Dynamic capabilities and high-tech entrepreneurial ventures’ performance in the aftermath of an environmental jolt

This paper contributes to studies on dynamic capabilities (DCs) by showing that a neglected environmental contingency – i.e. the occurrence of a jolt – shapes the DCs–performance relationship. We focus on high-tech entrepreneurial ventures because these are the firms that jolts affect most; in so doing, we also advance the understanding of DCs in the entrepreneurship field. We argue that, in the aftermath of an environmental jolt, the high-tech entrepreneurial ventures that use internationalization and new product development capabilities to modify their resource configuration and regain environmental fit enjoy better performance. Econometric estimates on a sample of 340 Italian high-tech entrepreneurial ventures confronting the consequences of the global economic crisis that began in 2008 confirm that separately using these two DCs has a positive performance effect. This effect is stronger for relatively smaller ventures. Interestingly, despite synergies should arise from the combined use of the two DCs, we do not detect any superadditive effects.     

Attitudes Towards Saving in Polish Society During Transformation

Since 1999 the complex reform of the old-age pension system was introduced in Poland and the process of changes is still ongoing. The multi-pillar system replaced the pay-as-you-go system. Voluntary third pillar will guarantee higher pensions for those that decide to save more. However, the systemic changes were placed in the new market economy just being implemented in Poland. New economic reality involves serial of processes influencing management of the current budget. On one hand the principles of market economy impose rigorous environment for management of the disposal income while on the other the dynamically developing market of goods, services and modern banking systems create pressure to spend. The evolution of pension system naturally poses questions concerning how the savings and saving behaviour are perceived in the Polish society during economic transformation. The results of survey conducted in the end of 2004 show that the precaution and life cycle motives of saving are observable in the Polish society but restrain seems to be marginal. In addition, attitudes towards saving are varied by some demographic and socio-economic features. These findings confirm statements referring to relation between the growth in material and social standards and acceptance of consumption style of life [i.e. Katona: 1975, Psychological Economics (Elsevier, New York); Lunt and Livingston: 1992, Mass Consumption and Personal Identity (Open University Press, Buckingham)]. Poles with higher social-economic position are rejecting self-restraint shifting towards consumerism. Nevertheless, common opinion of the respondents advocated savings is in contrary with declared avoiding restraint what is in line with other authors describing attitudes towards saving in conflict [Webley and Nyhus: 2001, Everyday representation of the Economy (WUV Universitätsverlag, Wien)].     

“管理沟通”课在提高大学生人际交往能力中的作用

文章从新时期对大学生综合素质要求较高的背景着手,介绍了“管理沟通”课在提高学生理解他人的能力、培养学生的倾听素质以及提高学生的冲突处理能力等方面的具体做法和所取得的初步成效,认为开设具有跨学科性质的公共选修课是提高大学生综合素质的有效途径。     

基于CAS理论的企业动态能力构建机理研究

复杂适应系统(Complex Adaptive System,简称CAS)理认强调其内部主体的主动性和对环境的适应性,而企业作为复杂适应系统,其一些行为比如动态能力的构建过程恰好体现了企业主动适应快速变化的环境、获取新一层次竞争优势的过程,因此CAS理论为研究企业行为提供了新的范式框架.本文应用CAS理论和涌现机理,从企业内部的自组织和企业同环境的相互作用两方面详细探讨了企业动态能力的构建机理.     

试论高校“思想政治理论课”教师教育教学能力提升

高校＂思想政治理论课＂教学具有鲜明的时代性特征,新形势下多元化的价值取向对教师的教育教学能力提出了新要求,而当前高校＂思想政治理论课＂教师教育教学能力呈现出知识结构亟待更新、教学模式单一、忽视现代网络技术、教学效果不佳等问题。可以通过政府加大经费支持力度、高校组织教学观摩展评、教师积极参加培训和交流加强集体备课的措施,提升＂思想政治理论课＂教师教育教学能力,促进教师的身心健康及专业发展,改善教学效果。     

Patterns of Advanced Manufacturing Technology Utilization and Manufacturing Capabilities

