Search Results (9)

This study investigates the relationship between digital transformation and the substantive innovation of single champion manufacturing enterprises (SCMEs). Using panel data from listed SCMEs between 2017 and 2022, we applied a double fixed-effects model to analyze the effects of digital transformation on substantive innovation performance. The findings indicate that digital transformation significantly enhances SCMEs’ innovation performance, exhibiting a positive linear relationship. However, as the degree of transformation increases, the effect gradually diminishes, following an inverted U-shaped pattern. Furthermore, we introduced a theoretical framework of enterprise niche resilience and examined the moderating roles of niche resource resilience and niche structural resilience in the relationship between digital transformation and innovation performance. The results show that factors such as human resource resilience, capital resource resilience, supply chain resilience, and shareholder governance resilience play critical roles in enhancing innovation capabilities and supporting the digital transformation process. Finally, from the perspectives of macro-, meso-, and microenterprise niche positioning, we further discussed the heterogeneity across different regions, industrial chains, and lifecycle stages. This research provides new insights into innovation theory, niche theory, and resilience theory, offering valuable practical implications for policymakers and SCME managers to respond to global risks and drive domestic industrial upgrades. Full article

A long-term strategy for China’s national development is to foster the growth of “Specialized, Refined, Niche, and Innovative (SRNI)” small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, these enterprises often face significant financing constraints due to their high technological input, high human capital input, light asset characteristics, and lack of effective collateral. Supply chain finance, as an important way to combine production and financing, could provide financial services in the real economy by alleviating these constraints of SMEs and improving the quality of credit so as to revitalize supply chain funds. This paper empirically examines the relationship between supply chain finance, fintech development, and financing efficiency using a sample of 757 “SRNI” SMEs in Shanghai and Shenzhen A-shares from 2013 to 2023. The findings reveal that supply chain finance significantly enhances the financing efficiency of “SRNI” SMEs. Moreover, the development of financial technology further amplifies such positive effects. This research contributes to the theoretical understanding of how supply chain finance and fintech impacts the financing efficiency of SRNI SMEs and provides valuable insights for evaluating SME financing efficiency. Full article

This article examines the communication and marketing requirements of a prospective business enterprise that specializes in offering online courses focusing on psychology, personal growth and professional development to change patterns of educational production and consumption. The objective of this research is to analyse the necessary brand positioning for this company to improve its visibility, attracting and retaining interested customers. Using a sequential and evidence-based methodology, this study analyses the precise business requirements to establish an optimal and competitive platform for professionals offering wellbeing courses. This involved analysing the characteristics and needs of the target audience—the professionals who would deliver the courses—and the audience who would enrol in the courses. In addition, we assessed the company’s environmental context, its strengths, weaknesses and unique selling points, as well as effective marketing and positioning strategies, and its direct competitors. We identified a growing interest in online training of courses that contribute to wellbeing. Among the target audience, preferences were diverse, with 58.1% leaning towards personal growth, 45.9% interested in meditation and 43.2% in psychology. Social media, particularly YouTube (52.7%), served as the main source of information for these courses. Criticisms focused mainly on issues such as poor visual and audio quality (20%), inadequate structuring of content (30%) and perceived boredom (23.6%). Addressing these preferences through multilingual translation, niche targeting, diverse course offerings, flexible pricing and membership options can effectively cater to diverse customer segments. The findings emphasise the importance of prioritising audiovisual quality and personalised learning experiences to foster audience loyalty. Full article

Green innovation is an important driving force in promoting the sustainable development of manufacturing enterprises and improving market competitiveness. This study selects indicators from the two aspects of ecostate and ecorole in order to reflect green research and development, cleaner production, and green marketing based on niche theory. We construct an evaluation index system to objectively and accurately assess the green innovation capability of manufacturing enterprises. Subsequently, based on the principle of relative entropy, the analytic hierarchy process, entropy weight method, and coefficient of variation method are fused to determine the combined weight of the indicators, and a multi-level, comprehensive evaluation model is constructed using cloud model tools. Finally, through an empirical analysis of the evaluation of the green innovation capability of five manufacturing enterprises, the feasibility of the model and the stability of the evaluation results are verified through three dimensions: numerical experiment, sensitivity analysis, and method comparison. The results show that the evaluation system constructed in this study is superior. It provides the basis and decision-making reference for enterprises to carry out market positioning and formulate innovation and development strategies. Full article

