Women entrepreneurship in small service firms: motivations,barriers and performance

This article presents an exploratory study on the characteristics of women entrepreneurs and the businesses they run in the Valencia region. Following a close look at the evolution of literature on women entrepreneurs, the study shows how different internal and external factors affect the motivation, obstacles and performance of firms created by women. These results contribute towards a better understanding of business creation by women as they provide an empirical contrast of these variables (motivation, barriers and performance). Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to examine the characteristics of women entrepreneurs and the businesses they run in the Valencia Region of Spain, in order to contribute towards a better understanding of business creation by women, and the elements of motivation, barriers and success that influence and characterize the activities of women entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach: A random sample of businesses with women founders, in the service sector located in the Valencia Region, were surveyed with a personalized questionnaire focusing on the factors of expansion, financing, marital and family status. Findings: The results of the exploratory research show that different internal and external factors affect the motivation, obstacles to success and performance of firms created by women. It is clear that type of financial support, demographic factors, age at which the new business venture is undertaken, use of family loans and the initial size of firm are all instrumental in subsequent business success. Research limitations/implications: The research was undertaken using a relatively small sample of firms in one region of Spain. The study needs to replicated in a range of different countries in order to further test the generality and generalizability of the substantive results. The implications centre on women entrepreneurs' motivations, business success and failure. Originality/value: This paper contributes to a better understanding of business creation by women and the factors which are instrumental in their success, together with a better understanding of the potential obstacles and barriers.     

Determining Factors in Innovation of Small Firm Networks: A case of Cross Industry Groups in Japan

We examine the relationship between network characteristics and innovation under different phases of innovation. Based on micro data of cross industry groups, small firm networks for knowledge sharing and R&D cooperation, we show that close-knit networks, represented as dense communication and a high level of commitment among members, are correlated with initiating joint product development. Furthermore, the results show that establishing contact with external sources of knowledge such as public research institutes is important to achieve technical success in innovation. Lastly, engaging in cooperative activities in sales is correlated with commercial success in innovation.     

Influence factors of trust building in cooperation agreements

Trust is a key success factor in cooperation agreements. Therefore, identifying the factors that make the greatest contribution toward building trust is fundamental for an understanding of cooperation agreements. This paper analyzes two factors that might contribute to generating trust for successful agreements during the initial stages of the relationship. These factors are the partner's reputation and prior partnering experience. The study aims to confirm and complete the understanding of the relationship between these two variables and the success of cooperation agreements, by examining the indirect effect, through trust building, that these factors have on the success of agreements. The study analyzes these relationships by applying a structural equation model on the basis of partial least squares (PLS) methodology. The total impact of previous cooperation experience and the partner's reputation on the success of cooperation agreements is strong, positive, and significant.     

电子商务环境下我国第三方物流企业加快信息化建设的障碍及策略研究

电子商务的迅速发展给第三方物流企业的发展既带来了机遇,又带来了新的挑战。本文首先分析了电子商务环境下第三方物流信息化的必要性,然后对我国的第三方物流企业信息化建设的现状及面临的主要障碍进行了阐述和剖析,最后提出了我国第三方物流企业加快信息化建设的策略。     

Processing and marketing raw materials

The concept of South-South cooperation in development policy seeks not only to enlarge traditional trading relations but also to strengthen the negotiating position of the Third World vis-à-vis the First World. An important partial aspect of this is cooperation in the raw materials sphere. The following article provides an overview of structures, opportunities and obstacles for raw material processing in the context of South-South cooperation.     

Management of international strategic business cooperation: Situational conditions,performance criteria,and success factors

In recent years, international strategic business cooperation has attracted great attention in both international management theory and practice. Several prominent examples demonstrate that interfirm alliances can no longer be viewed as second‐best solutions but must be recognized as efficient forms of internationalization. In this article, the specific management problems of international strategic business cooperation are analyzed and a systematic approach for their solution is presented. After outlining three examples that represent three different forms of international strategic business cooperation, a conceptual framework is developed that integrates three different perspectives: situational conditions, management instruments, and performance criteria. In the main part of the article, five success factors of international strategic business cooperation (partner selection, cooperation agreement, management structure, acculturation process, and knowledge management) are discussed. The article ends with a short summary and implications for further research. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

论泛珠三角区域经济合作自组力

文章在论述“泛珠三角”区域经济合作的内容、如何消除三类障碍、实施区域共同经济政策的基础上,提出了区域经济合作自组力的理论,对自组力的来源、性质、结构、机能等进行了论述,并依据此理论提出了建立我国纵横结合新体制的改革设想.     

