scholarly journals The Environmental Strategy of Businesses as an Option under Recession in Greece

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 4399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Fousteris ◽  
Eleni Didaskalou ◽  
Markos-Marios Tsogas ◽  
Dimitrios Georgakellos
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Environmental Strategy ◽  
The Impact

In recent years and mostly during the last two decades, the decisive role of the environment in the business administration field and business life in general has emerged. In the modern, fast changing, and highly competitive business environment, and even more so in the context of the recent economic crisis, businesses constantly struggle to survive, trying to resolve problems and improve their performance and competitive advantage. Therefore, they must save and invest substantial sums of money to build strong infrastructure, to change procedures, and to produce environmentally friendly products. In view of the above, the current study attempted to examine the impact of environmental strategy on the growth of medium and large enterprises in all sectors in Greece, in a period of economic crisis. The study, carried out in February and March 2018, confirmed the positive correlation and the critical role of environmental strategy in the financial performance of Greek enterprises during this period of economic recession. Both eco-efficient practices and innovative practices lead to the creation of competitive advantage and, thus, to the improvement of the financial performance of a firm.

Could CSR improve the financial performance of developing countries’ firms? Analyses of mediating effect of intangible resources

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Hamdoun ◽  
Mohamed Akli Achabou ◽  
Sihem Dekhili
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Financial Performance ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Social Dimension ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Intangible Resources ◽  
The Impact

Purpose This paper aims to examine the link between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and financial performance in the context of developing countries. More specifically, the mediating role of a firm’s competitive advantage and intangible resources, namely, human capital and reputation are studied. Design/methodology/approach The study considered a sample of 100 Tunisian firms. The analysis makes use of the structural equation modelling method to explore the relationship between CSR and financial performance, by including mediator variables. Findings The results confirm that CSR has no significant direct effect on financial performance. In particular, they indicate that the social dimension of CSR has a negative impact on performance. However, CSR does have a positive impact on competitive advantage via the two intangible resources considered, human capital and company reputation. Research limitations/implications The research fills a gap that occurred in the previous literature. In effect, previous studies focussed only on the direct link between CSR and financial performance. In addition, it enriches the limited literature on CSR strategies in the context of developing countries. However, further studies should explore the opposite relationship, i.e. the impact of financial performance on CSR strategy. In addition, the authors believe that amongst other potential research avenues, it would be interesting to study the moderating role of the activity sector. Practical implications From a practical point of view, this study suggests new applications with respect to the link between CSR and financial performance. To enhance their company’s financial performance, managers need to ensure that intangible resources are managed efficiently. Originality/value The paper contributes to the literature by examining how a firm’s intangible resources mediate between CSR and competitive advantage and how competitive advantage mediates between intangible resources and financial performance. Second originality is related to the study of the link between CSR and the financial performance of business organisations in the context of a developing country.

scholarly journals Strategic Planning and Competitive Advantage of ICT Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

2013 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zachary B. Awino
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Planning ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
Small And Medium Enterprises ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Dynamic Environment ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Balanced Score Card ◽  
Medium Enterprises

The Paper is the research findings on the role of strategic planning and competitive advantage of ICT Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya. Literature suggests that the contemporary business environment in which organisations operate is increasingly becoming uncertain and unpredictable. Significant changes are mostly driven by technological changes, globalisation and trade liberalisation. As a result, like large enterprises, SMEs are facing new and unexpected challenges that threaten their competitiveness. While most countries acknowledge the critical role that SMEs contribute to their economies, both as an engine of growth and sustainable development, many questions still remain unanswered as to the determination of the critical challenges facing SMEs and how these challenges could be addressed to improve their competitiveness. These challenges have increased the need for empirical information which is essential for decision making in addressing issues that are likely to enhance SMEs survival and growth. It is noted that there has been no adequate research studies on the role of strategic planning and competitive advantage of SMEs. This study contributes to the need to address the research gaps and thus explored the role of strategic planning and competitive advange of SMEs in Kenya. The study population consisted of 238 ICT SMEs from Nairobi and its environs. A sample size of 146 firms constituting 61 per cent of the total population was selected through stratified sampling. The study aimed to collect data from 438 respondents from top, middle and lower management teams. Structured questionnaires with closed and open ended questions was used for data collection, 239 responses were received from 123 ICT firms a response rate of 55 per cent and 84.2 per cent respectively. Key characteristics of strategic planning including formality, environmental analysis processes both internal and external orientations, strategies adopted, and implementation and control were recorded. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics, factor analysis, t-test, ANOVA, correlation, correlation matrixes and regression analysis. The key findings revealed that strategic planning has significant and positive influence in performance of SME’s. The test of hypothesis revealed that strategic planning has positive and significant influence on competitive advantage. The study demonstrated strategic planning as a learning tool and a strategic resource which is consistent with the underlying assumptions of resource based theory, systems theory, chaos theory and balanced score card model assumptions. It is envisaged that, this kind of research is likely to generate useful discussions on the role of strategic planning and performance, of SMEs. It is apparent that entrepreneurs of SMEs cannot ignore strategic planning as significant changes in competitive advantage is the result of change or effective application of strategic planning. Policy makers and academicians may need to address the capacity needs of SMEs and develop strategic planning model that address the challenges that SMEs encounter in a dynamic environment.

