{"title":"Authentic leadership’s influence on strategic corporate social responsibility in South Africa: mediated by participative decision-making","authors":"Bradley Majil’andile Nqumba, C. Scheepers","doi":"10.1108/ebr-05-2022-0095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-05-2022-0095","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of authentic leadership on strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a less researched environment. This study set out to fill that gap in researching the direct influence of employees’ perceptions about the authenticity of their leaders as well as indirect effect through participative decision-making on strategic CSR which means the genuine intention to benefit society.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000A quantitative research approach was followed, with an online survey to employees in large South African corporations across various industries that were mostly more than 10 years old. There were 1,417 useable questionnaires. Structural equation modelling was used to test proposed hypotheses of mediation effects.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The results revealed that authentic leadership has a significant indirect effect through participative decision-making on employees’ perceptions around strategic CSR – that is, whether their corporations are genuinely socially and environmentally responsible.\u0000\u0000\u0000Research limitations/implications\u0000The data collected were cross-sectional, and survey-based in the South African corporate environment; therefore, limited generalisations can be made, and causality could not be claimed.\u0000\u0000\u0000Practical implications\u0000Authentic leadership and participative decision-making are required to significantly influence employees’ perceptions about companies’ genuine interest in benefiting external stakeholders. Consistency between leaders’ words and deeds is important for employees, and therefore, companies must be socially responsible towards employees.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The main contribution of this research lies in showing that perception of leaders’ authenticity was enhanced when employees were allowed to participate in decision-making, which then increased positive perceptions about the organisation’s CSR focus. The study highlights similarities between authentic leadership and the African humanism philosophy of Ubuntu.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2023-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49497995","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mateusz Błaszczyk, Karolina Olszewska, Marek Wróblewski
{"title":"Internationalisation of firms in the digital economy. Analysis of tenants of Polish technology parks","authors":"Mateusz Błaszczyk, Karolina Olszewska, Marek Wróblewski","doi":"10.1108/ebr-12-2021-0266","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-12-2021-0266","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This paper aims to discuss the relationship between the digital economy and the model of internationalisation followed by companies resident in technology parks – institutions designed within the framework of regional and national innovation systems – to promote the country’s digital development. The authors selected Poland as the case study. It is one of the biggest European Union members that joined the EU after 2004. In the second decade of the 21st century, the Polish Government has oriented its economic strategy towards building a competitive digital economy. One of its fundamentals is to support the internationalisation of innovative firms.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The analysis interrogates the forms and determinants of internationalisation undertaken by tenants of technology parks. The study sample consisted of 300 of the total 1,584 enterprises resident at the 36 technology parks in Poland and was a stratified random sample, with particular strata classified by location at a specific park. The research applied an interview questionnaire designed to cover such issues as innovativeness, research and development, public aid and the support offered by technology parks.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The results show that around half of the investigated enterprises undertake international activities. The key factors determining the chances of a firm’s internationalisation in the digital economy are whether it conducts research and development projects and receives public aid support. Many tenants of technology parks in Poland enter foreign markets at an early stage of their development, using diverse forms of foreign expansion. The findings also show that the internationalisation of tenants of Polish technology parks usually occurs in six relatively independent modes (types).\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This study contributes to a better understanding of the internationalisation patterns of firms facing digital development challenges. Technology parks have a crucial role in building a digital economy, facilitating a technological “leapfrog”. The final recommendations can guide the technology parks’ managers to adopt more relevant support services for the internationalisation of their tenants. It is a critical point for small- and mid-size young innovative enterprises.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2023-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47128118","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Uzma Batool, Muhammad Mustafa Raziq, Naukhez Sarwar, S. Saleem, Asfia Obaid
