PurposeFocusing on the adoption of Total Quality Management (TQM) principles in universities, this research paper explores how the “soft” dimensions of TQM trigger its “hard” dimensions considering them at the individual (micro-) and the university (meso-), and eventually at cluster (system-), levels.Design/methodology/approachAdopting a qualitative approach, this study presents an in-depth, longitudinal case study of University of Siena, one of the oldest Italian universities, that has been at the core of the research-based cluster on vaccines, today converged in the Tuscan Life Science Cluster. In particular, data were collected between 2018 and February 2022 and consists of archival data (press articles, websites, books), nine interviews to key informants, multiyear experience of the Life Sciences sector by two of the authors and other material put at disposal by university offices, and emails. Data analysis relied on a timeline, a coding procedure that considered three levels of analysis (individual, organization and cluster). Finally, the authors looked at the “how” and “why” the emerged themes have contributed to academic excellence.FindingsThis paper unveils how “soft” and “hard” sides of TQM are blended across multiple levels for reaching academic excellence. The grounded model emerged enlightens the importance of an individual “soft” dimension, academic passion (composed by its three subdimensions of individual research, teaching and entrepreneurial passion) and also sheds light on the organizational “soft” and “hard” sides that the university has been able to design for encouraging research, teaching and third mission quality. Academic excellence has been possible thanks to the capitalization of the individual and organizational “soft” sides into real outcomes as represented by the organizational and individual “hard” sides.Practical implicationsThe paper suggests the importance of TQM principles applied at universities' level, providing an in-depth description of “soft” and “hard” sides dimensions of TQM and their impact on all the three pillars of academic excellence. The study findings suggest implications for managers and professionals in the higher education domain as well as for policymakers emphasizing the importance of supporting the individual and organizational soft sides of TQM. The authors provide practical implications recommending universities to consider not only the organizational dimensions but also individual ones when pursuing higher education excellence. In particular, individual passion plays a crucial role and universities need to identify ways of nurturing it. The authors also recommend policymakers to think about new ways to sustain universities as crucial actors in boosting a cluster development, as well as to consider higher education institutions, especially in more rural areas, as a privileged player not only capable of nurturing academic excellence but also able of creating an internationally renowned cluster.Originality/valueTQM principles have been intensively analysed from an industrial perspective focusing on manufacturing and services, while this paper focuses on TQM in universities, presenting a grounded model that blends the individual and organizational “soft” and “hard” sides.
Purpose of the paper:On the lights of Resource Based View (RBV), this research aims to analyse the impact of resources on Process Innovation (PI) in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0), thus proposing stimuli coming from Supply Chain (SC) as moderator of this relationship.Methodology: Our conceptual model was tested on a sample of 115 Italian firms and data were collected through a structured survey submitted to purchasing and buyer agents/managers.Results: The econometric analysis shows a positive impact of resources 4.0 on PI, and horizontal stimuli coming from SC (Competitors, Universities, Consultants, and Technology Transfer Offices) were found to positively moderate this relationship. Moreover, post-hoc analysis shows that firms can obtain higher PI outcomes combining the exploitation of horizontal 4.0 stimuli with changes on BM.Research limitations: This research presents three main limitations: (i) geographic location, all firms are Italian; (ii) timing, it assesses I4.0 in an early stage for the Italian entrepreneurial ecosystem; (iii) moderate sample size.Practical implications: This study contributes to the understanding of both academic and practitioners of the impact of I4.0 on SC, trying to grasp not only the effect of internal resources but also of external stimuli. Originality of the paper:To the best of our knowledge this paper is the first one analysing the impact of I4.0 stimuli on SC. Moreover, the survey involved a relevant number of on-field experts in comparison to similar studies on Supply Chain and I4.0 effects.
Word-of-mouth (WoM) has always exerted a great effect on consumers' behaviors and intentions. With the advent of internet, this influence has grown both in terms of potential audience reachable and of potential effect led to firms' sales and reputation. Hence, the marketing literature has recently started to investigate motivations and drivers able to foster/hinder electronic-WOM (e-WOM). Therefore, this research aims to explore the effect on the propensity to share comments and reviews online (active WOM) of the following three drivers: (1) propensity to rely on passive WOM; (2) expected service quality; (3) propensity to spend. The authors tested their hypotheses on the fashion industry, collecting 1454 usable answers from Italian consumers. The results indicate that both passive WOM and propensity to spend are drivers able to foster the spread of e-WOM. On the other hand, expected service quality shows a significant negative direct effect and a significant positive indirect effect on active e-WOM: these two effects compensate each other. Thus, the total effect is negligible.
Purpose of the paper: this research aims to investigate how I4.0 enables new opportunities of value creation for start-ups using internal or external resources and capabilities related to Industry 4.0 (I4.0).Methodology: we use a qualitative case study research approach, mainly because of the exploratory nature of the research and the newness of the analysed trend.Results: the research points out three possible opportunities for starting new businesses: using a mix of internal and external resources/capabilities (Grafting 4.0), a combination, coordination and management of external resources and capabilities (Pollination 4.0), or internal resources and capabilities with a comprehensive 4.0 approach (Blooming 4.0). For each of them the required 4.0 technologies and the new paradigm's application are examined.Research limitations: The analysed cases are all based in Italy, for a better validation it would be interesting to expand the study to other countries.Practical implications: this paper may be helpful for prospective entrepreneurs that should ask themselves which kind of opportunity they could grab in consideration of the internal and external resources and competencies.Originality of the paper: to the best of our knowledge this paper is amongst the first ones analysing the opportunities given by I4.0 to start new businesses.
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