Search results
1 – 10 of 329Michele Oppioli, Maria José Sousa, Miguel Sousa and Elbano de Nuccio
The topic of artificial intelligence (AI) has been expanding rapidly in recent years, gaining the attention of academics and practitioners. This study provides a structured…
Abstract
Purpose
The topic of artificial intelligence (AI) has been expanding rapidly in recent years, gaining the attention of academics and practitioners. This study provides a structured literature review (SLR) on AI and management decisions (MDs) by analysing the scientific output and defining new research topics.
Design/methodology/approach
The study uses a rigorous methodological approach to summarise the state of the art of the past literature. The authors used Scopus as the database for data collection and utilised the Bibliometrix R package. In total, 204 peer-reviewed English articles were collected and analysed.
Findings
The results showed that literature in this field is emerging. Studies are focused on using AI as forecasting and classification for management decision-making, AI as a tool to improve knowledge management in organisations and extract information. The cluster analysis revealed the presence of five thematic clusters of studies on the topic.
Originality/value
The study’s originality lies in providing a new perspective on AI for MDs. In particular, the analysis reveals a new classification of research streams and provides fruitful research questions to continue research on the topic.
Details
Keywords
Maria José Sousa, Ana Moreira, João Leão, Miguel Sousa, Paolo Pietro Biancone and Federico Lanzalonga
The research aims to investigate the changing skills required for international entrepreneurship (IE) and the awareness of these skills among students and professionals in four…
Abstract
Purpose
The research aims to investigate the changing skills required for international entrepreneurship (IE) and the awareness of these skills among students and professionals in four European countries. The study intends to investigate students' and professionals' perceptions of entrepreneurial skills and the potential for educational programs to improve their awareness of these skills.
Design/methodology/approach
This quantitative cross-sectional analysis uses an online questionnaire to collect data from 75 university students and 75 entrepreneurs in four European countries. Several tests validate the data, and Cronbach's alpha succeeded in measuring internal consistency. The results showed differences in the perception of skills between students and entrepreneurs.
Findings
Entrepreneurs had developed all competencies except access to finance, while students had lower perceptions of their skills, except for collaboration. Students needed to improve significantly in access to finance, business planning, financial skills, knowledge of the labour market and digital marketing. Practitioners only required significant improvement in access to finance and digital marketing.
Practical implications
Education programs should fit the needs of different groups: a broader program for students and more specific courses on access to finance and digital marketing for practitioners.
Originality/value
The present research's original feature highlights the need to monitor and adapt to the constantly changing skills for IE and the importance of hard and soft skills. The paper provides insights into the subject's awareness and perceived standard, with reflections for policymakers and practitioners.
Details
Keywords
Maria Gorete Dinis, Carla Salgueiro Melo and João Miguel Batista Miguéns Sousa
This paper aims to demonstrate how attractions and experiences associated with coffee can contribute to dissemination and knowledge of its culture and to the development of coffee…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to demonstrate how attractions and experiences associated with coffee can contribute to dissemination and knowledge of its culture and to the development of coffee tourism in Portugal.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study methodology is applied, focusing on the Coffee Science Centre – Delta Interpretation, Scientific and Technological Promotion and Tourism Promotion Centre (CCC).
Findings
Results indicate that this type of attraction can be used to disseminate coffee culture by providing differentiating and enriching experiences to tourists, and most importantly, by developing tourism in a sustainable way.
Originality/value
This study contributes to expanding the knowledge on coffee tourism, an under-explored field of study, particularly in Portugal, where to the authors knowledge, there is no applied research within this scope.
Details
Keywords
Jéssica Ferreira, Bruno Miguel Sousa and Francisco Gonçalves
This study aims to establish a relationship between creative tourism and experiences in the traditional handicrafts of Barcelos (Portugal). Based on a qualitative approach, it…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to establish a relationship between creative tourism and experiences in the traditional handicrafts of Barcelos (Portugal). Based on a qualitative approach, it also aims at analyzing the failures and absences from the tourist market by creating new proposals and responses to the demand. The conceptual framework of this study develops three proposals: first, to present new concepts and opportunities for the tourism market; second, to establish a direct relationship between the local traditional handicrafts, creative tourism and experiences; and finally, to promote traditions that add value to the local development.
