ICT, global markets and small firms in less-developed regions in Europe - the case of mature sectors in a Spanish Province

Globalisation affects the smallest specialized companies in mature sectors, especially in the less developed regions in Europe. In these cases, the competitive advantage that these industries had achieved in the international market due to low costs of the factors has been broken. One way to improve its competitive position is an active participation in the international market through communication and information technologies along the productive chain. This paper describes these specialized companies in European mature sectors. Specially, we examine the of the province of Jaén (Andalusia). The results have been obtained surveying a hundred of companies –food, clothes and furniture sectors. These results show how these enterprises use communication and information technologies to adapt its competitive capacity in the new global market.

E-commerce and territorial development in the Objective-1 spanish regions

The information and communication technologies constitute one of the main forces of the globalization. In this framework, the e-commerce takes advantage of Internet to improve the competitiveness of the companies and territories. In the nowadays scenario, the e-commerce opens development posibilities for the regions fewer developed, creating a virtual space that saves the geographical barriers. However, the use of its advantages requires infrastructures and equipment, organizational capacity and high formation in new technologies. In spite of the deficit that the objetive 1 spanish regions show in these fields to develop the their own Information Society, the attitude and the efforts of the public and private agents in improving their position in the national and international context, they open optimistic expectations on the future use of the advantages that the e-commerce offers for the growth and the improvement of the regional competitiveness in Spain. Nevertheless, one cannot hope the e-commerce is a decisive element to eliminate the territorial inequalities, not even the technologies of the information in its group, but rather it can be that they originate a restructuring of the spanish and european territorial pattern, where some regions will be able to improve thanks to the extension and deeping of the digital economy and others will worsen its position in the territorial system. In any event, the developed regions leave of a better position. All the analysts coincide in pointing out that the e-commerce is in an incipient phase, for what es expected that its growth in next years is very important. In this sense, this communication seeks to analyze the use of the possibilities that the e-commerce offers as tool of improvement of the competitiveness in the objetive 1 spanish regions in the framework of the regional development. To get this objetive, the theoretical linkings are revised among the new information and communication technologies, that allow the use of Internet like a trade channel, and the territorial development, showing the different focuses with those that are come approaching the influences of the Information Society on the regional competitiveness. Also, the current situation and perspectives of the objetive one spanish regions are rewied to face the challenges that outline the technological advances in this field in three environments: infrastructures and equipment; organization, support institutions and administration initiatives; and innovation, knowledge and formation.

Los procesos de desarrollo local desde la perspectiva europea: génesis y transformación

El artículo muestra cómo los procesos de desarrollo local se han articulado desde la participación de la población local y la introducción de innovaciones en la función de producción territorial. La cooperación, el cambio institucional y un sistema urbano adecuado han sido las claves de la aparición de los sistemas productivos locales. Tras una breve discusión conceptual sobre diferentes aspectos del desarrollo, se realiza el análisis con las principales teorías basadas en los estudios de casos europeos, así como de las políticas implementadas para conseguir el mantenimiento de la ventaja competitiva alcanzada en el paradigma de la globalización, con diferente suerte, según la capacidad de adaptación de cada territorio al entorno. Las conclusiones muestran cómo la ventaja competitiva alcanzada debe estimularse con la continua adaptación local a la competencia de otros ámbitos territoriales

Factors affecting entrepreneurial intention levels

Entrepreneurship is becoming a very relevant instrument to promote economic growth and development in different regional and national economies. However, social scientists have not still agreed on the determinants of the decision to become an entrepreneur. Therefore, there is some concern that policies may not be sufficiently efficient in achieving this objective. From a psychological point of view, the intention to become an entrepreneur has been described as the single best predictor of actual behaviour (Ajzen, 1991; Kolvereid, 1996). Hence, some studies have started to analyse the entrepreneurial intention and its determinants (Krueger et al., 2000) but however, methodologies and research instruments used so far differ widely. Then, the availability of a validated instrument to measure abilities, attitudes and intentions towards entrepreneurship could be of much help. In this paper, we use an Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EIQ), which has been recently validated, to measure entrepreneurial intentions in a sample of students from different Spanish universities. After a brief description of the characteristics and psychometric properties of the EIQ, most important results are discussed. In particular, we pay attention to the influence of different personal and family variables on the entrepreneurial intention level. These variables could be considered as belonging to the institutional environment of each territory. Differences in institutions -in a broad sense- may be a very relevant factor to explain divergent entrepreneurial activity levels. Results show how these external variables affect intention and, as a result actual entrepreneurial behaviour.

