Open Access
Pushing limits in higher education: inclusion services' perspectives on supporting students with learning disabilities in Spanish universities
(Taylor & Francis, 2023) Torre Martínez, Rocío de la; Calleja, Gema; Erro Garcés, Amaya; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
The unprecedented growth of universities in recent years has meant that there are more students with learning disabilities attending courses. Consequently, universities have had to adapt, improve and create new resources to ensure greater inclusivity. These resources, their design, and development are managed by inclusion support services, aiming to the full inclusion of students with disabilities and the promotion of community awareness. This article aims to shed light on the current role of inclusion services in supporting students with learning disabilities, and the link these services have with the different university stakeholders, using a thematic analysis from the experiences of this services staff in eight Spanish universities. The results show that: i) there is no uniformity in the support services; and ii) more resources and work are needed to ensure increased inclusion and awareness. The discussion and conclusions drawn highlight the trends, challenges, and opportunities for universities improving their inclusion.
Open Access
Teleworking in the context of the Covid-19 crisis
(MDPI, 2020) Belzunegui Eraso, Ángel; Erro Garcés, Amaya; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
This article aims to analyze the implementation of teleworking as a security practice to face the crisis resulting from the Covid-19 disease. The present paper provides both theoretical and practical results. From a theoretical standpoint, the Baruch and Nicholson approach is extended with environmental, safety, and legal factors that explain telework. From a practical perspective, a database of companies that have introduced telework as a measure to face coronavirus in a crisis context has been obtained. In short, the Covid-19 crisis demonstrates how teleworking has been used by companies to ensure their employees' safety and to provide continuity to economic activity. Consequently, safety factors are relevant in the study of teleworking and should be considered in further research.
Open Access
Industry 4.0: defining the research agenda
(Emerald, 2019) Erro Garcés, Amaya; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
Purpose. Industry 4.0 implies that global challenges exist within the manufacturing sector. Both theoretical and empirical research has been developed to support these transformations and assist companies in the process of changing. The purpose of this paper is to gather previous articles through an updated review and defines a research agenda for future investigation based on the most recent studies published in the field. Design/methodology/approach. Key articles on the subject are analysed. The articles were published in 39 journals from which 107 papers dating from 2005 to 2018 have been selected. Findings. The main findings imply the definition of a research agenda where: a common terminology should be created; the levels of implementation of Industry 4.0 should be defined; the stages of the development of Industry 4.0 should be identified; a lean approach for this industry is defined and the implications of Industry 4.0 in either a sustainable or circular economy should be understood; the consequences of human resources should be analysed; and the effects of the smart factory in the organisation are the areas identified and studied in the mentioned research agenda. Research limitations/implications. This review has some limitations. First, a number of grey literature, such as reports from non-governmental organisations and front-line practitioners' reflections, were not included. Second, only research studies in English and Spanish were reviewed. Practical implications. This review helps practitioners in their implementation of Industry 4.0. Moreover, the identified future research areas may help to define priorities in this implementation. Originality/value. After examining previous research, this paper proposes a research agenda covering issues about Industry 4.0. This research agenda should guide future investigations in the smart industry.
Open Access
Operational and strategic decisions in hospitality. Lessons from an action research process
(Springer, 2019) Erro Garcés, Amaya; Ramírez Ávila, Laura; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
The aim of this article is to find measures that reduce personnel costs in a catering company through the optimization of routes and tasks for staff to increase the efficiency of the company, and to transfer these measures to the sector as a whole. This paper is based on action research methodology which facilitates both taking action and creating knowledge or theory about the action analysed. Findings demonstrate that the solution focused on minimization of the workers’ operations and optimization of routes does not solve the problems identified in the company. The flexibility of action research allows adaptation of the focus on the needs of the company, and both the problem and solution are redefined. Thus, a discovered relationship between operational and organizational management is the main outcome obtained in the research. As a result, six proposals are described: clarifying task assignments, improving organizational management and the estimation of provisions, optimizing routes, reducing personal services, and improving human resources policy. It is concluded that the performance of both manager and employees is influenced by the organizational strategy.
