An exploratory investigation of e-business constraints among large organizations in Portugal

It is well recognized that e-business supports all parts of an organization’s value chain, and offer valuable competitive advantages to firms. It is imperative for an organization to identify potential constraints to ebusiness in order to minimize the risk derived from its e-business initiative. Hence, in this paper, we explore a range of constraints that the literature suggests influences e-business evolution, so that organizations could be better equipped in anticipating any difficulties while in progress through their e-business initiatives. Thirteen hypotheses were formulated and tested. Questionnaires were applied to investigate the research problem. It was administered to 1000 managing directors of the biggest (according to the amount of business) Portuguese enterprises. Results suggest that organizational constraints are more critical, such as, conflict with traditional trading partners, conflict with traditional business and e-business initiatives, reengineering business processes and resistance to change, among other

On the adaptation of the firm to the International Business Environment

This paper advances on the importance of the adaptation of the firm to the International Business Environment (IBE). The IBE is a distinguishing factor in international business studies and the firm?s adaptation to the environment has been presented as a basic survival strategy. We argue that adaptation is indeed a dynamic and largely internally driven process that leads the firm to co-evolve with the external environment. The ability to adapt to different international business environments is developed over time through the firm?s experiences and built into its routines. Adaptation is both suggested to incorporate the elements of a planned strategy and of random variation in search for local peaks given bounded rationality, imperfect information and the current pool of resources and capabilities. The ability to adapt to the environment may be conceptualized as a knowledge-based capability and a potential source of competitive advantage for the multinational corporation.Adaptation, International Business Environment, MNC, capabilities, evolution, environmental stability

Linking Business Ownership and Perceived Administrative Complexity: An Empirical Analysis of 18 OECD Countries

Administrative burdens are known to be a major business constraint for incumbent SMEs in modern economies. Far less is known about the influence of these burdens on the startup of new firms. The current paper examines to what extent perceived administrative complexity related to starting a new business influences the number of business owners across 18 OECD countries. We test this relationship combining data on business ownership from EIM's COMPENDIA data base and data on perceived administrative complexity from the Eurobarometer public opinion surveys coordinated by the European Commission. Our results suggest that perceived administrative complexity has a negative impact on the level of business ownership. However, the effect is not immediate but rather seems to emerge in the long run.

GLOBALIZATION AND INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION STRATEGIES OF THE WINE SECTOR COMPANIES IN PORTUGAL

This research aims to analyze the competitive environment of companies in the wine sector in Portugal and assess the implications in the development of contingent strategic guidelines and different performances. Proposes to apply the methodological framework IKST – Integrated Key for Strategic Thought for international expansion. The research was carried out at two levels: at a preliminary level – a general characterisation was made of the companies as to their resources, and at a central level – the examination of the strategic aspect of the companies was carried out. The research involved the collection of primary data (survey of 164 companies in the sector) and secondary data (from documentary nature). Explores the strategic aspect, analyzing the sector in terms of global and national context, in order to design a diagnostic context of action, using the models of PEST and 5 Forces. Identifies, based on various statistical techniques, the adopted style of strategic thought and their profile in terms of contextual variables, as well as the underlying economic performance

Innovative Public Service Delivery: How to assess the new relationship between public agencies and society?

One of the major challenges faced by the Public Administration is how to create more value for both citizens and firms, mainly because of the increasing budgetary constraints and challenging demands from society. In fact, over the past two decades there has been a general movement of public reform in most developed countries, and for this reason it is essential to understand how users assess public services’ quality. This paper aims at understanding the determinants of public services’ quality. Due to the nature of the research problem, we have adopted a case-study methodology. The research involved an extensive qualitative and quantitative data collection with managers, citizens and front and back-office public servants, by means of interviews, questionnaires and focus groups. The paper presents the case of Citizen Shops in Portugal, a recent and innovative channel of public services’ delivery, within a strong relationship perspective. Firstly, it explores the kind of relationships that are developed during the public service encounter between the citizen, the public organization and society. Secondly, both citizen’s satisfaction and dissatisfaction with public services are investigated. The basic premise is that these two concepts are not opposite but have different determinants instead. Furthermore, the paper also explores the existence of a zone of tolerance and emphasizes the importance of managing emotions in the public service encounter. Finally, it is discussed that public services’ quality assessment should also take into consideration the implications on the value to society.Public services; citizen shops; quality determinants; satisfaction; dissatisfaction

Ethics and taxation : a cross-national comparison of UK and Turkish firms

This paper investigates responses to tax related ethical issues facing busines

The STEP Scale: A Cross-National Scale for Short-Term Export Performance Improvement

This paper is a direct response to a recent observation in the literature that managers appear to be short-term oriented when they assess the performance of an export venture (Madsen 1998). Based on a survey of Portuguese and British exporters, this paper presents a three-dimensional scale for assessing managerial judgment of Short-Term Export Performance (the STEP scale). The three dimensions are: 1) satisfaction with short-term performance improvement; 2) short-term exporting intensity improvement; and 3) expected short-term performance improvement. The findings are used to generate implications for public policy making and managerial practice as well as directions for future research.Short-Term Export Performance; Export Marketing; Measurement

