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This study investigates the relationship between mobile phone adoption and gender-based inequalities over the past three decades, utilizing country-level panel data from 121 countries. Drawing on the Capability Approach, the Structuration Theory, and the Resource-Based View, we hypothesize that mobile phone adoption reduces gender-based inequalities, and adult literacy level moderates this relationship. Results from the Fixed-effects Regression and the Instrumental Variable analysis confirm that an increase in mobile phone adoption is linked to a decrease in gender-based inequalities, and this effect is more pronounced for countries with higher adult literacy levels. However, our findings do not hold for countries that rank low on the Human Development Index (HDI), where limited mobile access and lower adult literacy level create barriers. These findings suggest a need for policy interventions that aim to enhance both access to mobile phones and basic literacy for adults to harness the potential of mobile technology in promoting gender equality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing organizational operations and altering competitive landscapes. This study examines the influence of organizational resources on AI adoption in recruitment, focusing on their role in achieving competitive advantage through effective implementation. Design/methodology/approach: This research utilizes a cross-sectional quantitative approach, applying partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to data from 290 human resource (HR) professionals. It is grounded in the resource-based view (RBV) and dynamic capability framework (DCF). Findings: The results reveal that HR competencies and open innovation significantly influence dynamic capabilities, which are essential for AI integration, supported by financial support and information technology (IT) infrastructure. These capabilities enable effective AI adoption, leading to a competitive advantage. Research limitations/implications: The cross-sectional data in this study captures the current landscape of AI adoption in recruitment, providing a snapshot of the present scenario in a rapidly evolving technological environment. Practical implications: This study offers HR professionals and managers strategic guidance on effectively integrating AI into recruitment processes. By enhancing HR competencies, fostering collaboration and ensuring sufficient financial and infrastructural support, organizations can navigate AI adoption challenges and secure a competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving technological landscape. Social implications: The adoption of AI in recruitment can reduce biases, enhance diversity and improve fairness through standardized assessments. However, as AI technologies evolve, continuous human oversight is essential to ensure ethical use and to modify AI systems as needed, further reducing biases and addressing societal concerns in AI-driven recruitment processes. Originality/value: This research introduces a novel framework that underscores the importance of integrating human expertise with advanced technological tools to ensure successful AI implementation. A key contribution is that HR professionals not only facilitate AI integration but also ensure accuracy, accountability and configure the most suitable AI tools for recruitment by collaborating with AI developers to meet the specific needs of the organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Transformative marketing (TM) has reached considerable attention of both academic and practitioner communities. Being defined as the "confluence of a firm's marketing activities, concepts, metrics, strategies, and programs that are in response to marketplace changes and future trends" (Kumar 2018, 2), TM aims at fostering beneficial customer-solutions and providing competitive advantages for firms and their stakeholders. However, five notable research gaps persist within TM to date: First, inadequate consideration of B2B contexts despite being a uniquely disruptive market constellation. Second, a lack of empirical TM studies hindering substantial insights on generalization. Third, scarcity of contextual foundations such as the prototypical, yet highly transformative application context of mobility ecosystems. Fourth, absence of a holistic view capturing TM instruments, strategies, and success metrics. Fifth, unexamined aspects of the Resource-Based View (RBV) in TM enabling further insights into firm's transformation readiness. A distinctive feature of this research is its deliberate focus on B2B mobility firms, a domain characterized by high levels of disruption yet surprisingly neglected in TM literature. By delving into this overlooked sector, we aim to address critical knowledge gaps and unravel the intricate dynamics of disruptive B2B mobility ecosystems. For this purpose, we firstly delineate the morphology of disruptive B2B mobility ecosystems, shedding light on their structure and components. Secondly, we aim to develop a robust frame for assessing the "transformation readiness" of B2B mobility companies, crucial for navigating disruptive landscapes effectively. Thirdly, we endeavor to identify and scrutinize the TM instruments deployed within B2B mobility, with a view to constructing a comprehensive typology of TM strategies tailored to this context. Finally, we aspire to establish metrics for measuring the success of TM initiatives within B2B mobility companies, providing valuable insights for practitioners and scholars alike. Methodology/Approach: This work presents a comprehensive qualitative study involving 30 in-depth expert interviews conducted between July-September 2023 in Europe and the U.S. Capturing the perspectives of multiple firm types active in B2B mobility, as suppliers, technology firms or mobility service providers (MSPs), the study takes a deep look into the TM phenomena of this turbulent environment. In addition to 14 managers with leadership experience in marketing, strategy and sales, our study incorporates 11 distinguished professionals from management boards encompassing CEOs, CFOs or CDOs. Further, we engage 5 leaders specialized in innovation and digitalization. The findings are derived through a thematic analysis employing both structural and open coding techniques (Saldana, 2013, Strauss & Corbin, 1998). Findings: Our study involves six major findings related to the questions defined. First, suppliers in B2B mobility have not yet transformed from a value-based toward an ecosystem-based acting and lack a customer-centric perspective (RQ1). Second, a company's readiness for transformation is notably influenced by its commitment to design a market-oriented and integrated organization, its adoption of a transformative culture and its success to acquire software-oriented human capital (RQ2). Third, the transformative marketing (TM) instruments applied in B2B mobility markets relate to six thematic categories and are dominantly characterized by strategic levers – a facet, which has so far received limited theoretical and conceptual attention (RQ3). Fourth, there are four foundational TM strategies evident, namely dependent, progressive, reactive, and evasive approaches, distinguishable through their intensity and proactivity (RQ3). Fifth, the selection of TM success indicators remains largely independent from organizational types and management levels, with a primary focus on financial and profitability metrics (RQ4). And sixth, explaining the success measurement of TM in B2B mobility companies requires the consideration of a firm's foundational TM strategy (RQ4). Research Implications: Our research advances the theoretical understanding of B2B TM, lays the foundation for further generalizing research and theory-building and enhances the current B2B TM perception toward a more strategic perspective. Additionally, we seek to contribute to a greater consideration of B2B marketing in contexts of turbulent environments. We emphasize that the integration of TM with the Business Ecosystem (BES) and the Resource-Based View (RBV) increases further explanatory power of transformational phenomena. In terms of the BES, we show that the perception of a turbulent environment varies depending on company type and has a major influence on a firm's transformation. In relation to the RBV, our results demonstrate that within the B2B TM context, a stronger focus should be placed on identifying supportive and hindering