Information Management Capability as Competitive Imperfection in the Strategic Factor Market of Big Data

The interest of the organizations in developing Big Data strategies is increasing significantly. However, the expectation of the value of these benefits and of the costs involved in acquiring or developing these solutions are not homogeneous for all of the firms, generating competitive imperfections in the market of strategic resources. Using Information Management Capability (IMC) as a premise to provide the required unique insight for Big Data strategies to be successful, this article proposes to analyze IMC as an imperfection agent in the market of strategic resources of Big Data. The formulated hypotheses were tested from a survey of 101 valid participants and analyzed with SEM-PLS. The results indicate a positive IMC influence on value expectation and a negative one on cost expectation. Cost expectation inversely affects the intent to purchase or develop the resources to implant Big Data strategies. Value expectation has a positive effect in both intents

The study on M&A in today\u27s China shipping industry

In 2005, although there came along another wave of M&A activities in global shipping industry, we haven’t seen any sign of the emergence of large-scale M&As in China shipping industry so far. It’s quite unfavorable to the future development of whole China shipping sector. Besides, most Chinese shipping companies show no interest in, and even resist carrying out such economic event. However, the reasons behind the problem are various and intricate. The unique China macroenvironment and different kinds of deficiencies in Chinese shipping enterprises really hinder the appearance of mass M&A activities in China shipping industry. Here the macroenvironment includes the paradigm formed in Chinese culture, unfledged China financial market, and inappropriate conduct by China government as well as imperfect China M&A laws. They are just main categories. Each influential element that makes up the macroenvironment further encompasses several sub-items. For example, the imperfections of China direct, indirect financing channels and investment banks all constitute the inefficiency of China financial market. In order to solve such weird M&A matter in China shipping industry, some viable measures should be taken as soon as possible. Within a series of future possible reforms, the reconstructions of China financial market and relevant financial institutions would be on the top of the list. Moreover, a fair and impartial M&A law system is necessary to encourage more M&A activities happened in China shipping industry in the future, which includes Antitrust Law, M&A Law and other complementary laws. Financing innovation and capital market improvement are another important issues to resolve. Modern corporate system should be popularized among Chinese shipping enterprises so as to be compatible with new external macroenvironment. Finally, appropriate government support can guarantee that M&A activities would be carried out in an efficient and effective way, which in turn stimulate more M&As in China shipping sector

Managing innovation systems in transition economies

Successfully managing innovations has become the basic precondition for the development of both companies and national economies. At the national level governments are forming innovation systems whose primary goal is to create conditions at which science and technology can flourish and then transfer their findings trough private sector into new revolutionary products and services. Unfortunately not all countries have the same preconditions for creating such systems and transition economies due to many of their characteristics face serious difficulties. The aim of this paper is to first describe the role of innovations and innovation systems in economic development and then describe many problems transition countries face regarding this issue. After describing the main problems some of the measures that could be used to improve the current innovation output in transition economies are presented.national innovation system, economic development, transition economies

Capacidad de gestión de la información e implementación de estrategia de Big Data

