International Journal of Business Environment (11 papers in press)

Regular Issues

• Collaborative governance in the public sector: trends and dynamics  
  by Elsayed Fathi Moussa, José Gaviria De La Puerta, Diego Lopez De Ipiña, Igone Porto Gomez 
  Abstract: Over the past few decades, scholars have devoted considerable attention to collaborative governance research. Nonetheless, the extant literature requires structuring and assessing to enhance conceptual clarity and consistency. Consequently, this study conducts a systematic analysis using various bibliometric tools on 901 articles extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection database. The results reveal the expansion of the field, especially in recent years, with the US leading this multidisciplinary field. Europe has also made significant contributions. Collaborative governance is employed in times of complex challenges. Some countries adopt collaborative governance for specific purposes; China practices it to address air pollution and environmental challenges, whilst Canada and Australia implement it to collaborate with indigenous groups. Collaborative governance is closely linked to collaboration, public participation, networks, power, trust, leadership, and democracy. Trending topics include innovation, implementation, challenges, social innovation, leadership, conflict, and decision-making, suggesting directions for future research.
  Keywords: bibliometric review; collaborative governance; collaboration; stakeholders’ participation; the public sector.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10072097
   
  
• Business costs and economic performance: measurements, impacts, and propositions  
  by Matheus Pereira Libório, Petr Ekel, Witold Pedrycz, Douglas A.G. Viera, Hamid Rabiei, Sandro Laudares 
  Abstract: This research investigates the relationship between business costs and economic performance through an innovative multidimensional measure of the costs of the business environment: the business costs index (BC-I). The results show that GDP per capita and BC-I correlate strongly and negatively. Reducing the BC-I by 0.01 increases GDP per capita by 4.7%. The research also identifies which costs most impact the countrys business environment, which countries have the lowest and highest costs for doing business, and which groups of countries can be used as a benchmark to reduce costs. The research also offers an innovative approach to obtaining heterogeneous groups of countries with homogeneous characteristics. The novelty of this approach lies in defining the ideal number of groups based on the cohesion and resolution of the clusters since the elbow, average silhouette, and gap statistics tests offer contradictory solutions and do not guarantee the quality of the clusters.
  Keywords: composite indicators; costs of doing business; group decision-making; multidimensional analysis; k-means clustering.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10072782
   
  
• Unveiling connection among green HRM, green creativity, and organisational citizenship behaviour towards environment in oil and gas sector  
  by Manan Johar, Muhammad Bilal Kayani, Aimen Niazi 
  Abstract: A widely considered notion that green practices lead to green behaviours has often been studied with disregard to the individual disposition to change. In an attempt to explore individuals resistance to change, this study categorically sketches the ability motivation opportunity theory and resource-based perspective to evaluate how resistance to change moderates the link between green human resource management (GHRM), green creativity and organisational citizenship behaviour for the environment (OCBE). The authors collected 271 employees data using questionnaire survey by employing purposive sampling method. The results through structural equation modelling showed that resistance to change weakens the association between GHRM, green creativity and OCBE. The results indicate that GHRM and green creativity have a positive effect on OCBE. The research framework contributes to the proceeding GHRM literature strives to explore its impact on employee green creativity and OCBE in the presence of the moderating variable; resistance to change. The moderating role of resistance to change in the GHRM-employee outcome relationship is a novel contribution.
  Keywords: green human resource management; GHRM; green creativity; organisational citizenship behaviour.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10073325
   
