Technology transfer, specific local knowledge and entrepreneurial partner control in international joint ventures

Previous research has sought to demonstrate the influence of control of an IJV on achieving the learning objectives of the partners involved. However, the effect that certain types of learning have on the control of the IJV, which are vital for the success of the internationalization of the entrepreneurial firm, has yet to be explored. The results from case studies of six IJVs show that, during the post-formation stage, the configuration of entrepreneurial partner control over the IJV is conditioned by both technology transfer and by learning specific local knowledge by the entrepreneurial partner. The study also shows that the negative relation between trust and control suggested by the literature is limited to cases where trust has broken down. Greater levels of trust are also compatible with greater control with a view to appropriately exploiting when firms see the need to intensify control or need to implement new control mechanisms in order to properly exploit the resources contributed to the IJV.     

Management in social enterprises: the influence of the use of strategic tools in business performance

If social enterprises are to be competitive in the marketplace, they must use Strategic Management tools to improve efficiency, while maintaining their effectiveness levels. They can achieve this goal by introducing new management methods that make use of innovation. The aim of the current study was to analyze the effect of the use of management tools in social enterprises, referred to here as Social Management, on the effectiveness and efficiency levels of these enterprises. From a sample of 129 work integration social enterprises (WISEs), this study shows the existence of a statistically significant relationship between the application of Strategic Management tools, more commonly found in for-profit organizations, and the effectiveness and efficiency of WISEs in the social economy. The influence of the use of these tools was found to be positive in the case of social effectiveness (improving the employment rate) but negative in the case of economic effectiveness (profitability).     

Reactions of the Spanish capital market to qualified audit reports

Since mandatory auditing of financial statements was first established in Spain, very few studies have been conducted to test the information content of audit reports in the Spanish capital market. The aim of this study is, then, to test empirically whether there is a relationship between audit qualifications and stock prices in the context of the Spanish market. We have used the event study methodology for this purpose. Our findings show that qualified audit reports do not have information value for investors.     

The corporate image of auditors in a developing audit market within the EU: the case of Spain

This paper examines the images of audit firms in Spain. Spain offers a valuable research context in that it is a relatively new audit market and one where the top company audits are not totally dominated by the large multinational audit firms, allowing for a comparison of the images of such firms against those associated with smaller, national audit firms. The findings of this survey are pertinent given the current level of debate internationally over the role, regulation and quality of auditing services and concerns over the potential impact of recent corporate scandals on auditor reputation.

Our study shows that the images of audit firms in Spain have differed on a number of dimensions, mostly concerned with the pricing of audit services and the spread of audit clients. Significantly, no differences were obtained in relation to the perceived competence or ethical standing of the large multinational and Spanish, national audit firms. The study also shows the areas of the audit firm's corporate image where the actual image of the firm differs significantly from that desired by the management of their clients.     

Rethinking Television Audience Measures: An Exploration into the Construct of Audience Connectedness

Seeking to extend the scope of current audience measurement methods, this paper qualitatively investigates audiences' relationships with television programs. A content analysis of viewers' discourse from focus groups, Internet fan forums and five phenomenological interviews suggests a construct we labelconnectedness. Transcending involvement, audience connectedness defines intense relationships between the audience and a television program that extend beyond the television watching experience into individuals' personal and social lives. Highly connected audiences were found to be more susceptible to the consumption images presented in television programs, hence illustrating the moderating effect of connectedness on television influence. Implications for audience measurement methods and marketing efforts are discussed.     

Nature and Impact of Alcohol Messages in a Youth-Oriented Television Series

This research contributes to the extant literature on television influence by pairing a stimulus-side approach documenting how information is presented within a TV series with a response-side assessment of whether connectedness and exposure to a series influence the processing of that information differently depending on its format. The inquiry focuses on the nature and impact of messages about alcohol contained within a youth oriented TV program. The findings indicate that the recall and perception of the more overt negative messages increase with exposure and that receptiveness to the subtle and less remembered positive messages increases with levels of program connectedness. Highly connected viewers are both more receptive to and in greater agreement with the underlying positive alcohol message communicated in the series.     

Barriers to Innovation among Spanish Manufacturing SMEs

Innovation is widely recognized as a key factor in the competitiveness of nations and firms. Small firms that do not embrace innovation within their core business strategy run the risk of becoming uncompetitive because of obsolete products and processes. Innovative firms are a perquisite for a dynamic and competitive economy.
This paper reports on the results of a study that examined barriers to firm innovation among a sample of 294 managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Spain. The study examined the relation between (1) product, process, and management innovation and (2) 15 obstacles to innovation, which can limit a firm's ability to remain competitive and profitable. Findings of the study show that barriers have a differential impact on the various types of innovation; product, process, and management innovation are affected differently by the different barriers. The most significant barriers are associated with costs, whereas the least significant are associated with manager/employee resistance. Additionally, the results demonstrate that the costs associated with innovation have proportionately greater impact on small than on larger firms.
The findings can be used in the development of public policy aimed at supporting and encouraging the innovation among SMEs in Spain. Government policies that encourage and support innovation among all firms, especially small firms, can help countries remain competitive in a global market. Public policy that encourages innovation can enable firms to remain competitive and survive, both of which have direct implications for employment and a country's economic viability. The results may also be insightful for managers who are attempting to encourage innovation. Understanding barriers can assist managers in fostering an innovative culture by supporting new ideas or by avoiding an attitude that creates resistance to new ideas.     

E-commerce entrepreneurship as a national priority: the case of Thailand

Thailand has been one of the most successful developing countries. This progress came to a sudden halt in 1997 when the Asian financial crisis hit this country. Thailand responded by creating a favourable environment for business incubation as a high priority at the national government level. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the steps taken by the Thai government to encourage e-commerce entrepreneurship as a key component of its successful reaction to the economic crisis of 1997 and e-service as a source for its future national competitiveness.