bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Highly‐skilled Colombian immigrants in Spain
Authors: Matiz Bulla Francisco Javier , Hormiga Esther 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand why high‐skilled immigrants from a developing country (Colombia) are returning to their home country to create businesses instead of starting up in their host country (Spain).Design/methodology/approachA case study methodology was used to present the experiences of three high‐skilled immigrants. All subjects presented had migrated from Colombia to Spain, held degrees from a Colombian university, had a university background in entrepreneurship and intended to run a business in Colombia instead of in Spain.FindingsThis study shows how the expectations of highly‐skilled immigrants can influence their decision to return to their home country to set up in business. Because of their skills and international experience, these individuals have good professional prospects in their home countries and a lower tolerance of the barriers and difficulties encountered in the host country than immigrants with other profiles.Research limitations/implicationsIn exploring the high‐skilled immigrants' reasons for returning home, future research should pay more attention to personal motivations and cultural differences.Practical implicationsThe findings will enable policy makers in developing and developed countries to improve policies for attracting or retaining highly‐skilled immigrants or emigrants, especially those with entrepreneurial intentions.Originality/valueIn a group of immigrants whose skills and talents could offer considerable added value either to their host country or to their home country, this paper examines some of the key processes that influence their decision of where to locate their entrepreneurial activity.
Knowledge creation and human capital for development: the role of graduate entrepreneurship
Authors: Mitra Jay , Abubakar Y.A. , Sagagi M. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeTackling structural and emergent problems in the labour market, valorising skilled human capital (HC) for opportunity creation, economic development and growth, are some of the key drivers for graduate entrepreneurship. This paper aims to examine developments in Africa, focusing on the significance of improving human capital through graduate entrepreneurship to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria.Design/methodology/approachBased on a unique Education Partnerships in Africa (EPA) project the paper adopts a conceptual and exploratory approach to understand the institutional, cultural and economic dimensions of change and the specific role of graduate entrepreneurship education and training in enabling productive outcomes, using an illustrative case study of the project to develop the arguments.FindingsKnowledge creation lies at the heart of entrepreneurship development in developing economies such as Nigeria. Knowledge creation (KC) for entrepreneurship (E) is based on human capital (HC) development. In circumstances of uneven growth in developing economies HC development is the only constant. Harnessing HC for entrepreneurship can be based on three sets of propositions derived from an examination of the relationship between KC, HC and E, which locate graduate entrepreneurship's role within a holistic, institutional framework.Originality/valueThe paper's originality lies in the development of a model for promoting and evaluating a holistic approach to graduate entrepreneurship in developing countries based on the targeting of MDGs. It offers new insights into the role of graduate entrepreneurship in economic and social development.
New venture strategies and performance in a catching‐up economy
Authors: Deligianni Ioanna , Voudouris Irini 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore both the strategy types and strategic growth trajectories of new ventures and examine the relationship between these trajectories and new venture performance.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses evidence from six case studies of Greek high technology new ventures over a lengthy time frame. The longitudinal research design of the study allowed for the complexities of the growth phenomenon to be captured in an effective and efficient manner.FindingsBased on an integrative three‐dimensional framework of new venture strategies, four strategy types are identified. At a static level, evidence suggests that the more strategic dimensions are emphasised in a venture strategy, the more balanced the venture's strategic position and thus, the higher its performance. With respect to the venture's dynamic trajectories, among all possible alternatives, it was found that two are the most successful. The first secures growth through focusing first on a specific innovative product/service in the domestic market and then expanding in the global market. The second secures growth through focusing first on a specific innovative product/service in the global market and then expanding the venture product scope.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings imply that the product and geographic dimensions of new venture strategies are the main performance differentiators, while the innovativeness dimension is a sine qua non of new ventures growth and performance. Implications for theory, business practice and policy making are discussed.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to knowledge in the area of new venture growth by developing a strategic typology in a catching‐up economy, where little research can be found.
