Types of agglomeration economies: effects on business innovation

A review of the literature does not provide conclusive results about the effects caused by firm agglomeration on innovation. In order to shed light on this issue, this paper draws a distinction among three kinds of agglomeration economies and empirically tests their respective impact on business innovation. The advantage that external knowledge generated through concentration can bring to each company depends on its absorptive capacity. Hence, it is posited that this dynamic capability acts as a mediator in the relationship between agglomeration and innovation. Using data from a survey conducted in 2013 by the Technological Innovation Panel (PITEC), an analysis of these ideas was performed using a sample of 2,906 high and medium-high technology companies. The results obtained indicate that several types of agglomeration economies exist and that the net effect each one of them has on innovation is different. More specifically, only urbanization economies favor innovation. Additionally, all of our findings reveal that firms increase their greater absorptive capacity in the context of agglomeration

Localización en parques científico-tecnológicos, capacidades dinámicas e innovación empresarial

Entre las características de los parques científico-tecnológicos (PCT) destacan la proximidad que existe entre las empresas y otras instituciones y el surgimiento de redes de colaboración, las cuales favorecen la generación de flujos de conocimiento externo que pueden aprovechar las empresas para innovar y ser más competitivas. Sin embargo, por el hecho de localizarse en un PCT, una empresa no tiene garantizado el aprovechamiento de dichas ventajas, ya que ello también dependerá de sus propias capacidades individuales. A partir de una muestra de 610 empresas de alta tecnología con datos procedentes del PITEC, los resultados de este estudio determinan que la innovación empresarial está influida positivamente por la localización en un PCT y por las capacidades individuales de absorción y de dirección de alianzas, cuyo desarrollo también mejora al mismo tiempo en el contexto de los PCT.Two of the main characteristics of the science and technology parks (STPs) are the proximity between companies and other institutions and the rise of collaborative networks. These features promote external knowledge flows that can be used by firms in their innovation strategies in order to be more competitive. However, the location in a STP does not warrant the use of these advantages by companies located in them, which depends on individual dynamics capabilities. Considering a sample of 610 high-tech companies with data from PITEC, the results of this study show that innovation is positively influenced by the location in a STP and by dynamic capabilities, like absorptive and alliance management capacities, whose development is also improved in the context of STPs

The paradox between means and end: workforce nationality diversity and a strategic CSR approach to avoid greenwashing in tourism accommodations

This paper provides tourism companies with new solutions to enhance sustainable value creation through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), following a triple bottom line approach. We consider the driving role of workforce nationality diversity (WND) on CSR, and we highlight the role of a strategic CSR orientation as a mediator in the CSR-performance relationship. We apply the PLS-SEM technique to 202 coastal accommodations in Spain that make up the study sample. The results show a positive direct effect between WND and CSR practices. Furthermore, when accommodations integrate their CSR actions into the corporate strategy through a strategic CSR orientation, the bottom-line effects of CSR activities are enhanced. We draw useful conclusions for both managers and academics in the sector. First, we extend the traditional economic focus on WND to the analysis of its benefits for CSR. This encourages companies to take advantage of their classic diversity characteristic to improve the development of their responsible practices. Second, we highlight the need to integrate CSR actions into the core business of the company to create value and to avoid the practices of greenwashing and greenhushing

Exploratory and co-exploratory innovation. The mediating role of digitalization on competitiveness in the hotel industry

Tourism plays a fundamental role in the economy of many countries and its growth is driven by the capacity of the tourism industry to offer new products and experiences. To compete efficiently, tourism firms need to be innovative, either through increasing their efficiency or by offering new high-quality products capable of satisfying customer demands. The complexity of the tourism environment highlights the need to understand innovation patterns that contribute to improving competitiveness in tourism firms, especially in the hotel industry. Therefore, the objective of this study is twofold. First, analyze the relationship between innovation processes and competitiveness in the hotel industry. Second, study whether digitalization in the hotel industry influences the innovation-competitiveness relationship. Following an exhaustive literature review, we develop a research model with four hypotheses, which are tested through PLS on a population of 322 Spanish hotels with at least 3 stars. The results show that innovation activities alone do not increase hotel competitiveness and that hotels should digitalize their activities in order to capitalize on innovation efforts towards efficient processes and differentiated services

