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PurposeThe aim is to advance the conceptualisation of island entrepreneurship by investigating how the island context, for example, industry characteristics, social context and formal and informal institutions, influences the development of artisan food businesses in that context.Design/methodology/approachAn applied, qualitative and participatory research approach was implemented. Data were collected during a business development process focusing on food artisans in the Åland Islands. In total, 19 business owners participated in the process. Key informants and public officers were interviewed, and the literature was reviewed. Interviews were analysed using phenomenography to identify representative categories, and the literature was analysed using content analysis.FindingsIsland characteristics and context, local institutions, the quality of social capital and gendered institutions influence business activities positively and negatively. Island entrepreneurship entails mobilising agencies to find innovative solutions that enable businesses to overcome obstacles. Most previous research treats business activities as entrepreneurship; however, as self-employment is essential in the island context, it should be highlighted in future studies.Research limitations/implicationsThis study illustrates how the island context influences the business development of small firms. Results indicate that local policies (1) benefitting female entrepreneurs, (2) supporting local businesses and (3) promoting locally produced artisan food could generate benefits for the entire artisan food businesses.Practical implicationsLocal policies that (1) benefit female entrepreneurs, (2) support local businesses and (3) promote locally produced artisan food have the potential to generate benefits for the entire trade. Policies can benefit from an understanding of the role played by different ecosystem actors. Promoting self-employment can generate benefits for the local entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing agglomeration and helping to solve some challenges caused by the characteristics of islands.Originality/valueEmpirically, this research enhances the knowledge of post-productive responses in the island context. Theoretically, the study advances the conceptualisation of research on the island entrepreneurship context and the local food debate.

How customers develop purchase intentions in online shopping has been an area of recent interest. In this study, we ask whether males and females leverage trust into and perceived reputation of online retailers differently in reporting purchase intentions. Drawing on the literature on differences in males and females in online shopping behaviors, we propose that females rely on reputation in developing purchase intentions whereas males rely on perceived trust in developing purchase intentions. In a sample of 727 respondents in Sweden, we find support for the proposed associations. Implications for online retailers are discussed.

The retailing sector is evolving, not only as a result of technological advances, but also because of concerns about climate change and new demands from governments and customers for ethical and sustainable products. Customers’ purchase intentions are crucial for the successful implementation of circular business models. However, few studies focus on the role of customers in enabling circular business models. This study fills this research gap by identifying the critical factors that impact customers’ ethical purchase intentions for circular business models in the retail sector. Based on macro-theories of human behaviour, this study proposes a theoretical model that can holistically consider the critical factors and variables that determine customers’ ethical purchase intentions towards the circular business model. The paper contributes to the body of literature on circular business models in the retail sector by exploring the issue from the customers’ perspective.

In this study, we develop a definition and a framework for ecosystem transformation. We suggest a circular model of four main mechanisms to provide an alternative explanation of ecosystem evolvement. Interview data are used to develop a model that integrates value creation logics at its core with evolutionary mechanisms. An emphasis on firm-specific technology development sets in motion strategic and technological engagement by other firms in the ecosystem. This comes about through firms that take responsibility for change and actors that adopt new ecosystem roles to drive the whole ecosystem towards transformation around new value propositions. This signifies that disruptive innovation and technological advancement in response to market needs drive ecosystem transformation through new value creation. Our comprehensive framework offers an outline for further research in the domain of ecosystem transformation. Innovation av affärsmodeller i detaljhandelns ecosystem genom framsteg i teknik och digitalisering DISRE - Data Driven Innovation in Specialized Retail Ecosystems

Based on a sample of 148 Swedish firms, this study investigates the complementary relationships between internal and external coordination and external intelligence quality to explain product innovation performance. The results show that, with increasing manufacturing-marketing coordination, higher market intelligence quality or higher supply chain intelligence quality are positively associated with product innovation performance. The complementary roles of internal and external coordination and intelligence quality have theoretical and practical implications.

Heterogeneity and complicated processes, risk of information leakage, and higher costs are some of the challenges that stem from third-party involvement in business transactions. This study proposes a novel mechanism to address the shortcomings of third-party-dependent transactions in the context of international trade. Moreover, we provide business process modeling, deployed in a business transaction scenario, to furnish a deeper perspective on the working of the mechanism based on Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) 2.0 standards and guidelines. By analyzing and identifying blockchain roles and capabilities, this study proposes a blockchain technology-based letter of credit (BTLC), which is a mechanism providing letters of credit (LCs) that incorporate the benefits of blockchain and smart contracts.

Elderly individuals are increasingly using social media sites to access health-related information. Using responses from 610 elderly individuals in Sweden to a large-scale questionnaire survey, thi ...