Board information: meeting the evolving needs of corporate directors
Authors: Roy Marie‐Josée 
Published: July 2011

PurposeAmid ongoing criticism that corporate boards do not receive adequate information to help them fulfill their current and emerging roles, the purpose of this paper is to focus on the type of information directors receive. Specifically, to examine whether greater board independence and greater board expertise were associated with receiving more information, in five specific categories.Design/methodology/approachHypotheses about the relationships between the composition of corporate boards and the various types of information they receive were tested by means of a survey of 161 Canadian companies listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.FindingsThe authors findings indicate a strong association between board expertise and each type of information received and suggest a weaker relationship between board independence and information received. Specifically, the results demonstrate that more independent boards do not receive larger amounts of information that is more forward‐looking in nature.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings contribute to the literature on governance by providing relevant empirical evidence, based on primary data on board information issues. However, these results must be interpreted within the context of the use of various perceptual measures.Practical implicationsNow that the composition of corporate boards has changed considerably, the findings of this study underline the need to re‐examine the supporting information processes. Hence, this study should help provide guidance to organizations examining the content of their current information strategy.Originality/valueAn important contribution of this study is its detailed characterization of the information provided to corporate boards, including financial and non‐financial information and reflecting the five traditional stages of the strategic management process.
The propensity of e‐commerce usage: the influencing variables
Authors: Bonera Michelle 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to address online consumer behavior in purchase decision making. Research – in the form of various psychological and sociological studies – has recently provided many theoretical models to explain how consumers utilize new technologies.Design/methodology/approachThe intention of this study is to utilize these existing theories, not simply adapt them to the phenomenon of e‐commerce, but to question and, therefore, change fundamental variables. The main variables have been tested together using a statistical methodology not previously applied to this type of problem: the classification and regression trees (CART) procedure.FindingsThe survey results confirm that, in addition to utilitarian aspects of online use, the perception of the usefulness of the system, very important seem to be the hedonistic aspects related to the higher or lower emotional commitment. In the first instance, the online purchase intention is influenced by the construct of playfulness, followed by the perceived security and usefulness.Practical implicationsIt is already evident that e‐commerce sites, even at the functional and graphic design stage, should consider elements that make it possible to increase the potential for participation, engagement, interaction and fun.Originality/valueThe intention of the paper is to utilize these existing theories, not simply adapt them to the phenomenon of e‐commerce, but to question and, therefore, change fundamental variables. The main variables are derived from models in the literature which have been tested together using a statistical methodology not previously applied to this type of problem: the CART procedure.
The effect of HRM practices on impersonal organizational trust
Authors: Vanhala Mika , Ahteela Riikka 
Published: July 2011

PurposeOrganizations face an increasing need to foster trust. However, there are fewer opportunities for developing interpersonal trust and an evident need to establish complementary forms. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of various human resource management (HRM) practices on the impersonal dimensions of organizational trust.Design/methodology/approachThe hypotheses are tested on a sample of 715 respondents from large corporations in the ICT and forest industries in Finland. Structural equation modelling was used.FindingsEmployee trust in the whole organization is connected to perceptions of the fairness and functioning of HRM practices. Such practices can therefore be used in order to build the impersonal dimension of organizational trust.Research limitations/implicationsFuture studies should also include interpersonal dimensions of organizational trust. Another limitation is that datasets from different industries were merged: future studies should analyze data from the ICT and forest industries separately.Practical implicationsHRM practices are used in all organizations, and could offer a practical solution to the problem of building and retaining trust without developing a special system or specific methods.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the growing body of literature on the role of trust in the context of organizational relationships. To the best of the researchers' knowledge this is the first study focusing on the impersonal element of organizational trust and its relationship with HRM practices.
Multinational corporations: the changing landscape
Authors: Martelli Joseph T. , Abels Patricia B. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to explore how internationalization has impacted the composition and performance of global companies. Trends among continents, countries and across industries are shown in order to further understand the effects of internationalization on these prominent organizations in our world economy.Design/methodology/approachThis is a descriptive study using a cross‐sectional design. The unit of analysis consists of the companies comprising the world's largest 500 companies as reported by Fortune Magazine in 2009. Secondary data covering more than 30 variables and 500 cases were collected pertaining to these large organizations. The “world's largest 500 companies” is further divided by continents and countries in order to provide detailed cross tab analysis.FindingsUtilizing the Global Industry Standard Classification (GICS), the authors categorized the diversity of firms based upon the type of products or services rendered by the world's largest 500 companies. It was found that these influential global organizations fall under ten broad classifications for industry sectors, with the financial sector being the dominant classification among 101 multinational firms. The results indicated that the USA dominated in all GICS sectors, except for energy. Europe is producing the largest amount of total global revenue at $10 trillion and employs the greatest number of workers, employing some 18,907,256 global employees.Research limitations/implicationsThe analysis was not designed to make a generalization for the population of all global organizations.Originality/valueThe authors' research not only identifies and describes these characteristics, but is intended to increase awareness of how internationalization has changed the composition and performance of the world's largest 500 companies over the five‐year period spanning 2005 through 2009.
