Influence of Advertising on Brand Personality in The Airline Sector: The Case of Spain

This article outlines the findings of a study employing a partial least squares (PLS) structural equation methodology to explore the relationship among advertising and brand personality (BP) dimension of a validated Aaker's model (1997) in the airline business. BP refers to the emotional side of brand image. It is created by all experiences of consumers with a brand. The model was validated using confirmatory factor analysis and the effect of advertising on BP has been tested using PLS. The findings suggest that advertising influences the formation of BP only in the sophistication dimension. These results invite managers in the airline companies sector to develop communication strategies to create a distinguishing and attractive BP that will help them connect with their consumers.     

Entrepreneurs or employees: a cross-cultural cognitive analysis

This study examines the influence of the cultural-cognitive dimension - measured through creativity, risk taking and independence - on the probability of becoming an entrepreneur or an employee. Institutional economics is used as theoretical framework of the research. The empirical research uses binomial and multinomial probit models, when controlling for socio-demographic factors and macro variables. Data was obtained from the World Values Survey, for the period 2005-2008, considering a sample of 41 countries and 56,875 individuals. The main findings demonstrate that creativity, risk taking and independence increase the probability of becoming entrepreneur, and decrease the probability of becoming employee. Given that these characteristics facilitate the birth of new ideas, processes, products, and services, it is crucial to learn from entrepreneurs, and to foster such characteristics within organizations. The results have contributions for both researchers and policymakers on new firm creation (entrepreneurship) and on the generation of innovation within organisations (intrapreneurship).     

‘Tour me onshore’: understanding cruise tourists’ evaluation of shore excursions through text mining

ABSTRACT

The aim of this paper is to shed light on the elements underlying cruise tourists’ evaluation of shore excursions, approaching them as an interaction of expressive and instrumental components.

To fulfil the aim of the investigation, a thematic content analysis of 1296 online reviews was conducted using the text-mining software Leximancer. The results of the study revealed that cruise visitors with different overall satisfaction with their guided tour focus the narrative of their opinion on different tour attributes. Thus, the dominant themes of the cruise passengers delighted with their tour included the performance of the tour guide, the arrangement of the tour, as well as the cruise destination sightseeing. On the other hand, instrumental components such as crowded bus tours, limited time at the port of call, and inadequate excursion design appeared to be the main aspects appointed by those unsatisfied with their onshore experience. Furthermore, the study assessed and compared the perceptions of the tour experience across cruise passengers from the contemporary, premium and luxury cruise line segments.     

Socio-cultural factors and female entrepreneurship

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the main socio-cultural factors that influence women entrepreneurship in Catalonia, using institutional economics as a theoretical framework. The empirical research employs logistic regression models (rare events logit), utilizing data obtained from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project (GEM). The main findings highlight that ‘fear of failure’ and ‘perceived capabilities’ are the most important socio-cultural factors on the probability of becoming a woman entrepreneur. The research contributes both theoretically, advancing knowledge of the socio-cultural factors that affect female entrepreneurship, and practically, helping in the development of educational programmes and support policies to promote entrepreneurial activity.     

The Age Structure of Human Capital and Economic Growth

This paper shows that the age structure of human capital is a relevant characteristic to take into account when analysing the role of human capital in economic growth. The effect of an increase in the education of the population aged 40–49 years is found to be an order of magnitude larger than an increase in the education attained by any other age cohort. The results are unlikely to be driven by the age structure of the population, as we find that the effects on growth of the age structure of education and the age structure of population are distinct. The findings are robust across specifications and remain unchanged when we control for long‐delayed effects in human capital or for the experience of the workforce.     

Size,Age and Activity Sector on the Growth of the Small and Medium Firm Size

Although corporate growth is one of the most researched subjects in different areas of economic science, it is not currently based on a general theory or generally accepted conceptual definition. In spite of this, growth has usually been considered an essential objective for a firm, contributing to its survival and competitiveness. This work aims to provide a more in-depth study of the factors that condition the growth of small and medium-sized firms, by offering some empirical evidence that will contribute to its modelling, especially in relation to the influence of size, age and activity sector. In this context, we shall attempt to contrast the validity of Gibrat's approach and the Learning Theory.     

International Competitiveness of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: Peru,a Latin-American Emerging Market

Our research studies the international competitiveness of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an emerging Latin-American country. Using a sample of 100 SMEs in Peru, we find that firms compete abroad with standardized products, which are conditioned by the host-country markets, human capital, and industry cooperation. However, the results show that the age and size of the firm are not determining factors in competing overseas. Our findings open a new agenda for policymakers when interpreting how they should promote and support Latin-American SMEs.     

Relationship of business and NGOs: an empirical analysis of strategies and mediators of their private relationship

Managing the relationship with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) is a key capability for most companies, because dialogue with stakeholders is a requested feature of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). This paper analyses the relationship between businesses and NGOs in Spain. By applying grounded theory, the authors summarize this relationship in the dynamics of conflict and cooperation. NGOs' strategies vis-à-vis companies are categorized and the variables explaining different approaches on both companies' and NGOs' side are examined. The paper concludes by placing the private relationship with NGOs in a wider context (the public arena), dominated by the approach-withdrawal dynamics between firms and NGOs. Finally, this paper presents the theory that results from this research.     

Entrepreneurship policy and targets: the case of a low absorptive capacity region

Despite the existence of a positive relationship between new firm creation and economic growth, a certain controversy still exists regarding the need for the public promotion of entrepreneurship. The recent surge of entrepreneurship policies encompasses a wide variety of instruments and goals that are mainly designed and implemented at a regional or local level, which allows for a more efficient use of public resources. Case studies are therefore a useful approach to assessing “good practices” in entrepreneurship policies. We adopt this approach to empirically analyse whether policies are targeting specific entrepreneurial projects or not in the region of Valencia. We identify the features (in relation to the entrepreneur, the sector and the characteristics of the project itself) that may influence greater access to public funding and are principally related to standard requirements for this means of financing. These variables do not address specific entrepreneurial profiles, sectors or applicant projects, thereby revealing a substantial degree of horizontal policy design. Other features, such as almost all entrepreneurial characteristics (previous experience, age, etc.), do not seem relevant in terms of receiving public funds.