  
• The power of connections: how shared independent directors influence corporate environmental responsibility in China  
  by Jalal Khan, Wu Fengyun, Farrukh Shahzad, Ruin Fatimah 
  Abstract: Corporate environmental responsibility is increasingly recognised as an effective approach for tackling climate change, mitigating environmental issues, and promoting sustainable development. Drawing on social network theory and resource-dependence theory, this article scrutinises the relationship between independent director interlocks and corporate environmental responsibility. Using the data from listed Chinese companies from 2010 to 2021, this study finds that independent director interlocks can significantly promote corporate environmental responsibility. This research further finds that internal corporate contexts can also influence the relationship between independent director interlocks and corporate environmental activities. Moreover, the results indicate that firm business proactivity and operational risk positively moderate the relationships between independent director interlocks and corporate environmental responsibility. This research offers important insights for companies aiming to improve their environmental responsibility as well as for policymakers looking for effective strategies to achieve carbon reduction goals.
  Keywords: interlocks; business proactivity; resource dependence theory; independent directors; environmental responsibility; operational risk.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10073500
   
  
• Background on the intention to reduce the consumption of bottled water in disposable plastic bottles  
  by Judith Cavazos-Arroyo, Aurora Máynez-Guaderrama 
  Abstract: This study delves into the perception of environmental harm as a trigger for emotions, attitudes, and intentions to reduce the consumption of bottled water in disposable plastic bottles. A quantitative, explanatory, cross-sectional study was conducted among Generation Z. Non-probability convenience sampling was used. PLS and IPMA were used as statistical techniques. The results show that the perception of the ecological problem triggers personal responsibility, guilt, and environmental shame for consuming water in disposable plastic bottles. In addition, personal responsibility and environmental guilt favourably influence the attitude towards reduction, and the latter leads to the intention to reduce consumption. The IPMA revealed that the most important variable for predicting intention to reduce consumption is attitude towards reduction, and it highlights the effect of reducing personal consumption of water bottled in disposable plastic to protect and reduce waste of natural resources and environmental pollution.
  Keywords: environmental guilt; environmental shame; personal responsibility; disposable plastic bottles; attitude; intention to reduce consumption.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10073699
   
  
• Key predictors of engagement in global virtual teams: an empirical study in the automotive industry  
  by Marc Marti Toro, Gaizka Garechana Anacabe, Ibon Zamanillo Elguezabal 
  Abstract: This paper examines a broad theoretical model of predictors of engagement in the context of global virtual teams set in the automotive industry. The model is tested on data from team members (n = 169) of 19 different nationalities belonging to 11 functional groups, employed in a FTSE-100 automotive company, analysing how these theoretical predictors influence the employees engagement values. The results of the study confirm the positive influence of trust, transformational leadership, social interaction, and shared vision to achieve an engaged virtual workforce, hampered only by organisational politics. Another relevant finding is the positive effect of the personal resources (persistence, independence and learning motivation) that should be considered when recruiting or developing team members.
  Keywords: global virtual team; engagement; social capital; trust; personal resources; organisational politics; transformational leadership.
  
  

Special Issue on: The Challenges of Science, Technology, and Innovation for Latin Ibero-American Countries

• Agricultural biotechnology, paradigmatic transition, and national response: an analysis of the Argentine case  
  by Sebastián Sztulwark, Valentina Locher, Melisa Girard, Pablo Wahren 
  Abstract: This paper analyses Argentinas response to the evolving global agri-biotechnology industry landscape, driven by the diffusion of gene editing as an emerging innovation since 2015. The proposed analytical framework connects the industrys technological trajectory with its institutional configuration. The study is based on a series of interviews with key sectoral informants and a review of specialised secondary sources. The analysis concludes that the national response has led to the consolidation of a scientific and technological system of some international relevance and an increasingly dynamic business base, although it has faced limitations in coordinating and mobilising a heterogeneous and limited set of resources towards a common strategic focus.
  Keywords: agricultural biotechnology; gene editing; transgenic crops; paradigmatic transition; national response; innovation trajectory; fundamental innovation; complementary assets; institutional framework; regulatory standard; appropriation rules.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10072214
   
