José Morales

Bio: José Morales is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Empirical research & Total quality management. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 8 citations.

The impact of organisational culture, organisational structure and technological infrastructure on process improvement through knowledge sharing

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediator role that knowledge sharing plays between organisational culture, organisational structure, and technology infrastructure and process improvement in a knowledge management context in manufacturing enterprises operating in the food, beverage and textile industry.,An empirical study is conducted with a sample of 200 food, beverage and textile companies. Data are obtained by means of a survey questionnaire applied to general managers in each of the sample firms. The impact of the factors organisational culture, organisational structure and technology infrastructure on process improvement via knowledge sharing is assessed. Structural equation modelling and maximum likelihood estimation are applied to find the direction and strength of the relationships.,The main findings indicate the significant relationships between knowledge sharing and process improvement, between organisational culture and knowledge sharing, and between organisational structure and knowledge sharing. The relationship between technology infrastructure and knowledge sharing is found not to be significant.,The findings of the present study are limited to the food, beverage and textile industry. Future research could incorporate data from other manufacturing sectors or service companies.,This study provides practical guidance for general managers who wish to implement process improvement programmes.,Several authors have noted that there are few research studies concerning the interaction between each phase of knowledge management and total quality management practices. This study is interested in knowledge sharing and its impact on process improvement in a knowledge management context.

Innovative performance of project teams: the role of organizational structure and knowledge-based dynamic capability

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the relationship between knowledge-based dynamic capability and organizational structure on team innovative performance in Brazilian industrial companies.,This study is based on data from a survey of 262 respondents from 65 companies in the Brazilian industrial sector with project teams and followed the partial least squares approach to model the structural equation that was used for data analysis.,The results of the study show that mechanical structures with a high degree of formalization and centralization have a negative impact on knowledge-based dynamic capability and integration has a positive relationship with dynamic capability. Moreover, the research shows that project team innovative performance is directly affected by knowledge generation and combination capability; however, knowledge acquisition/absorption does not interfere with project team innovative activity.,This study contributes to the managers of firms in the industrial sector by analyzing how the characteristics of organizational structure impact dynamic capability and project team innovative performance. The results of this study indicate that more mechanical structures have more difficulty in developing knowledge-based dynamic capability in the context of project teams.,This study advances the concept of knowledge-based dynamic capability from the firm level to the project team level. This study accesses a research gap that characterizes organizational structure as an antecedent of dynamic capability, analyzing the impact of organizational structure on the dimensions of dynamic capability and of the latter on project team innovative performance.

Adoption of Big Data Analytics and Its Impact on Organizational Performance in Higher Education Mediated by Knowledge Management

Abstract: Due to SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, higher education institutions are challenged to continue providing quality teaching, consulting, and research production through virtual education environments. In this context, a large volume of data is being generated, and technologies such as big data analytics are needed to create opportunities for open innovation by obtaining valuable knowledge. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of big data analytics and evaluate the relationship it has with performance and knowledge management, taking into consideration that this technology is in its initial stages and that previous research has provided varied results depending on the sector in focus. To address these challenges, a theoretical framework is developed to empirically test the relationship of these variables; 265 members of universities in Latin America were surveyed, and structural equation modeling is used. The findings identify compatibility, an adequate organizational data environment, and external support as factors required to adopt big data analytics, and their positive relationship is tested with knowledge management processes and organizational performance. This study provides practical guidance for decision-makers involved in or in charge of defining the implementation strategy of big data analytics in higher education institutions.

Innovation speed and quality in higher education institutions: the role of knowledge management enablers and knowledge sharing process

