Worker Involvement and Performance in Italian Social Enterprises: The Role of Motivations, Gender and Workload

Over the past two decades, organizational sustainability has been studied from several different perspectives, such as marketing, governance, strategy, and human resource management (HRM). However, sustainability framed in HRM has not yet received enough attention in the literature, especially as it concerns the study of different organizational forms. Building on Enhert and Harry’s (2012) sustainable HRM approach, this article studies worker empowerment and how it affects organizational performance in terms of service quality and service innovation. Specifically, it addresses how relational motivations interact with HR-empowering practices (involvement in decisions and task autonomy) as organizational resources in influencing performance, how workload pressure resulting from HR empowerment can improve performance, and the influence of gender on performance, especially with concerns for human capital (tertiary education) and motivations. To this end, a representative sample of workers employed by Italian social enterprises (ES) in the social service sector is used. We propose multilevel SEMs that are based on two sets of equations specifying worker- and organization-level effects on organizational performance. Our main results show that the combination of worker engagement and an appropriate relational context in the organizational environment is most conducive to delivering better and innovative services. In addition, a higher percentage of well-trained and relationally motivated women employees helps achieve this goal

A Semiparametric Estimation of Liquidity Effects on Option Pricing

This paper proposes a semiparametric option pricing model with liquidity, as proxied by the relative bid-ask spread. The nonparametric volatility function with liquidity as an explanatory variable is estimated using the Symmetrized Nearest Neighbors (SNN) estimator rather than the traditional kernel estimator. Moreover, special care is taken in obtaining the smoothing parameter. The in-sample performance of the model turns out to be statistically favorable relative to a competing model without liquidity. However, the out-of-sample performance of both models is quite disappointing despite the fact that we are not to reject the stability of risk-neutral densities estimated over different quarters during our sample period.multivariate kernel regression, bandwidth selection, symmetrized nearest neighbors, volatility smile, option pricing

An empirical comparison of the performance of alternative option pricing models

Published as an article in: Investigaciones Economicas, 2005, vol. 29, issue 3, pages 483-523.option pricing, conditional volatility, SNN Nonparametric estimator

Catchment influences on the hydrological flows to lake terra alta (Linhares, ES, Brazil) and ecohydrology perspectives

Dissertação de mestrado, Ecohidrologia, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, 2015Lake Terra Alta (LTA) (A= 3.9 km2; Zmax= 22.1.m) is a tropical natural lake located in the State of Espírito Santo (Southeast Brazil) being one of the 90 lakes which form the Lake District of Lower Doce Rover Valley (LDRV). LTA catchment area is 144.7 km2 and is composed by 8 subbasins and 7 tributaries streams. Its predominant land use is pasturage and smaller dimension cropping and Eucalyptus forestry, with no urban areas or industrial activities. Catchments morphometry and land uses and land cover have implications on the catchments hydromorphological processes, thus influencing hydrological flows to downstream lake. Therefore, hydrological knowledge is necessary to subsidize basin management plans. LTA is under pressure of direct water withdraw for irrigation, as well as water withdraws from the tributary rivers and fluvial damming. Nutrient inputs from catchment natural loads and anthropogenic activities (i.e., agriculture, livestock, forestry). Those pressures may compromise lake ecosystem services that are provided by water quantity and quality. In this regard, an echohydrological approach provide a more concise support for Integrated Lake Basin Management (ILBM), considering the relationships of lake catchment, stakeholders and governance systems. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the hydrological flows to LTA under an ecohydrological approach, integrating catchment morphometry, hydrography, hydrology, and land use and land cover. Based on a georeferenced database, river discharge measurements and modeling, and hydrochemistry analysis of the tributary streams, loads of nutrients are obtained. Subbasins data are analyzed through multivariate statistical analysis (i.e., PCA) in relation to mentioned catchments features. The obtained results provide sound information of the influence and relationships of land use and morphometry on the different subbasins. Thus, providing valuable information for the sustainable management of the basin and propose ecohydrologycal responses for inflow nutrient abatement and improve freshwater inputs to lake ecosystem to ensure ecosystem services provided by LTA.A Lagoa Terra Alta (LTA) (A= 3.9 km2; Zmax= 22.1.m) e uma lagoa tropical natural localizada no Estado de Espírito Santo (Brasil) sendo uma das 90 lagoas que formam o distrito de Lagoas do Vale do Baixo Rio Doce (LVRD). A área da bacia da LTA e 144.7 km2 sendo composta por 8 sub-bacias e 7 cursos de água tributários. O uso do solo predominante é o pasto e numa dimensão menor a agricultura e a silvicultura de Eucalyptus. Não tem área urbana nem atividade industrial. A morfometria e usos do solo nas sub-bacias têm implicações nos processos hidrológicos na bacia, influindo os fluxos hidrológicos das lagoas rio abaixo. Por isso o conhecimento hidrológico e necessário para a gestão. LTA tem pressão direita da extração da agua para rega, também na extração nos cursos da água tributários, na construção de barragens e na introdução de nutrientes por fluxos naturais e antropogênicos (agricultura, gado, silvicultura). Essas pressões podem pôr em risco os serviços do ecossistema fornecidos pela qualidade e pela quantidade da água. Em relação, à Eco-hidrología, fornece um apoio mais conciso para a Gestão Integrada da Bacia da Lagoa (ILBM), considerando as relações na bacia da lagoa, as partes interessadas e os sistemas de governança. O principal objetivo deste trabalho é estudar os fluxos hidrográficos da LTA numa abordagem eco-hidrológica, integrando a morfometria, a hidrografia, a hidrologia e usos do solo. Baseado numa base de dados georreferençados, a vazão medida e modelada dos cursos da água, a analise hidroquímica dos mesmos, os fluxos hidrológicos são estimados. Cada sub-bacia é estudada com estatística multivariada (PCA) em relação às características hidrográficas mencionadas. Os resultados obtidos fornecem boa informação das influências e relacionamento do uso do solo e a morfologia com as sub-bacias. Assim, fornece informações valiosas para a gestão sustentável da bacia e propor atuações para garantir os serviços do ecossistema fornecidos pela LTA