Soil fertilization is necessary for high-demand crop production in agriculture and forestry. Our current dependence on chemical fertilizers has significant harmful side effects. Biofertilization using microorganisms is a sustainable way to limit the need for chemical fertilizers in various enterprises. Most plant endophytic bacteria have thus far been unstudied for their plant growth promoting potential and hence present a novel niche for new biofertilizer strains. We isolated English oak (Quercus robur) endophytic bacteria and tested them for plant growth promoting traits (PGPTs) such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate mineralization/solubilization, siderophore and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production. We also investigated the effect the selected isolate had on poplar (Populus spp.) microshoot vegetative growth parameters in vitro. In total 48 bacterial strains were isolated, attributed to Bacillus, Delftia, Paenibacillus, Pantoea and Pseudomonas genera. All the isolates displayed at least three PGPTs, with 39.6% of the isolates displaying all five (all were Pseudomonas spp.) and 18.75% displaying four. Based on relative abundance, Paenibacillus sp. isolate was selected for the poplar microshoot inoculation study. The isolate had a significant positive effect on poplar microshoot root growth and development. Two tested poplar genotypes both had increased lateral root number and density, fresh and dry root biomass. Furthermore, one genotype had increased length and number of adventitious roots as well as a decrease in fresh aboveground biomass. The root enhancement was attributed to IAA production. We propose this isolate for further studies as a potential biofertilizer. Full article

Within the broadly understood concept of Industry 4.0, many intelligent systems featuring artificial intelligence are used. Their importance in recent years has been growing. That can be attributed to a number of notable advantages these systems provide, including the possibility of expanding the manufacturer’s offer, greater customization of products, which facilitates reaching niche markets, as well as better internal and/or external communication (between the company and the consumer). Six such systems are brought into focus: The Internet of Things, Data Base, Cloud Computing, Blockchain, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), and SMAC (Social, Mobile, Analytics, Cloud). The aim of the study was to assess their relevance and impact on the market position of enterprises in Poland. The analysis is based on the research carried out by the authors in 2020 on a sample of production companies that use logistic supply chains in their operations. The conclusions are to some extent surprising, e.g., the companies do not believe that implementing intelligence systems gives them significant market advantage nor that the positive impact of these systems depends directly on the number of systems used. Full article

This study examined the relationship between supply integration and relationship stability and the relationship between relationship stability and performance; furthermore, the moderation effect of environmental uncertainty on supply chain integration and relationship stability was analyzed. The subjects are typical small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries that focus on niche markets to compete with large-scale manufacturers. Questionnaires were distributed to manufacturers to collect empirical data; in total, 566 valid samples were gathered. The results indicate that supply chain integration has positive effects on relational stability and that relational stability has positive effects on supply chain performance. Relational stability is a mediator between supply chain integration and supply chain performance. The contingency effects of environmental uncertainty on the relationships between internal integration and relational stability were determined in this research. This research framework extended past research on supply chain management; part of the research explored the relationship between supply chain integration and different measures of supply chain performance, as well as whether uncertainty affects supply chain integration and supply chain performance. Full article

Agricultural activity has changed significantly in recent years. There is a clear trend towards monoculture and the replacement of traditional crops for others which are more productive and achieve better economic results. These factors have two fundamental consequences: on the one hand, the abandonment of agricultural activity, with the subsequent loss of rurality; on the other hand, a negative effect on the maintenance of biodiversity, because traditional varieties disappear. In this context, this paper analyses the situation of consumers and farmers of a traditional crop in the southeast of Spain: the tomato. In order to understand the current situation and the forecasted future, a choice experiment was conducted on 217 tomato consumers. Furthermore, 40 tomato farmers of this area underwent an in-depth interview. On the one hand, analysis of the consumer study established a potential segment of the population that prefers traditional varieties due to their high organoleptic properties. Meanwhile, the farmer study revealed a segment of this population that is willing to produce these types of crops. Therefore, the possibility that a certain sector of producers cultivates traditional varieties is suggested, and for these varieties to be aimed at a market niche that values them positively, making the activity of Small and Medium Enterprises (agricultural SMEs) profitable. This would improve the sustainability of the rural territory and would strengthen the preservation of genetic heritage. Full article

This paper aims to take the longitudinal development history of the Lenovo Cross-border complex nested R&D organization as the research object, to explore the development rules of enterprise niche. Strategic positioning is the core issue of enterprise management, and enterprise niche is the core issue of strategic positioning. This study elaborates on the three stages of enterprise R&D organizational ambidexterity promoting enterprise niche evolution, discusses the process model of space development, and reveals the life cycle of enterprise niche. It reveals the deep reason for promoting enterprise niche to develop—the ambidexterity of complex nested organization. The conclusion helps to promote the successful space development of enterprise niches through Cross-border merger and acquisition, and to enhance global sustainable development for the companies from emerging markets such as China. Full article