O interesse das organizações em desenvolver estratégias de Big Data está aumentando significativamente. No entanto, a expectativa do valor desses benefícios e dos custos envolvidos na aquisição ou desenvolvimento dessas soluções não é homogênea para todas as empresas, gerando imperfeições competitivas no mercado de recursos estratégicos. A capacidade de gestão da informação (CGI) tem como premissa fornecer as informações necessárias para que as estratégias de Big Data sejam bem-sucedidas. Este artigo se propõe a analisar a CGI como um agente de imperfeição no mercado de fatores estratégicos de Big Data. As hipóteses foram testadas a partir de uma Survey com 101 respondentes e analisadas com a utilização de SEM-PLS. Os resultados indicam uma influência CGI positiva na expectativa de valor e uma negativa na expectativa de custo. A expectativa de custo afeta inversamente a intenção de comprar ou desenvolver os recursos para implantar estratégias de Big Data. A expectativa de valor tem um efeito positivo em ambas as intenções.Firms are increasingly interested in developing Big Data strategies. However, the expectation of the value of these benefits and of the costs involved in acquiring or developing these solutions are not homogeneous for all firms, which generates competitive imperfections in the market for strategic resources. Information Management Capability (IMC) aims to provide the required unique insights for successful Big Data strategies. This study analyzes IMC as an imperfection agent in the market for strategic Big Data resources. The hypotheses were tested using a survey of 101 respondents and analyzed with SEM-PLS. The results indicate the positive influence of IMC on value expectation and a negative effect on cost expectation. Cost expectation inversely affects the intent to purchase or develop the resources to implement Big Data strategies. Value expectation has a positive effect on both intents.El interés de las organizaciones en el desarrollo de estrategias de Big Data está aumentando significativamente. Sin embargo, la expectativa del valor de los beneficios y de los costos implicados en el acreedor o el desarrollo de estas soluciones no es homogénea para todas las empresas, impugnando las imperfecciones en el mercado de los recursos estratégicos. Capacidad de Gestión de la Información (CGI) utiliza las premisas proporcionar las pruebas requeridas para el éxito de Big Data, este artículo tiene como objetivo analizar el CGI como un agente de imperfección en el Strategic Factor Market de Big Data. Las hipótesis se probaron de una encuesta de 101 respondedores y se analizaron con SEM-PLS. Los resultados indican la positiva influencia de CGI sobre la expectativa y una negativa en una expectativa de los costos. La expectativa de los costos inversamente afecta al intento de comprar o de desarrollar los recursos para implementar estrategias Big Data. La expectativa de valor tiene un efecto positivo en ambos intents

Quasi-firms for real innovations

The construction industry is notorious for its (lack of) innovativeness. Many papers, reports\ud and articles have been written on this subject already for more than three decades.\ud The explanations presented can be summarized by such terms as fragmentation,\ud segmentation and segregation when referring to the industries’ structure and by qualifications\ud such as opportunistic, hostile, antagonistic and conflictive when referring to its\ud culture. In this paper it is argued that the main reason for the innovation status quo is\ud the fact that the construction industry, when compared to other industries, lacks real\ud producers- producers who develop products and compete with each other in terms of\ud these products. It is particularly this kind of competition which is identified as a source\ud to stimulate innovation. In construction, production capabilities are tested on the market\ud and not product capabilities. As a result, design decisions are not tested on the market.\ud It is this flaw which is examined in this paper, and possible improvements are suggested.\ud Endurable strategic alliances, as quasi-firms, are proposed as the equivalent of\ud producers. Essential herein is the pivotal position of design. An organizational innovation\ud as such could change the way business is done in the construction industry. It\ud would alter its structure as well as its culture

Resource-based view and dynamic capabilities - Achieving competitive advantage through internal resources and competences

Strategy has always been important for success. Whether strategy is applied for military purposes, in large firms, or even for personal objectives, there are certain key characteristics that every successful strategy carries on: clear, objective and simple goals; deep knowledge and understanding of the competitive environment; objective understanding and exploitation of resources; and an effective plan implementation. In this paper, the author’s attention will be focused on the role of internal resources, routines and processes as the bases of sustained competitive advantage (hereafter SCA) into what is now known as the resourcebased view of the firm (RBV) and Dynamic Capabilities (DC). First, the relevance of RBV and DC approaches and the main characteristics of those are briefly mentioned. Second, RBV and DC are examined as an important piece to achieve SCA. Later on, the author deepens into some examples and the manager’s importance when using these RBV and DC approaches. Then issues related with complexity and undefined concepts in RBV and DC are briefly mentioned. Finally, conclusions and personal comments are presented

Sines industrial and logistics zones: FDI determinants applied to Sines and its peers

