Management In Spain Research Articles

Human Resource Management in Spain: Are Cultural Barriers Preventing the Adoption of Global Practices?

This paper addresses the extent to which culture is affecting the adoption of global human resource management (HRM) practices by Spanish organizations. One of our main objectives was to offer a thorough review of the recent empirical evidence regarding HRM practices in Spanish organizations. Another goal was to discuss these findings in light of the Spanish culture in order to identify possible cultural barriers to the adoption of global HRM practices. Our results suggest that Spanish organizations are slowly adopting global practices; however, many traditional practices remain. We suggest that the cultural variables of low future orientation, high power distance, and low institutional collectivism may exert continuing pressures that will hinder the adoption of certain global HRM practices.

Management of Non-ST-Segment-Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes in Spain. The DESCARTES (Descripción del Estado de los Síndromes Coronarios Agudos en un Registro Temporal ESpañol) Study

There is little information regarding the management of non-ST segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE ACS) in Spain from a population-based perspective. Our objective was to study the status of clinical care in patients with NSTE ACS in Spain from a representative perspective of the situation on a national level. A prospective registry was used for consecutive patients with NSTE ACS admitted to 52 Spanish hospitals with different cardiological facilities. Centers that fulfilled the quality control criteria for the study were randomly selected for inclusion. Between April and May, 2002, 1877 patients were recruited. Median age was 69 years, 93% had at least one risk factor and 73% had antecedents of cardiovascular disease. The electrocardiogram on admission was abnormal in 76% of the cases, and troponin levels were elevated in 53%. Twenty-seven percent of the patients were admitted to a cardiac care unit or intensive care unit. The rates of use of diagnostic techniques were: echocardiography 56%; non-invasive test for detection of ischemia 39%; coronary angiography 41%. During hospitalization, 24% underwent coronary revascularization, 88% received aspirin, 81% heparin, 37% clopidogrel, 12% glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, 63% ss-blockers, 46% angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and 52% statins. The final diagnosis was angina in 54%, myocardial infarction in 28%, and other in 18%. Mortality was 3.7% at 28 days and 7.8% at 6 months. DESCARTES is the first representative registry of NSTE ACS management in Spain. It shows that despite their high-risk profile, these patients receive suboptimal medical care according to current clinical recommendations.

Water Pricing in Spain

Water pricing management in Spain reflects the different opinions of the decentralised governments and the appropriate sectors of the country, where there is considerable impact of the different sectorial laws and practices. The responsibilities of the Federal Government and the Autonomous Communities on this issue are not specifically defined. This has resulted in differing opinions and actions, which could be resolved by considering cost-recovery of the water supply-related services, which are included in the Laws of the Communities (2000/60/CE).

Linking Sediment Chemical and Biological Guidelines for Characterization of Dredged Material*

Dredged material management in Spain and possible options for the different categories is discussed according to chemical sediment quality guidelines. Also an approach using an integrated assessment that includes biological end points as part of a tiered testing schema is discussed for future implementation in Spanish recommendations. To establish the feasibility of using both kinds of guidelines, an example of the utility and validity of the approach that links both chemical and biological guidelines proposed for the management of dredged material characterization processes data from a particular case study associated with a port in the north of Spain are discussed. The use of both kinds of methodologies, together with the necessity of assessing the bioavailability of some contaminants, has been shown as a powerful tool for the best selection of different disposal options of dredged material in the case study described.

Gone to Waste: The Quality of Hazardous Waste Management in Spain

Gone to Waste: The Quality of Hazardous Waste Management in Spain

Human resources management in Spain: is it possible to speak of a typical model?

There is no shortage of literature studying the relationships between the various processes of human resources management, considered individually, and the strategy of the company. Nevertheless, studies that adopt a joint approach are scarce. In this study, working from the universalist, contingent and configurational perspectives, we seek to identify the possible existence of human resources management models and their links with the strategy of the company. Empirical analysis conducted with 130 industrial companies reveals three distinct models of human resources management but with behaviours independent of the strategies followed by the companies. At the same time we find, within each model, orientations of particular processes that are common among them and are thus characteristic of a universalist approach.

