The Influence of Quality on eWOM: A Digital Transformation in Hotel Management

612324There is no doubt that the use of Internet for purchasing products and services has constituted a crucial change in how people go about buying them. In the era of digital transformation, the possibility of accessing information provided by other users about their personal experiences has taken on more weight in the selection and buying processes. On these lines, traditional word-of-mouth (WOM) has given way to electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), which constitutes a major social change. This behavior is particularly relevant in the services area, where potential users cannot in advance assess what is on offer. There is an abundant literature analyzing the effects of eWOM on different variables of interest in this sector. However, little is known about the factors that determine eWOM. Thus, the main objective of the present paper is to analyze the impact of two variables (objective quality and perceived quality) on eWOM. Both of them are crucial for potential customers in the process of finding hotel accommodations and they can motivate people to make such comments. The results demonstrate that these variables truly have a significant impact on whether or not users make comments on line. Moreover, it proved possible to observe certain differences according to the profile of the tourist involved and the destination where the hotel is located. In the current changing environment, this information is of great use for hotel managers in order to design strategies according to the type of guest they wish to attract.S

Effects of user's cooperation and location on innovation activity of firms: an input-output approach

The present study analyses the profile of firms cooperating with users and estimates the effect of this cooperation on firms’ innovation activities. This issue is particular novel and important as users provide information that will be very useful for generating new products and making the innovation process more efficient. The findings confirm that cooperation with users is a tool for progress and development as it has a positive influence on both input and output of firms’ innovation process. This paper makes three important contributions to the literature. First, we analyse the effect of cooperation with users on how firms distribute their R&D expenditures (basic research, applied research and technological development) in order to make clear how this tool can affect the different strategies for generating knowledge. Second, we also study the impact of this kind of cooperation on the degree of novelty of new products, with the aim of explaining how it affects the productivity of R&D activities. Third, to estimate these effects, the study analyses these relationships and explore the role of proximity in the cooperation with users taking into account the location of this agent (domestic versus international users). Results confirm that cooperation with users increases investments in activities that generate knowledge with a specific practical objective and which are near to firms’ technological domain (applied research and technological development). Independently of user’s location, firms increase their investment in technological development to act quickly in the market and to obtain profits. The study also concludes that cooperation with users has positive effects on innovation outputs and its degree of novelty (radical versus incremental innovations). Nonetheless, these effects are different according to user’s location. Cooperation with domestic users stimulates the sales of radical innovations and cooperation with international users increase sales of incremental innovations

Effects of customer cooperation on knowledge generation activities and innovation results of firms

[EN] This study has analyzed the effect of cooperation with customers on firms’ innovation activities. This issue is particularly novel and important as customers provide information that will be very useful to generate new products and to make the innovation process more efficient. This paper makes important contributions to the literature by analyzing how the cooperation with customers affected the creation of technological knowledge and the economic returns derived from such knowledge. Results have shown that firms cooperating with customers increased investments geared toward expanding the technological knowledge base within the firm’s technological domain yet managed to reduce investments oriented to extend the frontier of technological knowledge, at least in the short term. It was also observed, that this cooperation had positive effects on firms’ economic returns derived from the sales of products new for the market allowing companies to maintain a competitive advantage over their rivals.SIWe are grateful to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation which financed the Project ECO2009-09283 and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness which financed the Project ECO2012-35439

