Ma Eugenia Sánchez Vidal, Raquel Sanz Valle and Ma Isabel Barba Aragón
This paper aims to analyze the repatriation adjustment process of international employees in the Spanish context. The paper also aims to test the applicability of Black et al.'s…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyze the repatriation adjustment process of international employees in the Spanish context. The paper also aims to test the applicability of Black et al.'s repatriation adjustment model for Spanish repatriates.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reports on empirical quantitative research, based on data from 124 Spanish repatriates. Multiple regression analysis and factor analysis are used to test the hypotheses of the study.
Findings
The findings provide evidence for some of the relations proposed in the model but they do not support the model as a whole. The paper questions the existence of the different dimensions of expectations/adjustment and the importance of some of the factors included in the model.
Research limitations/implications
The sample is not very large; some bias could appear as only repatriates who continue working in their companies were questioned. Future research should conduct longitudinal studies.
Practical implications
The study provides evidence of the relevance of facilitating repatriates' adjustment, as it affects their performance. The study also shows that some variables can facilitate the process. In particular, having a mentor and frequent communication with home during the expatriation has been found to help the repatriates to create accurate expectations, which, in turn, affect their general adjustment. Social capacity and the fact that the repatriates had not adjusted completely overseas also facilitate readjustment. Finally, work autonomy on return and social status have been found to positively affect work adjustment.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to the literature by examining the repatriation model of Black et al. that has not been thoroughly analyzed before wither as a whole regarding its applicability to non‐Anglo‐Saxon countries.
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Inocencia María Martínez-León, Isabel Olmedo-Cifuentes and M. Eugenia Sanchez-Vidal
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of work-life balance (WLB) practices on the financial results of Spanish accounting audit SMEs.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of work-life balance (WLB) practices on the financial results of Spanish accounting audit SMEs.
Design/methodology/approach
Using survey data from 148 Spanish accounting audit SMEs, a regression analysis was developed to estimate the direct effects of WLB practices on firms’ financial results (return on capital employed and return on assets). Firm age and size are considered as control variables.
Findings
Senior managers should foster some WLB practices (time-reduction and flexible-work practices) so as to enhance SME audit firms’ financial results. Work-leave practices should be analyzed so as to promote some positive outcomes for firms, through internal reorganization or by reorienting employees to resorting to the most beneficial practices.
Practical implications
Not all WLB practices have positive effects on the business results of SMEs. Therefore, managers may try to reduce these negative effects or redirect employees to WLB practices that have more positive effects on their firms’ financial results. Strategic information is also provided to employees and public institutions about fostering WLB in SMEs.
Social implications
The availability of WLB practices has been deemed fundamental not only for policy makers and society, but also for the organizational culture and for human resource management practices.
Originality/value
This study is the first to investigate the association between the availability of WLB initiatives in SMEs and firms’ financial results.
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Juan-Gabriel Cegarra-Navarro, Aurora Martínez-Martínez, David Cegarra-Leiva and María Eugenia Sánchez-Vidal
Being open-minded means listening to others’ proposals, even if they go against our criteria. Although having an open mindset is the key to “open innovation,” we find that many…
Abstract
Purpose
Being open-minded means listening to others’ proposals, even if they go against our criteria. Although having an open mindset is the key to “open innovation,” we find that many managers are reluctant to make sustainable changes, either because they prefer to stick to what they know and prefer to stay in their comfort zone or just because they are embarrassed to assume errors or ignorance in certain issues of an environmental nature. The study aims to examine the role of green skills in overcoming defensive rigidity and defensive embarrassment barriers that hinder open innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
A questionnaire-based survey was administered to 208 SMEs in the Spanish textile industry. The data collected were processed and analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique (PLS-SEM) and SmartPLS 4.
Findings
The study reveals that green skills significantly contribute to the development of open innovation and the mitigation of defensive routines among managers. This indicates that equipping managers with green skills can reduce their defensive rigidity and embarrassment, thereby fostering a more open and innovative organizational culture.
Originality/value
This research is original in its focus on the Spanish textile industry and its exploration of the specific psychological barriers that managers face in adopting sustainable innovations. By highlighting the importance of green skills, it provides a novel perspective on overcoming defensive routines to promote open innovation.