Open Access
Creativity and emotions as drivers for social entrepreneurship
(Taylor & Francis, 2019) Erro Garcés, Amaya; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
Social entrepreneurship is closely related to welfare because social welfare emerges when creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship are developed together, creating a 'cluster of value' that appears when several value chains are bundled together, resulting in increased employment. This paper presents three cases in which a main character drives a 'cluster of value': Father Arizmendiarrieta, Mr Huarte and Mr Pérez 'Peridis'. Findings show the relevance of emotions, the role of teams and experts that recognize innovations, the relevance of stakeholder wealth and the importance of linking day-to-day challenges to social entrepreneurship, because creativity is closely related to everyday concerns.
Open Access
Leader-follower gender and job satisfaction: a two-wave study from Europe
(Fundação Escola de Comércio Álvares Penteado (FECAP), 2024-10-04) Erro Garcés, Amaya; Urien Angulo, Begoña; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa; Institute for Advanced Research in Business and Economics - INARBE
Purpose – This paper studies leadership behavior in relation to leader gender, gender congruence, and their relationships with employee job satisfaction over time. Theoretical framework – Drawing on the perspective of gender stereotypes and the role congruity framework, this study examines how communal stereotypes socially attributed to females can compromise their assessment as competent leaders. Design/methodology/approach – Two sets of data from the European Working Conditions Survey were studied. Mean comparisons and multivariate regression analyses were carried out on samples of 25,649 at Time 1 and 26,047 at Time 2. Findings – The main findings show different leadership behaviors between male and female leaders. Contrary to expectations, females displayed more of both instrumental-and relationship-oriented behaviors, and this difference has increased over time. However, fewer differences are observed in instrumental-oriented behaviors. The results also suggest that employees' gender affects how some leadership behaviors are perceived. Finally, no gender differences were found in job satisfaction, as the behaviors studied positively relate to it. Practical & social implications of research – From a practical perspective, fostering a diverse array of leadership behaviors is important for enhancing employee job satisfaction within organizations. Female leaders are increasingly viewed positively in the workplace. Originality/value – Female leaders show a more versatile set of leadership behaviors compared to their male counterparts. Differences in relationship-oriented behaviors persist, and the gender of the employee is important in perceiving which behaviors male or female leaders engage in more.
Open Access
Futuros escenarios del management. Casos de éxito y evidencia empírica
(Ministerio de Industria, Comercio y Turismo, 2017) Erro Garcés, Amaya; Pérez García, Raquel María; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
Este documento persigue identificar tendencias que afecten al management del futuro. En concreto, se proponen cinco posibles: Industria 4.0, el Big Data, el Internet de las Cosas, la realidad virtual y la ciberseguridad. Para cada una de estas tendencias, se ha presentado un análisis del concepto y diferentes escenarios organizativos en los que esta tendencia modifica las formas de gestionar la empresa. Asimismo, se han descrito diferentes casos de estudio en los que se implantan cada una de estas tendencias. Con la finalidad de validar si, efectivamente, estas realidades constituyen realmente tendencias de futuro en el ámbito empresarial, se han realizado varios análisis empíricos. En primer lugar, se elaboró un estudio de los términos en buscadores de Internet para conocer la popularidad de estos conceptos. Posteriormente, se entrevistaron a directivos de diferentes sectores de referencia para constatar su visión acerca de estos nuevos escenarios. Como conclusión, estos directivos validaron las propuestas previas, ratificando que las tendencias propuestas son una realidad en muchas de sus empresas, e indicaron la necesidad de adaptar las organizaciones a estos entornos de futuro. La transformación actual que se está realizando en las empresas conlleva unos beneficios que se pueden considerar extensivos a cualquier sector, si bien serán más patentes en mayor o menor medida dependiendo del tipo de empresa y de su actividad. Todos estos cambios no implican solamente rentabilidad económica, sino también el aumento de la satisfacción de empleados y clientes, agilidad en la toma de decisiones y la mejora de la imagen de la compañía. Por lo señalado anteriormente, la aplicación de las tendencias es vista por parte de las empresas como una inversión imprescindible para su salud y supervivencia. Finalmente, se elaboró un cuestionario dirigido al sector de automoción, en el que se preguntaba a las empresas por tendencias que afectarían a su futuro. Temas como la Industria 4.0 fueron destacados como tendencias. Entre las limitaciones que este estudio presenta cabe destacar la muestra limitada que se ha utilizado, y la necesidad de incrementar el número de empresas participantes en el análisis empírico. Futuras investigaciones sobre estos temas podrían dirigirse a estudiar la implantación de cada una de estas tendencias en la empresa española, así como las medidas públicas dirigidas a potenciar su desarrollo.
