Exploit Market Opportunities Research Articles

New Frontiers in Potato Breeding: Tinkering with Reproductive Genes and Apomixis.

Potato is the most important non-cereal crop worldwide, and, yet, genetic gains in potato have been traditionally delayed by the crop's biology, mostly the genetic heterozygosity of autotetraploid cultivars and the intricacies of the reproductive system. Novel site-directed genetic modification techniques provide opportunities for designing climate-smart cultivars, but they also pose new possibilities (and challenges) for breeding potato. As potato species show a remarkable reproductive diversity, and their ovules have a propensity to develop apomixis-like phenotypes, tinkering with reproductive genes in potato is opening new frontiers in potato breeding. Developing diploid varieties instead of tetraploid ones has been proposed as an alternative way to fill the gap in genetic gain, that is being achieved by using gene-edited self-compatible genotypes and inbred lines to exploit hybrid seed technology. In a similar way, modulating the formation of unreduced gametes and synthesizing apomixis in diploid or tetraploid potatoes may help to reinforce the transition to a diploid hybrid crop or enhance introgression schemes and fix highly heterozygous genotypes in tetraploid varieties. In any case, the induction of apomixis-like phenotypes will shorten the time and costs of developing new varieties by allowing the multi-generational propagation through true seeds. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on potato reproductive phenotypes and underlying genes, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using potato's natural variability to modulate reproductive steps during seed formation, and consider strategies to synthesize apomixis. However, before we can fully modulate the reproductive phenotypes, we need to understand the genetic basis of such diversity. Finally, we visualize an active, central role for genebanks in this endeavor by phenotyping properly genotyped genebank accessions and new introductions to provide scientists and breeders with reliable data and resources for developing innovations to exploit market opportunities.

Shades of grand corruption among allocative efficiency and institutional settings. The case of Italy

This paper examines the underexplored impact of the procedures in public contracts on market allocation efficiency that are at risk of corruption. We integrated the GMM-SYS estimator with analyses of a balanced panel database of all the provinces in Italy between the period 2013–2021. The use of a high level of spatial granularity in an under-researched context revealed two distinct scenarios. In competitive markets, a more entrepreneurial and less widespread form of corruption emerged which may enhance market efficiency (bottom-up pattern). Conversely, in a context with limited market competition and low institutional quality, corruption indicators may be less useful due to potential pre-bribery behavior (top-down pattern). Our study underscores the capacity of corrupt suppliers to exploit market opportunities and secure selection. We found that corruption risk practices within public contracts have the potential to improve market efficiency, thus rendering them appealing to corrupt suppliers due to their capacity to deliver economic advantages. This also applies to provinces with high-quality governance. Additionally, the paper highlights the limitations of indicators in alternative contexts. The paper has significant implications for policymakers in defining assignation criteria in high-quality contexts, but also offers insights into the effectiveness of grand corruption indicators for academics.

PERSONALITY-RELATED DETERMINANTS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE LIGHT OF OWN RESEARCH IN THE AGRIBUSINESS SECTOR

The aim of this article is to identify the personality traits that can characterise entrepreneurial people and to determine what they believe to be important in achieving success. Entrepreneurship is defined very broadly in the literature and researchers consider different approaches to this issue. Certainly, being entrepreneurial is a combination of knowledge, passion, hard work and active learning. What is more, in many studies there are hypotheses indicating a correlation between the possession of certain character traits, or even temperament, and the propensity to start a business. In this article, an analysis of the behavioural and attitude approach to entrepreneurship is undertaken, which means that some personal traits and behaviour of the entrepreneurial person are analysed, as well as their perceptions of the issue. A descriptive-inductive method was used, using simple statistical methods. A survey method was used to obtain empirical data. An online survey form was sent to agribusiness entrepreneurs from Poland, the entrepreneurs were randomly selected. The respondents were primarily active in industries such as fruit, vegetable processing, as well as meat. A total of 57 returns were received between January and March 2023. The questionnaire included questions on personality traits that may be conducive to an entrepreneurial attitude, as well as identifying attitudes towards certain management situations. The respondents rated themselves as extroverted and open-minded, confident in their abilities. Most respondents described themselves as sanguines. A number of scientific studies confirm that sanguines and extroverts are the people who are most successful as entrepreneurs. Considering the statements of the respondents, there was a significant difference in the inconsistency of the responses from those labelled choleric and phlegmatic. The most consistent statements were obtained from sanguinis. Sanguinis were the most likely of all respondents to believe in the strength of their predispositions and character traits. Cholerics, due to their explosive nature and not always good decisions, felt that it was appropriate to monotone external factors, as this was the basis for decision-making. As a result of the survey and the literature review, it can be confirmed that entrepreneurial personality traits play an important role when setting up one's own business and also when continuing to manage it, but also an external situation and business environment play an important role in decision-making process. All these factors should be correlated and a good entrepreneur should be able to use his/her strengths to exploit market opportunities. According to the authors of this article, it is necessary to integrate one's personality traits and aptitudes with market information and ongoing monitoring of the industry to achieve success. Key words: personal traits, entrepreneurship, business motives JEL code: Q13, L26

