Mena Farazi, Ahmad Jayedi, Zahra Noruzi, Fatemeh Dehghani Firouzabadi, Elaheh Asgari, Kurosh Djafarian and Sakineh Shab-Bidar
This paper aims to evaluate the association between carbohydrate quality index (CQI) and nutrient adequacy in Iranian adults.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to evaluate the association between carbohydrate quality index (CQI) and nutrient adequacy in Iranian adults.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 268 men and women with ages ranged from 18 to 70 years were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. The CQI was calculated by adding together the three components, namely, the ratio of solid to total carbohydrate, dietary fiber and glycemic index. The scores of three components were summed to calculate the CQI, with a higher score indicating a higher dietary carbohydrate quality. The odds ratios (ORs) of nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR), defined as the ratio of intake of a nutrient to the age- and gender-specific recommended dietary allowance, for the intake of energy and 10 nutrients across quartiles of the CQI were calculated by logistic regression analysis and expressed with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Findings
CQI ranged between 3 to 15 (mean ± SD: 9 ± 1.9). Being in top versus bottom quartile of the CQI was associated with a higher NAR of folic acid (OR: 3.20, 95% CI: 1.06–9.62; P-trend: <0.001), vitamin A (OR: 3.66; 95% CI: 1.46–9.17; P-trend: <0.001), magnesium (OR: 5.94; 95% CI; 1.71–20.53; P-trend: <0.001), vitamin C (OR: 7.85; 95% CI; 2.99–20.59; P-trend: <0.001).
Originality/value
A higher CQI was associated with greater micronutrient consumption adequacy in Iranian adults. The results suggest that increasing the consumption of total fiber and solid carbohydrates and decreasing the glycemic index of the diet and liquid carbohydrates can improve micronutrient intake adequacy.
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Hui Lei, Thuong Thi Nguyen and Phong Ba Le
Knowledge sharing (KS) and innovation are generally believed as the antecedents of key outcomes that help firms to attain and sustain competitive advantage in long term. The…
Abstract
Purpose
Knowledge sharing (KS) and innovation are generally believed as the antecedents of key outcomes that help firms to attain and sustain competitive advantage in long term. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the mechanism of how interpersonal trust and leader support affect KS and improve firm’s innovation capabilities.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a research paper which is built using empirical data collected from 68 manufacturing and service firms in China.
Findings
First, the findings show that leader supports moderate the correlation between interpersonal trust and KS. Second, KS serves as mediator in the relationship between interpersonal trust and firm’s innovation capabilities.
Research limitations/implications
KS plays a crucial role in stimulating innovation capabilities for both manufacturing and service firms. Future research should explore the effects of the motivational factors (such as positive psychological state, perceived benefits and costs) on KS and firm’s innovation capabilities.
Practical implications
The paper provides the evidence for the positive effects of interpersonal trust on KS, which in turn is significantly associated with product innovation and process innovation. It highlights the important role of leader supports in promoting the degree of sharing knowledge among individuals to enhance innovation capabilities for firms.
Originality/value
This study puts the theory of innovation forward based on exploring the key factors that have potential and positive impacts on two specific types of innovation capability, namely, product innovation and process innovation, for both manufacturing and service firms.
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Jorge Ferreira and Arnaldo Coelho
The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of dynamic capabilities (DC) (in the view of exploration and exploitation) on competitiveness and performance, considering…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to understand the impact of dynamic capabilities (DC) (in the view of exploration and exploitation) on competitiveness and performance, considering the mediating role the innovation capability (IC) and branding capabilities (BC)on competitive advantage and firm’s performance and the moderating role of entrepreneurial orientation (EO).
Design/methodology/approach
This investigation proposes a theoretical model tested using structural equation modelling (SEM). Multi-group analysis was performed to understand the moderating role of. A questionnaire survey was developed to explore the relations between DC and innovation variable. For this study, 387 valid questionnaires were collected from a sample of Portugal SME’ firms. A 90-item questionnaire which consists to study the relationships among all the variables.
Findings
The results show that exists a positive direct and indirect influence of DC on competitive advantage and performance variables and mediating impact the IC and BC.
Research limitations/implications
This study has some methodological limitations affecting its potential contributions. As a cross-sectional study that captures one image in time, its ability to identify strict causality between variables is limited. Furthermore, the results are based on log collected from a key respondent, rather than broader actual data. The results are restricted to one country, Portugal. Some variables, such as ICs, may play a different role in other countries. Future research should initially target different countries. Such research could then test the generalizability of the results.