Long Term Collaborative Business Relationships: The Impact of Trust and C3 Behaviour

Long-term, collaborative business relationships are like marriages where tolerance, forbearance and some reduction of freedom as well as innovation are necessary to ensure success. Trust and co-operative behaviours are known to be essential ingredients in securing an environment of continuous improvement but, how they are correlated has yet to be tested. The paper describes a research project within a sample of long-term monopoly businesses as a novel approach to bringing trust and cooperation, co-ordination and collaboration (C³ Behaviour) into sharper focus without competitive distractions. It was found that a correlation between trust and C³ Behaviour and the success of the collaborative relationship exists.     

Cross-Divisional Orientation: Antecedents and Effects on Cross-Selling Success

Purpose: To determine which company internal prerequisites must be in place and managed to realize a successful cross-selling strategy and to find answers on how to overcome cross-selling obstacles.

Methodology/approach: Qualitative and quantitative data from various industries provide insights into the implementation of a successful cross-selling strategy. Qualitative data serve to derive the hypotheses and constructs and design quantitative measures. Structural equation modeling with data from a management survey of an industrial glass manufacturer tests the proposed effects.

Findings: The cross-divisional orientation of a company affects the realization of cross-selling potential and the number of product divisions a salespersons sells. These factors then influence the salesperson's motivation and readiness to engage in cross-selling activities, which finally affect the company's overall cross-selling success. A salesperson's state of mind has the greatest impact on cross-selling success.

Research implications: Similar results might be expected for various other industries, which need to be tested. The findings could be enhanced by incorporating a wider range of customer characteristics into the analysis, as well as other mediating or moderating variables.

Practical implications: There is a clear need to enable cross-divisional acting and thinking among salespeople. Managers should foster cross-selling motivation and invest in specific training and recruitment to increase the dissemination of knowledge across divisions and reassure salespeople about offering various products.

Originality/value/contribution: This contribution to current practice clarifies why cross-selling often does not work and why it remains so challenging to realize. The combination of three sources of data—qualitative, objective, and quantitative—advances cross-selling research by considering internal obstacles to cross-selling and revealing ways to overcome them.     

Entrepreneurial orientation and strategic alliance success: The contingency role of relational factors

This study extends entrepreneurship research into the domain of strategic alliances by hypothesizing a positive relationship between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm-level alliance success. Drawing on a relational view, we further examine the focal relationship within a contingency framework, building on the distinction between cooperation (joint action and bonding) and conflict. Findings from a study of 197 partner firms suggest that a high level of joint action strengthens the positive relationship between EO and alliance success. Bonding moderates the relationship in an inverted U-shape manner such that the effect of EO on alliance success will be greatest when bonding exists at the moderate level. However, conflict has no significant moderating effect on the EO–alliance success relationship. Overall, this study provides novel insights into whether and when partner firms can translate an EO into final alliance outcomes.     

新时代中俄天然气合作的挑战与对策

全球能源消费结构正向更加绿色、低碳方向转型,天然气在转型中发挥着重要作用。新时代下,中国天然气进口依存度快速提高,俄罗斯天然气出口面临挑战。与此同时,中俄全面战略协作伙伴关系不断加强,两国天然气合作机制逐步完善,天然气合作快速走向务实。但中俄内部和外部环境中存在着制约两国天然气合作的因素,也存在合作层次有待提升、基础设施条件有待进一步改善的问题。因此,中俄要加快天然气合作步伐,解决国内存在的制约因素,构建两国合作利益共同体。可以采取提升天然气合作层次,加强基础设施互联互通建设的对策来突破当前合作障碍,以此不断提升天然气合作水平。     

从新闻传媒视角看中俄林业经贸合作

经过几十年的努力,中俄林业经贸合作已经取得了一定的成绩,但还存在不如人意的地方,其中观念方面的差异表现比较突出。为了加强中俄在林业方面的经贸合作,新闻媒体的作用不容忽视,而建立一家宣传中俄林业经贸合作的主流媒体不失为一个好的合作方式。     

辽宁沿海经济带的产业集聚研究

许多产业在辽宁沿海经济带内已形成了空间集聚状态,但同时由于城市间的交叉定位,各产业间也存在着重复建设的现象。各城市发展不平衡和行政分割是产业分工和合作的主要障碍。针对这些问题,提出了制定城市的差异性定位与合理分工体系,建立跨区域协调组织,按产业的空间集聚度进行产业布局,建立网络化的产业集群等调整对策。     

