Dynamic capability of value net management in technology-based international SMEs

siirretty Doriast

Co-Teaching is Great! - But Only if There is Time : Teacher Perspectives on Online Co-Teaching

In response to recent societal trends and growing demand for online education, several higher education institutions are building online curriculums and collaborating in teaching. There is an extensive body of literature of student experiences in online teaching, but more research is needed on teacher experiences, especially when courses are co-taught across universities. To examine the advantages and challenges of co-teaching in large-scale online courses, we collected survey and interview data during 2017-2019 from 16 teachers who have been teaching in the national “LITO - basic business studies” online module. Based on a qualitative analysis, the advantages and challenges were classified into three distinct categories: teacher, student, and university levels. All in all, numerous important benefits were identified, with peer-support, sharing, and networking being among the more significant ones. Organizational support for co-teaching was identified as being a critical factor enabling the benefits.© 2020 Association of Business Schools Finlandfi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Co-Teaching is Great! - But Only if There is Time : Teacher Perspectives on Online Co-Teaching

In response to recent societal trends and growing demand for online education, several higher education institutions are building online curriculums and collaborating in teaching. There is an extensive body of literature of student experiences in online teaching, but more research is needed on teacher experiences, especially when courses are co-taught across universities. To examine the advantages and challenges of co-teaching in large-scale online courses, we collected survey and interview data during 2017-2019 from 16 teachers who have been teaching in the national “LITO - basic business studies” online module. Based on a qualitative analysis, the advantages and challenges were classified into three distinct categories: teacher, student, and university levels. All in all, numerous important benefits were identified, with peer-support, sharing, and networking being among the more significant ones. Organizational support for co-teaching was identified as being a critical factor enabling the benefits.Peer reviewe

Bridging entrepreneurial competencies and business model innovation: insights on business renewal in the small horticulture businesses in Finland

Entrepreneurial competencies are connected to venture performance, but the link between these competencies and the business model (BM) innovation is scarcely studied. This article is among the first to study entrepreneurial competencies as a driving force for BM innovation. This paper presents a qualitative empirical study of six innovative horticulture entrepreneurs in Finland. We contribute to two separate literature streams, competence and BM literature, by combining competence categories (Mitchelmore and Rowley 2010) and BM Innovation model (Foss and Saebi 2017) in the analysis of innovative entrepreneurs. This paper provides evidence on entrepreneurial competencies being internal drivers for BM innovation, and also identifies the core entrepreneurial competences related to BM innovation

Understanding cross‐border mergers and acquisitions of African firms : the role of dynamic capabilities in enabling competitiveness amidst contextual constraints

This article builds on existing international business literature that examines the drivers of cross‐border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) within emerging and developing economy contexts, theoretically exploring how dynamic capabilities (DCs) are connected to these drivers, and how African emerging multinational enterprises (EMNEs) can pursue them to achieve competitiveness. The article's contribution is the development of a DC framework and testable propositions for African EMNEs' cross‐border M&As. The theoretical framework shows the division of DC dimensions—sensing, seizing, and transforming—and establishes explanations for their linkage with institutional and resource drivers for African EMNEs' cross‐border M&A competitiveness. In addition, the article outlines managerial implications to this effect. Overall, the article contributes to the emerging literature on the international expansion of African EMNEs through cross‐border M&As by underscoring the role of DCs.©2020 The Authors. Thunderbird International Business Review published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the origina l work is properly cited.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Business model innovation for resilient international growth

Our knowledge concerning the link between internationalization and business model innovation remains limited. This study investigates the change in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) searching for organizational resilience. It particularly focuses on discovering how SMEs innovate their business models when seeking organisational resilience through international growth. In order to answer this research question, we conducted a multiple-case study of three Finnish SMEs. The critical sources of resilience were digitalization, strategic collaboration, customer intimacy, agile use of resources/expertise, and an improved revenue model. For all the case firms, significant business model innovation was required for resilient international growth. Based on the study findings, a new concept is proposed for future research: SME international resilience.</p

