The economic impact of Transportation Network companies on the traditional taxi Sector: An empirical study in Spain

Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), also referred to as ride-sharing or app-based on-demand ride services, have gained momentum. The phenomenon has created debate in the media and faced heated reactions from the traditional taxi sector. Yet surprisingly, the phenomenon is still under-researched in the specialized scholarly literature on transport systems. There is a lack of empirical evidence about the real impact of these systems on the traditional taxi sector. This article aims to fill this gap in the literature by analyzing empirically the impact of TNCs on the traditional taxi sector in Spain, a specific country-case where the phenomenon has been fiercely opposed. With this aim, a comparative analysis of the economic and financial situation of 416 traditional Spanish taxi companies is conducted. The findings show that the new competitors have had a significant negative impact on the profitability of the traditional taxi companies in Madrid and Barcelona, but havenot affected other indicators and areas analyzed in the initial stage of TNCs. Implications for a set of stakeholders, including managers in the traditional sector, investors and policymakers, are discussed, together with potential avenues for further research.This article is a result of the Research Group funded by the Basque Autonomous Government (Grupos de Investigación del Sistema Universitario Vasco; GIC 15/176)

La responsabilidad social corporativa y la norma SA 8000 : un análisis de su adopción en las organizaciones cooperativas

La vinculación existente entre las bases o principios de las organizaciones cooperativas y el enfoque de la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC) ha sido subrayada por diversos trabajos teóricos. Sin embargo, el análisis de la adopción en la práctica de herramientas específicas de RSC por parte de las organizaciones cooperativas no se ha prodigado en la literatura. En este orden de cosas, este artículo tiene por objetivo analizar la difusión de la norma SA 8000 -un estándar de gestión de la RSC certificable- en el ámbito cooperativo internacional. En el artículo se analiza el caso específico italiano, donde la difusión de dicha norma ha sido extraordinariamente intensa. Por último, en el artículo se recogen algunas consideraciones críticas sobre el alcance de este tipo de herramientas de RSC, subrayándose la necesidad de que sean analizadas en profundidad, desde una perspectiva académica interdisciplinar y rigurosa.; Hainbat lan akademiko izan dira kooperatiba-antolakundeen oinarrien edo printzipioen eta Enpresaren Gizarte Erantzunkizunaren (EGE) arteko lotura azpimarratu izan dutenak. Hala ere, literaturan ez da aztertu izan EGErekin lotutako tresna zehatzen adopzioari buruzko azterketarik. Halatan, artikulu honen helburua da SA 8000 estandarrak -zertifikatu daitekeen EGErako kudeaketa-estandarra, hain zuzen ere-, nazioartean kooperatiben artean izan duen hedapena aztertzea. Artikuluan italiar kasua ere aztertzen da, herrialde horretan SA 8000 estandarraren hedapena berebizikoa izan baita. Azkenik, artikuluan aipatu estandarri buruz eta gisa bereko EGErako tresnei buruzko ekarpen kritikoak jasotzen dira. Tresna horiek guztiak sakonean aztertu behar direla esaten da, jakintza esparruen arteko mugak kontuan izan gabe eta ahalik eta modu zehatzenean.; In the literature, the link between the principles of cooperative organizations and the approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been highlighted. However, there are no many studies about the analysis of the practical adoption of specific CSR tools by the cooperative organizations. Therefore, this article aims to analyze the dissemination of the SA 8000 standard -a certifiable international management standard of the CSR field- within the international cooperative arena. Likewise, the specific case of Italy is analyzed in the article, an European member state where the diffusion of this standard has been extraordinarily important. Finally, the article includes some critical remarks on the scope of such CSR tools that have to be analyzed in depth with a rigorous and interdisciplinary scholar perspective

La responsabilidad social corporativa y la norma SA 8000 : un análisis de su adopción en las organizaciones cooperativas

