Corporate Entrepreneurship: Building a Knowledge-Based View of the Firm

Increasing globalisation and dynamism in the economy has made it necessary for established companies to regenerate themselves and renew their ability to compete. This is the goal of Corporate Entrepreneurship (CE) activities, which involve extending the firm’s domain of competence and corresponding opportunity set, through internally generated new resource combinations. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the way the process of CE is developed within the organizations. In order to achieve this, a model relating key components of the CE process (opportunity, initiative and capability) to five phases of knowledge creation taken from Nonaka & Takeuchi is proponed.organizational knowledge creation; corporate entrepreneurship; knowledge-base view; innovation; development of capabilities

Antecedents and consequences of knowledge management performance: the role of IT infrastructure

Purpose: In this paper, we assess the role of knowledge management (KM) practices as a key antecedent of KM performance. Also, we examine how Information technology (IT) infrastructure is used as a driver of KM performance, organizational performance and innovation. In addition, the effects of IT infrastructure can be indirect. Specifically, we show that KM performance is a mediator between organizational performance and innovation. Design/methodology/approach: Applying a variance-based structural equation modelling (PLS), we have carried out a study among a sample of 82 Andalusian technology-intensive innovative companies. Findings: First, KM practices and IT infrastructure are significant antecedents of KM performance. Second, KM performance has a direct influence on business performance and innovation outcomes. Third, IT infrastructure does not have a direct influence on business performance and innovation outcomes, but does have a significant indirect effect on them via KM performance. Practical implications: This research provides insights for why some firms may not be realizing benefits from investing in IT infrastructure. KM performance is strongly needed for the successful implementation of IT infrastructure in the organizations. Originality/value: The findings are important for practitioners and researchers because this study makes a contribution to the literature in KM by supporting the perspective that the business and organizational performance are function of the KM performance, a complementary resource through the value of IT infrastructure is enhanced.Peer Reviewe

Antecedents and consequences of knowledge management perfomance. the role of IT infrastructure.

Purpose: In this paper, we assess the role of knowledge management (KM) practices as a key antecedent of KM performance. Also, we examine how information technology (IT) infrastructure is used as a driver of KM performance, organizational performance and innovation. In addition, the effects of IT infrastructure can be indirect. Specifically, we show that KM performance is a mediator between, on the one hand, IT infrastructure and, on the other hand, organizational performance and innovation. Design/methodology: Applying Partial Least Squares (PLS), a composite-based structural equation modeling, we have carried out a study among a sample of 82 Andalusian technology-intensive innovative companies adopting both a confirmatory and predictive purposes. Findings: First, both IT infrastructure and KM practices are key drivers of KM performance. Second, KM performance shows a significant direct impact on business performance and innovation outcomes. Third, the influence of IT infrastructure on business performance and innovation outcomes is not direct but indirect through KM performance. Finally, the model shows good fit values and appropriate predictive power to predict new observations of KM performance and organizational performance. Practical implications: This research provides insights for why some firms may not be realizing benefits from investing in IT infrastructure. KM performance is strongly needed for the successful implementation of IT infrastructure in the organizations. Originality/value: This study has a double research purpose, confirmatory and predictive. In this vein, it applies new PLS developments focused on the goodness of fit as well as on the predictive performance of the model. The findings are important for practitioners and researchers because this study makes a contribution to the literature on KM by supporting the perspective that the business and organizational performance are functions of the KM performance, a complementary resource through which the value of IT infrastructure is enhanced

Diferencias en las capturas no dirigidas y mortalidad directa de tortuga boba en palangre de superficie de acuerdo al estrato de flota y tipo de aparejo

Surface longline gears are used to fish different species, mainly albacore Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788), bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758), and swordfish Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758, and are considered highly dangerous for threatened marine turtles. Loggerheads Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) can be incidentally captured by surface longlines. A number of captured individuals die during the fishing operation, which we consider direct mortality due to fishing. We analysed the relative loggerhead by-catch and direct mortality associated with each type of boat and gear from April to December during the period 1999-2004 in the Spanish surface longline fleet that fishes in the western Mediterranean Sea, an important fishing area for this fleet. We used different indices to compute the catch per unit effort (CPUE) according to the number of hooks and to the number of fishing operations for each type of boat and gear. Both by-catch and direct mortality differed significantly according to the type of boat and gear. With respect to the number of hooks, boats longer than 12 m not using a roller and targeting bluefin tuna captured the highest number of loggerheads, whereas boats longer than 12 m with a roller that targeted swordfish caused the highest direct mortality. With respect to the number of fishing operations, boats longer than 12 m without a roller that targeted albacore captured the highest number of loggerheads; the highest direct mortality was caused by this type of boat and by boats longer than 12 m using a roller and targeting swordfish.El palangre de superficie es usado para la pesca de diferentes especies, fundamentalmente atún blanco Thunnus alalunga (Bonnaterre, 1788), atún rojo Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) y pez espada Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758, y es considerado altamente peligroso para las tortugas marinas amenazadas. La tortuga boba Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) puede ser capturada incidentalmente por el palangre de superficie y un número considerable de ellas puede morir durante la operación de pesca, y son consideradas como muertas directamente en el palangre. En este trabajo se analizan la capturas incidentales y la mortalidad directa relativa asociada a cada tipo de barco y aparejo de pesca, desde abril a diciembre durante el periodo 1999-2004, en la flota palangrera española en el Mediterráneo occidental, una importante área de pesca para esta flota. Se usaron diferentes índices para calcular las capturas por unidad de esfuerzo (CPUE) de acuerdo al número de anzuelos y al número de operaciones de pesca para cada tipo de barco y aparejo. Tanto las capturas no dirigidas de la tortuga boba como la mortalidad directa presentan diferencias significativas en función del tipo de barco y aparejo. Con respecto al número de anzuelos, los barcos mayores de 12 m de eslora sin rulo y especie objetivo atún rojo presentaron el mayor número de capturas relativas de tortuga boba, mientras que los barcos mayores de 12 m de eslora con rulo y especie objetivo pez espada presentaron los mayores valores de mortalidad directa. En función del número de operaciones de pesca, los barcos mayores de 12 m de eslora sin rulo y especie objetivo atún blanco presentaron el mayor número de capturas relativas de tortuga boba, mientras que los mayores índices de mortalidad directa relativa fueron observados en éstos y en los barcos mayores de 12 m con rulo y especie objetivo pez espada.  

