Mats Westerberg

Inbound Open Innovation Activities in High-Tech SMEs: The Impact on Innovation Performance

Prior studies suggest that open innovation activities positively influence innovation outcomes in large firms. However, few studies have investigated the implications of small and medium‐sized enterprises’ (SMEs) adoption of open innovation. We address this research gap by investigating the effects of four inbound open innovation activities on innovation performance of SMEs. In doing so, we draw on data from 252 high‐tech SMEs. Our results reveal that different open innovation activities are beneficial for different innovation outcomes. For instance, technology sourcing is linked to radical innovation performance, whereas technology scouting is linked to incremental innovation performance. These findings hold several important theoretical and practical implications.

Identifying work ability promoting factors for home care aides and assistant nurses

BackgroundIn workplace health promotion, all potential resources needs to be taken into consideration, not only factors relating to the absence of injury and the physical health of the workers, but also psychological aspects. A dynamic balance between the resources of the individual employees and the demands of work is an important prerequisite. In the home care services, there is a noticeable trend towards increased psychosocial strain on employees at work. There are a high frequency of work-related musculoskeletal disorders and injuries, and a low prevalence of sustainable work ability. The aim of this research was to identify factors promoting work ability and self-efficacy in care aides and assistant nurses within home care services.MethodsThis study is based on cross-sectional data collected in a municipality in northern Sweden. Care aides (n = 58) and assistant nurses (n = 79) replied to a self-administered questionnaire (response rate 46%). Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were performed to assess the influence of several independent variables on self-efficacy (model 1) and work ability (model 2) for care aides and assistant nurses separately.ResultsPerceptions of personal safety, self-efficacy and musculoskeletal wellbeing contributed to work ability for assistant nurses (R2adj of 0.36, p < 0.001), while for care aides, the safety climate, seniority and age contributed to work ability (R2adj of 0.29, p = 0.001). Self-efficacy was associated with the safety climate and the physical demands of the job in both professions (R2adj of 0.24, p = 0.003 for care aides), and also by sex and age for the assistant nurses (R2adj of 0.31, p < 0.001).ConclusionsThe intermediate factors contributed differently to work ability in the two professions. Self-efficacy, personal safety and musculoskeletal wellbeing were important for the assistant nurses, while the work ability of the care aides was associated with the safety climate, but also with the non-changeable factors age and seniority. All these factors are important to acknowledge in practice and in further research. Proactive workplace interventions need to focus on potentially modifiable factors such as self-efficacy, safety climate, physical job demands and musculoskeletal wellbeing.

Does the CEO matter? An empirical study of small Swedish firms operating in turbulent environments

This paper develops and tests a framework for understanding the performance of small firms operating in highly turbulent environments. Performance is conceptualized as being multidimensional, taking into account both financial and market performance. The purpose was to delineate the importance of CEO characteristics (self-efficacy, tolerance for ambiguity and need for cognition) in relation to some aspects of firm orientation (Market vs. Internal and Planning vs. Implementation). The results showed that CEO characteristics tended to have a considerable impact on firm performance and on firm orientation, while no significant relationship between firm orientation and firm performance was found.

Health-related quality-of-life and life satisfaction 6-15 years after traumatic brain injuries in northern Sweden.

Objective: To describe health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) and life satisfaction many years after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and assess possible associations with variables related to the time of injury and follow-up and the individuals’ self-appraisal of the impact of the TBI. Method: Sixty-seven individuals (18–65 years), on average 10 years post-injury, were interviewed. Data on HRQoL, using the SF-36 questionnaire, were compared with a Swedish age- and sex-matched reference sample, and life satisfaction, using the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), were compared with a nationwide Swedish sample of students. The participants self-appraisal of the TBI was assessed with two supplementary questions. Data were analysed with hierarchical multiple regression analyses. Results: HRQoL as well as life satisfaction were lower compared with the reference samples. From the regression analyses, the individuals’ own appraisal of the impact of the TBI and whether they were vocationally productive or not were strongly associated with their current physical health and life satisfaction. Conclusion: These results confirm the importance of TBI as a cause of long-term disability and the impact of the injury on the individuals’ self-perceived values of health, quality-of-life and life satisfaction.

