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Synthetic Resins Ltd, Edwards Lane, Speke, Liverpool L23 9HR are offering a range of resins for industrial coatings (stoving enamels) which are completely reducible in water and contain no organic solvent whatever. They also state that not only do the new resins provide a more pleasant and safer working environment for operatives in industrial paint spraying operations, they significantly reduce fire hazards in paint shops.

The service industry has become an important sector for the economic growth, particularly in developing countries. In this context, the aim of this article is to compare the productivity determinants across firms operating in low and high knowledge intensity service sectors (low knowledge intensive sectors (LKIS) and high knowledge intensive sectors (HKIS)) in Ecuador.

The authors use a two-step estimation method. The firm productivity is estimated in the first step and the productivity determinants in the second step. To achieve the objective, the authors use an unbalanced panel database on the financial statements from formal Ecuadorian firms for the period 2007–2018.

The authors’ results show that LKIS firms are slightly more labor-intensive compared to HKIS firms. Productivity determinants are similar across HKIS and LKIS firms, except for exports and market concentration. HKIS firms are more productive when the competition level is low, indicating that higher market power is associated with higher productivity. The influence of taxes on productivity depends on firm size. Small and medium-sized firms are more negatively affected than large firms.

Taxes should be designed considering the size of the companies, since these could affect their productivity. Thus, lower taxes to small and medium firms may reduce firm size inequality. In addition, the acquired knowledge of HKIS should be spread to other firms becoming a positive externality instead of an entry barrier.

Despite the productivity determinants of the service sector has been recently explored, in contrast to the manufacturing sector, individual and contextual determinants are less identified. In this paper the authors use a large set of firm characteristics that might affect productivity in service firms.

La industria de servicios se ha convertido en un sector importante para el crecimiento económico, particularmente en los países en desarrollo. En este contexto, el objetivo de este artículo es comparar los determinantes de la productividad entre empresas que operan en sectores de servicios de baja y alta intensidad de conocimiento (LKIS y HKIS) en Ecuador.

Utilizamos un método de estimación de dos pasos. En primer lugar, estimamos la productividad de las empresas y, en segundo lugar, los determinantes de la productividad. Para esto, utilizamos una base de datos de panel no balanceado sobre los estados financieros de las empresas formales ecuatorianas de los años 2007 a 2018.

Nuestros resultados muestran que las empresas LKIS son ligeramente más intensivas en mano de obra en comparación con las empresas HKIS. Los determinantes de la productividad son similares entre las empresas HKIS y LKIS, excepto por las exportaciones y la concentración del mercado. Las empresas HKIS son más productivas cuando el nivel de competencia es bajo, lo que indica que un mayor poder de mercado está asociado con una mayor productividad. La influencia de los impuestos sobre la productividad depende del tamaño de la empresa. Las pequeñas y medianas empresas se ven más negativamente afectadas que las grandes empresas.

Los impuestos deben diseñarse considerando el tamaño de las empresas, ya que podrían afectar su productividad. Por lo tanto, impuestos más bajos para las pequeñas y medianas empresas pueden reducir la desigualdad entre el tamaño de las empresas. Además, el conocimiento que tienen las HKIS debe extenderse a otras empresas convirtiéndose en una externalidad positiva en lugar de una barrera de entrada.

A pesar de que los determinantes de la productividad del sector servicios se han explorado recientemente, en contraste con el sector manufacturero, los determinantes individuales y contextuales están menos identificados. En este artículo utilizamos un amplio conjunto de características de las empresas que podrían afectar la productividad en las empresas de servicios.

This study aims to address the problems of implementing the MBNQA in SMEs and also to see the significant differences in organizational performance between high-, medium-, and low-performing SMEs. The research method is a case study by exploring three SMEs engaged in the food sector. Research shows that from the seven dimensions of MBNQA, the main strength to achieve high performance lies in the leadership dimension. The weakness is in implementing strategic planning, while the strength is in empowering teams and achieving results. Suggestions for the future of SMEs must strengthen leadership positions and use owner strategies instead of leaders.

To elaborate on the model terms for the effective integration in Russia's special economic zones in the long term.

The statistical method, comparative method and a formalised model of game theory are used in this research.

The research is aimed at determining the model conditions for effective integration in Russia's special economic zones. The proprietary methodology envisages the following stages: establishment of the case experience of the development of Russia's special economic zones and determination of requirements that are set to residents (players) for entrance; comparison of the functioning of players of one of the studied integration structures under the conditions of individual development and the conditions of business integration; description of advantages; development of the practical implications to improve the business strategies of residents (players). The analysis is performed based on the materials of the development of Industrial Production SEZ ‘Alabuga’ (Republic of Tatarstan) and its residents, as well as the evaluation of the system of regulation of the parameters of joining special economic zones of different types. The assessed residents of Industrial Production SEZ ‘Alabuga’ (Republic of Tatarstan) are Trakya Glass Rus and Automotive Glass Alliance Rus (in 2021, the name was changed to Shishejam Automotive Rus), which started functioning within the association in 2017.

The originality and scientific value of this research are due to the description of the specific features and perspective directions of integration in Russia's special economic zones.

Political institutions and contemporary workplaces operate according to different rules. The seeming contradiction between these two spheres, one democratic and the other something else, presents an opportunity for productive speculation about the possibilities for reconciliation. The purpose of this paper is to provide a guide for future research investigation of this perennial topic.