La vinculación existente entre las bases o principios de las organizaciones cooperativas y el enfoque de la Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (RSC) ha sido subrayada por diversos trabajos teóricos. Sin embargo, el análisis de la adopción en la práctica de herramientas específicas de RSC por parte de las organizaciones cooperativas no se ha prodigado en la literatura. En este orden de cosas, este artículo tiene por objetivo analizar la difusión de la norma SA 8000 -un estándar de gestión de la RSC certificable- en el ámbito cooperativo internacional. En el artículo se analiza el caso específico italiano, donde la difusión de dicha norma ha sido extraordinariamente intensa. Por último, en el artículo se recogen algunas consideraciones críticas sobre el alcance de este tipo de herramientas de RSC, subrayándose la necesidad de que sean analizadas en profundidad, desde una perspectiva académica interdisciplinar y rigurosa.; Hainbat lan akademiko izan dira kooperatiba-antolakundeen oinarrien edo printzipioen eta Enpresaren Gizarte Erantzunkizunaren (EGE) arteko lotura azpimarratu izan dutenak. Hala ere, literaturan ez da aztertu izan EGErekin lotutako tresna zehatzen adopzioari buruzko azterketarik. Halatan, artikulu honen helburua da SA 8000 estandarrak -zertifikatu daitekeen EGErako kudeaketa-estandarra, hain zuzen ere-, nazioartean kooperatiben artean izan duen hedapena aztertzea. Artikuluan italiar kasua ere aztertzen da, herrialde horretan SA 8000 estandarraren hedapena berebizikoa izan baita. Azkenik, artikuluan aipatu estandarri buruz eta gisa bereko EGErako tresnei buruzko ekarpen kritikoak jasotzen dira. Tresna horiek guztiak sakonean aztertu behar direla esaten da, jakintza esparruen arteko mugak kontuan izan gabe eta ahalik eta modu zehatzenean.; In the literature, the link between the principles of cooperative organizations and the approach to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been highlighted. However, there are no many studies about the analysis of the practical adoption of specific CSR tools by the cooperative organizations. Therefore, this article aims to analyze the dissemination of the SA 8000 standard -a certifiable international management standard of the CSR field- within the international cooperative arena. Likewise, the specific case of Italy is analyzed in the article, an European member state where the diffusion of this standard has been extraordinarily important. Finally, the article includes some critical remarks on the scope of such CSR tools that have to be analyzed in depth with a rigorous and interdisciplinary scholar perspective

A Delphi study on motivation for ISO 9000 and EFQM

[EN] Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to analyse which are the motivations for implementing two of the most important models for Quality Management practice popularized in recent years – ISO 9000 and EFQM models. Design/methodology/approach – This paper provides a qualitative survey carried out using the Delphi methodology, triangulated with the results of other surveys carried out previously, as well as with the information gathered by means of several in-depth interviews carried out with the experts that participated in the Delphi-panel. Findings – The paper finds strong consensus among experts of different backgrounds that external factors cause companies to implement the ISO 9000 standard. On the other hand, reasons for implementing TQM systems seem to be more varied. Research limitations/implications – The research in this paper is limited to Spain; studies in other countries should be conducted to compare the results obtained. Practical implications – In this paper there is a greater understanding of the motivation to implement ISO 9000 and EFQM based on the opinion of managers, consultants, academic specialists and members of institutions. Originality/value – The paper finds a new methodology for examining the motivation to implement ISO 9000 and EFQM

Forest certification in Spain: Analysis of certification drivers

Despite being the European Union country with the second largest wooded area and the fourth in terms of forest occupation with respect to its territory, only 9.47% of the forest area in Spain is certified by one of the two most important forest certification systems (PEFC and FSC). The literature review has shown that forest certification drivers may be divided into five main mechanisms. The first three are external: Market, Signalling and Legal mechanisms, and the last two internal: Moral and Learning mechanisms. 124 completed questionnaires out of 1194 certified companies in Spain were received to carry out a descriptive and a cluster analysis of the main motivations that encourage the adoption and certification of the PEFC standard and how these motivations vary depending on the characteristics of the companies. Findings reveal that the most valued motivations by this order are related to attracting customer attention, the improvement of companies’ corporate image, the sensitivity to environmental problems and the increase of the competitiveness of the company. Some of the motivations are significantly influenced by the characteristics of the companies, but only the export level has a significative influence (negative) on all the characteristics of the moral mechanism. The implications of the findings can help to identify and characterize the different clusters that exist among certified companies in the Spanish forestry sector. This information can be useful for managers and policy makers to better understand the specific reasons for each conglomerate of companies when opting for certification.This study was funded by the Basque Autonomous Government (Research Group GIC 15/176) and the project METASTANDARDS, funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) and co-financed with the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union (project reference PGC2018-098723-B-I00)

