NECE - Research Center for Business Sciences
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NECE Research Unit in Business Sciences for a Department of Management and Economics research centre at the University of Beira Interior (UBI). The NECE mission is to catalyze and drive pioneering research in the business sciences integrating knowledge and methods from across the fields of business science. NECE aims to achieve this high level of scientific merit, of international benchmark standard, by promoting quality in research and developing new collaborative networks to enhance the R&D unit’s profile in the international research panorama.
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Browsing NECE - Research Center for Business Sciences by Author "Alves, Helena"
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- Back to the future of intellectual capital research: a systematic literature reviewPublication . Pedro, Eugénia De Matos; Leitão, João; Alves, HelenaPurpose – For better mapping the path of intellectual capital (IC) research, the purpose of this paper is to selectively review empirical studies of IC published, and identify theories, components and three dimensions of analysis: national IC (NIC), regional IC (RIC) and organizational IC (OIC). Design/methodology/approach – The systematic literature review (SLR) subject to analysis is based on empirical studies made between 1960 and 2016, and focuses on three dimensions of analysis: NIC, RIC and OIC. Four research questions were designed, using the following databases, namely, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar, for data collection purposes. Findings – The SLR unveils a multidimensional taxonomy for measuring and classifying the type of IC applicable to the different levels of analysis and provides some recommendations for future studies of NIC, RIC and OIC, by outlining the need for clear definitions of components and measures of IC and identifying strengths, limitations and future research avenues. Originality/value – In order to fill the gap found in the literature and the non-existence of a study clarifying the multiple dimensions of analysis of IC, this SLR makes a twofold, original contribution to the literature on management: providing an SLR of the main empirical studies dealing with different units of analysis; and identifying a multidimensional taxonomy for measuring and classifying the type of IC applicable to the different levels of analysis.
- Craft beer–a systematic literature review and research agendaPublication . Nave, Edgar; Duarte, Paulo; Rodrigues, Ricardo Gouveia; Paço, Arminda; Alves, Helena; Oliveira, TiagoIn recent years, the craft beer (CB) industry has gained impetus and has experienced significant growth in scientific publications. This study aims to present a systematic review of the literature on CB in areas related to economic and business sciences. Based on the data from Scopus, Web of Science and a set of articles not indexed to these databases until June 2021, a total of 132 articles were included for analysis, using bibliometric and content analysis techniques. The study allowed us to identify that CB has four main clusters/themes of research, namely, CB industry and market, marketing and branding, consumer behavior and sustainability. Detailed information on the clusters is provided. In addition, the results showed that publications addressing CB have grown significantly from 2015 onwards and are dispersed across many journals, with none assuming a clear leadership. Quantitative approaches account for more than half of publications. This study is a useful guide for academics intending to develop studies with CB. It provides a framework to structure future research by identifying existing literature clusters and proposes several research propositions. The findings from this study are useful for CB companies to get an overview of the main issues affecting the CB industry and market to be able to adapt their strategies and stay aligned with market tendencies in the four main clusters identified. This is the first systematic review of CB. Therefore, it provides a significant contribution to frame and strengthening the literature on CB and serves as a reference for future research. Based on the content analysis and cluster identification, the findings portray the status of current research. Accordingly, a set of research opportunities are offered.
- Does the quality of academic life mediate the satisfaction, loyalty and recommendation of HEI students?Publication . Pedro, Eugénia De Matos; Alves, Helena; Leitão, JoãoPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify the effects of students’ satisfaction with services on quality of academic life (QAL), formed by cognitive and affective components; and to assess the mediating effect of QOL components (cognitive and affective) on students’ loyalty and recommendation. Design/methodology/approach – Based on 726 respondent students from public higher education institutions (HEIs) in Portugal, this paper uses a partial least squares approach to analyze the impact of satisfaction on emotions and students’ QAL and to assess whether emotions influence recommendation and loyalty. Findings – The results reveal that satisfaction influences both cognitive and affective components of QAL. The cognitive component has a positive and significant influence on recommendation and loyalty whilst the affective component has no significant effect. Practical implications – The results obtained here provide implications for future action to be taken by HEI managers, in order to increase efficiency in the allocation and management of scarce resources. Therefore, when incorporating these results in decision-making processes, attention should be paid to the importance of the influence of satisfaction on QAL’s cognitive and affective components, stressing the importance of the cognitive components associated with learning experiences that play an important role in students’ future decisions in terms of loyalty and recommendation, which, in turn, are pillars of HEI sustainability. Originality/value – The present study contributes to the literature on HEI management by assessing the influence of satisfaction on two components of QAL separately: cognitive components and affective components. In addition, the causality relationships are analyzed, assessing the emotional nexus, in order to deepen knowledge about the role played by both affective and cognitive components in students’ loyalty and recommendation, which need to be addressed and studied by carrying out new research.
