Elisabete Sá

Purpose: The paper explores the beliefs and perceptions of microfinance institution (MFI) managers about environmental threats and the role that green microfinance can play in mitigating them, to assess their influence on these institutions' engagement in green activities. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on protection motivation theory, the study follows a qualitative case study approach, focusing on the MFIs of the developing country of Cabo Verde. Findings: Findings indicate that MFI managers understand and are aware of the environmental threats and identify their customers as the most vulnerable to them. They seem motivated to increase their green activity in the future as it is generally seen as effective in mitigating the problems. However, their response capacity is hindered by limitations such as a lack of financial conditions and technical environmental knowledge. Social implications: MFIs play an important role in promoting self-employment and breaking the poverty cycle, but their funds are also often used to develop environmentally damaging practices. Green microfinance can contribute to targeting a triple bottom line; considering together people, profit and the planet, provided implementation challenges are addressed. Originality/value: Although the environmental behaviour of MFIs has been previously studied, the understanding of the core beliefs of MFI managers that can support their environmental actions is still limited. Thus, the study contributes to advancing the knowledge of green microfinance by considering individual-level factors in understanding organisational greening.

The purpose of this study is to advance knowledge on the gender-specific conditions that lead to higher entrepreneurial activity (EA) in challenging contexts by examining the interdependencies between several cognitive dimensions (perceived opportunities, perceived capabilities, being undeterred by fear of failure, knowing an entrepreneur who started a business because of the pandemic) and one cultural dimension (masculinity) and their relationship with EA of women and men during the COVID-19 pandemic. Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor’s special report “Women’s Entrepreneurship 2020/21: Thriving Through Crisis” for 43 countries, this study uses fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to assess complex causal conditions. Results revealed six different causal configurations leading to high female EA and the same number leading to high male EA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Although half of these configurations are gender specific, this study found several similarities in the complex conditions leading to the same outcome for women and men. The specific dimensions of perceived opportunities and knowing an entrepreneur who started a business because of the pandemic were crucial for both genders. Still, the latter is particularly important for women. Masculinity orientation was only relevant in the male sample. Despite the remarkable growth of the research on gender and entrepreneurship over the past years, there is still limited knowledge on what leads to women and men’s EA in times of crisis. This study's results advance the understanding of gender differences and similarities regarding the complex conditions that favour EA under highly challenging circumstances such as the ones imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

Drawing on Flow theory and memorable tourism experience, this study explores the relationships between Flow, novelty, and interpersonal interaction and the impact on travelers’ satisfaction and memories. By applying a mixed-method approach and the critical incident technique to a once-in-a-lifetime leisure experience, 550 tourists recalled their experiences. The results reveal that Flow has a direct and positive influence on tourists’ satisfaction and memories of the experience. The findings highlight the role of novelty and interpersonal interaction in producing positive Flow. However, novelty and interpersonal interaction did not come out as significant to predict memories and satisfaction.

Purpose: This paper aims to deepen the understanding of the marketing process and practices taking place during the initial stages of the company development, by revealing the distinct entrepreneurial marketing process and mix resulting from the entrepreneurs’ decision-making process. Design/methodology/approach: Using the critical incident technique, the study analyzes 146 marketing decisions made by entrepreneurs. The resulting marketing activities are aligned in a process and compared with the mainstream managerial marketing process. Findings: The results provide the basis for an entrepreneurial marketing framework with four phases: product creation – product–market fit – market expansion – refocus. An entrepreneurial marketing mix is also proposed, consisting of productisement, people and proof of value. Originality/value: While the managerial marketing process is well established, the entrepreneurial marketing process remains largely uncharted. The framework provided contributes to identifying the main marketing concerns and understanding how the marketing process is implemented by entrepreneurs in the earlier phases of the firm. Practical suggestions are offered regarding the marketing operations of the new firms and the critical marketing aspects to consider.

