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The main aim of this paper is to study the phenomenon of the coexistence of firms with illegal characteristics and firms showing legal behaviour in developed economies by using an evolutionary competition model known as the Lotka-Volterra equations. Enterprises in a ‘legal system’ obey the extant laws, particularly market rules, while enterprises in an ‘illegal system’ disregard them. Illegal enterprises have a competitive advantage over legal enterprises, yet they cannot survive if legal enterprises disappear completely. The numerical solution of the Lotka-Volterra equations are used to show how there can be a situation of coexistence between legal and illegal enterprises and how state intervention can help reduce illegality in an economic system. This paper outlines a new approach to address the problem of coexistence because it uses non-linear and evolutionary tools to define the competition between legal and illegal firms. The research gap presented in this paper is addressed using the predator-prey scheme to model the competition between legal and illegal firms, which is perceived as the competition between two populations with different fitness levels (survival probabilities). This competition gives rise to three different types of possible equilibrium outcomes: survival of only legal firms, survival of only illegal firms and coexistence of these two types of firms. An empirical analysis of an Italian case study confirms the results of this paper's theoretical model.

Objective: Entrepreneurs are responsible for innovation, but they do not act in the vacuum, the greater the support for their action, the improve the chances of success. Startups - technology-based companies with high potential for growth and impact - are associated with the existence of entrepreneurial ecosystems that facilitate entrepreneurial action. This paper goal is to provide evidence that help to explain why startups fail in an emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem. Method: We perform exploratory research in which entrepreneurs whose startups failed in the emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem of Porto Alegre, Brazil, were interviewed. We complement the analysis with the collection of secondary data. Results: Building on Isenberg’s (2011) six domains, we generate ideas on how each of them in emergent entrepreneurial ecosystem may influence startup mortality. Our results indicate that emerging entrepreneurial ecosystem could be much better in avoiding the premature failure of startups. Policy and Finance are the most problematic domains, while culture, support, and markets are the three middle-ground dimensions. These last three need improvement, but they are not as critical as the first two. Contributions: This paper contributes to the entrepreneurial ecosystems literature by exploring how emergent ecosystems contribute for discontinuity of promising startups. Originality: Besides entrepreneurial mistakes, problems that are out of the entrepreneur control can also cause a venture's death (Cardon et al., 2011). Building on this, we use Isenberg's (2010; 2011) model for understanding the influence of the entrepreneurial ecosystem on the circumstances that entrepreneurs faced that determined their startup failure (Jenkins & McKelvie, 2016). Social Contributions: by better understanding why startups fail in emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems, we support policymakers in their focus on possible improvements of the features that seem most relevant to entrepreneurs. The public agents can then work to provide a better environment for future entrepreneurial endeavors.

Objective: The objective of this paper was to analyze the bidirectional relationship between financial development and economic growth for a dataset of Latin American and Asian developing countries between 2001 and 2019. Method: This research employed an empirical approach to analyze the statistical relationship between financial development and economic growth, by presenting an estimation of a system of simultaneous equations for a panel of Asian and Latin American countries using 3SLS. Main Results: The results presented in this research provided evidence that financial development does not appear to have a significant impact on economic growth, although growth appears to have a significant and positive influence on financial development. Moreover, the results also suggested that regulatory quality and domestic credit directed to the private sector have a positive effect on economic growth, while urbanization and education showed a negative influence on growth. The estimated model also indicated that urbanization has a positive influence on financial development while foreign direct investment presented a negative effect on the development of the financial sector. Relevance / Originality: Most of the research agenda on the topic of finance and growth has focused on identifying correlation or causality between these variables, with little attention given to the simultaneous relationship between them. This is still a clear gap in economic literature. Following this premise, the objective of this paper was to analyze the bidirectional relationship between financial development and growth by estimating a system of simultaneous equations using the Zellner and Theil’s (1962) 3SLS methodology. In this sense, the main contribution will be given empirically, based on data and analysis from emerging countries in Latin America and Asia. The fact that financial development has an influence on growth and growth plays a role on the development of the financial sector indicates a simultaneous relationship between these variables. Another relevant contribution is to update the debate on financial systems and economic development for emerging countries, highlighting institutional aspects and financial cycles. Theoretical / Methodological Contributions: The main contribution of this study is in the empirical strategy, whose results dialogue with part of the literature on the financial system and development presented along the text. That is, this research explored the statistical relationship between economic development and financial development for a sample composed by twenty-two Asian and Latin American emerging countries, using a simultaneous equations model.

Recently, the use of machine learning (ML) in scientific disciplines has experienced an unprecedented increase. Finance has not been an exception. Several works have been published in recent years using ml techniques. However, one of the topics with the least number of developed papers is volatility in this context. Nevertheless, the data analyzed here suggest changes regarding this issue. Data obtained from the Web of Science database show that between 2001 and 2010 there were 33 published papers associated with this topic. Surprisingly, between 2019 and 2023, 189 manuscripts have been published related to this topic. The purpose of this work is to review the works related to the applications of ml in volatility. For this, a classification of the main proposals on this topic is proposed following a narrative methodology, accompanied by a statistical and bibliometric analysis in which novel techniques such as K-means were used. The results are suggestive. Although most papers focus on volatility prediction through neural networks and support vector machines, there is a lack of studies related to volatility transmission, calibration of volatility surfaces, and corporate finance. Moreover, the obtained results indicate that there is a gap in the production of works related to these topics in finance and economics specialized journals.

Corporate social performance (CSP) and corporate financial performance (CFP) have been studied widely in the last fifteen years. These major efforts in research and publication might have been expected to produce aligned results but is it not the case; this paper aims to study why there is no consensus among them. By using the bibliometric data obtained from Scopus, this paper looks at four bibliometric indicators (journals, authors, countries, areas) for published work. We look for papers between 1977 and 2018 and identify a total of 371. The findings reveal that there are at least five key journals publishing in CSP-CFP relationship. There is a lack of co-occurrence between authors, regarding areas, two distinct perspectives are detected: one based on sustainability and social responsibility and the other linked more closely to marketing, and both perspectives can be connected via stakeholder theory. It contributes using bibliometric approach, it shows a reason to align the results around the relationship between CSP-CFP and open the windows to create a theory. Finally, the findings of this paper provide insights to the researchers on the development of social responsibility. The disparity of results in this line enriches analysis but does not outcome in a single line of contribution to science, thus decreasing the potential for channelling studies into a single theory. This only seems possible if contributions can be focused on the nexus that unites them: stakeholder theory.

