Óscar González-Benito

The role of stakeholder pressure and managerial values in the implementation of environmental logistics practices

Many of the management practices that contribute to improving a firms environmental performance are developed in the area of logistics management. The aim of this work is to contribute to identifying the factors determining the implementation of these practices by studying two variables: the environmental pressure of the stakeholders as perceived by the firm and the values and beliefs of its managers. The analysis of data provided by 186 industrial firms reveals that two dimensions of pressure can be distinguished, governmental and non-governmental, and that only the latter is able to explain the implementation of environmental practices in logistics. The empirical results also confirm the effect of managements values and reveal that part of this effect is channelled through the influence of these values in the perception of environmental pressure.

Role of entrepreneurship and market orientation in firms' success

Purpose – This article aims to offer empirical evidence pertaining to the relationship among entrepreneurship, market orientation and business performance within the context of disadvantaged socio‐economic regions of the European Union.Design/methodology/approach – Two groups of hypotheses investigate the relationship between entrepreneurship and market orientation and the joint effect of these dimensions on performance. All questions are approached using survey data from 183 firms located in the Castilla y Leon region, Spain.Findings – A strong relationship exists between entrepreneurship and market orientation. Although these orientations may be implemented separately, firms emphasise entrepreneurship when they are market‐oriented. Therefore, the strong relationship and complementarities between entrepreneurship and market orientation reduce the effort involved in the joint adoption of both orientations. Both orientations also demonstrate a strong relationship with performance, such that each contribute...

Assessment of potential retail segmentation variables An approach based on a subjective MCI resource allocation model

Abstract The application of a multiplicative competitive interaction (MCI) resource allocation model to assess potential segmentation variables in terms of their capacity to homogenise consumers’ patronage preferences is proposed. The method consists of grouping the potential customers by the variable in question, determining the shopping profile of each resulting segment, and comparing the results to identify insightful relationships between the variable and the shoppers’ retail selection criteria. An empirical test of the procedure in the context of the grocery retail market is subsequently presented and confirms the importance of evaluating easy-measurable demographic and socioeconomic variables as orientative indicators of shopping behaviour.

Rural Lodging Establishments as Drivers of Rural Development

Different programs designed to develop rural areas in Europe grant significant funds to support several economic activities. In particular, rural lodging establishments have been key recipients of many development investments. Therefore, identifying the determinants of business success for these establishments is important for authorities, who must allocate their funding accordingly. The establishments themselves can benefit from such knowledge as well. This article examines the influence of three general factors related to the business and the entrepreneur—product, knowledge, and promotional tools—on performance, measured as occupancy, prices, sales, and profits. A survey conducted in a rural Spanish region produces results that largely confirm the proposed hypotheses.

Organizational and Environmental Factors as Moderators of the Relationship between Multidimensional Innovation and Performance

Abstract Primary objectives: This article provides empirical evidence regarding the moderating role of organizational and environmental factors in the relationship between innovation and business performance. Research design and methods: Specifically, it analyses the relationship between different types of innovation and performance and establishes two blocks of hypotheses regarding the possible moderating effects of business factors (e.g., firm size with regard to structure, market orientation with respect to the organizational culture), and the business environment, relative to the sector and competition. The empirical analysis includes 440 Spanish companies and encompasses four sectors of activity: Industry, construction, agriculture, and services. Results and conclusions: Marketing, management, and product innovation actions provide the best performance for companies. Such results are moderated by organizational and environmental factors. The role of market orientation and environmental dynamism are specially significant on relationship. Originality/value: Previous literature on moderates of the innovation–performance relationship is limited. This research contribute on several aspects: (1) Determine the size and market orientation act as moderators of the relationship; (2) differentiate whether the individual moderators differently affect any particular act of innovation (management, organization, marketing, product or production processes); (3) distinguish between various types of business performance indicators and grouping them according to their effectiveness, efficiency or adaptability.