Personal traits of CEOs, inter-firm networking and entrepreneurship in their firms : investigating strategic SME network participants

This research tests a model including direct and indirect effects of CEOs personal traits (i.e., tolerance for ambiguity and self-efficacy) on entrepreneurial behavior for firms in a specific context, namely strategic SME networks. Findings indicate no direct relationship between personal traits and entrepreneurial behavior on the firm level but reports positive relationship between CEOs traits and levels of inter-firm networking with other strategic SME network participants. Inter-firm networking, in turn, is positively related to entrepreneurial behavior on the firm level. Our results thus indicate that personal traits of the CEO can be important to study in order to understand small firm behavior and performance. The absence of direct links may hide interesting indirect and mediating influences. Based on this, we argue that it is important for future research in the entrepreneurship domain to consider inclusion of context-specific action-based factors that may link CEO traits to entrepreneurship.

Functioning and disability 6-15 years after traumatic brain injuries in northern Sweden

Objectives – To assess long‐term functioning and disability after traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Sense of coherence and disability and the relationship with life satisfaction 6-15 years after traumatic brain injury in northern Sweden.

The objective of the study was to assess sense of coherence (SOC) many years after traumatic brain injury (TBI) and explore the relationship between SOC and self-rated life satisfaction (LS) as well as measures of functioning and disability, sex, age at injury, injury severity and time post-injury. Sixty-six individuals (aged 18–65 years) who were 6–15 years post-injury were interviewed. Data on SOC (SOC-13 item scale), measures of functioning and disability (Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory, MPAI-4), LS (Satisfaction with Life Scale, SWLS), and sex, age at injury, injury severity and time post-injury were analysed with hierarchical multiple regression analyses. The results showed that SOC in the study group did not differ from the general population and was strongly associated with LS. Regression analyses revealed that emotional factors, social participation, SOC, and time since injury, were more influential than sex, age at injury, and injury severity in explaining LS. It was concluded that SOC in this group of individuals with TBI who were many years post-injury was similar to nondisabled individuals. SOC, together with emotional factors, social participation and injury-related factors, were determinants of LS. These results confirm that LS after TBI is a complex phenomenon dependent on several factors that are important targets for rehabilitation professionals.

Demographics, injury characteristics and outcome of traumatic brain injuries in northern Sweden

Objectives –  To describe demographics, injury characteristics and outcome of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in northern Sweden over 10 years.

Exploring the effects of network configurations on entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance: an empirical study of new ventures and small firms

Prior studies have suggested that networks are important for new ventures and small firms as a provider of access to entrepreneurial opportunities and as a tool to increase firm performance. Although the strategic value of networks on a general level is undisputed, one major shortcoming of prior studies has been to evaluate the effects of specific network configurations. Moreover, small firms have all too often been treated as a homogeneous group, expected to reveal similar needs and patterns of behavior. The purpose of this explorative study was therefore to examine the effects of different network configurations on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and performance for two categories of small firms new ventures and established small firms. The results were achieved by using empirical data from two independent samples of new ventures (n 171) and small firms (n 291) and show that network relationships have quite different effects in the two samples. While networking is overall positively linked to EO and performance for small firms, no positive effect from networking is evidenced for new ventures’ EO and performance. For both samples, we found a strong link between EO and performance. This paper concludes with a discussion on the results and suggestions for future research.

CEO Succession, Honing, and Enterprising: A Promising Way to Achieve Small Business Performance?

This study examines CEO succession in small firms and the impact of CEO honing and enterprising competence on firm performance within a contingency framework. In a study of 162 small firms, we hypothesize that a newly appointed CEO will bring entrepreneurship to its small firms, but the results do not support this. Instead, the results indicate that a new CEO tends to introduce honing in the firm. Only CEO market enterprising had a direct relation to better performance. However, we find several instances of moderation effects attributable to strategic competence, environmental uncertainty, and the nature of tasks in the company.