The dynamics of water scarcity on irrigated landscapes: Mazarrón and Aguilas in south‐eastern Spain

AbstractThe new irrigated lands of Mazarrón and Aguilas, south‐east Spain, have led to the overexploitation of local aquifers and to seawater intrusion, water salinization and to declining water tables. This paper discusses a dynamic model developed to analyse the key socio‐economic and environmental factors driving the whole system. The New Irrigated Lands dynamic model includes five sectors: Irrigated Lands, Profitability, Available Space, Water Resources and Pollution. The dynamic model simulates the environmental effects regarding water consumption by reference to aquifer levels, natural outflows through springs, piezometric levels and aquifer water salinity. The exploration of scenarios shows that current policies based on the increase in water resources do not eliminate the water deficit problem because the feedback loops of the system lead to a further increase in irrigated land and continuation of the water deficit. This demonstrates highly counter‐intuitive behaviour. This article constitutes a contribution to the analysis of intensive irrigated lands and water management in Spain, which is mostly lacking a systemic and dynamic approach. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Pine plantations as a breeding habitat for a hole-nesting bird species crested tit ( Parus cristatus) in southern Spain

This paper examines the influence of recent pine plantations ( Pinus pinea and P. pinaster) in southern Spain on the abundance and breeding success of the crested tit ( Parus cristatus) in nest boxes erected in a 40-year-old pine plantation with those obtained in a neighboring area of original Mediterranean vegetation. The crested tit was consistently more abundant in the pine plantation than in original Mediterranean vegetation over the 2 years studied. Moreover, since during the breeding season nest-box occupation in the holm-oak forest was negligible (four nest boxes in 3 years), breeding success was analyzed only in the pine plantation. The breeding-success parameters considered (clutch size, eggs hatched, egg volume, fledglings raised and fledgling weight) were analyzed as a function of seasonality (early versus late clutches) and nest location (peripheral versus internal) in a regular grid of nest boxes. No significant differences were recorded as a function of either attribute for any of these parameters, with the exception of fledgling weight, which was significantly higher in peripheral nests. The results of this study highlight the importance of including nest boxes as an integral part of pine plantation management in Spain to preserve crested tit populations.

Pine plantations as a breeding habitat for a hole-nesting bird species crested tit (Parus cristatus) in southern Spain

This paper examines the influence of recent pine plantations (Pinus pinea and P. pinaster) in southern Spain on the abundance and breeding success of the crested tit (Parus cristatus) in nest boxes erected in a 40-year-old pine plantation with those obtained in a neighboring area of original Mediterranean vegetation. The crested tit was consistently more abundant in the pine plantation than in original Mediterranean vegetation over the 2 years studied. Moreover, since during the breeding season nest-box occupation in the holm-oak forest was negligible (four nest boxes in 3 years), breeding success was analyzed only in the pine plantation. The breeding-success parameters considered (clutch size, eggs hatched, egg volume, fledglings raised and fledgling weight) were analyzed as a function of seasonality (early versus late clutches) and nest location (peripheral versus internal) in a regular grid of nest boxes. No significant differences were recorded as a function of either attribute for any of these parameters, with the exception of fledgling weight, which was significantly higher in peripheral nests. The results of this study highlight the importance of including nest boxes as an integral part of pine plantation management in Spain to preserve crested tit populations.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM): A Comparative Study between U.S.A. and Spain

