Showing papers by "Vanessa Ratten published in 2021"

Coronavirus (Covid-19) and entrepreneurship: cultural, lifestyle and societal changes

Abstract: Coronavirus (Covid-19) is a pandemic that not only has caused significant havoc around the world but also presents some important opportunities for entrepreneurs to be innovative in the marketplace. The purpose of this paper is to detail in more depth how entrepreneurs have been affected by the crisis by focussing on specific types of entrepreneurship in terms of cultural, lifestyle and social change.,A review of the existing literature on Covid-19 and crisis management is conducted that highlights the effect of the pandemic on entrepreneurs. This approach enables an integration of the existing research on resilience in terms of how entrepreneurs adapt and pivot their business models in response to change. Thereby enabling a contemporary view about the ways entrepreneurs can contribute to societal well-being in times of huge economic and social upheaval.,While entrepreneurs by nature are resilient, the Covid-19 crisis in terms of its magnitude and length has led to specific challenges faced by entrepreneurs in adapting to the new environment. These challenges can be related to the way entrepreneurs respond to uncertainty by being flexible but also through the support of an entrepreneurial ecosystem environment.,Due to the Covid-19 crisis being an ongoing and recent phenomenon, this paper is amongst the first to focus specifically on how cultural, lifestyle and social attributes of society have changed. Thereby providing advice to current and future entrepreneurs about how to respond to crisis situations and to manage short- and long-term considerations. There is a growing body of research in entrepreneurship that is offering valuable insights by taking a crisis approach. In addition to the practical opportunities touched upon in this paper, there are associated numerous research potentials due to the intersection of crisis management, entrepreneurship and resilience literature.

Teleworking in Portuguese communities during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: Purpose: Human beings spend about a third of their day working, so it is very important that they are integrated into a good community work environment When the setting is teleworking in a family and housing context, it is important to keep a good environment and also a good physical, psychological and ergonomic aspects to attain job performance The purpose of this paper is to characterize teleworking carried out in Portuguese communities in the context of the state of emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic Design/methodology/approach: A survey questionnaire was used, which analyzed general information about teleworking and the individual’s adaptation process and the difficulties they faced during the teleworking period The sample consists of 359 individuals aged 18 years or over, who were teleworking in their homes and in a family environment Findings: The results show that adapting to teleworking was easy or very easy and that it happened very quickly The main difficulties encountered by the individuals were the lack of professional interaction/communication with coworkers, the lack of resources related to support infrastructures, such as the internet or a printer, and the reconciliation of teleworking with family life/household chores/dedication to children and time/schedule management Originality/value: This study hopes to contribute to the increase of the scientific knowledge in the teleworking field and to allow companies to rethink the teleworking strategies to optimize resources and costs and to improve the organization’s productivity without harming the quality of life and well-being of their workers © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

COVID-19 and entrepreneurship: Future research directions

Abstract: Innovation and futuristic thinking are needed to derive better policies to address the COVID-19 pandemic Policy considerations in terms of entrepreneurship will help understand the importance of future research on digital transformation, leadership, business impact, and social inclusiveness The societal shifts due to COVID-19 impacts unveil opportunities for entrepreneurial adjustments to achieve competitiveness and growth

Entrepreneurial ecosystems during COVID-19: the survival of small businesses using dynamic capabilities

Abstract: Purpose: The world is going through a global crisis after the outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) in most areas of the world Businesses particularly small ones do not work in isolation but instead are embedded in an entrepreneurial ecosystem that is dependent on environmental conditions The disruptive changes from COVID-19 have caused serious damage to the global economy, so it is up to entrepreneurs to bring equilibrium by introducing change This paper adopts the lens of dynamic capabilities to study how small business entrepreneurs are trying to survive and grow in an entrepreneurial ecosystem affected by coronavirus Design/methodology/approach: Using qualitative research methods, 20 Pakistani entrepreneurs have been interviewed in order to assess how the entrepreneurial ecosystem in an emerging economy has been affected by COVID-19 This enables a contemporary and realistic understanding about the way small business entrepreneurs have adjusted to a crisis Findings: From the data analysis, the three main dimensions of dynamic capabilities for small business entrepreneurs emerge, which involve a sensing, seizing and transforming capability Research limitations/implications: The findings suggest that small businesses utilise the following strategies to cope with change: emergent humanitarian crisis, carte blanche agile business models and effectual business functions These findings contribute to the literature about the challenges of current crises and how businesses can cope in this situation using a dynamic capabilities perspective Practical implications: The findings contribute to the ability of small businesses to cope during the current pandemic situations and anticipate how to manage future crises Furthermore, the entrepreneurial practices exercised by small businesses are also presented that represent an innovative way to understand crisis management techniques by entrepreneurs in emerging economies Social implications: These findings contribute to the literature about the challenges of current crises and how businesses can cope in this situation using a dynamic capabilities perspective Originality/value: By drawing on the existing literature of COVID-19's impact on businesses, the theoretical contribution of this paper highlights the applicability of dynamic capabilities on small businesses to survive during the global crisis © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited

