Socioeconomic development in the context of Uruguay: a knowledge-based approach

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the relevance and impact of knowledge in the context of Uruguay’s present and future socioeconomic development through the lens of the knowledge-based theory of the firm (KBTF). Design/methodology/approach: The perspectives of 47 key informants, predominantly representatives of public and private Uruguayan institutions, including chambers of commerce and producer associations, were gathered through unstructured, face-to-face interviews. Findings: Aligned with the KBTF, the significance of tacit knowledge, complemented with explicit knowledge, was revealed, particularly in the more traditional industries. Indeed, industry-based (tacit) knowledge evolving for generations has been strengthened by innovative practices, enhancing the appeal and image of key commodities and the nation’s exports. Additional elements highlighted in the KBTF, such as problem-solving, knowledge integration and application and knowledge specialisation, were identified. Originality/value: Essentially, the study highlights the different associations between the KBTF, the various forms of acquiring knowledge (tacit, explicit), innovation and resulting impacts on food quality and increased product recognition for a developing economy. Moreover, the findings, which illustrate that crucial improvements can be achieved through knowledge-based approaches, could also be considered in the context of other emerging economies that are aiming to attain further socioeconomic development through maximising the benefits of knowledge. In addition, the study addresses a theme that has been sporadically presented in the academic literature, especially when studying developing economies and their industries. © 2017, © Emerald Publishing Limited

The entrepreneurial role within a global firm operating in a niche market

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the significance of entrepreneurial role from the perspective of a global, family-owned firm located in Uruguay and operating in a niche market. Design/methodology/approach – This case study adopts role theory as its theoretical framework. Face-to-face, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with the firm’s ownership/management. The data were analysed using content analysis. Findings – During the interviews, the importance of entrepreneurs’ role was highlighted in various ways. For instance, role emerged in the form of re-developing a business vision, executing strategies and ideas, anticipating events, innovating and internationalising. Together, these key elements helped build entrepreneurial resilience in light of emerging issues. An alignment with various perspectives of role theory, including “functional”, “symbolic interactionist” and “structural” was identified. Practical implications – The role of the succeeding generation of the firm’s ownership not only is fundamental in reinforcing an entrepreneurial path established by the firm’s founder but also is critical in building upon the earlier foundation, continue innovating and adapting to contemporary challenges in a very dynamic business environment. Originality/value – The present study makes an original contribution, by examining the significance of entrepreneurial role through the lens of role theory. In this context, the case of a medium-sized, global Latin American family business is investigated

Collaboration among micro and small firms in a traditional industry

Academic research emphasises numerous benefits that businesses could gain from collaborating. However, studies also report many existing knowledge gaps. In considering various elements of the theory of collaboration, the present exploratory study contributes to the extant collaboration, micro and small business, and wine research literature, investigating the extent to which winery operators of these largely exporting firms collaborate and share resources. Differences were evaluated between these measurements and demographic characteristics of participants and wineries. Overall, the findings revealed modest levels of collaboration and sharing resources. Participants highlighted restaurants and other wineries as most preferred collaborating partners, while taking part in events, experiences and promotional activities were predominant ways of sharing resources. Statistically significant differences were observed, particularly based on wineries’ size; also, associations between the findings and elements pertaining to the theory of collaboration were identified. Overall, the findings have important implications, also for wineries with an exporting focus

A resource-based view of the firm and micro and small Italian wine firms

Purpose: The purpose of this study is two-fold. First, the resource based view (RBV) of the firm is adopted to explore the most important resources among micro and small firms operating in Italy’s wine industry. Second, the study incorporates a SWOT analysis to examine perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats based on the perceptions of owners and managers of these firms. Design/methodology/approach: An online questionnaire was designed to gather both quantitative and qualitative data from Italian wineries; a total of 211 firms participated in the study. Findings: Product quality, managerial/staff capabilities, knowledge, reputation, service quality, and the territory/region emerge as most important resources, clearly aligning with the attributes of the RBV, namely, valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable, and non-substitutable resources. However, based on the RBV, the future sustained competitive advantage is threatened by, among other factors, the firm’s finances, competition, red tape, and the complexity of increasing sales. Originality/value: Fundamentally, the research contributes to micro and small enterprise literature, and to the limited number of studies that have used the RBV of the firm in the context of micro and small wineries. This theoretical framework is used among wineries of one of the world’s leading wine producing nations. Some dimensions of this country’s wine industry have received limited academic attention. In addition, the study provides practical value in identifying resources, limitations, and threats at a time when micro and small wineries are seeking to develop or increase their international presence

‘I see the future’: Associations between innovation and resources in the case of an exporting Western Australian regional family firm

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the associations between the resources of a Western Australian regional family firm exporting to Asia and innovation through the lens of the theory of innovation and the resource based view (RBV) of the firm. Design/methodology/approach – In-depth, un-structured telephone and face-to-face interviews were conducted with five members of the firm, including the co-owner. A visit to the business facilities complemented the data collection process. Findings – The importance of tangible and intangible resources, such as forward thinking or investments in technologies, human capital and research is clearly illustrated; these resources positively influence innovative practices. Associations between the findings and the theoretical frameworks were identified. For instance, the imperfectly imitable and non-substitutable attributes comply with the RBV of the firm, and the hypothesised four dimensions of innovation. Importantly, the significance of strategic partnering emerges as an extension of these attributes. Originality/value – This study addresses some knowledge gaps, first, contributing to the body of research on family firms’ adoption of innovation. In addition, the study contributes to the literature on regional Western Australian family firms operating internationally. This state makes a significant contribution to Australia’s economy, and its close geographic proximity to various important consumer markets highlights future opportunities for family firms in international trade. Despite such potential, research on global family firms operating in this state has been almost non-existent

