Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez

Reference: G. Tomas M. Hult, Jeannette A. Mena, Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez, Katarina Lagerström, and Daniel T. Hult (2018), “A Ten Country-Company Study of Sustainability and Product-Market Performance: Influences of Doing Good, Warm Glow, and Price Fairness,” Journal of Macromarketing, 38 (3), 235-254.

Countries, companies, and customers are becoming increasingly concerned with sustainability. However, it is unclear how much increased cost, if any, companies are willing to tolerate… Mostrar más

Reference: G. Tomas M. Hult, Jeannette A. Mena, Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez, Katarina Lagerström, and Daniel T. Hult (2018), “A Ten Country-Company Study of Sustainability and Product-Market Performance: Influences of Doing Good, Warm Glow, and Price Fairness,” Journal of Macromarketing, 38 (3), 235-254.

Countries, companies, and customers are becoming increasingly concerned with sustainability. However, it is unclear how much increased cost, if any, companies are willing to tolerate for sustainability efforts at the rate of potentially lower profits. Plus, what are the customers’ sensitivities to the prices of products/services that are developed within the realm of sustainability initiatives (e.g., how much more can the products/services cost and still be viable)? Additionally, with 193 countries of the United Nations ratifying the Sustainable Development Goals, we know that countries are focused on sustainability, but can companies achieve positive sustainability effects on performance above what countries are doing? Consequently, what are the macro-micro dynamics in play for sustainability efforts? In a 10-country study involving 4,051 companies, we examine these macro-micro (country-company) dynamics, company costs, customer costs, and price sensitivities on the effects of sustainability on companies’ performance. The results indicate that positive effects on companies’ performance can be achieved (1) from the companies’ sustainability efforts in all 10 countries studied, (2) even if the costs and/or prices increased by 27 to 72 percent (depending on the dynamic and scenario), and (3) by companies implementing sustainability efforts that are 5 to 30 percent above the efforts of the country. Increased sustainability effects can also be gained from lowering customer and company costs, but no such effects were found when lowering product prices. Mostrar menos

Countries, companies, and customers are becoming increasingly concerned with sustainability. However, it is unclear how much increased cost, if any, companies are willing to tolerate for sustainability efforts at the rate of potentially lower profits. Plus, what are the customers’ sensitivities to the prices of products/services that are developed within the realm of sustainability initiatives (e.g., how much more can the products/services cost and still be viable)? Additionally, with 193… Mostrar más

Countries, companies, and customers are becoming increasingly concerned with sustainability. However, it is unclear how much increased cost, if any, companies are willing to tolerate for sustainability efforts at the rate of potentially lower profits. Plus, what are the customers’ sensitivities to the prices of products/services that are developed within the realm of sustainability initiatives (e.g., how much more can the products/services cost and still be viable)? Additionally, with 193 countries of the United Nations ratifying the Sustainable Development Goals, we know that countries are focused on sustainability, but can companies achieve positive sustainability effects on performance above what countries are doing? Consequently, what are the macro-micro dynamics in play for sustainability efforts? In a 10-country study involving 4,051 companies, we examine these macro-micro (country-company) dynamics, company costs, customer costs, and price sensitivities on the effects of sustainability on companies’ performance. The results indicate that positive effects on companies’ performance can be achieved (1) from the companies’ sustainability efforts in all 10 countries studied, (2) even if the costs and/or prices increased by 27 to 72 percent (depending on the dynamic and scenario), and (3) by companies implementing sustainability efforts that are 5 to 30 percent above the efforts of the country. Increased sustainability effects can also be gained from lowering customer and company costs, but no such effects were found when lowering product prices.