The objectives of this research are first to empirically replicate Advanced Manufacturing Technology (AMT) utilization taxonomies identified in foregoing research, second to investigate the relationship between patterns of AMT utilization and manufacturing capabilities attainment, and third to explore differences in context, and performance across AMT groups. Theories of performance frontiers and capability progression provide the basis for our hypotheses. Data were collected from 224 U.S. manufacturing plants in industries considered to have potential utilizations of AMTs. A cluster analysis of the data yields a solution that closely resembles a previous AMT utilization taxonomy, including four groups labeled, respectively, as Traditionalists, Generalists, High Investors, and Designers. Significant manufacturing capability differences across these four groups indicate that plants that utilize a broader scope of AMTs enjoy a greater breadth of manufacturing capabilities. The implied capability attainment pattern is consistent with cumulative capability theory. However, the results suggest that cost capability is not included in the capability mix when broad‐based AMT utilization is the enabler of capability gains. A post hoc exploration of the AMT groups indicates significant differences in performance across the groups. Collectively, the results extend prior research by providing added insights into the possible rationale and impact of AMT utilization patterns.     

社区自组织能力的有机构成及其提升途径

社区自组织能力是指社区组织和机构在适应社会环境变化过程中,通过自身努力而实现自我生存、逐渐完善和不断壮大的能力。它是由整合资源、凝聚共识、化解冲突、促进和谐、自我适应和实现创新等方面的能力有机构成的。在构建和谐社会的背景下,要提升社区自组织的能力,可以从内核、环境和机制等三个方面来大力实施建设工程。     

Learning in and from projects: the learning modes and a learning capability model

Abstract

The notion of ‘project delivery’ is well embedded in and across the management and organizational sciences literature – generating a narrative that reflects and recognizes the instrumental nature of projects and programmes in strategy execution. Project management, as a distinct and well-established body of research enquiry, has increasingly sought to focus our attention on the impacts of complexity, risk and uncertainty in projects; the corollary being a desideratum to strengthen our theoretical understanding of how insight and learning from projects may influence improvements to organizational efficiency. The wider literature suggests that organizational learning remains a challenging proposition, particularly in the context of organizations operating in environments of high complexity. In this paper, we enhance the conversation on organizational learning through a series of case studies, generating evidence of thirteen ‘learning modes’. The paper proposes that mature organizations tend to exhibit a greater number of learning modes and that there is a tendency to capture and socialize knowledge with a greater emphasis on the context of the learning situation rather than the learning artefact in isolation. The empirical evidence gathered in this paper forms the basis of a capability model, characterized by the thirteen modes of learning. The model intimates that learning occurs, and is more effective, when knowledge and information are enacted in practice through the learning modes which form a nucleus of the organizational learning capability. The research concludes with a 'call to action' that emphasizes the strategic importance of learning practices and routines in project oriented-organizations.     

Covid-19 in Central America: Firm resilience and policy responses on employment

This paper examines how government support interacts with firm-level resilience capabilities in the reduction of layoffs among formal firms in Central America. Our analysis suggests that government support measures play a role in reducing the probability of layoffs among firms with only dynamic resilience capabilities (i.e., those that are developed after the pandemic onset). The effect of government support is not statistically different from the effect of static resilience capabilities alone (i.e., those that were present before the pandemic); thus, in firms with such capabilities, the effect of government support will be marginal. These results hold across sectors - exhibiting a marginally higher treatment effect in service sectors. Our results do not imply that Covid-19 supportive measures are to be disregarded, but instead raise the question of how government support policies could improve the allocation of support among firms in times of crises. Moreover, it underlines the necessity of policies that enhance resilience more broadly – a task that hints at structural issues and requires continuous government support in lieu of ad-hoc measures.     

问题与路径:智库评价及中国特色智库评价体系构建

在中国智库朝气蓬勃发展的大背景下，构建具有中国特色的科学合理的智库评价体系，有助于引导各类智库切实深化体制机制改革、完善智库内部治理、推动智库提质增效，进而形成内外兼修健全发展的中国智库生态圈，以高质量的智库产品助推国家治理体系和治理能力现代化建设。笔者通过梳理国内外智库评价实践动态与学术研究现状，归纳总结我国智库评价工作存在的现实问题及其成因，并指出它们可能给中国特色新型智库建设带来的影响。由此建议：我国应基于中国经验、中国国情及智库发展建设的实际情况，以习近平新时代中国特色社会主义思想为指导，以时代背景为依托，构建中国特色智库评价体系，促进我国智库体系的整体发展。