Objective: This paper aimed to provide a systematic review of brand identity and understand how literature streams impact the current brand identity frameworks. Method: There are few systematic reviews about this salient topic, and the existing ones have not analyzed how the research in brand identity has evolved in the last 30 years, what have been the leading research streams and gaps, and which future avenues of study could be pursued. To fill this gap, this paper analyzed 67 articles published in 24 leading academic journals (Academic Journal Guide grades 3, 4, and 4*) between 1990 and 2021. Main Results: Five key research streams were identified: brand identity frameworks; consumer behavior; corporate branding; visual brand identity; co-creation. Despite the impressive progress made over the last 30 years, our review points out what we defined as a “middle-age brand identity crisis”, since there is still no convergence among scholars about what brand identity is and what would be its main components. Also, the current research streams uncover concepts and ideas that were not previously included in brand identity frameworks. Relevance / Originality: This study performed a comprehensive systematic analysis of the brand identity literature, highlighting essential recent research not considered by the current brand identity frameworks and connecting it to branding constructs. We also identified that there is still a lack of consensus regarding the brand identity components and dimensions. Theoretical / Methodological Contributions: This paper contributes to the literature by presenting a new framework to shed light on the interactions of brand identity with other branding constructs, proposing that brand identity has a core (brand essence) and extended identity (composed of personality, relationship, symbology, and cultural expressions). A new brand identity taxonomy is also proposed, with complexity and tangibility as its dimensions.

The primary purpose of this paper is to present an actual case of a Peruvian SME which applied IFRS accounting standards – specifically, IAS 41 for consumable biological assets – to reflect its financial situation more accurately as an alternative to legal and tax regulations applying historical cost, which Peruvian SMEs more commonly use for the preparation of financial statements. Primary data were gathered through interviews and observation at the SME studied. This forestry-industry SME in question tried unsuccessfully to get financing from banks, even presenting complementary information regarding the calculation of biological asset values according to IAS 41. Failing this, it turned to seeking funding from private long-term investors, eventually succeding in obtaining long-term financing from a new strategic investor. The significance of this paper is that it presents evidence of the advantages for companies (specifically agriculture-related companies) that comply with IFRS in a country where historical cost-based tax rules are traditionally applied for accounting purposes. Other SMEs can similarly improve the likelihood of obtaining new capital from potential investors by complementing the information provided in financial statements with detailed data regarding fair value calculation of biological assets.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the adoption of teleworking from home as an alternative to making operations viable for several companies, which implied adjustments in management models. Thus, this paper aims to identify the relationships among leadership styles (transactional and transformational), organizational climate, teleworker satisfaction, and manager incivility in the context of teleworking from home, in the short term and potentially on the long term. The quantitative research uses structural equation modeling estimated by partial least squares. The results show that both leadership styles and organizational climate positively impact teleworker satisfaction. Additionally, organizational climate partially mediates the relationships between leadership styles and teleworker satisfaction. However, the moderating effect of incivility is not confirmed. That contributes to the organization entirely or partially in a home office, a post-pandemic trend, or in new similar situations. The Theory of Adjustment highlights the relationship between the constructs studied in a virtual context, contributing to the field of people management studies.

Entrepreneurship has increasingly captured policymaker’s attention due to the need to promote economic development and job creation. Among the drivers of entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial education is of particular significance. This paper reviews entrepreneurship education from a research and practice perspective. Firstly, a discussion is held as to whether entrepreneurial talent is born or bred. Secondly, the different approaches to entrepreneurship education are revised, specifying their distinctive characteristics. This is followed by a review of research on the potential of entrepreneurship education to awaken individuals’ entrepreneurial intentions. Finally, a series of practical considerations aimed at improving entrepreneurship education programs are proposed. Ultimately, this paper contextualizes entrepreneurship education, advocating its relevance in the promotion of entrepreneurial activity.

This paper suggests a theoretical model, in which the manager's tenure and the dispersion of competitive intelligence have effects on sales efficiency. The dispersion of competitive intelligence consists of how much variation there is in the knowledge and the manager's tenure means the time that the manager is working in the firm. The paper brings the following contributions: first, by the theoretical model of competitive intelligence, the greater the dispersion of competitive intelligence, the lower the sales efficiency at individual level. Second, the greater the manager experience, the better the direct relationship between competitive intelligence and efficiency. Opportunities for future research are suggested.

Governments are spending a considerable amount of resources to digitalize their many services. The purpose of this research was to conduct a systematic review of e-Government acceptance papers that used the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technologies (UTAUT) as the theoretical background. From the 1529 articles using UTAUT (from 2003 to 2019), we selected the 41 most cited papers that were related to e-Government acceptance. All 41 articles were fully read to understand research gaps. We found that only a few studies have been faithful to the original UTAUT model. Although improving the theory with new variables is important, the validation of the original model also is. Constructs such as trust, quality of information, quality of service, and quality of the system, despite not being original from UTAUT seminal paper, were often integrated into the model to predict individuals’ behavioral acceptance. Our findings are important to understand that as different technologies have different users and different purposes, different constructs might help to explain the individual behavior about using or not those technologies. By highlighting the research gaps, our paper guides future work on the use of UTAUT as a theoretical lens for the acceptance of e-Government.