Dance is proven to offer a myriad of physical, psychological, and social benefits. However, because dance has been frequently perceived as a feminine practice, there is a prevailing prejudice towards boys who dance, making it hard for them to engage in this physical activity. Social marketing has been presented as a promising framework to deal with different social problems, including prejudice, although its effectiveness is still difficult to establish. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), a quasi-experimental study involving a sample of 436 children and adolescents, composed of 51.38% boys and 48.62% girls was implemented to measure the effectiveness of a Social Marketing Intervention (SMI) in reducing prejudice towards dance and boys who dance, in particular, and in increasing their intentions to practice this physical activity. The study furthermore aimed to compare the influence of the SMI on participants of two different stages of child development to ascertain when it is most effective to intervene. The questionnaire was used to collect information and included items derived from relevant literature. To assess differences between children and adolescents before and after the SMI, the analysis relied on independent t-tests and paired t-tests. Results suggest positive effects of the SMI on some dimensions of the TPB.

The paper aims at exploring the antecedents of customers’ online purchase intention and behaviour, and at uncovering sources of heterogeneity. A sample of customers was surveyed to measure perceived risk and benefits, trust, online purchase intention and behaviour. The study confirmed the causal chain of perceived risks-trust-perceived benefits-online purchase intention-actual purchase. A Finite Mixture Partial Least Squares (FIMIX-PLS) was performed to uncover sources of heterogeneity. It found that the level of security of the payment methods is relevant to understand the relationship between purchase intention and behaviour, while the level of previous experience with the online medium clarifies the relationship between perceived risk and trust. The study contributes to understanding the antecedents of online purchase intention and their relationship with actual purchase behaviour. Additionally, it offers evidence of heterogeneity in the proposed causal relations, particularly, concerning the level of trust in the payment methods and the level of Internet experience.

Introduction. This study presents an experience developed with PhD students aimed to analyze the extent to which career self-management should be approached along with entrepreneurship issues to promote students’ career development.Method. An intervention group who attended a Career Self-Management Seminar (EG1), a comparison group who attended the CSMS followed by a Seminar on Entrepreneurship (EG2), and a control group (CG) were compared, in three different moments (pre-test, post-test, and follow-up).Results. Results at an intra and inter-group level indicate that the EG1 and the EG2 significantly increased the extent of self-exploration, the intended-systematic exploration, and the amount of acquired information over time, and also their concerns related to holding and up-dating their careers. According to the longitudinal research plan, the EG1 participants benefited most of this career intervention.Discussion and Conclusion. The results suggest the effectiveness of the career seminar in most of the career development measures, particularly in comparison with the non-intervention. Implications are drawn to the development of career services and interventions that promote a reflection about entrepreneurship as a career path

Purpose: By using the Triple Helix model, the purpose of this paper is to uncover the perceptions of nascent entrepreneurs about a university–industry–government collaboration program, in particular about the role of each agent to foster rural entrepreneurship; the value and effect of this collaboration; and their own contributions to local development. Design/methodology/approach: A qualitative case study method is adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs and secondary data. The text is analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Findings: The interaction of the Triple Helix partners is perceived as valuable both at the personal and the business levels. One of the most salient results is the value ascribed to the knowledge-rich environment created. Entrepreneurs are aware of their contribution to local development, identifying economic, social and cultural effects. Practical implications: The research strengthens the importance of the joint efforts of the Triple Helix partners by uncovering a number of outputs from their collaboration, which affect both the entrepreneurs and local development through entrepreneurship. Originality/value: Previous studies assume that the Triple Helix fosters technological innovation that favors regional development, mainly by adopting a macro-level perspective. This study makes a contribution by furthering the knowledge on the micro-level dynamics of the Triple Helix, through the view of low tech, rural entrepreneurs, considering their context.

The role of the university in society and the economy is evolving. Universities produce knowledge that promotes technological developments, which are, in turn, critical to economic growth and competitiveness in the global economy. Therefore, it is increasingly expected that universities become more entrepreneurial and assume this third mission in order to promote innovation and development through the provision of technologies and business ventures. Drawing on data collected for The Changing Academic Profession Project – a comparative survey of the academic profession carried out in 19 countries from all over the world – this article explores Portuguese academic entrepreneurship engagement based on the involvement in the process of technology transfer as an activity performed in the context of research activities. It thus aims to contribute to knowledge about academics’ engagement in entrepreneurial activity. Results from this study suggest that Portuguese academics are fairly involved in entrepreneurial activities and that there is an overall positive attitude towards application of research to real problems. Furthermore, it was possible to see that academics involved in processes of technology transfer are not only focused on activities such as research but also service to the outside community. However, when comparing academics involved and not involved in entrepreneurial activities, several significant differences are found in their attitudes, perceptions and behaviours.