Repositório Aberto
Repositório Institucional da Universidade Aberta
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The effect of university missions on entrepreneurial initiative across multiple entrepreneurial ecosystems: evidence from Europe
Publication . Pita, Mariana; Costa, Joana; Moreira, Antonio
Entrepreneurial universities are a significant element of entrepreneurial ecosystems and aspire
to foster entrepreneurial initiative through their “third mission”. However, while entrepreneurial
ecosystems are scrutinized using a contextual approach to detect differences and similarities and
how they affect entrepreneurship, little is known about how entrepreneurial universities impact entrepreneurial initiatives in general, considering multiple environments. Drawing on entrepreneurial university and entrepreneurial ecosystem theories, a conceptual framework is proposed that aims to explain the effect of the entrepreneurial university on an entrepreneurial initiative through its three “missions”, using an entrepreneurial ecosystem taxonomy. Based on individual data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, this entrepreneurial initiative analyzed 18 European countries in 2017.
The results do not generally support the importance of entrepreneurial universities to entrepreneurial initiative. The relevance of entrepreneurial universities increases in more fragile entrepreneurial ecosystems since individuals need support over multiple dimensions. Conversely, the entrepreneurial universities that are embedded in stronger entrepreneurial ecosystems lose relevance and negatively affect the entrepreneurial initiative. Therefore, the value of entrepreneurial universities is reduced when individuals receive greater support from other dimensions. The variations across both groups suggest that the concept of entrepreneurial universities is not a contemporaneous phenomenon; however, their effect is progressively revealed by the maturity of each university’s mission. This perspective substantially changes the understanding of entrepreneurial universities as a thwartwise strategy, suggesting that the universities’ impact is expanded as their missions gradually evolve.
Overall, the study contributes to an understanding of the implications for universities that blindly follow entrepreneurship, neglecting the exogenous environment, namely, the entrepreneurial ecosystem and individual drive.
Unveiling entrepreneurial ecosystems’ transformation: a GEM based portrait
Publication . Pita, Mariana; Costa, Joana; Moreira, Antonio
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EEs) have attracted the attention of academics, practitioners,
and policymakers, that attempt to unlock ‘a winning recipe’ considering the different EEs pillars
in order to ignite entrepreneurship at large. Therefore, understanding the degree of influence of
each pillar on Entrepreneurial Initiative (EI) is helpful in framing more effective policies towards
entrepreneurship. This study aims to bring a new facet to entrepreneurship research, specifically on decomposing the transformation of EEs and the influence of EEs pillars on EI. The transformation of EEs is shown by a balanced panel approach based on the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) dataset over 8 years (2010–2017), comprising 18 countries. The study has several implications for entrepreneurship theory and practice as well as public policy since discusses three main issues, mainly supported by empirical results. First, the results show an unbalanced influence of EEs pillars on EI. Second, results also show the ineffectiveness of institutions in encouraging the desire to act entrepreneurially. Third, entrepreneurship needs to be part of the acculturation process evidencing the importance of collective normative. Therefore, providing the instruments and structures is not enough to encourage individuals to start an entrepreneurial journey. Generally, the results reveal that contextual determinants are significant in fostering entrepreneurial propensity to start a business. But the impact of the nine pillars is not equalized, revealing a fragmented influence with funding measures, R&D transfer, and cultural and social norms discouraging entrepreneurial initiative. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of a multidimensional perspective on EEs and points future policy directions to overcome the lack of entrepreneurship and amend flawed entrepreneurship policies.
Impact of export promotion programs on export performance
Publication . Mota, Jorge; Moreira, Antonio; Alves, Alexandra
This research examines the relationship of Export Promotion Programs (EPPs), sponsored
by a Portuguese Regional Association for Development on Trade and Industry, with firms’ export
performance. To investigate this, two models were applied using panel data analyses that relate
export performance to variables such as participation in EPPs, age and size of firms. Data on 198
firms for the sampling period 2010 and 2018 was drawn from a Portuguese Regional Development
Association and SABI (Iberian Balance sheet Analysis System) database. The results show that
participation in EPPs does have a positive influence on the export performance of firms, especially for those firms with previous export experience, demonstrating the importance of using these programs.
Findings also document that firm size relates positively export performance, whereas firms age show a negative effect on export performance, suggesting that larger firms with more resources positively influence exports and an increase in firms’ age may increase their cultural inertia, inability to change strategies, decreasing their export performance, respectively. Finally, the participation in EPPs seems not to influence export performance for firms without previous export experience. The research contributes to the literature providing evidence on the role of EPP on firms’ export performance behavior promoted by regional development associations.
The influence of ecological concern on green purchase behavior
Publication . Fontes, Eva; Moreira, Antonio; Carlos, Vera
The present paper seeks to address a gap in the literature regarding green marketing and examines the relationship between ecological concern, inward and outward environmental attitudes, purchasing behavior and environmental behavior as antecedents of green purchasing behavior. The data was gathered through an online survey carried out in Portugal with 530 valid answers. Structural Equation Modelling Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) was used to evaluate the model. A t-test was applied to identify differences between men and women. The results show that ecological concern, environmental attitude, environmental behavior and purchase intention are good predictors of green purchase behavior. Women scored higher than men on all variables, meaning that they are indeed superior environmentalists than men. Green purchase behavior is strongly influenced by both purchase intention and environmental behavior, so green brands should focus on targeting individuals that already take some actions in what concerns the environment, or to those who intend to do so.
Enhancing design thinking approaches to innovation through gamification
Publication . Patrício, Rui; Moreira, Antonio; Zurlo, Francesco
Purpose – The paper aims to explore the relationship between gamification and design thinking approach to innovation in the context of the early stage of innovation process (ESoIP). Design thinking is conceptually appropriate to support innovative, complex and uncertain business environments. Still, its practices have demonstrated some difficulties in managing the ESoIP, such as lack of structure and clarity around goals. This paper argues that gamification can enhance and complement design thinking in the management of firms’ ESoIP.
Design/methodology/approach – Given the need to achieve a deeper understanding of the linkages between gamification and design thinking, the paper follows an exploratory theory building approach for this complex reality of innovation. The case study research method was conducted in three firms (Trivalor, Novartis and Microsoft) that applied a gamification approach to the ESoIP.
Findings – The results demonstrate that gamification has the power to enhance and complement design thinking practices by getting tasks more organized and improving coordination and employees’ engagement in the innovation process.
Practical implications – The paper provides critical managerial contributions on how firms can use
gamification to improve design thinking approaches to ESoIP. Its consequences are also crucial to innovation, R&D, and product/service development managers interested in using gamification to support the ideation and concept development of new solutions complementing traditional design thinking approaches.
Originality/value – Merging the gamification and design thinking approaches is novel, particularly on firms’ ESoIP. The paper provides a comprehensive discussion of design thinking shortcomings and the role that gamification can play in overcoming them.