Mapping the emergence of a new organisational form: An exploration of the intellectual structure of the B Corp research

This paper explores the emergence of B Corp as a new research field through a bibliometric analysis of the B Corp literature, based on a database of 142 documents collected by Scopus and published between 2009 and 2020. This emergent field is an important component of the structural change occurring in our society, which, in recent years, has seen the emergence of new for-profit organisational forms with a strong social consciousness. The bibliometric analysis reveals the foundational works and the historical evolution of the research field, pinpointing the connections between similar concepts in the literature on sustainable enterprises, such as B Corp, hybrid organisation, benefit corporation, and corporate social responsibility. Through a social network analysis, we sustain a relational view of B Corp research, and propose a taxonomy of concepts and terminology, which shows that the concept of B Corp defines an emergent organisational form

Exaptive innovation in constraint-based environments: lessons from COVID-19 crisis

Purpose – This paper explores how exaptive innovation process might be considered a useful innovation model in constraint-based environments. Through an in-depth case study, it illustrates clearly the antecedents of exaptation processes, which are particularly relevant in rapidly changing environments requiring new solutions under time and resource constraints. Design/methodology/approach – The authors adopt a single case study approach that is particularly suitable in case of an inductive research design, which is required because of the novelty of the topic. The research is inspired by the use of the snorkeling mask EASYBREATH, commercialized by the giant Decathlon, as a medical device, a respirator to treat patients affected by coronavirus in Italy. The authors organized the evidence according to a novel taxonomy grounded in the literature. Findings – The case study stimulates reflections on the existence of some antecedents to the exaptive innovation process in constraint-based environments: (1) the availability of specific actors in the innovation process; (2) the creation of platforms of interaction between people with different competences, nurtured by collective bottom-up financing systems; (3) the role of the community of makers, in particular, and of the 4th industrial revolution, in general, for creating enabling technologies; (4) multidisciplinary individual background of key actors in the innovation process is crucial to ensure the exaptive path to be in place. Research limitations/implications – This work has some limitations, due to the choice of limiting the analysis to a single case, nevertheless, it offers a first glance on a new technological trajectory available in constraint-based environments. Originality/value – The case study results underline the importance of new digital collaboration platforms as knowledge multipliers, and illuminate on the potential of the fourth manufacturing revolution, which, through new technologies, creates opportunities for distributed forms of innovation that cross long distances

Social issue applied to energy sector: from Corporate Social Responsibility to collective switching

This thesis explores the social themes in the energy sector. In the two papers the social aspect is declined in different ways: the first paper “A multidimensional analysis of the relationship between firms’ Corporate Social Responsibility activities and their economic performance” investigates the relationship between CSR and economic performance, taking into account the firms’ specificities, The previous studies, in fact, analysed this relationship without considering the sector in which the firm operates. We believe that the CSR activities depend on the company nature, its size, the types and characteristics of products or services it delivers, the organisation of its work and so on. The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between CSR and economic performance, taking into account company and sectorial specificities and distinguishing across financial and accounting measures in a dynamic way. The second paper, “Policy innovation in the energy sector: exploring the role of intermediaries in European collective switching campaigns”, analyses a policy innovation developed by the consumer association, focused on consumer protection.The “social theme”, investigated in the second paper regards the consumer protection during the energy supplier switch. A large number of empirical studies affirm that the 27%-38% of suppliers switches lost surplus through their confusion with the choice of supplier. The energy market in fact, especially after the liberalization process, has become increasingly difficult to understand for consumers. Marketing strategy, offer packages, additional service development generate consumer confusion on the energy price. Some consumer associations, in different countries, developed a policy innovation, the collective switching, with the aim to solve this problem and to stimulate the energy retail market that is dominated in most cases by big retailers, which possess the majority of the market share

Relazioni Università-Imprese-Territorio (UI): quali criticità?

In this paper we explore the main critical issues of the university firms’ collaborations through in-depth interviews with 12 “excellent” firms founded by former students of the University of Padua. From the results it emerges that the university can give an overview, to develop critical thinking, but in the case of joint projects there is a misalignment between timing and object of analysis between UIs collaboration, which leads either to the failure to form the partnership, in the case where this misalignment emerges from the definition phase, or the development of unsuccessful partnerships, in the case where this occurs in later stages. Businesses need to be more involved in the university fabric, and internships and placements cannot be considered the only link between UIs. Personal contacts should be more structured, and in this case a crucial role can be played by the association Alumni and Unismart - the University of Padua Foundation established to promote Technology Transfer and Post-graduate Educatio

Investigating Circular Behavior Adoption across Gen Z: The Role of Perceived Value and Environmental Consciousness

This research explores Gen Z consumers in the context of the circular economy (Ce). Building on generational cohort theory (Gct), the study investigates to what extent Gen Z perceptions of circular products (Cps) and the level of their environmental consciousness influence their propensity to adopt circular behaviors. Primary data from 130 respondents through a structured web survey were collected across the main social media platforms. A factor analysis identifying the main Ce-related loops (i.e. slowing, dematerializing, intensifying) along with an Ols model was performed. The results exhibit a positive relationship between Gen Z perceptions of Cps and the slowing and intensifying loops, while environmental consciousness is positively related to dematerializing and slowing loops. The study suggests valuable insights for both managers and scholars operating in the Ce domai

The phylogenetic and evolutionary history of Kokobera virus.