RESUMO Objetivo: Este artigo revisa pesquisas existentes relacionadas à avaliação do impacto da inovação social e identifica várias barreiras para essa avaliação. Em seguida, são propostas intervenções para superar essas barreiras. Originalidade/valor: A inovação social tem desempenhado um papel importante na promoção de mudanças positivas para a sociedade. No entanto, medir seu impacto é um desafio muito significativo devido às muitas barreiras enfrentadas na seleção de métricas que se encaixam em sua definição e objetivo. Reconhecendo esses desafios, a principal contribuição deste artigo foi identificar as barreiras mais comuns e sugerir como elas podem ser superadas. Design/metodologia/abordagem: Duas abordagens foram consideradas nesta pesquisa. Por um lado, aplicou-se uma abordagem bottow-up para revisar a literatura relevante relacionada a métricas de impacto para inovação social e boas práticas para avaliação de impacto de inovação social. Por outro, utilizou-se uma abordagem top-down, por meio da coleta e análise de projetos de pesquisa relacionados à identificação de métricas de impacto da inovação social, amplamente difundidos e bem consolidados na literatura atual. Resultados: Esta pesquisa oferece insights valiosos para pesquisadores acadêmicos, decisores de políticas e profissionais que trabalham no campo da inovação social, identificando e classificando as principais barreiras enfrentadas para medir o impacto da inovação social, ou seja, a falta de conscientização das partes interessadas no campo da inovação social, dificuldades para selecionar as métricas para avaliar a inovação social, dificuldades para selecionar critérios para identificar indicadores mais adequados à inovação social, falta de engajamento dos beneficiários, falta de apoio financeiro e público e falta de consenso na definição de inovação social. / ABSTRACT Purpose: This paper reviews extant research related to the impact assessment of social innovation and identifies several barriers to this assessment. Following this is a proposal of interventions to overcome these barriers. Originality/value: Social innovation has played an essential role in enhancing positive changes for society. Nonetheless, measuring its impact is a very significant challenge due to the many barriers faced in selecting metrics that fit its definition and goal. Recognizing these challenges, the main contribution of this paper was to identify the most common barriers and to suggest how these barriers can be overcome. Design/methodology/approach: Two approaches were considered in this research. On the one hand, a bottom-up approach was applied to review relevant literature related to impact metrics for social innovation and good practices toward social innovation impact assessment. On the other hand, we used a top-down approach through collecting and analyzing research projects related to identifying metrics of social innovation impact, broadly disseminated and well-consolidated in the current literature. Findings: This research offers valuable insights to academic researchers, policy decision-makers, and practitioners working in the field of social innovation by identifying and classifying the main barriers faced to measuring the impact of social innovation, namely lack of stakeholder awareness in the field of social innovation, difficulties in selecting the metrics to assess social innovation, problems in selecting criteria to identify best-fitted indicators to social innovation, lack of beneficiaries engagement, lack of financial and public support, and lack of consensus in the social innovation definition.

Founder-entrepreneurs in SMEs tend to have an active role in shaping the business and the direction and management of their innovation strategies. During COVID-19, their understanding of risks and approach towards decision making has become very crucial as the market sensitivity changed drastically with various levels of challenges such as travel restrictions, national lockdown, reduced market demand and operational uncertainty. So far, there are very limited studies on the role of the founder-entrepreneurs from Chinese high-tech software SMEs in managing the business risks from the pandemic. This paper will address some of these gaps by presenting case studies of 9 successful high-tech software SMEs in China and discuss how their founder-entrepreneurs have engaged with the market, identified COVID-19 related risks and how they have made critical decisions to survive and explore new market opportunities for growth. As part of a longitudinal study, in-depth interviews were conducted with the founder-entrepreneurs at various stages of the pandemic to explore their progress with the business operation and management. The paper will discuss the role of the founder-entrepreneurs from SMEs in risk analysis and decision-making. It makes an important contribution to the growing literature on Chinese SMEs, and COVID-19.

The aim of this paper is to relate innovation with the broadcasters' business model, by way of a bibliometric and review analysis. This comprises to study how they have incorporated the innovation and the effect of a disruptive innovation (as the Internet and other technologies) in their business model. To achieve these objectives a review of the scientific literature has been carried out, followed of an analysis in which obtained papers were classified according three dimensions: (i) Value Architecture Innovation, (ii) Value Offering Innovation and (iii) the Revenue Model Innovation. These dimensions are based on a reinterpretation of a previous classification which consider that business model innovation materialises with a change of the company that affects at least one out of the three mentioned dimensions. In this way, a classification of the reviewed documents has been established based on these dimensions, showing that broadcasters have adopted a sustained business model innovation, with 48%, 44% and only 8%, respectively, in each dimension. By means of a scientific mapping of the keywords of the documents reviewed, a series of main and secondary topics have been established within each dimension, which have been analysed in terms of their contents and temporal evolution. It discusses the difficulties faced by broadcasters in adapting to the new audiovisual ecosystem. This study also argues that the Internet is one of the most disruptive innovations they have had to face and, therefore, in order to survive, they must take on this type of innovation to transform their business model.

El presente artículo interpreta teóricamente cómo la competencia real capitalista internacional presiona a que en las sociedades periféricas los balances comerciales dependan de ventajas absolutas de costo basadas en una sobreexplotación laboral-natural, lo que crea dinámicas cíclicas en dichas sociedades. Para reforzar tal interpretación, el artículo toma como caso de estudio al capitalismo periférico ecuatoriano, sobre el que se presentan tendencias histórico-cíclicas de mediano y largo plazo, ejemplos de actividades económicas que al parecer sustentan sus superávits comerciales desde la sobreexplotación laboral-natural, y evidencia estadística de tendencias cíclicas de corto plazo a nivel sectorial, estimando un modelo PVAR sobre un panel de datos compuesto por 43 actividades económicas observadas en el período 2007-2016. Todos los resultados empíricos muestran la importancia de las ventajas absolutas de costo basadas en la sobreexplotación sobre los balances comerciales y el surgimiento de ciclos que refuerzan la condición dependiente del capitalismo ecuatoriano. || This paper theoretically interprets how international real capitalist competition pressures trade balances of the peripheral countries to depend on absolute cost advantages based on the super-exploitation of labor power and nature; dependence which creates cyclical dynamics within those countries. To reinforce such an interpretation, the paper takes as a study case the Ecuadorian peripheral capitalism, about which some historical-cyclical trends are presented as well as some examples of economic activities that seem to obtain their trade surplus through super-exploitation. Also, the paper estimates a PVAR model over a panel data of 43 economic activities observed during the period 2007-2016; from that estimation, it is found evidence of short-run cyclical dynamics among Ecuadorian economic activities. All the empirical results evidence the importance of the absolute cost advantages gained through super-exploitation of labor power and nature on the determination of trade balances and on the rise of cycles that reinforce the dependent condition of Ecuadorian capitalism.

Abstract This paper aims to analyze the role of social protection structures in the economic integration of refugees. While most of the literature on economic integration focuses on refugee access to formal workforce, this paper explores the importance of social protection in the integration process and how it paves the way for greater economic integration. This paper investigates both formal social protection structures and informal ties within immigrant communities that help refugees obtain a basic income while they are in the process of integration. Brazil has no national program for economic integration of refugees and, in terms of social protection structures, they are recipients of the same social assistance programs that are offered to the low-income population. By looking at a conditional cash transfer program, Bolsa Família, and analyzing the access and outcomes of this program for Syrian refugees in the city of São Paulo, this paper shows the limitations of providing these programs to refugees without considering their specificities. In conclusion, for a stronger economic integration, formal structures of social protection need to be more efficient and better address refugees’ needs. In order to conduct this work, I used academic and news articles, and interviewed members from the government and civil society organizations who work with refugee integration.