transformation resources. Thus we propose describing the gap between existing (positive and hindering) and required resources as the "transformative resource gap (TRG)" and suggest, that this construct has the potential to enhance the RBV perspective on TM. Practical Implications: The study presented offers the practitioner community to more thoroughly examine B2B firms' TM phenomena. Connecting TM with concepts of the BES and the Resource-Based View (RBV) enables a deeper understanding of strengths and risks related to organization's market-related activities. Further, we underline threats resulting from a missing market- and customer-centric perspective and recommend validating market assumptions near customers to reduce misjudgments. Additionally, our findings assist in managing the proactivity and intensity of TM, suggesting ways for reaching a progressive TM strategy. Ultimately, we encourage companies to select success metrics in line with their chosen strategy. Originality/Value/Contribution: Our research stands at the forefront of advancing the theoretical landscape of B2B TM by integrating two pivotal frameworks: the Business Ecosystem (BES) and the Resource-Based View (RBV). This integration is not merely incidental but strategically chosen to amplify our understanding of transformational phenomena within B2B contexts. By leveraging the RBV, we delve deep into the internal resources, capabilities, and competencies of B2B mobility BES, unraveling their unique strategic characteristics and sources of competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used a resource-based view (RBV) perspective to understand the effects of market-based resources on the tendency of small subcontractors to adopt internalization of export marketing resources (IEM). We designed a multisource survey and collected data from 158 small high-tech subcontractors in Taiwan. Results show that (1) exploration helps subcontractors to adopt IEM, whereas exploitation restricts them to do so. (2) Moreover, having relational ties with domestic upstream suppliers helps subcontractors to adopt IEM, whereas having relational ties with domestic industry peers restrict them to do so. (3) Finally, environmental uncertainty moderates all these proposed effects. We found substitutive and complementary effects between each market-based resources on small subcontractors’ IEM. Our study provides a comprehensive RBV explanation to examine new resource growth strategies for small subcontractors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an era of rapid digitalization, firms in Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP) countries face unique challenges in adopting and integrating digital technologies (DTs). This study investigates how firms in Ghana and Nigeria navigate digitalization, examining both the drivers of DT adoption and the critical factors influencing successful integration. Through in-depth interviews with 12 CEOs of digital SMEs, the research reveals that while experience/exposure and problem-solving imperatives are primary adoption drivers, successful integration depends heavily on efficiency, quality, and cost considerations. The findings demonstrate that DT benefits manifest differently in BOP contexts compared to developed markets. While operational efficiency gains are universal to both contexts, benefits like financial inclusion and bridging institutional voids are distinctly valuable in BOP settings. The study extends RBV theory by showing that DTs can fundamentally alter organizational path dependencies in resource-constrained environments, enabling firms to bypass traditional infrastructure limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of the metaverse involves creating a fully immersive virtual world that allows users to interact with each other and digital objects in a way that is almost indistinguishable from reality. One of the key areas where the metaverse is expected to have an impact is retailing. Although there have been several studies on the use of the metaverse in different industries, this issue is rarely investigated in previous studies in the context of retail companies focusing on users' perceptions. This study accordingly explores the factors impacting the adoption of a metaverse in the retail industry and develops a new model based on the Resource-Based View (RBV) theory. In addition, the relationship between the usage intention of the metaverse and product innovation, and the relationship between product innovation and sustainable competitive advantage are investigated. Furthermore, as sustainability is a critical issue in the adoption of innovation by industries, this study aims to further investigate whether sustainability commitment will strengthen the impact of attitude toward metaverse on the intention to use. The data was collected from retail companies in Malaysia and analyzed to evaluate the proposed research model. The outcomes of this research indicated that there is a positive impact of product innovation on sustainable competitive advantage through the adoption of a metaverse in retail companies. In addition, our findings stressed that the intention to use metaverse will lead to product innovation in retail companies. Furthermore, the results revealed that sustainability commitment does not moderate the relationship between attitude toward the metaverse and intention to use, but impacts the usage intention of the metaverse directly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Competitiveness and digitalization are important topics for businesses, as in the rapidly changing environment, they determine the ability to survive and thrive. This study examines the impact of information technology (IT) investments on firms’ competitiveness. The study adopts the dynamic capability approach to examine how IT investments enable firms to adapt to digital transformation and generate value. This study employs causal econometrics methods to test the hypothesis that supplementary IT investments enhance the growth, efficiency, and capital accumulation of firms, which are key indicators of ex-ante competitiveness. The hypotheses are tested on a dataset of 65536 Hungarian firms from 1999 to 2014. Empirical evidence was found to support these hypotheses and confirm the positive relationship between IT investments and firm-level growth, efficiency, and capital accumulation. The findings indicate that a small IT investment does not improve efficiency, while an excessive investment is likely to include irrational investments as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies have investigated the influence of sponsors on the sport organizations with whom they partner. However, rather than simply assessing the impact of a new, incremental sponsor, which should result in a net positive for the sponsored organization, we quantify and isolate the effect of resources provided upon the switch of one sponsor to another. Furthermore, the resource-based view of the firm is utilized as a theoretical lens to understand the effects of these resources on demand, the ability to recruit human capital, and organizational performance. In Study 1, we analyze 15 years of data from 98 sponsorship agreements, finding that switches provide additional resources, but do not positively impact demand, recruiting, or performance, even in subsequent years. In Study 2, we find that the financial commitment necessary to acquire a sponsorship from a competitor does not result in a corresponding increase in shareholder value for the sponsoring firm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the strategic resources mapped and assimilated by stricto sensu graduate programs (PPGs) for an internationalization process. Used factor analysis, linear regression and anova. Envision four groups of factors that support and guide the important and decisive strategic resources for the process of internationalization of PPGs: innovation and HR; scientific research; international experience and partnership; and marketing and branding. The strategic resources identified and analyzed in this research contribute so that PPGs can be more aware of which competitive resources can be prominent for the internationalization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the growing limelight on digital revolution and sustainability in the maritime industry, this paper aims to investigate the overlaps and interconnectedness of these two significant topics. Anchored on resource-based view and organisational ambidexterity theories, this