{"title":"Paradoxical leader behavior and leader effectiveness: moderating role of structural and job-related uncertainty","authors":"Uzma Batool, Muhammad Mustafa Raziq, Naukhez Sarwar, S. Saleem, Asfia Obaid","doi":"10.1108/ebr-08-2022-0163","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-08-2022-0163","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of paradoxical leader behavior (PLB) on leader effectiveness (LE). The authors propose an underlying mechanism of this relationship and examine if the stated relationship is moderated by job-related and structural uncertainty in the organization.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design methodology approach\u0000The authors draw on survey data from 127 employees working in public and privately owned organizations and analyze data using AMOS and SPSS.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Results offer partial support to the authors’ hypotheses indicating that paradoxical leader behavior is positively associated to LE. As expected, the relationship is negatively moderated by structural uncertainty indicating that LE is weakened where there is structural uncertainty in the organization. However, in contrast to our other assumption, the authors find a positive (rather than negative) moderating role of job-related uncertainty in the PLB–LE relationship.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality value\u0000Paradoxes are everywhere and inherently embedded in complex and dynamic organizational systems. To deal with paradoxes, organizational leaders often seek to act paradoxically. However, not every leader has a paradoxical mindset, and where a leader has such, it remains unclear if they will prove to be effective leaders. What can further influence the effectiveness of such leaders is the uncertainty that organizations face in the today’s dynamic environments. In this study, the authors contribute to paradox theory and the paradoxical leadership literature by unfolding the boundary conditions which can influence paradoxical leader’s effectiveness.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2023-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46337363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Trends in knowledge management research in small businesses","authors":"Shekhar, Marco Valeri","doi":"10.1108/ebr-10-2022-0200","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-10-2022-0200","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This paper aims to map the knowledge management research in small businesses and suggest future actions to strengthen managerial practices. Knowledge management practices foster the growth of small businesses. They allow innovation to grow within the institutions, enhance customer satisfaction and reduce employee absenteeism and attrition.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The study adopts a bibliometric protocol to retrieve the 686 articles published in the Web of Science (WoS) database. The WoS database is selected to ensure only quality and peer-reviewed publications are analysed in the study. It then identifies the top contributions, and existing thematic areas, and suggests future research and policy actions for boosting economic growth through small business. The study uses VOSviewer, Science of Science (Sci2) and Gephi to conduct the bibliometric and network analysis.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The results from keyword co-occurrence and co-citation analysis helps in identifying thematic areas. The findings highlight that there exist five major themes in knowledge management research for small businesses. The dynamic co-citation analysis helps in tracing the evolution of these clusters and suggests future themes, research directions and methodological advances in the theme. PageRank analysis helps in identifying the top articles published on high-impact journals in the theme.\u0000\u0000\u0000Research limitations/implications\u0000The study helps researchers by summarising existing literature and identifying key thematic areas. It also assists policymakers by recommending actions to improve knowledge management practises in small businesses to gain a competitive advantage. The paper suffers from the limitations of bibliometric analysis. The sample is collected from a single data source and a single type (journal articles) and the statistical accuracy of the analysis depends on the quality of the sample.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The study’s originality lies in using fit-for-purpose software in clustering the research and suggesting actions. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is one of its kind in applying bibliometrics in studying and covering several aspects of knowledge management in small businesses with a combination of software.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2023-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47538378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Rehman, Hamzah Elrehail, Dana AlShwayat, Blend Ibrahim, Rachid Alami
{"title":"Linking hotel environmental management initiatives and sustainable hotel performance through employees’ eco-friendly behaviour and environmental strategies: a moderated-mediated model","authors":"S. Rehman, Hamzah Elrehail, Dana AlShwayat, Blend Ibrahim, Rachid Alami","doi":"10.1108/ebr-05-2022-0094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-05-2022-0094","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose and current research objective is to determine sustainable hotel performance through hotel environmental management initiatives (HEMI) with the mediating influence of employee’s’ eco-friendly behaviour (EEB), and to determine the moderating role of environmental strategies (ES) in the relationship between HEMI and EEB.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000A total of 95 five-star hotels were contacted, with data collected from only 30 of them. The study used only 433 questionnaires for the final analysis with SPSS 25.0 and SmartPLS 3.2.8.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The results revealed that HEMI is positively associated with sustainable hotel performance and with EEB. EEB is positively associated with sustainable hotel performance. ES significantly influence EEB, and significantly strengthen the relationship between HMEI and EEB. EEB significantly mediates the relationship between HEMI and sustainable hotel performance.\u0000\u0000\u0000Practical implications\u0000The current research highlights a significant issue: how the management of the hotel industry uses HEMI, ES and EEB to improve sustainable performance. The study fills the gap in the literature and enables hotel management to concentrate on studying exogenous variables to increase sustainable performance.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The current research contributes to the body of knowledge by concentrating on factors that influence sustainable hotel performance. It examines HEMI influence on sustainable performance with moderating (ES) and mediating (EEB) effects, from the leans of natural resource-based view (RBV) theory.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2023-01-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44191123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