The potential for craft brewing tourism development in the United States: A stakeholder view

The craft brewing industry is experiencing growth worldwide; however, research on this industry has been scant in various domains, including research exploring the relationships between craft breweries and tourism. This study contributes to extant academic literature, investigating the perceived potential and challenges of craft brewing tourism (CBT) among 221 micro/small United States craft brewing operators. The study adopts stakeholder theory (ST) as the theoretical framework. Overall, participants perceived the potential of craft beer tourism (CBT) in their region/state. Pubs/bars selling locally crafted beer, packaged tours, beer-food pairings, tours and trails were predominantly identified forms of CBT development, while limited logistics and lack of time were main perceived challenges. Various statistically significant differences were identified, particularly based on level of production and age of the brewery. However, overall, most tests yielded similar levels of agreement. Alignments were revealed between the findings and ST’s theses, namely, descriptive, instrumental, normative, and managerial

Tourism, quality of life, and residents of a rural town

Numerous studies discuss the potential impacts of tourism on residents’ quality of life (QOL). Despite this rich body of research, some researchers identify the need to investigate this dimension using a qualitative approach, as well as in rural areas where tourism is under development. Partly in response to these calls, the present study uses the case of a Western Australian town to investigate QOL through the lens of social exchange theory. Through focus groups, face-to-face interviews and online questionnaires, qualitative data were gathered among the town’s residents. Overall, the impacts of tourism on participants’ QOL are positive. Four predominant exchanges related to QOL from tourism’s effects emerged: economic, bonding, material and cultural. While economic exchanges, including job creation and income, are the main triggers of QOL, bonding exchanges, through volunteering and attending events are also considered as fundamental. The study discusses key implications and suggests future research avenues

Family firms’ management decision to export/not to export: A resource-based view

Purpose – The purpose of this exploratory study is to address some knowledge gaps in the family entrepreneurship literature, examining the cases of seven Western Australian family firms with various degrees of export involvement, including no involvement. In this process, the study incorporates the resource-based view of the firm (RBVF). Design/methodology/approach – Face-to-face and telephone interviews conducted with firm co-owners and one manager of seven family firms. Content analysis and word association were employed to analyse the data gathered. Findings – The interviews revealed the significance of various key resources regardless of firms’ extent of export involvement. Indeed, alignments with the RBVF emerged, with firms’ strategies resting on valuable, rare, perfectly immobile and non-substitutable resource attributes. More lucrative consumer markets, diversifying, product recognition, and minimising the impact of domestic competitors were main reasons to export. In contrast, rising costs, unfavourable currency exchanges, or mediocre previous experiences were motives for discontinuing exports. Nonetheless, building on their resource foundation, nonexporting firms’ strategies focused on strengthening their involvement in the domestic market, perceived as a valued alternative. Originality/value – The academic literature identifies various knowledge gaps concerning family firm entrepreneurship, including research focusing on family firms’ internationalisation process. By addressing this under-researched area, the study provides an element of originality and value. In addition, despite Western Australia’s proximity to neighbouring markets, limited contemporary research on family firms has been conducted in this state; hence, the study provides an original component. Finally, the study seeks to refine the RBVF in the context of family firm research

A resource based approach in the context of the emerging craft brewing industry

Purpose: The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the perceived resources, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats from the perspective of micro and small brewery owners, managers and brewing masters operating in three countries. To this end, the study adopts the resource based view (RBV) of the firm, complemented by a SWOT analysis. Design/methodology/approach: The research provides a mixed methods approach. Data were collected from craft breweries in Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK). 165 valid responses were obtained from an online questionnaire, and an additional 24 face-to-face and telephone interviews with craft brewing operators in these three countries were conducted to further enrich the data. Independent samples t-test and Scheffé post hoc were used to analyse part of the quantitative data, while content analysis and word association were used for the qualitative component. Findings: Product quality and uniqueness of product emerged as important perceived resources and strengths, suggesting an alignment with some of the resource related attributes postulated by the RBV, such as valuable, rare, and (un)substitutable. Other elements, such as natural and sustainable resources, including water quality and the current and future involvement in growing or sourcing raw products locally emerged as key resources, and are suggested as additional attributes. These strategic and tangible resources are however challenged by perceived weaknesses, particularly lack of financial, infrastructure and commercialisation resources, as well as threats from competition. Originality/value: The exploratory study focuses on craft brewing from the perspective of micro/small operators. This industry has received very limited attention from the literature. The use of the RBV, with the potential to increase understanding of an emerging industry, and develop the theory further in this domain, adds to the originality and value of this research

Entrepreneurial CSR, managerial role and firm resources: a case study approach

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to contribute to the extant body of the entrepreneurship and business management literature, investigating corporate social responsibility (CSR) and its implications for firms’ competitiveness. The cases of four different firms are examined through the lens of the resource-based view of the firm and role theory. Design/methodology/approach: Face-to-face and telephone interviews were conducted with the owners and managers of four model firms identified in Western Australia. Findings: While financial outcomes clearly stand out as the end goal for engaging in CSR-related practices, the importance of firm managers’ entrepreneurial role emerges in using existing resources to exploit business opportunities to ultimately achieve competitiveness, benefit the organisation, the community and society. Management’s ability to reconcile financial objectives and CSR practices give rise to the notion of entrepreneurial CSR. Originality/value: The study demonstrates that management’s entrepreneurial drive, skills, knowledge, expertise or strategic strengths can identify substantial opportunities. Furthermore, the investment of resources to develop socially responsible products and services can help achieve CSR and the firm’s bottom line. Finally, learning about participants’ motivations for engaging in CSR could identify areas, concepts and directions to be considered by entrepreneurs, compared/contrasted to previous research or even operationalised by enterprises of different sizes elsewhere. © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited