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Educated in Germany and the United Kingdom, I am an Associate Professor of Management at CUNEF (Madrid, Spain) and member of its research centre "Centre of Knowledge and Innovation" with a specialisation in small business HR management, cultural aspects and business strategy with their effects on business performance/innovation, often with an international perspective. Before my move to Spain, I worked as a lecturer at one of the top business schools in the United Kingdom. My research interests include the linkages between employee voice and innovation, culture management and strategic HRM, SME management, emerging markets. More recently I have led a research project on people management in SMEs financed by FUNCAS (2014/2015) and taken part in an international research project with research grant from the European Commission (2014-2016 & 2020-2024). Most recently I completed as a principal investigator a Horizon 2020 - RISE project on "Knowledge and Innovation in, to and from Emerging Markets (KITFEM)" (01/2017-12/2019). Apart from being an Associate Editor of the international journal "Journal of Evolutionary Studies in Business", I have published in indexed international management and industrial relations journals, including the Journal of Business Ethics, Relaciones Industrielles/Industrial Relations and Chinese Management Studies. My research is presented regularly at international conferences, including the EURAM, AOM and RENT.
Project Goal: Developing implications for the EU policy makers, businesses and academics
Current Stage: Finalised
Purpose The purpose of this paper was to explore the role of empowering leadership, organizational climate for initiative and job autonomy in spurring innovative work behavior (IWB). Design/methodology/approach This study resorted to the structural equation modeling technique along the Bayesian estimation approach to analyze the mediating role of the organizational climate for initiative and job autonomy in the empowering leadership-IWB link in data gathered from CEOs, middle managers and non-managerial employees of 444 small and medium enterprises in Morocco. Findings The findings revealed that empowering leadership is a prerequisite of IWB as subordinates, who are empowered by their leaders, demonstrate IWB. Further, organizational climate for initiative and job autonomy mediate the empowering leadership-IWB link. Practical implications This research has demonstrated that firms and organizational leaders who seek to make their middle managers innovative in their job should adopt empowering leadership practices, build an organizational climate that is favorable for initiative-taking and grant middle managers with autonomy in the way they carry out their tasks. Originality/value This paper extends our understanding on the mechanisms linking empowering leadership and IWB by testing the mediating effects of organizational climate for initiative and job autonomy.
Abderrahman Hassi; Sylvia Rohlfer; Simon Jebsen. Empowering leadership and innovative work behavior: the mediating effects of climate for initiative and job autonomy in Moroccan SMEs. EuroMed Journal of Business 2021, ahead-of-p, 1 .
AMA StyleAbderrahman Hassi, Sylvia Rohlfer, Simon Jebsen. Empowering leadership and innovative work behavior: the mediating effects of climate for initiative and job autonomy in Moroccan SMEs. EuroMed Journal of Business. 2021; ahead-of-p (ahead-of-p):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAbderrahman Hassi; Sylvia Rohlfer; Simon Jebsen. 2021. "Empowering leadership and innovative work behavior: the mediating effects of climate for initiative and job autonomy in Moroccan SMEs." EuroMed Journal of Business ahead-of-p, no. ahead-of-p: 1.
This paper explores the most recent Fintech (financial technology) phenomenon from an ecosystem perspective. Differentiated from the earlier Fintech evolution led by traditional financial institutions, “cross-sector” Fintech that operates at the intersection of financial services and information technology disrupts existing business models of banks while creating novel ecosystem dynamics. This study explores the Fintech ecosystem composition to understand better business model innovation based on underlying ecosystem dynamics while focusing on the specific role of cross-sector actors. These actors have escaped scrutiny despite being mature and experienced and having strong resource bases. Adopting a comparative case study method by considering the China-based Alibaba Group and Tencent, the study’s findings indicate that novel business model developments based on strong technological expertise and scale-based resources by cross-sector Fintech render a functional perspective on fast-developing Fintech industry less practical. Apart from cross-sector Fintech, investors constitute a new dimension in the conceptualization of the Fintech ecosystem. Overall, the interconnectedness of the cross-sector Fintech beyond the Fintech sectors drives the fuzzy boundaries between ecosystems, established business models, terminology definitions, ecosystem actors’ roles and relationships, which appear to become more heterogeneous and changeable over time. The study contributes to the scant literature on Fintech ecosystems and their sustainable development.
Yingying Zhang-Zhang; Sylvia Rohlfer; Jay Rajasekera. An Eco-Systematic View of Cross-Sector Fintech: The Case of Alibaba and Tencent. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8907 .
AMA StyleYingying Zhang-Zhang, Sylvia Rohlfer, Jay Rajasekera. An Eco-Systematic View of Cross-Sector Fintech: The Case of Alibaba and Tencent. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (21):8907.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYingying Zhang-Zhang; Sylvia Rohlfer; Jay Rajasekera. 2020. "An Eco-Systematic View of Cross-Sector Fintech: The Case of Alibaba and Tencent." Sustainability 12, no. 21: 8907.
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between culture and regional innovation performance in China where innovation is deemed as a key for sustainable economic development. The diversity of China’s regional culture and its rising economic and innovative capability enhancement provides an opportunity for such an exploration. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts the GLOBE’s nine cultural dimensions to empirically examine the relationship between culture and Chinese regional innovation performance through multiple regression analysis. Findings The study results find that performance orientation and gender egalitarianism have positive and significant influences on regional innovation performance, while institutional collectivism has a negative and significant influence. The remaining six GLOBE cultural dimensions show no significant effect on regional innovation performance. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first research exploring the relationship between culture and regional innovation performance in a Chinese context by using GLOBE’s cultural dimensions that are deemed as a valuable empirical alternative to Hofstede’s cultural measures. The results of this study help further the understanding of the cultural influence in China’s regional innovation performance.
Hemin Song; Yingying Zhang; Mu Tian; Sylvia Rohlfer; Nora Sharkasi. Culture and regional innovation performance: an exploration in China. Chinese Management Studies 2019, 13, 397 -420.
AMA StyleHemin Song, Yingying Zhang, Mu Tian, Sylvia Rohlfer, Nora Sharkasi. Culture and regional innovation performance: an exploration in China. Chinese Management Studies. 2019; 13 (2):397-420.
Chicago/Turabian StyleHemin Song; Yingying Zhang; Mu Tian; Sylvia Rohlfer; Nora Sharkasi. 2019. "Culture and regional innovation performance: an exploration in China." Chinese Management Studies 13, no. 2: 397-420.
It is widely acknowledged that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) cannot afford underutilize their workforce and owner/managers encourage ways to involve employees. In this article, we focus on what is known about formal employee involvement and participation (EIP) practice in SMEs. Based on a systematic, “aggregative” literature review (Briner and Denyer 2012; Gough et al. 2012) we identify key research on EIP in SMEs that is embedded in practice and provides utility for practitioners and policy makers. The findings not only allow us to comment briefly on the evolution of EIP research in SMEs, but to identify methodically what is known and not known about EIP practice in SMEs. We go therefore beyond the limited review provide by Sameer and Őzbilgin (2014) and identify with a higher level of confidence three key directions for future academic research.
Sylvia Rohlfer. Employee involvement and participation in SMEs: a synthesis of extant research. Journal of Evolutionary Studies in Business 2018, 3, 112 -136.
AMA StyleSylvia Rohlfer. Employee involvement and participation in SMEs: a synthesis of extant research. Journal of Evolutionary Studies in Business. 2018; 3 (1):112-136.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSylvia Rohlfer. 2018. "Employee involvement and participation in SMEs: a synthesis of extant research." Journal of Evolutionary Studies in Business 3, no. 1: 112-136.
The article outlines selected issues that are of particular relevance in entrepreneurship research, including comparative research, studies at lower levels of enquiry as well as contextualized enquiries, and where we see special interest from the Journal of Evolutionary Studies in Business when it comes to receiving submissions.
Esther Hormiga Pérez; Sylvia Rohlfer. A Call for Novel Research in Entrepreneurship. Journal of Evolutionary Studies in Business 2016, 1, 51 -62.
AMA StyleEsther Hormiga Pérez, Sylvia Rohlfer. A Call for Novel Research in Entrepreneurship. Journal of Evolutionary Studies in Business. 2016; 1 (1):51-62.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsther Hormiga Pérez; Sylvia Rohlfer. 2016. "A Call for Novel Research in Entrepreneurship." Journal of Evolutionary Studies in Business 1, no. 1: 51-62.
Sylvia Rohlfer. Does university education develop entrepreneurial qualities? 2016, 1 .
AMA StyleSylvia Rohlfer. Does university education develop entrepreneurial qualities? . 2016; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSylvia Rohlfer. 2016. "Does university education develop entrepreneurial qualities?" , no. : 1.
Yingying Zhang; Sylvia Rohlfer. Huawei Technologies. The Source of Innovation in China 2015, 1 .
AMA StyleYingying Zhang, Sylvia Rohlfer. Huawei Technologies. The Source of Innovation in China. 2015; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleYingying Zhang; Sylvia Rohlfer. 2015. "Huawei Technologies." The Source of Innovation in China , no. : 1.
Mu Tian; Sylvia Rohlfer. Lenovo. The Source of Innovation in China 2015, 1 .
AMA StyleMu Tian, Sylvia Rohlfer. Lenovo. The Source of Innovation in China. 2015; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMu Tian; Sylvia Rohlfer. 2015. "Lenovo." The Source of Innovation in China , no. : 1.
Mu Tian; Sylvia Rohlfer; Wenwen Zhao; Adoración Álvaro. People-centric Innovation: Strategic HR Management and Innovation. The Source of Innovation in China 2015, 179 -234.
AMA StyleMu Tian, Sylvia Rohlfer, Wenwen Zhao, Adoración Álvaro. People-centric Innovation: Strategic HR Management and Innovation. The Source of Innovation in China. 2015; ():179-234.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMu Tian; Sylvia Rohlfer; Wenwen Zhao; Adoración Álvaro. 2015. "People-centric Innovation: Strategic HR Management and Innovation." The Source of Innovation in China , no. : 179-234.
