International Quality Certification Research Articles

Does the size of the firm matter in determining the adoption of green economy practices in India?

PurposeThis article aims at analysing the factors influencing the adoption of green economy practices across different sizes of firms in India.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on the World Bank Enterprise Survey 2022, covering 9,376 firms in India. The Poisson Count Regression Model has been used to analyse the factors affecting the adoption of green economy practices.FindingsAbout 83 % of firms reported adopting at least one green practice in their business related to energy conservation, water management, pollution control and waste management and recycling. Research results reveal a significant association between the size of the firm and adoption of green economy practices. The impact of enterprise characteristics varies by firm size. For instance, female ownership positively affects adoption in large firms but negatively in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, lean operations, research and development (R&D) spending and international quality certification positively influence green practices adoption for both SMEs and large firms. Perceived business obstacles show similar implications on green practices adoption by size of firms except access to finance, business licencing, tax rate and law and order affect SMEs while labour regulations, tax administration and political instability affect large firms.Practical implicationsThis paper suggests implications for strengthening the adoption of green economy practices across firm sizes and provides opportunities for future research.Originality/valueThis study is based on a unique dataset derived from the World Bank Enterprise Survey 2022, which has included green economy indicators for the first time.Peer reviewThe peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-11-2023-0918.

Evaluating the influence of digital strategy on the interplay between quality certification and sales performance using data science and machine learning algorithms

In the context of international trade with information asymmetries, business certifications can serve as signals of product quality and reliability for customers and stakeholders. Recognizing this, the current study unbraces “signalling theory” to explore the impact of digital transformation strategy (DTS) on firm’s international quality certification status and sales performance in the global economy. To this end, treating quality certification endogenously, the study relies on bivariate copula regression modeling of 121429 firms’ responses data extracted from the World Bank’s Enterprise Surveys. Consistent with the hypothesized theoretical predictions, the findings revealed that DTS, in the form of website ownership, has a significantly positive impact on sales performance due to increasing firm’s reach, visibility, engagement, conversion, and retention of customers across different channels and touchpoints. As theoretically conjectured, quality certification is also found to positively impact sales performance by enhancing the firm’s reputation, trustworthiness, and attractiveness in the global marketplace. Most importantly, the study found empirical evidence that DTS significantly moderates the relationship between quality certification and sales performance, such that quality certification has a stronger effect on sales performance for firms with a well-defined DTS (web=1) than those without (web=0); leading therefore to the conclusion that DTS can amplify the signal of quality certification by making it more visible, transparent, and consistent across different digital channels and touchpoints. Hence, the study provides valuable empirical and theoretical insights that inform current business practices, future research, and potential policy measures to support business growth, and enhanced competitiveness in the global market place.

Dealing with adversity: innovation among small and medium-sized enterprises in developing economies

PurposeSmall and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries, particularly in the Sub-Saharan African region, find it hard to innovate due to severe resource constraints and high institutional voids. Given this, the paper examines three international strategic responses that small and medium-sized enterprises in Sub-Saharan Africa adopt to implement innovations in the face of weak institutional environments.Design/methodology/approachUsing comprehensive data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey, the study applies the Instrumental Variable Probit approach to analyse a sample of 8,466 SMEs from eleven countries in the Sub-Saharan African region.FindingsThe empirical results show that foreign ownership negatively affects product and process innovation. Additionally, the results reveal that small and medium-sized enterprises that leverage exporting and international quality certifications are likely to implement innovations.Originality/valueThe paper contributes to the literature by suggesting that small and medium-sized enterprises must exploit strategic alternatives to improve their innovation efforts when operating in a weak institutional environment. Thus, by exploring international strategic responses to institutional difficulties when implementing innovations, this paper goes beyond the prevailing research approach in developing countries that mainly emphasises the barriers to innovations.

