Grazing,exploring and networking for sustainability-oriented innovations in learning-action networks: an SME perspective

With sustainability-oriented innovations (SOIs) small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can conquer niche markets, cut resource usage and improve the quality of life. SMEs follow different strategic orientations for SOIs. They are conditioned by their organizational structures, capabilities and interaction with the business, regulatory and knowledge network. Usually, SMEs find it easier to span their boundaries to the business network. This research explores, in a longitudinal multi-case study, how the interaction with the knowledge network can condition an SME's strategic orientation. In the analysis of a learning-action network established by a research institute, three network-patterns (grazer, explorer and networker) are observed which result from different SME boundary-spanning processes. A central role is played by the boundary spanners who influence to which degree the SME can build up exploratory and exploitative learning capabilities to further deploy, push forward or generically develop its strategic orientation for SOIs in interaction with the knowledge network.     

A multiple buyer – supplier relationship in the context of SMEs’ digital supply chain management*

Abstract

By underlining the relevance of the use of ICTs, knowledge sharing and electronic markets for SMEs, it emerges the need for stimulating a debate on digitisation process of supply chain management (SCM). Electronic infrastructure in the service sector are reducing each kind of cost and improving multiply buyer–supplier relationships, facilitating negotiations and transactions. However, since the coordination costs are still high, the use of ICTs is limited. This phenomenon thus attracts the interests of scholars and practitioners. Although it still needs to further investigate. Especially, the optimal use of ICTs within SMEs’ SCM have not been studied yet. Therefore, by leveraging on four proxies: ICTs specialised human resources, knowledge sharing activities, buyer–supplier relationships, adoption of electronic markets this optimal was analysed via structural equation modelling based on a sample of 1254 SMEs operating in the service sector in Italy.     

PSS business model conceptualization and application*

The discussion about business models has gained considerable attention in the last decade. Business model frameworks have been developed in the literature as management methods helping companies to comprehend and analyse their current business logic and guide the deployment of new strategies. In response to calls for a deeper understanding of the application of a business model approach to product-service systems (PSS), this study develops a two-level hierarchical framework that (i) includes a set of components with pertinent, second-order variables to take into account when undergoing the shift from products to solutions; (ii) supports industrial companies, especially SMEs, in designing their future business model and in consistently planning the actions needed to implement it. The framework was applied and refined within real-life settings. The application to KINE – a robot solutions supplier – shows how key challenges faced by servitization firms may be thoroughly addressed through the adoption of a business model perspective.     

建立新的“政商分离”担保体系的思考

我国目前“一体两翼”的担保体系存在着“政商不分”的问题。通过实地调研和问卷调查所获得的147家担保机构的数据显示,政策性担保机构和互助性担保机构对商业性担保存在着“挤出效应”,且存在着担保机构普遍规模较小、多以营利为经营目标、人力资源素质不高等问题。这说明“政商不分”已经使得我国担保体系有偏离扶持中小企业发展的趋势,并且政策性担保机构不适合继续充当我国的担保体系主体,因此应该建立以商业性担保机构为主、“政商分离”的新的担保体系。     

The professionalization of Spanish social work: moving closer to Europe or away from its roots?

This article will review the processes of professionalization of social work in Spain. With the advent of democratic Spain, many professions began a process of transformation. Those rooted in the relationship between the citizens, their rights and obligations, and the state, were among the first to be challenged. Social work was one of them. Soon thereafter, the European Union (EU), which Spain joined in 1986, brought forth greater challenges and incentives to change. In 1999, Spain and 29 other countries signed the Bologna Declaration, which committed the country to the development of a shared domain (often referred to as ‘espacio común’) with European higher education. This article reviews the historical process of insertion of social work, heavily influenced by the Catholic tradition of caring, into the universities. The paper examines the model of social work education in Spain, before and during Franco's era, and the professionalization (sometimes referred to as ‘tecnificación’) of care-giving and training-paradigms that followed the advent of democracy. Current models and efforts to bring Spanish social work into EU compliance have narrowed the gap with the Anglo-Saxon world; but have they distanced social work in Spain from its roots?     

布拉斯科·伊巴涅斯的中国情结与《血与沙》

布拉斯科·伊巴涅斯是西班牙一位享有世界声望的著名现代作家 ,他的创作生涯与中国结下了不解之缘。其小说《血与沙》五六十年代在中国出版后 ,曾被片面地评价。本文通过探讨作品中反映的斗牛知识、西班牙风情、以及主人公的形象塑造 ,论述这位小说家的成功之处和作品的真正魅力     

CEO goal orientations,environmental dynamism and organizational ambidexterity: An investigation in SMEs

Scholars have suggested that we need to further investigate the antecedents of ambidexterity at the top executive level. We develop a motivational perspective on organizational ambidexterity proposing that the different types of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) goal orientations (learning, approach and avoidance) may facilitate or hinder ambidexterity, and that these effects are conditioned by the level of environmental dynamism. Using a sample of 156 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we find a positive effect of CEO learning goal orientation on ambidexterity, which is strengthened as environmental dynamism increases. Further, we show that CEO approach goal orientation negatively affects organizational ambidexterity and this effect increases in highly dynamic environments. Finally, CEO avoidance goal orientation is negatively related to ambidexterity only when environmental dynamism is high. These results have important implications for our understanding of CEOs’ motivational characteristics in relation to ambidexterity under diverse environmental conditions.     

中小企业融资困境与新型信贷关系研究

本文讨论中小企业(SMEs)融资问题,通过建立信贷分析模型,综合了借款人风险特征、抵押物要求、贷款利率等因素,阐述了中小企业信贷配给的理论依据,论证了中小企业发展关系型信贷的必要性,并首次引入了关系度量因子对中小企业贷款资源分配进行分析,得出一系列有现实意义的命题。本文结论认为,要有效解决中小企业融资困难,应合理适度地发展关系型信贷。     

我国民营中小企业道德生成的必要性与实现途径

通过探讨我国民营中小企业道德生成的基本内涵,指出道德生成对于企业自身的生存与发展和社会的和谐与进步都具有十分重要的意义。道德生成不仅是企业道德知识的增长,而且是在此基础上企业道德境界的提升和企业道德实践能力的增强。当前我国民营中小企业的道德生成存在严重缺失,主要表现为道德生成认知和道德生成操作不足。为此,提出采用＂循环三步法＂,依次通过确立企业道德信条、进行企业道德教育和执行企业道德准则,以促进我国民营中小企业伦理道德的有效生成。     

中小企业服务体系促进区域经济发展的实证研究——基于中国东中西部3个典型城市的数据分析

基于东中西部3个典型城市中小企业服务体系中服务提供商结构和类型数据,在对3个典型城市的中小企业服务体系模式研究比较的基础上,结合区域经济发展水平的相关指标,采用皮尔逊相关分析和多元回归检验,研究区域经济发展水平与中小企业服务提供商类型与比重的关系。研究表明,中小企业提供商中企业所占比重对地方税收有显著的正影响;中小企业提供商中政府机构比重对区域经济中的工业增加值和地方财政收入有显著的抑制作用。提出了应增加企业和行业协会组织等在中小企业服务提供商中的比重,政府机构应逐步淡出中小企业提供商角色等建议。