Employee Perceptions About Participation in Decision-Making in the COVID Era and Its Impact on the Psychological Outcomes: A Case Study of a Cooperative in MONDRAGON (Basque Country, Spain)

This research aims to study possible effects or impacts of COVID-19 in the context of a democratic organizational system analyzing how COVID-19 has influenced employees’ perception of their participation in decision-making and its impact on some psychological outcomes and emotions. COVID-19 has accelerated the process of implementation of new frameworks at work (digitalization, teleworking, new skills, and abilities) that have generated the modification of culture and employee management practices. Our hypothesis are, on the one hand, that COVID-19 has generated changes in participation structures and internal communication mechanisms, having to make modifications not to deteriorate the perception of employees about their participation in decision making. On the other hand, COVID-19 has generated changes in the psychological outcomes and emotions of the employees. In the study, we analyze a cooperative belonging to the MONDRAGON cooperative group, where participation in decision-making and ownership is in its DNA. Through qualitative (5 focus groups) and quantitative (short questionnaire) methodologies, involving 42 employees, we investigate firstly, how COVID-19 has affected perceptions about participation in decision-making analyzing what role has played internal communication in these perceptions. Secondly, we investigate how COVID-19 has affected psychological outcomes and emotions. In this case, the perceptions arising from participation in decision-making focus on the assessment that participators make of the governance channels and the day-to-day meetings. Therefore, their appropriateness seems to be a key factor in the perception of participation in the COVID-19 era. Differences have been detected between the perceptions of blue and white collar employees. Such differences have also been founded in the psychological outcomes and emotions. Although this is a single case study, the analysis carried out provides elements of reflection to modify and restructure the decision-making and participation mechanisms, adapting them to the needs of blue and white collar employees in order to “guarantee” the expected outcomes

Revisión bibliográfica sobre usos pedagógicos de los códigos QR

Las TIC en su vertiente educativa ha abierto un abanico de posibilidades pedagógicas. Es nuestra labor analizar las propuestas de innovación educativa para comprobar que se traten de mejoras sustanciales y no de una mera cuestión de moda. Presentamos una revisión científica sobre la utilización de los códigos QR en la educación. Los artículos referidos al uso pedagógico de los códigos QR en las clases son escasos. Se han encontrado diversas ventajas del uso de códigos QR en las clases y realizamos una propuesta sobre la orientación de las futuras líneas de investigación que deben seguir el desarrollo de los códigos QR en su aplicación didáctica y pedagógica en el contexto educativo.Les TIC dins de les aules han obert un ventall de possibilitats pedagògiques. Es la nostra feina analitzar les propostes d’innovació educativa per a comprovar que és tracten de millores substancials i no d’una qüestió de moda. Presentem una revisió científica sobre l’utilització dels còdecs QR en educació. S’ha trobat diversos avantatges en l’ús de còdecs QR en les classes. Realitzem una proposta sobre les orientacions de les futures línies d’investigació que haurien de seguir el desenvolupament de l’investigació a dels còdecs QR en la seua aplicació didàctica i pedagògica.ICT in the educational aspect has opened a range of educational possibilities. It is our job to analyze the proposals of educational innovation to ensure that substantial improvements are addressed and not a mere matter of fashion. We present a scientific review of the use of QR codes in education. The articles on the pedagogical use of QR codes in the classroom are scarce. Found several advantages of using QR codes in the classroom and make a proposal on the direction of future research should follow the development of the QR codes in their educational and pedagogical application in the education context