study investigates the influence of key technical and social digital resources on exploratory and exploitative innovation capabilities and sustainable performance of maritime companies. This study also analyses the direct effects of innovation constructs and the indirect effects of digital resources on sustainable performance. Survey data were collected from 164 maritime professionals from various functions and sectors in the maritime industry. The structural equation modelling analysis revealed that all identified digital resources have a significant, positive correlation with innovation constructs, as well as a positive indirect effect on sustainable performance. Furthermore, as compared to exploitative innovation, exploratory innovation generates a greater positive effect on sustainable performance. This study enriches theoretical research by enhancing the understanding of resource-based view and organisational ambidexterity. It also explores the tensions between exploratory and exploitative innovation, as well as the definition of sustainable performance. It offers managerial implications by recommending how the management can utilise technical and social digital resources and innovation to improve sustainable performance via better long-term planning and corporate decisions. In addition, this study also enables firms to prioritise their allocation of resources where finances or manpower are scarce. • Impact of digital resources on exploratory and exploitative innovation are analysed. • Resource-based view and organisational ambidexterity theories are applied. • Redefines sustainable performance via ESG and triple bottom line frameworks. • Digital culture and digital leadership impact exploratory and exploitative the most. • Exploratory innovation exerts a greater positive effect on sustainable performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The financial performance of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) plays a crucial role in bank credit access of these enterprises and the economies of countries where they operate. However, firm' executives' Resource-based View (RBV) characteristics can differently affect the financial performance of SMEs that they manage, therefore, credit access of SMEs can differ. In this regard, this paper aims to analyze whether the impact of financial performance on bank access to finance differs depending on executives' educational status, gender, and sectoral experience or not. In line with this aim, this research collects data from 479 randomly selected respondents by directing an online questionnaire. After that, the research data is analyzed by employing a Binary Logistic Regression Test. According to the results, the impact of financial performance on credit access differs depending on the gender and sectoral experience of firms' executives. However, the educational status of firm executives does not play any role in the impact of financial performance on access to finance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are highly important for producing highvalue-added innovative and intermediary goods and play a crucial role in being suppliers of large enterprises, their financial restraints cause them to encounter problems regarding their internationalization process and financial performance. As a dynamic capability of Resourcebased View theory (RBV), the usage of marketing communication tools (MCTs) by SMEs, such as social media (SM), websites, telemarketing, direct mail, SMS campaigns, and Google Adwords, increases the competitiveness of SMEs and might enable them to reduce their financial performance and export concerns. However, the usage of these tools can differ depending on the firm's country of origin since countries have various socio-economic and cultural conditions that affect the competitiveness of firms and their marketing communication approaches to their export and financial performance. In this regard, this paper aims to find international differences in the impact of the usage of MCTs on export and financial performance. This paper examines 1221 SMEs from Czechia, Slovakia, and Hungary for this aim. The researchers created an online questionnaire to collect data from randomly selected respondents in the research sample. The researchers also ran Binary Logistic Regression analyses for analysis purposes. Although this paper confirms international differences in the impact of MCTs on the export of SMEs, the effect of SM usage on the financial performance of SMEs does not differ depending on the SMEs' country of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is critical to identify ways to successfully implement blockchain which can transform the operations of shipping companies in the coming years. In this light, this study aims to explore the critical success factors (CSFs) of blockchain implementation using a comprehensive theory-driven approach, which is largely ignored by previous studies. The theoretical model is grounded on the synthesis of diffusion of innovation, resource-based view, institutional theory, stakeholder theory and technology-organization-environment framework. Correspondingly, five main-criteria and seventeen sub-criteria are identified. Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is applied to rank the CSFs based on the feedback from experienced managers and directors working in maritime shipping companies. The findings show that in descending order of importance, the top five sub-criteria of blockchain implementation are relative advantage, internal leadership, human resources capability, scalability and ease of use. This study has provided a novel theoretical framework for blockchain CSFs research, offered strategy formulation in relation to marketing, technological skills upgrade, investments and subsidization, and knowledge cluster sharing to support blockchain implementation in the maritime industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the role of professionalisation in the competitiveness of medium-sized family and non-family firms in Hungary. Many domestic studies have looked at the competitiveness of SMEs, but few have distinguished among them based on ownership. This research builds on the professionalisation of family firms and resource-based theory, exploring the different resource and capability combinations of family and non-family firms and their different types of strategies in terms of competitiveness. The authors identified variables related to professionalisation on the database of the Competitiveness Research Centre at Corvinus University of Budapest, on which they conducted principal component and then cluster analysis. The results obtained were compared with the Firm Competitiveness Index. The results show that family firms focus on their relationship building, knowledge management and innovation capabilities, while their nonfamily competitors focus on operational excellence and leadership capabilities to reach a higher competitiveness index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has transformed value chains across various industries. However, there is still a lack of knowledge on how to effectively utilise 4IR technologies in organisational value chains. Research must explore how organisations can use 4IR technologies to optimise their value chain performance. Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to explore the holistic impact of 4IR technologies on the structural transformation of value chains. Method: Applying the principles of the resource-based view and the VRIO (Valuable, Rare, Inimitable and Organisation) framework, a systematic literature review was conducted to map the intersection of 4IR technologies and value chain performance. It utilised resource-based view theory and the VRIO framework to assess the role of 4IR in transforming value chains. This study focused on the VRIO integration of 4IR resources, such as advanced data analytics, Internet of Things (IoT), proprietary technologies and skilled workforces. Results: The research shows that 4IR resources are valuable and rare assets that require meticulous organisational integration, adaptable organisational structures, innovation-driven cultures and cross-functional collaboration. Conclusion: The strategic integration of 4IR resources within value chains can lead to innovation, efficiency and enduring competitive advantage. Contribution: This study provides a strategic roadmap for integrating emerging 4IR technologies into business value chains, cultivating a deeper understanding and maximising the benefits of these technologies to achieve sustained value creation and competitive advantage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whilst there has been previous work focused on the role of technologies in enhancing supply chain risk management and, through such an enhancement, increased competitive advantage, there is a research gap in terms of understanding the links between external institution pressures and internal adoption factors. We use institutional theory (IT) and the resource based view (RBV) of the firm to address this gap, developing a framework showing how a proactive technology-driven approach to supply chain risk management, combining both external with internal factors, can result in competitive advantage. We validate the framework through analysis of quantitative data collected via a survey of 218 firms in the manufacturing and logistics industry sectors in India. We specifically focus on the technologies of track-and-trace (T&T) and big data analytics (BDA). Our findings show that firms investing in T&T/BDA technologies can gain operational benefits in terms of uninterrupted information processing, reduced time disruptions and uninterrupted supply, which in turn gives them competitive advantage. We add further novelty to our study by demonstrating the moderating influences of organisational culture and flexibility on the relationship between the technological capabilities and the operational benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research has been carried out in the field of business management to understand why some organizations perform better than others, while others fail. Strategic management field has a strong focus on exploring how firms operate and the performance differentials among them. In strategic management, predominantly, three theories are applied to assess firm performance. These theories are Resource-Based View (RBV), Dynamic Capabilities theory (DC), and Contingency Theory (CT). Through a systematic literature review, this paper explores how these three theories have been applied to construction management literature to review and examine the performance of the construction firms. Review of 46 articles was carried out to identify the factors that affect the performance of the construction firms in line with the frameworks presented by the aforementioned theories. The findings of the study hold significance for future researches on performance determinants of construction firms by evidencing the application of RBV, DC, and CT in construction management literature, which paves the way to future research aiming at combining the underlying principles of these theories to explore construction firm's performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent sport participants, particularly girls, continue to drop out of sport at alarmingly high rates, which presents an opportunity for new sport programs to enter the marketplace to better cater to those participants. Starting new sport programs, however, presents significant challenges, including acquiring and mobilizing resources in innovative ways. Using theory in sport development and the resource-based view, the authors examined six emergent sport programs for girls within the United States and United Kingdom to identify the resources obtained and mobilized to create new and distinctive sport opportunities in a crowded marketplace. Following a case study approach, data from site visits and interviews with 137 individuals were analyzed using within- and across-case analysis. The findings reveal the resources needed to grow the programs, the ways in which those resources are attained, and strategies to mobilize resource bundles to maximize sport opportunities by differentiating programs from traditional, mainstream sport opportunities. The findings also highlight the distinctive opportunities and challenges for sport organizers in both top-down and bottom-up sport development systems. This study informs theory in sport development and provides insight for creatively designing and delivering sport opportunities that expand overall sport participation for adolescent girls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Market orientation (MO) and technological capability (TC) have been regarded as critical determinants of Firm performance (FP). However, scant studies explain how technological capability and market orientation are linked in explaining firm performance. Using a Resource-based view and Dynamic capability as theoretical underpinnings, the present study seeks to examine this gap in the knowledge structure by adopting the Partial Least Squares SEM methodology. The findings indicate the necessity of alignment between a firm’s technological resources and marketing orientation for generating new insights, better communication, and coordination to respond to changing marketing needs. The empirical data was gathered from the founders, co-founders, managing directors, managers, and consultants of firms located in India (N = 141). The results of the PLS path modelling assert the significant relationship between TC and MO and how MO influences firm performance; however, the link between TC and FP was found to be insignificant in the presence of MO as a mediator. Therefore, the findings of the path analysis reveal the mediation impact of MO on the TC-FP link. Overall, the study emphasises the importance of fostering technological capabilities to generate and disseminate organisation-wide marketing intelligence for enhancing superior performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) play a critical role in the economic development and job creation of South Africa. However, they face numerous challenges that limit their growth and survival. This study explored the internal and external challenges that SMMEs in South Africa encounter and proposed recommendations to address these issues. The study was grounded in the theoretical framework of the resource-based view (RBV) and utilised a qualitative research approach. The data was collected through traditional literature reviews and drew insights from the primary experiences of SMMEs in South Africa. The study found that SMMEs face a range of internal and external challenges that affect their survival and growth. Internal challenges include limited access to finance, lack of business skills, poor management practices and inadequate marketing strategies. External challenges include government regulations, competition from large firms, lack of access to markets and poor infrastructure. To address these challenges, the study proposed some recommendations based on RBV theory, which emphasises the importance of firm-specific resources and capabilities. The recommendations identified the main key areas for intervention, such as improving access to finance and business support services, enhancing the capacity of SMME owners and managers, enhancing human capital, technology, and strategic partnerships, and creating an enabling environment that supports SMME growth and development. The study provides valuable insights into the challenges facing SMMEs, and the findings can inform policy and practice aimed at promoting the growth and sustainability of SMMEs in South Africa and other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud computing has become relevant due to the increasing need for computing, storage, and communication over the internet. This growth, however, is not same across the geographies. While developed economies have adopted cloud-based services, emerging economies are still lagging. As digitization has become core to policy-level strategies, a slow adoption of cloud-based Information and Communications Technology (ICT) may impact growth. The adoption and growth of cloud-based services depends on the readiness of the broader ecosystem. This study evaluates the factors influencing the cloud computing readiness of selected countries. In the process, the study extends the existing understanding of the ranking system by providing additional insights into the countries' performances against their potentials by using technical efficiency analysis. The study identifies and categorizes countries into four groups: aspirants, initiators, performers, and achievers. Results suggest that political-regulatory-business environment, investing in research and development, tertiary education, and knowledge-worker significantly impact cloud computing readiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The positive contributions