对东北亚区域经济合作的再思考

东北亚地区以其特有的地缘和经济互补优势,成为21世纪最具发展潜力的经济合作区域,并成为推动世界经济增长的主要动力。应发掘东北亚发展的潜力,从分析影响区域经济合作的各种有利条件和制约因素入手,切实解决其经济合作中存在的各种障碍,推进贸易自由化,加强区域经济合作与互信,完善东北亚区域合作组织和协调机制,实现东北亚各国均衡发展,以促进区域整体合作目标的实现。     

Determinants of R&D cooperation in small and medium-sized enterprises

We investigate the determinants of research and development (R&D) cooperation in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using firm-level data from the 2002 Korean Innovation Survey and applying a probit model with sample selection, we find that incoming spillovers of knowledge have a significant and positive impact on SMEs?? decisions to engage in R&D cooperation. In particular, the effect of knowledge spillovers on R&D cooperation is much larger for smaller firms. Despite the importance of external knowledge for SMEs, the estimation results suggest that SMEs may be at a disadvantage in establishing external R&D linkages because of their absolute size limitations.     

论电信运营商供应链管理中的竞争与合作

本文从电信运营企业供应链的变化开始,首先分析了运营商在供应链中的核心竞争地位的获得和强化必须依靠对关键资源的控制和不断增强在供应链中的主动权,然后从战略合作的角度分析了与其他企业进行合作的必要性,指出只有合理地安排竞争与合作的关系,才能真正实现供应链竞争的成功。     

Barriers and enablers for innovation in the retail sector: Co-innovating with the customer. A case study in grocery retailing

This article aims to analyze innovation barriers and drivers in the retail sector and report on a successful product innovation case study of a leading grocery retailing firm in Spain. The firm, Mercadona, successfully launched an original co-innovation initiative with its customers consisting of bringing consumers to co-innovation labs set up by the company, having them analyze, in a home environment setting, how they use the firm's products and what suggestions they have for alternative methods, improvements, or completely new developments. The research findings were conclusive that a combination of customer focus culture, brand development, and cooperation with suppliers was crucial for the success of the project. Technology contributed as well as a supportive tool of the communication with consumers. The method followed a new and unique ethnographic approach.     

Outcomes of advertiser–agency relationships

The form and the role of cooperation within advertising relationships is the focus of this research. The theory posits that trust, commitment and cooperation are the core of the relationship and that the agency’s performance and the advertiser’s willingness-to-paymore for the agency’s services are the outcomes. Cooperation is defined and tested as a higher-order construct with three facets: shared problem solving, information exchange and flexibility. Competing theories are presented: the shared-influence model and the sole-mediator model. The contrast between the models focuses on whether the influence of trust and commitment is: (1) entirely mediated through cooperation; (2) shared with cooperation; or (3) bypasses cooperation altogether. The results indicate that although cooperation has a strong influence on agency performance, both trust and commitment have direct and indirect (mediated through cooperation) influences on performance. This supports the shared-influence model. The results also indicate that cooperation can successfully be measured as a higher-order construct.     

Mergers and Acquisitions in the Software Industry

This paper analyzes approaches investigating success drivers of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in the software industry. The literature review covers a classification of research papers in the generic and software industry specific M&A research discipline. The results accentuate that the impact of success factors depends on the research context and that many factors have not been examined so far with respect to the software industry. Building on these insights, the resulting areas for research are pointed out. The investigation of software industry specific factors, in particular, promises to contribute to the analysis of variance in M&A performance.     

The State of Research on Information Systems Success

Measuring information systems (IS) success is of great interest to both researchers and practitioners. This article examines multidimensional approaches to measuring IS success and explores the current state of IS success research through a literature review and by classifying articles published between 2003 and 2007. Based on a total of 41 academic journal and conference publications, the relevant research carried out is identified, while the research results are categorized, consolidated, and discussed. The results show that the dominant empirical research analyzes the individual impact of a certain type of information system by ascertaining users’ evaluation of it by means of surveys and then applying structural equation modeling. The DeLone and McLean information systems success model is the main theoretical basis of the reviewed empirical studies. This article provides researchers with a comprehensive review and structuring of IS success research. Furthermore, opportunities for additional development are identified and future research directions suggested.