The discussion of whether the workplace can catch up with the democratic achievements of political life requires an understanding of the status quo, the prevailing frames or metaphors that govern our understanding of organizational life. Four metaphors are put forward to describe the prevailing spectrum of thought. In addition to metaphors, analogies are introduced as an interpretive tool to help guide the imaginative transition between political and workplace domains.

Democratic political cultures are supported by structures and institutions which encourage the expression of individual and collective voice. Workplaces, comprised of the same citizens who participate in the governance of communities, do not, with some important exceptions, offer the same opportunities for democratic participation. If a general analogy between political and workplace sphere is found persuasive, it should be possible to import and adapt democratic traditions from the former to the latter.

Discussions of workplace democracy often suffer from a certain naiveté, a bias against structure and toward informal consensus. Insofar as democratic workplaces are by definition smaller scale than political communities, this bias is defensible. This paper concludes however by asserting certain minimal “acid test” challenges to those who would promote the goal of workplace democracy.

Purpose: This research investigates how producers of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) in Karachi, Pakistan, embrace sustainable manufacturing and consumption practices.

Study design/methodology/approach: This study employed a mixed research design, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The primary method of data collecting utilised in this study was semi-structured interviews. The survey sampled 11 FMCG manufacturers, and the data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings: The research revealed that economic variables were crucial in adopting sustainable consumption and production (SCP) practices among Karachi’s FMCG businesses. The economic reasons were motivated by the notion that adopting sustainable practices could result in financial benefits and enhanced market competitiveness. The research additionally discovered that consumer preferences were pivotal in stimulating sustainable practices within the FMCG business. Manufacturers indicated that adopting sustainable products and packaging was driven mainly by consumer demand.

Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature on SCP within the FMCG business. It offers valuable insights into the factors influencing sustainable practices and customer preferences. This study emphasises the importance of economic, social, and environmental aspects in fostering sustainable practices within the FMCG industry, specifically focusing on developing nation environments such as Karachi. This study’s findings can contribute valuable insights for policy formulation and decision-making processes about SCP within Karachi’s FMCG business and other similar contexts.

This paper examines job satisfaction and participation in decision making in three home health aide facilities with different organizational structures (worker-owned for-profit, for-profit with no participation or ownership by workers, and nonprofit).

More than 600 surveys were completed by home health aides across the three facilities. The author also engaged in participant observation during training sessions and other meetings and conducted a small number of interviews with caregivers and agency management.

Home health aides at the worker-owned, participative decision making organization were significantly more satisfied with their jobs than those at the other agencies. Results for the other agencies were not significantly distinguishable from one another.

This study involved respondents from one of each type of business. A study across several of each type of organization would allow more focus on the effects of the structural characteristics of the organizations.

In the United States, the work that home health aides perform provides a valuable service to society. On behalf of caregivers and those for whom they provide care, conditions of the work need improvement. If participative democratic workplaces provide better outcomes, they should receive more attention from lawmakers, the business community, and researchers.

This research highlights the working conditions of the people (primarily women) who perform this work. The poor compensation received is a reminder of inequality in opportunity for some workers and of the value placed on this type of caring labor.

This research is unique in its focus on work environment and outcomes in home health care across nonprofit, for-profit, and worker-owned for-profit organizations. The findings of different job satisfaction outcomes from the others in the worker-owned organization and similar outcomes in the nonprofit and conventional for-profit organizations are also unique.

The purpose of this work is to present the modelling of the conditions of provision of growth of public–private partnership using digital technologies based on the game approach.

The methods of a systemic approach, linear programming and linear correlation, as well as statistical method, are used.

We performed the modelling of the conditions of provision of growth of public–private partnership using digital technologies based on the game approach. We also determined the level of development of public–private partnerships at the level of developed (United States, United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark) and developing countries (Bulgaria, Venezuela and South Africa) and analysed the level of implementing digital technologies within the studied countries. We note a high level of public–private partnership in developed countries and a low level of this indicator in developing countries (except for Bulgaria, which has the positive dynamics of improvement). We also determine the main competitive advantages of implementing digital technologies, which have an impact on the improvement of the state of public–private partnerships at the level of the studied countries. Using the linear method of programming (game approach), we formulate the models of development of this type of interaction, within which the positive experience of developed countries is taken into account.

The originality and value of this research consist in the study of the specifics of the use of the game approach in the modelling of public–private partnership, which is based on the use of digital technologies.

To reveal the impact of the development of technology parks and innovative networks on the national digital economies.

The following methods are utilised: the complex method, statistical analysis, comparative method, correlation analysis and linear programming (method of the game approach category).

We reveal the impact of the development of technology parks and innovative networks on the national digital economies. Analysis of the formation of the digital economy includes the assessment of its components (Rank Knowledge, Rank Technology, Rank Future readiness) in the context of the development of the analysed developed countries (Belgium, France, Iceland, Spain and Hong Kong). It is discovered that Hong Kong and Iceland have high indicators of digital technologies implementation. We prove that these results are connected to investments in this sphere made by integration structures, including the sphere of business, sciences and government agents (in the case of Hong Kong). We perform an analysis of the clustering of the given countries and describe the main forms of integration that ensure the innovative development of the economy. Based on the study of analytical and statistical materials, we determine the perspective model of the impact of these integration mechanisms on the state of innovative development of the digital economy, which could be applied to developing countries.

The originality and value of this research are due to the development of a model of the impact of implementing the integration mechanisms on the state of innovative development of the digital economy, which could be used in the case of developing countries.