Open Access
Product/process definition, technology adoption and workforce qualification: impact on performance
(Taylor & Francis, 2019) Bello Pintado, Alejandro; García Marco, María Teresa; Zouaghi, Ferdaous; Enpresen Kudeaketa; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE; Gestión de Empresas
This paper analyses the impact of manufacturing technologies (MTs) and workers' qualifications on labour productivity and flexibility, taking into account the product-process (P-P) strategy adopted by the company. This allows for a discussion about the well-known P-P matrix initially proposed by Hayes and Wheelwright (1994) in order to evaluate options of production systems. The empirical analysis is performed by means of a panel of data of 13 years for the Spanish manufacturing industry, which includes a total of 7741 observations. The results indicate a complementary effect between technology and skills to overcome the trade-offs of production systems.
Open Access
Sustainability drivers and national culture in buyer-supplier environmental practices: an institutional perspective
(Emerald, 2024) Ahmadi Ghobadbezani, Zahra; Bello Pintado, Alejandro; Bortolotti, Thomas; Boscari, Stefania; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE
Purpose: This study aims to explore how sustainability drivers interact with national culture to explain the adoption of buyer–supplier environmental sustainability practices. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on Institutional Theory, this study proposes three sets of hypotheses focused on the role of key cultural dimensions: uncertainty avoidance, power distance and institutional collectivism. It uses a sample of 284 manufacturing plants across three industries and 14 countries to test these hypotheses, using regression analysis. Findings: Findings suggest that national culture matters in the adoption of buyer–supplier environmental practices; however, its effect is contingent upon the particular combination of cultural dimensions and drivers analyzed. Originality/value: This study enhances the understanding of the drivers behind buyer–supplier environmental practices by offering a novel examination of their interaction with national culture. This helps explain the heterogeneity in environmental sustainability adoption across countries.
Open Access
Quality assurance practices in the global supply chain: the effect of supplier localisation
(Taylor & Francis, 2011) Bayo Moriones, José Alberto; Bello Pintado, Alejandro; Merino Díaz de Cerio, Javier; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
This paper deals with quality management practices in the global supply chain. More specifically, the association between the geographical location of suppliers (within a country or in low labour cost countries) and quality assurance practices is analyzed. Three hypotheses are proposed and tested using a sample of 401 Spanish manufacturing establishments with at least fifty workers in all industries. The results indicate that plants purchasing a higher proportion of their inputs in low-cost countries are more likely to be certified according to a quality standard. However, no associations have been found between the localization of suppliers and the establishment of close relationships with suppliers in order to assure quality.
Open Access
Consequences of open innovation: effects on skill-driven recruitment
(Emerald, 2020) Bello Pintado, Alejandro; Bianchi, Carlos; Enpresen Kudeaketa; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE; Gestión de Empresas
Purpose This paper aims to focus on the human side of inbound open innovation by analyzing the effects that the adoption of different knowledge search strategies for innovation has on new recruitment needs. Design/methodology/approach Building on several theoretical perspectives, the study proposes three hypotheses regarding the relationship between openness and the need to recruit people with high technical and social skills. Using a pooled panel data from the Uruguayan Innovation Survey between 2004 and 2012, the authors identify open strategies followed by the firm. Findings The estimation results using pooled panel data confirm that the adoption of inbound open search strategies for innovation demands the recruitment of new employees with higher technical and social skills. Technical skills are more likely to be demanded than social skills. The effects observed are moderated by the intensity in the use of knowledge and information sources (KISs). Originality/value This paper revisits the analysis of specific knowledge search strategies at the firm level. In doing so, the study looks for the effects of specific strategies combining different knowledge sources and considers different levels of use of external KISs, from narrow to wide. While other studies have analyzed the human factor as a determinant of the success of openness for innovation, this paper re-examines the direction of this relationship. Finally, the study contributes to the evidence from a Latin American country, where these topics have received less attention.
Open Access
Bundles of HRM practices in family and non-family firms: the impact on enhancing performance
(Routledge, 2019) Bello Pintado, Alejandro; Garcés Galdeano, Lucía; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE
This paper analyzes how ability, motivation and opportunity bundles of HRM practices affect enhanced manufacturing performance in family firms (FFs) and non-family firms (NFFs). Five hypotheses were proposed and tested using data from a unique survey of 301 manufacturing plants located in Uruguay and Argentina. Estimations indicate that coherent bundles comprising HRM practices aimed at enhancing abilities (A) and giving workers the opportunity to participate in the decision-making process (O), individually and interactively, have a positive effect on manufacturing performance in FFs. A motivational bundle of HRM practices (M) has a positive effect on enhanced performance in NFFs. The study therefore establishes the existence of hierarchies among bundles, which vary with company ownership.
Open Access
Towards sustainable manufacturing: how does digitalization and development affect sustainability barriers?