Design/methodology/approach
This study uses an ethnographic case analysis research design to investigate the propositions (ten in-depth interviews with technicians and artisans in Barcelos, Portugal). The key constructs are drawn from empirical research among handicraftsmen in which data analysis was carried out based on a qualitative analysis.
Findings
The results suggest the experience, knowledge and importance of learning this dynamic in an entrepreneurship tourism perspective. Creative tourism and experiences are growing and strengthening the territories and consumer satisfaction in specific artisan, cultural and tourism entrepreneurship contexts.
Research limitations/implications
This study fills a large gap in the territorial market, associating the knowledge of new concepts with the success of the tourism entrepreneurship. The findings provide solutions for helping handicraftsmen to improve their decision-making logic and increase the speed of market growth. There has been an increased emphasis on local and handmade goods that are linked to the culture and tourism of specific destinations.
Originality/value
Tourism managers and artisan entrepreneurs can use the outcome of this study to gain in-depth understanding of customer experiences (i.e. consumers of local handicrafts) and develop effective marketing strategies and further stage the operational environment that can maximize customers’ perceived experiential value.
Details
Keywords
Bruno Miguel Sousa and Gisela Maria Alves
This paper entails a reflection on medical tourism services and guest experiences. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how relationship marketing relates to other relevant…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper entails a reflection on medical tourism services and guest experiences. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how relationship marketing relates to other relevant variables in consumer’s behavior applied to medical tourism contexts and guest experiences. This study aims at discussing the customer behavior in healthcare management and medical tourism contexts and addresses the predisposition for the destination and the influence of relationship marketing on behavioral intentions.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper starts from a conceptual framework based on relationship marketing theory. From this theoretical base, the concepts of trust, commitment and cooperation and behavioral intentions are derived. A theoretical model is developed specifying antecedents of satisfaction and loyalty in healthcare management and medical tourism contexts.
Findings
The conceptual model shows that tourist destinations in the context of healthcare and medical tourism can be managed together with the study of the tourist consumer behavior and should focus on aspects that reinforce relationship marketing to the site, as planning services excellence, communication strategies, promotion services, integrated experiences and combating seasonality.
Originality/value
This study has already identified that the global movement of tourism is seemingly showing an increased focus on the niche product or niche service. In this case, the question seems to be whether the further growth in demand for healthcare management and medical tourism – as a niche tourism example – products will continue until they take a form of mass tourism. The new vogue of medical tourism forces to challenge and re-visit the power relationships that exist within contemporary tourism and the host–guest relationship.
Details
Keywords
Siva Ganapathy Subramanian Manoharan, Rajalakshmi Subramaniam and Sanjay Mohapatra
Marco Antonio Paula Pinheiro, Bruno Michel Roman Pais Seles, Paula De Camargo Fiorini, Daniel Jugend, Ana Beatriz Lopes de Sousa Jabbour, Hermes Moretti Ribeiro da Silva and Hengky Latan
The purpose of this paper is to identify and systematize journal articles that relate to new product development (NPD) within a circular economy (CE) and to present an integrative…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify and systematize journal articles that relate to new product development (NPD) within a circular economy (CE) and to present an integrative framework.
Design/methodology/approach
It was conducted a qualitative research based on a systematic review of the literature.
Findings
As results, it is presented the identification of the main practices and actions of CE applied to NPD, as well as the drivers, barriers and the stakeholders involved in the integration between CE and NPD.
Originality/value
The main contributions of this research are: mapping the state-of-the-art on the topic and systematizing the existing knowledge; providing useful insights for product development professionals considering adopting CE practices and tools in their NPD processes; and presenting a unique, integrative framework to guide organizations’ actions.
Details
Keywords
Carl Kühl, Michael Bourlakis, Emel Aktas and Heather Skipworth
The purpose of this paper is to test the link between servitisation and circular economy by synthesising the effect of product-service systems (PSS) on supply chain circularity…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to test the link between servitisation and circular economy by synthesising the effect of product-service systems (PSS) on supply chain circularity (SCC).