Estabilidad laboral y productividad en el Grupo Eroski

Basándonos en un estudio de caso econométrico del Grupo Eroski, el objetivo de este trabajo es ver cómo afecta la seguridad en el trabajo en la productividad de la empresa, siendo el tipo de relación con la empresa (societaria, temporal o fijo por contratación ajena) la variable que refleja la seguridad laboral. Para ello se ha trabajado con una muestra de 433 supermercados y 73 hipermercados. Las características de la empresa y de los datos nos han ofrecido la oportunidad única de analizar un caso que cuenta con distintas estructuras jurídicas (sociedades anónimas, cooperativas y Gespa) dentro de un mismo grupo empresarial y con las mismas prácticas de recursos humanos. Los resultados muestran que la seguridad laboral influye positivamente en la productividad. No queda claro si los socios cooperativistas son más productivos que los socios Gespa o los trabajadores indefinidos de las sociedades anónimas, aunque los datos sugieren que los establecimientos bajo la forma jurídica de cooperativa son los más productivos

A Semiparametric Estimation of Liquidity Effects on Option Pricing

This paper proposes a semiparametric option pricing model with liquidity, as proxied by the relative bid-ask spread. The nonparametric volatility function with liquidity as an explanatory variable is estimated using the Symmetrized Nearest Neighbors (SNN) estimator rather than the traditional kernel estimator. Moreover, special care is taken in obtaining the smoothing parameter. The in-sample performance of the model turns out to be statistically favorable relative to a competing model without liquidity. However, the out-of-sample performance of both models is quite disappointing despite the fact that we are not to reject the stability of risk-neutral densities estimated over different quarters during our sample period.Eva Ferreira and Gonzalo Rubio acknowledge the financial support provided by Dirección Interministerial Científica y Técnica (DGICYT) grants PB95-0346 and PB97-0621 respectively

The link between HIWPs and well-being at work: the mediating role of trust

Purpose – This paper examines the extent to which investment in human capital (HC) influences employee well-being, focusing on companies in the Basque Country in Northern Spain. Specifically, it analyzes the effects of worker perceptions of high-involvement work system (HIWS) on job satisfaction (JS) and affective commitment (AC), directly and through the mediating role of trust in management. This trust mediating role was also explored by analyzing the isolated effects of high-involvement work processes (power, information, reward and knowledge [PIRK] enhancing practices) on JS and AC. Design/methodology/approach – The structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used on a sample of 2,199 employees from 425 organizations working in different industries. As the study was performed at the organizational level, aggregation was conducted first. Findings – The findings revealed that trust partially mediated the relationship between HIWS and JS, although AC was directly predicted by the system. In contrast, a trust mediating role was confirmed in the relationship between all PIRK processes, JS and AC. Originality/value –This study highlights the “hinge”role of trust in linking high-involvement work practices (HIWPs) as an approach to assess HC in organizations and well-being at work. It further conceptualizes HIWS via a PIRK model and operationalizes it through systemic and dimensional approach

Estabilidad laboral y productividad en el Grupo Eroski

Based on an econometric case study of the Eroski Group, the objective of this study is to examine the relationship between job security and organizational productivity. Eroski organizes its operations in three different legal structures (Cooperative, GESPA, Conventional firm). Type of contract, is our proxy for job security. We draw on a sample of 433 supermarkets and 73 hypermarkets, whose legal/organizational characteristics and other data offer a unique opportunity to analyze different legal structures and levels of job security within the same business group and the same human resources practices. Results show that job security is positively related to productivity. It is not clear if Eroski co-op workermembers are more productive than partial employee-owners or non-owner employees with long-term contracts in Eroski’s conventional subsidiaries, though the data do indicate that Eroski cooperatives are more productive than its other legal structures.Basándonos en un estudio de caso econométrico del Grupo Eroski, el objetivo de este trabajo es ver cómo afecta la seguridad en el trabajo en la productividad de la empresa, siendo el tipo de relación con la empresa (societaria, temporal o fijo por contratación ajena) la variable que refleja la seguridad laboral. Para ello se ha trabajado con una muestra de 433 supermercados y 73 hipermercados. Las características de la empresa y de los datos nos han ofrecido la oportunidad única de analizar un caso que cuenta con distintas estructuras jurídicas (sociedades anónimas, cooperativas y Gespa) dentro de un mismo grupo empresarial y con las mismas prácticas de recursos humanos. Los resultados muestran que la seguridad laboral influye positivamente en la productividad. No queda claro si los socios cooperativistas son más productivos que los socios Gespa o los trabajadores indefinidos de las sociedades anónimas, aunque los datos sugieren que los establecimientos bajo la forma jurídica de cooperativa son los más productivos