Assessing the Quality of Public Services: A Conceptual Model

One of the major challenges faced by Public Administration is how to create more value for both citizens and firms, mainly because of the increasing budgetary constraints and challenging demands from society. In fact, over the past two decades there has been a general movement of public reform in most developed countries, and for this reason it is essential to understand how users assess the quality of public services. The aim of this paper is to clarify the determinants of public service quality. Due to the nature of the research problem, we have adopted a case-study methodology. The research involved extensive qualitative and quantitative data collection with managers, citizens and front and back-office public servants by means of interviews, questionnaires and focus groups. The paper presents the case of Public Service Citizens’ Shops (Loja do Cidadão) in Portugal, a recent and innovative channel for the delivery of public services. Firstly, it explores the kind of relationships that develop during the public service encounter between the citizen, the public organization and society. Secondly, citizen satisfaction and dissatisfaction with public services are both investigated. The basic premise is that these two concepts are not opposite but have different determinants. Furthermore, the paper also explores the nature of tolerance and emphasizes the importance of managing emotions in the public service encounter. Finally, it also considers how the quality assessment of public services should also take into account implications regarding value to society.public services; quality determinants; satisfaction; dissatisfaction; zone of tolerance; emotions; citizens’ shops

Internationalization process based on the integration in a network: the case of Alô Comunicação

Networking is becoming a widely accepted strategy that most companies incorporate into their internal operations. Most like products, services can also benefit from this method, relying on partnerships and relationships within the International Market. The Internationalization plan for Alô Comunicação is based on the premise that the Domestic Market is saturated, with internal pressures “forcing” companies to consider the International Markets. Besides, potential Market opportunities could be lost if the Company concentrates its efforts only within the Portuguese Creative Sector. Considering this specific sector, an analysis was conducted in order to perceive the results within the international sphere. In the latest years, this activity is showing an increase in the number of exports and the relevance to the national wealth, numbers that demonstrate the potential of this sector. The qualitative interviews conducted to four representative companies of the Creative Sector showed that the conditions are concomitant with the data collected. Moreover, they show the importance of strategies that privileged network patterns. By using the Uppsala Model as a reference, this investigation provided a correlation between Networking and Internationalization, specifically to the Portuguese Creative Sector. Following this study, the results gathered were applied to the Alô Comunicação plan for Internationalization. This recent Company will initially privilege the export to Spain, taking advantage of its proximity. In a medium-long term, the Company will focus on consolidating its position in the Spanish Market, and afterwards alliance networks will be celebrated with other foreign Markets.O plano de internacionalização da Alô Comunicação é baseado na premissa de que o mercado interno encontra-se saturado, enquanto as pressões internas “forçam” as empresas a considerar os mercados internacionais. Além disso, potenciais oportunidades de mercado podem ser perdidas se a empresa concentrar apenas seus esforços no setor criativo português. Enquadrando este setor específico, foi realizada uma análise, a fim de se perceber os resultados do setor na esfera internacional. Nos últimos anos, a atividade mostra um aumento do número de exportações e importância para a riqueza nacional portuguesa, números que demonstram o potencial deste setor. As entrevistas qualitativas realizadas a quatro empresas representativas do Setor Criativo mostraram que as condições são concomitantes com os dados coletados. Além disso, eles mostram a importância de estratégias que privilegiam os padrões de rede. Utilizando o Modelo Uppsala como referência, a investigação pretende demostrar a correlação entre Networking e Internacionalização, especificamente para o Setor Criativo Português. Na sequência deste estudo, os resultados recolhidos foram utilizados no caso Alô Comunicação, uma empresa recente em que, inicialmente, o plano de internacionalização privilegiará a exportação para Espanha, aproveitando sobretudo a proximidade geográfica. A médio e longo prazo, o objetivo passa pelo foco na consolidação da sua posição no mercado espanhol e no estabelecimento de alianças que possam potenciar o alargamento para outros mercados internacionais, tendo o mercado espanhol como base desse processo de internacionalização

A SOCIO-TECHNICAL APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY IN ORGANIZATIONS: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Research has shown that sustainability is a critical issue for organizations. There are many dimensions to this concept, notably economic, social and environmental sustainability. When considering development of Information Systems, it is necessary to take these factors into account. However, although developers wish to deliver a package of sustainable benefits, the values that these benefits represent to different stakeholder groups will vary. Approaches will be needed that can provide support to resolve divergent and conflicting requirements within a transformation process, and help to surface contextual understandings of sustainable performance. Poorly-designed systems lead to work activity that is less than optimal, and thus fails to achieve a level of excellence in performance that is a significant prerequisite for competitiveness and economic sustainability. This paper introduces an investigation into understanding of a socio-technical systems framework that could function as a trigger for sustainability development where a suitable agenda already exists within an organization. Preliminary results, and their limitations, are discussed and a tentative agenda for further research is presented