Search

Environmental Sustainability (ES) is a growing concern for society’s development while identifying companies’ need to define sustainability-based strategies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have an essential role; generating more than 60% of employment in Europe and Latin America. Numerous research exists regarding large companies’ situation on environmental topics, yet little exists on SMEs at the practical and theoretical levels. Thus, determining the variables that affect the application of ES is very relevant. This study analyzes in-depth ES factors and drivers from the SMEs’ perspective, exploring the variables influencing their implementation in these companies. The methodology employed is in-depth interviews, applied to a sample of 17 SMEs in Spain and 25 SMEs in Chile. The main findings suggest that Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), Customer Orientation (CO), and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) influence ES adoption in both countries, showing similarities in the driving reasons behind them, but with certain differences in their implementation (affected by institutional context influences). Furthermore, the level of knowledge affects decision-making related to the development of high-level environmental practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to identify potential explanatory variables of the entrepreneurial orientation and innovation capacity (EO-IC) of family enterprises (FEs) through a comparative study of family businesses in Spain and Latin America. The innovation literature reports a paradigm shift whereby the dynamic boost provided by corporate governance and productivity is playing an increasing role as a driver of EO-IC and sustainable competitive advantage. This issue acquires particular relevance in the case of family firms, where entrepreneurial and innovation capacities are characteristically hampered by socio-emotional and risk-aversion factors. We construct a panel of data on 182 large family enterprises (1,820 observations) domiciled in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Uruguay and Spain, drawing on the Thomson Onebanker and ORBIS databases for the period 2008-2018. The results reveal the emergence of new explanatory variables for the structure of the family-firm EO-IC framework, some related to productivity; others more basically to corporate governance. They also show that, in Latin America, the use of business efficiency (productivity) factors in the planning and potentiation of EO-IC by family firms is hampered by the institutional (legal, regulatory, labour and educational) environment, where traditional factors such as firm size and ownership concentration are more relevant. In the Spanish case, however, the evidence points to a transition from traditional inputs towards business efficiency and productivity- related factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, scholars have started to investigate the relationship between ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) symptoms and entrepreneurship, finding that ADHD symptoms positively impact entrepreneurial intention and action. However, the performance implications of ADHD symptoms are still unknown. Using two samples of entrepreneurs from the United States and Spain, we find evidence that impulsive and hyperactive symptoms of ADHD are largely conducive to firm performance through entrepreneurial orientation (EO) while inattention symptoms are not. This suggests that the performance advantages of entrepreneurs ADHD symptoms can be derived from greater focus on innovation, proactiveness, and risk-taking. We discuss the implications of our findings for the entrepreneurship literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we contribute to solve a gap in the literature regarding the proposal of new determining factors of entrepreneurial orientation. Specifically, we present a configurational model to explain how entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is developed in a dynamic environment. Based on a sample of companies in the agri-food sector in Spain, this work examines how cognitive social capital and absorptive capacity (ACAP) jointly affect EO in a context of technological dynamism. The configurational approach highlights the existence of configurations or multidimensional sets of elements that are efficient when established in conjunction, as opposed to others that are detrimental to the performance of the company. In this sense, we propose that the combination of cognitive social capital with ACAP heterogeneously affects the influence of technological dynamism on EO through its potential and realized dimensions, which decrease and improve EO, respectively. Therefore, we emphasize the significance of the configurational approach in delving deeper into the connection between internal and external antecedents of EO and the importance of differentiating between potential and realized dimensions of ACAP considering their implications for EO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper aims to shed light on the relationship between the entrepreneurial behaviour of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) and their commitment to sustainable development (SD). In order to analyse the determinants of SD engagement at the organisational level, we draw on the resource‐based view of the firm and examine specifically the effects of entrepreneurial orientation and internationalisation, using survey data from Spanish and Mexican SMEs. Our results reveal that entrepreneurial orientation is positively associated with SD engagement, particularly regarding the environment, human resources, and community involvement. However, we could only observe a positive effect of SME internationalisation on SD engagement in Mexican but not in Spanish firms, suggesting that this effect is context‐dependent and related to institutional pressures. We discuss the implications of these findings for scholars and practitioners. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article investigates the influence of entrepreneurial orientation and absorptive capacity on family firm performance. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze empirical data for 218 Spanish family firms. Absorptive capacity positively mediated the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and family firm performance. This total mediation effect suppressed the direct effect of entrepreneurial orientation on family firm performance. A major implication of this finding is that for family firms to improve their performance through entrepreneurial orientation, absorptive capacity must act as a mediator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to present evidence that there are different types of supportive faculty members. We conducted a case study on a sample of Croatian and Spanish universities by using an already tested ENTRE-U scale for measuring the faculty members' attitudes. These two scenarios are quite different in terms of their innovation systems, economic context and university system. We tested and found no evidence of any statistically significant difference due to the country. These two facts suggest the possible existence of an isomorphic trajectory when implementing entrepreneurial universities regardless the context. University managers should be aware of the existence of three different types of supportive individuals. Each of these groups requires a certain program of human resource development. This shifts the debate to how entrepreneurial universities should manage the tensions arising from the need of some degree of specialization in any of the three roles of the faculty members, namely teaching, researching and transfer of the knowledge stemming from research results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact online social networks are having nowadays as a marketing tool in the performance of companies is yet to be made clear. Such an impact is being looked into in this paper on the basis of Spanish companies' data. Structural equations being applied to a multi-group are the channel through which an attempt is being made to ind out whether an intensive use of these networks in the marketing ield shall somehow restrain the relationship between dynamic capabilities, market orientation and entrepreneurial orientation, and what is the impact these networks are having on the latter. Survey outcomes show that this intensity somehow makes the relationship between market orientation and performance and entrepreneurial orientation smoother. A strong and determined marketing strategy in social networks could strengthen up these relationships thus enhancing their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to compare the particular characteristics of industrial SMEs in low- and high-income regions from the perspective of their "entrepreneurial quality". Design/methodology/approach – Based on three groups of factors, (personal characteristics of entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial orientation and productive dependence of firms), which define entrepreneurial quality (EQ), the empirical analysis is focused on testing whether industrial SMEs in three Spanish regions with low per capita income present different EQs to those of industrial SMEs in three other Spanish regions with high per capita income. Data was obtained from a survey addressed to the person in the role of entrepreneur in each of these firms. Since the dependent variable is dichotomous, the logistic regression model is applied in this study. Findings – Results show there is a relationship between the regional levels of development and the entrepreneurial quality of the industrial SMEs. In low-income regions, the level of EQ is lower due to several factors. Firstly, these entrepreneurs have lower educational background, a lack of previous experience, and are more often led by pushing motivations; secondly, these industrial SMEs have lower entrepreneurial orientation when measured through innovation and proactiveness; finally, relations between firms are characterized by a higher productive dependence. Originality/value – This study offers a significant contribution by specifying the concept of EQ and its relationship with the degree of economic development. Likewise, a policy implication derived from the results is the need to improve the human capital of entrepreneurs in low-income regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sets out to highlight the importance of entrepreneurial and market orientations for the success of enterprises operating out of a rural base. Using these two strategic frameworks, this paper identifies the marketing practices undertaken by rural enterprises, and evaluates their effect on business performance, on the local entrepreneur, and on the rural area itself. Enterprises operating from a rural location play a strategic role in the sustainable development of economies, in the context of which the rural tourism sector particularly stands out. The use of marketing practices appropriate to the aims, capacities and resources of such enterprises is proposed as a mechanism for improving their performance. Using the Spanish rural tourism sector as the basis, a scale measuring marketing practices, and another scale reflecting three different types of outcome – financial, those linked personally to the entrepreneur, and those in terms of development of the rural environment – are proposed and validated, and the effect of marketing practices on the performance of such enterprises is analysed. The findings, which reveal that marketing practices have a significant effect on the achievement of outcomes, have implications of interest for the literature and for practitioners in the rural enterprise sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research takes a relational approach on the entrepreneurial behavior of a firm and analyzes the influence of knowledge acquisition through inter-firm relationships on the entrepreneurial orientation. It introduces a new variable, second order social capital, to explain how knowledge acquisition leads to higher levels of entrepreneurial orientation. The results of the empirical study on a sample of small and medium enterprises from the Information and Communications Technology sector in Spain confirm the hypothesized indirect influence of knowledge acquisition on the entrepreneurial orientation and the mediating effect of second order social capital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ecos de Economía is the property of Universidad EAFIT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)