Agri-food sector and entrepreneurship during the COVID-19 crisis: A systematic literature review and research agenda

Abstract: The related literature highlighted the impact of COVID-19 on agri-food entrepreneurship, the government measures and support on agri-food entrepreneurship, and the shift of agri-food entrepreneurship towards digitization, innovative ideas, and new market solutions Agri-food entrepreneurship faces numerous challenges, but at the same time, the crisis can generate opportunities The studies made so far indicate that COVID-19 can cause transformational changes to agri-food entrepreneurship, although further research is needed to clarify open issues

A reflection on explanatory factors for COVID-19: A comparative study between countries

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic is the biggest problem facing the world nowadays Each country in the world has its own characteristics, which means that its governments, at different rhythms, adopt identical measures to combat this new virus This article aims to perform a comparative study between countries with a population similar to the Portuguese in number of inhabitants and to find out which factors may explain the numbers registered with the COVID-19 pandemic The results show that the countries that carried out more population tests have higher values in tourism, security, innovation, competitiveness, and GDP per capita indicators There is a significant and positive relationship between temperature and the daily cases of COVID-19 infections The results found contribute to a greater knowledge of the behavior of this disease according to the characteristics of each country, making it useful for international business managers to compare and contrast different country environmental conditions in order to define alternative strategies to overcome this great period of disturbance more quickly © 2020 Wiley Periodicals LLC

Sport entrepreneurial ecosystems and knowledge spillovers

Abstract: This study focuses on sport entrepreneurial ecosystems by providing an analysis of how city amenities, culture and internationalisation affect development. Whilst there has been increased interest ...

Technological transfer and spillovers within the RIS3 entrepreneurial ecosystems: a quadruple helix approach

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to assess quadruple helix stakeholders’ perception on the implementation of the smart specialisation strategy (RIS3) in the North of Portugal, besides analysing technol...

Enhancing policies and measurements of family business: macro, meso or micro analysis

Abstract: Purpose The purpose of this article is to highlight new directions that are needed in family business research particularly in light of the covid-19 pandemic and changing societal conditions Design/methodology/approach This editorial is a review of the main issues discussed in the special journal issue regarding family businesses at the macro, meso and micro level This approach enables a better understanding about the future research and practical implications for family business in the new economy characterised by substantial changes resulting from the covid-19 pandemic Findings The findings suggest that family business studies need to incorporate new industry and societal contexts that have not previously been examined in sufficient detail in family business studies This includes focusing more on the sport industry that is characterised by many family businesses Originality/value This editorial for the special journal issue is amongst the first to discuss the role of the covid-19 crisis in impacting family business

Knowledge spillovers and entrepreneurial ecosystems

Abstract: Knowledge spillovers and entrepreneurial ecosystems are amongst the most popular emerging research topic areas due to their theoretical and practical relevance. The aim of this article is to discus...