Design/methodology/approach
Following a systematic literature review methodology, the study identified 67 studies and synthesised them using content analysis.
Findings
A conceptual model is developed illustrating how PSS business models impact SCC through increased product longevity, closure of resource loops and resource efficiency. It also identifies six contextual factors affecting the implementation of SCC including: economic attractiveness of SCC; firm sustainability strategy; policy and societal environment; product category; supply chain relationships; and technology.
Research limitations/implications
The conceptual model proposes that SCC increases with servitisation. It also proposes that the main circularity effect stems from increased product longevity, followed by closed resource loops and finally resource efficiency. The model is deduced from the literature by using secondary data.
Practical implications
The review provides practitioners with a framework to increase SCC through PSS business models. It also gives insight into the various contextual factors that may affect how a manufacturer’s servitisation strategy contributes to SCC.
Originality/value
This review contributes to the understanding of the relationship between servitisation and SCC by synthesising the different effects that exist. Moreover, it creates new knowledge by identifying a range of contextual factors affecting the relationship between PSS and SCC.
Details
Keywords
Felipe Albuquerque, Alvair Silveira Torres and Fernando Tobal Berssaneti
In recent years, innovative methodologies of product development such as lean product development (LPD) and agile project management (APM) have emerged. Even though previous…
Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, innovative methodologies of product development such as lean product development (LPD) and agile project management (APM) have emerged. Even though previous research studies focused on these subjects, only few of them were focused on traditional industries, as civil construction. The purpose of this paper is to cover a part of this gap by estimating the potential of the application of these two new approaches (LPD and APM) in the construction industry, more specifically on the design stage.
Design/methodology/approach
For this, a case study has been conducted in order to understand if some of LPD and APM tools and practices had already been used, and also to evaluate the potential application of these new methodologies. Three Brazilian companies have been evaluated, all of them were exclusive executors of the design stage and presented distinct characteristics (size, structure, business model, etc.).
Findings
The results show that there is currently little adherence to LPD and APM practices within the companies studied. In terms of potential application of these new methodologies, the study has identified evidence regarding technical similarities between the reported cases and others mentioned in literature. However, the interviewees’ reception of these concepts was mostly pessimistic, showing considerable resistance to changes in the current process.
Originality/value
According to the analysis, the study identified that the main challenge/hampering to the implementation of these tools in the cases studied herein are the functional organizational structures, the customer–supplier relationships and the internal cultural resistance to change.
Details
Keywords
Aly Owida, P.J. Byrne, Cathal Heavey and Khaled S. El-Kilany
The purpose of this paper aims to evaluate field repair within product-service system (PSS) models operated by multinational manufacturers in the Egyptian emerging market to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper aims to evaluate field repair within product-service system (PSS) models operated by multinational manufacturers in the Egyptian emerging market to better understand the unique characteristics of this evolving market and to identify differences compared to established markets.
Design/methodology/approach
Case research was conducted on multinational manufacturers providing field repair services in Egypt. The sample is made up of 12 companies across different industries using convenience and purposive sampling. Data were collected using structured interviews.
Findings
There is no common model for field repair PSSs provision in the Egyptian emerging market even within the same industry, which is influenced by several factors. One of these factors is the market type being emerging or established. However, some commonalities have been found between some industries such as computer, telecommunications and document processing. Yet, there is no structural difference in the supply networks used to provide field repair service offerings in the Egyptian emerging market compared to established markets with the trend of outsourcing evident as a main attribute of a PSS in emerging markets. The main differences between established and emerging markets are related to country, culture and customer factors, which are market-based. Among the main challenges and risks that internationalized manufacturers face in Egypt, is the low level of customer awareness.
Research limitations/implications
Findings are limited to the studied cases and industries; yet, internationalized firms must deal with some unique challenges and difficulties in emerging markets.
Practical implications
This paper assesses PSS requirements and provides deeper insights for companies looking to provide or expand manufacturing-based offerings into the Egyptian emerging market.
Originality/value
This paper contributes to the evolving research on PSSs, particularly in emerging markets through identifying and describing different field repair PSS models in the Egyptian emerging market.
Details