scholarly journals The Impact of the Epidemic Generated by the SARS-COV-2 Virus in the Context of the VUCA World

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-254
Author(s):  
Mihaela MINCIU ◽  
◽  
Răzvan Cătălin DOBREA ◽  
Camelia STĂICULESCU ◽  
Bogdan Ștefan STOICA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Organizational Change ◽  
Competitive Advantage ◽  
New World ◽  
Fast Track ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Decisive Role ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Main Components ◽  
The Impact

In a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous business environment (VUCA environment) organizations often face changes, being forced to update their strategy in order to maintain or increase their competitive advantage. In the context of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, all organizations regardless of their area of activity had to devise a fast-track action plan so that they could continue their work even in a new world - an uncertain world with many changes, from one hour to another. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to reveal the connection between the VUCA business environment and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic context, respectively the way in which organizational change analyzed through the VUCA world could influence the activity of organizations in the pandemic context. In order to achieve these objectives, a systematic review was conducted. Starting from the present studies and researches, this paper aims to present the main components of the VUCA world and how they influence organizational change, the implications that the pandemic context had on the activity organizations, changes in the style of coordination and leadership of organizations caused by SARS-CoV-2, as well as the new skills and competencies that employees of organizations must acquire in order to cope with an insecure and complex business environment. The results showed that taking into account the aspects characteristic of the VUCA world can play a decisive role when a crisis situation arises, such as that created by SARS - CoV-2.

scholarly journals Maximizing the Benefits of Internationalization: The Moderating Role of Labour Flexibility

2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 350-372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heung-Jun Jung ◽  
Sung-Chul Noh ◽  
Sun-Wook Chung
Keyword(s):  
Financial Performance ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
International Diversification ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Labour Flexibility

SummaryUsing the large-scaleKorean Workplace Panel Survey, this study examines the interplay between international diversification, labour flexibility, and workplace-level performance in the context of advanced emerging markets. Filling the gap in the literature on the international diversification-performance (IDP) relationship, which focuses primarily on firm-level characteristics and overlooks the role of labour factors as contingent variables, we draw attention to the workplace level dynamics by exploring how the two types of labour flexibility—functional and numerical flexibility—moderate the impact of international diversification on performance. The results show that when workplaces invest in training for job enlargement and employee involvement programs that lead to the enhancement of functional flexibility, the link between international diversification and performance can be strengthened.This finding supports the assertion in the international HRM literature that, in the ever-globalized business environment, investment in human capital is a better strategy for improving financial performance in the long run. Furthermore, we find that numerical flexibility, as measured by in-house subcontracting arrangements, has a negative impact on the IDP relationship. Overall, our study suggests that the quality of human resources and a well-designed workplace configuration may still help improve performance in the context of international diversification, whereas excessive dependence on employment externalization for cost reduction is likely to hurt not only financial performance but also long-term sustainability. We also believe that our findings on the advanced emerging market economy complement insights from previous studies, which are largely based on Western developed economies, thus enriching current theories on labour flexibility.

scholarly journals THE EFFECTS OF MARKET ORIENTATION, PRODUCT INNOVATION AND MARKETING ETHICS ON FIRM PERFORMANCE: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 31-47
Author(s):  
Moad Hamod M Saleh ◽  
Adi Anuar Azmin ◽  
Ummi Naiemah Saraih
Keyword(s):  
Market Orientation ◽  
Product Innovation ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Business Environment ◽  
Business Community ◽  
Marketing Ethics ◽  
Internal Resources ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

In the contemporary business environment, market orientation has become a widely discussed topic in the business community and academics. Since the market environment has become more competitive, developing and improving one's internal resources is now an absolute necessity. Despite the influence these topics have on the performance of microenterprises, a significant number of market orientation studies haven't empirically connected them. According to this perspective, this study established a theoretical link between market orientation and SME performance via a literature review. Additionally, a new framework for experimental evidence was developed. This study makes significant contributions to the understanding of the relationship between market orientation and SME performance but also sheds light on the critical role of product innovation as a mediator. Furthermore, the conceptual model explains the impact of marketing ethics as a moderator on small- and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) performance.