Reference:
Hult, G. Tomas M.; Mena, Jeannette; Gonzalez-Perez, Maria Alejandra; Lagerström, Katarina & Hult, Daniel T. (2018), A Ten Country-Company Study of Sustainability and Product-Market Performance: Influences of Doing Good, Warm Glow, and Price Fairness, Journal of Macromarketing, 38 (3), 242-261.
Mostrar menos

Although multi-level marketing (MLM) and direct sales companies have risen controversies and ethical concerns in recent years, MLM has rapidly expanded to developing and emerging markets in the last decades. Companies like Yanbal, Amway and Oriflame, are some of the multinationals that have internationalized in the Latin America and the Caribbean. Through a grounded theory approach, and using Colombia as a sample of a Latin American country, the internationalization of these companies was… Mostrar más

Although multi-level marketing (MLM) and direct sales companies have risen controversies and ethical concerns in recent years, MLM has rapidly expanded to developing and emerging markets in the last decades. Companies like Yanbal, Amway and Oriflame, are some of the multinationals that have internationalized in the Latin America and the Caribbean. Through a grounded theory approach, and using Colombia as a sample of a Latin American country, the internationalization of these companies was analyzed. A vast amount of the data collection for this study was gathered through an ethnographic immersion, and through participant observation, the activities and recruiting practices of these firms was analyzed to determine if they provided international income opportunities in the bottom of the pyramid (BOP) markets. The ethnographic research found that several multi-level and direct sales companies provide international income opportunities, but do not contribute to the increase of formal jobs creation. The results of this study contribute to the existing literature on multi-level marketing and direct retailing firms and the study provides insights about the internationalization of the MLM companies operating in countries with a predominant population at the BOP through personal networks. Mostrar menos

This paper seeks to answer why the Pacific Alliance (PA) has emerged as the latest integration initiative in the already wide spectrum of multilateral groups in Latin America. It does so by evaluating the political and economic considerations that motivated the pa’s formation, aiming to present informed arguments within the framework of trade and political developments in the region. This paper is based on both secondary and primary data (interviews), and it is divided into four parts plus… Mostrar más

This paper seeks to answer why the Pacific Alliance (PA) has emerged as the latest integration initiative in the already wide spectrum of multilateral groups in Latin America. It does so by evaluating the political and economic considerations that motivated the pa’s formation, aiming to present informed arguments within the framework of trade and political developments in the region. This paper is based on both secondary and primary data (interviews), and it is divided into four parts plus conclusions. The paper starts by presen- ting a general characterization of the Alliance; afterwards, presents a historic and comparative overview of the integration processes in the region; assesses the current level of integration between the pa members; and, finally, offers insights into future developments in the following areas: transnational pro- duction chains, access to foreign markets and extra-regional (economic and political) outreach. The results of this study show how the public and private sector’s experience in international trade and international business has motivated the members of the Pacific Alliance to join forces to consolidate a platform for economic integration allowing them to increase market access, foster economic growth, and improve human development indicators in the region. From the political point of view, the paper concludes that the pa emerged as a liberal counterpart to the left-leaning integration initiatives that had been prevalent in the region during the preceding decade. Mostrar menos

Book Chapter

This paper presents an empirical and theoretical contribution to the existing firm internationalization literature, by providing an analysis of the internationalization process followed by the emerging country multinational SABMiller during the period 1993-2013. Its findings are based on a single type II case study, contributes to international business literature providing a theoretically founded analysis of internationalization of emerging market multinational. After analysing SABMiller’s… Mostrar más

This paper presents an empirical and theoretical contribution to the existing firm internationalization literature, by providing an analysis of the internationalization process followed by the emerging country multinational SABMiller during the period 1993-2013. Its findings are based on a single type II case study, contributes to international business literature providing a theoretically founded analysis of internationalization of emerging market multinational. After analysing SABMiller’s internationalization process to the light of different theoretical lenses of the internationalization theories it was found that the success of emerging markets multinationals depend of complementary characteristics between emerging world dynamics, and organizational innovations learnt and leverage at developed markets. Mostrar menos

This edited volume brings together international contributions on the specific implications for business when embracing the Global Compact. Managerial, internationalization, legal, behavioral and sociological perspectives are explored in this volume in which both evidences and theoretical developments are reflected.