Commodifying skills for survival among artisan entrepreneurs in Pakistan

Abstract: This article explores how artisan entrepreneurs learn to commodify their creative skills into an entrepreneurial business. The purpose of this paper is to highlight specific types of entrepreneurial learning, artisan entrepreneurs with small businesses are using to run their business. This study explores the experiences of 12 artisan entrepreneurs. Qualitative research was carried out with in-depth semi structured interviews with four different categories of artisan entrepreneurs. GIOIA methodology have been used to analyse and present the data. This study reveals that entrepreneurial learning is a natural process, with findings highlighting the different forms of learning used by the entrepreneurs. This study also uncovers the utilization of existing resources and demonstrate the learning process. Furthermore, findings reveal that artisan entrepreneurs scan the environment, create demand, and then transform their craft and skill into a profitable business. The present informational capital brings positive outcomes for the business. Entrepreneurs heavily rely on relational learning by employing strong alliance in work and support group. Informal learning is also an important aspect in artisan entrepreneur’s life to run a successful business. This study’s results contribute to deeper understanding of the importance of entrepreneurial learning among artisan entrepreneurs in emerging economies. The research questions the unique and creative ways of learning by artisan entrepreneurs who have zero knowledge of business. This paper fills a gap in literature i.e. how the potential artisan entrepreneurs utilize their creative social, economic, and personal capital and experience a profitable business from their craft.

Intuition and rationality in intrapreneurship and innovation outputs: The case of health professionals in primary health care

Abstract: The aim of this article is to explore the role of cognitive styles and intrapreneurship in health professionals’ innovation outputs, as well the mediated effect of intrapreneurship between cognitive styles and innovation output. This study used the survey method of data collection, through a self-administered questionnaire. Partial least square structural equation modelling method was used to analyse the result of the sample of 209 professionals of primary health care providers in Northern Portugal. Our findings reveal that cognitive style plays a significant role in intrapreneurship and innovation outputs, which are mediated by intrapreneurship. In particular, health care professionals with the rational cognitive style are likely to be more of a intrapreneur and innovative as compared to those with a intuitive cognitive style. Promoting intrapreneurship is crucial for successful innovation outputs. This study reveals that an understanding of the cognitive style of the health care professionals can help managers allocate appropriate individuals to different healthcare tasks. Our primary contribution to theory has been to highlight the importance of cognitive styles in intrapreneurship and innovation within the context of primary health care organizations.

Subsistence small business entrepreneurs in Pakistan

Abstract: Subsistence small business entrepreneurs operate to fulfil the necessities of life but do so on a smaller scale with fewer resources and capital. In this paper, we will explore the domains of entre...

Universities and Entrepreneurship: Meeting the Educational and Social Challenges

Abstract: Universities are increasingly looking at entrepreneurship as a way to bridge theory and practice. This is important in these challenging times when unexpected events and occurrences take place. It is becoming more important for universities to respond in an entrepreneurial manner to new trends to capitalise on learning and research opportunities. The aim of this chapter is to discuss how universities are acting in an entrepreneurial way by responding to educational and social challenges. This will help to understand fruitful new areas of teaching, research, service and engagement that can occur in a university setting based on entrepreneurial thinking.

Family business and sport entrepreneurship

Abstract: Many sport enterprises involve family members either as owners, employees or supporters, depending on the circumstances. Despite the embedded way families define and help to build sport enterprises, there is a lack of linkage in the academic literature between family business and sport entrepreneurship. The aim of this article is to understand the linkage in more detail by focusing on the way sport, family and entrepreneurship are embedded in society.,Due to the exploratory nature of the study, a qualitative approach was undertaken to understand the feelings and perceptions surrounding the process of sport entrepreneurship in family businesses.,The findings suggest that family businesses view the process of sport entrepreneurship as being context-dependent that relies on the interaction of family members for its success. This means that networking and co-creation are part of this process.,As the role of families in sport enterprises becomes more acknowledged, it is important that research keeps up-to-date with this trend. Thus, the findings of this article will help more family businesses with their sport-related ventures.,This article is the first to explicitly examine the linkage between family entrepreneurship and sport entrepreneurship, thereby paving the way for more research to examine this interesting research area.

COVID-19, Technology and Marketing

Abstract: COVID-19 is a health pandemic that has substantially affected the way people live and work. As a result of COVID-19 restrictions including working from home and social distancing, the use of digital technology has increased. As a result, marketers have had to integrate new marketing techniques in order to facilitate more empathetic and authentic communications. This is due to a need for marketers to appear realistic but also in tune with changing societal conditions. The aim of this chapter is to discuss in more depth the impact of COVID-19 on technology and marketing practices. This includes focusing on crises management and entrepreneurial thinking as a way to integrate innovative marketing techniques. Implications for advancing marketing practice and theory are stated that highlight the need to integrate COVID-19 perspectives.