This paper aimed to analyze how agents – managers and employees – experienced change in an educational institution, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We developed a framework that considers the junction between Badham's 5M Framework (mindful, mobilising, mapping, mask, and mirror) and Pettigrew's processual approach to strategic change (why change - context, what to change – content, and how to change - process). We carried out a qualitative, descriptive, and explanatory case study in an educational institution, here called Beta. Data were collected through 12 narrative interviews with Beta’s managers and employees. And they were analyzed by means of categorial content analysis technique, using the NVivo Software. The results revealed that the change occurred in three phases – the closure and online teaching; the hybrid teaching model; and the return to the ‘new normal’. To face the challenges, complexity and chaos, the unity and cohesion of the group to overcome a 'common enemy' - the pandemic - was preponderant. The sharing of solutions as well as the pain and suffering was built in a creative and flexible way, tuning the difficulties faced with support, counseling, and leadership strategies. This study allowed the elaboration of a theoretical framework that join the two approaches, called Processual Analysis of Management to Change.

The present paper analyzes psychometric properties of a self-made instrument to measure individual performance based on Gilbert’s BEM. This research is quantitative, descriptive, correlational, causal; cross-sectional, using exploratory factor analysis and principal component analysis with Varimax orthogonal rotation. Empirical support was obtained by using a randomly stratified sample of 297 Mexican companies of Sonora State. The questionnaire – named DOPT- proved adequate to assess relevant organizational factors of human performance that could guide organizational performance policies accordingly. Its 40 items assess organizational level achieved in the following areas: Aims and objectives, Feedback, Task support, Incentives, Knowledge/Competences, Context, Sanctions, and Work processes. Psychometric properties results are commented in the light of commented literature about current overall organizational assessment and corporate longevity. In addition, organizational performance areas are discussed under a timing perspective defining mapping and tracing loops of organizational performance management.

Purpose: This paper seeks evidence of which variables, directly or indirectly, have influence on the entrepreneurial intention of university students in order to adequately plan activities to reinforce such intention for Spanish universities. Specifically, we introduce the variable of environmental awareness to test whether it induces a greater entrepreneurial intention. Study design/methodology/approach: The target population of the study has been students at the University of Oviedo who were enrolled in an undergraduate degree or a master's degree during the 2018–2019 academic year. A questionnaire has been sent obtaining the following data: 1,337 valid questionnaires, 2.58% sampling error rate for 95% confidence level, p = = q = = 0,5. To contrast the proposed hypotheses we have used the methodology of structural equations (SEM model). Findings: Starting from the Ajzen´s Theory (TPB) we demonstrate that both the attitude towards the entrepreneurial behaviour (PA) and the perceived behavioural control (PBC) exert a significant influence on the entrepreneurial intention (EI) of university students. This is not the case of the third construct of the TPB, namely the social norms (SNs). We have verified that PA partially mediates the relationship between the PBC and the EI and PA totally mediates the relationship between the PBC and the EI. We have corroborated that a high degree of environmental awareness of university student's exerts influence in their PA. Finally, it has been corroborated that the SNs which are most proactive towards entrepreneurship mediate the relationship between the student's EnvA and the PA. Originality/value: This paper proposes a variation of the model of planned behaviour (Ajzen's TPB) incorporating with the addition of mediating relationships amongst the variables and the introduction of the environmental awareness variable applied to the entrepreneurial intention of university student. The usefulness of this paper is to provide scientific evidence to support the inclusion of ecological transition in Estrategia España Nación Emprendedora.

Globally, micro and small businesses require finance to support their business activities. Most of them have low profits because of the lack of support from the formal financial system. Micro and small businesses in developing countries have a dire need for financing start-ups and existing business operations. The lack of support from the formal financial system and the government forces them to explore other financial support mechanisms, making it important to investigate alternative financial channels. This paper investigates whether informal finance matters for micro and small businesses. We used a systematic literature review to answer the predetermined research question. Thirty (30) primary studies were surveyed to establish the importance of informal finance for micro and small businesses. The findings show that informal finance is a workable alternative for micro and small businesses. It supports business start-ups, existing businesses and enhances business growth, business owners’ livelihoods and livelihoods in their communities. Informal finance models can be improved to work as small business promotion tools. The original value of the paper is based on the use of a systematic literature review to assess whether informal finance matters for micro and small businesses and connect theories with emerging themes. It further contributes to the debates on the importance of informal finance and contributes to future lines of research on informal finance.

In this article, a queueing inventory model with discrete time (DQIM) FGEOM/FGEOM/1 with (s, S) replenishment policy incorporating fuzzy numbers as input parameters is considered. The system has a fuzzy pentagonal number arrival rate according to a Bernoulli process and a fuzzy pentagonal number service rate that follows a geometric distribution. Here, S represents the highest level of stock where the process of replenishment is stopped, and s represents the lowest level of stock at which replenishment is started again. Using matrix geometric method, the steady-state solution is obtained followed by derivation of various fuzzy performance measures. Further, the total cost function is defined as a two-variable function of the minimum and maximum stock level. Genetic algorithm is employed to optimize the total cost. Various examples are presented to highlight the dependence of cost on input parameters. The use of PFN in DQIS and genetic algorithm in the optimization of DQIS is introduced in this paper for the first time. JEL Codes: C44, C61, C62, D11, D12, L89 Received: 17/07/2024. Accepted: 29/09/2024. Published: 04/10/24.

This paper examines the impact of integrating sustainability performance with innovation performance on value creation in developing countries. The study employs content analysis to assess the levels of sustainability performance and innovation performance in 21 companies listed on the Iraqi Stock Exchange from 2011 to 2022. To test the proposed hypotheses, the study utilizes pooled Ordinary Least Squares (ols) and panel analysis. The findings reveal that sustainability performance and innovation performance positively influence company value, both independently and jointly. Furthermore, the results underscore the importance of investing in innovation processes to achieve a competitive advantage that fosters value creation. The study also highlights the critical balance between the increasing adoption of sustainable technologies in manufacturing and the effective application of diverse innovative technologies across production, operations, marketing, and organizational strategies as integral components of new product development. These findings hold significant implications for strategic decision-making, suggesting that companies in developing nations should pursue sustainable innovation pathways by adopting appropriate technologies and ensuring their long-term viability amid rapid technological advancements.

Tourism services are particularly vulnerable to crises because of their hedonic and transitory nature. Notably, external crises have destination-wide negative impacts, which require a collective response usually led by governments for a more effective recovery. Despite the consensus on governments’ role and legitimacy in mitigating crises recovery, there is a dearth of research identifying these tools facilitating intervention and their effectiveness. Thus, the paper aims to explore various government crises mitigation strategies for the tourism industry. This research is based on a mixed-method approach. First, it explores government responses to crises through semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders. Then, we conduct a survey to target industry experts and measure the effectiveness of government responses and their impact on various key performance indicators during crises. From an academic point of view, the research contributes to an understanding of the efficiency of different government recovery intervention methods, which are overlooked in crisis management theory. Based on managerial contributions, the study provides an effective design of the public tools for more crisis-immune businesses, where governments should prioritise managing external crises by establishing processes, standards, support services, information and communication.