This study draws on dual-processing theory and post-materialism assumptions to uncover the role of attitudinal and materialistic values in determining the degree to which consumers are willing to pay premium prices for sustainable tourism services. Findings from a large-scale survey of Swedish potential ecotourists reveal that, while attitude and environmental beliefs relate positively to willingness to pay premium (WTPP) for ecotourism, materialistic values exert a negative effect. In line with the theory of affect heuristics, study results further suggest that by giving rise to the intensity of feelings toward the offering, ecotourism interest alters the interplay of affective and evaluative antecedents, so that greater interest amplifies the influence of affective attitude and materialistic values on WTPP while simultaneously attenuating the effect of environmental beliefs.

As life expectancy increases, so does the number of elders. This increase poses a challenge regarding the ability of maintaining the costs for providing services to this group. In search of solutio ...

The number of senior citizens is growing globally and governments are striving to find innovative solutions to deal with complex care demands of this part of the population. Technology has been an answer to this situation; however, it is very important that the elderly accept and actually use the technology. This paper empirically tests the senior technology acceptance model using the fsQCA method to analyse data with a sample of 811 seniors aged 60 and over living in Sweden. The results revealed that the necessary conditions for high "perceived ease of use" and "perceived usefulness" are gerontechnology self-efficacy, gerontechnology anxiety, and cognitive abilities; however, each of these is not sufficient on its own. Self-reported health conditions and physical function also play a peripheral role in achieving the desired outcome. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed at the end of the paper.

Both practitioners and researchers are concerned about resource deficiencies on the planet earth and agree that circular business models (CBMs) represent solutions to move towards zero waste, improving environmental impacts and increasing economic profit. Despite all of the benefits of CBMs, the implications are not widely available, and failure rates are high. Thus, there is a need to identify the obstacles that stand in the way of CBM transition. This paper aims to identify the primary challenges of CBMs. Multiple case studies are employed, incorporating six companies and data gleaned from 17 in-depth interviews. Theoretical and managerial implications are described at the end of the study.

As competition in the service sector is continuously intensifying, managers are increasingly realizing how effective use of enterprise systems (ESs) might improve competition capabilities. Building ...

Purpose – This article aims to explore the impact of supply chain integration on the financial performance of Swedish manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach – The literature review provided the foundation for the development of the survey instrument and hypotheses for the study. In addition, the survey instrument was tested by the experts in the field and modified before it was sent to the managers in the survey group. Findings – The findings show that supply chain integration at any level is beneficial to the financial well being of the firm. Companies with total supply chain integration reported the highest level of financial performance. Research limitations/implications – Data were collected from Swedish manufacturing firms without regard to the size of the firm. The results show that supply chain integration is beneficial at any level. Practical implications – The findings will assist managers with decisions regarding supply chain integration and its role as a critical factor in improving the financial performance of manufacturing companies. Originality/value – Limited empirical studies have been conducted in this area, especially in Sweden. This study provides insight for manufacturing managers with regard to the importance of supply chain management and the competitive nature of business in the global market.

A promising technology for optimizing supply-chain processes is radio frequency identification (RFID). By adding functionality to previous enterprise systems, the aim is to increase transparency of ...

Technology-based self-service (TBSS) facilities have been widely implemented in the service industry, and it is therefore vital to understand how customers arrive at decisions to adopt them. This article presents and tests a model assessing the antecedents of customers' acceptance of TBSS facilities by merging the technology acceptance model (TAM) with self-service attributes. The findings show that intention to use TBSS facilities is an ultimate function of customers' perceived usefulness of the self-service technology, their attitude towards using it, and their perceived enjoyment of using it. Managers who wish to employ TBSS should therefore first obtain a good understanding of the factors that drive their customers' attitude towards the self-service. They should investigate how to make the self-service more enjoyable in addition to focusing on the traditional usability and usefulness-enhancing features. Recommendations for future research are also provided.

In this paper, we draw on industrial network research to analyze the activities and capabilities of institutional actors in project networks. We use the concept of ‘political embeddedness’ to show how business and political exchange can be interrelated in industrial networks, with business actors engaging in political behaviour and institutional actors taking on business roles such as purchasing. We report on a comparative case study that encompasses three international project networks, which vary according to the type and role of institutional actors. Our case analysis shows the multifaceted activities and capabilities of institutional actors, in terms of: 1) their relationships with firms and other institutional actors, and 2) their role and importance in the network. We also conclude that these activities and capabilities have implications for international project marketers in terms of their activities at each stage of the project cycle. As our empirical cases come from developing countries of Africa and Asia we will also provide knowledge and implications for business in the developing and emerging economies of these regions.