L. V. van Breda, M. Terblanche-Smit, Theuns G. Pelser
{"title":"The effectiveness of sustainability social marketing use of fear and guilt appeals to influence the behavioural intention of millennials","authors":"L. V. van Breda, M. Terblanche-Smit, Theuns G. Pelser","doi":"10.1108/ebr-05-2022-0080","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-05-2022-0080","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This study aims to understand if the appeals often used in social marketing, namely, fear and guilt, are effective in changing South African millennials’ intention to behave more pro-environmentally.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000A primary quantitative research method was followed with a between-subject experimental design approach. The treatment took the form of fear- and guilt-based sustainability advertisements. Questions were asked in the form of a survey with the determinants of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) model (i.e. attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control) as its constructs.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000Analysis of the collected data revealed that adding the appeal of fear or guilt to advertisements does not significantly change South African millennials’ intention to behave pro-environmentally. Furthermore, a deeper analysis of the TPB model’s determinants showed that attitude had the strongest effect on behavioural intention. Also, the use of fear or guilt in sustainability social marketing does not affect the subjective norms of South African millennials.\u0000\u0000\u0000Research limitations/implications\u0000The study offers a greater understanding of customer engagement and motivational factors in the mobile instant messaging (MIM) environment. Future studies could consider more complex relationships with customer engagement in using MIM apps focussed on a younger generation.\u0000\u0000\u0000Practical implications\u0000It is therefore recommended that to significantly increase the South African millennials’ intention to behave pro-environmentally, social marketers should use other advertising tools or appeals, namely, positive attitude change.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000The results of this study represent a contribution to the limited literature on TPB determinants and how they drive behavioural intention.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2023-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49516569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Cristian A. Pinto-Gutiérrez, G. Romaní, Miguel Atienza
{"title":"The effect of formal financial accessibility on love money investment","authors":"Cristian A. Pinto-Gutiérrez, G. Romaní, Miguel Atienza","doi":"10.1108/ebr-10-2022-0210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-10-2022-0210","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000This paper aims to analyse whether the degree of formal financial access in a country affects love money investment, defined as capital provided to entrepreneurs from family and friends to finance their businesses, in early-stage entrepreneurial activities.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The authors use multilevel mixed-effect regression models and an extensive database of over 700 thousand individuals from 53 countries between 2007 and 2017 taken from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor adult population survey.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000This paper finds that a country’s level of accessibility to bank debt and venture capital is positively associated with the likelihood of an individual becoming a love money investor. It also finds that the amount of capital invested by love money investors is positively correlated to the level of access to bank debt and venture capital. The results of this paper confirm the hypothesis of complementarity between the financial system and friends and family financing in the capital market for early-stage entrepreneurs.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This paper contributes to the entrepreneurial finance literature, particularly to a better understanding of the love money investors, an important source of funding and segment of the informal investment that is sparsely studied.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2023-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"48028848","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
O. T. K. Vu, Abel Duarte Alonso, M. A. Buitrago Solis, Samuel Goyzueta, T. Nguyen, R. McClelland, T. D. Tran, N. Nguyen, Hoa Thi Ngoc Huynh, Erhan Atay
{"title":"A dynamic capabilities approach of Industry 4.0: the experiences of managers operating in two emerging economies","authors":"O. T. K. Vu, Abel Duarte Alonso, M. A. Buitrago Solis, Samuel Goyzueta, T. Nguyen, R. McClelland, T. D. Tran, N. Nguyen, Hoa Thi Ngoc Huynh, Erhan Atay","doi":"10.1108/ebr-06-2022-0125","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-06-2022-0125","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) through the lens of the dynamic capabilities framework. Contrary to most existing research, this study chooses a cross-national viewpoint, exploring companies operating in two emerging economies.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 80 company managers operating in eight industries in Vietnam and Bolivia. The chosen inductive analysis was supported by qualitative content analysis and data structure.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000The analysis reveals 13 conceptual dimensions. For instance, sensing opportunities underlines tangible and intangible “direct prospects”, such as enhanced accuracy, speed and cost effectiveness, whereas “operational management pressures” (sensing threats) identify the dilemma of changing individuals’ mindset, recruitment and addressing financial needs. While there is an overall agreement in key dimensions, differences between managers from both countries also arise, including staff’s adaptation and constant upskilling.