Carla Curado, Helena Mateus Jerónimo, Paulo Lopes Henriques and Marta Tavares
Grounded on the social exchange theory (SET), this paper aims to analyze the different networks of conditions that lead to the presence and absence of total commitment, in its…
Abstract
Purpose
Grounded on the social exchange theory (SET), this paper aims to analyze the different networks of conditions that lead to the presence and absence of total commitment, in its affective, continuance and normative dimensions. Six conditions – competencies development, empowerment, work-family conflict, trust, transformational leadership and seniority – are studied to explore and explain the exchanges and reciprocity relationships between organizations and employees.
Design/methodology/approach
Using a sample of 546 employees from Portuguese large companies, the study uses the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore how causal conditions jointly link to the outcome of organizational commitment.
Findings
The results show more causal configurations leading to the most favorable dimensions of commitment (affective, normative and the absence of continuance commitment), which is a positive sign for organizations. Employees' seniority stands out in all types of commitment, reflecting the affective and emotional themes in Portuguese culture.
Originality/value
This study makes an original contribution to the literature on organizational commitment by showing the alternative complementarity of the conditions in the context of the SET, only possible through fsQCA. It also provides inputs for practitioners who can adopt strategies and measures to develop the paths that lead to successful outcomes (presence of commitment) and avoid those that lead to undesired ones (absence of commitment).
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Marta Mackiewicz and Marta Götz
This study is exploratory in nature and designed to address poorly documented issues in the literature. The dimensions of regional distribution or spatial organisation of Industry…
Abstract
Purpose
This study is exploratory in nature and designed to address poorly documented issues in the literature. The dimensions of regional distribution or spatial organisation of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), including the potential role of clusters, have only recently been addressed, with most available studies focusing on advanced, mainly Western European countries. Although developing fast, the literature on I4.0 in other countries, such as the Central and Eastern European or post-transition economies like Poland, needs to pay more attention to the spatial distribution or geographical and organisational aspects. In response to the identified knowledge gap, this paper aims to identify the role of clusters in the transformation towards I4.0. This explains why clusters may matter for advancing the fourth digital transformation, how advanced in implementing I4.0 solutions are the residents of Polish clusters and how they perceive the advantages of cluster membership for such implementation. Finally, it seeks to formulate policy recommendations based on the evidence gathered.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology used in this study combines quantitative analysis of secondary data from a cluster benchmarking survey with a case study approach. The benchmarking survey, conducted by the polish agency for enterprise development in 2021, gathered responses from 435 cluster members and 41 cluster managers, representing an estimated 57% of the current clusters in Poland. In addition to quantitative analysis, a case study approach was used, incorporating primary sources such as interview with cluster managers and surveys of cluster members, as well as secondary sources like company documents and information from cluster organisation websites. Statistical analysis involved assessing the relationship between technology implementation and the adoption of management systems, as well as exploring potential correlations between technology use and company characteristics such as revenue, export revenue share and number of employees using Pearson correlation coefficient.
Findings
In Poland, implementing I4.0 technologies by cluster companies is still modest. The cluster has influenced the use of I4.0 technologies in 23% of surveyed companies. Every second surveyed company declared a positive impact of a cluster on technological advancement. The use of I4.0 technologies is not correlated with the revenue of clustered companies. A rather bleak picture emerges from the results, revealing a need for more interest among cluster members in advancing I4.0 technologies. This may be due to a comfortable situation in which firms still enjoy alternative competitive advantages that do not force them to seek new advanced advantages brought about by I4.0. It also reflects the sober approach and awareness of associated high costs and necessary investments, which are paramount and prevent successful I4.0 implementation.
Research limitations/implications
The limitations inherent in this study reflect the scarcity of the available data. This paper draws on the elementary survey administered centrally and is confined by the type of questions asked. The empirical section focuses on an important, though only one selected sector of the economy – the automotive industry. Nevertheless, the diagnosis of the Polish cluster’s role in advancing I4.0 should complement the existing literature.
