Market development strategy and process performance of knowledge-intensive SMEs in the epidemic era: a process-oriented perspective

PurposeThis study analyzes in-depth how knowledge-intensive small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can achieve higher new product development (NPD) process performance in the epidemic era and examine the internal development mechanism of knowledge-intensive SMEs in the process of continuous digital transformation.Design/methodology/approachThis issue is tested with partial least squares on data collected via a survey conducted from November 2021 to February 2022. The sample comprises 487 knowledge-intensive SMEs operating in China.FindingsThe results indicate that one form of cross-functional ambidexterity, market development strategy (MDS), plays an important role in process performance from an inside-out financial perspective and an outside-in customer perspective. Simultaneously, product innovation efficiency (PIE) mediates the relationship between MDS and the above results. Big data analytics capabilities (BDACs) positively regulate the relationship between MDS and PIE.Research limitations/implicationsThe authors do not consider other contingency factors. Future research should introduce influential factors such as leadership and competitive intensity to further distinguish the effects of MDS on NPD process performance.Practical implicationsThe study findings offer suggestions to help knowledge-intensive SME managers better manage their NPD process by making better use of their limited resources in developing countries such as China.Originality/valueThis study is one of only a few to adopt a process-oriented perspective to specifically examine how one form of cross-functional ambidexterity, MDS, impacts knowledge-intensive SME process performance in the epidemic era. This study also extends the theoretical framework of cross-functional ambidexterity to BDAC research.

Estimating the effects of legalizing drug e-commerce

With the technological development the e-commerce channel began to spread to all sectors of the economy. In 2020 with the introduction of sanitary and epidemiological restrictions because of COVID-19 pandemic, many countries lifted the ban of drug e-commerce. Such changes are interesting from the point of view of health economics, and the opening of this sales channel significantly reduces transaction costs and increases the physical availability of drugs, especially in regions with low population density. The article attempts to evaluate the effects of legalization of online sales of drugs on price level and the degree of market concentration (the concentration of the 5 largest companies is used as a proxy), and also uses new methods to estimate the effects of legalizing e-commerce on drug markets. High rates of industry and drug market concentration can lead to a noticeable decrease in the availability of goods. Legalizing e-commerce can be seen as a way to reduce market concentration by facilitating market entry for small firms. The effects of lifting the ban on remote drug sales are estimated using regression analysis on panel data, cross-country matching, and synthetic control. Empirical estimates provide an overall picture of the effects of legalizing online drug sales. After allowing remote drug sales market concentration decreases, indicating a reduction in information asymmetry and switching costs. This effect is particularly important for countries with a high proportion of pensioners, for whom the switching costs are noticeably higher ceteris paribus. Allowing distance trade, due to reducing information asymmetry, drug pricing also slows down, that is, in addition to increasing physical accessibility, opening this channel also increases economic accessibility.

On the role of innovation and market structure on trade performance: is Schumpeter right?