that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make in the iron and mining industries are vital for the development of the global economy. However, their costly operations in disadvantaged regions and the green economy interests of financial institutions have made them face more financial obstacles that decrease their export and financial performance. In this regard, their ability to use marketing communication tools that are included in the dynamic capability of Resource-based View theory (RBV) can reduce their exporting and financial performance concerns. This is because using these marketing communication tools presents them with less costly marketing solutions and provides competitive advantages for SMEs against their larger-sized rivals. In this regard, this paper aims to analyze the impact of one-way (telemarketing, direct mail, website, etc.) and two-way marketing communication tools (social media platforms) on SMEs' export intention and financial performance from the iron and mining industries. The research team collected data from 1221 SMEs operating in Eastern European countries via an internet-mediated questionnaire to hit this target. The impacts of the marketing communication tools on export intention and financial performance are analyzed via the Binary Logistic Regression Test. The results show that while using one-way and two-way marketing communication tools does not affect the export intention of SMEs, it negatively affects their financial performance. The reason for these results might be related to the location and sector in which SMEs operate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strategic management literature reveals that organizational ambidexterity (OA) and technological innovation capabilities (TIC) have separate effects on competitive advantage (CA) and firm performance (FP). However, these two capabilities have not been investigated simultaneously and in comparison with the sector. The main aim of this study is to reveal the mediating role of CA in the effect of OA and technological innovation capabilities on FP. Using the research model based on quantitative data, the primary data were collected by applying an online survey to 770 people selected by the random sampling method from the textile/ready-made garment/leather sector representing the manufacturing sector and the information technology sector representing the service sector working under the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ICOC) in Istanbul. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS. The results showed that CA mediated positive and statistically significant effects of OA and technological innovation capabilities on FP, and this mediating effect differed by sectors. The current study provided insights into manufacturing and service sector firms. Based on these results, recommendations for researchers and firm managers are presented in the conclusion section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The competitiveness of the South African metals manufacturers is under the spotlight, since new investments in the metals and engineering industry in South Africa have been poor, and growth in the Chinese trade has had a negative competitive effect on domestic metals manufacturing output and employment. The purpose of the study was to determine how supportive the business intelligence process is in enabling successful competitiveness in practice. A theoretical model was designed and empirically tested by metals manufacturers, where four theories were selected to act as mediators between the business intelligence process and successful competitiveness. This study tested four hypotheses by applying Spearman's rank-order correlations and a structural equation model. A total of 63 responses were received and analysed. The study found that the building blocks of the business intelligence process combined in a single factor do not directly lead to successful competitiveness, but only when all the theories' principles, combined into a single factor, act as mediators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To identify what would prompt rice farming corporations to introduce smart farming technologies, we compared their strengths and weaknesses with those of their competitors (i.e., we evaluated their managerial awareness). Using the results of a nationwide survey of agricultural corporations, we analyzed the intention to introduce smart ferming technology by decision tree analysis. Under the category of4 "Measuring crop growth by drones and satellites", corporations evaluated themselves as excellent in "production and processing technology", "suppliers, trust of local communities and brand", and "sales and marketing", and showed a strong intention to introduce smart farming technologies. Under the category of ''Automation and robots in crop cultivation machinery work", corporations evaluated themselves as less than excellent in t{human resource development" and production/processing technology", and again showed intention to introduce smart farming technologies. These results suggest that to advance the adoption of smart fanning technologies, it is efiective to conduct extension activities in consideration of a corporation's brand, marketing activities, human resource development, and production/processing technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human-artificial intelligence collaboration (CAIT) presents considerable opportunities for optimising supply chain outcomes. Nonetheless, it poses numerous ethical, technological, and organisational obstacles that could impede its efficacy. This study contends that responsible AI (RAI) systems can function as a conduit between CAIT and supply chain outcomes to tackle these challenges. Accordingly, we leveraged the resource-based view (RBV) and socio-technical system (STS) theoretical lenses to analyse the mediating role of RAI in the relationship between CAIT and two supply chain outcomes (supply chain wellbeing (SCWB) and sustainable business performance (SBP)). The suggested model was evaluated using PLS-SEM on survey data from 301 supply chain managers in the UK. Our analysed data revealed a statistically insignificant relationship between CAIT and supply chain outcomes (SCWB and SBP). However, the mediating role of RAI was confirmed. The findings suggest that CAIT is merely a component of a supply chain's capacity to produce intrinsic resources, rather than a universal solution. To harness the dividends of human-AI collaboration involves designing boundaries, aligning CAIT to supply chain goals and integrating ethical and transparent strategies. Our findings contribute to the discourse on AI use in supply chain literature by showing that CAIT can influence supply chain outcomes by bridging ethical, operational and technological gaps while fostering trust and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substantial engagement in social and environmental responsibility, aimed at reducing greenwashing, is a key driver for corporations to strengthen their market power and achieve sustainable development. This study empirically tested the effect of greenwashing on corporate market power using a sample of A-share-listed companies in China's capital market from 2009 to 2021. The following results were obtained: (1) Greenwashing significantly reduces corporate market power, a finding confirmed through a series of robustness tests; (2) Mechanistic tests revealed that greenwashing weakens corporate market power by diminishing operational and marketing channel control capabilities; and (3) Heterogeneity analysis indicated that environmental regulations exacerbate the negative effect of greenwashing on corporate market power, while stronger internal controls mitigate this effect. This study examines the economic consequences of greenwashing from a product market perspective. The findings offer insights into factors affecting corporate market power, as well as solutions and policies for addressing corporate greenwashing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: In the era of the digital economy, organizations are under much pressure to justify their information technology (IT) spending on digital transformation. Some organizations have thus implemented IT chargeback, an IT governance (ITG) mechanism, to clarify and allocate IT costs among various business units. While practitioners have stressed the importance of IT chargeback, there has been little theoretical effort that investigates its strategic effects and