User cooperation effects on firm's innovation outputs

[EN] We analyzed the effects of R&D cooperation with users and the intensity/continuity of such cooperation on firms’ innovation output—whether radical or incremental. We also examined the moderating effect of firm size on these relationships. Results show that cooperation with users favours the development of both radical and incremental product innovations. In addition, we found that the higher the intensity/continuity of the relationship with users, the more likely radical innovations are to develop when compared with incremental innovations. We note that the positive effect of cooperation on the development of innovation is especially significant for small firms.[FR] Cet article analyse les effets de la coopération R et D avec les utilisateurs et l’intensité/la continuité d’une telle coopération sur le rendement de l’innovation des entreprises — que cette innovation soit radicale ou graduelle. Il examine aussi l’effet modérateur de la taille des entreprises sur ces relations. Les résultats révèlent que la coopération avec les utilisateurs favorise le développement des innovationsproduits radicales et graduelles. Par ailleurs, plus l’intensité/la continuité de la relation avec les utilisateurs est élevée, plus les innovations radicales sont susceptibles d’être développées. L’effet positif de la coopération sur le développement de l’innovation est particulièrement évident pour les petites entreprises.S

Efectos de la cooperación sobre el desarrollo de innovaciones organizativas

pp. 77-86Tradicionalmente las investigaciones sobre los efectos de la cooperación en innovación han estado centradas en los avances de tipo tecnológico. Sin embargo, dado que las innovaciones no tecnológicas inciden cada vez más en la competitividad de las empresas, el interés por su estudio se ha acrecentado en los últimos años. Es por ello que el objetivo del presente trabajo consiste en analizar los efectos que la cooperación con una serie de agentes externos (proveedores, clientes, competidores, expertos y consultoras y universidades y centros públicos de investigación) puede ejercer sobre el desarrollo de un tipo concreto de innovaciones no tecnológicas: las innovaciones organizativas. La principal conclusión del estudio es que, exceptuando la cooperación con competidores, el resto de agentes influyen de manera positiva y significativa sobre el desarrollo de innovaciones de este tipo, si bien la magnitud del efecto varía en función del agente concreto con el que la empresa coopera.S

La I+D+I en Castilla y León: pasado, presente y futuro

pp. 88-96En el marco competitivo actual la I+D+i se ha convertido en uno de los pilares claves para el desarrollo de países y regiones. En este sentido, España se encuentra claramente en una posición de desventaja frente a Europa, si bien, los esfuerzos realizados a lo largo de los últimos años, han permitido ir acortando esas diferencias. Así mismo, dentro de las propias fronteras nacionales, las diferencias en cuanto a los niveles de I+D+i de las distintas regiones también son evidentes. En este contexto, Castilla y León, pese a no ser una región pionera en esta materia, ha realizado grandes esfuerzos por posicionarse como tal. Para ello, ha puesto en marcha todo un sistema de innovación que implica a una gran diversidad de agentes, todos ellos concienciados de la importancia del desarrollo innovador para la región. Por otro lado, aunque el futuro que se presenta es altamente incierto y competitivo, esta comunidad ya cuenta con la base necesaria para afrontar este reto.S

Firm size and innovation policy

[EN] This study analysed the effect of R&D subsidies on strategic decisions taken by firms when faced by innovation. The traditional approach of evaluating the impact of these subsidies on the net figure of R&D expenditures does not enable us to establish how public financing influences decisions involving technological knowledge generation, nor the economic returns which could be derived from this process. The study analyses these effects taking into consideration the size of the firm, since it is a widely used variable in designing innovation policies. The study revealed that public funding, regardless of size, mainly stimulated investments aimed at gaining knowledge within the firm’s technological domain, while it did not expand the technological knowledge frontier. The findings also show that subsidies only enhance the generation of incremental innovations in the case of small firms. The study concludes that the present approach to subsidies allocation is permitting the continuity of a certain strategic behaviour which specialises in leading the firm towards a quest for immediate results rather than constructing a sustainable competitive advantage

Utilização do sistema de informação Educa e sua contribuição para a gestão administrativa e acadêmica das instituições educacionais venezuelanas.

