Internationalization, innovation and entrepreneurship: business models for new technology-based firms

New technology-based firms, particularly those that develop their business around a new technological platform, are likely to be impacted by globalization, in terms of both pace of innovation and pressure of competition. For these firms, strategic decisions and growth processes are characterized by a deep inter-relationship amongst the processes of internationalization, innovation and entrepreneurship; processes which have tended to be examined independently in distinct bodies of literature. In practice strategic decisions concern each of these processes and address issues such as organizational boundaries, location of the operational activities, what activities to focus on and selection of value partners. The business model by which firms operate needs also to accommodate the spatial dimensions indicated by globalization; and the emergence of global technology markets. Little is known to date about the extent to which business models accommodate or are adapted to internationalization, innovation and entrepreneurship. This paper presents a review of the business model literature from which a generic business model framework is derived, identifying and introducing the main elements of these processes as the firms?? focus, modus and locus. This contribution makes a clear distinction between the business model and the strategy concepts and highlights the relevance of location decisions??not considered by extant business model literature to date. While our discussion draws on the high technology new venture as our primary example, we believe our business model conceptualization has general applicability.     

Parenthood and the Quality of Experience in Daily Life: A Longitudinal Study

This longitudinal study analyzes the timebudget and the quality of experience reportedby new parents. Five primiparous couples wererepeatedly administered Experience SamplingMethod. They carried pagers sending randomsignals 6–8 times a day; at the signalreception, they filled out forms samplingcurrent thoughts, activities, and the qualityof experience. Nine of the ten participantsworked full-time or part-time. 8 samplingsessions were carried out: 4 during pregnancy,4 after delivery, each one lasting 7–12 days.Maternity leave deeply influenced mothers' timebudget. Parents' quality of experience wasanalyzed in four daily activities: parenting,work, leisure, use of media. Significantdifferences were detected; specifically,parenting was associated with the highestvalues of mood, perceived challenges andinvolvement. Although the small sample sizeprevents any firm conclusion, findings providemethodological and theoretical suggestions forfurther studies. Developmental implications inthe bio-cultural perspective are alsooutlined.     

The Empirical Side of the Power Elite Debate: an Assessment and Critique of Recent Research*

From the earliest writings in social science there have been lively debates over the extent to which societies are dominated by elites. Recently, empirical data have been considered for elite backgrounds, elite interlock, elite unity, and elite influence on public policy, but interpretation of the data continue to be problematic. The findings are often confusing and conflicting mainly because of differing methodologies, definitions and indicators of elite status. Focusing on the four areas of quantitative research listed, we compare the findings in an attempt to explain some of the conflicts. When possible, we have prepared summaries of the consistent findings, which tend to show, with respect to these issues, greater support for elite theories as opposed to pluralist theory. Finally we discuss some of the major questions in the debate that current research is unable to answer, and outline future research needs.     

The Eudaimonic and Hedonic Components of Happiness: Qualitative and Quantitative Findings

This paper illustrates a new project developed by a cross-country team of researchers, with the aim of studying the hedonic and eudaimonic components of happiness through a mixed method approach combining both qualitative and quantitative analyses. Data were collected from 666 participants in Australia, Croatia, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and South Africa. A major aim of the study was to examine definitions and experiences of happiness using open-ended questions. Among the components of well-being traditionally associated with the eudaimonic approach, meaning in particular was explored in terms of constituents, relevance, and subjective experience. The Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS) was also administered to quantitatively assess the hedonic dimension of happiness. Results showed that happiness was primarily defined as a condition of psychological balance and harmony. Among the different life domains, family and social relations were prominently associated with happiness and meaningfulness. The quantitative analyses highlighted the relationship between happiness, meaningfulness, and satisfaction with life, as well as the different and complementary contributions of each component to well-being. At the theoretical and methodological levels, findings suggest the importance of jointly investigating happiness and its relationship with other dimensions of well-being, in order to detect differences and synergies among them.     

Long-term experiments and strip plot designs

In a long-term experiment usually the experimenter needs to know whether the effect of a treatment varies over time. But time usually has both a fixed and a random effects over the output and the difficulty in the analysis depends on the particular design considered and the availability of covariates. Actually, as shown in the paper, the presence of covariates can be very useful to model the random effect of time. In this paper a model to analyze data from a long-term strip plot design with covariates is proposed. Its effectiveness will be tested using both simulated and real data from a crop rotation experiment.     

Life Conditions and Opportunities of Young Adults: Evidence from Italy in European Comparative Perspective

This paper originates from the current political debate on the vulnerability and lack of opportunities of the young people in Italy that may stand in the way of enjoying a “good quality of life”. In particular, we refer to three basic life outcomes, namely “having enough money”, “enjoying an adequate life standard” and “enjoying good health” that summarize the aspirations of many young people. The paper is intended not only to stress the particular features for the Italian case but also to present a comparative analysis across the European Countries. Moreover, the discussion on the above issues is referred to the group of individuals between 26 and 40 years-old since this group includes different generations of young people facing different opportunities to achieve independent adult life in the presence of a wide range of educational, employment, housing or social-welfare policies that might support or hinder the autonomisation process. In detail, we use a life-course causal model in order to study how, for every individual, the current outcomes may be even strongly related to past outcomes and we highlight that the understanding of the causes of “succeeding in life” in a comparative perspective across Europe can be an useful tool for Italian policy makers in order to pursue the goal of planning a future for Italian younger generations.     

Corporate Linkage and Control of the Corporate Economy: New Evidence and a Reinterpretation*

This paper begins with a brief critical review of the major perspectives in the debate concerning ownership and control of major corporations. After examination of a new source of data compiled by a Senate committee (pertaining especially to the expansion of stock control by institutional investors and, most importantly, by major commercial banks), we argue that none of these perspectives is strongly supported. In concluding we tentatively outline a perspective wliicli seems to provide a better “fit” to the data. We argue that the dominant force in the overall capitalist economy is now an “intercorporate complex” of major corporations, with banks in a central coordinating position (though short of “control”) and an inner group of the “corporate class” providing the human linkage. This form of control is what we call “intercorporate control,” based upon the impersonal interests of major, interrelated corporate bureaucracies.     

Determinants of the health and survival of the elderly: Suggestions from two different experiences — Italy and Israel

This study compares the health status and survival of the elderly in two countries, Italy and Israel. While both are developed Mediterranean countries, their degree of ageing, characteristic features of the elderly, health status and survival are different. The data are from two sample surveys and, for Israel, from a record linkage between survey and mortality data at five years remove. A preliminary analysis, using a multiple correspondence factorial analysis, highlighted a gradual change in living arrangements and socio-economic features as the population ages, which was only slightly associated with health conditions. In Israel, moreover, the Arab minority differs according to social conditions, living arrangements and health status. The determinants of health status and survival of the elderly in both countries were studied using as dependent variables; 1) self-perceived health status, 2) the frequency of medical examinations; 3) medical tests, for both countries and 4) (for Israel) deaths. Linear logistic models were constructed using, as explanatory variables, sex, age and living arrangements, a variable indicative of community level socio-economic and cultural conditions, two indicators describing individual socio-economic conditions and smoking habits. Thus it is possible to assess the impact of explanatory variables by comparing both subjective conditions and behaviour factors regarding medical care, with the unequivocal confirmation provided by death.