Linwood Cousins; Sylvia Rohlfer. Business Incubator. Encyclopedia of Human Services and Diversity 2014, 1 .
AMA StyleLinwood Cousins, Sylvia Rohlfer. Business Incubator. Encyclopedia of Human Services and Diversity. 2014; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLinwood Cousins; Sylvia Rohlfer. 2014. "Business Incubator." Encyclopedia of Human Services and Diversity , no. : 1.
This article identifies an integrated teaching strategy that was originally developed for engineers, the so-called ‘micro-insertion’ approach, as a practical and effective means to teach ethics at business schools. It is argued that instructors can incorporate not only generic or thematic learning objectives for students into this method (i.e., the intended content of what is being taught: in our case, an underlying ethical base for doing business), but also do so via a strategically integrated approach regarding the appropriate mix and timing of these micro-insertions. With this in mind, we propose a qualitative and example-based approach that endeavors to provide a versatile way for business teachers to incorporate ethics into their general business classes. We also present a conceptual and theoretical framework that underpins this method, and we further provide a set of specific examples and a practical table that show how business instructors might integrate ethics-oriented micro-insertions into their teaching.
Alesia Slocum; Sylvia Rohlfer; Cesar Gonzalez-Canton. Teaching Business Ethics Through Strategically Integrated Micro-Insertions. Journal of Business Ethics 2013, 125, 45 -58.
AMA StyleAlesia Slocum, Sylvia Rohlfer, Cesar Gonzalez-Canton. Teaching Business Ethics Through Strategically Integrated Micro-Insertions. Journal of Business Ethics. 2013; 125 (1):45-58.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlesia Slocum; Sylvia Rohlfer; Cesar Gonzalez-Canton. 2013. "Teaching Business Ethics Through Strategically Integrated Micro-Insertions." Journal of Business Ethics 125, no. 1: 45-58.
This article reviews the English-speaking literature on Spanish and German industrial relations published in the top 10 journals in this field between 2000 and 2010. The analysis contributes to the ongoing debate about the relevance of industrial relations by establishing the state of the art in research on Spain in comparison to Germany. Following this assessment we then ask whether existing research on Spain is well situated to orient policymakers. The consequences of either normative or normative-free research have largely been overlooked; our discussion expands on two contrasting positions: suggesting a move away from ideology in research (Mitchell, 2001) or recommending normative assumptions as a necessary precondition (Frege, 2007) in the context of Spain. Our findings reveal a greater convergence in research regarding its restricted multidisciplinary character, its focus on the international level and a strong emphasis on empirical, quantitative work with analysis conducted at various levels. At the same time, some path dependency continues to exist, particularly concerning the active participants in research and the subjects for investigation. The results point to deficiencies in research on Spanish industrial relations. We conclude by advocating an openly stated, normative base in industrial relations research to guide policymakers in Spain. While an evidence-based approach in policy making is desirable, normative choices are highly consequential and should feature in research in order to avoid a “democratic shock” in Spain.
Sylvia Rohlfer. Does Industrial Relations Research Support Policy? Relations industrielles 2013, 68, 431 -456.
AMA StyleSylvia Rohlfer. Does Industrial Relations Research Support Policy? Relations industrielles. 2013; 68 (3):431-456.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSylvia Rohlfer. 2013. "Does Industrial Relations Research Support Policy?" Relations industrielles 68, no. 3: 431-456.
Sylvia Rohlfer; Vicki Smith. Mergers and Acquisitions. Sociology of Work: An Encyclopedia 2013, 1 .
AMA StyleSylvia Rohlfer, Vicki Smith. Mergers and Acquisitions. Sociology of Work: An Encyclopedia. 2013; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSylvia Rohlfer; Vicki Smith. 2013. "Mergers and Acquisitions." Sociology of Work: An Encyclopedia , no. : 1.
Sylvia Rohlfer. Perspectives on Social Pacts in Spain: Social Dialogue and the Social Partners. management revue 2012, 23, 48 -64.
AMA StyleSylvia Rohlfer. Perspectives on Social Pacts in Spain: Social Dialogue and the Social Partners. management revue. 2012; 23 (1):48-64.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSylvia Rohlfer. 2012. "Perspectives on Social Pacts in Spain: Social Dialogue and the Social Partners." management revue 23, no. 1: 48-64.
Benchmarking concepts in the UK and Germany: A shared understanding among key players?
Sylvia Rohlfer. Benchmarking concepts in the UK and Germany. Benchmarking: An International Journal 2004, 11, 521 -539.
AMA StyleSylvia Rohlfer. Benchmarking concepts in the UK and Germany. Benchmarking: An International Journal. 2004; 11 (5):521-539.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSylvia Rohlfer. 2004. "Benchmarking concepts in the UK and Germany." Benchmarking: An International Journal 11, no. 5: 521-539.