This research's main objective was to determine the contributions of the information system "Educa," designed by the company "Internacional de Sistemas Empresariales" for the administration and academic management of the educational institutions in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela. In addition, the proposal evaluates the system's usage frequency to diagnose the institutions' technological skills and establish their efficiency for decision-making, planning, and communication procedures. The methodological proposal was adopted under an interpretive paradigm, built under a qualitative approach with a temporary transversal scope. The data collection was established through a semi-structured interview, with the support of a simple selection survey, applied to the system's users in four educational institutions that served as a sample among a population of twenty-six institutions. The subjects of information were the users of the departments of the study control, administration, and teachers in the area of ​​primary and high school. Among the findings, it was determined that the users of the Educa system can identify opportunities and/or threats more easily; based on this, they can establish guidelines that serve to set the direction in immediate or future decisions of the institution that lead them to the fulfillment of their objectives. Likewise, a relationship was established between planning, decision-making, and the communication process with the Educa system, thus reducing errors in the scheduled academic and administrative tasks.El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar los aportes del Sistema de información “Educa”, diseñado por la empresa “Internacional de Sistemas Empresariales” para la gestión administrativa y académica de las Instituciones Educativas, establecida en Maracaibo, estado Zulia, Venezuela. La propuesta consistió en evaluar la frecuencia de uso del sistema para poder diagnosticar las competencias tecnológicas que manejan las instituciones, y así poder establecer su eficiencia en la toma de decisiones, planificación y los procesos de comunicación. La propuesta metodológica se adoptó bajo un paradigma interpretativo, edificada bajo un enfoque cualitativo con un alcance temporal de tipo transversal. La recolección de datos se estableció a través de una entrevista semiestructurada, con apoyo de una encuesta de selección simple, aplicada a los usuarios del sistema en cuatro instituciones educativas que sirvieron de muestra entre una población de veintiséis instituciones, siendo los sujetos de información los usuarios de los departamentos de control de estudio, administración y docentes en el área de primaria y bachillerato. Entre los hallazgos encontrados se determinó que los usuarios del sistema Educa pueden identificar las oportunidades y/o amenazas con mayor facilidad, a partir de ello, pueden establecer lineamientos que sirven para marcar la dirección en decisiones inmediatas o futuras de la institución que las llevan a el cumplimiento de sus objetivos. Igualmente, se estableció una relación entre la planificación, la toma de decisión y el proceso de comunicación con el uso del sistema Educa, permitiendo así disminuir errores en las labores programadas tanto académicas como administrativas.O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar as contribuições do sistema de informação "Educa", projetado pela empresa "Internacional de Sistemas Empresariales" para a gestão administrativa e acadêmica de instituições educacionais, estabelecida em Maracaibo, Estado de Zulia, Venezuela. A proposta consistia em avaliar a frequência de utilização do sistema a fim de diagnosticar as competências tecnológicas que as instituições manejam, e para estabelecer assim a sua eficiência nos processos de tomada de decisão, planeamento e comunicação. A proposta metodológica foi adotada sob um paradigma interpretativo, construído a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa com um escopo temporal transversal. A coleta de dados foi estabelecida através de uma entrevista semiestruturada, apoiada por um simples questionário de seleção, aplicado aos usuários do sistema em quatro instituições educacionais que serviram de amostra entre uma população de vinte e seis instituições, sendo os sujeitos de informação os usuários dos departamentos de controle de estudos, administração e docentes na área do ensino fundamental e médio. Entre as conclusões, foi determinado que os usuários do sistema Educa podem identificar mais facilmente oportunidades e/ou ameaças, a partir disto, podem estabelecer diretrizes que servem para definir a direção nas decisões imediatas ou futuras da instituição que conduzem ao cumprimento de seus objetivos. Da mesma forma, foi estabelecida uma relação entre planejamento, tomada de decisões e processo de comunicação com o uso do sistema Educa, permitindo assim reduzir os erros nas tarefas acadêmicas e administrativas programadas

Utilização do sistema de informação Educa e sua contribuição para a gestão administrativa e acadêmica das instituições educacionais venezuelanas.