The internationalization phenomenon can be described as the set of processes which helps identifying, entering, establishing and expanding to international markets. Depending on the company and its industry, different internationalization processes might be entertained. This study analyzes the entry modes and market selection strategies followed by Sophos Banking Solutions, a Colombian software company, and also identifies the influencing factors determining their internationalization process.… Mostrar más

The internationalization phenomenon can be described as the set of processes which helps identifying, entering, establishing and expanding to international markets. Depending on the company and its industry, different internationalization processes might be entertained. This study analyzes the entry modes and market selection strategies followed by Sophos Banking Solutions, a Colombian software company, and also identifies the influencing factors determining their internationalization process. By exploring the existing theories on internationalization and comparing them with the firm’s strategy for internationalization, the study identifies whether the firm used the same or different strategy to enter different international markets. The paper also identifies how variables such as managerial influence and network relationships determine the firm’s internationalization process. The results illustrate that multiple internationalization theories can be related to the different strategies being followed, but after analyzing the different strategies, we concluded that the firm’s internationalization process could be better understood using LLL model. Mostrar menos

The increasing importance of global virtual teams in business is reflected in the classroom by the increased adoption of activities that facilitate real-time cross-cultural interaction. This article documents the experience of students from two Colombian universities who participated in a collaborative international project using virtual teams as part of the international business (IB) curriculum. The data reveals that in spite of challenges associated with time zone differences, technology… Mostrar más

The increasing importance of global virtual teams in business is reflected in the classroom by the increased adoption of activities that facilitate real-time cross-cultural interaction. This article documents the experience of students from two Colombian universities who participated in a collaborative international project using virtual teams as part of the international business (IB) curriculum. The data reveals that in spite of challenges associated with time zone differences, technology limitations, and trust issues, the vast majority of students perceived that the use of virtual teams as a teaching tool facilitates cultural understanding and IB-relevant learning. The findings of this research suggest that online experiential exercises can be an effective approach in teaching and in the development of virtual collaboration skills. Mostrar menos

Evaluation document on the economic and political viability of the Pacific Alliance (Alianza del Pacifico) between Colombia, Peru, Chile and Mexico.

Advances in Sustainability & Environmental Justice Volume 12: Principles and Strategies to Balance Ethical Social and Environmental Concerns with Corporate Requirements brings together a range of practitioners and academics from the world of business who examine corporate social responsibility in policy and practice in a series of case studies from across the globe. This volume co-edited by Dr. Liam Leonard and Dr. Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez is the second of this series dedicated to… Mostrar más

Advances in Sustainability & Environmental Justice Volume 12: Principles and Strategies to Balance Ethical Social and Environmental Concerns with Corporate Requirements brings together a range of practitioners and academics from the world of business who examine corporate social responsibility in policy and practice in a series of case studies from across the globe. This volume co-edited by Dr. Liam Leonard and Dr. Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez is the second of this series dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the scope of International Business.
This specific edited volume comprises ten chapters, and incorporates academic works from 21 researchers representing institutions from Australia, Canada, Colombia, England, Ireland, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Romania, and the United States.
ISBN-10: 1781906270 | ISBN-13: 978-1781906279 Mostrar menos

Advances in Sustainability & Environmental Justice Volume 12: Principles and Strategies to Balance Ethical Social and Environmental Concerns with Corporate Requirements brings together a range of practitioners and academics from the world of business who examine corporate social responsibility in policy and practice in a series of case studies from across the globe. This volume co-edited by Dr. Liam Leonard and Dr. Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez is the second of this series dedicated to… Mostrar más

Advances in Sustainability & Environmental Justice Volume 12: Principles and Strategies to Balance Ethical Social and Environmental Concerns with Corporate Requirements brings together a range of practitioners and academics from the world of business who examine corporate social responsibility in policy and practice in a series of case studies from across the globe. This volume co-edited by Dr. Liam Leonard and Dr. Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez is the second of this series dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the scope of International Business.
This specific edited volume comprises ten chapters, and incorporates academic works from 21 researchers representing institutions from Australia, Canada, Colombia, England, Ireland, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Romania, and the United States.
ISBN-10: 1781906270 | ISBN-13: 978-1781906279 Mostrar menos