A Health App Platform Providing a Budget to Purchase Preselected Apps as an Innovative Way to Support Public Health: Qualitative Study With End Users and Other Stakeholders.

eHealth has the potential to improve health outcomes. However, this potential is largely untapped. Individuals face an overload of apps and have difficulties choosing suitable apps for themselves. In the FitKnip experiment, individuals were given access to a health app platform, where they could purchase reliable preselected health apps with a personal budget of €100 (US $107.35). By conducting a prospective study, we aimed to scientifically evaluate the FitKnip experiment as an innovative way to improve population health. The aim of the experiment was to scientifically evaluate the FitKnip experiment as an innovative way to improve population health. More specifically, we conducted an in-depth qualitative evaluation of the concept and acceptability of FitKnip, its perceived impact on health empowerment, as well as the roles of stakeholders for the future implementation of a health app platform through focus group interviews. This study followed a phenomenological research design and included 7 focus group interviews with end users and 1 with stakeholders, held between July and December 2020. End users were recruited through various institutions in the Netherlands, for example, insurance companies and local governments. All focus groups were semistructured using interview guides and were held via videoconferencing due to the COVID-19 pandemic measures. Each participant received access to a health app platform where they were enabled to purchase reliable, preselected health apps with a budget of €100 (US $107.35). The budget was valid for the entire research period. The health app platform offered 38 apps. A third party, a health care coalition, selected the apps to be included in FitKnip. The analyses were conducted according to the principles of the Framework Method. A priori formulated themes were concept, acceptability, health empowerment, and outcomes, and the roles of stakeholders for the future implementation of a health app platform. Both end users (n=31) and stakeholders (n=5) were enthusiastic about the concept of a health app platform. End users indicated missing apps regarding physical health and lifestyle and needing more guidance toward suitable apps. End users saw health empowerment as a precondition to using a health app platform and achieving health outcomes depending on the purchased mobile apps. End users and stakeholders identified potential providers and financing parties of FitKnip. Stakeholders recommended the establishment of a reputable national or international quality guidelines or certification for health and wellbeing apps, that can demonstrate the quality and reliability of mobile health applications. This study showed the need for a personalized and flexible platform. Next to this, a deeper understanding of the roles of stakeholders in such initiatives is needed especially on financing and reimbursement of health promotion and digital health services. A personalized, flexible health app platform is a promising initiative to support individuals in their health.

Export performance in fourASEANcountries: The role of international quality certification, information and communication technology capability, and innovation

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to examine empirically the relationship between international quality certification, and information and communication technology (ICT) capability with the firm's export performance by considering the variables of the firm's innovation as a mediator. The data used in this research is derived from the Enterprise Survey from the World Bank involving total more than 4000 firms' respondents from four countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) including Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Vietnam. Analyzed using the Partial Least Square (PLS) technique, the findings show that both international quality certification and ICT capabilities, mediated by innovation, has a significant effect to export performance. The study's findings can help managers and policymakers in developing economies, particularly in ASEAN, improve their firms' export performance.

Political environment, employee tenure security and firm performance in middle-income economies

PurposeThe study investigates the effect of political instability and employee tenure security on the performance of firms in middle-income economies (MIEs) after controlling for the influence of corruption, international quality certification, external auditor services and firm age. It examines whether ownership and sector effects matter in the explored relationships.Design/methodology/approachThe study adopts the generalized method of moments estimator and collects firm-level cross-sectional data from 77 MIEs.FindingsThe evidence shows that political uncertainty, employee tenure security and firm age negatively impact firm performance. Also, external quality assurance mainly improves firm performance. Additionally, foreign-owned firms benefit from corruption more than their domestic counterparts. Moreover, there are ownership and sector effects in the firm performance drivers.Practical implicationsThe findings suggest the need for MIE firm managers to implement policies and programs to improve permanent employees' efficiency, commitment and honesty. Policy makers and political actors must work toward a stable political environment in MIEs. The policy must also focus on at least minimizing corruption.Originality/valueThe study shows the contributions of employee tenure security, political instability and corruption to the performance of MIE firms. It documents sector and ownership effects in the factors influencing firm performance.