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN OPPORTUNITY-BASED MINDSET AND SUSTAINABLE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE: MEDIATING ROLE OF PROACTIVE BEHAVIOR

This study investigates the impact of an opportunity-based mindset on sustainable competitive advantage in manufacturing sector in Egypt, additionally, the study highlights the critical mediating role of proactive behavior in this relationship. Data were collected from a sample of 385 senior managers, and the analysis was conducted using various Python packages. Structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques and a simple regression model were employed to examine the relationships between the constructs. The findings validate the significant contribution of both an opportunity-based mindset and proactive behavior to achieving sustainable competitive advantage. The Managers with a strong opportunity-based mindset are better equipped to identify and exploit market opportunities. However, the ability to convert these opportunities into a sustainable competitive edge is significantly enhanced when proactive behavior is present. This behavior, characterized by anticipation, initiative, and forward-thinking, is essential for translating potential opportunities into actionable strategies. The results emphasize the importance of fostering both an opportunity-based mindset and a culture of proactivity within organizations to secure long-term competitive advantages in manufacturing sector within Egypt.

Operationalizing Dynamic Capabilities and Market Orientation: Empirical Insights for Startups in Dynamic Environments

In today's markets, companies operate in dynamic environments characterized by rapid changes, complexity, and uncertainty. For these companies, especially startups that are based on fast-growing, high technology, and innovative approaches to create new markets or offer superior solutions in existing markets, marketing management presents one of the most significant challenges for entrepreneurs. This study aims to address this challenge by developing a practical framework based on the theory of dynamic capabilities (DCs) and market orientation (MO). The objective is to build long-term competitive advantages for startups operating in dynamic environments. A theoretical model was built using a systematic literature review, and this was later refined through longitudinal case studies of brazilian startups. The result is a robust framework that supports both literature and entrepreneurs. It assists in the identification and exploitation of market opportunities by leveraging DCs and MO. Furthermore, it supports decision-making processes aimed at achieving sustainable competitive advantages. The framework also encourages entrepreneurs to reflect on their practices related to the dimensions of these constructs.

Sustainable Business Model Design: A Multi-Case Approach Exploring Generic Strategies and Dynamic Capabilities on the Example of German Wine Estates

Business model design needs to encounter increasing and highly dynamic challenges due to counter-caesural environmental changes. Empirical research on strategic sustainability is expected to provide guidance for needed dynamic transformation and sustainability. The reported research builds on a multi-case research of four German wine estates. The cases each represent a specific generic strategic grouping and distinct business models and are thereby suited to analyse sustainability by leaning on the concept of dynamic capabilities. Sustainability was examined as a strategic vehicle for innovation in the wine industry and a nuanced view of dynamic capabilities. Premium strategist turned out to strongly engage and profile in sustainability with aligned dynamic capabilities as a building block to generate premium products. Quality leadership also leverages product quality with comprehensive dynamic capabilities aiming for sustainability by building on size and a professional structure but less on environmental profiling. The price–value strategy approaches sustainability primarily from a market-based and circular economy view. Niche strategist’s dynamic capabilities in the analysed population illustrated an entrepreneurial and effectuation-based approach with specific dynamic capabilities fine-tuned to exploit market opportunities. The multi-case analyses thereby allowed us to identify strategy-specific and business-model-suiting capabilities.

