The strategic relevance of business relationships: a preliminary assessment

The ubiquitous contention within the Industrial Networks literature - that business relationships are one of the firm´s most important resources - has not been, in our viewpoint, thoroughly explored. Hence we argue that the ‘Resource-based View of the Firm’ (‘RBV’) may complement the network-based reasoning on the strategic relevance of business relationships. A theoretical framework is proposed – a competence-based view of the firm – which solves RBV´s terminological and inconsistency problems and, more importantly, assures compatibility with the network perspective´s assumptions. The possibility of cross-fertilizing the Industrial Networks and RBV theories seems not only real, but also conceptually profitable for both theoretical fields.Business Relationships, Industrial Networks, Resource-Based View of the Firm, Competence-Based View of the Firm

Of the significance of business relationships

The Industrial Network Theory aims to describe and explain the business relationships and networks in which the focal firm is deeply embedded. One of its major propositions is that business relationships somehow influence, to different extents and over time, the focal firm’s survival. This pertains to the diverse and time-varying significance of business relationships for the focal firm. It has often been implicitly sustained that such significance is strongly related to the role played by business relationships and consequently the relationship outcomes accruing to the focal firm. The logic underlying the relationship significance proposition is outwardly oriented, somewhat overlooking the focal firm’s inside and in particular the conspicuous influence of business relationships on what the focal firm does competently both within and across its vertical boundaries. Arguably, the (predominantly ‘functional’) network-based arguments currently advanced represent a necessary but not sufficient condition for relationship significance. This conceptual paper tentatively suggests that there may be missing a supplementary (essentially internal) explanation supported by Competence-based Theories of the Firm.Industrial Network Theory; relationship significance proposition

Relationship significance: is it sufficiently explained?

The Industrial Networks Theory (cf. Axelsson and Easton, 1992, Hakansson and Snehota, 1995) sets out to describe and explain the business relationships and markets in which the focal firm is deeply embedded. One of its major propositions pertains to the (time-varying) significance of business relationships for the focal firm (Gadde et al., 2003), i.e., business relationships influence to some extent the focal firm’s survival. Such significance seems strongly related to the role played by business relationships and consequently the relationship outcomes accruing to the focal firm. The theoretical justification underlying this proposition is outwardly oriented, somewhat overlooking the inside of the focal firm - in particular the influence of business relationships on what the focal firm does competently within and across its boundaries. Arguably, the creation and appropriation of relationship value by the focal firm is a necessary but not sufficient condition for relationship significance. A supplementary (internal) explanation supported by Knowledge-based Theories of the Firm (e.g., see Kogut and Zander, 1992), we suggest, may be missing. Our aim here has been to intuitively pinpoint a theoretical flaw, further suggesting a feasible path for its solution.Industrial Networks Theory; relationship significance proposition; relationship functions, dysfunctions, benefits, sacrifices, and value

How is the relationship significance brought about? A critical realist approach

The markets-as-networks theorists contend, at least tacitly, the significance of business relationships for the focal firm – that is, business relationships contribute somewhat to the focal firm’s survival and growth. We do not deny the existence of significant business relationships but sustain, in contrast to the consensus within the Markets-as-Networks Theory, that relationship significance should not be a self-evident assumption. Significance cannot be a taken-for-granted property of each and every one of the focal firm’s business relationships. We adopt explicitly a critical realist position in this conceptual paper and claim that the relationship significance is an event of the business world, whose causes remain yet largely unidentified. Where the powers and liabilities of business relationships (i.e., their functions and dysfunctions) are put to work, inevitably under certain contingencies (namely the surrounding networks and markets), effects result for the focal firm (often benefits in excess of sacrifices, i.e., relationship value) and as a result the relationship significance is likely to be brought about. In addition, the relationship significance can result from the dual influence that business relationships have on a great part of the structure and powers and liabilities of the focal firm, i.e., its nature and scope respectively.Markets-as-Networks Theory, relationship significance, business relationships, focal firm, resources, competences, activities

Mobile robot electronic system with a network and microcontroller based interface