PurposeThe goal of the paper is to examine the dynamics between innovation, market structure and trade performance. Firstly, the author first investigates the effects of innovation on trade performance. Secondly, the author then examines how market structure affect trade by classifying industries based on their innovation intensity.Design/methodology/approachThe author uses a detailed level data set of eight OECD countries in a panel of 17 industries from the STAN and ANBERD Database. The author employs both a pooled regression and a two-stage quantile regression analysis. The author first investigates the effects of innovation at the aggregate level, and then the author assesses the effects at the disaggregated or firm level.FindingsThe author finds that at the aggregate level, innovation and market size have a positive and significant effect on competitivity in most of the specifications. However, innovation is negatively associated with trade performance in the case of bilateral trade between Spain and the Netherlands. Also, the sectoral analysis provides evidence that the innovation-trade nexus depends on technological classification. The author shows that: (1) the effect of innovation activity on trade performance economic performance is lower for the high technology and high concentration (HTHC) market compared to the low technology (LT) market;(2) the impact of innovation on economic performance is ambiguous for firms in the high technology and low concentration (HTLC) market.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the database provides a rich data set on industrial data, it fails to provide innovation output such as patent data which may underestimate the innovation activities of firms that do not have a separate R&D records. In the current context of subdue economic growth these research results have important policy implications. Firstly, the positive impact of innovation on trade performance strengthens its role for sustainable development. The negative coefficient on innovation is an indication that research intensity in some cases has not been able to create a new demand capable to boost economic performance.Practical implicationsThe market classification analysis provides new evidence that innovation in the LT market has the potential to enhance competition. Secondly, market size supports industries that are competing in the international market. Policy makers must therefore put in place incentives to encourage firms to grow in size if they want to remain globally competitive.Social implicationsSustainable development can be supported through investment in research and development in the low technology sector.Originality/valueThe study is the first as far as the author knows, to examine the impact of innovation on bilateral trade performance using industry level data from OECD countries. Secondly, the author complements the existing literature by examining how innovation activities (classified as high technological intensive or low technological intensive) affect trade performance.

Enhancing global supply chain resilience in the Indonesian medical device industry: a dynamic capability perspective

Purpose: This paper aims to understand how the global supply chain in the medical device industry embraces resilience by adopting agility approach following COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: This study adopts an interpretative approach to examine the qualitative data drawn from interviews and observation under dynamic capability theory. The data collection concerned multiple stakeholders involved in purchasing and supply management in the medical device market: manufacturing suppliers, channel partners, hospital management and end-users. The coding analysis uses an application that helps the researchers categorise the nodes and extend the existing literature. Findings: The findings show that global supply chain leaders leverage the dynamic capability by centralising the business process decision to respond to the shifting demand from the local governments to the national health ministry, shaping the partnership style from the area- to the funnel-based agreement, even though it exposes a risk of product acceptability from the end-users, encouraging the distributor to convert just-in-time approach into holding safety stock to avoid penalty from missing the procurement target even and restructuring the local partners' debts to manage long-term performance. Originality/value: This study extends the emerging literature in international business by underpinning dynamic capability theory. © 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited.

FROM CANVAS TO PLATFORM: REFLECTING ON THE DIGITAL PLATFORM CANVAS

Purpose: In this article, the canvas used to simplify business modeling of a platform and its visual depiction are put into the entrepreneurial context, and critically reflected accordingly. Furthermore, it is discussed to what extent the canvas is advantageous, disadvantageous, applicable, not applicable, or even contradictory. Methodology: The analysis is based on theoretical research. Additionally, qualitative interviews with business founders were conducted. Results: The results conclude that the canvas employed to ease the business model sharpening process supplies founders with essential aspects to cover, yet they are part of a large set of factors that play in.

Air transportation and tourism interactions and actions for competitive destinations: the case of Cyprus

Purpose>Air connectivity is one of the most important aspects of tourism development, especially for island state destinations (ISD) which rely on air travel for accessibility. The complexity of the tourism industry necessitates close interaction among involved stakeholders to ensure successful policy implementation of air transportation operations that facilitate tourism mobility at a destination.Design/methodology/approach>In this paper self-administered questionnaires in a structured format were distributed to 200 managers. Additionally, seven unstructured follow-up interviews were conducted to enrich the content and better support the conclusions.Findings>The results of the study suggest that air transportation and connectivity are not fully integrated with tourism policy and strategy planning. Yet it is crucial that a stakeholder approach is adopted that accounts for the needs of diverse stakeholders and airline strategies, along with a diversified tourism policy that can establish Cyprus as year-round destination.Originality/value>The role of the airline industry in overall tourism strategy and policy is examined and the unique problems and challenges ISDs like Cyprus face in developing as a tourism destination and overcoming tourism seasonality are underlined.