Achieving Agility in High-Reputation Firms: Agile Experimentation Revisited

Agility has become a key capability for contemporary firms, constantly facing fast-changing markets and evolving customer needs. The greatest challenge firms encounter today is to endure continuous change and successfully navigate through uncertainty, hence developing agility to identify and exploit market opportunities while striving within uncertain contexts. In recent years, several approaches have emerged to spur agility in business model innovation (BMI), advocating the principles of gathering customer feedback, through continuous testing and iteration, thus promoting the implementation of a quasi-scientific, experimental approach to cope with uncertainty. However, companies – particularly those fearing reputational threats – may face significant barriers when trying to implement such approaches. Indeed, in high-reputation firms, the risk of failure associated with the experiments performed may put their reputation at stake. By means of a multiple-case study on three high-reputation firms, this study aims at understanding how these high-reputation firms carry out BMI and strive to practice agility through experimentation notwithstanding their contingent and idiosyncratic constraints. Our findings suggest that high-reputation firms adopt already-validated assumptions on the most critical aspects of their BM, such as the value proposition, while still extensively experimenting on other BM elements. We then propose a process model highlighting how the Agile experimentation process in high-reputation firms unfolds. Our study holds relevant implications for both theory and practice, extending the domain of theory on BMI and experimentation to the context of high-reputation firms, while providing managers with useful guidelines to implement Agile when reputation is at stake.

Entrepreneurial strategic posture and new technology ventures in an emerging economy

PurposeAlthough start-ups have gained increasing scholarly attention, we lack sufficient understanding of their entrepreneurial strategic posture (ESP) in emerging economies. The purpose of this study is to examine the processes of ESP of new technology venture start-ups (NTVs) in an emerging market context.Design/methodology/approachIn line with grounded theory guidelines and the inductive research traditions, the authors adopted a qualitative approach involving 42 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Ghanaian NTV entrepreneurs to gain a comprehensive analysis at the micro-level on the entrepreneurs' strategic posturing. A systematic procedure for data analysis was adopted.FindingsFrom the authors' analysis of Ghanaian NTVs, the authors derived a three-stage model to elucidate the nature and process of ESP Phase 1 spotting and exploiting market opportunities, Phase II identifying initial advantages and Phase III ascertaining and responding to change.Originality/valueThe study contributes to advancing research on ESP by explicating the process through which informal ties and networks are utilised by NTVs and NTVs' founders to overcome extreme resource constraints and information vacuums in contexts of institutional voids. The authors depart from past studies in demonstrating how such ties can be harnessed in spotting and exploiting market opportunities by NTVs. On this basis, the paper makes original contributions to ESP theory and practice.

Entrepreneurial opportunity and related specialization in economic ecosystems

• Related specialization is a new measure of entrepreneurial opportunity in metropolitan regions • Unlike existing measures of entrepreneurial opportunity at the regional scale, related specialization is based on the structure of regional economies, revealing the economic potential of specific industries represented by that structure • An advantage of related specialization as a measure of entrepreneurial opportunity is that it can be applied consistently at any scale of economic analysis where data on output are available • Policymakers have a new tool to identify and target industries with the greatest potential to catalyze sustained growth in their regions Entrepreneurial ecosystems are most often defined as locally bounded networks of institutions and individuals that help entrepreneurs to identify and exploit market opportunities. However, a prerequisite of the ability to exploit an entrepreneurial opportunity is the existence of the opportunity to begin with. In this paper, we propose an approach to representing how entrepreneurial opportunities are embedded in a regional economy. The central methodological contribution of our paper is to introduce the concept of related specialization, which we define as the concentration of high interdependencies between specialized industries within a metropolitan region, relative to the national level of concentration. We find that related specialization is positively correlated with entrepreneurial outcomes across U.S. metropolitan areas. We use related specialization to make a first attempt at representing the trophic structure of an economic ecosystem. In a biological ecosystem, the trophic structure refers to energy-transfer relationships between different species. As introduced in this paper, we propose the analogy that, in an economic ecosystem, the trophic structure may be mapped in terms of the supply-chain relationships between industries within a region. We argue that these analytic tools can help policymakers more readily understand the opportunities that are imminently available to entrepreneurs in their local environments.