This paper surveys the marketing executives of the top companies in Spain with more than 100 million euros on net sales and reports the status of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions in their companies. The results are compared with the U.S.A. status reported by a previous study developed by InformationWeek Research in 2000 with a sample based on Fortune 500. One hundred and thirty-six companies participated in this study. The data provides insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the CRM in Spain in comparison with USA. Some viable actions are recommended to improve the usage of CRM and to reshape the future of these systems. INTRODUCTION Although there are few major companies today who would not agree that CRM (Customer Relationship Management) is vital to survival, defining its essence is proving to be a difficult task. If one were to ask what CRM means, one would obtain many different definitions. All over the world, the term CRM is used to refer to strategies, processes, and solutions related to customers, formerly represented by concepts such as Direct Marketing, One-toOne Marketing, Mass Customization, Micromarketing, etc. CRM is about forming a relationship with customers. CRM is about customer loyalty. The aim of this study is to explore the current status of CRM in Spain’s top 600 companies. The results are then compared with a previous U.S. study conducted by InformationWeek Research in 2000. Specifically, this latter study used a sample based on Fortune 500. This will allow us to identify the strengths and weaknesses of CRM usage in Spain, as well as in the U.S.A. It might also help the top management in Spain to reshape the future of CRM in their companies, as well as serving as a reference point for the Spanish companies to effectively formulate their CRM competitive strategy. LITERATURE REVIEW The implementation of CRM to support marketing, sales and services functions may be traced back to the 1990’s. Marketing was the first functional area to embrace the concept of CRM and tailor it to the needs of its managers. In the early nineties, technologies such as Enterprises Resource Planning (ERP) and data warehousing applications have played an important role in optimizing and reengineering business processes, which is familiarly called “back office” (Sower et al., 2001). Nowadays, technologies as supply chain management and CRM close the circle into the front office management. What makes CRM so attractive is its ability to increase the revenues of those companies using it. Enterprises implementing CRM are pulling ahead of their competitors in terms of customer satisfaction and retention, new business development, and profitability. Not only is customer contact more efficient, but it is also more effective. Particularly important is the ability of multiple business units −marketing, sales, service, support, and product development− to share and leverage the same set of customer, product, and service information. A review of CRM literature reveals that there are various models and surveys of CRM in the U.S.A. and Western Europe. Recently, International Data Consultancy (IDC, 1999) proposed a comprehensive CRM model, as shown in Figure 1. In this model, IDC depicts a CRM as a process with four main activities: (1) analyzing data contained in the enterprise data warehouse, (2) modeling the data through data mining techniques, (3) adjusting the model into an operational field, and (4) tracking the results and closing the circle of CRM strategy. Figure 1. CRM Model

Earnings Management in Spain. Some Evidence from Companies Quoted in the Spanish Stock Exchange

After the accounting scandals that have taken place mainly in the United States during the last years, some Spanish leading authorities have defended the idea that these kind of accounting problems cannot happen in Spain. They argue that accounting regulation in Europe, and specifically in Spain, make more difficult the use of creative accounting practices. The objective of this paper is to identify some evidence about the situation in Spain. The study tries to demonstrate that some accounting practices of several of the companies quoted in the Spanish Stock Exchange could be qualified as earnings management. To carry out this study, the authors have analysed the accounts of the 35 companies included in the stock market index IBEX 35. This index is calculated with the share prices variations of the most important companies quoted in the Spanish Stock Exchange.

The Role of Collective Action in Water Governance: A Comparative Study of Groundwater User Associations in La Mancha Aquifers in Spain

The paper analyzes the problem of collective water management in Spain. The paper has two main objectives: first it provides a brief introduction on long established traditions for collective water management under Water User Associations (WUAs), some dating back to the twelfth century. It discusses the legislative and institutional frameworks that have favored collective water management. The second objective is an analysis at a more specific level, by focusing on the particular case of groundwater as a traditional common pool resource and the problem of mutually beneficial collective action (MBCA). It does so by applying the Institutional Development Framework and an in depth analysis of key factors leading to MBCA. A comparative case study approach is applied to three main aquifers in the central Mancha region. It points to the importance that WUAS can play in facilitating factors that encourage collective action. It also highlights the relevance of social capital as trust between WUAs and the administration, like Water Authorities. It concludes that while solutions like subsidies and payments can help mitigate aquifer overuse, these are not a long-term or sustainable option (economically or sustainably). Only sound institutional design of Water User organizations can favor self-governance and management by farmers.