Green ambidexterity and environmental performance: The role of green human resources

Recent literature in the domain of environmental management suggests that employees' behavior is vital to enhance environmental performance. Despite this, little effort has been made to study how human resource management is linked with the environmental performance. Even less attention has been given to a joint consideration of green innovation and green human resources management and their contribution to environmental performance. The purpose of the current study is to investigate the interrelationship between green high performance work system (GPWS) and environmental performance through the mediation of green ambidexterity. A variance-based structural equation modeling (partial least squares) was applied to a sample of Spanish hotel firms. The results indicate that GHPWS facilitate the development of green ambidexterity, and that this variable contributes to improved environmental performance. The results of this study make several contributions to the GHRM and green ambidexterity literature, as well as practical contributions for managers

Decisiones de localización y economías de aglomeración: empresas domésticas y extranjeras

The international expansion of multinational enterprises (MNEs) is one of the topics most frequently discussed amongst international business scholars. In particular, decisions regarding firm location and its effects on performance have received great attention. The results obtained in the study about this relationship are inconclusive, though, since a large number of studies have been conducted from very different perspectives. One of these perspectives suggests that the location in agglomerations allows MNEs to benefit from potential knowledge spillovers encouraging innovation and local adaptation. However, this co-location increases the risk of imitation by domestic companies as well. Furthermore, the acquisition by each firm of the external knowledge generated by means of concentration depends on its internal capabilities, and especially on its absorptive capacity. The aim sought with this work consists in analyzing the location decisions adopted by MNEs in an attempt to clarify the following issues: Are MNEs more likely to be established in agglomerations? Which companies benefit the most from geographical proximity in terms of innovation, domestic or foreign ones? What is the role of absorptive capacity? The results obtained in the analysis, carried out with a sample of firms and using data from a survey conducted in 2013 by PITEC, reveal the differences between foreign and local companies when it comes to using external knowledge.La expansión internacional de las empresas multinacionales (EMNs) constituye uno de los tópicos más analizados por los académicos e investigadores. En particular, una línea de investigación que ha recibido gran atención es la relativa a las decisiones sobre localización y sus efectos sobre la rentabilidad empresarial A pesar de este interés y como consecuencia de la diversidad de perspectivas adoptadas, los resultados sobre la relación entre localización y rentabilidad no son concluyentes. Una de estas perspectivas sugiere que la localización en aglomeraciones permite a la EMN beneficiarse de los flujos de conocimiento que allí se generan, lo cual facilita la innovación y la adaptación local. Sin embargo, la co-localización también aumenta el riesgo para las EMNs de ser imitadas por las empresas domésticas. Además, para cada compañía la adquisición del conocimiento externo generado con la concentración empresarial depende de sus capacidades internas, especialmente su capacidad de absorción. En este contexto, el objetivo de este trabajo consiste en analizar las decisiones de localización adoptadas por EMNs con la intención de clarificar los siguientes aspectos: ¿Tienden las EMNs a localizarse en aglomeraciones empresariales? ¿Qué empresas se benefician más de la proximidad geográfica en términos de innovación, las domésticas o las multinacionales extranjeras? ¿Qué papel juega la capacidad de absorción? Los resultados obtenidos en el análisis, el cual ha sido realizado con una muestra de empresas a partir de la base de datos del PITEC 2013, revelan las diferencias existentes entre las empresas multinacionales y locales en lo que se refiere al uso del conocimiento externo generado con las aglomeraciones

A Literature Review on the Effect of Industrial Clusters and the Absorptive Capacity on Innovation