An Inside-Out Model of Brand Orientation for SME Branding

The study aims to develop a branding strategy model for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as the industrial revolution 4.0 necessitates the alignment of branding for sustainability. An inside-out model of brand orientation is a comprehensive approach that focuses on strategic brand resources internally, offering an effective branding strategy for SMEs to attain sustainability. This model is essential for SMEs due to the fragmented market segmentation nowadays, and SMEs need to cope by using their internal resources. Thus, it is crucial to ensure they can exploit market opportunities and not lose out in the cloud of digitalisation. This qualitative study relied on data from in-depth interviews with informants from 10 brand-oriented SMEs in Malaysia. The resource-based view (RBV) was applied as the managerial framework, and thematic analysis was used to reveal themes. It was found that the internal strengths and weaknesses of strategic brand resources indicate the creation of a competitive branding strategy. Interestingly, the companies explored not only tangible resources but also intangible resources in creating their branding strategies and communicating those strategies to employees and customers. The model contributes by guiding SMEs in formulating their branding strategies based on their resources. These findings elucidate an option for SMEs to develop their brands based on their existing resources in order to sustain in the market. Keywords: Branding, brand orientation, strategic brand resources, small-medium enterprises.

Contextualizing Necessity Entrepreneurship: A Cross-National, Comparative Perspective

While the comparative international entrepreneurship literature has explored the effects of national context on the discovery, evaluation, and exploitation of market opportunities, less comparative work has examined the national characteristics that drive the intensity of needs-based pushes into self-employment. To fill this gap, we apply a needs-based perspective to explain the wide cross-national diversity in levels of own-account self-employment across 167 country cases. Our results provide evidence that a needs-based lens offers an important framework to not only compare the conditions of self-employment between developing and developed country settings, but also to identify significant variation within the developing world itself. By splitting our global sample in half by income level, we find that the institutional-based causal conditions that explain cross-national variation in the scale of own-account self-employment are only recognized if the world’s poorest countries are included in comparative analysis. In the discussion section, we address the issue of country-level selective sampling bias to advance a more inclusive international entrepreneurship research agenda that includes the analysis of needs, as well as opportunities, when comparing national contexts.

MODELING OF THE LOGISTICS SYSTEM OF THE ENTERPRISE IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

In a globalized world characterized by technological changes, interactions between economic and social actors are crucial to exploit market opportunities and maximize resource efficiency. The digital transformation of the economy creates the prerequisites for the emergence of technological tools with fundamentally new properties, which are driven by the industrial implementation of artificial intelligence technologies, cloud computing and other innovative products. Production and logistics systems that support the life cycle of promising technical systems are also becoming active components of a single network of intelligent machines operating on the basis of Internet technologies. The problems of logistics remain relevant, because the successful functioning of any organization and its competitiveness directly depend on the competent interaction of all subsystems of the enterprise, including the logistics one. Organizations that cannot adapt to today’s information exchange and business process management requirements will find it harder to add value to their products and services. Digital transformation is a leading trend that reflects the development vector of the economy and society as a whole. The implementation of digital technologies in the logistics processes of the enterprise should be considered as an integral part of the development of the logistics system and the enterprise in general in modern conditions. The implementation of modern digital technologies in logistics activities leads to changes in business models and strategic planning; improves interaction between all participants of the logistics process; increases the productivity of activities and, as a result, increases the competitiveness of logistics enterprises in the market. In the conditions of rapid digitization, there is a need to master current delivery channels and formats, analyze big data, automate processes, implement blockchain and robots. The logistics industry is becoming one of the drivers of digitalization.