boundary conditions. Design/methodology/approach: Synthesizing the ITG literature and the resource-based view (RBV), the authors develop a research model to examine if IT chargeback affects IT–business strategic alignment and, in turn, organizational performance and how human IT resources strengthen the impacts of IT chargeback. The authors designed a survey to collect data from 103 firms and tested the model using partial least squares (PLS). Findings: The authors found that IT chargeback promoted strategic alignment and then organizational performance only for firms with business-competent chief information officers (CIOs), rather than IT-competent business executives. Originality/value: This study enriches the ITG literature by exploring the strategic value of an IT cost governance mechanism (i.e. IT chargeback). This study further proposes and validates a measure of IT chargeback. Drawing on the RBV, this study quantitatively investigates the strategic impacts and boundary contingencies of IT chargeback. This study also advances the CIO literature by identifying the strategic leading role, instead of the traditional supporting role, of CIOs in modern organizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The volatility of the business environment requires that companies have strategic elements that can confer competitive advantages for survival in the market. In this sense, this study aimed to analyze the competitive potential of an accounting office located in Mossoró/RN based on the Resource-Based View. Methodologically, it is a descriptive case study whose data collection was carried out through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed qualitatively, using the VRIO model as an interpretation method. The results found revealed the competitive implications of strategic resources and capabilities, highlighting that, of the seven analyzed, six had the potential to generate competitive advantage for the company, being four sustainable and two temporaries. In general, the present study offered a competitive panorama for the studied company, revealing the real potential of its resources and capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining what factors influence firm performance constitutes an essential issue in both the management and the family firm research fields. This article, building on the resource-based view perspective, develops a mediation model that involves a unique intervening mechanism, namely, technological innovation efficiency (TI efficiency), with the potential to explain the inconsistencies found in prior work on the ways through which family involvement in management affects performance outcomes. Regression analyses utilizing a longitudinal sample of 1,118 Spanish private firms largely support the hypothesized mediating relationship, revealing that TI efficiency leads to richer firm performance in family firms with active family involvement in management. Overall, our findings help elucidate the black box of performance outcomes within family firms and make several contributions to theory and practice. JEL CLASSIFICATION L25; M12; O32 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzed both separately and jointly, Resource-Based Theory (RBT) and Dynamic Capabilities Theory (DCT) have been considered leading approaches focused on analyzing the performance of firms in dynamic market environments. Thus, the objective of this systematic literature review was to analyze the theoretical-epistemological trajectory of RBT and DCT in relation to performance and generation of competitive advantage, using six decades of scientific production, initially selecting a set of 939 articles and after filtering by thematic adherence and relevance, in a sample of 58 papers. The study of theories based on resources and capabilities becomes relevant due to the increase in the complexity of the corporate scenario, where new systems of production, innovation and technology, consumption, and exchange emerge every day, reaching the interests of the firm, its stakeholders, and markets. This article intends to serve as a guide for academics interested in both theories, as it is a theoretical body widely used in the Academy of Management, relevant due to its maturity in the area of Strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within a sustainable supply chain management approach, this study investigates strategic issues that can either favour or impede the implementation of natural capital accounting. Among other things, the originality of such consists of the joint consideration of sustainability, operational, and reputational issues, forging the link between measuring the use of natural resources and preserving companies' intangible capital. More specifically, through two scenario-based behavioural experiments with a total sample of 252 consumers in the UK, we analyse how information regarding the use of water (i.e., water footprint) affects firms' reputation (i.e., trust, attitude towards the firm, word-of-mouth, brand avoidance). We also investigate consumers' perceptions when companies seek to (1) increase the transparency of their consumption of natural capital (i.e., a conceptual proxy for the adoption of natural capital accounting) and (2) rationalize this consumption (i.e., a goal aligned with the objectives of natural capital accounting). The method employed is adequate as it allows the detection and measurement of respondents' perceptions of specific issues presented in the different scenarios. The choice of the UK as the setting reflects the importance of the country in the fashion industry, as it has a solid consumer base and is home to several international fashion brands. The supply chain management scope refers to the link between water consumption (which often takes place in the production of raw materials (e.g., cotton) and in transformation processes (e.g., fabric dyeing, tanning) by suppliers), fashion brands' reputation, and consumers' perceptions, with the joint consideration of these four phases sustaining the delimitation. Building on the premises of the resource-based view and signalling theory, the study is contextualized in the fashion industry as its current production levels require a significant consumption of natural resources, particularly water. Results show that, while the publication of the water footprint may damage companies' reputations, initiatives aimed at increasing transparency and reducing environmental impact can reverse these losses to a large extent. In this sense, the study advances the idea that, despite possibly presenting undesirable consequences at first, the adoption of natural capital accounting can be beneficial to firms later on, with reputational gains representing important strategic incentives. Further research in different countries and industries will be beneficial to assess the possible context impact on our results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using the resource-based view of the firm, this article examines how different resources are used by small- and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs) in response to environmental uncertainty in an emerging market context. A survey was conducted involving 212 owners, CEOs, or managing directors of SMEs in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to explore the drivers of firm growth strategies. Our empirical results show that higher environmental uncertainty, in terms of market and regulatory uncertainty, drives SMEs to pursue a more exploratory instead of an exploitative growth strategy. Our results also show that SMEs pursuing more of an exploratory growth strategy focus predominantly on intangible resources such as human capital and social capital while firms pursuing more of an exploitative growth strategy focus more on financial resources. The results from our study provide valuable insights for how managers can structure, bundle, and leverage different resources for developing their strategies based on their level of perceived environmental uncertainty. The policy implications from our study are that support for SMEs should be multi-faceted depending on the combination of uncertainty faced and type of strategy chosen by SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study develops a typology of dynamic capabilities to advance knowledge on how tourism organizations can manage disruptive external changes. It uses the context of a natural disaster. The article goes beyond a simple classification of organizational activities in