Direct costs of glaucoma: Relationship between cost and severity of the disease

o estimate the direct medical costs associated with the management of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and to compare the costs of patients according to the degree of severity. A longitudinal retrospective study was carried out using all patients with primary open-angle glaucoma that recorded follow-up from May 2010 to June 2013 at the Hospital Privado de Córdoba. We estimated the cost of the disease from the perspectives of the institution, with a bottom-up approach. Results: The three-year follow-up after treatment of 104 patients revealed that the average cost of care for a patient with primary open-angle glaucoma was US$2746 ± 1560. The first year of treatment was significantly more expensive than subsequent ones (US$1100–$810–$827). Cost was related to the degree of severity of glaucoma; patients in “Stage 0” had significantly lower costs than those in other groups (Kruskal–Wallis test, p < 0.01). This was a consequence of lower costs associated with medication and a lower percentage of patients undergoing surgery. The direct medical costs of a patient with primary open-angle glaucoma vary according to the severity of their disease and the year of treatment. We found that costs increased with disease severity, but decreased over time.Fil: Real, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; ArgentinaFil: Lafuente, M. C.. Hospital Privado Centro Medico de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Palma, Santiago Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; ArgentinaFil: Tartara, Luis Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Unidad de Investigación y Desarrollo en Tecnología Farmacéutica; Argentin

Opening the black box of big data sustainable value creation: the mediating role of supply chain management capabilities and circular economy practices

Purpose – This article examines the mechanisms through which big data analytics capabilities (BDAC) contribute to creating sustainable value and analyzes the mediating roles that supply chain management capabilities (SCMC), as well as circular economy practices (CEP), play through their impact on sustainable performance. Design/methodology/approach – Following a literature review, a serial mediation model is presented. Hypotheses regarding direct and mediating relationships are tested to determine their potential for sustainability impact and circularity. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) has been applied for causal and predictive purposes. Findings – The results indicate that big data analytics capabilities do not have a direct positive impact on sustainable performance but influence indirectly through SCMC and CEP. Originality/value – Although some authors have addressed the associations between IT business value, supply chain (SC), and sustainability, this paper provides empirical evidence related to these relationships. Additionally, this study performs novel predictive analyses.Junta de Andalucía US-126445

Home-based transcranial direct current stimulation in mild neurocognitive disorder due to possible Alzheimer's disease. A randomised, single-blind, controlled-placebo study

Introduction: Mild neurocognitive disorder (mNCD), a pre-dementia stage close to Mild Cognitive Impairment, shows a progressive and constant decline in the memory domain. Of the non-pharmacological therapeutic interventions that may help to decelerate the neurodegenerative progress, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) shows beneficial effects on the learning curve, immediate recall, immediate verbal memory and executive functions. The purpose of this research was to study the effect of tDCS on general cognition, immediate and delayed memory and executive functions by comparing an active group with a placebo group of mNCD patients. Methods: Participants were 33 mNCD due to possible AD, randomly assigned to two groups: 17 active tDCS and 16 placebo tDCS. Ten sessions of tDCS were conducted over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Several neuropsychological scales were administered to assess the primary outcome measures of general cognitive function, immediate and delayed memory and learning ability, whereas the secondary outcome measures included executive function tests. All participants were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Mixed ANOVAs were performed. Results: Significant effects were obtained on general cognitive function, immediate and delayed memory and learning ability, with increases in scores in the active tDCS group. However, there were no significant effects on executive function performance. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the effectiveness of tDCS in an active tDCS group, compared to a placebo group, in improving general cognition and immediate and delayed memory, as previous studies found. Taken together, our data suggest that tDCS is a simple, painless, reproducible and easy technique that is useful for treating cognitive alterations found in neurodegenerative diseases