Abstract: Higher education institutions, particularly in developing countries, are striving for superior innovation performance to cope with the challenges of contemporary educational environment. Drawing on the knowledge management capability model and knowledge-based view of firms, this study aims to determine the impact of knowledge management enablers, namely, top management knowledge value, knowledge-oriented culture and knowledge-based rewards, on innovation speed and quality and assessing the mediating role of knowledge sharing process.,Data are collected from 234 academics of higher education institutions in Pakistan and analyzed through the partial least squares structural equation modeling technique.,The results indicate that top management knowledge value and knowledge-based rewards have a positive effect on innovation speed and quality. Although knowledge-oriented culture also contributes to innovation quality, it does not influence the innovation speed. Moreover, the knowledge sharing process mediates the effect of all these knowledge management enablers on innovation speed and quality.,This study underscores the importance of three key knowledge management enablers in higher education institutions. The findings of this study suggest that signaling knowledge value from the top management, fostering knowledge-oriented culture and enacting a knowledge-based reward system are critical in facilitating knowledge sharing process and enhancing innovation speed and quality in higher education institutions.,This is among one of the earlier studies that investigates the influence of top management knowledge value, knowledge-oriented culture and knowledge-based rewards on innovation speed and quality, particularly in higher education institutions, and determines the mediating role of the knowledge sharing process.

Organizational structure and convergent change: explanatory factors in SMEs

Abstract: By integrating the structural contingency and the organizational adaptation theories, this study analyzes the impact of the main variables of organizational structure on convergent change. The authors also examine whether some contingency variables, such as the firm's size, age and sector, may help to explain differences in the relationship between organizational structure and convergent change.,This work was carried out through an explanatory and cross-sectional study. The hypotheses were tested through a multiple regression analysis.,This paper demonstrates that, in Bogota's SMEs, modifications in differentiation and formalization explain convergent change, and that centralization does not affect it. Furthermore, the authors find that the company's size explains these relationships, and that age and sector do not influence them.,The authors provide useful information in this work to guide managers and professionals on the implications of organizational structure and convergent change, more specifically on decisions regarding hierarchical arrangement, job division and processes redefinition.,This work provides empirical evidence with original data for a better understanding of the reality of Colombian SMEs in the Latin American context.

Examining the impact of firm-specific and environmental-specific factors on short and long-term firm survival during an economic crisis

Abstract: Looking back on the last 12 years, the whole planet went through two major economic crises (2008 and 2019), which both had a profound impact on the survival of businesses. The present study aims to develop and empirically test a conceptual framework that investigates the factors that have an influence on firm survival. More specifically, the study proposes a three-dimensional framework that includes performance drivers (utilizing resource-based view [RBV] factors), performance measures and the measurement of firm survival. Such a multi-dimensional approach has very rarely been explored in the existing literature.,A thorough literature review revealed gaps in the literature and offered the basis for developing the proposed conceptual framework of the study. Its empirical examination (hypothesis testing) was conducted with the use of a newly developed structured questionnaire that was distributed to a group of Greek manufacturing organizations (the final sample consists of 364 manufacturing companies). Empirical data were analyzed using the “structural equation modeling” (SEM) technique (multivariate analysis) and other similar techniques (i.e. exploratory factor analysis and analysis of variance). The study is empirical (based on primary data), explanatory (examines cause and effect relationships), deductive (tests research hypotheses) and quantitative (includes the analysis of quantitative data collected with the use of a structured questionnaire).,On the one hand, empirical results point out that “manufacturing-marketing alignment,” “manufacturing capabilities,” “structural configuration” and “business performance under crisis” have the most significant impact and on short-term survival (current situation). On the other hand, “competitive advantage” and “business performance under crisis” have the most significant impact on long-term survival (future situation). Focusing on RBV factors, only “structural configuration” and “manufacturing capabilities” directly affect short-term survival, while “manufacturing–marketing alignment” has an indirect effect on the same factor. Then again, all RBV factors indirectly affect long-term survival. Also, it is confirmed that short-term survival strongly affects long-term survival.,The present study contributes to the debate concerning the antecedents of firm survival, since current empirical findings are quite inconsistent. Specifically, crucial performance drivers and other measures are incorporated into an original model, which reveals their synergies and their impact on the dynamic dimensions of firm survival. Additionally, it enhances the stream of research that investigates firm survival under crisis since very few similar empirical studies have been conducted. Finally, firm survival is not measured as a static concept but rather as a dynamic one (firm survival – current situation and firm survival – future situation). Overall, the final model can explain 35.2% of the variance in “firm survival – current situation” and 46.3% of the variance in “firm survival – future situation.”