Drawing on the Motivational Role Modeling Theory and Critical Mass Theory, the main objectives of this paper are to analyze the impact of Board Gender Diversity (BGD) on Employee Productivity (EP) and to investigate the moderating role of a Female CEO or a Female Board Chair on this relationship in Social Economy companies. The methodology used is a fixed-effects regression with panel data for 1,914 Spanish Social economy companies in the agri-food sector from 2017 to 2021. Our findings uncover a non-linear relationship between BGD and EP displaying a descendent curvilinear pattern, though not strictly U-shaped. Moreover, we confirm the moderating influence of a Female Chair, noting that its presence shifts the relationship between BGD and EP from an inverted curvilinear pattern to a U-shaped one. In this context, the board requires a minimum presence of women, set at a critical mass of 13 %. However, the moderating impact of a Female CEO remains inconclusive. This research underscores the significance of investigating board diversity, specifically emphasizing female leadership in understanding the link between BGD and EP. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to explore the impact of BGD on EP by developing an integrated model based on Motivational Role Modeling Theory and Critical Mass Theory, and calculating the critical mass when a Female Chair is present on the board.

The national R&D system is a concept that has gained significant recognition; however, measuring it is challenging and not devoid of difficulties. In this paper the method of composite variables is applied to configure R&D systems and with this examines their characteristics and subsequent impact on fostering greater innovation by studying a group of OECD countries. Starting with many variables, 31 variables were selected for the second step and used in a factor analysis to create composite indicators or unobservable abstract variables. Each variable’s assignment to a single factor is clear, allowing the identification of five distinct and interpretable factors. Subsequently, a knowledge production function was estimated, considering a technological outcome of the R&D systems as the dependent variable; another function was configured reflecting the scientific output. Finally, an additional model was estimated, using productivity as the dependent variable. In all models, the National R&D Effort and Innovative Firms Factor emerged as the most significant variable, underscoring the importance of reaching certain thresholds in terms of available human and physical resources for carrying out innovative efforts within an R&D system.

The objective of this research is to construct a multifactorial model facilitating the assessment of the interrelation between aspects of Chinese consumers' attitudes towards luxury items and their psychological intent to acquire such goods. The paper presents a factorial model of the evaluation system, which encompasses factors such as luxury brand awareness, materialism, social comparison with peers, fashion novelty, and consumer engagement with fashion. The research findings indicate that: (1) there exists a positive correlation between the attitudes of Chinese consumers towards luxury items and their intention to acquire them; (2) Chinese consumers, overall, tend to disregard fashion innovations as a significant factor in luxury item purchasing decisions; (3) however, materialism as a motivation for conspicuous consumption and status has become a pivotal stimulating factor; (4) substantial influence is also exerted by the impact of luxury item acquisition on the owner's social status; (5) individuals possessing knowledge of fashion trends demonstrate a higher propensity to acquire luxury items. Theoretically, this study contributes to the broadening of the understanding of luxury goods consumption within the context of the Chinese market. This contribution holds value for researchers of this market, as well as those examining other regional markets, facilitating a comparative analysis of consumer behavior factors. From a practical perspective, the model is oriented towards expanding the toolkit available to managers and marketers. It enables an understanding of the psychological motives attracting Chinese consumers to the luxury goods market. This understanding, in turn, facilitates the formulation of an effective strategy for introducing new items into this market.

This paper aims to deepen knowledge of the principle of connectivity between financial and non-financial information defined in the Integrated Reporting (IR) conceptual framework. We have created a multidimensional connectivity index that is used to assess the level of connectivity in reporting. The results indicate that the levels achieved are low, suggesting that firms publishing their reports under the IR conceptual framework have not fully internalised this principle. Our results also show that coercive and normative institutional factors such as the mandatory nature of IR or the legal system, drive connectivity. Connectivity is also generally influenced by internal managerial decisions mainly related to the report's length and assurance. These findings may have practical implications for regulators and standard-setters, who should explicitly incorporate this principle into their pronouncements, providing guidelines to facilitate its practical implementation, and for preparers who should enhance the interactivity of reports.

Purpose – Firms and creditors may delay certain decisions in corporate reorganizations because of actions that require coordination. This paper investigates delays in voting on reorganization plans during claimholder general meetings in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach – Using a sample of 120 hand-collected reorganization plans, we present descriptive and regression (OLS, Poisson, negative binomial, and quantile) analyses to show the primary characteristics of delayed votes. Findings – Our results revealed that a high concentration of debt among the different classes of claimholders appeared to be related to fewer delays. Moreover, a higher number of banks and secured creditors with claims in the reorganization appeared to be positively correlated with delays. Finally, we argue that reorganization plans that require additional time to reach a vote are related to divestment proposals. Originality/value – There is still a lack of empirical results based on evaluations of multiple creditor characteristics and the reorganization proposals presented in firms’ reorganization plans. This is the first paper in Brazil to explore how conflicts of interest among different classes of creditors may relate to delays. Our paper contributes to the literature developed by Gilson (1990), Gilson et al. (1990), Brown et al. (1993), Franks and Tourus (1994), Helwege (1999), Ayotte and Morrison (2009), Ponticelli (2012), and Ivashina et al. (2015) regarding the characteristics of delaying reorganization plan votes during restructuring cases. We corroborate the results obtained by previous papers and provide an analysis of the role played by each class of claimholder in delaying plan votes for Brazilian firms

This paper aims to conduct a systematic review of the literature on consumer behavior about sustainable products, in order to identify the factors that interfere in consumer behavior, as well as define sustainability attributes and the perception of the consumer about sustainability. More than 4600 texts were identified from a review, conducted in 22 academic and practitioners’ bases. Based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, 219 papers were selected and 95 of these were entirely analyzed. As a result, we identified eleven factors of influence on sustainability practices in the consumer behavior of sustainable products (environment, age, educational level, economic class, gender, conscience, self-image concern, emotion, legislation, access to information, trust and habit) and seven about consumer attributes and perception about sustainability (eco-friendly, origin assurance, consumer health, fair trade, animal testing, recyclables, and natural ingredients).