Global performance management: a research agenda
Authors: Hellqvist Nina 
Published: July 2011

PurposeWhilst performance management (PM) is one human resource practice that is of importance for the company, research in international setting is still in its infancy. This paper focuses on global PM (GPM) in multinational enterprises. The aim is to present advances in the PM research framework, give managerial suggestions and find out future needs and trends for research.Design/methodology/approachThe approach is to analyze the literature in the research field. Will the transfer of PM be localized or standardized? Diffusion deals with how social institutions are spread from one society to another through certain channels over time and among members of a social system. In this paper, the framework is drawn on institutional theory, the institutional impact of the degree of success or barriers to GPM.FindingsIn the findings of GPM research, the following perspectives were found: tool and process perspective, expatriates (a specific target group perspective), cultural perspective, standardization perspective and comparative perspective.Practical implicationsGPM enables the evaluation and development of the individual as well as organizational effectiveness for multinational companies. Balance between local responsiveness and global integration in subsidiaries is needed.Originality/valueThere is a need to study GPM further. The PM process is similar for domestic and international market, but the difference is in the implementation because it is far more complex in global companies with more issues to consider.
Introducing governance and employment relations in Eastern and Central Europe
Authors: Bedo Zsolt , Demirbag Mehmet , Wood Geoffrey 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis article seeks to explore some of the principal issues and debates on the relationship between institutions, firm level governance and employment relations outcomes in Eastern and Central Europe.Design/methodology/approachThis paper particularly focuses on the countries that are encompassed by the papers covering the special issue.FindingsIntroducing new and meaningful forms of labour regulation becomes very much more difficult in times of economic crisis. This means that the regulation of employment relations is likely to be diminished, or, as is probably more likely in the case of the bulk of countries in the region, a situation of “muddling on” is likely to persist. Firm level employment relations practices are likely to be persistently diverse, both within and between countries. Key areas of division are in terms of country clusters, which range from proto‐social democratic through to “wild capitalist”, distinguished by variations in terms of firm size, and between the formal and informal economies.Practical implicationsThis study highlights the extent to which institutional variations and change may mould the choices made at firm level.Originality/valueThere is a tendency to conflate the region into a loose transitional category. This paper highlights the divergent paths followed by the countries in the region, and the extent to which this has been associated by diversity in employment relations both within and between countries.
Wild capitalism, privatisation and employment relations in Serbia
Authors: Upchurch Martin , Marinković Darko 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the phenomenom of wild capitalism under post Communist transformation. Many commentators on post Communist transformation focus their attention on dysfunctional corporate governance and the deleterious consequences of liberalisation on business ethics. Poor business ethics and bad corporate governance may be a consequence of labour exploitation for comparative advantage, and the abandonment of party authority. This allowed rapacious rent‐seeking by a minority well placed to benefit from the newly de‐regulated regime. A by‐product is a burgeoning informal economy encouraged by insider dealing of privatised state assets. State regulation, where it exists, is often ignored. Employment relations are fragmented, with state‐owned enterprises retaining some form of collective regulation, while newly privatised enterprises seek to marginalise union activity.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyses why Serbia has diverged from the Slovenian case in the former Yugoslavia and determines norms of behaviour as a product of both structural and agency dynamics. Evaluates the Privatisation Agency's programme and reviews documentary evidence on business transparency. Records evidence of labour disputes from trade unions, press reports, semi‐structured interviews with trade union leaders and activists. The researchers also held a Round Table of trade unionists, journalists and employers in Belgrade in September 2008, funded by the British Academy.FindingsThe paper concludes that wild capitalism is an integral, rather than deviant mode of behaviour in Serbia.Originality/valueThe findings have relevance for other post Communist states, which may be subject to a greater or lesser degree to political clientelism and fragmentation of employment relations.