Evaluating the determinative factors driving patents and foreign technologies acquisitions in Visegrád countries

PurposeThis paper aims to empirically examine the factors driving the acquisition of patents and foreign technologies in 2,198 firms spanning multiple industries in Visegrád countries.Design/methodology/approachTo fulfil the research objectives, the authors used the binary logistic regression models for the empirical specifications to analyse the various hypotheses to ascertain the factors contributing to patents, foreign technologies and international quality certificate acquisitions in Visegrád countries.FindingsThe results show that technological innovations, in-house and external research and development, intense competition from the informal sector and external knowledge search positively influence firms to acquire patents, foreign technologies and international quality certificates. The study further showed that certain firm characteristics, such as size, having a board of directors, female top managers and top managers’ experience, positively influenced firms’ ability to obtain patents, foreign technologies and international quality certificates.Originality/valueThe authors provide new insights into understanding the factors contributing to international technological linkages in the context of transitional countries such as the Visegrád four group. The authors have shown that international technology linkages through foreign technology licences and international quality certifications are vital for innovations in transition economies.

Productivity and Resource Misallocation: Empirical Findings from Firms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region and Turkey

State-Business relations (SBRs) are reflected in business and investment climate indicators and may take the form of formal, regular, and informal interactions. The creation of an institutional environment in which the state provides high-quality public goods, such as infrastructure, political stability, elimination of corruption, and effective public administration, is important because it can improve productivity and lead to higher rates of growth. Resource reallocation from low to high productivity firms can generate large aggregate productivity gains with further potential benefits to economic growth. This study examines the relationship between productivity and resource misallocation in a sample of countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and Turkey. The analysis relies on data from the World Bank Enterprise Surveys over 2008-2016 of firms in Egypt, Turkey, and Yemen. In the analysis, we control various firm characteristics. Furthermore, we explore major state-business relations (SBRs) and their association to resource misallocation. The results are mixed, wherein in Egypt and Turkey, female ownership and international quality certification are positively associated with productivity and allocation efficiency. Moreover, obstacles in SBRs present a negative and significant correlation with the firms’ performance and productivity, increasing dispersions in the resource allocation, output, and capital. We find that corruption, political instability, electricity supply, and high tax rates are the most critical obstacles in SBRs. 

ПІДВИЩЕННЯ ЕКОНОМІЧНОЇ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ УПРАВЛІННЯ ЯКІСТЮ ПОСЛУГ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ СФЕРИ ОБСЛУГОВУВАННЯ ТУРИСТІВ

The article considers some aspects of improving the economic efficiency of quality management of enterprises involved in tourist services. It is pointed out that in the conditions of modern tourism development quality management is one of the most important components of tourism efficiency and profitability. It is determined that in Ukraine there is a noticeable decrease in the number of tourist packages sold by tour operators during the study period. It is established that currently the best sales channel for travel products are travel agencies, which compete with each other to provide the best quality of service and service shell of the product of tour operators. It has been determined that tour operators cooperate with a significant number of different market players that serve tourists. It is established that at each stage of implementation of the developed tourist package it is necessary to control the quality of services to tourists, because it depends on the final economic effect of all participants. It is established that the vast majority of consumers of tourism products, served by tour operators and travel agents, are tourists traveling for purpose, recreation and leisure. It is established that during the study period the costs of accommodation, meals and transportation of tourists within the implemented tourist packages decreased. It is noted that in 2018–2020 in Ukraine the highest level of growth was the cost of tour operators for the services of third-party organizations that provide services in the field of culture and excursions. It is noted that the reasons for the negative trends in the tourism market of Ukraine are the military aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine since 2014 and the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. It is established that in the process of improving the efficiency of quality management of enterprises involved in the process of tourist services, it is important to implement international quality standards and certification in accordance with the requirements of the international standard ISO 9001 for tourism. It is noted that when implementing a quality management system, each enterprise in the field of tourist services should define goals and policies on quality, set appropriate tasks to ensure a stable, long-term nature.

Challenges to Formality from Formal Firms Behaving Informally: Evidence from Central America

This research explores the competitive environment for urban formal sector firms competing against peer formal sector firms behaving informally in Central America. Explored is the upper bound of the formal-informal continuum in a regional economic environment of persistent and widespread economic informality where formal firms may employ informal tactics to gain competitive advantage versus their formal competitors. The 2010 World Bank Enterprise Surveys form the basis for empirical analyses. The results suggest formal firms utilizing informal practices is widespread and is influenced by firm maturity, firm location, industry sector, firm legal status, firm organization, ownership composition, regulatory environment, international quality certification, web presence, entry into global markets, and firm size.