On the Consequences of Market Orientation Across Varied Environmental Dynamism and Competitive Intensity Levels

Many firms attempt to develop market‐oriented attitudes and behaviors because of their presumably positive consequences for performance. A market orientation can provide the cultural basis for successful differentiation strategies focused on customer satisfaction. However, inconclusive evidence regarding the relationship between market orientation and performance demands an analysis of possible moderators. This paper therefore analyzes the moderating role of environmental characteristics in the market orientation–performance relationship. Heterogeneous methodologies and measures could explain some diversity in empirical results. Moreover, both the market orientation–performance relationship and the moderating effects of environment dynamism, turbulence, hostility, and complexity may depend on more general characteristics of the environment. A complete diagnostic of the moderating effect of the environment must analyze phenomena in different socioeconomic and political–regulatory contexts. Therefore, the authors (1) analyze the moderating role of environmental dynamism and competitive intensity; (2) consider a broad range of performance measures, distinguished as effectiveness, efficiency, and adaptability measures and as financial and operational measures; and (3) focus on a priority 1 region of the uropean nion, characterized by small and medium‐sized enterprises that face a global competitive scenario from a disadvantaged local environment. The empirical results support the positive relationship between market orientation and performance and indicate the relationship is inhibited by competitive intensity, which contrasts with existing arguments and empirical results.

Inter-format spatial competition of Spanish hypermarkets

This paper reports on research aimed at exploring and understanding the inter-format spatial competition of the Spanish hypermarket. First, the methodological approach is introduced through the theoretical and empirical development of a market response model. Spatial coverage reached by competing store formats is explicitly contemplated as the explanatory factor from the offer side. Analogously, the geodemographic profile is taken as the explanatory factor from the demand side. The proposed model is then applied to the intra-urban Spanish market defined by the Metropolitan Area of Madrid. The results confirm the analytical capabilities of the modelling approach and the relevance of both explanatory components. Moreover, they lead to interesting conclusions about the competitive structure and interaction, the impact of expansion and growth strategies, and the role of spatial heterogeneity in market response at the inter-format level.

Geodemographic and socioeconomic characterization of the retail attraction of leading hypermarket chains in Spain

This paper aims at examining the impact on demand of the competitive positioning strategies developed by the leading hypermarket chains in Spain. Specifically, the purpose is to carry out a geodemographic and socieconomic characterization of the potential consumers of each chain. As retail attraction has traditionally been divided into three components, distance, mass and image, a gravitational model is proposed which distinguishes them and facilitates the evaluation of existing differences across any a priori segmentation base. The empirical test identifies significant geodemographic differences in the retail attraction of hypermarket chains. Chains seem to target the whole market by developing an image balanced against the advantages and disadvantages derived from the spatial coverage strategy. Social class is not as good an indicator of hypermarket choice as expected, although some interesting patterns have been detected.

Overcoming data limitations for store choice modelling.: Exploiting retail chain choice data by means of aggregate logit models

Abstract This paper reports on research aimed at exploiting certain data sources for store choice modelling purposes. Many databases, such as some consumer panels, only record the firm chosen by consumers and not the specific store at which they shop. Four alternative approaches are proposed in order to use this raw information for studying patronage determinants at store level: (a) an ordinary logit model in which chain utility is averaged across stores within; (b) an ordinary logit model in which the choice set is assumed to be composed of the nearest store for each chain; (c) a straightforward application of an aggregate logit model; and (d) the application of an aggregate logit model with choice sets spatially bounded by a distance threshold representing the maximum distance that consumers are willing to travel for shopping. The models are empirically tested in the context of spatial choice behaviour. Goodness of fit indicators reveal that only models (b), (c) and (d) acceptably represent competitive interaction dynamics. As performance of (b) is slightly better than that of (c), it seems that a priori the ‘nearest store assumption’ is a better approach than the modelling of aggregate choice structures. However, when the latter approach is applied with more reliable choice sets, as suggested in model (d), the best performance is achieved. The results thus lead us to think that the aggregate logit model is a promising methodology for solving the problem at issue, but subject to an appropriate definition of the consumers’ choice sets. In fact, such an approach provides a more suitable modelling solution to the extent that the saturation and the intra-firm store heterogeneity become more intense, because these situations presumably imply that consideration sets include several stores from the same chain.

Time compression diseconomies in environmental management: The effect of assimilation on environmental performance

This research addresses the relationship between an organisations assimilation of its environmental management system (EMS), the experience it gains through it, and its environmental performance. Assimilation here refers to the degree to which the requirements of the management standard are integrated within a plants daily operations. Basing ourselves on the heterogeneity of organisations, we argue that assimilation and experience will inform environmental performance. Furthermore, we posit that the relationship between assimilation and environmental performance depends on experience. The attempt to obtain greater assimilation in a shorter time leads an organisation to record a poorer environmental outcome, which we shall refer to as time compression diseconomies in environmental management. We provide empirical evidence based on 154 plants pertaining to firms in Spain subject to the European Unions CO2 Emissions Trading System.