Sustainability in International Business: Talent Management, Market Entry Strategies, Competitiveness

In a similar manner, the following paper by Saleh and Atan demonstrates that a link exists between sustainable talent management practices, organizational culture, and employee job satisfaction. By focusing on the case of the higher education sector in North Lebanon, the paper’s findings suggest that a strong and significant positive relationship between the sustainable talent management practices and employee’s job satisfaction exists. The key findings of this paper reveal that while research on the gig economy proliferates, the distinction between the “platform” and “gig” economies frequently remains blurred in the analysis. [...]the discussion on gig economy is largely dispersed, and a clearer research agenda is needed to streamline the discussion to improve its exploratory and explanatory potential. Kwon, J.;Kim, C.;Lee, K.C. Moderating Effect of the Continental Factor on the Business Strategy and M&A Performance in the Pharmaceutical Industry for Sustainable International Business.

The Labour Market of Professional Drivers in Poland in the Period of Structural and Pandemic Changes

Purpose: Professional drivers are one of the most important links in the network of business relationships in road transport. Their importance for the effective functioning of transport, both domestic and international, is enormous. The large scale of the shortage of drivers, analyzed in the context of their significance for modern supply chains, is currently one of the most pressing problems of road hauliers. The main purpose of the article is presentation the current and future trends related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the labour market of drivers in the context of determining the reasons for which they leave the profession or change employers. In addition, the current and future barriers to entering the profession, especially for young drivers, will be presented through the prism of their professional competences on the domestic and international transport market. Design/Methodology/Approach: Description, systematization and conclusions resulting from the analysis of facts covered by the topic of the paper and forecasts regarding the labour market for professional drivers in road transport. The method used results from the adopted goal and assumed outcomes and focuses on analyzing scientific sources and publications from the transport and freight forwarding market as well as own experiences. Findings: The labour market in terms of the availability of professional drivers will become increasingly difficult for transport companies. Poland is facing the problem of societal aging and shrinking population, which means that new resources of potential drivers are limited. Fully autonomous vehicles are therefore a long-awaited revolution - companies that will be able to use this technology first will gain a significant competitive advantage. This perspective is not that long away in time. Changes awaited already before the pandemic and the future labour market forecasts seem to be a harbinger of a new quality of work, but they also pose many challenges for educational and business institutions and employers. Originality/Value: We argue that both the problems related to the number and structure of professional drivers in Poland and the consequences of COVID-19 should be treated as one of the key analytical areas in road transport.

New-normal Market Entry Mode for Pharmaceuticals: an Internet of Things (IoT) market entry framework stemming from COVID-19

Purpose: This paper aims to determine new-normal uncertainty considerations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic to consider within transaction-cost analysis for pharmaceuticals. It also aims to propose new-normal market entry strategies to address the uncertainty as a result of COVID-19's implications and provide for lack of knowledge and information in an uncertain business environment by way of Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem for pharmaceutical market entry. Design/methodology/approach: In this paper, we focus on the uncertainty facet within transaction-cost analysis consideration and utilise a descriptive three-case study approach taking in Johnson and Johnson (J&J), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) and Novartis to present an ADO (Antecedent-Decisions-Outcomes) understanding of their usual market entry approach, the approach undertaken during the pandemic and the outcomes thereafter facilitating new-normal uncertainty considerations to factor in. Further with this insight, we develop a conceptual framework addressing the transaction-cost analysis implications of uncertainties toward lack of knowledge and information for a new-normal market entry approach and operating strategy for pharmaceuticals applicable due to IoT (Internet of Things). Findings: Uncertainty (external and internal) is different now in the new-normal business environment for pharmaceuticals and boils down to acute shortage of knowledge and information impact to make an appropriately informed decision. Therefore, considering the changed factors to consider, pharmaceuticals need to be able to undertake market entry with vaccines and medicines by way of IoT thereby enabling, the filling of the gap via real-time data access and sharing, including enhancing predictive analysis for sustenance. Research limitations/implications: The paper's findings have many theoretical implications highlighted in the manuscript. Practical implications: The paper's findings have many practical implications highlighted in the manuscript. Originality/value: This is the first study to our knowledge that throws light on transaction-cost analysis theory's uncertainty facet for pharmaceuticals. It is also the first study that provides a new-normal market entry strategy for pharmaceutical companies built on interoperability of real-time IoT. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

