No abstract

We analyze the global pharmaceutical industry network using a unique database that covers strategic transactions (i.e., alliance, financing and acquisition collaborations) for the top 90 global pharmaceutical firms and their ego-network partnerships totaling 4735 members during 1991À2012. The article explores insights on dynamic embeddedness analysis under network perturbations by exploring core and full networks' behavior during the global financial crisis of 2007À2008 and the subsequent global and Eurozone recessions of 2009À2012. We introduce and test literature grounded hypotheses as well as report network visualizations and nonparametric tests that reveal important discrepancies in both network types before and after the financial crisis offset. We observe that firms in core and full networks behave differently, with smaller top pharmaceutical firms of core networks particularly being affected by the crises, potentially due to a collaboration reduction with bigger top pharmaceuticals. On the other hand, big pharmaceuticals in full networks maintain their centrality position as a possible consequence of their strategic collaborations not only with other similarly sized firms but also due to their connections with subsidiaries and other private entities present in the total sample. Our results confirm the significant dynamicity reduction during financial crisis and recession periods for core and full networks, and highlight the importance that exogenous factors as well as network types play in centrality-based dynamic longitudinal network analysis.

No abstract

Purpose – High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS) are viewed as strategic levers to a firm’s core competencies’ sustainability and continuous competitive advantage. The purpose of this paper is to explore what factors facilitate HPWS utilization, with a particular focus on the extent to which social capital (SC) derived from buyer-supplier relationships functions as a communication channel to spread effective HPWS implementation. Design/methodology/approach – The authors propose a model of HPWS in which external SC not only favors the use of HPWS but also moderates the incidence of other common facilitators such as technology and flexibility. The study uses data from Spanish manufacturing industry. Findings – Firms yielding external SC use HPWS more intensely, and the effect of technology constituents on HPWS utilization is contingent on SC accumulation. The findings are consistent with the existing HR literature on the subject but broaden its perspective by analyzing a specific pattern of SC and its pivotal role in the HPWS utilization process. Research limitations/implications – The cross-sectional nature of the database leaves open the possibility of causality relationship exploration between the variables of interest, which means that any causal interpretation should be cautious and properly motivated. The study is conducted in the Spanish manufacturing industry context, hence aims to generalize its results by explaining the logic behind the coexistence of HPWS and SC on a same conceptual level. This should be carefully treated and could be further strengthened by other country-level research. The approach does not consider the internal synergic mechanisms and the integration of HR practices. Practical implications – The paper reveals the importance of inter-organizational SC in the Spanish manufacturing industry by showing how its embodiment in buyer-supplier relationships may allow firms to better understand the context in which HPWS are more likely to be useful. Social implications – The impact of social relationships on effective human resource management practices is highlighted. Originality/value – The authors explore the factors that facilitate HPWS utilization, with a particular focus on the extent to which SC derived from buyer-supplier relationships functions as a communication channel to spread effective HPWS implementation.

Although economic and environmental paradigms of sustainability in organizations are highly researched, more work is needed to understand the mechanisms concerning the impact of social factors. Given the importance of social sustainability in current organizational contexts, we explore how gender dimensions (diversity, equality) and social capital dimensions (embeddedness, cohesion) can lead to the betterment of socially driven, sustainable outcomes. Our conceptual framework and propositions are centered on how negotiation—particularly in its integrative form—is likely to promote social sustainability. Our study contributes to the ongoing research on the latest socially driven trends of sustainability in organizations.