(Elsevier, 2024-10-01) Ahmadi Ghobadbezani, Zahra; Bello Pintado, Alejandro; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE
This study analyzes the relationship between digitalization and sustainability in the manufacturing industry, considering the effects on sustainability barriers and the existence of differences in the level of development between countries and regions. While digitalization can improve efficiency and support sustainable goals, mixed results from previous studies suggest that there is still a need to understand how this relationship works. Using a sample of 1334 manufacturing companies with more than 20 employees from the Flash Eurobarometer 486 database and by conducting multiple regression analysis, the results reveal that although digital technologies can directly enhance environmental sustainability, the level of development moderates the effect of digitalization on the various barriers to sustainability. This study contributes to the field by deepening the knowledge about the trade-offs between digitalization and sustainability in virtue of the existence of digital divide between different levels of development among countries
Open Access
Sustainability isomorphism in buyer–supplier relationships: the impact of supply chain leadership
(Wiley, 2024) Ahmadi Ghobadbezani, Zahra; Bello Pintado, Alejandro; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE
Within the framework of institutional theory, this study explores how the proactiveness of focal (or buying) manufacturing firms, demonstrated through the adoption of various sustainability practices, influences the sustainability performance of suppliers. Additionally, it examines how the leadership capability of buying firms, particularly in terms of supply chain leadership, can play a crucial role in this link. Through empirical analysis of a sample taken from the fourth round of the High-Performance Management (HPM) project, our study reveals compelling evidence indicating that buying firms, by adopting diverse sustainability practices, such as internal initiatives, monitoring efforts and collaborative approaches with suppliers, are able to create distinct institutional pressures. These pressures serve as a conduit for the diffusion of a shared set of sustainability goals, values and norms among suppliers, ultimately contributing to the development of sustainability competences and improving their overall sustainability performance. Furthermore, our findings suggest that when buying firms undertake a leading position, they can effectively translate isomorphism pressures into sustainability improvements on the supplier side. Overall, this study sheds light on important and understudied aspects of sustainability practices in buyer¿supplier relationships and underscores the critical role that supply chain leadership can play in promoting sustainable practices across the entire supply chain.
Open Access
Pay to be green? The effect of corporate social responsibility contracting on green innovation performance
(SAGE, 2023) Hou, Yuting; Bello Pintado, Alejandro; García Marco, María Teresa; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE
This study examines how the integration of corporate social responsibility (CSR) criteria in executive compensation can improve green innovation performance in European countries. Using agency theory and stakeholder theory, and a database of 5,603 firm-year observations from European companies in the period 2012–2021, we find that CSR aligns the interests of senior executives with the company’s green innovation goals through green compensation contracts. We also explore the indirect effect in this relationship and reveal that the implementation of green practices mediates the impact of CSR contracting on green innovation performance. These findings indicate that CSR contracting as an effective governance mechanism could be strengthened by green practices, such as reducing resource use, water efficiency, energy reuse, emission reduction and pollution prevention. This study offers valuable insights for senior executives and policymakers who wish to manage CSR initiatives and green practices to improve their green innovation performance.
Open Access
Alcance de mecanismos de cooperación regional frente a la crisis política en Venezuela
(Universidad del Zulia (Venezuela), 2019) Torres, Veruska; Solís, Jennifer; Bello Pintado, Alejandro; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
Tras el comienzo de un proceso revolucionario iniciado por Hugo Chávez Frías en 1999, Venezuela ha entrado en una situación política, económica y social complicada, que desde el año 2013 con la llegada al poder de Nicolás Maduro Moros, el sucesor del presidente Chávez, ha devenido en una polarización más aguda del país en torno a dos visiones políticas distintas, la oficialista y la de oposición, que ha desembocado en una crisis política interna provocando el claro interés de los organismos internacionales del continente, no sólo aquellos de índole primordialmente político como la Organización de Estados Americanos, entre otros, sino también quienes priorizan los intereses económicos como el Mercado Común del Sur. El objetivo de esta investigación que abordó el periodo 2013-2017, se centra en analizar el alcance de los mecanismos de cooperación americanos frente a la actual situación en Venezuela. Desde un enfoque neorrealista de las Relaciones Internacionales, y a través de la revisión de encuentros, declaraciones y estatutos, se evidencia entre los resultados que aún no se ha logrado un consenso institucional sobre cómo hacer frente a tal situación debido no sólo a la diversidad de enfoques políticos que convergen en ellos, sino también a la naturaleza misma de los organismos.
Open Access
How many to be different? The role of number and the partner type on innovation performance
(Taylor & Francis, 2022) Ismail, Muhammad; Bello Pintado, Alejandro; García Marco, María Teresa; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE
Collaboration with external partners for innovation is seen as a major driver of novel ideas. Previous studies have revealed the importance of collaboration with different partners on innovation performance; however, many questions regarding this association remain unresolved. This study aims to analyse the effects of collaboration with different types of partners on the innovation performance and how the cognitive distance affects this relationship. This study also distinguishes between incremental and radical innovations as outcomes of cooperation, and provides differing implications for the two innovations types. Based on empirical analyses performed on a sample of 12,000 Spanish firms, we found supportive evidence that both radical and incremental innovation require a distinct number of collaboration partners to optimise innovation performance. Further, relationship between the number of partners and innovation performance is moderated by the cognitive distance between the focal firm and the respective partner: positively for radical innovation and negatively for incremental innovation performance.