBD) such as…
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to provide organized, synthesized information related to initiatives throughout the world based on knowledge‐based development (KBD) such as knowledge cities (KCs), knowledge regions, and knowledge countries. A first search was conducted using the Internet and specialized databases under the keywords “knowledge cities”. The information compiled led to other related keywords which branched out the search. All resulting information was then collated and integrated into a number of categories all unified under the field of knowledge‐based development. A compilation of information on the topic “knowledge cities” and other topics related to knowledge‐based development. The information is presented in eight sections: a glossary of KC‐related terms, a list of knowledge‐based development initiatives, a list of associations and organizations related to the topic, a list of urban KBD‐related value dimensions and their indicators, a list of international rankings, a list of special editions on KCs, a bibliography, and a directory of related sites on the Internet. This effort resulted in a public service available at the World Wide Web. The information included in this compilation is limited mainly to public domain information available throughout Internet in both English and Spanish, as well as in selected databases.
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Jorge Costa, João Gomes and Mónica Montenegro
– This paper aims to introduce the articles in this issue and explain the pertinence of the strategic question.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to introduce the articles in this issue and explain the pertinence of the strategic question.
Design/methodology/approach
A brief context for the strategic question is provided, as well as the issue alignment and a content analysis of the articles selected.
Findings
A contextualization for the economic crisis affecting Portugal is presented and its impact on the Tourism Industry discussed. The articles range from a series of research studies on Portuguese Tourism, demonstrating its evolution over the past three years (2011-2013), and various viewpoint/position papers reflecting the perspectives of the main stakeholders of this industry and how they analyze the context of crisis that is affecting the country since 2010.
Research limitations/implications
The articles selected for this issue contribute to shed light on an important phase of Portugal’s history, allowing for an understanding of the impacts of the financial crisis on domestic tourism and sectors such as restaurants and hotels, as well as the government’s perspective on the evolution of the industry over past three years. The information presented and analysed reveals some interesting lessons, namely, that a financial crisis may not affect directly the growth and development of the tourism industry.
Originality/value
The present theme issue analysis the context of financial crisis that Portugal is facing and brings together, for the first time in a single publication, the views of major stakeholders of the Portuguese Tourism Industry.
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Marc Esteve Del Valle, Alicia Wanless-Berk, Anatoliy Gruzd and Philip Mai
Facebook “likes” are often used as a proxy of users’ attention and an affirmation of what is posted on Facebook (Gerodimos & Justinussen, 2015). To determine what factors predict…
Abstract
Facebook “likes” are often used as a proxy of users’ attention and an affirmation of what is posted on Facebook (Gerodimos & Justinussen, 2015). To determine what factors predict “likes,” the authors analyzed Facebook posts made by the campaigns of Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump, the top three candidates from the 2016 US primary election. Several possible factors were considered, such as the types of posts, the use of pronouns and emotions, the inclusion of slogans and hashtags, references made to opponents, as well as candidate’s mentions on national television. The results of an ordinary least-squared regression analysis showed that the use of highly charged (positive or negative) emotions and personalized posts (first-person singular pronouns) increased “likes” across all three candidates’ Facebook pages, whereas visual posts (posts containing either videos or photos) and the use of past tenses were liked more often by Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders’ followers than by Trump’s followers. Television mentions boosted likes on Clinton and Sanders’ posts but had a negative effect on Trump’s. The study contributes to the growing literature on digitally networked participation (Theocharis, 2015) and supports the emerging notion of the new “hybrid media” system (Chadwick, 2013) for political communication. The study also raises questions as to the relevance of platforms such as Facebook to deliberative democratic processes since Facebook users are not necessarily engaging with the content in an organic way, but instead might be guided to specific content by the Facebook timeline algorithm and targeted ads.