responding to crises/disasters to create a typology of 12 dynamic capabilities. The typology is based on three dimensions that align with the disaster life cycle, source of resources, and deployment of resources. This study also provides empirical explanations for each type of dynamic capability, using qualitative data collected from 40 in-depth interviews with tourism organizations and other stakeholders across two years. Several practical implications and future research directions are provided based on the findings and limitations of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessing and exploiting organizational resources are essential capabilities for competitive sport organizations, particularly those engaged in motorsports, where teams lacking resources frequently dissolve. Corporate sponsorship represents a common method for resource acquisition, yet not all sponsorships equally benefit the sponsored organization. Sponsorship utility can be dependent on institutional dynamics such as league governance that produces competitive disparities. Through this study we extend the resource-based view to assert that sponsorships vary in their propensity to contribute to team survival, warranting prioritization in sponsorship strategy based on access to different sponsor resources. To empirically investigate the influence of a variety of sponsorships, survival analysis modeling was used to examine 40 years of corporate sponsorship of Formula One racing teams. One finding from the longitudinal analysis was that sponsorships offering financial or performance-based resources enhance team survival to a greater degree than operational sponsorships. However, such prioritization is subject to team experience, changes in institutional monetary allocation, and diminishing returns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rise of Big Data has inspired business organizations to venture into Big Data analytics, however academic research and empirical evidence about the business value remains scarce. This paper attempts to evaluate the readiness of Malaysia companies in taking advantage of Big Data adoption. The research finds a great interest about Big Data Analytics (BDA) solutions that fuel with sound decision-making and influence organizations into growth mindset. Big Data provides various advantages to organization that would seriously consider all its perspectives alongside its lifecycle in the pre-adoption or implementation phase. The research attempts to outline the different aspects of Big Data as a management practice to leverage the values of Big Data adoption in future organizations. As for the underpinning theory, the technologyorganization- environment (TOE) framework is chosen to describe the organizational adoption towards innovation decisions and Resource Based View to manage the upskill of the workforce. This is of great interest to researchers, professionals, and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has seriously affected the global economy. How agribusinessmen are overcoming this crisis is being noticed in emerging markets. Using social capital to diversify agribusiness for getting more customers is a useful solution for the growth of agribusiness. However, there is a lack of evidence on the aggregate measurement scale of social capital and the influence of behavioral goals on the intention toward agribusiness diversification. Therefore, this study aims to develop an integrated measurement of social capital and investigate its effect on agribusiness diversification intention using the expanded theory of planned behavior (TPB). Design/methodology/approach: A mixed-methods approach is used, including four in-depth interviews, three focus group discussions and two surveys. Structural equation modeling is applied to a sample of 484 respondents to test the proposed hypotheses. Findings: The study shows the role of social capital in influencing the intention to diversify agribusiness under the premises of the resource-based view (RBV). The scale of social capital is also developed, which is the first integrated measurement of this asset. The findings contribute significantly to the existing knowledge of social capital, the TPB and diversifying agribusiness. Originality/value: This is the first study to explore the comprehensive effect of the facets of social capital on behavioral intention through behavioral goals and determinants of the TPB under the premises of the RBV. The findings will help emerging economies, for example, Vietnam, where most farmers are family business owners or microscaled entrepreneurs in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article investigates and classifies firm resources for the internationalization of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from emerging countries. Originality/value: SMEs from emerging countries in global markets evidence their more restricted access to resources for internationalization. The mainstream international business literature classifies firm’s resources identified in large companies from developed economies. This research classifies firms’ internationalization resources located in different emerging countries based on a systematic literature review (SLR) and interviews. This paper contributes to the theoretical development about the internationalization of SMEs from emerging countries, indicating the importance of organizational resources in this process. Design/methodology/approach: This paper presents an exploratory research developed in two stages: a SLR on emerging countries and interviews with experts, institutions, and SMEs about the Brazilian context. Bibliographic research and an interview with semi-structured script were adopted as data collection techniques. Interviews were analyzed with NVivo software using content analysis technique and providing categorization of resources. Findings: Up to 2016, 15 works mentioned resources for the internationalization of SMEs from emerging countries and seven were done in Asia. We identified 72 resources in ten emerging countries. Organizational resources predominate. The use of financial resources in Brazil contradicts the trend in other emerging countries. More tangible resources seem less strategic for SMEs’ internationalization from emerging countries when compared to more intangible resources, as organizational ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to investigate whether it is possible to explain the innovative activities and performance of enterprises through the intellectual capital they adopt. In this context, in this study, the relationships between intellectual capital and innovation and manufacturing performance have been empirically examined. The normality of the data was checked using the statistical program, exploratory factor analysis was applied for construct validity, and correlation and regression analyzes were performed to test the hypotheses. The effect of intellectual capital on manufacturing performance and the mediating role of innovation were analyzed by using the Process Macro 4.0 plugin. The findings show that intellectual capital has a significant and positive effect on innovation. It shows that human and relational capitals, which are two of the intellectual capital dimensions, have a positive effect on innovation, but structural capital does not have a significant effect on innovation. Innovation, on the other hand, has been found to have a positive effect on manufacturing performance holistically (including all dimensions). In addition, it has been seen that innovation has a mediating role in the relationship between intellectual capital and manufacturing performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The study aims to analyze the relationship between intangible assets and the economic performance of Brazilian public companies. Design/methodology/approach -- We calculated the Degree of Intangibility (DI) to segregate companies into two groups: intangible-intensive and tangible-intensive in a sample of Brazilian public companies from 2012 to 2016. We applied the Mann-Whitney test to verify whether there were statistically significant differences between these two groups of companies concerning the Operating Margin, Return on Equity, Return on Assets, Market Value Added and Earning per Share. Findings -- The results show that intangible-intensive companies presented higher economic performance in most part of the indicators and years analyzed. In addition, we did not find significant results for Earnings per Share, although the signed rank sum mean values of intangible-intensive are higher than tangible-intensive companies in most part of the years. Practical implications - The findings seek to contribute to discussions about the importance of intangible resources as determinants of competitive advantages and reflecting in higher economic performance, and thus increasing market value. In this sense, investments in intangible resources can be applied in adopting initiatives in markets and definition of strategic positions in companies. Finally, our study seeks also to contribute to capital markets since the relationship between intangible assets and economic performance can be useful in detecting investment opportunities. Originality/value -- Previous studies analyzed the relationship between intangible assets and economic performance with other periods and samples. We also measured different proxies for economic performance as Operating Margin, Return on Equity, Return on Assets, Market Value Added and Earnings per Share. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research investigates how the resumption of the China certified emission reduction (CCER) market affects Chinese manufacturers' stock market valuations from an operations and supply chain management (OSCM) perspective. The paper draws from a resource-based view to examine the moderating effects of supply chain concentration (SCC), operational slack, and operational efficiency (OE) on the relationship between the CCER market and manufacturers' stock market valuations. This paper employs the event study method to examine market responses to CCER. The results reveal that the resumption of the CCER market significantly enhances the market valuations of high-pollution manufacturers to a greater extent than those of manufacturers with lower pollution levels. Additionally, the research findings indicate that SCC and operational slack attenuate the positive effect of CCER market resumption while OE amplifies it. This paper contributes to the OSCM literature by urging businesses to focus on the roles of SCC, operational slack, and OE in the CCER framework to harness the advantages of the CCER system better. • Resumption of China certified emission reduction positively affects manufacturers. • Operations and supply chain management factors are important moderators. • Manufacturers with varying pollution levels face different institutional impacts. • The event study method is employed to examine manufacturers' market responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores how green innovations in organization, process, and marketing have impacted the environmental, social, and financial performance of major Malaysian industries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the resource-based view, the research delves into how these green innovations help companies gain a competitive edge and achieve success. By examining data from 93 companies, the study finds that green organizational innovations significantly boost both environmental and social performance, while green process innovations mainly enhance social performance. Green marketing innovations indirectly improve environmental and social performance by positively influencing organizational and process innovations. Importantly, the study uncovers a strong positive link between environmental and financial performance, indicating that being environmentally responsible can also be financially rewarding. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and business leaders, underscoring the importance of promoting green innovation to achieve sustainable business practices and protect the environment, especially during times of global disruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A salient characteristic of China's public–pgrivate partnerships (PPPs) is the deep involvement of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), particularly those administered by the central/national government (CSOEs). In this research social network analysis (SNA) was used to examine the role of different actors in transport and environmental protection PPPs in China in the period 2012–17. The results largely confirm the resource-based view and resource-dependency theory, showing that while CSOEs are dominant in both sectors, their dominance and control is greatest in transport sector projects that are more dependent on their accumulated experience, expertise, human capital assets and managemgent skills, that their dominance has increased over time, and that it is aligned with the provincial distribution of Chinese CSOEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: to analyze the characteristics of the resources available in private brand hamburger shops. Design/method/approach: the research was undertaken with a qualitative approach, using multiple cases study, which is classified as exploratory and descriptive. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with owners of 5 hamburger shops in Brasília. Data analysis was performed using categorical content analysis. Results: only a small set of resources was able to generate a competitive advantage, which reinforces the idea of heterogeneity amongst firm resources. It is noteworthy that firms' longstanding in the market or with investment capital presented the greatest amount of distinguishing resources, reiterating the role of path dependency and management capacity. The results show that even rare resources, but not difficult to imitate or replace, when used together, can generate sustainable competitive advantages. The analysis identified a set of resources that represent the minimum characteristics that a firm must possess in this market so as not to be at a competitive disadvantage. Originality/value: using resources jointly to achieve sustainable competitive advantages is a perspective not described in the classic works of the Resource-Based View. Thus, this is the main contribution of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research evidence has signified that relationship between human resource practices and performance is contingent on the effect of a contingent variable. Nevertheless, survey of the extant literature signifies paucity of research on moderating effect of management philosophy. Thus, this study examined the moderating effect of management philosophy on the relationship between high-performance work practices (i.e. selective hiring, training & development, performance appraisal, pay-for-performance, and succession planning) and firm performance. The study employed cross-sectional research approach in which data were collected from a sample of 372 managers in Nigerian firms. Partial Least Squares Method (PLS) algorithm and bootstrapping techniques were used to test the study's hypotheses. The overall findings confirm that selective hiring, training and development, performance appraisal and succession planning have significant positive influence on firm performance while pay-for performance has non-significant effect on firm performance. The findings also indicate that the positive effect of HR practices on organizational performance cannot be strengthened, if management philosophy of a firm is not consistent with the values, attitudes and beliefs of the employees. The findings have profound implications for both theory and practice. The findings support resource-based view (RBV) by implying that firm's human capital can serve as a basis of competitive advantage, given that employees are of strategic importance to the success of organization. HPWPs can be used as tools in managing human capital effectively. Nonetheless, the vague process (i.e. black box) in the HPWPs-Performance nexus should be examined by the future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we explored the relationship between investments in intangible resources and the performance of publicly traded banks. We applied a quantitative approach, based on hand-collected public data from banks’ financial statements of investments on intangible resources, combined with a history of trading and accounting values, covering the period from 2008 to 2015. The results suggest that investments in intangible resources provide superior performance. The banking sector is not particularly sensitive to investments on Human Intangible Resources (HR) and Relation Intangible Resources (RR), but respond in an economically significant way to investments on Structural or Organizational Intangible Resources (SR). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]