Objective: The objective of this article was to analyze the scientific production in brazilian journals in born globals. Method: A bibliometric analysis of the entire scientific production in Brazil up to October 2019 was carried out in journals ranked with Qualis A1 to B3 and papers published in the ANPAD Conference (ENANPAD) Main results: On this field of research, there is a predominance of articles discussing the internationalization process of born globals and the evolution of the concept of internationalization. The largest amount of papers published on the theme are from institutions from the south and southeast of Brazil. Relevance/originality: An analysis of the brazilian scientific production on born globals is useful for researchers in their future studies about internationalization. Theoretical/methodological contributions: This paper contributes to the theoretical evolution of the theme, presenting the development of the research in born globals in Brazil over the years.

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between profitability and sporting performance in European football. Profitability has been rarely studied because it has not been considered an aim of European clubs, in contrast with American clubs. However, the emergence of investors who invest on both sides of the Atlantic shows that the objectives of owners can be diverse and that profitability has to be taken into account. The study of the compatibility or incompatibility of sporting performance and profitability has implications for the existence of clubs with owners with different objectives in the same competition, or even owners with different aims in the same club. The paper finds that financial performance has a negative influence on clubs’ sporting performance, while sporting performance does not have a negative influence on profitability. Moreover, ownership concentration has a negative influence on both performance variables. These findings show that the pursuit of sport success could undermine the profitability and sustainability of clubs and that investors could focus less on sport results and focus more on maximizing the financial returns on their investments. Keywords: Sports Finance, Firm Objectives, Firm Performance, Profitability, JEL classification: G32, G34, L21, L25, L83, Z23

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’ internationali¬zation from emerging countries when compared to more intangible resources, as organizational ones. / Objetivo: Investigar e classificar recursos para internacionalização de pequenas e médias empresas (PMEs) de países emergentes. Originalidade/valor: A participação de PMEs de países emergentes em mercados globais evidencia seu acesso mais restrito aos recursos para internacionalização. A literatura dominante de negócios internacionais segue classificações de recursos identificados em grandes empresas de economias desenvolvidas. Esta pesquisa classifica recursos da firma para internacionalização de PMEs baseada em diferentes países emergentes, com dados de revisão sistemática de literatura (RSL) e entrevistas. O artigo contribui para o desenvolvimento teórico sobre a internacionalização de PMEs de países emergentes, indicando a importância dos recursos organizacionais nesse processo. Design/metodologia/abordagem: Este artigo apresenta uma pesquisa exploratória, de abordagem qualitativa, desenvolvida em duas etapas: RSL, abrangendo diferentes países emergentes, seguida de entrevistas com especialistas, instituições e PMEs no contexto brasileiro. Adotaram-se técnicas de coleta de dados de pesquisa bibliográfica e entrevista com roteiro semiestruturado. A análise das entrevistas baseou-se em técnica de análise de conteúdo e categorização dos recursos, com o software NVivo. Resultados: Até 2016, 15 trabalhos mencionaram recursos para internacionalização de PMEs de países emergentes e sete foram feitos na Ásia. Identificaram-se 72 recursos em dez países emergentes. Predominam recursos organizacionais. O uso de recursos financeiros de terceiros no Brasil contradiz tendências em outros países emergentes. Recursos tangíveis parecem ter menor importância estratégica para a internacionalização do que recursos intangíveis, como os organizacionais.

Latin America is the natural extension of the “Maritime Silk Road” and its exchanges and cooperation with China have become increasingly frequent in recent years. Under the current globale conomic backdrop, e-commerce as an emerging industry is gaining momentum and playing a bigger role in international cooperation. The Belt and Road top-level design features policy coordination, unimpededtrade, facilities connectivity and people-to-people bond respectively, which play a guiding role in China-LAC cooperation. Coupled with the status quo, the paper will mainly focus on these four sections so as to better analyze the China-LAC cooperation in Silk-Road E-commerce. This paper intends to analyze China-LAC e-commerce cooperation in fields of policy, trade, facilities, and people-to-people contact and study in which areas still remain room for bilateral cooperation and how can both sides better achieve win-win results under the framework of China’s “Belt and Road Initiative”.

This paper investigates factors that motivate entrepreneurs to completely operate within informality and the drivers of formal companies to underreport revenues. In particular, this work identifies and organizes the determinants of firm informality through a systematic literature review in Scopus and Web of Science databases. The article presents several contributions. First, it examines the two main frameworks of informality (structuralist/exclusion and legalistic/exit dimensions) and links this with the different roles of unregistered firms in economic development (survival, De Soto, and parasite views). It also studies the theoretical basis of informality, including economic, institutional, psychological, and sociological aspects. Second, the paper summarizes business informality determinants based on studies with different methodological approaches (macro, microeconomic), contexts (developed, emerging, transition economies), and periods (1983-2018). Our results show that firm informality is mostly addressed in the examined literature as a decision or voluntary choice by companies and entrepreneurs (legalistic vision). Third, the article proposes an integral theoretical model, according to which the firm informality level is determined by structural elements (company and entrepreneur’s characteristics) and environmental factors (corruption, bureaucracy, taxes, etc.). The analysis is relevant for researchers studying this subject and for policymakers as well.

This paper is intended as a short introduction to Business Intelligence and Analytics systems. The main aim of the paper is to raise awareness of organizations in the developing world, about the benefits of these technologies and the crucial role they play in the survival and competitiveness of the firm in the complex and turbulent global market. For many years, many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) have not followed large organizations in the implementation of Business Intelligence technologies. The main reason stated by SMBs is the complexity and high cost of deploying and managing BI systems. However, according to recent IT industry survey of SMBs executives, they now realize the crucial role BI systems play in the company’s performance, and competitiveness and they are now increasingly investing in and implementing Business Intelligence technologies.

This paper analyzes the relationship between networking capabilities and the motives behind SMEs taking part in collaborative relationships with firms within the same sector. Specifically, we analyzed inter-firm collaborations for new product development and the decision(s) to outsource. The main contribution of this paper is focused on identifying the existence of the mediating effect that Hybrid growth strategy has, connected to these relations. It is argued that the Hybrid growth strategy mediates the relationship between networking capabilities and the different collaborative modes with firms within the same sector. The results, obtained through a binomial logit model, supported these arguments by using a database formed by 450 face-to-face surveys, from which 296 took part in an inter-firm collaboration between 2012-2014. The surveys were given to CEOs from SMEs that participated in collaborative activities with other firms in the Electronic, Technology, Information, and Communications sector (ETICS) in Mexico.