Advances in Sustainability & Environmental Justice Volume 12: Principles and Strategies to Balance Ethical Social and Environmental Concerns with Corporate Requirements brings together a range of practitioners and academics from the world of business who examine corporate social responsibility in policy and practice in a series of case studies from across the globe. This volume co-edited by Dr. Liam Leonard and Dr. Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez is the second of this series dedicated to… Mostrar más

Advances in Sustainability & Environmental Justice Volume 12: Principles and Strategies to Balance Ethical Social and Environmental Concerns with Corporate Requirements brings together a range of practitioners and academics from the world of business who examine corporate social responsibility in policy and practice in a series of case studies from across the globe. This volume co-edited by Dr. Liam Leonard and Dr. Maria Alejandra Gonzalez-Perez is the second of this series dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) within the scope of International Business.
This specific edited volume comprises ten chapters, and incorporates academic works from 21 researchers representing institutions from Australia, Canada, Colombia, England, Ireland, Kenya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Romania, and the United States.
ISBN-10: 1781906270 | ISBN-13: 978-1781906279 Mostrar menos

Purpose – This chapter provides a theoretical and conceptual overview of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It is written as a descriptive document to enhance the understanding of CSR within the context of international business.
Design/methodology/approach – This chapter is built based on an extensive literature review.
Findings – This chapter contains six subsections. The first subsection looks at the concept of CSR, and it highlights the possible role of CSR in mitigating the… Mostrar más

Purpose – This chapter provides a theoretical and conceptual overview of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). It is written as a descriptive document to enhance the understanding of CSR within the context of international business.
Design/methodology/approach – This chapter is built based on an extensive literature review.
Findings – This chapter contains six subsections. The first subsection looks at the concept of CSR, and it highlights the possible role of CSR in mitigating the negative consequences of globalisation. The second subsection looks at the evolution of CSR since the 1990s. The third section looks at ethics theories. The fourth section looks at political theories to explain CSR. The fifth section looks at the business case for CSR. And finally the sixth section looks at specific CSR initiatives.
Practical implications – This chapter provides a response to the necessity for this analysis that arises from the effects of CSR actions in international business.
Originality/value of chapter – This chapter provides a summary of the conceptual and theoretical framework of CSR. It could be used as a teaching tool for undergraduate and masters’ courses on either international business or corporate social responsibility. Mostrar menos

Purpose – This chapter on global civil society provides a definition of global civil society, and also provides a historical and theoretical overview of social movements. This chapter also presents a taxonomy of non-state actors and demonstrates at the theoretical level that actions and initiatives by non-state actors since the 1990s’ globalisation. In this chapter, the concept of civil society is presented as a form of globalisation from below, and its role in the participatory governance of… Mostrar más

Purpose – This chapter on global civil society provides a definition of global civil society, and also provides a historical and theoretical overview of social movements. This chapter also presents a taxonomy of non-state actors and demonstrates at the theoretical level that actions and initiatives by non-state actors since the 1990s’ globalisation. In this chapter, the concept of civil society is presented as a form of globalisation from below, and its role in the participatory governance of societal processes implies forms of soft regulation and moral authority which transcend the role of states as enforcers.
Findings – Actions and initiatives by non-state actors in the current age of globalisation have been increasing. This increase has become more evident with the more stringent traceability of processes associated with the development of information and communication technologies (ICT), and private forms of organisation networking at the local and transnational level. This has re-defined geographical boundaries, creating proximity between individuals which goes beyond physical constraints, and it has extended definitions of communities to multiple levels of identification and convergence, but also divergence.
The concept of civil society and its role in the participatory governance of societal processes implies forms of soft regulation and moral authority which transcend the role of states as enforcers. The idea of civil society opens a space for non-traditional actors to actively participate and engage in the political processes of change in society, for the betterment of marginalised groups, the environment or social justice in general. The diversity of roles that single individuals have in society allows them to participate from different angles.
Although the concept of civil society has limitations due to its breadth, manifestations of a global civil society can be understood as forms of globalisation that occur outside traditional institutional settings. Mostrar menos