INQUIRY INTO CONNECTION BETWEEN CROATIAN EMIGRATION AND INTENTIONS TO START BUSINESS

In this paper the authors explore why Croatian emigration occurs in such numbers and why is it preferred over starting your own business and making a desired life in Croatia. At the beginning the authors presented the entrepreneurship demographics and trends, as well as the Croatian emigration trends in last two decades. This was a foundation to construct survey in two parts for two different types of respondents: the first part included a survey of people who emigrated from the Republic of Croatia to get a closer insight into why people prefer to move out than to start their own business;the second part included a current students survey to see their plans for emigration and potential entry into entrepreneurship when they finish their studies. The results show that Croatian emigrants and students look for a better job, more organized state and that they do not want to start their own business in Croatia mostly because of lack of knowledge and financial resources.

Do foreign direct investments and bank credits affect employment in Uzbekistan?

Purpose>The paper investigates the relationship between credit to the economy, foreign direct investment (FDI) and the unemployment rate in Uzbekistan using macroeconomic time series over 2004–2019.Design/methodology/approach>The study estimates the relationship by applying a vector autoregression model, which is considered a “workhorse” model for policy analysis to capture dynamic relationships in economic time series.Findings>The results suggest both growth in credit to the economy and FDI Granger cause a change in the unemployment rate. The authors found 1% increase in bank credits to the economy growth decreases the unemployment rate by 0.096 pp. over eight years. On the contrary, 1% positive shock to FDI growth increases the unemployment rate by 0.0036% in the context of Uzbekistan.Practical implications>Uzbekistan should improve FDI absorptive capacity, particularly human capital and financial market development, through growth-enhancing structural reforms in the financial sector to stimulate economic growth and employment. The attracted FDI funds should focus on productive and economic sectors with high labor-absorptive capacity, such as financial and professional services, healthcare and biomedicine, creative industries and media, software sector.Originality/value>The study contributes to the empirical literature on employment effects of FDIs and credit to the economy of Uzbekistan.

The Development of Social Capital during the Process of Starting an Agritourism Business

The role of social capital in the early phases of development of a family business is well documented, but the dynamism of the entrepreneur’s social capital in the agritourism business remains a relatively lesser-studied area. The current research, on an inductive, exploratory, and qualitative basis, aims to uncover the place and role of social capital in the establishment of agritourism enterprise, from concept formation to stabilization. The results of the study highlight the importance of governmental help in finance and networking for launching an enterprise, especially in remote areas where these additional activities are relatively lesser-known. The role of a network is relatively weak in the risk analysis of the business. This fact enhances the vulnerability of enterprises.

National customer orientation: a framework, propositions and agenda for future research

Purpose>This paper aims to propose a new country-level construct, national customer orientation, to provide a benchmark for global headquartered managers’ decisions and scholars investigating cross-national research.Design/methodology/approach>A conceptual framework and unique propositions are developed that focus on how one macro-economic driver, e.g. the wealth of a country, and one macro-marketing driver, e.g. customer price sensitivity, affect national customer orientation during and after global economic downturns such as recessions and a pandemic.Findings>An agenda setting section proposes distinct theoretical, empirical and managerial themes for future research aimed at testing the propositions at the country and organization levels over time.Research limitations/implications>Although the new construct offers substantial benefits for scholars and managers, current measures of national customer orientation are limited to data provided by the World Economic Forum or expensive primary survey-based research that restrict the number of countries, respondents and time periods.Practical implications>The new national-level customer orientation construct and propositions about its drivers over time promise to provide global managers a country-level customer-based benchmark so that they can better understand, set expectations and manage customer orientation across different countries over time.Originality/value>Research on market and customer orientation is consistently designated a priority by academics and practitioners. However, most previous studies exclusively focus at the micro organizational-level, with less known on how customer orientation varies at the macro country-level and over time.