- Envolvimento do Cidadão em Organizações Sem Fins Lucrativos: Uma Revisão Sistemática da LiteraturaPublication . Laurett, Rozelia; Paço, Arminda; Alves, Helena; Duarte, Paulo; Rodrigues, RicardoCompreender o que gera o envolvimento do cidadão é um desafio para as organizações sem fins lucrativos. Estas organizações, além de receberem recursos do governo, também dependem dos cidadãos, que doam o seu tempo, dinheiro e dentre outros. Desta forma, este estudo teve como objetivo realizar uma revisão sistemática sobre o envolvimento do cidadão em organizações sem fins lucrativos. Para tal, foi realizada uma pesquisa nas bases de dados da ISI Web of Knowledge e Proquest. Após analisados os artigos e efetuado o processo de exclusão, 24 artigos foram utilizados na revisão sistemática da literatura. Os resultados demonstraram que este é um campo de estudo recente, sendo a primeira pesquisa identificada realizada em 2002, 67% das investigações foram no contexto dos Estados Unidos da América (EUA) e 38% das investigações foram empíricas quantitativas. Por último, foram apresentados os diversos influenciadores, dificuldades e/ou barreiras e as consequências geradas por meio do envolvimento dos cidadãos nas organizações em fins lucrativos.
- Envolvimento, eventos críticos e governança nas Empresas Familiares: Estudo de casoPublication . Fernandes, Cristina; Nave, Edgar; Alves, Helena; Ferreira, João José de Matos; Raposo, Mario; Paço, Arminda doAs empresas familiares são cruciais para o crescimento económico e desenvolvimento em todo o mundo. Estas empresas apresentam certas especificidades em termos da sua visão, intenções e comportamentos que envolvem profundamente os membros da família. No âmbito do projeto SPRING (Succession Planning and Regeneration in Family Businesses for New Growth through an innovative training program), este artigo pretende apresentar o estudo de caso da empresa Ropre com vista a ilustrar, através de várias entrevistas levadas a cabo a membros da família, o envolvimento e motivação em relação ao negócio da família ao longo do tempo, os eventos críticos que afetaram o negócio familiar, e os mecanismos de governança familiar. Os resultados apontam para visões algo opostas entre os membros da família e os membros externos, sendo esta uma possível fonte de conflitos de interesse na empresa, no futuro. Apesar destas dificuldades, a visão de longo prazo do mercado, a internacionalização, a capacidade de adaptação, e a abertura à mudança estratégica, foram determinantes para o sucesso e longevidade do negócio familiar. Este é um bom exemplo de uma empresa familiar no que respeita à capacidade de inovar e de se internacionalizar; para além disso, o envolvimento dos membros da família na empresa, a sua dedicação, resiliência e capacidade de adaptação a novas realidades é notório. No entanto, o problema da sucessão ainda precisa de ser discutido e amadurecido pela família.
- Estratégia e planeamento da sucessão de Empresas Familiares: Estudo de caso múltiploPublication . Nave, Edgar; Alves, Helena; Ferreira, João José de Matos; Raposo, Mário; Paço, Arminda do; Fernandes, CristinaAs empresas familiares assumem uma percentagem expressiva do PIB e da empregabilidade nas economias desenvolvidas, sendo a sua continuidade e transição para uma nova geração, um desafio crucial. Este estudo procura analisar a natureza dos processos de sucessão de pequenas e médias empresas familiares portuguesas, explorando as suas competências críticas e estratégias para a sucessão. Foi adotada uma metodologia qualitativa, através da dinamização de um Focus Group com oito membros séniores e juniores de empresas familiares de diferentes setores de atividade. Os resultados mostram as empresas familiares apresentam características bastante distintas das outras empresas, evidenciando experiências e obstáculos que poderão colocar a sua continuidade em causa, particularmente, a questão da sucessão. Além disso, estes negócios geralmente adoptam uma perspetiva de longo prazo, com as tomadas de decisões centradas na família e uma grande estabilidade enquando o fundador se mantém na liderança. Esta investigação contribui para a extensão do conhecimento sobre empresas familiares, especialmente de problemas derivados e vivenciados nos processos de sucessão da primeira para a segunda geração.