El reto del Software Libre en España

España no está siendo firme con los procedimientos de buena práctica en e-Administración, tal y como los recoge el propio Comisario Europeo para la Sociedad de la Información, Erkki Liikanen, en el simposio correspondiente. El tiempo pasa y puede llegar a ser demasiado tarde para España. Si el Ministerio quiere cumplir los plazos debería empezar por realizar un estudio detallado para después elaborar un plan de pruebas piloto, crear una "Agencia Estatal de Estudio e Incentivación del Software Libre" y acabar con la redacción y firma de un Convenios de cooperación entre entidades y asociaciones representativas del software libre en España y la Administración.

Water Privatization in Spain

Water management in Spain is submitted to a non‐uniform geographical and seasonal distribution of water resources. The non‐uniform distribution of resources is worsened by the non‐uniform allocation of demand (mainly irrigation and urban). Because that, water supply, aquifers, and wetlands are driven to a high risk. Even though, there are examples of good water management, as is shown for the private industrial productivity of used water. Spain has a very long tradition in public water management (first water law in 1879) at different levels from ministry to municipalities, including users communities. A lot of these organisations are anchored in very old ways of doing, given private sector the opportunity to enter and grow up. A survey about it is presented. In the management of urban water, there are different organisations involved: central administration; autonomic, regional and metropolitan authorities; urban water suppliers and the sanitation authority. The recently approved changes in the former Spanish Water Law, limiting water rights and introducing water market, the new and expected Hydrological National Plan and the European Framework Directive, reinforce the opportunities of the private sector to enter, giving financial resources, technological advances and quick answers to new social concepts in water managerial procedures. We can observe how the Spanish administration uses private water suppliers' front desks to collect taxes and to supply capital to invest in infrastructures and water technology. The question that needs to be addressed is the nature and the impact of the privatisation process in Spain. The unrealistic water urban services price in Spain has been studied and it is presented and evaluated by regions, presenting a deficit to be covered in the future and been a significant gross value of the future business, which invite private sector to participate in. To give a general scope over the evolution of the roll played by the private and public sector, the case of Catalonia, the more evolved autonomous region of Spain in water management, is presented as an example of the future for the rest of the country.

Digital economy and management in Spain

The digital economy is an economic sector that includes goods and services, whose development, manufacturing, merchandising or supply depend on critical digital technologies. The digital economy can be conceptualized into four different subsectors; on the one hand, it consists of infrastructure and applications and, on the other, electronic commerce and new intermediaries. This natural structure can be directly traced to how business generates revenues. The aim of this paper is to explain what is understood today by digital economy and to identify its dimensions and impact on the firm. For this purpose, it is necessary to develop its theoretical basis. In the second part of this paper, we refer to the results of an empirical research in the Spanish context.

Accessibility to coronary angiography and one-year survival after myocardial infarction

Therefore, it is of great interest to deter-mine whether such on-site availability improves pa-tient prognosis. The effect of on-site availability of acatheterization laboratory on 1-year survival after anAMI was evaluated in the Spanish National Myocar-dial Infarction Registry.•••The Proyecto de Registro de Infarto Agudo deMiocardio Hospitalario (PRIAMHO) study was de-signed by the Spanish Society of Cardiology to deter-mine the variability in AMI management in Spain.

Study of the behaviour of natural radionuclides in a Mediterranean actual system

There is a lack of information for Mediterranean climate conditions and ecosystems from the point of view of characterization of real data, to obtain parameter values to be applied in the modeling of the behavior of natural and artificial radionuclides following hypothetical releases from a radioactive waste repository. So there was designed a project dealing with the study and determination of physical, chemical and radiological parameters from local and regional data obtained in an area of the southwest of Spain where and old uranium mine was being restored. The project, running during two years, has been financed by the National Company for Radioactive Waste Management in Spain (ENRESA) and has been coordinated by the CIEMAT Research Center with the collaboration of the Department of Physics of the Extremadura University. Results of the project have been the characterization of the biosphere system considering meteorological, geological, and hydrological data. Chemical and physical characterization of local soils and crops associated, surface waters and sediments samples, have been considered. Radiological measurements of U, Th and Ra contents in soils, vegetables, sediments and waters have been taken. Range of several parameter values obtained have shown good agreement with literature data published, this will permit the application of these values to the modeling issues of biosphere in the performance assessment of radioactive waste repositories under Mediterranean climate conditions, as well as for a forecasting of similar conditions that will occur in the future in other temperate areas. 1. OBJECTIVES Main objectives of the investigation have been to characterize the area, considering climatic and meteorological conditions, geological features, hydrogeology, soils development, ecological conditions and anthropological features. These are considered under Biosphere System Description. Determination of parameter values for the transfer of uranium isotopes in the biospheric area has been performed. The methodology followed to select isotopes, sample types and sample points and materials and methods used to obtain the data for determining parameter values is described afterwards. The last part of the paper reports on examples of experimental and empirical values obtained for solid-liquid distribution coefficients in soils and sediments of the biospheric area under study.

