Knowledge-Intensive Business Services and Business Models: a Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Small Private Healthcare Providers

Q3 Business, Management and Accounting

Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods Pub Date : 2023-03-01 DOI:10.34190/ejbrm.20.3.2579

Guillermo Navarro Sanfelix, Francisco Puig

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Abstract

In recent years, companies operating in activities such as dentistry, optometry, physiotherapy, or veterinary have seen the demand for their services grow. Their customers do not require their services only for health reasons but also for aesthetics and welfare issues. As a result, these companies compete in expanding and profitable markets. However, this business context has been detected by many professional entrepreneurs who decided to run their activity in healthcare and set up a firm without the necessary assets and knowledge. To overcome these liabilities, some seek partners who provide them with the resources they do not have by entering into different alliances. In contrast, others choose to compete under an independent business model. This paper sheds light on the factors influencing the decisions about the implemented business model in small knowledge-intensive firms by examining the association between the perception of the institutional environment variables and the dotation of intangible resources. For that purpose, a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) was performed. Due to government regulations in force in these sectors, and methodological reasons, the study sample consisted of 88 small Spanish firms (less than 15 employees). The data were collected by a questionnaire distributed in 2017. We find that the choice to remain self-governing or to enter into a partnership (e.g franchising) is heterogeneously motivated by the evaluations that entrepreneurs have about the role of institutions concerning their activities and how high they consider their intellectual capital compared to their main competitors. In terms of institutional capital, these entrepreneurs refuse to implement patient loyalty policies and strive to have high-quality human capital in terms of the training & experience of their professionals. Moreover, the results also showed that independent business models pay little attention to market influences and view a certain level of regulation favorably, suggesting vocational and conservative behavior

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知识密集型商业服务和商业模式：小型私营医疗保健提供商的定性比较分析

近年来，从事牙科、验光、理疗或兽医等活动的公司对其服务的需求不断增长。他们的客户不仅出于健康原因，还出于美观和福利问题而要求他们的服务。因此，这些公司在不断扩大且有利可图的市场上展开竞争。然而，许多专业企业家已经发现了这种商业背景，他们决定在没有必要资产和知识的情况下经营医疗保健业务并成立一家公司。为了克服这些责任，一些人寻求合作伙伴，通过加入不同的联盟为他们提供他们所没有的资源。相比之下，其他公司则选择在独立的商业模式下进行竞争。本文通过考察制度环境变量的感知与无形资源的溺爱之间的关系，揭示了影响知识密集型小企业实施商业模式决策的因素。为此，进行了定性比较分析（QCA）。由于这些部门的政府法规和方法原因，研究样本由88家西班牙小公司组成（员工少于15人）。这些数据是通过2017年分发的一份问卷收集的。我们发现，企业家对机构在其活动中的作用以及他们认为自己的智力资本与主要竞争对手相比有多高的评价，促使他们选择保持自治或建立伙伴关系（如特许经营）。在制度资本方面，这些企业家拒绝实施耐心的忠诚政策，并努力在专业人员的培训和经验方面拥有高质量的人力资本。此外，研究结果还表明，独立的商业模式很少关注市场影响，并看好一定程度的监管，这表明他们的行为是职业和保守的

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来源期刊

Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods Business, Management and Accounting-Business and International Management

CiteScore

1.40

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

26 weeks

期刊介绍： The Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods (EJBRM) provides perspectives on topics relevant to research methods applied in the field of business and management. Through its publication the journal contributes to the development of theory and practice. The journal accepts academically robust papers that contribute to the area of research methods applied in business and management research. Papers submitted to the journal are double-blind reviewed by members of the reviewer committee or other suitably qualified readers. The Editor reserves the right to reject papers that, in the view of the editorial board, are either of insufficient quality, or are not relevant enough to the subject area. The editor is happy to discuss contributions before submission. The journal publishes work in the categories described below. Research Papers: These may be qualitative or quantitative, empirical or theoretical in nature and can discuss completed research findings or work in progress. Case Studies: Case studies are welcomed illustrating business and management research methods in practise. View Points: View points are less academically rigorous articles usually in areas of controversy which will fuel some interesting debate. Conference Reports and Book Reviews: Anyone who attends a conference or reads a book that they feel contributes to the area of Business Research Methods is encouraged to submit a review for publication.