In recent decades, the analysis of the effects of clustering as an essential factor for the development of innovations and the competitiveness of enterprises has raised great interest in different areas. Nowadays, companies have access to almost all tangible and intangible resources located and/or developed in any country in the world. However, despite the obvious advantages that this situation entails for companies, their geographical location has shown itself, increasingly clearly, to be a fundamental factor that positively influences their innovative performance and competitiveness. Industrial clusters could represent a unique level of analysis, positioned between the individual company and the industry, which makes them an ideal unit of analysis to determine the effects derived from company membership of a cluster. Also, the absorptive capacity (hereinafter 'AC') can mediate the process of innovation development by companies located in a cluster. The transformation and exploitation of knowledge could have a mediating effect between knowledge acquisition and innovative performance. The main objective of this work is to determine the key factors that affect the degree of generation and use of knowledge from the environment by companies and, consequently, their innovative performance and competitiveness. The elements analyzed are the companies' membership of a cluster and the AC. To this end, 30 most relevant papers published on this subject in the "Web of Science" database have been reviewed. Our findings show that, within a cluster, the knowledge coming from the companies' environment can significantly influence their innovative performance and competitiveness, although in this relationship, the degree of access and exploitation of the companies to this knowledge plays a fundamental role, which depends on a series of elements both internal and external to the company

El proceso de elaboración y tutorización de los TFG y TFM a examen

Dentro del trabajo de coordinación y tutorización de los trabajos fin de grado y trabajos fin de master (TFG/TFM), esta memoria refleja el trabajo realizado por una red docente para: a) elaborar una ficha de seguimiento que facilite la acción de guía, apoyo y asesoramiento del tutor con cada uno de sus alumnos tutorizados y b) conocer la opinión y grado de satisfacción del alumnado sobre el proceso de desarrollo del TFG/TFM, la labor del centro y el programa formativo, la función del tutor asignado, y la satisfacción general con el trabajo. Para ello se ha elaborado una ficha de seguimiento y se ha pasado una encuesta on-line a los alumnos de las titulaciones de ADE, Economía, Turismo, Relaciones Laborales y Recursos Humanos y GAP que han desarrollado el trabajo en las convocatorias C3 y C4 del curso académico 2013-2014. Con ello se pretende iniciar un proceso de seguimiento y mejora de este nuevo instrumento formativo y evaluativo del alumno, el TFG/TFM, con el que tanto docentes como alumnos vamos a tener que trabajar en los próximos años. De este modo, esta memoria refleja el inicio de una investigación encaminada a una mejor comprensión y análisis de este instrumento evaluativo

Análisis del proceso de elaboración y tutorización de los TFG y TFM

Esta comunicación refleja el trabajo realizado por una red docente para, por una parte, elaborar una ficha de seguimiento que facilite la acción de guía, apoyo y asesoramiento del tutor con cada uno de sus alumnos tutorizados en los trabajos de fin de grado y trabajos de fin de máster (TFG/TFM). Por otra parte, también se ha pretendido conocer la opinión y grado de satisfacción del alumnado sobre el proceso de desarrollo del TFG/TFM, la labor del centro y el programa formativo, la función del tutor asignado, y la satisfacción general con el trabajo. Para ello se ha elaborado una ficha de seguimiento y se ha pasado una encuesta on-line a los alumnos de seis titulaciones que han desarrollado el trabajo en las convocatorias C3 y C4 del curso académico 2013-2014. Con ello se pretende iniciar un proceso de seguimiento y mejora de este nuevo instrumento formativo y evaluativo del alumno, el TFG/TFM, con el que tanto docentes como alumnos van a tener que trabajar en los próximos años

Implantación de la evaluación continua en los títulos de grado

Esta comunicación refleja el trabajo realizado por una red docente para elaborar las guías docentes de cuatro asignaturas nuevas de grado y conocer la opinión del alumnado sobre la implantación de la evaluación continua propia de los títulos de grado. Se muestra, por una parte, el proceso colaborativo para la elaboración de cuatro guías docentes del departamento de Organización de Empresas que se han implantado en el curso académico 2013-14, junto con la elaboración de material docente para dichas asignaturas. A su vez, se analiza la encuesta realizada al alumnado en una asignatura para conocer su opinión sobre el proceso de evaluación continua que estamos estableciendo en las nuevas asignaturas de grado. Esta opinión nos ha servido para ajustar mejor los procesos de evaluación