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Purpose Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have become increasingly important in national and international markets because they contribute to the development of local and national economies. SMEs often face serious challenges when competing with multinational companies. The purpose of this paper is to develop a method for assessing SMEs' competitiveness.Design/methodology/approach Based on a constructivist epistemology, this study makes an integrated use of cognitive mapping and the measuring attractiveness by a categorical-based evaluation technique (MACBETH). To this end, face-to-face sessions were conducted with a panel of entrepreneurs and senior managers who deal with the challenges of maintaining SME competitiveness every day. The proposed assessment system was tested and validated by the panel members.Findings The methodological processes adopted in this study provide promising results for decision makers seeking to identify the most competitive SMEs. Specifically, the results emphasize, among other points, the importance of innovation and the human dimension to gaining competitive advantages.Research limitations/implications The evaluation system developed in this study is extremely versatile and confirms the usefulness of integrating cognitive mapping and MACBETH to facilitate evaluations of SME competitiveness. However, due to its idiosyncratic and process-oriented nature, generalizations need to be done with caution.Practical implications The proposed method can be valuable to researchers seeking to develop mechanisms for evaluating SMEs' entrepreneurial performance and include specialized know-how and sensemaking in organizational decision-making processes.Originality/value The integrated use of cognitive maps and MACBETH contributes to a better understanding of how to assess SMEs' competitiveness. No prior work reporting the use of this dual methodology in this study context has been found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the linkage of innovation and entrepreneurship to economic growth in countries with different levels of development.Design/methodology/approach Following quantitative analysis, the authors carry out three empirical approaches to examine the effects of innovation and entrepreneurship on competitiveness. In accordance with their initial study framework, they test the conceptual model of competitiveness through applying descriptive statistics, structural equation modelling (SEM) and hierarchical cluster analysis. Descriptive statistics and SEM data sources from the Global Competitiveness Report of the World Economic Forum were analysed for 148 countries. The hierarchical cluster analysis furthermore analysed Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data on 67 different countries.Findings The study confirmed that innovation and sophistication factors are crucial to the competitiveness of economies. The study also revealed the definition of five clusters relative to the competitive performance of advanced economies following the introduction of new entrepreneurship variables.Originality/value This research aims to open up avenues for the development of regional competitiveness studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The aftermath of the recent financial crisis has shown that the ability to innovate is a vital management skill and that the methodologies used to evaluate innovation capability within small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) should be as holistic and integrative as possible. The purpose of this paper is to address this issue through the combined use of cognitive mapping and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).Design/methodology/approach Cognitive mapping and multiple criteria decision analysis have proved over the years to be effective in handling a wide range of complex decision problems. Following a socio-technical approach, a non-parametric method of evaluating SME innovation capability – based on the results of group meetings with a panel of information technology entrepreneurs and SME chief executive officers – was created, tested and validated.Findings The methodological processes adopted in this study provide promising results for decision makers seeking to identify the most innovative SMEs. Furthermore, the sensitivity analyses carried out also supported the findings.Research limitations/implications This study confirms the usefulness of integrating cognitive mapping and the AHP to facilitate evaluations of SME innovation capability. However, due to the process-oriented nature of the research, extrapolations without proper adjustments are not recommended.Practical implications The panel members who participated in this study consider the proposal extremely versatile and see great potential for further applications in the measurement of SME innovation capability.Originality/value The combined use of cognitive mapping and the AHP offers a holistic and well-informed perspective on the issue in question. The authors know of no prior work reporting this approach in the same research context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of university-industry partnership sustainability (UIPS) stands for well-adjusted progress among key players from universities and industry by sustaining their welfare, both in the present and in the future. This paper sought to develop an evaluation system for UIPS. The need for such a system is justified at three levels: the micro level (i.e., research and innovation performance, transfer and absorptive capability, and technology development), the meso level (i.e., institutional arrangements, communication networks, and local and indigenous rules) and the macro level (i.e., supply and demand, regulations, financing, taxes, culture, traditions, market, climate, politics, demographics, and technology). The UIPS evaluation system developed in this study offers the possibility of calculating a fair value of UIPS and providing recommendations for improving university--industry (U--I) partnerships. This can be of great importance for entrepreneurial universities that would like to strengthen their corporate links and/or reduce/reverse the "hollowing effect" of globalisation in disadvantaged regions. Additionally, this paper also contains discussions on the advantages, limitations, and managerial implications of this proposal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Implementation of Computerised Nursing Information Systems (SIE) has generated the need for nurses to develop new skills in providing care, in order to know how to use a new computer application and accept the use of a common language among peers to describe their practices. Objectives: This purpose of this research was to identify nurses' attitudes towards the Nursing Information Systems (SIE) based on International Classification for Nursing Practice (CIPE) and to identify their determinants. Method: Cross-sectional and correlational study, with a sample of 164 nurses from five hospitals in the country. To evaluate the nurses' attitude', a scale was constructed that revealed good internal consistency (Cronbach's Alpha 0.964) with five factors: SIE impact on work processes; SIE impact on effectiveness, efficiency and funding of nursing care; commitment to the new SIE; difficulties and expectations provided by SIE; appropriateness of software and service user support. Results: The results highlight favourable nursing attitudes toward SIEs based on CIPE, influenced by: perceptions of organisational change process, SIE experience, nursing educational level, training in CIPE language, professional category and workplace of the respondents. Conclusion: Planning of the implementation of computerized SIE in health organizations, must be done in order to make the change process clearer to users, through continuous training, achieving greater involvement of nursing professionals in this change process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper sought to analyse the dynamics underlying university technology transfer and commercialisation mechanisms. We adopt a qualitative research methodology, which incorporates different case studies, interviews and applied research of the actors involved in universities, business incubators and start-ups. While limited to three case studies, this paper does highlight the technology transfer mechanisms and the support provided to commercialisation, including the identification of the difficulties and opportunities present within the context of cooperation networks. By surveying those running incubators and incubator company managers in conjunction with analysis of research, development and innovation (RDI) cooperative projects backed by European funding, we were able to gain insights into the different processes of transferring and commercialising technology. Falling within the framework of the third component of universities' mission, this article demonstrates not only the importance of RDI cooperation networks but also how the consequent commercialisation of new products and services generates positive consequences for economic growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]