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Juan Gabriel Cegarra‐Navarro, M. Eugenia Sánchez‐Vidal and David Cegarra‐Leiva
SMEs may be trapped in a suboptimal stable equilibrium, as many overloaded managers are cutting back on their resources and may be over‐investing in the development of exploration…
Abstract
Purpose
SMEs may be trapped in a suboptimal stable equilibrium, as many overloaded managers are cutting back on their resources and may be over‐investing in the development of exploration and exploitation processes rather than investing in mechanisms to facilitate an unlearning context. This paper proposes an unlearning context to manage an appropriate balance between exploratory processes and exploitative processes.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper examines the relationship between and significance of two key factors of organisational learning (the exploration and exploitation of knowledge) within an unlearning context, and their effects on the improvement of the performance of SMEs. These relationships are examined through an empirical investigation of 229 SMEs in the Spanish metal sector.
Findings
The results indicate that the effects of exploration and exploitation of knowledge on organizational performance are mediated through an unlearning context.
Originality/value
The findings provide interesting insights into the drivers of organizational performance for SMEs using an unlearning context. SMEs need to provide for and support changes of perspective, of individual habits and in the framework for consolidating emergent understandings.
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The aim of this study is to examine the structural relationship between Spector’s nine job satisfaction facets (supervision, nature of the work, communication, contingent rewards…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this study is to examine the structural relationship between Spector’s nine job satisfaction facets (supervision, nature of the work, communication, contingent rewards, co-worker, fringe benefits, payment, promotion and operating procedures), organizational commitment facets (normative commitment, affective commitment and continuance commitment) and the influence of employees’ years of experience on satisfaction and commitment relationships. Owing to the nature of the industry, employee satisfaction, retention and commitment in Information and Communications Technology-Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (ICT-SME) is a matter of great concern.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 256 valid questionnaires were collected among employees of Information and Communications Technology-Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (ICT-SMEs) to evaluate the measurement and structural model using partial least squares path modelling approach.
Findings
The findings indicate that payment, promotion, fringe benefits, co-worker, communication, operating procedures and nature of the work are positively associated with affective commitment. Furthermore, payment, promotion, fringe benefits, supervision, contingent rewards, operating procedures and nature of the work have a positive relationship with normative commitment. Considering employees’ years of experience as a categorical moderating variable, the results of partial least squares multi-group analysis show how the discrepancies between employees’ years of experience influence their level of commitment.
Originality/value
This study reveals that employees’ affective and normative commitments are positively associated and their continuance commitment is contingent upon their affective commitment, and not normative commitment. There are only three factors, i.e. promotion, fringe benefits and operating procedures, that are conductive to employees’ continuance commitment. Contributions, implications and limitations of the study are discussed.
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Subhamoy Dhua, Kshitiz Kumar, Vijay Singh Sharanagat and Prabhat K. Nema
The amount of food wasted every year is 1.3 billion metric tonne (MT), out of which 0.5 billion MT is contributed by the fruits processing industries. The waste includes…
Abstract
Purpose
The amount of food wasted every year is 1.3 billion metric tonne (MT), out of which 0.5 billion MT is contributed by the fruits processing industries. The waste includes by-products such as peels, pomace and seeds and is a good source of bioactive compounds like phenolic compounds, flavonoids, pectin lipids and dietary fibres. Hence, the purpose of the present study is to review the novel extraction techniques used for the extraction of the bio active compounds from food waste for the selection of suitable extraction method.
Design/methodology/approach
Novel extraction techniques such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, supercritical fluid extraction, pulsed electric field extraction and pressurized liquid extraction have emerged to overcome the drawbacks and constraints of conventional extraction techniques. Hence, this study is focussed on novel extraction techniques, their limitations and optimization for the extraction of bioactive compounds from fruit and vegetable waste.
Findings
This study presents a comprehensive review on the novel extraction processes that have been adopted for the extraction of bioactive compounds from food waste. This paper also summarizes bioactive compounds' optimum extraction condition from various food waste using novel extraction techniques.
Research limitations/implications
Food waste is rich in bioactive compounds, and its efficient extraction may add value to the food processing industries. Hence, compressive analysis is needed to overcome the problem associated with the extraction and selection of suitable extraction techniques.
Social implications
Selection of a suitable extraction method will not only add value to food waste but also reduce waste dumping and the cost of bioactive compounds.
Originality/value
This paper presents the research progress on the extraction of bioactive active compounds from food waste using novel extraction techniques.