A POLICY-MAKING FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING THE KAOHSIUNG PORT’S ECONOMIC RESILIENCE

This paper is a revised and expanded version of a paper entitled ‘Influential indicators for measuring Kaohsiung port resilience’ presented at the International Forum on Shipping, Port, and Airports (IFSPA 2013), Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, 3–5 June 2013.
 The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method commonly used in the issue of decision making was performed in this study to propose a policy-making framework for enhancing the Kaohsiung port’s economic resilience. A three-level hierarchical structure with 19 attributes is proposed and tested. Results indicate that adjusting the shipping policy is perceived as the most critical strategic dimension to enhance container port resilience. This is followed by increasing incentives, adjusting port operational strategy and exploiting market opportunities. Overall, results show that the five most important strategies for enhancing international container ports’ resilience are training of international marketing personnel, economic deregulation of shipping market across the Taiwan-Strait; subsidising the throughput of containers transhipment, subsidising coastal shipping operations and the alteration of dedicated terminals for rent. This study contributes in proposing a policy-making framework to enhance the container port’s economic resilience, and this framework could also be generalised to other ports.

Leveraging resources for innovation: The role of synchronization

AbstractLeveraging resources to develop innovation is central to exploiting market opportunities, yet doing so is complex and fraught with challenges. This study explores some of this complexity by theoretically detailing and empirically examining the critical role that synchronization plays in the process of leveraging resources to create innovation. Specifically, we integrate resource orchestration with the behavioral theory of the firm to investigate the joint effect of synchronization and leveraging strategies on innovation under different performance conditions. Using policy capturing methodology resulting in 3600 observations from 120 managers, we find empirical evidence that synchronization can enhance innovation outcomes of all leveraging strategies. Yet, this positive synergistic effect occurs in high performing firms that use the resource advantage and market opportunity leveraging strategies and in low performing firms that use the entrepreneurial leveraging strategy. Our theory and results offer important contributions to the innovation and resource orchestration literatures. First, our study offers a contextually rich examination of innovation, suggesting that it is not only resources, but also managerial actions and a firm's relative performance that drive innovation outcomes. Specifically, this study adds to our knowledge of the relationship between resources and innovation strategies by investigating the impact of synchronization—a key contingency in understanding the effects of resources on innovation. Second, we examine boundary conditions of synchronization's influence by integrating behavioral logic in the context of relative firm performance. Mixed evidence exists on the synergistic effect of valuable capabilities, with some studies showing increased gains and others finding evidence of a neutral relationship. This study begins to disentangle these findings by suggesting that resource leveraging strategies and synchronization together enhance innovation when the strategy aligns with the firm's relative performance aspirations, answering calls for the development of a more nuanced understanding of the pursuit of innovation.

Institutional reforms, control of corruption, and diaspora entrepreneurship: insights and perspectives on America's poorest economy

PurposeWhile diaspora entrepreneurs remain important sources of capital and innovation, many developing countries are facing serious challenges to tap into these sources because of their weak institutional settings and the endemic and systemic corruption. To this end, this study explores how institutional reforms and control of corruption can influence diaspora entrepreneurship. This study also seeks to provide perspectives on how diaspora entrepreneurs can influence institutional reforms and market policies.Design/methodology/approachTo meet these objectives, qualitative and interpretive research approaches were employed.FindingsUsing responses collected from Haitian diaspora entrepreneurs living in the USA, this paper highlights different attributes of institutional reforms and control of corruption that can influence diaspora entrepreneurship.Practical implicationsBased on these insights, this paper argues that Haitian diaspora entrepreneurs need to play a proactive role as policy entrepreneurs by supporting competent and well-intention political leaders to gain office and by joining forces with local actors to advocate for institutional reforms, market reforms and control of corruption in order to be able to exploit market opportunities. In this respect, further perspectives for diaspora entrepreneurship, limitations and consideration for future research are highlighted.Originality/valueBy collecting insights on institutional reform and diaspora entrepreneurship from diaspora entrepreneurs, this paper makes important contribution to the entrepreneurship literature.