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000Empirically, this study responds to calls for cross-national studies investigating I4.0 initiatives. In doing so, the data gathered from company managers engaged in business in emerging economies afford new perspectives, with practitioner value. Theoretically, the numerous dimensions emerging from the data analysis provide useful conceptual insights to understand managerial aspects in considering and adapting to I4.0 expectations and requirements. These insights are reinforced by the development of a conceptual model that illuminates the initiatives, efforts and challenges of embracing this phenomenon.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2022-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47408126","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The determinants of profitability in non-financial UK SMEs","authors":"Iman Youssef, Charbel C. Salloum, Maher Al Sayah","doi":"10.1108/ebr-09-2022-0173","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-09-2022-0173","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The purpose of this study is to examine determinants of profitability of non-financial firms listed small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK from 2012 till 2020. It has been argued that profitability plays a key role in economic development and growth. Despite the important role that SMEs play in developed economies like UK, academic research into SMEs profitability determinants in developed countries is not extensive.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000The methodologies used include dynamic panel data estimation techniques. Relationship of nine independent variables with profitability was examined. Two models are created using return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE) as dependent variables. Size, age, efficiency, working capital, liquidity, leverage and volatility of the firm represent firm-specific independent variables. Two macroeconomic variables, namely, gross domestic product and inflation are also used as independent variables. Data obtained from Thomson Reuters Data Stream for 93 listed SMEs companies in the UK from 2012 to 2020. Fixed effects, random effects and generalized method of moments were used in data analysis.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000All variables showed significant influence on profitability, except liquidity reflecting insignificant impact on profitability in two regression models conducted for 93 firms under study. Efficiency, liquidity and leverage are the only three independent variables with similar impact on both ROA and ROE.\u0000\u0000\u0000Practical implications\u0000Identifying determinants of profitability will help stakeholders and corporate executive make sound decisions to ensure sustainability and stability at the firm level. This is particularly important given the key role played by SMEs in economic development and growth. The findings of this study would help direct financial management practices to ensure a favorable sustainable organizational performance.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This study differs from previous studies that focused mainly on developing countries; with limited research conducted on profitability of SMEs in developed economies. To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the first study to examine factors influencing profitability of SMEs in UK. Previous studies concentrated on service sector like insurance and hotel firms.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2022-11-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46432803","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
R. Correia, José G. Dias, M. Teixeira, Susana Campos
{"title":"Building competitive advantages and business success: the role of learning orientation, reward systems and entrepreneurial orientation","authors":"R. Correia, José G. Dias, M. Teixeira, Susana Campos","doi":"10.1108/ebr-03-2022-0051","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/ebr-03-2022-0051","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000Purpose\u0000The complexity of the firm’s external environment, with its constant changes, forces managers to develop novel strategies that can meet new strategic needs. The purpose of this study is to examine the role of reward systems (RSs) in strategic management, as well as their relationship to learning and entrepreneurial orientation (EO), commonly referred to as the driving force behind growth, competitive advantages (CAs) and improved performance. It also focuses on the study of the relationship between EO and business performance (BP), the introduction and testing of the possible antecedents of this relationship and potential mediating factors.\u0000\u0000\u0000Design/methodology/approach\u0000A conceptual model was tested on a sample of 1,190 Portuguese firms using a structural equation model.\u0000\u0000\u0000Findings\u0000It is shown for the first time that learning orientation (LO) is an antecedent of the RSs and, subsequently, of EO. Additionally, the CAs of differentiation and cost leadership play a mediating role in the relationship between EO and BP. Furthermore, RSs are also a driving force behind both CAs.\u0000\u0000\u0000Originality/value\u0000This study makes several empirical and theoretical contributions, addressing the gap in the literature about the role of RSs in strategic management. It tests the relationship between LO and the firm’s performance by taking the mediating effects of RSs, EO and CAs into account. Additionally, we discuss LO as an antecedent strategic variable of human resources practices, in particular, RSs. Finally, we broaden the scope of our research by examining these issues in the context of Portuguese SMEs from different industries.\u0000","PeriodicalId":47867,"journal":{"name":"European Business Review","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":4.2,"publicationDate":"2022-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"46285320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}