Nursing homes as a case for assessing Serious Games

Organisations are paying increasing attention to serious games (SGs) in a quest to find solutions to training needs. Evaluation of these software programmes for training purposes marks a crucial stage in serious game commercial development. EHPADs (Etablissements d’Hébergement pour Personnes Agées Dépendantes/ nursing homes for dependent elderly people) suffer from a poor public image. Because staff work long hours, SGs may provide a solution to work training issues. The SG surveyed in this study uses 3D simulation technolo- gies to produce three training situations for the hotel and nursing staff of these establish- ments hosting dependent elderly people: (1) the admission process of an elderly person to the EHPAD, (2) supervision of a meal and (3) refusal of care by a resident. A qualitative approach is used to evaluate the SG and is based on observations to explain the concepts at work when staff members use the SG. We first carried out several verification phases and then compared our concepts with those from known models so as to build a new model. Our SG is assessed at several different levels

Los Procesos de Desarrollo Local desde la Perspectiva Europea: génesis y transformación

El articulo muestra cómo los procesos de desarrollo local se han articulado desde la particpación de la población local y la introducción de innovaciones en la función de producción territorial.La coopreación, el cambio institucional y un sistema urbano adecuado han sido claves de la aparición de los sistemas productivos locales. Tras una bereve discusión conceptual sobre diferentes aspectos del desarrollo, se realiza el análisis con las principales teorías basadas en los estudios de casos europeos, asi como de las politicas implementadas para conseguir el mantenimiento de la venataja competitiva alcanzada en el paradigma de la globalización, con diferente suerte, según la capacidad de adaptación de cada territorio al entorno. Las conclusiones muestran cómo ventaja competitiva alcanzada debe estimularse con la continua adaptación local a la competencia de otros ámbitos territoriales.Desarrollo local, sistema productivo local, innovación, cambio institucional, territorio, politicas de fomento

Modeling and Markov chains

Artificial intelligence and simulation are now topics with major interest for researchers and practitioners. Markov chain is a powerful approach of simulation that could be used in multiple area. For example, in management this approach can give numerous opportunities to better understand phenomena. Thus we ask the question: “How can Markov chains be useful to simulate processes? “. This paper is our answer. With Markov chains we show the possibilities to better understand management project. We also propose two programs which explain how to implement these simulations based on Markov chains. The results show that Markov chains approach of simulation can be useful for teaching and explaining processes. Simulation gives data to analyse what can be compared with empirical data or tested for coherence. Simulation with Markov chain can be interpreted and give insights on real causes of complex phenomena

Los procesos de desarrollo local desde la perspectiva europea: génesis y transformación

El artículo muestra cómo los procesos de desarrollo local se han articulado desde la participación de la población local y la introducción de innovaciones en la función de producción territorial. La cooperación, el cambio institucional y un sistema urbano adecuado han sido las claves de la aparición de los sistemas productivos locales. Tras una breve discusión conceptual sobre diferentes aspectos del desarrollo, se realiza el análisis con las principales teorías basadas en los estudios de casos europeos, así como de las políticas implementadas para conseguir el mantenimiento de la ventaja competitiva alcanzada en el paradigma de la globalización, con diferente suerte, según la capacidad de adaptación de cada territorio al entorno. Las conclusiones muestran cómo la ventaja competitiva alcanzada debe estimularse con la continua adaptación local a la competencia de otros ámbitos territoriales

How to make innovation policies more effective: the challenge of considering the institutional context

The necessity to optimise the processes of design and implementation of instruments that stimulate R+D+i is a matter of urgency due to both the existing public sector budget constraints and the dubious effectiveness of much of the innovation strategies implemented. In this regard, the institutionalist theory makes it possible to identify the main factors that condition the emergence and success of innovative activities. It also considers that incentives for innovation should be designed considering the specificities of institutional environment rather than a one-size-fits-all type solution. In this context, the main aims of this article are two. On the one hand, to understand, through a bibliometric analysis, the scientific production that link institutional theory and innovation policies and, on the other hand, to highlight, through a literature review, the 1665 elements that should be considered for designing more effective innovation policies, with particular emphasis on factors related to the institutional context.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Challenges and responses of agri-food activities under COVID-19 pandemic: The case of the Spanish territories producing wine and olive oil

Producción CientíficaThe COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected economic activities worldwide. The challenge for territories and companies has been how to cope with mobility restrictions. Even in the case of essential activities such as agri-food industries, the adaptation has been a challenging issue to deal with. The paper aims to show how the wine and olive oil industries in Spain have restructured their activities in order to respond to the confinement and the new normalcy, using new technologies as a strategic tool, but also making the most of new actions to keep their presence in the national and international markets. The research was carried out mostly through qualitative analysis, using the in-depth interview as a main tool to gain strategic information from managers of companies and local policymakers. Results show that when local policy makers and managers cooperate, despite the different perceptions they could have, the outcome is positive for facing competitive shocks and carving out new local initiatives, making firms and the territory itself more resilient