Understanding the ease of doing agribusiness in emerging Asian economies: evidence from world enterprises survey

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyze the characteristics of agribusiness firms in India, China and Pakistan, as well as the challenges they face in doing business.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on the World Bank’s Enterprises Survey (WBES) data. The survey was carried out through a questionnaire survey from the owner and top managers of 716, 247 and 174 agribusiness from India, Pakistan and China, respectively. This enterprises survey has comprised the information regarding the wide range of firms’ characteristics and 16 parameters of business obstacles. Simple statistical tools such as chi-square and analysis of variance have been used to analyze the data.FindingsChi-square test shows the statistically significance difference in firms’ characteristics across agribusiness firms of India, China and Pakistan. Chinese firms are better in terms of having an international quality certification, own websites and getting credit. In Pakistan, access to land for agribusiness is an obstacle while for India and China, it is easy to acquire land for agribusiness purposes. In Pakistan, tax rate and political stability is a moderate obstacle while in India and China, it is a minor obstacle in agribusiness. Labor regulation does not perceive any considerable obstacle in doing business in India and Pakistan.Practical implicationsThis study provides an understanding of differences in the agribusiness environment in emerging economies such as India, Pakistan and China based on WBES data. This study can be helpful for agribusiness managers and government policymakers for promoting agriculture-based entrepreneurship.Originality/valueIt is the first attempt to compare the profile of agribusiness firms in growing Asian economies such as India, Pakistan and China, as well as perceived business hurdles, using a comprehensive enterprises survey data of World Bank.

Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship: Lesson Learnt from Pandemic Crisis

Social Enterprise and Entrepreneurship: Lesson Learnt from Pandemic Crisis

Risk Thinking in ISO Quality Management System

The importance of risk thinking is emphasized in the ISO quality management system. In order to do a good job in quality management, we should use risk thinking to do a good job in risk management, improve the level of quality management, and enhance customer satisfaction, so that enterprises can meet the international quality certification standards in the process of development, and have greater development space in the market. Therefore, this paper studies the risk thinking in the ISO quality management system, summarizes the concept of risk thinking in the ISO quality management system, analyzes the problems existing in the application of risk thinking in the ISO quality management system of Chinese enterprises, and puts forward some suggestions for improvement one by one. It is hoped that the analysis can promote Chinese enterprises to fully integrate risk-based thinking into quality management, calmly cope with risks and opportunities, and make customers more satisfied with their services and products.

Financial and Non-Financial Obstacles to Innovation: Empirical Evidence at the Firm Level in the MENA Region

Innovation, in all its forms, has become a central activity in companies. Moreover, innovation is considered as the engine of growth in several countries. The main objective of this paper is to study the determinants of innovation (product and process) in firms in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region via concentrating on the impact of financial and non-financial obstacles. The empirical study refers to row data collected by the World Bank’s Survey of Enterprises (WBES) between 2013 and 2020 in 10 MENA countries. The empirical results of the probit model estimation show that international quality certification, women’s participation in ownership, and investment in research and development (R&D) have a positive impact on all types of innovation. Nevertheless, small firms, sole proprietorships, and firms managed by women are found to be less innovative. The problem of endogeneity between innovation and financial obstacles is controlled thanks to the use of the instrumental regression method (IV-probit). The results confirm that the variable measuring the financial obstacles is endogenous, and it impacts all types of innovation negatively. The results of the IV-probit regression show that the non-financial obstacles related to the business environment which negatively affect innovation are: business licensing and permits, corruption, access to electricity, labor regulations, political instability, and the practices of competitors in the informal sector.