This volume is expressly dedicated to International Business, Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility as part of the Advances in Sustainability and Environmental Justice Series. Within the context of International Business, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) might be considered a mechanism through which investments made can achieve the full economic benefits as long as there is an agreement to promote social and political stability. The control over political and social variables… Mostrar más

This volume is expressly dedicated to International Business, Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility as part of the Advances in Sustainability and Environmental Justice Series. Within the context of International Business, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) might be considered a mechanism through which investments made can achieve the full economic benefits as long as there is an agreement to promote social and political stability. The control over political and social variables determines or helps to build a competitive advantage and insures a corporation's long-term running position on the market and the facilitation of capital accumulation.

Generally, there is a direct relationship between the creation of new markets and the enlargement of some of the existing markets via the gaining of stability within the social conditions, by mitigating the unpredictable aspects and thereby reducing the investment risk whilst also improving the economic conditions.

This particular volume contains eight chapters, and includes contributions from 13 academics representing academic institutions from Australia, Austria, Bulgaria, Colombia, Finland, India, Turkey, and the United States. Mostrar menos

Las pequeñas y medianas empresas –en adelante las pyme– son actores fundamentalesde la economía colombiana, tal como ocurre en otros países. El acelerado ritmo de laglobalización impone retos para estas compañías a partir de las nuevas oportunidadesy amenazas que se gestan en el actual entorno competitivo. Para el empresario pyme,comprender las teorías sobre los procesos de internacionalización –cómo se inician,cuáles son sus motivadores y qué modelos pueden ser los más adecuados para… Mostrar más

Las pequeñas y medianas empresas –en adelante las pyme– son actores fundamentalesde la economía colombiana, tal como ocurre en otros países. El acelerado ritmo de laglobalización impone retos para estas compañías a partir de las nuevas oportunidadesy amenazas que se gestan en el actual entorno competitivo. Para el empresario pyme,comprender las teorías sobre los procesos de internacionalización –cómo se inician,cuáles son sus motivadores y qué modelos pueden ser los más adecuados para expandirsus operaciones en mercados internacionales–, son cuestionamientos claves que deberesolver con el ánimo de sobrevivir, crecer o aumentar la rentabilidad de la organización.La capacidad gerencial para acometer este proceso es uno de los factores de éxito máscríticos para las pyme y, por ende, un foco crucial sobre el cual se debe dinamizar laprofundización de estudios y la discusión. Mostrar menos

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a cross-country study comparing Colombia and Vietnam, two of the major coffee exporting countries in the world, in terms of their infrastructures, the roles of external shocks, technology adoption at different stages of production, added value, positioning in both domestic and global markets, internationalisation patterns, marketing and branding innovations, regulatory frameworks, and policy environments. This study also explores other aspects… Mostrar más

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a cross-country study comparing Colombia and Vietnam, two of the major coffee exporting countries in the world, in terms of their infrastructures, the roles of external shocks, technology adoption at different stages of production, added value, positioning in both domestic and global markets, internationalisation patterns, marketing and branding innovations, regulatory frameworks, and policy environments. This study also explores other aspects linked to production, and marketing strategies that open niche markets such as speciality coffees, and socially-, labour- and environmentally-responsible trade. Furthermore, it identifies opportunities of cooperation and competition between these two countries.

Design/methodology/approach – Using value chain analysis as primary research method, this paper identifies links and dynamics in the value chains that have been developed in the coffee industry in both countries to improve competitiveness, increase sustainability, and respond to market demands.

Findings – Using value chain analysis, it was found that Colombia and Vietnam produce different types of coffee, and that both have implemented diverse strategies in order to be more competitive in domestic and foreign markets via product differentiation. These differences make explicit room for cooperation between these two countries in an international environment where fierce competition persists.