Atmospheric indices allow anticipating the incidence of jellyfish coastal swarms

Jellyfish swarms affect littoral ecosystems, are unpleasant for bathers and jeopardize coastal socio-economic sectors. Anticipating the incidence of jellyfish swarms could be useful for implementing preventive management measures. Macroclimatic indices are good candidates for this type of anticipation since they are macro-ecologically related to oceanographic characteristics that affect marine species after a certain time lag. An increase of jellyfish swarms has been recently reported in the Mediterranean Sea. From 2005 to 2018, jellyfish swarms in the littoral of the province of Malaga (Spain, northwest coast of the Alboran Sea), mainly formed by the mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca), were frequent during summer. We recorded data on jellyfish swarm incidence in the province of Malaga from 2005 to 2018 using the reports in local newspapers, searches in Google Search Engine, and a citizen science application for mobile phones as information sources. With this information, we classified the period in years of low, medium and high incidence of jellyfish swarms. Then, we tested if the known effects of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) in winter on the sea surface temperature (SST) during the year, which in turn affects the proliferation of jellyfish, could explain the inter-annual variation in this incidence. Our hypothesis significantly explained the variation in the medium versus low incidence of jellyfish swarms, with medium incidence in the summers of higher SST. This suggests that medium incidence of jellyfish swarms was caused by the proliferation of jellyfish. This also suggests that years of medium incidence of jellyfish in the beach during summer could be anticipated by computing the average AO and NAO values of the previous winter. Years of high incidence of swarms could not be explained by this process. We speculate that they may be caused by a change in the distribution of the swarms rather than by proliferation. Jellyfish may be pushed from the pelagic western anticyclonic gyre of the Alboran Sea to the northern coast by eddies that are formed when, as recent literature has shown, this gyre is weakened by westerly winds and the Atlantic jet. Citizen science has contributed useful data to build macroecological models that may result in better management plans based on scientific data

La Oscilación del Atlántico Norte y la temperatura superficial del mar afectan la abundancia de la tortuga boba alrededor del estrecho de Gibraltar

The aim of this study was to explore the possible link between variations in the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and sea surface temperature (SST) and the abundance of loggerhead turtles around the Strait of Gibraltar, using stranding data for the Andalusian coastal area as a proxy for abundance. The annual average SST (from November to October) in the Gulf of Cadiz was negatively associated with the total number of loggerhead strandings each year from November 1997 to October 2006 in the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alboran Sea. The average NAO index was positively associated with the number of strandings in the Gulf of Cadiz in the following year. Prevailing westerly winds during positive NAO phases and the subsequent delayed decrease in SST may lead to turtles from the west Atlantic accumulating in the Gulf of Cadiz and unsuccessfully attempting to return. Secondary causes, such as buoyancy, cold stunning, longline fisheries, net fisheries, debilitated turtle syndrome, and trauma may also increase the number of turtle strandings.El objetivo de este estudio fue explorar la posible relación entre las variaciones de la Oscilación del Atlántico Norte (NAO) y la temperatura superficial del mar (SST), y la abundancia de tortugas bobas alrededor del Estrecho de Gibraltar, utilizando los datos de varamientos como sustituto de la abundancia. La SST promedio en el Golfo de Cádiz se relacionó negativamente con el número total de tortugas bobas varadas durante cada año (de noviembre a octubre) desde 1997 hasta 2006 en el Golfo de Cádiz y en el Mar de Alborán, mientras que el promedio del índice NAO se relacionó positivamente con el número de varamientos en el Golfo de Cádiz durante el año siguiente. Vientos predominantes del oeste durante las fases de la NAO positiva, y su posterior retraso en la reducción de la SST, pueden provocar la acumulación en el Golfo de Cádiz de las tortugas que entran desde el Atlántico occidental y, las que sin éxito, tratan de regresar a sus playas de origen. Debido a causas secundarias (como problemas de flotabilitdad, enfriamiento, la pesca con palangre, la pesca con redes, DTS, y traumatismos) aumenta el número de tortugas varadas

A triangle model of criminality

This paper is concerned with a quantitative model describing the interaction of three sociological species, termed as owners, criminals and security guards, and denoted by X, Y and Z respectively. In our model, Y is a predator of the species X, and so is Z with respect to Y . Moreover, Z can also be thought of as a predator of X, since this last population is required to bear the costs of maintaining Z. We propose a system of three ordinary differential equations to account for the time evolution of X(t), Y (t) and Z(t) according to our previous assumptions. Out of the various parameters that appear in that system, we select two of them, denoted by H, and h, which are related with the efficiency of the security forces as a control parameter in our discussion. To begin with, we consider the case of large and constant owners population, which allows us to reduce (3)–(5) to a bidimensional system for Y (t) and Z(t). As a preliminary step, this situation is first discussed under the additional assumption that Y (t) + Z(t) is constant. A bifurcation study is then performed in terms of H and h, which shows the key role played by the rate of casualties in Y and Z, that results particularly in a possible onset of bistability. When the previous restriction is dropped, we observe the appearance of oscillatory behaviours in the full two-dimensional system. We finally provide a exploratory study of the complete model (3)–(5), where a number of bifurcations appear as parameter H changes, and the corresponding solutions behaviours are described