This research's main objective was to determine the contributions of the information system "Educa," designed by the company "Internacional de Sistemas Empresariales" for the administration and academic management of the educational institutions in Maracaibo, Zulia State, Venezuela. In addition, the proposal evaluates the system's usage frequency to diagnose the institutions' technological skills and establish their efficiency for decision-making, planning, and communication procedures. The methodological proposal was adopted under an interpretive paradigm, built under a qualitative approach with a temporary transversal scope. The data collection was established through a semi-structured interview, with the support of a simple selection survey, applied to the system's users in four educational institutions that served as a sample among a population of twenty-six institutions. The subjects of information were the users of the departments of the study control, administration, and teachers in the area of ​​primary and high school. Among the findings, it was determined that the users of the Educa system can identify opportunities and/or threats more easily; based on this, they can establish guidelines that serve to set the direction in immediate or future decisions of the institution that lead them to the fulfillment of their objectives. Likewise, a relationship was established between planning, decision-making, and the communication process with the Educa system, thus reducing errors in the scheduled academic and administrative tasks.El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar los aportes del Sistema de información “Educa”, diseñado por la empresa “Internacional de Sistemas Empresariales” para la gestión administrativa y académica de las Instituciones Educativas, establecida en Maracaibo, estado Zulia, Venezuela. La propuesta consistió en evaluar la frecuencia de uso del sistema para poder diagnosticar las competencias tecnológicas que manejan las instituciones, y así poder establecer su eficiencia en la toma de decisiones, planificación y los procesos de comunicación. La propuesta metodológica se adoptó bajo un paradigma interpretativo, edificada bajo un enfoque cualitativo con un alcance temporal de tipo transversal. La recolección de datos se estableció a través de una entrevista semiestructurada, con apoyo de una encuesta de selección simple, aplicada a los usuarios del sistema en cuatro instituciones educativas que sirvieron de muestra entre una población de veintiséis instituciones, siendo los sujetos de información los usuarios de los departamentos de control de estudio, administración y docentes en el área de primaria y bachillerato. Entre los hallazgos encontrados se determinó que los usuarios del sistema Educa pueden identificar las oportunidades y/o amenazas con mayor facilidad, a partir de ello, pueden establecer lineamientos que sirven para marcar la dirección en decisiones inmediatas o futuras de la institución que las llevan a el cumplimiento de sus objetivos. Igualmente, se estableció una relación entre la planificación, la toma de decisión y el proceso de comunicación con el uso del sistema Educa, permitiendo así disminuir errores en las labores programadas tanto académicas como administrativas.O objetivo desta pesquisa foi determinar as contribuições do sistema de informação "Educa", projetado pela empresa "Internacional de Sistemas Empresariales" para a gestão administrativa e acadêmica de instituições educacionais, estabelecida em Maracaibo, Estado de Zulia, Venezuela. A proposta consistia em avaliar a frequência de utilização do sistema a fim de diagnosticar as competências tecnológicas que as instituições manejam, e para estabelecer assim a sua eficiência nos processos de tomada de decisão, planeamento e comunicação. A proposta metodológica foi adotada sob um paradigma interpretativo, construído a partir de uma abordagem qualitativa com um escopo temporal transversal. A coleta de dados foi estabelecida através de uma entrevista semiestruturada, apoiada por um simples questionário de seleção, aplicado aos usuários do sistema em quatro instituições educacionais que serviram de amostra entre uma população de vinte e seis instituições, sendo os sujeitos de informação os usuários dos departamentos de controle de estudos, administração e docentes na área do ensino fundamental e médio. Entre as conclusões, foi determinado que os usuários do sistema Educa podem identificar mais facilmente oportunidades e/ou ameaças, a partir disto, podem estabelecer diretrizes que servem para definir a direção nas decisões imediatas ou futuras da instituição que conduzem ao cumprimento de seus objetivos. Da mesma forma, foi estabelecida uma relação entre planejamento, tomada de decisões e processo de comunicação com o uso do sistema Educa, permitindo assim reduzir os erros nas tarefas acadêmicas e administrativas programadas