Originality/value – Cooperation between producing countries is an under-researched subject. These findings will be useful both for policy makers in coffee-producing countries and agribusiness researchers. Mostrar menos

This paper empirically examines the relationship between FDI and CO2 emissions via a Vector Autoregressive Analysis (VAR) model for the 1970-2005 period in Colombia. This paper first presents the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility and defines Latin America’s socio-political since the 1980s, explaining the FDI’s rise in South America and how this led to the consolidation of networks Social Responsibility Networks (SRN). This paper demonstrated that there is a causal relationship in the… Mostrar más

This paper empirically examines the relationship between FDI and CO2 emissions via a Vector Autoregressive Analysis (VAR) model for the 1970-2005 period in Colombia. This paper first presents the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility and defines Latin America’s socio-political since the 1980s, explaining the FDI’s rise in South America and how this led to the consolidation of networks Social Responsibility Networks (SRN). This paper demonstrated that there is a causal relationship in the Granger sense of the impact of FDI on the CO2 emissions in Colombia. This paper provides insights for the region which could be explored in future comparative research amongst South American countries. Mostrar menos

The role that higher education institutions (HEIs) play in the communities to which they belong is a topic that has received attention from academics, policy-makers and HEI managers in recent years. This article provides a comprehensive outline in the area of communityuniversity partnerships (CUPs). It focuses on the active engagement of universities in the communities they serve, their models of collaboration, the motivations behind them and the impact on the social, cultural and economic… Mostrar más

The role that higher education institutions (HEIs) play in the communities to which they belong is a topic that has received attention from academics, policy-makers and HEI managers in recent years. This article provides a comprehensive outline in the area of communityuniversity partnerships (CUPs). It focuses on the active engagement of universities in the communities they serve, their models of collaboration, the motivations behind them and the impact on the social, cultural and economic development of their localities as well as the challenges for the wider community and for the life of higher education. It summarizes the current situation in Colombia and presents examples of models of CUPs around the world. Mostrar menos

Dentro de la industria bananera, las iniciativas de RSE varían de acuerdo con las motivaciones y las capacidades de los diferentes actores. Por ejemplo, a nivel lo- cal, en la industria bananera hay iniciativas planificadas y realizadas por las em- presas productoras de bananas (en su mayoría multinacionales) cuyo objetivo primordial es establecer relaciones de confianza con los trabajadores, las comu- nidades locales y los gobiernos nacionales. Cuando los esfuerzos de la RSE a nivel local… Mostrar más

Dentro de la industria bananera, las iniciativas de RSE varían de acuerdo con las motivaciones y las capacidades de los diferentes actores. Por ejemplo, a nivel lo- cal, en la industria bananera hay iniciativas planificadas y realizadas por las em- presas productoras de bananas (en su mayoría multinacionales) cuyo objetivo primordial es establecer relaciones de confianza con los trabajadores, las comu- nidades locales y los gobiernos nacionales. Cuando los esfuerzos de la RSE a nivel local están vinculados a un conjunto más amplio de partes interesadas en el país, se puede considerar a la RSE como parte de la RSS. El incentivo para que una em- presa bananera sea activa en el ámbito de la RSS es que, cuando la confianza local existe y perdura, las relaciones laborales se estabilizan (se controlan los costes de producción), y por lo tanto se maximiza la eficiencia económica y mejoran los beneficios previstos. Mostrar menos

The growth of global economic activity has resulted in a worldwide increase in migration. Despite the growing interest in migratory labour flows, there remains little detailed empirical research about the labour relations practices experienced by immigrant workers. In this article, three general areas are examined from data collected in the Republic of Ireland: (1) what are the experiences of non-Irish national workers employed in different sectors of the economy; (2) do trade unions facilitate… Mostrar más

The growth of global economic activity has resulted in a worldwide increase in migration. Despite the growing interest in migratory labour flows, there remains little detailed empirical research about the labour relations practices experienced by immigrant workers. In this article, three general areas are examined from data collected in the Republic of Ireland: (1) what are the experiences of non-Irish national workers employed in different sectors of the economy; (2) do trade unions facilitate the integration of migrant workers in the Irish labour market; and (3) what are the strategies undertaken by trade unions in response to the challenges of immigration? Ethnographic and qualitative research methods were employed to address these broad research objectives. The evidence shows that many immigrant workers have experienced a system of near-serfdom that perpetuates social, economic and cultural exclusion on a large scale. The conclusion argues that an emerging `glocalization' of the world economy creates a labour market dynamic underpinned by neoliberal policies of the nation-state. The evidence suggests that traditional views of migration and industrial relations theory are found wanting when seeking to explain the concerns of migrant workers. A number of implications arising from this are then discussed. Mostrar menos

