Pablo Sánchez

Business Model Innovation and Sources of Value Creation in Low-Income Markets

We explore different business ventures in low-income markets in order to understand the factors influencing business model innovation in this context. Grounded in the rich data obtained from multiple case study analyses and in the received theory in strategy in low-income markets and business models, we identified a set of contingency factors that permitted us to distinguish between isolated and interactive business models. Isolated business models widen its entrance into new markets by leveraging firms current resources and capabilities for taking advantage of existing opportunities. Interactive business models require a firm to combine, integrate and leverage both internal resources with ecosystems capabilities to create new business opportunities. Finally, we discuss the main implications on value creation from these business models.

Sustainable Development and the Sustainability of Competitive Advantage: A Dynamic and Sustainable View of the Firm

Does the need for sustainable development hinder businesses’ ability to create value? Is a firm’s competitiveness negatively affected by considering that need? After quickly reviewing the main literature contributions on the relationship between business and society, and drawing from resource-based view of the firm and sustainable development literature, this paper presents a proposal for a dynamic and sustainable view of the firm. It shows how considering the changes introduced into the competitive landscape by sustainable development influences the way in which companies develop their resources, capabilities and activities, fostering the persistence of competitive advantages based on knowledge and innovation.

Sustainability in the boardroom

Purpose – Although an extensive body of research treats the fields of corporate governance and sustainable development separately, less attention has been paid to the interaction between both fields. This paper attempts to bridge this gap by examining how corporate governance systems are evolving in order to integrate sustainable development thinking into them.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing from corporate governance, sustainable development, and stakeholder theory literature, an analysis is performed of the governance systems of the 18 corporations that are leading the market sectors considered by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.Findings – The results of our in‐depth analysis of the 18 cases are presented and the sustainable corporate governance model that emerges from that analysis is proposed.Research limitations/implications – This model does not attempt to question or replace the previous recommendation and frameworks suggested in the literature on corporate governance and codes of gov...

Técnica modificada de obtención de muestras del mediastino mediante punción transbronquial bajo guía de ecografía endobronquial: resultados de un estudio prospectivo observacional

BACKGROUND Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a widely-accepted method for obtaining both benign and malignant mediastinal lymph node samples. We present the results obtained with a modification that simplifies sampling, known as fine-needle capillary sampling or EBUS-FNC. METHODS A prospective observational study with 44 consecutive patients who underwent EBUS at the University of Navarra Clinic in Pamplona (Spain). All samples were obtained by EBUS-FNC instead of by conventional EBUS-TBNA. No suction was used, and the internal stylus was not completely withdrawn at any time. RESULTS The examination of the mediastinum by means of EBUS identified the presence of lymphadenopathies or mediastinal masses in 38 patients (86.4%). Samples were taken from more than one lymph node in 23 patients (52.3%). EBUS-FNC provided adequate and representative material for interpretation in all patients, and diagnostic performance was 87%. Sensitivity for the detection of lung cancer with EBUS-FNC was 84%. Mild complications were only recorded in two patients (4.5%). CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that EBUS-FNC is a safe technique, comparable to EBUS-TBNA in efficacy, and is able to obtain adequate samples.

Social Embeddedness in Low-Income Markets: Influential Factors and Positive Outcomes

Strategy in low-income markets is a new but emerging field of international strategy research. Because low-income markets remain largely unexplored and unknown to most companies, it has been argued that developing embedded ties and alliances with traditional and non-traditional partners is critical in order to better understand customer needs and market characteristics. Following this logic, the purpose of this paper is to explore the antecedents and consequences of developing a capability in social embeddedness in low-income markets. Using a multiple-case inductive analysis of business ventures and their embedded ties and partnerships in this context, we propose an emergent theoretical framework to explain the factors that influence the development of such a capability and its positive outcomes. Our findings suggest that a firm has a greater incentive to build embedded ties and partnerships under three conditions: when the market-oriented ecosystem is underdeveloped; when the firms psychic distance with respect to low-income markets is high; and when the firm offers a large number of product complementarities. A capability in social embeddedness can be beneficial for obtaining fine-grained information, increasing operational efficiency, gaining trust and legitimacy, and having prior access to new markets. At the same time, the social network in which a firm is embedded gives access to network resources that can provide competitive advantage.