Preparatory and field work phases in the qualitative empirical research process in management: the case studies approach

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to promote qualitative methodology within the scientific community of management. The specific objective is oriented to propose an empirical research process based on case study method. This is to ensure rigor in the empirical research process, that future research may follow a similar procedure to that is proposed. Design/methodology/approach: Following a qualitative methodological approach, we propose a research process that develops according to four phases, each with several stages. This study analyses the preparatory and field work phases and their stages. Findings: The paper shows the influence that case studies have on qualitative empirical research process in management. Originality/value:. Case study method assumes an important role within qualitative research by allowing for the study and analysis of certain types of phenomena that occur inside organisations, and in respect of which quantitative studies cannot provide an answer

The importance of qualitative methodology in management empirical research

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to highlight the importance of qualitative research within the scope of management scientific studies, referring to its philosophy, nature and instruments. It also confronts it with quantitative methodology, approaching its differences as well as its complementariness and synergies, with the purpose of explaining, from a more analytic point of view, the relevance of qualitative methodology in the course of an authentic and real research despite its complexity. Design/methodology/approach: Regardless of its broad application, one may attest the scarcity literature that focuses on qualitative research applied to the management scientific area, as opposed to the large amount that refers to quantitative research. Findings: The paper shows the influence that qualitative research has on management scientific research. Originality/value:. Qualitative research assumes an important role within qualitative research by allowing for the study and analysis of certain types of phenomena that occur inside organisations, and in respect of which quantitative studies cannot provide an answer

From intention to entrepreneurial action: Assessing the impact of the barriers on the creation of new organizations

Purpose – This paper aims to contribute to the explanatory debate of the entrepreneurial intention-action gap that results from the interposition of normative-regulatory, sociocultural and economic-financial barriers facing potential and intending entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach – Grounded on post-positivist position, the authors propose a quantitative approach, surveying 569 potential and intending entrepreneurs from a longitudinal and stratified sample of 22 years. Findings – The economic-financial barrier is the most important, followed by the sociocultural except in the period in which access to banking financial support is facilitated, where the order is reversed. The impact of the normative-regulatory barrier is statistically relevant, but irrelevant on the magnitude. The results also allow us to conclude that a lower development of the project accentuates the entrepreneurial intention-action gap and, finally, support the existence of a medium/long-term temporal relation between entrepreneurial intention and entrepreneurial action. Research limitations/implications – From an empirical standpoint, the sample was limited to potential and pretending entrepreneurs from one national institution and one country. This limits the scope of generalization. Further studies in multiple contexts should be undertaken. Practical implications – The study points to contradictory results with the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor – Portuguese Reports, which, if confirmed, require the reformulation of Portuguese national policies in the promotion and development of entrepreneurial activities. Originality/value – The study is novel by providing new insights about entrepreneurship and the entrepreneurial intention-action gap

Linking brand and competitive advantage: The mediating effect of positioning and market orientation

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between brand and competitive advantage (through differentiation) and the mediating effect of positioning and market orientation in this relationship. An empirical study was developed using a quantitative methodological approach. The object of the study was Portuguese exporting companies in the footwear industry, to which a questionnaire survey was applied. The results show that (1) brand has a significant direct impact on positioning and market orientation and competitive advantage through differentiation, (2) competitive advantage through differentiation is directly impacted by positioning, (3) market orientation does not have a significant direct impact on competitive advantage through differentiation, and (4) positioning has a mediating effect on the relationship between brand and competitive advantage through differentiation, and market orientation does not have on it.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Contributions of Absorptive Capabilities to Export Performance

The processes for absorbing external knowledge became an essential element for firms to adapt to changes in the competitive environment. Knowledge plays an important role in firms’ internationalization process. Building on well established theories, our research explores the contributions of absorptive capacities to export performance.This research adopted a quantitative methodological approach, conducting a descriptive, exploratory and transversal empirical study, having applied a questionnaire to a sample of Portuguese companies exporting footwear.Based on survey data from 42 firms, our empirical results indicate that absorptive capacities have a positive and significant influence on export performance, and that the capacities that most contribute to this end are knowledge exploitation, transformation and general knowledge acquisition.This study provide guidance to business practitioners because they indicate which absorptive capacities are the best predictors for export success.While previous authors have attempted to analyse certain aspects of this process (linkage between absorptive capacities and export performance), this research developed an analysis that proposes an exploratory model of the constructs studied in the Portuguese footwear industry