The ‘mission’ statements of Higher Education Institutions often include both explicit and implicit commitments to their local, regional and national communities. These may be expected to vary according to particular social, political, environmental, historical, cultural and economic contexts. However, with globalising trends there is pressure for institutions to demonstrate a commitment to economic growth and ‘relevance,’ as well as the adoption of an emerging ‘standard model’ of what… Mostrar más

The ‘mission’ statements of Higher Education Institutions often include both explicit and implicit commitments to their local, regional and national communities. These may be expected to vary according to particular social, political, environmental, historical, cultural and economic contexts. However, with globalising trends there is pressure for institutions to demonstrate a commitment to economic growth and ‘relevance,’ as well as the adoption of an emerging ‘standard model’ of what constitutes a university.

Based on an analysis of institutional mission statements across the Irish higher education sector, it is clear that, although the ‘economic contribution’ and related aspects feature frequently (and strongly in most cases), there is still considerable emphasis on the wider social, civic and cultural role of institutions. Mission statements vary according to institution type and such separation is very strongly evident, with universities espousing a wider range of activities, a commitment to “excellence,” national and international roles and cultural value. Institutes of Technology emphasise access to courses, local importance and economic relevance and specialist colleges reflect a focus on ethical and professional issues as is relevant to their narrower focus. It almost all cases, the distinctive aspects of each institution are emphasised in accompanying documents rather than the mission statements themselves, which tend to be very ‘general’ in nature, and similar within each institution type. Mostrar menos

Cet article vise à comprendre les défis du commerce équitable vis-à-vis du commerce conventionnel de l'industrie de la banane de la Colombie vers l'Europe. Cette étude utilise l'analyse de la chaîne de valeur comme approche méthodologique et souligne le rôle clé de l'intégration verticale grâce à la traçabilité de sa gouvernance; il reconnaît les lacunes de coordination dans la chaîne du commerce équitable ainsi que les déficits associés à sa structure de gouvernance. Les auteurs discutent du… Mostrar más

Cet article vise à comprendre les défis du commerce équitable vis-à-vis du commerce conventionnel de l'industrie de la banane de la Colombie vers l'Europe. Cette étude utilise l'analyse de la chaîne de valeur comme approche méthodologique et souligne le rôle clé de l'intégration verticale grâce à la traçabilité de sa gouvernance; il reconnaît les lacunes de coordination dans la chaîne du commerce équitable ainsi que les déficits associés à sa structure de gouvernance. Les auteurs discutent du fait que le rôle des structures institutionnelles, l'établissement de liens forts et de bonnes régulations sont indispensables pour renforcer la coordination verticale entre les acteurs, afin d'obtenir des avantages sociaux et économiques en faveur des petits producteurs et de transformer les rapports entre le Nord et le Sud. Mostrar menos

This paper examines a recent and very specific development in the field of corporate governance. The regulation of "corporate social responsibility," that is corporate compliance with society's expectations in regard to issues like working conditions and environmental impact has shifted from government agencies to civil society organizations, more specifically NGOs or Non Governmental Organizations. This means that standards are more often negotiated and the subject of voluntary agreements… Mostrar más

This paper examines a recent and very specific development in the field of corporate governance. The regulation of "corporate social responsibility," that is corporate compliance with society's expectations in regard to issues like working conditions and environmental impact has shifted from government agencies to civil society organizations, more specifically NGOs or Non Governmental Organizations. This means that standards are more often negotiated and the subject of voluntary agreements. Since corporations enter into these agreements on a voluntary basis, the enforcement of these arrangements must be at least partially carried out through internal corporate mechanisms. We examine these issues using the example of the banana industry. Mostrar menos