Practical implications
This study has important implications for the managers. It highlights the necessity of firms to develop superior strategic orientation of all their members and to invest in better resources and consequently superior capabilities as a way of achieving high levels of firm performance. Another implication from the study is that the firms should develop their marketing programs by focusing on developing innovativeness.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the understanding of the indirect and direct impact of exploration and exploitation variables, and the mediating role of ICs and BC on the competitive advantage and performance and the moderating effect of EO.
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The purpose of this paper was to ascertain how social entrepreneurs were required to recognize their new ventures’ scope and scale of operations. The firm boundary was based upon…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper was to ascertain how social entrepreneurs were required to recognize their new ventures’ scope and scale of operations. The firm boundary was based upon two dimensions, namely, the scope of the offering and its scale. The objective of this research was to ascertain the thinking regarding this of social entrepreneurs engaged through technology-based social entrepreneurship (TBSE).
Design/methodology/approach
This study conducted an in-depth interview of 26 technology entrepreneurs engaged in social entrepreneurship ventures in India. The interview was carried out based upon a semi-structured open-ended questionnaire. This study undertook thematic and relational content analysis to develop a model of technology-based social entrepreneurs’ venture scoping and scaling.
Findings
This study found that the antecedent variables were the level of support perceived by social entrepreneur from government and at the industry level. Furthermore, the variables’ entrepreneurial and market orientation of social entrepreneurs were found to be the independent variables. These four variables in turn determined the explorative and exploitative horizon of the technology-based social entrepreneurs. Finally, an interplay of these variables ascertained the perspectives of social entrepreneurs engaged in TBSE regarding the notion of their firm’s scope and scale.
Research limitations/implications
The theoretical insights developed in this research study provided an integrated theoretical perspective accommodating both environmental perspectives (industry support and government support) and organizational perspectives (entrepreneurial and market aspects). This was in context of TBSE.
Practical implications
The insights from this research study could provide a robust and comprehensive understanding to social entrepreneurs regarding the strategic thinking towards scale and scope for a technology-based social venture.
Originality/value
To the best of the author’s knowledge, this study was one of the first theoretical works in TBSE towards scaling versus scoping perspectives.
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Shinhee Jeong, Jeanne M. Bailey, Jin Lee and Gary N. McLean
The purpose of this study is to help us understand social entrepreneurs’ lived experiences, reflecting the comprehensive entrepreneurial processes that encompass their past…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to help us understand social entrepreneurs’ lived experiences, reflecting the comprehensive entrepreneurial processes that encompass their past, present and future.
Design/methodology/approach
A narrative approach was used to explore the meaning of experiences in social entrepreneurs’ professional lives through the stories retold and restructured by social entrepreneurs. A total of 11 social entrepreneurs in the Midwest region of the USA were interviewed.
Findings
The authors identified three time-sequential themes: past (looking backward at the origin), present (living life as a social entrepreneur) and future (looking forward). Seven sub-themes emerged, revealing social entrepreneurs’ aspiration, self-knowledge, identity-defining moments, their sustainability-oriented leadership and how they build an organizational structure, partnership and handle the burden of work and the organization.
Practical implications
The findings offer useful information for future social entrepreneurs as they can learn from the perspectives of experienced social entrepreneurs in terms of what to prepare for and expect so they can achieve their full entrepreneurial potential. It can also aid in further development of social entrepreneur curricula in business and non-business schools.
Originality/value
The existing literature does not portray sufficient detail about how social entrepreneurs live the lives they have created and chosen to understand their lived experiences. This study also provides a comprehensive definition of social entrepreneurship, incorporating “collective perspective” with a mentality of “it’s not about me, it’s about us”.
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Mert Gürlek and Murat Çemberci
Drawing on knowledge-based theory, contingency theory of leadership, social learning theory and resource-based view, this study aims to investigate the relationships among…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on knowledge-based theory, contingency theory of leadership, social learning theory and resource-based view, this study aims to investigate the relationships among knowledge-oriented leadership (KOL), knowledge management capacity (KMC), innovation performance (IP) and organizational performance (OP).
Design/methodology/approach
The relationships were examined using the serial mediation model of Hayes (2013). Data were collected from the firms (N = 502) operating in technology development zones in Turkey. The sample size corresponds to 10% of total number of the firms. Within the scope of a policy called National Technology Move by public authority, Turkey has been making strong investments to produce original and advanced technology products. A significant portion of these investments is directed toward technology development zones. Therefore, research on this topic may be of interest in Turkey. It should also be noted that Turkey is a developing country and is one of the world’s 20 largest economies.