Integrated Masters at Electronics and Computers EngineeringNowadays mobile robots are expected to be a desire at several services to afford man facilities and increase safety in any kind of duties. Mobility is a key issue in robotics and a challenging subject for any research and development. It combines cognitive capabilities focused on sensorial input and human interaction with intelligent control of the drive systems and requires real mechatronics engineering solutions to enable robust and reliable operation. In the European Centre for Mechatronics [W1] mobile robots have been research subjects for years. A mobile platform with semi-autonomous functionality has been developed years ago. It has been used as a demonstration and test platform to study mobility and cognitive control. In the University of Minho [W3] and RWTH University [W2] that kind of research is also important and the industry support gives a solid development sign to the institutions. As the control system capacity on board of the vehicle has reached limits, a new system architecture with more powerful controller elements was planned to replace the old one. In this context the key objective of the project was to design and develop a new embedded system capable of controlling the mobile platform drives using ATMega microcontroller technology

Consumer engagement with football brands on Facebook

The growth of social media has forced brands to adapt the scope of their activities in terms of brand management, consumer engagement and customer communications. Football brands have recently started to understand the relevance of social media as a tool for exploiting the enormous potential they possess, much due to their well-established brand awareness, brand identity and, most of all, the passion they more easily trigger in fans. The goal of this research is to determine the most influential motivations that trigger consumers to engage with a football brand on Facebook. Furthermore, we want to understand if between brand love, brand image and consumer engagement influence brand loyalty towards football brands. To do so, we have collected data from 214 respondents that were questioned about this subject, after which we performed correlation analysis in order to test these relations. Our findings point out that entertainment, personal identity and social influence are the most influential types of motivations to engage with a football brand on Facebook. Trust in the brand, despite not showing the same relevance, also came out as a significant variable. Other results indicate that there is a positive relation between brand love, brand image, consumer engagement and, lastly, brand loyalty. Our findings and the respective managerial implications they might present are discussed, also providing indications and suggestions regarding future researches concerning this subject

A preliminary report of recording the Stella 1 Roman River Barge, Italy

The remains of a Roman barge were found in 1981 in the River Stella, Udine, Italy. Its cargo consisted mainly of roof tiles. It was excavated in 1998 and 1999, and detailed recording of the hull, and a second wooden structure, was achieved in 2011. A spread of material upstream of the wreck has been investigated 2012-2015. The barge was originally dated to the first quarter of the 1st century AD by the in situ cargo. This article describes the bottom-based sewn-plank hull construction and examines it in the light of local boatbuilding traditions. The second wooden structure is also described, along with recent finds and new dating evidence from the dispersed material. The Stella 1 excavation was part of the Anaxum Project, a wider study of the Stella River's cultural landscape through time. \ua9 2016 Nautical Archaeology Society

O efeito da inovação no desempenho financeiro e na intensidade das exportações de empresas em países emergentes

Purpose – What impact does innovation have on the financial performance and export intensity of firms in emerging countries? Design/methodology/approach – This contribution is the result of an analysis of five years’ data (2008-2012) from a multinational survey conducted with 140 predominantly manufacturing firms from Brazil, Russia, India, China. Findings – In contrast with the prevailing literature, the results reveal strong positive correlations between the principal study variables.Originality/value – Studies of this subject have found contradictory results with regard to the effect of innovation on firm performance. Only a minority of these studies have operationalized their investigations using historical data from a range of different countries and fewer still have focused on emerging countries.This article contributes to the debate by reporting the effects of innovation activity by firms from emerging countries on their financial performance and export intensity.Objetivo - Qual o impacto da inovação no desempenho financeiro e na intensidade das exportações de empresas em países emergentes? Design/metodologia /abordagem - Esta contribuição é o resultado de uma análise de dados de cinco anos (2008-2012) de uma pesquisa multinacional realizada com 140 empresas predominantemente manufatureiras do Brasil, Rússia, Índia, China. Resultados - Em contraste com a literatura prevalecente, os resultados revelam fortes correlações positivas entre as principais variáveis ​​do estudo. Originalidade/valor - Estudos sobre o assunto encontraram resultados contraditórios no que diz respeito ao efeito da inovação no desempenho da empresa. Apenas uma minoria desses estudos operacionalizou suas investigações usando dados históricos de uma série de países diferentes e menos ainda se concentraram em países emergentes. Este artigo contribui para o debate ao relatar os efeitos da atividade de inovação por empresas de países emergentes em seu desempenho financeiro. e intensidade de exportação