Abstract Objective To estimate the genetic diversity of Kokobera virus, the date of origin and the spread among different viruses in the endemic regions of Australia. Methods Two datasets were built. The first consisting of 29 sequences of the NS5/3′ UTR region of Kokobera group downloaded from GenBank, the second including only 24 sequences of Kokobera viruses, focus is on this group. Results Bayesian time analysis revealed two different entries in Australia of Kokobera virus in the 50s years with the dated ancestor in 1861 year. Clades A and B showed a clear separation of the Kokobera sequences according to the geographic region. Conclusions Data from the study showed as Kokobera virus, despite of its ancient origin and its circulation before the European colonization, remained limited to the Australian country and nowadays limited mostly to the regions were Australian marsupials are mostly found

Sistemas de ecuaciones lineales con parámetros un enfoque dinámico

Uno de contenidos más importantes del Álgebra y la Geometría Analítica, para estudiantes de primer año de carreras de Ingeniería, es sistemas de ecuaciones lineales. En este trabajo presentamos una propuesta de enseñanza de sistemas de ecuaciones lineales desarrollada en el marco de una investigación, que utiliza como recurso escenas dinámicas construidas con GeoGebra ®. Esta herramienta ofrece la posibilidad de utilizar diferentes representaciones (algebraica, geométrica, numérica) de uno o más objetos en forma simultánea. Nuestro objetivo es favorecer en los alumnos el pasaje entre registros de representación semiótica, del algorítmico al verbal y/o del gráfico al algebraico, competencia que consideramos necesaria para “apropiarse” de un objeto matemático

Soil microarthropod communities from Mediterranean forest ecosystems in Central Italy under different disturbances

The aim of this study is to assess soil quality in Mediterranean forests of Central Italy, from evergreen to deciduous, with different types of management (coppice vs. high forest vs. secondary old growth) and compaction impacts (machinery vs. recreational). Soil quality was evaluated studying soil microarthropod communities and applying a biological index (QBS-ar) based on the concept that the higher is the soil quality, the higher will be the number of microarthropod groups well adapted to the soil habitat. Our results confirm that hardwood soils are characterised by the highest biodiversity level among growth) and compaction impacts (machinery vs. recreational). terrestrial communities and by a well-structured and mature microarthropod community, which is typical of stable ecosystems (QBS value, >200). While silvicultural practices and forest composition do not seem to influence QBS-ar values or microarthropod community structure, the index is very efficient in detecting soil impacts (soil compaction due to logging activities). Several taxa (Protura, Diplura, Coleoptera adults, Pauropoda, Diplopoda, Symphyla, Chilopoda, Diptera larvae and Opiliones) react negatively to soil compaction and degradation (QBS value, <150). In particular, Protura, Diplura, Symphyla and Pauropoda, are taxonomic groups linked to undisturbed soil. This index could also be a useful tool in monitoring soil biodiversity in protected areas and in urban forestry to prevent the negative effects of trampling. QBS-ar is a candidate index for biomonitoring of soil microarthropod biodiversity across the landscape to provide guidance for the sustainable management of renewable resource and nature conservation

Estudio sobre los estilos de aprendizaje en alumnos universitarios

Los Estilos de Aprendizaje (EA) son “los rasgos cognitivos, afectivos y fisiológicos, que sirven como indicadores relativamente estables, de cómo los discentes perciben, interaccionan y responden a sus ambientes de aprendizaje” (Gallego Gil y Nevot Luna, 2008). Para Santaolalla Pascual (2009) es evidente que el rendimiento académico está relacionado con los procesos de aprendizaje: Alonso (1999) señalan que el panorama de trabajos sobre rendimiento académico y EA es muy amplio y después de analizar las distintas investigaciones se llega a la conclusión de que parece suficientemente probado que los estudiantes aprenden con más efectividad cuando se les enseña con sus EA predominantes. En este trabajo reportamos los primeros resultados de nuestra investigación sobre estilos de Aprendizaje y estrategias de enseñanza que llevamos a cabo en la Facultad Regional General Pacheco de la Universidad Tecnológica de Argentina cuyos objetivos son: identificar EA de los estudiantes. Explicar cambios en los EA de los estudiantes en términos de rol docente y tipo de trabajo en el aula. Evaluar el impacto de la aplicación de dispositivos didácticos. Proponer explicaciones sobre el rendimiento de los estudiantes en términos de sus EA. Nos enfocamos en este reporte en el primero de los objetivos

Enseñanza de la matemática que atiende a los estilos de aprendizaje

Diversas investigaciones, entre ellas las de Gallego Gil y Nevot Luna (2008) y de Aguilera Pupo y Ortiz Torres (2009), afirman que en el momento de aprendizaje existen comportamientos, inclinaciones y un desenvolvimiento, tanto social como intelectual, en cada alumno. Se necesita un determinado ambiente, una manera especial de estructurar el análisis de la información recibida, de aplicar un método propio. En síntesis, se tienen distintos modos de aprender. Alonso (1992) y Gallego Gil (2007) denominan a este conjunto de estrategias, relativamente estables, que el sujeto pone en práctica en las tareas de aprendizaje como estilos de aprendizaje (EA). Según Santaolalla Pascual (2009) los estudiantes aprenden con mayor efectividad cuando se les enseña con sus EA predominantes. El presente taller tiene como objetivos familiarizar a los participantes con los conceptos centrales de la Teoría de estilos de aprendizaje, permitiendo el conocimiento de las características de los cuatro estilos que definen Honey y Mumford (1986): activo, reflexivo, teórico y pragmático; analizar dispositivos didácticos, construidos en torno a un mismo contenido, que favorezcan el aprendizaje del alumno según su EA predominante. Está dirigido a docentes de matemática de nivel medio o superior. El cupo óptimo se considera en alrededor de 20 participantes