The Perception of Corruption Among Retailers in Central Asia and Eastern Europe During and After the 2008 Crisis

In this study, we examine how the 2008-2009 Global Crisis has affected the informal payments/gifts paid by retailers in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. We look at the overall incidence of bribes, the incidence of bribes in customs/imports, the incidence of bribes in courts, and the incidence of bribes in tax payments. We compare the crisis period to the post-crisis period and found that these firms believed that the incidence of bribes went down significantly after the crisis ended. When we differentiate the retailers with respect to size, structure, legal form, gender of the owners, gender of the top manager, and whether or not they held an international quality certification, we found that, the results hold for all classifications of retailers. When we go into more detail and examine the incidence of bribes in customs/imports, courts, and taxes/tax collection, we found that the respondents saw a significant drop in the incidence of bribes in all areas after the crisis ended. However, our results show that, for bribes in customs/imports, the results do not hold for some of the classifications (i.e. medium-sized and the largest small firms, the firms that are part of a larger firm, the shareholding firms trading in the market, the partnerships, and the firms with an internationally recognized quality certification). For bribes in courts, the results do not hold for the largest small firms and the partnerships. For bribes in taxes/tax collection, the results do not hold for the partnerships and the firms with a quality certification. Our findings are consistent with the low rankings of these countries in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perception Index data. Our findings are also consistent with previous studies’ findings that document high-levels of corruption in developing (or less developed) nations.

The Impact of Credit Constraints on International Quality and Environmental Certifications: Evidence from Survey Data

Environmental and quality management practices are extremely relevant for a firm’s development and international recognition. However, dealing with the standards required and obtaining an international standards certification involves costs for employee training, procedure documents, and third-party audit fees that must be paid in advance by companies. This paper attempts to analyze the impact of difficulties in accessing external financing on the likelihood of possessing the standards and the certification, for firms based in 64 countries. A crucial aspect in uncovering such a causal effect is the potential endogeneity of financial constraints with respect to international standards certification. I address this issue by adopting a bivariate probit model and a set of firm-level instrumental variables. The empirical results showed that financially constrained firms were less likely to possess the standards required and the associated international certification, and that this impact was more relevant for small and young firms.

Environmental sustainability practices and exports: The interplay of strategy and institutions in Latin America

We integrate institutional economics with stakeholder theory to examine the antecedents and outcomes of Environmental Sustainability Practices (ESP) for small and medium enterprises in Latin America. We find that these firms primarily engage in ESP to succeed in export markets. We also find that this is especially true when firms demonstrate organizational agency by adopting complementary strategies such as obtaining international quality certifications to develop credibility among stakeholders. Lastly, their cause receives a further boost when they are based in institutional environments that are known for strong democratic voice and accountability mechanisms. In elucidating the interplay of strategy and institutions, we suggest the need to better integrate organizational agency into institutional theory and institutional environment into stakeholder theory.

The Relationship between International Quality Certification and Technology Innovation in Vietnamese SMEs

The Relationship between International Quality Certification and Technology Innovation in Vietnamese SMEs

Factors Implicated with Firm-Level ICT Use in Developing Economies

ABSTRACTGiven the growing prominence of developing economies in the world, we investigate the factors associated with firm-level information and communication technology (ICT) use across three developing countries with different economic magnitude and infrastructure. Our results obtained from PLS-SEM model using a large-N sample, reveal that organizational factors play a greater role in ICT use when compared to the perception of external barriers. The study confirms the positive effect of firm size and international quality certification on ICT use. It provides a new perspective by explicating how these effects vary based on macro-level factors such as internet infrastructure.

La mercadotecnia en la competitividad internacional del café mexicano: Revisión de literatura

El objetivo de esta investigación fue hacer una revisión de literatura sobre cómo la mercadotecnia favorece la competitividad internacional del café mexicano. A través de una revisión documental, se establece que el tema ha sido ampliamente abordado no sólo para el caso del café mexicano, sino también para otros productos sujetos a dificultades similares. Entre tales dificultades: la constante fluctuación de los precios y la elevada concentración de los canales de distribución. El análisis realizado sugiere diversas alternativas útiles para mejorar la competitividad del sector, tales como, la asistencia de los cafetaleros a ferias internacionales del ramo, la gestión de certificaciones internacionales de calidad, la mejora de la organización y las prácticas administrativas de los involucrados, la firma de alianzas entre productores, organismos internacionales y el gobierno, así como la diferenciación y diversificación de la oferta local y el impulso a la innovación.