This paper aims to propose an integrative framework that synthesizes the literature on collaborative value creation between nonprofit and business organizations. A systematic literature review was conducted of 41 papers. We analyzed the content of the papers quantitatively to present an overview. We also provided a qualitative analysis with the aim of identifying those attributes that influence collaborative value creation. The proposed integrative framework was based on the main findings, and the attributes and sub-attributes for value creation were presented. The framework extends the study on collaborative value creation, and provides the context (countries and businesses) and the main theories found in the literature. There is a lack of studies of emerging economies that adopt relevant theories (such as the relational view) and quantitative methods. Studies that address the environmental and economic impacts of partnerships and analyze the relationship between attributes and their influence on value creation are also scarce. Thus, a research agenda was proposed encompassing such aspects.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the contributions of the method of empathic understanding to the field of Organizational Studies by highlighting the corporeality and sensitivity of the researcher in the production and interpretation of data. Originality/value: Since empathic understanding can be viewed as a method for analyzing the researcher’s experience during fieldwork, this paper situates the role of the researcher’s body as an instrument for the collection of data during their research. The theory of organizational aesthetics is taken as a basis to discuss the relevance of the sensory dimension during the research process. Without giving priority to any particular sense (such as that of sight, for example), the construction of scientific knowledge is therefore discussed in terms of the human senses that respond to diverse stimuli by highlighting the relevance of the processes involved in the production of embodied and sensible knowledge for Organizational Studies. Design/methodology/approach: A theoretical-empirical study of qualitative nature was carried out in a street market of a Brazilian city. The method of empathic understanding directed the entire process of data collection and analysis, in which the limitations of field observations were discussed by expanding the notion of the researcher’s own experience into that of a sensory experience. Findings: The findings suggest that it is possible for the researcher to engage their mind and body during research by experiencing the field and overcoming dichotomies such as cognition/sensitivity. Such an engagement can be viewed as a major contribution of the method of empathic understanding to Organizational Studies. Thus, the notion of the body as a major vehicle for the construction of knowledge is made evident in this paper through both the discussion of the empathic understanding approach and the research carried out. / Objetivo: Este artigo objetiva discutir as contribuições do método da compreensão empática para o campo da pesquisa nos Estudos Organizacionais, evidenciando a corporalidade e sensibilidade do pesquisador na produção e interpretação dos dados. Originalidade/valor: Considerando que a compreensão empática é um método que centraliza a preocupação na experimentação sensível do campo por parte do pesquisador, a contribuição deste texto reside em situar o corpo como instrumento de produção dos dados na prática da pesquisa. Tomamos como base a teoria da estética organizacional para abordar a dimensão do sensível nesse processo. Discutimos, assim, a construção do conhecimento científico a partir dos sentidos humanos que captam estímulos de naturezas diversas, sem dar ênfase específica a um ou outro sentido (como a tradicional observação), destacando a importância dos processos de produção de conhecimento encarnado e sensível em Estudos Organizacionais. Design/metodologia/abordagem: Partimos de um estudo teórico-empírico de natureza qualitativa desenvolvido em uma feira livre de uma capital brasileira. O método da compreensão empática guiou todo o processo de produção e tratamento dos dados, em que refletimos sobre as limitações do observar o campo, ampliando a experiência do pesquisador para uma noção de experimentação sensível. Resultados: A discussão proposta permite reconciliar mente e corpo do pesquisador ao realizar a investigação, experimentando o campo e rompendo com dicotomias entre o domínio do cognitivo e o sensível, o que entendemos ser a principal contribuição do método para o campo dos Estudos Organizacionais. Nesse sentido, reiteramos o corpo como veículo central da produção do conhecimento, algo que fica evidente nas discussões sobre a abordagem da compreensão empática e na pesquisa realizada.

The call for papers for this Special Forum resulted in a very competitive selection of 37 being submitted. After several rounds of blind review, six papers were selected for this Special Forum. They clearly illustrate the challenges of carrying out research into sustainable operations and food waste reduction. They examine a variety of units of analysis and theories, which are embedded in different geographical contexts, and use a variety of analytical methods. What they all have in common is that they reveal just how applicable research aimed at finding solutions for reducing food waste is. In this Introductory article, we summarize the contributions of each of these six papers to the literature.

The main purpose of this paper is to analyze the contributions of elements of resilience (EoRs) to food waste reduction practices (FWRP) and to deal with causes of food waste (FWC). Based on a systematic literature review, a content analysis process was carried out with 143 relevant papers. Three main EoRs were identified: knowledge management, collaboration and flexibility. Financial health and redundancy are factors which can increase food waste (FW). The ability to anticipate is the most important practice to develop. This paper is the first attempt to establish the role of EoRs in tackling food waste management, and to propose new avenues of research.

Cash management is simply defined as making the right amount of money available at the right time and the right place to meet the government's obligations in the most cost-effective way. The main features of modern cash management are centralized government bank accounts and establishment of a Treasury Single Account, ability to make accurate cash flow forecasts, use of short-term financing instruments, and capacity for the investment of excess cash reserves. Establishing a sound cash management framework with the mentioned features is beneficial not only to the governments and public entities, but also to other stakeholders including the beneficiaries of government payments, banks and lenders. Given the recent COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic and locked-down measures introduced in many countries, governments had to deal with unanticipated revenue decreases, and significantly increased public expenditures due to fiscal stimulus packages and pandemic related health expenditures. Therefore, existence of a well-structured government cash management is now even more important than before. This paper aims to explore cash flow forecasting and cash management practices in 24 countries in various regions, at different income levels and technical capacity, and alignment to good practices based on the information provided at the World Bank workshops on Cash Flow Forecasting and Cash Management held in 2018 and 2019. The paper also draws on experiences and practices from other emerging and advanced countries. Cases from different countries indicate that full implementation of modern cash management is still a challenge, even though the Treasury Single Account system is common in most countries and liquidity buffers were established or increased following the Global Financial Crisis. Cash flow forecasting is an area to improve given the accuracy, horizon and frequency of the projections are frequently limited. Fragmented institutional structure makes cash management even more challenging. Country cases also demonstrate that there is a significant room to strengthen coordination between debt and cash management and the use of short-term instruments to cover cash shortages. Investment of cash balances seems to be a bigger weakness as many countries keep their liquidity buffers in the Central Bank with no remuneration.