The goal of this case study is to identify the FDI location determinants according to the most recent scientific studies and match those location determinants with the ones that can be found at Sines’s Cluster. Firstly I had to define the main competitor countries and in order to keep things simple I only chose six countries: Germany, Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Egypt and Morocco. The countries Spain, Egypt and Morocco are direct competitors for FDI attraction while Germany and Netherlands compete in terms of containers transhipment. The information was gathered by searching on database like OCDE, World Bank and Bloomberg but also by talking with AICEP Global Parques and with Port Authority of Sines. From my theoretical research reducing total costs of the supply chain is crucial nowadays therefore Portugal can win from this since has a better relation between labour costs and qualified labour than Spain. Morocco has a poor infrastructure reducing its attractiveness but the labour is low qualified and cheap therefore might be good for labour intensive industries. Regarding the Eastern Europe countries, after analysing the location determinants they are inferior to Portugal. Germany and Netherland are better than the rest of the countries analysed in almost all aspects, except in labour costs. Portuguese Government should try to lower Tax in order to increase the competitiveness of the cluster versus the Eastern Europe clusters and also should work to attract a logistics third party in order to increase the efficiency of the cluster.O objectivo deste caso de estudo do Cluster de Sines é identificar os determinantes de localização de acordo com a pesquisa mais recente e comparar com os determinantes de localização que o cluster de Sines tem. Em primeiro lugar foi necessário definir os países que competem directamente sendo restringidos a seis: Alemanha, Holanda, Espanha, Polónia, Egipto e Marrocos. Os países Espanha, Egipto e Marrocos são os principais concorrentes de Portugal em relação à atracção de investimento directo estrangeiro já a Alemanha e Holanda são concorrentes em relação ao transporte de contentores (transhipment). A informação foi recolhida através da pesquisa nas bases de dados da OCDE, Banco Mundial e Bloomberg mas também através de entrevistas com a AICEP Global Parques e Autoridade Portuária de Sines. Com base na pesquisa teórica reduzir os custos totais da cadeia de abastecimento é fundamental e Portugal pode ganhar com isso pois tem melhor relação custo da mão-de-obra versus qualidade da mão-de-obra que a Espanha. Em relação a Marrocos, as infra-estruturas são fracas o que reduz a atractividade deste mas a mão-de-obra é barata e pouco qualificada o que é ideal para indústrias intensivas em mão-de-obra. Quanto aos países do leste da Europa tem uma atractividade mais baixa que Portugal quando considerados todos os determinantes de localização. Já a Alemanha e Holanda são melhores que os restantes Países analisados em todos os aspectos expecto nos custos de mão-de-obra. O Governo Português precisa de reduzir os impostos para que o Cluster de Sines consiga rivalizar com os restantes clusters concorrentes e também devia debruçar-se sobre a necessidade de um operador logístico no cluster de forma a aumentar a eficiência do mesmo

Framework build-up of FDI entry mode selection for China’s state-owned enterprise in EU

In the recent years, the world saw a rapid expansion of China’s foreign direct investment (FDI). From the start of the new century, EU as one of the world’s largest economies has enjoyed rocketing growth of FDI inflow from China. As the main force in foreign investment operations, Chinese state-owned enterprises (CSOE) are eager to extend their business to Europe. The issue of investment entry mode selection has been regarded as one of the most important questions that all investors need to answer during decision making process. Study of FDI entry mode selection, therefore, is of great significance for Chinese state enterprise entrepreneurs and investors. With a combination of qualitative method and SWOT analysis, this paper attempts to conduct a systematic study on potential FDI entry mode influencing factors from two perspectives: Chinese state-owned enterprises as ordinary firms and as special government enterprises. It aims at building a macro-level framework of FDI entry mode selection for China’s state-owned enterprises investing in EU and providing theoretical solutions in optimum entry mode selection for their decision makers. Major findings of the paper are as follows: Chinese state-owned enterprises in machinery, textile, light industry and electric appliance sectors should take wholly-owned Greenfield or partly-owned Greenfield investment when entering EU market; Technology, innovation, and brand effect oriented Chinese government enterprises are advised to go under M&A; Chinese state enterprises with the aim of access to foreign natural resource reserves could be most benefited from partly-owned M&A entry mode; Chinese state-owned enterprises with more EU investment experience are in advantageous positions in employing Greenfield; Chinese state-owned enterprises with globalisation development strategies are recommended to employ wholly-owned Greenfield while Chinese state firms with localization strategies would be advised to use partly-owned M&A; Chinese state-owned enterprises with purposes to gain access to Western European high-tech clusters should adopt M&A; other state-owned enterprises with gradual expansion strategy should go Greenfield in EU emerging markets.http://www.ester.ee/record=b4541148*es