Practical implications
The exploratory study concludes with policy recommendations and sets the stage for more detailed studies. Amidst the research’s limitations, this study pioneers a path for future comprehensive investigations, enabling a deeper understanding of Polish clusters’ maturity in I4.0 adoption. By comparing the authors’ analysis of the Polish Automotive Group (PGM) cluster with existing literature, the authors uncover a distinct disparity between the theoretical prominence of cluster catalysis and the current Polish reality. Future detailed dedicated enquiries will address these constraints and provide a more comprehensive map of Polish clusters’ I4.0 maturity.
Originality/value
This study identifies patterns of I4.0 implementation and diagnoses the role of clusters in the transformation towards I4.0. It investigates how advanced is the adoption of I4.0 solutions among the residents of Polish clusters and how they perceive the advantages of cluster membership for such transformation. Special attention was paid to the analysis of the automotive sector. Comparing the conclusions drawn from the analysis of the Polish PGM cluster in this case study to those from the literature on the subject, it becomes clear that the catalytic role of clusters in the implementation of I4.0 technologies by enterprises, as emphasised in the literature, is not yet fully reflected in the Polish reality.
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Michaela Jánská, Marta Žambochová and Pavol Kita
Health is an essential issue in the motivation to eat organic food. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship if people who have a positive view of a healthy…
Abstract
Purpose
Health is an essential issue in the motivation to eat organic food. The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship if people who have a positive view of a healthy lifestyle (want to live healthy) have an influence on the tendency to buy organic food.
Design/methodology/approach
The analysis of secondary data dealing with the issue was supplemented by primary data. In order to meet the main aim, a preliminary objective was set which was to determine the influence of socio-demographic factors on the recommended lifestyle. Specifically, the largest statistically significant difference in influence on healthy lifestyle was gender, followed by education and age. The survey was conducted in the period of January–May 2019 on a sample of 1,373 respondents from Slovakia.
Findings
The data was evaluated by means of selected specific statistical methods (Kruskal–Wallis test, Man-Whitney test and Decision tree methodology). The results of the research verified that the lifestyle of Slovak consumers has an influence on the consumption of organic products and that people who practise healthy eating buy organic food more often. Our research has shown that lifestyle is increasingly influencing consumer purchasing behaviour.
Originality/value
The results showed that today's healthy lifestyle increases the demand for healthy food among potential consumers. Furthermore, the presented results of our research in Slovakia could establish some basis for conducting similar research in other European countries.
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Fernando Armas Asín and Martin Monsalve Zanatti
From the perspective of business history, this chapter presents an overview of the development of the tourism sector in South America, placing special emphasis on the Peruvian…
Abstract
From the perspective of business history, this chapter presents an overview of the development of the tourism sector in South America, placing special emphasis on the Peruvian case. The chapter explores various topics related to the tourism chain, such as hotel networks, the role of the state, tour operators, micro- and small enterprises, linkages between tourism and sustainability, the formation of clusters in the sector, and interactions between different entrepreneurs in the chain. Special emphasis is placed on the Peruvian case, especially when it comes to discussing the role of micro- and small enterprises in the sector.
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Bárbara Schausteck de Almeida, Juliano de Souza and Wanderley Marchi Júnior
Eulália Santos, Fernando Oliveira Tavares and Margarida Freitas Foliveira
Christmas is the most consumed event of the year, always full of traditions, namely family ones, which are very significant. In this way, it is intended to find out the importance…
Abstract
Purpose
Christmas is the most consumed event of the year, always full of traditions, namely family ones, which are very significant. In this way, it is intended to find out the importance of traditions at Christmas time and analyze their implications for family businesses.
Design/methodology/approach
The study is quantitative in nature, based on a questionnaire survey carried out with 551 Portuguese individuals, over 18 years of age, where different issues related to Christmas traditions and family are addressed.
Findings
The results demonstrate that the Christmas traditions scale is made up of four factors: family traditions on Christmas Eve, aspects related to the Christmas spirit, changes in Christmas traditions with the COVID-19 pandemic and traditions of participating in events with family at Christmas. Cod and octopus dishes are the most popular dishes on Christmas Eve. In relation to sweets/desserts, king cake, rabanadas, vermicelli, children's bread and sponge cake are the most common on Christmas Eve.
