Relación entre propiedad, gobierno y equipo gerencial en la internacionalización de la mediana empresa familiar

El crecimiento de la economía mundial y la globalización de los mercados han estimulado a las empresas de todo tamaño, estructura de propiedad y sector empresarial a dar una respuesta estratégica expandiendo sus operaciones en mercados externos, como un mecanismo de crecimiento y supervivencia de largo plazo. La empresa familiar constituye un tópico de investigación relativamente nuevo y la literatura destaca la necesidad de estudiar el papel de la familia en su internacionalización, mismo que en gran medida no ha sido considerado, constituyendo un área de creciente interés. La empresa familiar tradicionalmente ha sido catalogada como adversa al riesgo, orientada a su mercado doméstico y menos proclive a desarrollar mercados externos, donde el carácter familiar de la empresa es desafiado por la internacionalización. La literatura afirma que investigaciones sobre los factores causales de la internacionalización de la empresa familiar son insuficientes. Basado en esta necesidad de estudio, se planteó la pregunta principal de investigación y las preguntas secundarias, siendo éstas la base para formular las hipótesis que se establecieron en el marco teórico. La revisión de la literatura permitió comprender cada uno de los factores que corresponden al estudio y las variables que los miden, logrando concluir sobre su posible relación. Para analizar el problema de investigación, el presente trabajo transversal exploró la relación entre propiedad, gobierno y equipo gerencial como factores que describen la iniciativa empresarial internacional de la mediana empresa familiar, analizando los aspectos relacionados a la cultura organizacional de la empresa familiar que influyen en la internacionalización. Se usó la encuesta como herramienta de recolección de datos, lográndose un total de 117 casos válidos correspondientes a medianas empresas familiares ecuatorianas de los sectores florícola y agro industrial. Para probar las relaciones propuestas se usó un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales de mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS-SEM) basado en varianza. Los hallazgos de este estudio muestran, tal como fuera propuesto, una influencia negativa en la internacionalización, cuando la orientación a la administración trabaja acoplada con la cultura de compromiso familiar. La orientación a la administración acoplada con la flexibilidad estratégica del equipo gerencial muestra un impacto positivo en la internacionalización. La orientación a la administración presentó una relación negativa con la experiencia en la industria del equipo gerencial, obteniéndose un resultado contrario a lo propuesto y la experiencia en la industria del equipo gerencial mostró una relación positiva con el grado de internacionalización. El presente estudio busca contribuir al conocimiento de la empresa familiar y los aspectos de la cultura organizacional que influyen en su internacionalización, comprender los factores que la determinan y pueden describirla, aportando a la literatura de gestión estratégica y de manera específica a la teoría basada en recursos. Se desarrolló en el Ecuador, donde no se han identificado estudios de esta naturaleza, por lo que se busca contribuir con evidencia empírica al conocimiento de la empresa familiar, ayudando a crear capacidades en las mismas, que incrementen sus probabilidades de crecimiento, supervivencia y continuidad. Finalmente, este estudio contribuye tanto desde el punto de vista teórico como práctico, siendo relevantes los hallazgos para propietarios, administradores, consultores y académicos que tienen actividad profesional o estudian la empresa familiar, su internacionalización y los factores que la motivanThe growth of the global economy and the globalization of markets have stimulated companies of every size, ownership structure and business sector to make a strategic response by expanding their operations in foreign markets as a mechanism of growth and long-term survival. The family business constitutes a relatively new research topic and the literature emphasizes the need to study the role of the family in its internationalization, which has not been widely considered, constituting an area of growing interest. The family business traditionally has been classified as adverse to risk, oriented to its domestic market and less prone to develop external markets, where the family character of the company is challenged by internationalization. The written documentation affirms that research on the causal factors of the internationalization of the family business is insufficient. Based on this study need, the main research question and the secondary questions were raised, being these questions the basis for formulating the hypotheses that were established in the theoretical framework. The review of the literature allowed to understand each of the factors that correspond to the study and the variables that measure them, managing to conclude about their possible relation. In order to analyze the research problem, this cross-sectional study explored the relationship between ownership, government and management team as factors that describe the international business initiative of the median family business, analyzing aspects related to the organizational culture of the family business that influence the internationalization. The survey was used as a data collection tool, achieving a total of 117 valid cases corresponding to Ecuadorian family business enterprises in the floricultural and agro industrial sectors. To test the proposed relationships, a model of partial least squares (PLS-SEM) structural equations was used based on variance. The findings of this study show, as proposed, a negative influence on internationalization, when the orientation to the administration works coupled with the culture of family commitment. The management orientation coupled with the strategic flexibility of the management team shows a positive impact on internationalization. The management orientation presented a negative relation with the experience in the management team industry, obtaining an opposite result to the proposed one and the experience in the industry of the management team showed a positive relation with the degree of internationalization. This study seeks to contribute to the knowledge of the family business and the aspects of the organizational culture that influence its internationalization, to understand the factors that determine it and can describe it, contributing to the literature of strategic management and specifically to the theory based on means. It was developed in Ecuador, where no studies of this nature have been identified, so it is sought to contribute empirical evidence to the knowledge of the family business, helping to create capacities in them, increasing their chances of growth, survival and continuity. Finally, this study contributes from a theoretical and practical point of view, being relevant the findings for owners, administrators, consultants and academics who have professional activity or study the family business, its internationalization and the factors that motivate itTesi

Global attitudes in the management of acute appendicitis during COVID-19 pandemic: ACIE Appy Study

Background: Surgical strategies are being adapted to face the COVID-19 pandemic. Recommendations on the management of acute appendicitis have been based on expert opinion, but very little evidence is available. This study addressed that dearth with a snapshot of worldwide approaches to appendicitis. Methods: The Association of Italian Surgeons in Europe designed an online survey to assess the current attitude of surgeons globally regarding the management of patients with acute appendicitis during the pandemic. Questions were divided into baseline information, hospital organization and screening, personal protective equipment, management and surgical approach, and patient presentation before versus during the pandemic. Results: Of 744 answers, 709 (from 66 countries) were complete and were included in the analysis. Most hospitals were treating both patients with and those without COVID. There was variation in screening indications and modality used, with chest X-ray plus molecular testing (PCR) being the commonest (19\ub78 per cent). Conservative management of complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis was used by 6\ub76 and 2\ub74 per cent respectively before, but 23\ub77 and 5\ub73 per cent, during the pandemic (both P < 0\ub7001). One-third changed their approach from laparoscopic to open surgery owing to the popular (but evidence-lacking) advice from expert groups during the initial phase of the pandemic. No agreement on how to filter surgical smoke plume during laparoscopy was identified. There was an overall reduction in the number of patients admitted with appendicitis and one-third felt that patients who did present had more severe appendicitis than they usually observe. Conclusion: Conservative management of mild appendicitis has been possible during the pandemic. The fact that some surgeons switched to open appendicectomy may reflect the poor guidelines that emanated in the early phase of SARS-CoV-2