- HEI Efficiency and Quality of Life: Seeding the Pro-Sustainability EfficiencyPublication . Pedro, Eugénia De Matos; Leitão, João; Alves, HelenaThis study assesses the efficiency of higher education institutions (HEIs), considering the social, environmental and cultural factors (pro-sustainability), and at the same time examines how this efficiency can influence regional quality of life (QoL). The study adopts a two-step methodology. In the first step, the standard Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is used to estimate the efficiency scores of 23 Portuguese public HEIs; and in the second step, a multivariate logit regression is performed to assess the role played by the HEIs’ pro-sustainability efficiency in regional QoL. The main findings reveal that the HEIs located in the Greater Lisbon area have a higher pro-sustainability efficiency, but that efficiency is more significant regarding social factors. Concerning the contribution of pro-sustainability efficiency to the region’s QoL, this is significant for all the components, with the environmental and cultural aspects contributing positively to this significance.
- Intellectual capital and performance: taxonomy of components and multidimensional analysis axesPublication . Pedro, Eugénia De Matos; Leitão, João; Alves, HelenaPurpose – The purpose of this paper is to determine the predominant classification of intellectual capital (IC), in terms of components, using the literature of reference on the relationship between IC and performance and considering multi-dimensional analysis axes (MAAs): organisational, regional and national. Design/methodology/approach – A systematic literature review (SLR) is presented focussing on empirical studies on IC published in the period 1960-2016. A protocol for action is defined and a research question is raised, gathering data from the databases of: Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar. A social network analysis is also provided to determine the type of networks embracing groups, IC individual components and performance type. Findings – Of the 777 papers included in the SLR, 189 deal with the relationship between IC and performance. The paper highlights the greater development of empirical studies starting from 2004; the organisational MAA is the most studied. The most frequently used groups of components in studies dealing with IC’s influence on performance corresponds to a triad of human capital; structural (organisational or process) capital; and relational (social or customer) capital, which determine positively the performance of organisations/regions/countries, but their influence is not linear and depends on various factors associated with the context and surrounding environment. Practical implications – This study has wide-ranging implications for politicians/governments, managers and academics, providing empirical evidence about the relationships between the components of IC and performance, by MAAs, and a global vision and better understanding of how those IC components have developed and how they are related to performance. Originality/value – Due to the high number of references covering a wide range of disciplines and the various dimensions (e.g. organisational, regional and national) that form IC, it becomes fundamental to carry out an SRL and systematise its MAAs to deepen knowledge about what has been discovered/developed in this domain, in terms of empirical studies, in order to situate the topic in a wider theoretical-practical context. The paper is exceptionally wide-ranging, covering the period 1960-2016. It is one of the first clarifying studies on systemisation of the literature on IC, by MAA, and an in-depth study of IC’s impact on the performance of organisations/regions and countries which may serve as a guideline for future studies using the taxonomy proposed.
- Measurement of Customer’s Tacit Knowledge in Small Rural LodgingsPublication . Pereira, Carla; Alves, Helena; Ferreira, JoãoThis article seeks to contribute a first approach to the operational implementation of the facets of tacit knowledge (TK) for small rural lodgings and its impact on customers’ loyalty behavior. Based on a questionnaire survey of clients of small rural lodgings, this study operationalizes TK within a wither model applying the variables of trust, affective commitment, quality of treatment and service, satisfaction, and loyalty. The data included 598 questionnaires which were processed through recourse to the structural equation models. The results enable the conclusion that the three TK dimensions (cognitive, technical, and social) appropriately measure TK. The variables that demonstrate the capacity for employees to act beyond the scope of that requested of them and pre-emptively understanding situations are the best to explain the cognitive dimension. The variables evidencing employee know-how present the best results for the technical dimension. The variables demonstrating interactions beyond the necessary tasks and client orientation are the ones that better measure the social dimension. The scale deployed in this article, representing a first attempt to render TK operationally from the perspective of customer evaluation, has certain limitations. Some of the questionnaire variables were simply eliminated, and this may reflect how the scale requires refinement to be applicable to broader-reaching evaluation processes. This article presents a first operational application of TK to a business environment and that enables evaluation by third parties as to its relevance and importance in fostering loyalty.
- On the relationship between intellectual capital and financial performance: A panel data analysis on SME hotelsPublication . Sardo, Filipe; Serrasqueiro, Zélia; Alves, HelenaThis paper analysed the effect of intellectual capital on small and medium-sized hotel financial performance for the period between 2007 and 2015. Using a sample of 934 Portuguese small and medium-sized hotels, this study adopted the GMM system (1998) estimator, to analyse a dynamic panel data. The findings suggested that intellectual capital components, i.e., human capital, structural capital and relational capital provide a positive impact on hotel financial performance. Human capital and relational capital seemed to be key elements for the success of hotels, being the basis of service quality in the hotels sector. Furthermore, the results showed that human capital and structural capital are capitalized by the establishment and maintenance of long-term relationships with key stakeholders. These findings indicated that the interaction between intellectual capital components enhances the hotel financial performance. Herein, it is highlighted the importance of intellectual capital in small and medium-sized hotel financial performance.