Originality/value
The study helps to understand Portuguese Christmas traditions, providing knowledge that allows defining strategies for family businesses, improving the experience and relationship with consumers at a special time of year. It is hoped that the trends in Christmas traditions in this study will contribute to unveiling the Christmas spirit, also serve as a marketing image and create curiosity and motivation on the part of other cultures to visit Portugal during this festive season, in order to experience Christmas traditions.
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Simone Alves Monteiro da Franca, Rodrigo Nunes Cavalcanti, Marta S. Madruga, Deyse Alves Pereira, Cristiani Viegas Brandão Grisi, Marciane Magnani, Geany Targino de Souza Pedrosa and Carolina Lima Cavalcanti de Albuquerque
The objective of this study was to evaluate the technical-economic process efficiency of obtaining simultaneous lipo-soluble (LSF) and water-soluble (WSF) fractions from annatto…
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study was to evaluate the technical-economic process efficiency of obtaining simultaneous lipo-soluble (LSF) and water-soluble (WSF) fractions from annatto seeds.
Design/methodology/approach
The batches of annatto seeds were submitted to the refrigerated solid-liquid extraction process in four stages: pre-extraction, aqueous extraction, separation by decantation and filtration. After that, LSF and WSF from annatto seeds were obtained. The process efficiency and the quality of LSF and WSF were analyzed in terms of average yield and bioactive compounds (bixin, norbixin, phenolics and flavonoids) and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, they were economically evaluated in terms of costs of manufacturing and profitability parameters.
Findings
The process was efficient in terms of overall average yield (LSF = 8.68% and WSF = 2.76%) (w/w) and in terms of quality, mainly with higher average yields of bixin (82.34% in LSF) and norbixin (29.59% in WSF) (w/w). The concentration of bioactive compounds in the fractions promoted an increase in inhibiting free radicals (DPPH* and ABTS*+) and in the ferric-reducing power (FRAP). LSF showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.06 mg mL-1 for S. aureus and 0.13 mg mL-1 for S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis. The lowest manufacturing costs were obtained for the LSF due to its higher extraction yield compared to the WSF. Plants on an industrial scale of 100 and 1000 L were considered economically viable, with a return on investment of 5 and 2 years.
Originality/value
Thus, fractions (WSF and LSF) can be applied as natural additives, as sources of bioactive compounds for nutraceutical and/or pharmaceutical, and in the development of other innovative processes. These results have practical applicability for pharmaceutical and food industry.
Highlights
Green processing of annatto seeds obtains fractions rich in antioxidant compounds.
Efficiently presents a high yield of bixin and other bioactive compounds.
Effective in concentrating compounds that inhibit microbial growth.
Fractions are more accessible sources of bioactive compounds for isolation.
Cost of manufacturing (COM) and profitability are studied.
Green processing of annatto seeds obtains fractions rich in antioxidant compounds.
Efficiently presents a high yield of bixin and other bioactive compounds.
Effective in concentrating compounds that inhibit microbial growth.
Fractions are more accessible sources of bioactive compounds for isolation.
Cost of manufacturing (COM) and profitability are studied.
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Alba Viana-Lora and Marta Nel-lo-Andreu
This paper aims to analyse Barcelona City Council's tourism policy documents to detect how, through the influence of research, different pathways are produced to achieve social…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to analyse Barcelona City Council's tourism policy documents to detect how, through the influence of research, different pathways are produced to achieve social impact.
Design/methodology/approach
Using the case study approach, a qualitative content analysis is applied to review 31 tourism policy documents of Barcelona City Council.
Findings
The results show that the influence of tourism research on Barcelona City Council's policy documents occurs through the following pathways that drive potential social impact: the development of shared research programmes, joint projects, the creation of information exchange platforms, support for academia, the creation of debates, the founding of institutes, the referencing of scientific articles and studies commissioned directly by the City Council from higher education bodies for implementation in the city.
Originality/value
The originality of this paper is to highlight the social relevance of research and to contribute to raising awareness among researchers. The social impact of research is an under-explored topic in the field of tourism. Moreover, there is little research that conducts this analysis through policy documents.