Spirituality and entrepreneurship: integration of spiritual beliefs in an entrepreneurial journey

Abstract: Purpose The role of spirituality in entrepreneurship is a new area of inquiry that has emerged from different scholarly fields. There is no specific way to study spirituality as it rather depends on the context and influence of religious beliefs. This paper aims to study the integration of spirituality in the entrepreneurial journeys of individual entrepreneurs in Pakistan. Thereby focusing on the factors that set reassurance for entrepreneurs to practice their spiritual beliefs in an emerging market context. Design/methodology/approach Using a qualitative research approach and data from entrepreneurs in different businesses, this study examines how entrepreneurs reach the point where they are willing to run their businesses based on their spiritual beliefs. The data analysis technique used to study the entrepreneurs is the Gioia method of analysis, which enables key themes to emerge. Findings This study finds that the process through which Pakistani entrepreneurs run their businesses based on spiritual beliefs within their mission and goals can be considered as discerning spiritual beliefs, affirmation of spiritual beliefs and materializing beliefs into action. Each of these spiritual beliefs has been accumulated through lifelong learning and experience in which trust in business relationships is highlighted. Social implications The insights of this study can be applied to different entrepreneurial ventures to create a framework of entrepreneurial businesses that incorporate spirituality within their mission and vision statements. It can then be used to design education and training activities for other spiritual entrepreneurs to enable further entrepreneurial development in different communities. Originality/value Spirituality can alter the entrepreneurial nature of a business. This means that entrepreneurs who possess high spiritual beliefs can incorporate their spirituality within specific business functions to enable a more positive outcome. This study stands as the first in Pakistan to consider the ways entrepreneurs incorporate their spiritual beliefs in their entrepreneurial journey.

Perceptions on effectiveness of public policies supporting entrepreneurship and internationalization

Abstract: PurposePublic policies provide a way for governments to influence the effectiveness of business strategies in the international marketplace. The main goal of this article is to show the importance of key aspects for policymaking at the national level and, secondly, to try to evaluate if public policies and programmes are effective in the entrepreneurship and internationalization of firms.Design/methodology/approachThe Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) data set was used to perform a multivariate analysis through multiple linear regression.FindingsThe economic and financial crisis that has plagued the world recently has incentivized entrepreneurs to be more creative and encouraged policymakers to be more effective in the important role they can play in economic growth. Thus, the findings indicate that government support can help firms be more entrepreneurial and increase their level of internationalization in the marketplace. The findings indicate that entrepreneurship is an important growth factor, so it is important to understand government support can be effective in stimulating business activity.Research limitations/implicationsThis study focusses on perceptions of government policy based on the GEM database, which means it is limited to subjective assessments rather than objective measures.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study will help business managers focus on their country of origin as a way to stress the impact of government policies on reputation in the international marketplace.Social implicationsGovernments need to acknowledge how their entrepreneurial policies regarding innovation and internationalization affect business success rate. This means emphasizing the trustworthiness and credibility of their policies.Originality/valueThis article highlights the need for more entrepreneurial policymaking that emphasizes government reputational affects in the success rate of firms in the international marketplace. This provides a way for firms to gain better recognition from country-of-origin effects but also for policymakers to prioritize international strategic efforts. By comparing data from different countries, the article highlights the different ways government policy can be utilized strategically in order to increase entrepreneurship and internationalization rates.

How is risk different in family and non-family businesses? – a comparative statistical analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract: Risk is part of corporate activity and a consequence of the businesses' demands, the market and the changes in companies and their surroundings. The way that risk is managed is different between family and non-family businesses. The paper aims to compare the different risk types experienced in the context of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic among family and non-family businesses and to analyze whether operational, legal, strategic and image risks influence financial risks.,The nature of the study is quantitative and based on a questionnaire survey that analyses the perception of risks by 1,090 family businesses and 557 non-family businesses.,The results show the existence of statistically significant differences in the perception of financial and legal risks between family and non-family businesses, where the former being the businesses that give more importance to these risks. The perception of operational, legal, strategic and image risks have a positive influence on the perception of financial risk in family and non-family businesses.,The results obtained in the study are important because they allow an understanding about the differences in risk management between family and non-family businesses, which can lead to greater corporate sustainability and increased financial performance.