Varieties of capitalism, governance, and high‐tech export performance
Authors: Allen Matthew M.C. , Aldred Maria L. 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThis paper aims to assess the extent to which convergence in institutional regimes is likely to occur, by examining all ten new EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe in terms of their development of comparative advantages in high‐tech export markets either by drawing on foreign investors in the form of multinational companies or by making use of domestic institutional resources.Design/methodology/approachThe article uses fuzzy sets and qualitative comparative analysis to examine both necessary and sufficient causes of success in high‐tech export markets. By doing so, it can address the important issue of institutional complementarity.FindingsWhile it finds that countries that have stronger records in such markets share common features, there are also important differences between them – not least in the areas of employee relations. This, together with other evidence presented in the paper, suggests that convergence around a specific institutional model is unlikely to happen.Originality/valueAnalysing, unlike many previous studies, all ten new EU member states in Central and Eastern Europe enables conclusions to be drawn that apply to the whole region. The novel method used in this article means that the extent of any complementarity between different institutions can be addressed, and ensures that issues relating to convergence/divergence are explored. The article, therefore, contributes to a number of important debates on the convergence among types of capitalism, the dependency of the new EU member states on foreign investors, and the institutional foundations for success in high‐tech export markets.
Beyond a “varieties of capitalism” approach in Central and Eastern Europe
Authors: Williams Colin C. , Nadin Sara , Rodgers Peter 
Published: July 2011

PurposeSince the turn of the millennium, a small corpus of post‐structuralist thought has emerged that challenges the dominant belief that capitalism is now hegemonic and that all economic formations are contrasting varieties of capitalism. This paper seeks to contribute to the development of this emergent perspective. The aim is to challenge the notion that the Ukrainian economy can be represented as some variety of capitalism by highlighting the shallow permeation of capitalist practices into daily life and the continuing prevalence of multifarious non‐capitalist economic practices.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve this, evidence is here reported from a 2005‐6 survey that analysed the extent to which 600 households in Ukraine used capitalist and non‐capitalist economic practices in their coping tactics.FindingsThis reveals not only the limited use of capitalist practices in the everyday coping tactics of households in Ukraine but also how an array of non‐capitalist economic practices remain heavily relied on by a majority of households to secure their livelihood. The outcome is a call to tentatively reject the “varieties of capitalism” system of meaning because of what it excludes, prohibits and denies, and to open up the future of post‐Soviet Ukraine to other possible trajectories than simply some variety of capitalism.Research limitations/implicationsThis snapshot survey of the everyday coping practices of households displays only that capitalist practices are not hegemonic and that multifarious economic relations persist and are widespread. It does not show whether or not there is movement towards greater reliance on capitalist practices.Originality/valueIt begins through the presentation of evidence on Ukraine to tentatively challenge the application of a “varieties of capitalism” perspective towards Central and Eastern European economies.
Comparative international human resource management (CIHRM) in the light of the Cranet Regional Research Survey in Transitional Economies
Authors: Poor Jozsef , Karoliny Zsuzsa , Alas Ruth , Kirilova Vatchkova Elizabeta 
Published: July 2011

PurposeThe primary aim of the paper is to draw attention to the similarities in the historical background and in the transitional period of the post‐socialist CEE (Central and East European) countries, which make this region a distinctive cluster in Europe.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, the authors attempt to supplement existing research by outlining the modernisation of a range of HR functions in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and would like to explain how this special issue arose, to provide a historical perspective for the work undertaken by the Cranet research team from Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary and to outline the context and significance of each of the attempts at modernisation in the HRM field.FindingsThis analysis of developments, based on the Cranet surveys, aims to describe and explain the similarities and differences found among the three specific countries (Bulgaria, Estonia and Hungary), the somewhat broader sample comprising the CEE region and the full sample of those participating in the survey. All of these signs increase the need for a contextual Comparative HRM model – which supports not only the snapshot analysis, but also a longitudinal one, incorporating both the path‐dependent and the path‐creation considerations of the changes taking place.Originality/valueThe need to understand HRM from a European – as opposed to a merely Western – perspective has become a dominant theme as the HR peculiarities of the new capitalism emerge. However, during the transition period, everyone needed – somehow – to meet the great challenge of turning the omelette back into eggs!