ISO 9000 certification and quality management in Spain: results of a national survey

The increasing demand of mechanisms making easier the choice of a provider, both in the domestic and global markets, has contributed to ISO 9000 certification possession becoming a requisite for the development of commercial relations. The present article is based upon the results of an empirical research in which the effectiveness and reach of ISO 9000 certification is studied at a multi‐sector level in Spain. Mail surveys were carried out on 3,864 certificated organizations, and 749 (19.4 per cent) responded. Results indicated that certification helps in terms of being a management tool, a source of competitive advantages and its potential to stimulate the company transition towards total quality management.

Book Review: Academic Entre Preneurship the University and its Region; Examples of Regional Development from the European Consortium of Innovative Universities; Commercialising Knowledge; Examples of Entrepreneurship at the University of Twente; Mujeres Directivas; Promoción Professional En España y El Reino Unido (Exceptional Women; The Career Paths of Women Managers in Spain and the UK); Understanding Management Research; Migration and Resource

Book Review: Academic Entre Preneurship the University and its Region; Examples of Regional Development from the European Consortium of Innovative Universities; Commercialising Knowledge; Examples of Entrepreneurship at the University of Twente; Mujeres Directivas; Promoción Professional En España y El Reino Unido (Exceptional Women; The Career Paths of Women Managers in Spain and the UK); Understanding Management Research; Migration and Resource

Manejo del traumatismo craneoencefálico leve en España: encuesta multicéntrica nacional

Despite of the high incidence of minor head injury, there is still controversy and disparity of criteria regarding its management. The lack of consensual protocols and clinical guidelines can lead to deficiencies in the attention to these patients and to inadequate use of resources. The objective of this study has been to describe the present situation of the management of this entity in the neurosurgical departments of the Spanish public hospitals, and to compare it with other European countries. A 57-item questionnaire regarding different aspects of minor head injury was designed and distributed to the 66 neurosurgical departments of the Spanish National Health System between December 1999 and February 2000. A 83.3% of responses were obtained. More than 92,000 patients per year are assisted at the Spanish third-level hospitals (general hospitals) after suffering a minor head injury. In-hospital on duty neurosurgeons are not available in 49.1% of the Spanish neurosurgical departments. Only in 7.3% of the centres the neurosurgeon is the first physician that assists these patients. However, in 52.7% of the hospitals neurosurgical evaluation is required if the patient refers transient loss of consciousness. A GCS score of 13 is still included in the group of minor head injuries in 29.1% of the centres. Although 89.1% of the surveyed neurosurgical departments considered as satisfactory the attention they provide to these patients, 85.5% think that it would be convenient to elaborate clinical guidelines. Cranial x-ray is considered a useful diagnostic tool by only 38.2% of the centres, however, 89.1% of them still use it as a routine. CT-scan is systematically indicated in all patients after suffering a mild head trauma only in 5.5% of the centres, although it is completely available in 74.5% of them. The study of economical costs shows that choosing cranial CT as screening tool in these patients would mean a 40.6% reduction in costs compared to a management based on x-ray plus in-hospital observation. This study shows the inter-hospital variability of minor head injury management in Spain. Clinical guidelines are considered as positive and necessary. Although the Spanish situation is similar to that in other European countries, following the tendency toward a broader cranial CT utilisation, would improve diagnosis profitability and economical efficiency. The results of this study may contribute to the creation of consensual protocols and clinical guidelines in our country that help in daily practice decision-making optimising assistance quality.