Open Access
Mental wellbeing and work-related quality of life across European workers: characteristics and associated factors
(Emerald, 2024-11-25) Erro Garcés, Amaya; Iriarte Redin, Concha; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
Purpose: Mental well-being of employees has decreased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on the data collected by Eurofound in the electronic survey 'Living, working and COVID-19' (2020), this paper aims to identify which aspects of the work-related quality of life and other sociodemographic variables can explain the mental well-being of workers in, especially, convulsive times like those experienced during COVID-19 and beyond. The main objective is to improve labor welfare in the future. Design/methodology/approach: With a sample of 8,777 observations (Round 2), cross-sectional analyses were conducted. Findings: The results indicated that all factors of work quality of life such as working conditions, work–family interface, job stress and job satisfaction were predictors of the mental well-being of workers. Likewise, being a woman, being of mature age, having a partner and having good training/education were variables also associated with mental well-being. Originality/value: The research revealed that the pandemic in Europe had a greater impact on the psychological well-being of women compared to men. Also, younger populations exhibited decreased levels of mental health.
Open Access
Social work educational programmes aimed at the young: redefining programmes to succeed?
(Taylor & Francis, 2020) Aguilar Tablada, María Victoria; Erro Garcés, Amaya; Pérez García, Raquel María; Sociología y Trabajo Social; Soziologia eta Gizarte Lana; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
In recent years, young people’s behavior has undergone major changes as they have been affected by the crisis that influences their future perspectives and goals. In this context, the demands of youth pose a relevant challenge to social work education. To respond to this challenge, social work education programmes should be adapted. Using meta-analysis methods, this article reviews the current situation of educational programmes focused on young people in the field of social work. Four areas were identified as results from the literature review: social work education programmes focused on specific needs, the adoption of ICTs to complement social work education services, the development of children’s programmes to address problematic situations in their earlier stages, and proposals for improving educational programmes. The main findings show that most studies focused on improving social work education programmes and analyzing the specific needs of social work users. On the other hand, ICTs are not included in most of the articles selected. These results allow us to identify several key recommendations that will assist social work education programmes in successfully adopting and implementing changes experienced to better meet the needs of young people in their daily practice.
Open Access
Co-designing doctoral programs to enhance postgraduate students' employability: insights from industry stakeholders
(Emerald, 2023) Pérez García, Raquel María; Erro Garcés, Amaya; Aramendia Muneta, María Elena; López Peláez, Antonio; Gestión de Empresas; Enpresen Kudeaketa
Purpose: Doctoral programs play a crucial role in promoting innovation and technology transfer in universities. To design these programs effectively and with a co-design perspective, it is essential to consider all stakeholders involved in the process, including teachers, students and employers. The main objective of this study is to enhance postgraduate programs to improve students' employability. Design/methodology/approach: This empirical study was conducted over a three-year period and employed semi-structured interviews as its primary research methodology. In the first phase, 21 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers from various sectors. The second phase involved 20 interviews, and the final phase of the study included 18 interviews with the same managers from previous phases. Findings: The study's main results revealed that the international networks, language proficiency and analytical skills of doctoral students were highly valued by employers. The main findings come from companies with doctoral students. Therefore, the skills were identified during the learning experience of the PhD graduates in the companies. Practical implications: The study's results can guide improvements in postgraduate program curricula and design to enhance students' employability. Originality/value: This research presents a novel approach to its findings. On the one hand, the study's conclusions may provide valuable insights for business agents, encouraging them to hire PhD students. On the other hand, it aims to drive necessary changes that promote more PhD students' focus on non-academic careers, creating significant value for research and innovation in the private sector.