The impact of economic crisis on mental and physical health in Italy

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (02) ◽  
pp. 103-110
Author(s):  
S. Tomassi ◽  
M. Ruggeri
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Social Determinants ◽  
Great Recession ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Behavioural Disorders ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental And Physical Health

Summary Background: The global crisis that began in 2007 has been the most prolonged economic recession since 1929. It has caused worldwide tangible costs in terms of cuts in employment and income, which have been widely recognised also as major social determinants of mental health (1, 2). The so-called “Great Recession” has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable part of society of the whole Eurozone (3). Across Europe, an increase in suicides and deaths rates due to mental and behavioural disorders was reported among those who lost their jobs, houses and economic activities as a consequence of the crisis.

Competition Policy under Economic Crisis

2009 ◽  
pp. 54-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Shastitko ◽  
S. Avdasheva ◽  
S. Golovanova
Keyword(s):  
Division Of Labor ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Industrial Policy ◽  
Competition Policy ◽  
Transition Economy ◽  
Economic Recession ◽  
Price Rigidity ◽  
Key Factor ◽  
Policy Measures ◽  
The Impact

The analysis of competition policy under economic crisis is motivated by the fact that competition is a key factor for the level of productivity. The latter, in its turn, influences the scope and length of economic recession. In many Russian markets buyers' gains decline because of the weakness of competition, since suppliers are reluctant to cut prices in spite of the decreasing demand. Data on prices in Russia and abroad in the second half of 2008 show asymmetric price rigidity. At least two questions are important under economic crisis: the 'division of labor' between pro-active and protective tools of competition policy and the impact of anti-crisis policy on competition. Protective competition policy is insufficient in transition economy, especially in the days of crisis it should be supplemented with the well-designed industrial policy measures which do not contradict the goals of competition. The preferable tools of anti-crisis policy are also those that do not restrain competition.

scholarly journals NLRP7 Promotes Choriocarcinoma Growth and Progression through the Establishment of an Immunosuppressive Microenvironment

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2999
Author(s):  
Deborah Reynaud ◽  
Roland Abi Nahed ◽  
Nicolas Lemaitre ◽  
Pierre-Adrien Bolze ◽  
Wael Traboulsi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Response ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Major Gene ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Orthotopic Model ◽  
Independent Manner ◽  
Maternal Immune Response ◽  
The Impact

The inflammatory gene NLRP7 is the major gene responsible for recurrent complete hydatidiform moles (CHM), an abnormal pregnancy that can develop into gestational choriocarcinoma (CC). However, the role of NLRP7 in the development and immune tolerance of CC has not been investigated. Three approaches were employed to define the role of NLRP7 in CC development: (i) a clinical study that analyzed human placenta and sera collected from women with normal pregnancies, CHM or CC; (ii) an in vitro study that investigated the impact of NLRP7 knockdown on tumor growth and organization; and (iii) an in vivo study that used two CC mouse models, including an orthotopic model. NLRP7 and circulating inflammatory cytokines were upregulated in tumor cells and in CHM and CC. In tumor cells, NLRP7 functions in an inflammasome-independent manner and promoted their proliferation and 3D organization. Gravid mice placentas injected with CC cells invalidated for NLRP7, exhibited higher maternal immune response, developed smaller tumors, and displayed less metastases. Our data characterized the critical role of NLRP7 in CC and provided evidence of its contribution to the development of an immunosuppressive maternal microenvironment that not only downregulates the maternal immune response but also fosters the growth and progression of CC.

scholarly journals Specialized Pro-Resolving Lipid Mediators in Neonatal Cardiovascular Physiology and Diseases

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 933
Author(s):  
Andrea Gila-Diaz ◽  
Gloria Herranz Carrillo ◽  
Pratibha Singh ◽  
David Ramiro-Cortijo
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Repair ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Potential Effect ◽  
Lipid Mediators ◽  
Physiological Effects ◽  
Therapeutic Approaches ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Long Chain

Cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Unresolved inflammation plays a critical role in cardiovascular diseases development. Specialized Pro-Resolving Mediators (SPMs), derived from long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs), enhances the host defense, by resolving the inflammation and tissue repair. In addition, SPMs also have anti-inflammatory properties. These physiological effects depend on the availability of LCPUFAs precursors and cellular metabolic balance. Most of the studies have focused on the impact of SPMs in adult cardiovascular health and diseases. In this review, we discuss LCPUFAs metabolism, SPMs, and their potential effect on cardiovascular health and diseases primarily focusing in neonates. A better understanding of the role of these SPMs in cardiovascular health and diseases in neonates could lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches in cardiovascular dysfunction.

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