Evidence regarding external financing in manufacturing MSEs using partial least squares regression

The purpose of this study is to explore and explain the relationship between networking, external financing by banks and equity investors, and export effort in medium sized enterprises. Our research model was empirically tested on a sample of 143 MSEs in the manufacturing sector and our PLS results do not confirm the existence of a direct association between networking and export effort by MSEs. They show, however, that networking indirectly enhances MSEs’ export effort through facilitating their access to equity financing and reducing managerial risks. Whilst networking are not found to be associated with a higher access to bank financing by MSEs, this type of external financing seems to have a greater impact on export effort than equity financing. This research it is one of the first studies to explore the role of networking with stakeholders in facilitating MSEs’ access to external financing and to international markets and to merge these variables in a single model which consider simultaneously the MSE access to bank financing and to equity financing. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Evidence regarding external financing in manufacturing MSEs using partial least squares regression. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10479-019-03291-

Sustainable consumption behaviours in P2P accommodation platforms: an exploratory study

This paper examines how sustainable consumption behaviours are assembled in peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, based on four factors—services portfolio complexity, network membership, reputation and innovative practices—and its impact on P2P platform performance. Using data from one P2P accommodation platform in Romania and based on 2556 observations, we tested the research hypothesis using ordinary least squares regression. Specifically, services portfolio complexity positively influences sustainable consumption behaviours, while network membership has a negative influence. Services portfolio complexity has a positive influence on sustainable consumption behaviours when innovative practices are high. Finally, sustainable consumption behaviours positively influence P2P platform performance. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Soft Computing. The final authenticated version is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00500-020-04681-6

Impact of artificial intelligence and blockchain on supply chain resilience under influence of change management

Emerging technologies such as big data analytics, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and blockchain have revolutionized management in the 21st century. However, concepts such as supply chain resilience are still given high importance, especially in the current conditions when the complexity of economic activities and the uncertainties of the environment are increasing. Cyber-attacks, humanitarian crises, pandemics or ecological disasters, all of these put the resilience of companies to the test. Consequently, in this study we empirically analyse artificial intelligence and blockchain to determine their role in the supply chain resilience. After using structural equation modelling to analyse a sample of 197 medium-size enterprises from Romanian manufacturing sector, we found that most of the initial hypotheses are validated and the results are congruent with previous research carried out in the field

The same but different: Understanding entrepreneurial behaviour in disadvantaged communities

While entrepreneurship is widely viewed as being equally accessible in all contexts, it could be questioned if potential or nascent entrepreneurs from minority and disadvantaged communities experience entrepreneurship in a similar manner to the mainstream population. This chapter examines immigrant, people with disability, youth, gay and unemployed communities to explore how their entrepreneurial behaviour might differ from the practices of mainstream entrepreneurs. What emerges is that marginalised communities can frequently find it difficult to divorce business from social living. This can have both positive and negative connotations for an entrepreneur, plus they face additional and distinctive challenges that mainstream entrepreneurs do not experience. The chapter concludes by proposing a novel ‘funnel approach’ that policymakers might adopt when seeking to introduce initiatives targeted at these disadvantaged communities

Analysis of Social Media Impact on Opportunity Recognition. A Social Networks and Entrepreneurial Alertness Mixed Approach

This paper investigates the effects of social media on entrepreneurial opportunity recognition. Combining the internal and external approaches of opportunity recognition, the study analyzes how social media influences the entrepreneurs in discovering new entrepreneurial opportunities. Structural equation modeling was used in this study, using the variance-based partial least squares (PLS)–structural equation modeling (SEM), on a sample of 354 entrepreneurs. We concluded that social media directly and positively influences entrepreneurial opportunity recognition while entrepreneurial alertness (internal approach) and social networks (external approach) partially mediates its indirect effects on entrepreneurial opportunity recognition. The study contributes to the existing literature by bringing new insights into the entrepreneurial opportunity recognition process by focusing on a poorly represented factor in the literature, social medi

Innovation ambidexterity and impact on the performance in IT companies: the moderating role of business experience

This study aims to examine the relation between innovation ambidexterity and organisational performance and the moderating effect of business experience on a sample of IT companies. Various authors pointed out the necessity to analyse not only explorative and exploitative innovation separately, but also their combined effects on organisational performance. These effects are assessed by using polynomial regressions in testing the research hypotheses. Business experience contributes to important differences in both the quantity and quality of resources available, which are critical for innovation. With only a handful of papers specifically addressing business experience in the context of innovation ambidexterity, this study fills a major research gap. The findings demonstrate the positive influence of innovation ambidexterity on organisational performance. In terms of business experience, the findings show that in new ventures it moderates the relation between innovation ambidexterity and organisational performance, while in established companies no relation was found. Business experience is rarely used to explain interactions between innovation and performance and, as such, we provide new insights on how both new ventures and established companies make use of business experience in their innovation approaches

Influence of blockchain adoption on technology transfer, performance and supply chain integration, exibility and responsiveness. A case study from IT&C medium size enterprises

In this manuscript we intend to analyze how blockchain technology can improve supply chain variables and technology transfer in medium-sized enterprises from IT&C sector. Blockchain technology is expected to enhance the velocity and reliability of business and managerial processes and increase competitiveness for IT&C companies. We sought to see if these combined elements lead to the generation of competitive advantage, which in turn influences the firm performance. Based on the study of relevant literature, we developed a conceptual and methodological framework and test it on 383 medium-sized companies from IT&C sector, using the Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The results of the study show that blockchain technology positively influences supply chain variables and technology transfer, with direct effects on the firm performanc

Does Death Anxiety Inhibit Product Innovation? An Exploratory Study in Small Manufacturing Companies

The study analyzed the entrepreneurs’ choice for explorative and exploitative innovation and their effects on product innovation. Death anxiety, a psychological factor, is analyzed as it is assumed to be important in mediating the relationship between explorative or exploitative innovation and product innovation. A sample of 60 entrepreneurs from small manufacturing companies was analyzed in three waves over three consecutive years, while the data was analyzed using PLS-SEM. Empirical evidence supports the assumption that entrepreneurs’ fear of death partially mediates explorative and exploitative innovation influence on product innovation. The findings show that death anxiety is negatively affecting explorative innovation, with negative effects for radical innovation, and positively influencing exploitative innovation, supporting incremental innovation. The effects may be far reaching, only if considering the current SARS-COV-2 epidemics, which may radically change not only the social landscape, but also the way the entrepreneurs are substantiating their decisions

Sustainable consumption behaviours in P2P accommodation platforms: an exploratory study

This paper examines how sustainable consumption behaviours are assembled in peer-to-peer (P2P) platforms, based on four factors—services portfolio complexity, network membership, reputation and innovative practices—and its impact on P2P platform performance. Using data from one P2P accommodation platform in Romania and based on 2556 observations, we tested the research hypothesis using ordinary least squares regression. Specifically, services portfolio complexity positively influences sustainable consumption behaviours, while network membership has a negative influence. Services portfolio complexity has a positive influence on sustainable consumption behaviours when innovative practices are high. Finally, sustainable consumption behaviours positively influence P2P platform performance

Influence of blockchain adoption on technology transfer, performance and supply chain integration, flexibility and responsiveness. A case study from IT&C medium size enterprises

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