Orchestrating absorptive capacity: organizational catalysts of TMT’s influence

This study aims to tackle the influence of top management team (TMT), socialization capabilities and their interactions on absorptive capacity (ACAP). Specifically, this paper examines a TMT’s diversity and coordination as an “enabler” with the potential to trigger the processes involved in the generation of ACAP. The authors relied on a database comprising 96 manufacturing firms in a developing country. Due to the model suggested as well as the sample size, they opted for a PLS-SEM methodology. The empirical results show that TMT diversity is not significantly related to firm’s ACAP. Additionally, they provide evidence for a mediation of the relationship between a TMT coordination and ACAP through socialization capabilities. This paper presents a theoretical framework that underscores the influence of TMT on different dimensions of ACAP. Based on the upper echelon theory, the authors suggest that this is of utmost importance given that the extent to which knowledge is acquired, integrated and exploited within the firm can be contingent on the configuration and collaborative structure of the TMT. The results show that TMT coordination influences firm’s ACAP when it is complemented effectively by structural mechanisms for fostering greater communication, collaboration and cohesiveness between the members of an organization. To configure a TMT merely to have diversity or guarantee the coordination between the team members is not enough to foster firm’s ACAP. An alignment of a coordinated TMT with the possibility for employees to freely communicate across functional areas and hierarchical limits is a prerequisite for the acquisition, assimilation, transformation and exploitation of external knowledge. The authors consider that this study raises areas for further consideration in efforts to understand how individual-based resources (e.g. TMT configuration) can be transformed into systemic knowledge-based capability (e.g. ACAP)

Uso do Inventário dos Cinco Grandes em uma amostra colombiana

The objective of the present study was to examine the use of the Big Five Inventory in its Spanish version relying on a convenience sample of 323 Colombian university students. We replicated the structure of the Big Five with a congruence factor above .90. Considering the average age of our sample, we realized our analysis applying the ipsatization procedure as suggested by Soto, John, Gosling, and Potter to control for the effect of acquiescence. Our analysis confirmed sex differences similar to those reported.El propósito de este estudio fue examinar el uso de la versión en español del Inventario de los Cinco Grandes (Big Five Inventory – BFI traducido por Benet-Martínez & John, 1998) en una muestra colombiana de conveniencia de 323 estudiantes universitarios. Se replicó la estructura de los Cinco Grandes con un índice de congruencia factorial por encima de 0,90 (Tucker, 1951). Considerando la edad promedio de la muestra, el análisis se realizó aplicando el procedimiento recomendado por Soto, John, Gosling y Potter (2008) para controlar la aquiescencia. Los análisis confirmaron diferencias por sexo similares a las reportadas por Schmitt, Realo, Voraceck y Allik (2008).O propósito deste estudo foi examinar o uso da versão em espanhol do Inventário dos Cinco Grandes (Big Five Inventory – BFI traduzido por Benet-Martínez & John, 1998) em uma amostra colombiana de conveniência de 323 estudantes universitários. Replicou-se a estrutura dos Cinco Grandes com um índice de congruência fatorial por cima de .90. Considerando a idade média da amostra, a análise se realizou aplicando o procedimento recomendado por Soto, John, Gosling e Potterpara controlar a aquiescência. As análises confirmaram diferenças por sexo similares

Psychosocial impact of undergoing prostate cancer screening for men with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

OBJECTIVES: To report the baseline results of a longitudinal psychosocial study that forms part of the IMPACT study, a multi-national investigation of targeted prostate cancer (PCa) screening among men with a known pathogenic germline mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. PARTICPANTS AND METHODS: Men enrolled in the IMPACT study were invited to complete a questionnaire at collaborating sites prior to each annual screening visit. The questionnaire included sociodemographic characteristics and the following measures: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36), Memorial Anxiety Scale for Prostate Cancer, Cancer Worry Scale-Revised, risk perception and knowledge. The results of the baseline questionnaire are presented. RESULTS: A total of 432 men completed questionnaires: 98 and 160 had mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, respectively, and 174 were controls (familial mutation negative). Participants' perception of PCa risk was influenced by genetic status. Knowledge levels were high and unrelated to genetic status. Mean scores for the HADS and SF-36 were within reported general population norms and mean IES scores were within normal range. IES mean intrusion and avoidance scores were significantly higher in BRCA1/BRCA2 carriers than in controls and were higher in men with increased PCa risk perception. At the multivariate level, risk perception contributed more significantly to variance in IES scores than genetic status. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to report the psychosocial profile of men with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations undergoing PCa screening. No clinically concerning levels of general or cancer-specific distress or poor quality of life were detected in the cohort as a whole. A small subset of participants reported higher levels of distress, suggesting the need for healthcare professionals offering PCa screening to identify these risk factors and offer additional information and support to men seeking PCa screening