Purpose: A major thread in accounting literature, which has remained a contentious issue, is how accounting alchemy can be modeled. The paper builds on existing accrual models in proposing an accounting alchemy model and tests if it is still the right medicine for earnings and book value of firms. The accounting alchemy model was based on mechanisms of earnings, book value, earnings before extraordinary items, net profit after tax, cash flow from operations, revenue, and total assets. We modified accrual models on the view that accrual models suggest that incomes/expenses are the most manipulated; contrarily, accounting alchemy proposes that assets are alchemized. Originality/value: This paper proposes a new empirical model of accounting alchemy and practically assesses the validity of the model in Sub-Saharan Africa, where there are no studies. The proposed accounting alchemy model can be used in Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world to see if the study results can be replicated. Design/methodology/approach: Ex post facto design was used, and secondary data were obtained for selected quoted firms in Sub-Saharan Africa comprising Nigeria, South Africa, and Kenya from 2012 to 2016. A sample of 64 firms was selected in the consumer and industrial goods subsector, and data were analyzed via descriptive (mean, standard deviation, correlation) and inferential (regression, fixed, and random effects) statistics. Findings: Findings indicated that earnings and book value are significantly affected by accounting alchemy. This implies that accounting alchemy is not the right medicine for firm’s earnings and book value. The result has practical application for researchers and the regulatory framework of accounting. / Objetivo: Uma grande linha da literatura contábil que se mantém como uma questão polêmica refere-se ao fato de a alquimia contábil poder ser modelada. O artigo constrói modelos de provisão (accrual) existentes ao propor um modelo de alquimia contábil e testar se ainda é o remédio correto para os ganhos e o valor contábil das firmas. O modelo de alquimia contábil foi baseado em mecanismos de ganhos, valor contábil, ganhos antes de itens extraordinários, lucro líquido depois das taxas, fluxo de caixa das operações, receita e total de ativos. Modificamos os modelos de acumulados com a visão de que modelos de acúmulo sugerem que renda/despesas são os mais manipulados; ao contrário, a alquimia contábil propõe que os ativos sejam alquimizados. Originalidade/valor: Este trabalho propõe um novo modelo empírico de alquimia contábil e praticamente avalia a validade do modelo na África subsaariana onde não existem estudos. O modelo proposto de alquimia contábil pode ser usado na Ásia, Europa e em outras partes do mundo para ver se os resultados do estudo podem ser repetidos. Design/metodologia/abordagem: Utilizaram-se o modelo ex post facto (a partir do fato passado) e os dados secundários obtidos por firmas selecionadas citadas na África subsaariana, incluindo Nigéria, África do Sul e Quênia, entre 2012 e 2016. Selecionaram-se amostras de 64 firmas dos setores de bens de consumo e industriais, e os dados foram anali­sados por meio de estatísticas descritivas (média, desvio padrão e correlação) e inferenciais (regressão, efeitos fixos e aleatórios). Resultados: Os resultados indicaram que os ganhos e o valor contábil são significativamente afetados pela alquimia contábil. Isso implica que a alquimia contábil não é o remédio correto para os ganhos e o valor contábil da firma. O resultado tem aplicação prática para pesquisadores e estrutura regulatória de contabilidade.

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to analyze the existence of generational differences in work in a series of variables that affect job satisfaction, distinguishing workers born before the 70s, known as Boomers, and those born after that date, Generation X. Design/methodology/approach – Methodologically an earlier analysis is extended with the application of a Univariate General Linear Model that allows measuring the differences of a collective with respect to the base group. The work expands the explanatory capacity of a previous work in which linear regressions was applied to each of the two groups, Boomers and Generation X. Findings – The results highlight these differences in which a group of workers appears with a more traditional profile that responds to the profile of the Fordist worker and a generation of younger workers less committed to the company, less identified with the work. For these workers, work is just a way of life, from which they do not obtain any immaterial value. Originality/value –This paper concludes by considering the implications the findings have for work management both in theory and in practice. According to these differentiated profiles, management and incentive policies in the company should take into account these differences when recruiting, retaining and managing human resources.

This study investigates the discourse regarding the use of ad blockers. Three themes emerged regarding this technology based on in-depth interviews with consumers who had activated ad blockers: 1) utonomy and control over advertising influence; 2) Internet interactions: asymmetry, paradoxes, and the quest for equity; and 3) Efficiency and convenience. Based on the results, this paper discusses anti-consumption positioning as the study of the “reasons against” consumption. The paper proposes complementary approaches to anti-consumption research, less based on intentional and consumer-conscious aspects and power as an entity disputed by actors and less

This paper sheds light on specific aspect of Media Convergence which is not only about convergence and similarity, but about divergence in different aspects and opportunities which bring up for entrepreneurial activities. Problem area of this study is to understand how media convergence provides new business opportunities in media markets and how media entrepreneurs can exploit those opportunities for proposing value to target customers. This paper follows a quantitative research design. Therefore, 119 cofounders of small and medium media firms answered an online questionnaire, and the data was analyzed by SPSS. Regression analysis was used to analyze the data. The findings reveal that four types of divergence, including media distribution channels, media content producers, audiences, and advertisers, affect exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities in small and medium sized media firms.

Purpose – In ongoing service sectors, some companies have high customer retention in spite of frequent consumer dissatisfaction and high complaint rates. This retention results from customer inertia. This paper aims to identify what influences this inertial behavior. Design/methodology/approach – Two competing conceptual models were conceived: a Base Model, which considers mediating effects, and a Rival Model, which considers only the direct effects on customer inertia. A survey was undertaken in Brazil. Mobile phone customers were targeted. A questionnaire was built and data were collected online as well as in person. Structural equation modeling was applied. Findings – Only direct effects on customer inertia were confirmed. The Rival Model outperformed the Base Model on a set of criteria (e.g., greater explanatory power for Customer Inertia and more simplicity). The Rival Model offers a moderate explanation (R̅2 =0.370), some sound structural path coefficients, and appropriate psychometric properties for the latent constructs. Originality/value – The paper complements and adds to existing research by evaluating customer inertia as an important outcome within ongoing service markets. Market isomorphism, a new concept, is included in the analysis. Results from a developing country are described, helping to generalize to a broader set of countries.

This paper evaluates the real capacity of the customer service system in a Health Care Service Provider (HCSP) in which users request a service using a multi-channel M/M/n queueing system with Poisson arrivals and exponential times. The assistance process shows that an individual who wants to request a diagnostic test must wait his/her turn in several cubicles. The aim of this paper is to develop a methodology that generates two-way results in improving not only HCSP performance, but also in implementing strategies that lead to better service perception. A discrete-event simulation model is presented to determine the times for processes and forecast the demand. The entire process in HCSP takes up to four hours, although, based on our results, waiting times could be 50% shorter by decreasing the number of operative tasks that physicians and nurses should perform and implementing an electronic ticket dispenser. Improving customer service is relevant for a HCSP organization. Therefore, our simulation process could be implemented in different scenarios in order to integrate results in planning and decision-making processes.