Findings
The findings show that KMC and IP serially mediate the effect of KOL on OP. In the light of the findings, KOL establishes the eligible conditions for the improvement of KMC. Enhanced KMC transforms into innovation, and as a result, OP increases. As a result, this research shows that Turkish firms under the leadership of knowledge-oriented leaders have high KMC, innovation performance and firm performance. These findings can serve as a valuable benchmark for future studies in developing countries.
Research limitations/implications
The current research has several limitations. It was carried out on the firms operating in technology development zones in Turkey. Future researches can be conducted on the firms outside the technology development zones. Second, this research was carried out in Turkey. The study was conducted in a specific national context covering only Turkish firms. It is recommended that readers be cautious when generalizing the results to different contexts (e.g. other countries and industries). Future researches can be conducted on the firms located in technology development zones in different countries. This may allow the comparison of countries. Turkey is a developing country. For this reason, developing countries should be taken into consideration in the comparison between countries, not developed countries such as the USA and European countries. Third, this is a cross-sectional study. Therefore, it does not reveal the changes in research variables over time. Longitudinal data collection is recommended for future researches.
Practical implications
The research findings are turned into a slogan and the firms are recommended the following perspective: more innovation for strong performance; a strong KMC for innovation; and for all, a strong knowledge-oriented leadership.
Originality/value
KOL is a quite new research field. The current study makes a significant contribution to the literature by revealing the fact that KOL is effective in increasing OP. In addition, testing via the serial mediation model the relationships which put forward how KOL increases OP, this study sheds light on organizational outcomes of KOL. There is an important gap in the search for leadership characteristics that allow knowledge-intensive firms to improve their KMC, innovation and firm performance. Therefore, this research is an important step toward filling this gap.
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Juan Velez-Ocampo, Karthik Govindan and Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez
This theory testing paper compares and analyzes the internationalization process of two Mexican family-owned firms: Xignux and Grupo Alfa. This paper is intended to offer a…
Abstract
Purpose
This theory testing paper compares and analyzes the internationalization process of two Mexican family-owned firms: Xignux and Grupo Alfa. This paper is intended to offer a theoretical understanding using existing frameworks such as OLI (ownership, location and internationalization), LLL (linkage, leverage and learning) and the Uppsala model. Furthermore, it tests whether the theoretical framework of organizational capabilities and international ventures fits the internationalization of these companies.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper is based on case study methodology using the companies’ publically available data. Both within-case and cross-case analysis were carried out to identify specific traits in the internationalization pattern of both firms; cases were also compared with literature to identify conflicts and similarities that enable a better understanding of the phenomenon.
Findings
It was found that not a single theory fully and satisfactorily explains the internationalization of both Xignux and Alfa, instead, issues like internationalization into low psychic distance countries, establishment of strategic alliances and the exploitation of locational-specific advantages contributed in the international expansion of the studied companies.
Originality/value
There is an increasing amount of available literature regarding internationalization strategies and internationalization theories applied to developing and emerging country firms. However, most of the studies analyze companies from Asia, and there are limited studies on multilatinas (i.e. Latin American multinationals). Furthermore, scholars in the field of international business are still debating whether the existing theories, or an adaptation of them, explain the internationalization of multilatinas.
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Mohammad Reza Zahedi and Shayan Naghdi Khanachah
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship among knowledge management (KM), intellectual capital and organizational innovation. The present literature in these…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship among knowledge management (KM), intellectual capital and organizational innovation. The present literature in these three areas of study, the effect of KM on organizational innovation through the development of intellectual capital has been rarely studied so far. Therefore, in this research, the authors tried to examine the effect of KM processes on organizational innovation through the development of intellectual capital in Iranian industrial organizations.
Design/methodology/approach
The data of this research has been gathered and aggregated through the distribution of a closed questionnaire in a sample of 384 people selected from the statistical population consisting 4,589 managers and senior managers of the Iranian industrial organizations. Data were then analyzed using SPSS software and structural equation modeling method which was used to measure the models integrity.
Findings
The results of this research indicate that KM processes affect the development of intellectual capital of an organization. KM processes are also effective in promoting innovation in the organization. KM processes also contribute to improving the level of innovation in the organization through intellectual capital development. The results also show that managers need to focus on the development of their human capital through the use of young native educated specialists to maximize internal capacity and knowledge creation and move toward improving human capital of the organization.
Originality/value
The present literature in these three areas of study, the effect of KM on organizational innovation through the development of intellectual capital has not been studied so far. This study of industrial organizations is also a valuable factor in this paper.