Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Homa Kavoosi Kalejahi Author-X-Name-First: Homa Kavoosi Author-X-Name-Last: Kalejahi Author-Name: Mojtaba Ramezani Author-X-Name-First: Mojtaba Author-X-Name-Last: Ramezani Author-Name: Reza Rostamzadeh Author-X-Name-First: Reza Author-X-Name-Last: Rostamzadeh Title: Impact of social media on brand commitment: testing the mediation role of perceived value and brand image Abstract: Today, distinguishing brands by traditional methods has been difficult for firms, because branding is not only a company's share in the market, but it also contributes its share in customer's mind and memory and this is the main pivot of experimental marketing. Given that media encourages members to deep levels of engagement in the society, this leads to creation of trust and commitment of the members and it is beneficial for brand community. Therefore, according to media importance in brand commitment, the goal of this research is to evaluate the impact of social media on brand commitment by emphasising the mediation role of perceived value and brand image. Target sample of this research is the customers of LG Company. For evaluation of reliability and validity of this research, Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability indices used which have been obtained greater than 0.8 and 0.5, respectively for all variables which show that they are in acceptable level. Study results confirmed that the proposed model's fitness for evaluation of media social impact on brand commitment according to mediation role of perceived value and brand image. In addition, results indicated that brand commitment is significantly influenced by perceived value and brand image. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 191-208 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: social media; brand commitment; perceived value; brand image. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97966 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:191-208 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Marco Alvarado Author-X-Name-First: Marco Author-X-Name-Last: Alvarado Author-Name: Esteban Lafuente Author-X-Name-First: Esteban Author-X-Name-Last: Lafuente Author-Name: Ronald Mora-Esquivel Author-X-Name-First: Ronald Author-X-Name-Last: Mora-Esquivel Title: Export diversity and the relevance of different forms of market experience Abstract: This study evaluates how different forms of human capital - i.e., formal management studies, labour market experience and experience in multinational businesses - explain the export diversity of SMEs, defined as the number of foreign market destinations where the business sells its goods or services. The proposed hypotheses are tested using negative binomial regression models on a unique sample of 117 Costa Rican SMEs for 2017. The findings reveal that labour experience in multinational firms - in particular, experience in managerial positions - is a relevant source of human capital that equip entrepreneurs with specific know-how that is conducive to export diversity, in terms of number of market destinations. Results also show that firm size, age and online sales (e-commerce) are positively correlated to export diversity. Beyond canonical export-related measures, this study offers insights on the importance of including the number of foreign markets (market destinations) in the evaluation of the export performance of SMEs. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 209-226 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: export diversity; market destinations; human capital; Costa Rica; small and medium sized enterprises; SMEs. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97970 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:209-226 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Krisztina Horváth Author-X-Name-First: Krisztina Author-X-Name-Last: Horváth Title: Network-based bootstrapping and performance in SMEs: the moderating role of entrepreneurship training Abstract: This study evaluates how the use of financial bootstrapping - i.e., cash management techniques which are linked to the exploitation of different networks - and human capital components impact employment growth of small and medium-sized enterprises. The proposed hypotheses are tested on a sample of 70 Hungarian small and medium-sized businesses. Results reveal that the effect on employment growth of network exploitation via bootstrapping techniques is conditioned by the presence of entrepreneurial training. While bootstrap finance related to suppliers is positively associated with employment growth, it was found that entrepreneurial training positively moderates the relationship between employment growth and bootstrapping techniques related to business and customer networks. The results of this study offer relevant theoretical and managerial implications. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 227-246 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: financial bootstrapping; bootstrap finance; entrepreneurship training; networking; employment growth; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; business performance; Hungary. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97972 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:227-246 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Luna Leoni Author-X-Name-First: Luna Author-X-Name-Last: Leoni Title: Productisation as the reverse side of the servitisation strategy Abstract: The main aim of this paper is to report the state-of-the-art in productisation research together with its relationship with the servitisation concept. In order to do so, the systematic literature review method has been used to collect the relevant journal publications related to productisation. The 35 identified articles have been analysed through both descriptive and mixed thematic analyses. The findings provided a detailed definition of the productisation strategy and an understanding of what kind of relationship exists between productisation and servitisation strategies. Moreover, the results of the study contribute to both the scholarly and practitioner debates, on the manufacturing and service industries. Referring specifically to this last point, the paper advocates a merging of manufacturing and service companies in order to co-create a solution offering. This study represents the first attempt to explicitly combine productisation and servitisation strategies into a convergence model, aspiring to move forward the body of knowledge on both. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 247-269 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: servitisation; convergence; strategy; solution; systematic literature review; thematic analysis; productisation. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97981 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:247-269 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ester Martínez-Ros Author-X-Name-First: Ester Author-X-Name-Last: Martínez-Ros Title: Revisiting product and process innovations Abstract: Since the seminal work of Utterback and Abernathy in 1975, many relevant studies have been developed around the phenomena of product and process innovations. Both activities are placed within the area of technological innovation to differentiate them from non-technological innovation such as organisational or commercial innovation carried out in a company. Traditionally, literature on innovation types has focused on the study of their determinants; however, the tendency in current studies is to introduce technological innovations related to the way innovation takes the environment into consideration onto the agenda of companies. Sustainable development and technological innovations must work together to achieve firms' competitive goals. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 270-280 Issue: 3 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: product innovation; process innovation; environmental innovation. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=97983 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:3:p:270-280 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Ahmad Adeel Author-X-Name-First: Ahmad Author-X-Name-Last: Adeel Author-Name: Samreen Batool Author-X-Name-First: Samreen Author-X-Name-Last: Batool Author-Name: Rizwan Ali Author-X-Name-First: Rizwan Author-X-Name-Last: Ali Title: Social networks, psychological empowerment, and work outcomes: mediating role of psychological empowerment dimensions on the relations between social networks, job dedication, and individual creativity Abstract: In this study, we linked social networks with work related outcomes. We tested dimensions of psychological empowerment as mediators between internal bonding networks, external bridging networks, job dedication and individual creativity with random coefficient modelling using Mplus 7. With a sample of 317 higher hierarchical level employees and their supervisors, it has been found, competence and self-determination dimensions of empowerment mediate the relationship between internal bonding networks and job dedication and between external bridging networks and job dedication. Meaning, competence and self-determination dimensions of psychological empowerment mediate the relationship between internal bonding networks and individual creativity and between external bridging networks and individual creativity. Contrary to our prediction, impact dimension of psychological empowerment was not significant with internal bonding networks and external bridging networks. Our findings suggest that membership of social networks enhance empowerment perceptions of employees which in turn enhance their dedication towards job and their individual level creativity. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 346-370 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: psychological empowerment; individual creativity; job dedication; social networks. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101641 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:346-370 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: James R. Wilson Author-X-Name-First: James R. Author-X-Name-Last: Wilson Title: Cluster policy resilience: new challenges for a mature policy Abstract: Cluster policy has proved to be an extremely resilient feature of the regional competitiveness policy landscape over 30 years. To examine why cluster policies have become so widespread, this paper makes a clear conceptual distinction between clusters themselves, cluster policies, and cluster policy instruments. This distinction helps to disentangle the cross-over with other policies and provides the foundations for exploring new directions. Three sets of challenges for what is now a mature policy are highlighted: the links between clusters, cluster policies and territorial strategy processes; more effective evaluation of how different policy instruments influence what happens inside clusters; and harnessing the capacity of clusters to respond to social alongside economic challenges. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 371-382 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: clusters; cooperative dynamics; regional competitiveness; cluster policy; regional policy; territorial strategy; policy evaluation; social challenges. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101642 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:371-382 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Bart Kamp Author-X-Name-First: Bart Author-X-Name-Last: Kamp Title: Restructuring for service business development: insights from a machine tool manufacturer Abstract: This article considers how a manufacturing company redesigns its organisation to take advantage of service business opportunities. It also looks at the role played in this process by company agents other than top management. Analysis of the company's initial conditions and subsequent change dynamics is based on action research. Findings are that actors from lower hierarchical levels within the organisation do not necessarily behave as opponents to change and can enhance the adoption of organisational solutions in favour of servitisation. In addition, it finds that such organisational solutions can build simultaneously upon a dual product/service approach across the firm, a reconsideration of front-line and back-end functions, and upon semi-detached or stand-alone structures. Consequently, it asserts that senior directors can try to build upon change agents inside their companies to develop servitisation-friendly organisational structures. Similarly, it contends that organisational solutions that servitising companies implement can contain both internal and external elements. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 281-305 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: service delivery; organisational change; buyer-seller relationships; servitisation. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101643 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:281-305 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Manuel Rios De Haro Author-X-Name-First: Manuel Rios De Author-X-Name-Last: Haro Author-Name: Marco Opazo-Basáez Author-X-Name-First: Marco Author-X-Name-Last: Opazo-Basáez Author-Name: Daniel Arias Aranda Author-X-Name-First: Daniel Arias Author-X-Name-Last: Aranda Title: IT implementation and customer results: the mediating role of the competitive priorities achieved by the firm Abstract: Studies in information technology (IT) increasingly focus on key variables that might explain the effect of the implementation of IT strategic tools on business performance. In the search to uncover how to achieve greater performance, this study examines how IT implementation, measured through IT use and IT integration, affects the competitive priorities achieved by the firm and customers' results. To do so, an analysis of these interactions is carried out applying the structural equation modelling (SEM) methodology to a survey on Spanish manufacturing firms. The results show a significant and positive relationship between IT implementation and competitive priorities related to the flexibility observed, innovation developed, and delivery time needed. The study also notes that IT integration is positively and directly related to customer results, whereas the relationship between IT use and customer results is positively but indirectly related to those customer results, with the competitive priorities achieved by the firm acting as mediators in this relationship. The main conclusions deriving from the present study clarify the role of IT implementation in organisations, highlighting the role of previous competitive priorities as being responsible for the success of IT implementation. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 329-345 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: information systems; competitive strategy; customer results; structural equation modelling; SEM. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101644 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:329-345 Template-Type: ReDIF-Article 1.0 Author-Name: Nikolaus T. Butz Author-X-Name-First: Nikolaus T. Author-X-Name-Last: Butz Author-Name: Reed Stratton Author-X-Name-First: Reed Author-X-Name-Last: Stratton Author-Name: Max E. Trzebiatowski Author-X-Name-First: Max E. Author-X-Name-Last: Trzebiatowski Author-Name: Tyler P. Hillery Author-X-Name-First: Tyler P. Author-X-Name-Last: Hillery Title: Inside the hiring process: how managers assess employability based on grit, the big five, and other factors Abstract: Hiring managers' priorities are shifting from traditional criteria such as work experience and education to intrinsic traits such as grit and the big five. The purpose of this study was to investigate how hiring managers assess job seeker employability based on grit, the big five, and other factors. Participants were 100 employers from a three-county area in the Midwest USA. The results indicated that service organisations and goods-focused organisations value grit as a hiring criterion above a point of theoretical indifference. Furthermore, several bivariate relationships were found between grit and the big five. Independent samples <i>t</i>-tests revealed that service companies prioritise conscientiousness more than good-focused organisations. Regression analysis showed that 27% of the variability in grit was explained by other hiring criteria. Implications and theoretical contributions are provided for universities, hiring managers, and jobseekers. Specific recommendations include embracing failure, adopting behavioural-based interviewing practices, and conveying grit in application materials. Journal: Int. J. of Business Environment Pages: 306-328 Issue: 4 Volume: 10 Year: 2019 Keywords: grit; employability; hiring; big five personality traits; higher education; graduate placement; GPA; internships; technology skills; communication; leadership; problem solving; teamwork; university reputation; volunteerism. File-URL: http://www.inderscience.com/link.php?id=101645 File-Format: text/html File-Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers. Handle: RePEc:ids:ijbenv:v:10:y:2019:i:4:p:306-328