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Being a family business is not good or bad per se; it is an extra characteristic that management has to deal with. In fact, family influence can become a blessing or a curse for a company, depending on how family members handle Key Success Family Factors (KSFF). This paper presents the Two Stages Scoring (TSS) model, a tool that companies can use to develop a competitive advantage based precisely on family influence. TSS Model is based on results obtained in a Mexican Family Businesses research, in which the relationship between family influence and firm performance was tested. The variable "family influence" was measured through the common F-PEC instrument and by FAMILIAL INDEX, while the "firm performance" was measured by CEO level of satisfaction on six financial performance dimensions. Conclusions of the research include that family influence-firm performance relationship is not high for this sample of companies and, as a consequence, the TSS model is proposed based on the idea that firm performance is related more effectively to the KSFF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper makes an assessment of the Colombian Export Promotion Program (EPP). The process and the results of such a program are considered in the light of the literature on international strategy and exporting culture in developed and developing countries. Literature findings on EPAs and EPPs around the world are complemented by information from two surveys, one applied to a set of 56 firms that took part in the EPP (2002-2004) and the other addressed at a group of consultants hired by program operators to support firms. The information obtained permits the characterization of program participants (firms, entrepreneurs/managers, operators, consultants) and a deep appraisal of the processes and methodologies implemented by the program, as well as the acknowledgement of the participants' perceptions on the expectations and the outcomes reached. Finally, some reflections are made on the accomplishments and shortfalls of the program, a number of firm and program-level proposals for improvement are advanced, and some future research avenues are suggested in order to deepen the discussion on exporting/internationalization culture and its importance for developing and developed economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of the research financed by Universidad Nacional de Colombia, this paper reviews the specialized literature on human resource management in organizations. It determines the main theories that have served as a basis for research in this discipline and profiles the practical trends in human resource management as well as the academic debate at hand. It also highlights findings on how important persons are for building a sustained competitive advantage and how important the human resource management area is for obtaining organizational capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the internationalization of SMEs in Antioquia to determine how the process is being conducted and how competitive the businesses have been during the process. The central question is: Are the SMEs competitive enough to consolidate a position in the international marketplace? The theoretical concepts used in the analysis are presented. The investigation is exploratory-descriptive. Two instruments were applied, using personal interviews with general managers and international business managers. The results show that export culture in Colombia (especially in Antioquia) is not well established. In fact, there is a certain resistance to changing the business mentality regards internationalization, especially amongst SMEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]