Tolerance, agglomeration, and enterprise innovation performance: a multilevel analysis of Latin American regions

International audienc

Persistence in generating and adopting product innovations: Evidence for manufacturing firms in a developing country

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to test the existence of true persistence in the generation and adoption of product innovations in the context of a developing country. Design/methodology/approachA dynamic probit model with random effects is used to test true persistence relying on a panel data set constructed from three waves of the Colombian innovation survey (Encuesta de Desarrollo e Innvovación Tecnológica) covering the time span from 2003 to 2008. FindingsThis paper empirically shows the existence of true innovation persistence for two of the three types of product innovation studied: the adoption of product innovation that is new to the firm; and the adoption of product innovation that is new to the national market. However, the study could not confirm true persistence in the generation of product innovation. Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that systematically tests innovation persistence differentiating between the adoption of innovations that are new to the firm and innovation that is new to the national market. It is also the first study in this research area that uses a dynamic probit model with random effects according to the original specification by Wooldridge (2005)

Epilogue. The systems perspective on economic development: The past, the present and the future

The epilogue synthesizes the main conclusions from the book. Keeping practical applications in mind, it argues that the entrepreneurial ecosystems (EE) and the innovation systems (IS) frameworks can be enriched not only by cross-fertilization but also by extending to incorporate a range of underexplored issues and by being applied in unconventional contexts. The chapter concludes by highlighting several gaps in the current state of research that need to be addressed in order to make the EE and the IS approaches more inclusive and workable in various environments

Contextual and evolutionary perspectives on entrepreneurial ecosystems. Insights from Chris Freeman’s thinking

In recent years a concept gaining much traction amongst both economic and policy communities is that of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EE). We are interested in this concept because it has clear roots in innovation system thinking and can be argued to represent a contemporary iteration of ideas around systemic understandings and policy approaches to economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In our work we have been exploring the links between earlier innovation systems and newer entrepreneurial ecosystem concepts. In this essay, we expand this line of thinking by interrogating the EE concept from the perspective of the work of Christopher Freeman, often called the father of innovation studies. It is our argument that by combining contemporary debates in EE with the more ‘classic’ literatures from the innovation systems cannon, we can gain a deeper understanding of the trinity of economic development, innovation, and entrepreneurship to be of benefit both to the research and policy communities. Specifically, in this paper we zoom in on two specific elements of Freeman’s thinking on innovation systems: context specificity and evolutionary dynamics and push EE thinking forward using these insights

Taking the systems approaches out of their comfort zones: Perspectives from under explored contexts

This special issue tackles two “trendy” topics much discussed at present by the community of scholars (and practitioners too) interested in regional economic development: systems and ecosystems. These metaphors have proved popular, and enduring, currently experiencing something of a buzz or moment in the sunshine. This special issue pushes them out of their comfort zone to explore contexts, elements, and approaches that have not yet been well explored in the literature to date. Contributions in this special issue cover a wide range of international cases and explore systemic perspectives on economic development placing institutional context and evolutionary dynamics at the core

When culture does (not) matter: role models and self-efficacy as drivers of entrepreneurial behavior

The correlation between facets of national culture and startup activities has received confirmation in empirical research while many mechanisms behind the correlation remain unclear. We study the interplay between the individualism-collectivism orientation of national culture, the incidence of entrepreneurial role models and selfefficacy understood as the perception of possessing relevant skills and knowledge to become a successful entrepreneur. We find that exposure to entrepreneurial role models offsets self-efficacy as a driver of entrepreneurial intentions. The effect is magnified by the individualistic character of the national culture. Key words: entrepreneurial intentions, role models, self-efficacy, individualism, multilevel regression