Assessing the Relationship Between Entrepreneurial Orientation, Reputational Resources and Absorptive Capability: A Resource-Based Approach

Building on well established theories, our research explores the influence of entrepreneurial orientation on reputational resources and absorptive capacity of knowledge exploitation of Portuguese small and medium enterprises (SMEs) of footwear associated to the Portuguese Footwear, Components and Leather Goods Association (APICCAPS).Therefore, a quantitative methodological approach was used, conducting a descriptive, exploratory and transversal empirical study, having applied a questionnaire to a sample of Portuguese SMEs.Based on survey data from 42 firms, our empirical results indicate that globally entrepreneurial orientation have a positive and significant influence on knowledge exploitation and that the entrepreneurial orientation’s dimensions that most contribute to this end are innovation and risk-taking.Moreover, the processes for exploitation of reputational resources and knowledge became an essential element for firms to adapt to changes in the competitive environment. The exploitation of this resources and capacities should be undertaken with innovation, proactivity and risk-taking

Linking transformational leadership and organisation commitment

The main goal of this paper is to analyse the impacts of transformational leadership on organisational commitment. To this effect we developed a case study following a quantitative methodological approach. The research was conducted at the Serralves Foundation (Porto, Portugal) to empirically test the proposed research model and its hypothesis. The empirical results confirm that transformational leadership are not significantly influenced by commitment. As the main limitation of this study we highlight the fact that it does not consider the leaders’ perspective on their subordinates’ behaviour

Impactos das capacidades absorvidas no desempenho das exportações: estudo de caso das PME da indústria portuguesa do calçado

O objetivo fundamental deste estudo é analisar o impacto das capacidades absortivas no desempenho das exportações. Para o efeito, partindo da revisão da literatura sobre as temáticas estudadas, realizamos uma investigação quantitativa, através de um inquérito por questionário enviado aos responsáveis pela exportação de empresas da indústria portuguesa do calçado associadas da Associação Portuguesa dos Industriais de Calçado, Componentes, Artigos em Pele e seus Sucedâneos (APICCAPS). Confirmamos o impacto positivo e significativo das capacidades absortivas no desempenho das emportações, sendo que as capacidades que mais contribuem para esse efeito são a exploração de conhecimento e a transformação de conhecimento

Determinantes estratégicos do desempenho das exportações: o papel da vantagem competitiva

Este estudo tem como objetivo fundamental analisar o papel que a vantagem competitiva assume na relação da orientação empreendedora, dos recursos e das capacidades com o desempenho das exportações das pequenas e médias empresas portuguesas exportadoras da indústria do calçado. Adicionalmente esta investigação tem como objetivos específicos: 1) propor e testar um modelo que analise as relações existentes entre os referidos determinantes, a vantagem competitiva e o desempenho das exportações e 2) analisar de que forma a vantagem competitiva influencia a adoção de determinadas estratégias de internacionalização. Neste âmbito, procedemos à revisão da literatura das temáticas objeto de análise, para posteriormente, realizarmos um estudo empírico quantitativo, descritivo e exploratório. Assim, tendo em vista o alcance dos objetivos propostos, a abordagem metodológica basear-se-á na adoção da metodologia quantitativa para a prossecução do presente trabalho

Entrepreneurial Orientation and Firm Performance

This chapter assesses the important contribution of entrepreneurial orientation’s strategic determinant that influences export performance. Based on survey data from 247 Portuguese small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), findings suggest that entrepreneurial orientation has a positive and significant influence on export performance. This study deepens our understanding and provides novel insights into entrepreneurship and strategic management literature, since it combines multiple factors and has obtained the importance of each construct in SMEs business growth. Moreover, this chapter presents further evidences of the strategies that small firm managers should pursue and policy makers should promote