Luxury fashion retailers' localised marketing strategies in practice – evidence from China

Purpose>From an international retailing perspective, this empirical study aims to examine luxury fashion retailers' changing marketing strategies in China.Design/methodology/approach>Using case studies of 14 luxury fashion retailers, qualitative data were collected via 31 semi-structured executive interviews.Findings>Both standardised global and localised multinational marketing strategies were found to have initially been employed by luxury fashion retailers entering into China. Subsequently, localised multinational strategies became increasingly important for their post-entry operations and business development, particularly in terms of their product strategies. More specifically, as well as the introduction of Chinese brand names, product design has been adapted according to Chinese market conditions, and product portfolios have been adapted to satisfy regional differences. However, localised product sourcing in China is far less common.Research limitations/implications>As the findings are generated from China, they may not explain luxury fashion retailers' marketing strategies in other markets. Despite the relatively small sample size, the 14 luxury fashion retailer case studies originate from across a wide range of countries, retail formats and ownership structures and are therefore considered to be varied enough to represent the market.Practical implications>The study offers practitioners insights into the success that can be generated by the manipulation of marketing strategies, particularly product strategies, within the world's second biggest luxury market.Originality/value>This paper extends the current international retailing literature by examining and comparing the motives and practices of luxury fashion retailers and the increasing localisation of their marketing strategies in China as they move from initial market entry into their post-entry operations.

CORPORATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP TO IMPROVE BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN JORDANIAN COMPANIES UNDER COVID-19 CONDITIONS

This paper aimed to study the impact of corporate entrepreneurship (ability to innovate, entrepreneurial organizational climate, and transformational leadership) on improving business opportunities (improving sale, improving job opportunities) for Jordanian companies, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Corporate entrepreneurship enables companies to make better use of their resources and helps seize opportunities leading to progress in their current business (Vanacker et al., 2017;Zahra, 1991). Because corporate entrepreneurship can influence the economy by increasing productivity, improving best practices, creating new industries, and promoting international competitiveness (Wennekers & Thurik, 1999). Corporate entrepreneurship is an important factor for startup and post-startup expansion because it is a critical driving force for national economic growth and social development and is also the most effective way to increase corporate performance (Kuratko & Audretsch, 2013;Lee & Park, 2017;Kim & Kim, 2017;Bae & Cha, 2009). Zahra (1996) identified three factors of corporate entrepreneurship: o Innovation, such as new product delivery, patent adherence, and a focus on research and development. o The company's adventurous activities, such as entering new business areas, sponsoring new projects. o Strategic innovation aimed at revitalizing the competitiveness of the company.

Lost Generations: Long-Term Effects of the COVID-19 Crisis on Job Losers and Labour Market Entrants, and Options for Policy.

This paper discusses the potential long-run effects of large-scale unemployment during the COVID-19 crisis in the labour market on vulnerable job losers and labour market entrants in the United States. The paper begins by contrasting measures of the scale of job loss during the crisis. These measures are paired with estimates from past recessions indicating that the costs of job loss and unemployment can reduce workers' earnings and raise their mortality for several decades. Focusing only on a subset of vulnerable job losers, the potential lifetime earnings losses from job loss related to the COVID-19 pandemic are predicted to be up to $2 trillion. Related losses in employment could imply a lasting reduction in the overall employment-population ratio. For these workers, losses in potential life years could be up to 24 million. Even at the low range, the resulting estimates are substantially larger than losses in potential life years from deaths directly due to COVID-19. New labour market entrants are at risk to suffer long-term losses in earnings and mortality as well. Based partly on experiences in other countries, the paper discusses potential reforms to short-time compensation programmes and unemployment insurance, which could help limit the short- and long-term harm from layoffs going forward.