Co-Teaching is Great! – But Only if There is Time: Teacher Perspectives on Online Co-Teaching

In response to recent societal trends and growing demand for online education, several higher education institutions are building online curriculums and collaborating in teaching. There is an extensive body of literature of student experiences in online teaching, but more research is needed on teacher experiences, especially when courses are co-taught across universities. To examine the advantages and challenges of co-teaching in large-scale online courses, we collected survey and interview data during 2017-2019 from 16 teachers who have been teaching in the national “LITO - basic business studies” online module. Based on a qualitative analysis, the advantages and challenges were classified into three distinct categories: teacher, student, and university levels. All in all, numerous important benefits were identified, with peer-support, sharing, and networking being among the more significant ones. Organizational support for co-teaching was identified as being a critical factor enabling the benefits. </p

Understanding cross-border mergers and acquisitions of African firms: The role of dynamic capabilities in enabling competitiveness amidst contextual constraints

This article builds on existing international business literature that examines the drivers of cross-border mergers and acquisitions (M&As) within emerging and developing economy contexts, theoretically exploring how dynamic capabilities (DCs) are connected to these drivers, and how African emerging multinational enterprises (EMNEs) can pursue them to achieve competitiveness. The article's contribution is the development of a DC framework and testable propositions for African EMNEs' cross-border M&As. The theoretical framework shows the division of DC dimensions-sensing, seizing, and transforming-and establishes explanations for their linkage with institutional and resource drivers for African EMNEs' cross-border M&A competitiveness. In addition, the article outlines managerial implications to this effect. Overall, the article contributes to the emerging literature on the international expansion of African EMNEs through cross-border M&As by underscoring the role of DCs.</p

Mucin 4 and matrix metalloproteinase 7 as novel salivary biomarkers for periodontitis

Aim: Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by irreversible destruction of tooth-supporting tissue including alveolar bone. We recently reported mucin 4 ( MUC4) and matrix metalloproteinase 7 (MMP7) as highly associated with periodontitis in gingival tissue biopsies. The aim of this study was to further investigate the levels of MUC4 and MMP7 in saliva and gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples of patients with periodontitis. Materials and Methods: Saliva and GCF samples were collected from periodontitis patients and healthy controls. The levels of MUC4, MMP7, and total protein concentrations were analysed using ELISA or Bradford assay. Results: MUC4 levels were significantly lower in saliva and GCF from periodontitis patients relative to healthy controls. MMP7 levels were significantly higher in saliva and GCF from periodontitis patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that MUC4 was significantly associated with periodontitis after adjusting for age and smoking habits and, moreover, that the combination of MUC4 and MMP7 accurately discriminated periodontitis from healthy controls. Conclusions: MUC4 and MMP7 may be utilized as possible novel biomarkers for periodontitis.Peer reviewe

Body composition as a predictor of physical performance in older age : A ten- year follow-up of the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study

Background: This study assessed how different measures of body composition predict physical performance ten years later among older adults. Methods: The participants were 1076 men and women aged 57 to 70 years. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and body composition (bioelectrical impedance analysis) were measured at baseline and physical performance (Senior Fitness Test) ten years later. Linear regression analyses were adjusted for age, education, smoking, duration of the follow-up and physical activity. Results: Greater BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, and percent body fat were associated with poorer physical performance in both sexes (standardized regression coefficient [beta] from -0.32 to -0.40, p <0.001). Lean mass to BMI ratio was positively associated with later physical performance (beta = 0.31 in men, beta = 0.30 in women, p <0.001). Fat-free mass index (lean mass/height(2)) in both sexes and lean mass in women were negatively associated with later physical performance. Lean mass residual after accounting for the effect of height and fat mass was not associated with physical performance. Conclusions: Among older adults, higher measures of adiposity predicted poorer physical performance ten years later whereas lean mass was associated with physical performance in a counterintuitive manner. The results can be used when appraising usefulness of body composition indicators for definition of sarcopenic obesity.Peer reviewe