  
• Entrepreneurial context and entre/intrapreneurship: an exploratory study in Latin America  
  by Jairo Orozco, Andreu Turro, Ricard Esparza, David Urbano 
  Abstract: Through the institutional approach, this article analyses the extent to which the formal entrepreneurial context affects entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in Latin America. We test our hypotheses using a maximum-likelihood self-probit model and a sample from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) comprising 73,062 observations across ten Latin American countries for the period 2016-2018. The results highlight that the financial environment, government policy programs, entrepreneurial education, R&D transfer, and internal market dynamics influence how business opportunities are exploited (i.e., through entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship). This study contributes to the literature by showing that certain formal institutions may be more beneficial (or detrimental) to entrepreneurship and/or intrapreneurship in Latin American countries. Practical implications have been derived for the design of governmental policies and programs in this context.
  Keywords: entrepreneurial context; entrepreneurship; intrapreneurship; institutional context; Latin America.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10072405
   
  
• Motivations and contextual factors in the creation of academic spin-offs: evidence from the Argentine case  
  by Vladimiro Verre, Dario Milesi, Fernando Molina 
  Abstract: This work investigates the motivations that underlie the decision by scientists in the public academic system to create a spin-off. Although personal reasons are fundamental, the decision-making process is also influenced by factors, both push and pull in nature, that are external to the scientist but that characterize the context within which the founder decides. This work then sets out the objective of addressing both aspects at the same time, motivations and context factors. To do so, eleven cases of ASOs created in Argentina were selected, with different ages and belonging to sectors such as agriculture-livestock and food that are relevant to the country. Among the main findings, the following stand out: the identification of four categories of motivations; the identification of a push factor characteristic of the chosen context; and four categories of pull factors that are deployed both on a macro and micro level.
  Keywords: academic spin-offs; motivations; contextual factors; entrepreneurship; parental organisation.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10073639
   
  
• Role of research and technology organisations in innovation: bridging basic research and technological development through collaboration  
  by Miriam Ruiz Yaniz, Juan Carlos Salazar-Elena 
  Abstract: This paper highlights the overlooked role of research and technology organisations as key intermediaries in the innovation system, bridging the gap between fundamental research and technological development. Focusing on the Spanish context specifically the Basque Country it examines the motivations and contributions of researchers from a leading research and technology organisation and a public university collaborating on science, technology, and innovation projects. The study shows that researchers pursue complementary goals: those in technology centres focus on strengthening the scientific foundation of applied research, while university researchers prioritise expanding professional networks. Their collaboration fosters significant advances in technological maturity, as evidenced by the outcomes of joint projects. Findings underscore the critical role of technology centres in advancing innovation, particularly for SMEs, and highlight their unique contributions to knowledge transfer. This study calls for greater recognition of these organisations in bridging the divide between science and industry.
  Keywords: research and technology organisations; technology transfer; collaboration for innovation; innovation system.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10074620
   
  
• Market orientation and marketing innovation in Latin American economies: the moderator role of KIBS firms and realised absorptive capacity  
  by Juan Acevedo, Iván Diaz-Molina 
  Abstract: This study explores the influence of market orientation (MO) on marketing innovation (MI) in Latin American economies, with specific focus on the moderating role of knowledge intensive business services (KIBS) firms and realised absorptive capacity (RACAP). Using a balanced panel dataset of 2,790 observations from 1,350 Chilean companies, generalised estimating regressions are used to test our hypotheses. The results find that MO affects MI positively and significantly, supporting similar studies in developed economies. In addition, the findings recognise the moderating role of KIBS firms, confirming that technological firms can trigger the relationship between MO and innovation in terms of marketing mix. Importantly, results do not find that realised absorptive capacity plays any moderating role in this relationship; this finding may be explained by over-searching, because processing new information from market orientation could be time-consuming, expensive, and difficult in firms from emerging economies. These findings underscore the importance of MO as a driver of marketing innovation and highlight the strategic relevance of KIBS firms in fostering innovation in regions with stagnant productivity.
  Keywords: innovation; marketing innovation; MI; market orientation; MO; realised absorptive capacity; RACAP; knowledge intensive business services; KIBS; emerging economies.
  DOI: 10.1504/IJBE.2025.10074683