The Saudi Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Economic Implications: Entrepreneurial Threats and Opportunities

Abstract: Risk management scholars typically define risk as the consequences of uncertainty, which could hold either threat or opportunity. Based on the risk definition, this research aimed to investigate the Saudi Arabia approach in confronting the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the different components of the Saudi economy, such as the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the labour market, and the business dynamics in an attempt to determine the threats and define what could be opportunities. The findings from the research indicated that the Saudi management successfully embraced the appropriate health and financial measures in facing the pandemic, which reflected in the relatively low number of confirmed cases and fatalities up to June 2021 and the fast economic recovery after the painful oil prices drop and recession in 2020. Moreover, the pandemic involved some opportunities to expedite the achievement of some objectives of the Saudi Vision 2030. Such as diversifying the GDP revenue resources, Saudisation, and boosting the electronic money transfer as an alternative to cash in commercial transactions.

Comparative Analysis of the Importance of Determining Factors in the Choice and Sale of Apartments

Abstract: The motivation to compare the importance that buyers and sellers give to the diverse characteristics of apartments is its pertinency to grasping the housing market. The objective of this article is to compare the determining factors in the choice and sale of apartments among the potential buyers and sellers. During a sale, the realtors exhibit the dwellings’ positive characteristics, the so-called amenities. The homebuyers must analyse the deal in a rational and well-weighed way, striving to know its characteristics to reduce the information asymmetry. The study focuses on two distinct samples, with the common goal of transacting housing. One of the samples is composed of individuals who are looking for apartments, and the other one of individuals who are selling apartments, both being collected in mainland Portugal. It was verified that there are statistically significant differences between buyers and sellers. Buyers give more importance to certain rooms and the inexistence of negative externalities near their future residence. Sellers emphasise positive externalities and parking spots. This study is expected to contribute to the increase in scientific knowledge on the housing market and to the decrease of the information asymmetry between sellers and buyers. Knowing the importance that buyers and sellers give to the main different factors in the Portuguese real estate market constitutes an advancement of knowledge in this area.

Positive and negative affect during the COVID-19 pandemic quarantine in Portugal

Abstract: Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has spread rapidly around the world and Portugal is no exception. Positive and negative effects are extremely important in individual's life experiences and in particular in the context of the quarantine, in which it is important to maintain the balance between favorable and unfavorable situations. The purpose of this paper is to study in depth the intensity of the affect during the COVID-19 pandemic in Portugal and to validate a scale of positive and negative affect in the context of quarantine and confinement. Design/methodology/approach: The methodology used is of a quantitative nature, based on a questionnaire survey to measure the intensity of the affects and to analyze some sociodemographic variables. The sample consists of 726 individuals of age 18 years or older, who were in Portugal during the quarantine of the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings: The results show that respondents were concerned, anxious, well-disposed and impatient. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis applied to affects produced a latent structure with two factors: negative affect and positive affect. The affect scale has adequate convergent and discriminant validity and good internal consistency, with negative affect being experienced by individuals with greater intensity compared to positive affect. Originality/value: It is hoped that this study contributes to an increase in the scientific knowledge in the field of the affects in the context of delicate situations such as the pandemic COVID-19 so that health professionals can intervene to improve individual’s well-being. This is an important way to provide better health policy that considers in more depth individual wellbeing and emotions during times of crisis. Limitations and suggestions for future research are also stated that highlight the importance of understanding emotional states of individuals during crisis events. © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited.

The Development and Current Trends of Digital Marketing and Relationship Marketing Research

Abstract: New information and communication technologies have transformed the ways businesses communicate and maintain relationships with their customers. In this chapter, we review the main topics in academic research pertaining to digital marketing and relationship perspectives. The discussion involves email and website marketing, search engine marketing, user-generated content, co-creation marketing, social media marketing, prosumption marketing in the sharing economy, immersive marketing and AI-based marketing. On this basis, the chapter proposes some future research directions including influencer marketing, live streaming, social service enhancement and the dark side of social media marketing, consumer-to-consumer interactions on two-sided platforms, psychological mechanisms related to the use of mixed realities, and the experience of AI-enabled service automation and relevant ethical issues. Furthermore, emerging technologies such as the Internet of things (IoT) and blockchain are expected to be the next breakthrough in marketing, which warrant further research to examine their impact on the customer-firm relationship. It is suggested the researchers could focus on the adoption and application of blockchain technology, participative marketing via IoT, as well as the privacy and data protection issues related to these technologies. This chapter provides a comprehensive picture of the connection between digital marketing and relationship marketing in academic research.