The case of sales in the automotive industry during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Agile methods can be used as a strategy tool by incumbents to explore and exploit market opportunities through times of unprecedented industry transformation. Drawing on 18 interviews with managers at a premium manufacturer based in Asia, the case of sales in the automotive industry during the COVID‐19 crisis provides in‐depth insights into the crisis management, focusing on but looking beyond sales. Six fundamental principles are identified as strategic tools to leverage resources and improve business outcomes while using agile‐work methods.

PERSEPSI PETANI KENTANG TERHADAP KEMITRAAN DI KECAMATAN PANGALENGAN, KABUPATEN BANDUNG

The agricultural sector is a sector that can be a supporting and supporting sector in the development of other sectors. The potato commodity is directed as one of the commercial commodities in the context of exploiting market opportunities. Partnerships can assist farmers in overcoming problems faced by farmers such as access to capital, technology and markets. The existing partnership in Pangalengan District is PT. Indofood Frytolay Makmur, supermarket supplier, and TaniHub.This study aims to analyze the perception of potato farmers in Pangalengan District, Bandung Regency on partnerships, especially in Pulosari and Pangalengan villages. Sampling in this study using a proportionate stratified random sampling technique of 52 respondents. The design used in this research is a quantitative design using a survey method. Data analysis using descriptive method. The results showed that the farmers' perceptions of the majority partnership were in the good category.

The behavioral approaches of entrepreneurial characteristics in Madura

The number of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) factually increased in recent years due to several factors such as the imbalance between demand and supply for the workplace. According to various literature study, entrepreneurs are related to the individuals' capacity and characteristics in exploiting market opportunities. The previous studies showed that entrepreneurs need to determine individual characteristics for proceeding with other strategies. Therefore, there are particular characteristics related to business activities that need to be possessed by prospective entrepreneurs. This research aims to reveal the entrepreneurship characteristics with a behavioral approach. Data were collected from 5 entrepreneurs in Bangkalan Regency using the purposive sampling technique. The result showed that entrepreneurial behaviors are either active or passive. In addition, the existence of competitors is not considered a threat to independence in developing business ideas.

Strategizing for digital innovations: Value propositions for transcending market boundaries

Digital entrepreneurs often exploit market opportunities across boundaries by constantly designing value propositions rather than innovating. We conceptualize this as a strategizing practice, which we aim to investigate further. This paper explores the mechanisms that digital entrepreneurs use to design and redesign value propositions to exploit market opportunities across boundaries by drawing on a two-year in-depth case study of a digital venture. We argue that at the heart of designing value propositions are the following four mechanisms: excogitating functionality, self-reverberating benefits, designating interdependencies, and conforming intentionalities. The paper argues that through the constant enactment of these mechanisms and a pattern that acts as a catalyst, it is possible to redesign the value proposition to transcend market boundaries without constantly developing new digital products. Our paper offers significant implications for digital technology entrepreneurship and strategizing literature by (a) capturing and theorizing the continual design of the value proposition as a strategizing practice to transcend market boundaries, (b) enunciating the mechanisms underpinning the design of the value proposition, and (c) introducing a new theoretical approach to the study of value proposition drawing on a practice perspective.

Diaspora entrepreneurs’ push and pull institutional factors for investing in Africa: Insights from African returnees from the United Kingdom

Applying the institution-based views, this article conceptualises how diaspora entrepreneurs take stimuli from the push and pull institutional factors to develop business enterprises in their countries of origin. Using cases of African diaspora entrepreneurs in the UK and the grounded theory methodological approach, our conceptualised model demonstrates that the diasporas use the new knowledge, skills and wealth they have gained in the UK in tandem with support from trusted family, kinship and business ties at home to develop enterprises. It further demonstrates that diaspora entrepreneurs foster resilience to withstand weak formal institutions in their countries of origin and the discriminatory obstacles in the UK. We also found that institutional barriers which served as push factors that encouraged or forced migrants to leave their home countries to seek greener pastures abroad may later become pull factors that enable them to engage in diaspora entrepreneurship which is often characterised by paradoxes. Particularly, the informal institutions that constrain foreign investors can become assets for African diaspora entrepreneurs and help them set up new businesses and exploit market opportunities in Africa. The implications of the study for diaspora entrepreneurship literature are outlined.