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This paper, which is of interest to practitioners, will analyse companies in the manufacturing sector that hold Spanish and European environmental patents, linking the registered green patents with the economic and financial characteristics of the companies. Specifically, the relationship between green patents and the collaboration of companies with research and development (R&D) centres is analysed. The results of surveying an ad-hoc database comprising 1606 Spanish companies indicate that the ways in which the companies collaborate with R&D organisations can shed light on green patent holdings in the Spanish manufacturing companies. Moreover, the authors find that financial performance, age, and size are all significant factors in the development of green patents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent decades have witnessed an increase in the number of eco-innovative solutions which improve the environmental performance of firms whilst also helping them remain competitive. However, the implementation of eco-innovation in Spain has faced certain difficulties, and the number of eco-innovations being put into practice is limited. This paper conceptualises ecoinnovation processes, in order to assist their adoption by firms. Also, the most relevant obstacles and incentives to eco-innovation are analysed, as well as the specific capacities and changes that eco-innovation involves for the firm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reason most frequently adduced by SMEs to avoid the implementation of CSR programs is their shortage of material resources. In this paper we propose the possibility that biotech SMEs supply the RSC with something they've got in abundance, that is, knowledge. Popular science thus becomes the focus of these programs, an affordable resource that can benefit them, and not only in reputation. Our study focuses on 32 SMEs settled in four Technology Parks in Andalusia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to design integrated product-service offerings and implement servitization processes, manufacturers need practical and tangible methodologies. Service design has been suggested as a way to facilitate such processes. This paper assesses the results gathered from an experiment of the implementation of service design in six Basque manufacturers already undergoing servitization processes. Data was collected by means of participatory observation and semi-structured interviews. The findings suggest that service design allows manufacturers to go beyond product-oriented mindsets and to design integrated product-service value propositions through focusing on the experience offered to customers. Moreover, it concludes that service design can be applied without needing to fully transition towards services as a core offer. Nonetheless, manufacturers participating in this experiment highlighted the need to consider business competencies in service design in order to properly assess and manage all the change elements inherent to servitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the staffing policies of some leading consulting firms in Spain are analyzed to identify the factors that characterize them, as well as similarities and differences among them. The case study method is used for this analysis, and three case studies are considered: Accenture, IBM and Company Z. The results suggest that the professional partnership model and the managed professional business model are still relevant but are insufficient in explaining the various policies. Five factors are identified in addition to major trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are a growing number of social enterprises in Spain. Like any other organization, they must be managed efficiently. However, few studies have analyzed the direction of this type of business and, to a lesser extent, how they manage their human resources. This paper focuses on how Spanish social enterprises manage their human resources by using a case study methodology. The results confirm that social companies do follow human resources practices but, due to the strong social component that moves and attracts workers to contribute to their missions, these practices differ from those made by non social enterprises. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the escape of talent from social companies by applying ethical and social responsible human resources practices, and by managing volunteers in accordance with their social characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective in this paper is to analyse which Spanish businesses are operating within China, what their reasons are for being in this country, study their difficulties and list their priorities for the coming years. Reasons for satisfaction and dissatisfaction are also analysed. Spanish firms operating in China are mostly in the services sector (56%), in particular, in the areas of professional services, such as advertising, legal advice, consulting, etc. Almost half of the Spanish businesses have established themselves in the Shanghai area. Contrary to what is usually believed, most firms set up business in China to access the market, and not to employ low cost labour. In terms of continuity, the answer is almost unanimous: most Spanish firms plan to stay in the country for the next few years. Their main interest lies in accessing the opportunities of this vast market. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]