How does IATF 16949 add value to ISO 9001? An empirical study

This article analyses the added value of IATF 16949–a standard for qualitymanagement in the automotive sector–with respect to ISO 9001, the most popularstandard for quality management worldwide. An exploratory qualitative study wascarried out based on a multiple case study. Eight companies operating at differentlevels of the Spanish automotive sector supply chain were analysed and 27 interviewswere conducted–17 with managers of these companies and 10 with auditors andconsultants. Multiple internal and external sources of documentation were alsoanalysed. Thefindings show that IATF 16949 adds value to a moreflexible ISO9001 infive main areas: market, customer service in the supply chain, operationalperformance, staff, and technology. Overall, IATF 16949 is seen as a‘license tooperate’for automotive sector suppliers, for whom ISO 9001 seems to have lost itssignalling value. This study sheds light on the raison d’être of sectoral standards forQMSs such as IATF 16949 and contributes to the literature on the neo-institutionalapproach to QMSs and explains some of the main weaknesses of ISO 9001.This article is a result of the Research Group funded by the Basque Autonomous Government (Gruposde Investigación del Sistema Universitario Vasco; GIC 15/176

Assessing the economic impacts of forest certification in Spain: A longitudinal study

Forest certification has become a strategic instrument for businesses, particularly for accessing sensitive envi-ronmental markets and within sustainability commitments. This trend is also visible in Spain, where PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certification has increased by 91% in the past five years. However, there is a weak understanding of the certification impacts at the level of companies, especially when it comes to economic impacts. This study applies a longitudinal methodology to measure financial performance before and after obtaining PEFC-certification in Spain by analysing treatment and selection effects. The results show significant differences in economic profitability and turnover between certified and non-certified com-panies prior to certification. However, these differences are not significant in subsequent periods. Therefore, we could not confirm a treatment effect between forest certification and improved financial performance. Instead, we find a positive selection effect: companies with better financial performance have a greater propensity for certification, as has been previously detected for standards such as ISO 9001/14001. Compared to previous studies that predominantly assess economic impacts qualitatively, we use economic-financial data to avoid possible distortion emerging from perceptions and opinions. The main contribution of this study lies in the quantitative assessment of the impacts of forest certification on economic profitability and turnover.The authors want to express their gratitude to the SAREN Research Group (IT1619–22, Basque Government)

Willingness to Pay for Improved Operations and Maintenance Services of Gravity-Fed Water Schemes in Idjwi Island (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Developing understanding of the economic value that communities ascribe to improved operations and maintenance (O&M) services has emerged as a key factor in achieving financial sustainability for rural water systems. The present study elicits household willingness to pay (WTP) for improved O&M services in eight gravity-fed water schemes in Idjwi Island (Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC). A contingent valuation survey was implemented through an open-ended format questionnaire to 1105 heads of household and a log-linear regression model was employed to assess the factors influencing higher values. Findings show an average willingness to pay of 327 Congolese Francs (CDF) per month and 36 CDF per bucket. Results also indicate a significant WTP differential among studied schemes. The analysis of the conditioning factors reveals that the level of excludability, the participation in management meetings and the time employed in fetching water from an improved source are contingent with their WTP. The findings of this study are important for development agents trying to establish acceptable, affordable and practicable tariffs that help finance reliable rural water systems in Idjwi.This research was funded by ICLI and the University of the Basque Country