CIN: Internationalization Strategies of the Insecticide Paint Artilin 3A Mate

In a globalized world, where information cross countries’ boarders, companies seek new markets and challenges, in order for others to have broader knowledge about the firm and to increase profits by going international. Enterprises must be aware that despite the profit and knowledge increase, there are other factors to be taken into account like the individuals, environment, laws and regulations, resources and strategies on the host country when they want to go international. CIN is a good example of an internationalized company, created in Portugal in 1962, already settled in 31 countries and having different markets such as decoration, industrial and accessories. Nowadays, CIN is developing internationalization strategies to launch in its existing markets a new product called Artilin 3A Mate, an insecticide paint that has a research, innovation and development element to which 11 percent of the human resources of the company are affected. The main objective of this case study is to understand how such a specific product can enter in different markets, either for aesthetic reasons or in order to combat vector-borne diseases. It is also expected to demonstrate how this product launch may be, in pedagogical terms, an example of a company that is betting on the development of a functional high-performance paints (anti-mites, anti-insects and resistant to fungi) that comes up in a context against illnesses like dengue, malaria and zika, distributing it among the markets they are already in.Num mundo globalizado, a informação atravessa as fronteiras dos países, as empresas procuram novos mercados e desafios, de modo a que outros adquiram um maior conhecimento sobre a empresa e receitas aumentem com a perspectiva de se internacionalizarem. As empresas têm de estar conscientes de que para além do aumento de receitas e conhecimento, existem outros factores a ter em consideração tal como os indivíduos, o ambiente envolvente, as leis e normas, recursos e estratégias no país anfitrião para o qual a empresa se pretende internacionalizar. A CIN é um bom exemplo de uma empresa que se internacionalizou com sucesso. Criada em Portugal em 1962, está actualmente instalada em 31 países abrangendo diferentes tipos de mercado como os da decoração, industrial e dos acessórios. Nos dias de hoje, a CIN está a desenvolver estratégias de internacionalização para lançar nos mercados existentes um novo produto com a designação de Artilin 3A Mate, uma tinta insecticida que decorre de uma extensa actividade de pesquisa, inovação e desenvolvimento à qual estão afectos 11 porcento dos recursos humanos da empresa. O objectivo principal deste estudo de caso é compreender como um produto tão específico poderá entrar em diferentes mercados, tanto por razões estéticas como pelo combate a doenças transmissíveis por insectos. Espera-se também demonstrar como o lançamento deste produto, em termos pedagógicos, pode constituir um exemplo estratégico de uma empresa que está a apostar numa tinta de alta performance (anti - ácaros, anti-insectos e resistentes a fungos) no que toca ao combate de doenças como o dengue, malária e zika, distribuindo-a nos mercados onde já se encontra instalada

Firm size and growth opportunities: a survey

The qualifying aspect of the ongoing changes in firm growth processes seems to be the increased heterogeneity of size and a trend towards a broader fluctuation in average size. Exogenous factors (market size, demand trends, technological innovations, higher competition) determine a different impact on firms will to increase their own size, while endogenous variables play a greater role than in the past. The outcome is represented by a growth pattern that characterises some firms, but not all of them. Growth appear to be an asymmetric phenomenon, involving selectively but not casually a subgroup of firms. In the present paper it is hypothesized that growth stems from the asymmetric distribution of internalized resources (both material and immaterial), allowing some firms (regardless of the original size) to enter evolutionary paths that others don’t want or simply can’t enter.Firm Growth, Size Distribution, Gibrat’s Law, Industrial Dynamics, Human Capital, Intangible Assets, Industrial Policy