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Esteban Fernandez received the Ph.D. degree in business administration from the University of Oviedo, Spain, in 1982. He is a Full Professor of Management with the Business Administration Department, University of Oviedo. Research interests include production management, business strategy, and technology and innovation management.
To what extent a firm’s resources (firm effect) and the structure of the sector (industry effect) are sources of a firm’s competitiveness has been debated for years in strategic management. Most of the empirical studies carried out have focused on large firms and have used static performance measures, and in them the firm effect generally outweighs the industry effect. This research contributes to this debate in trying to verify whether the competitive advantage that relies on the firm’s resources is sustainable, especially in small firms. We used a sample of almost 15,000 Spanish firms to test the impact that the firm and the industry effects have on sustainable performance, for both small and large firms, applying hierarchical linear modelling with a variable measured through time-varying parameters. Our results confirm the absolute importance of the firm effect on sustainable organizational performance, regardless the firm size, and show that, even though the industry effect has little weight in explaining sustainability, it is significantly higher in the case of small firms. This means that managers must concentrate efforts on providing their firm with the necessary resources to achieve a competitive advantage while choosing a good sector to position itself.
Vicente López-López; Susana Iglesias-Antelo; Esteban Fernández. Is Sustainable Performance Explained by Firm Effect in Small Business? Sustainability 2020, 12, 10028 .
AMA StyleVicente López-López, Susana Iglesias-Antelo, Esteban Fernández. Is Sustainable Performance Explained by Firm Effect in Small Business? Sustainability. 2020; 12 (23):10028.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVicente López-López; Susana Iglesias-Antelo; Esteban Fernández. 2020. "Is Sustainable Performance Explained by Firm Effect in Small Business?" Sustainability 12, no. 23: 10028.
The objective of this conceptual paper is to analyse why the use of efficiency wages accompanied by informative feedback can be a substitute for the use of individual economic incentives. Efficiency wages lead to the same positive outcomes as these incentives, but without incurring their multiple dysfunctionalities, which are difficult for companies to manage. The research methodology followed is an integrative literature review of different conceptual schools of thought: economics, experimental economics and behavioural economics. The result is the design of a conceptual framework that offers a new perspective on how companies can motive more effectively employees while achieving organisational objectives. Efficiency wages can attract employees that are more productive and motivate them to be more diligent. When accompanied by informative feedback, they can also orientate employees’ behaviours towards the achievement of organisational objectives. Efficiency wages fulfil therefore the objectives of incentives, but they are a fairer and less discriminatory alternative. This paper makes two relevant contributions. First, it offers managers an alternative to the use of individual incentives, and a powerful mechanism in the achievement of business excellence. Second, it promotes the academic analysis of novel hypothesis and research perspectives, constituting thus a relevant step for further theory development.
Esteban Fernández; Sandra Valle; Guillermo Pérez-Bustamante. Business excellence practice: efficiency wages versus individual economic incentives. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence 2020, 1 -16.
AMA StyleEsteban Fernández, Sandra Valle, Guillermo Pérez-Bustamante. Business excellence practice: efficiency wages versus individual economic incentives. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence. 2020; ():1-16.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsteban Fernández; Sandra Valle; Guillermo Pérez-Bustamante. 2020. "Business excellence practice: efficiency wages versus individual economic incentives." Total Quality Management & Business Excellence , no. : 1-16.
This paper synthesizes, analyses and organizes the factors that can be decisive in a battle for a dominant design. The result is the construction of a rational decision-making model, where the relevant factors are grouped into three blocks – market, technology, and complementary assets. First, the firm must decide on the strategic manoeuvres that it is going to deploy to be able to capture the market that it has created or invaded. Second, technologically, it must decide whether to compete with its design made public or private, open or closed. Finally, it must plan its access to complementary assets without which it would be impossible to exploit the new design in a mainstream market. The proposed model is integrative in character and practical in approach, and it helps in forming a strategy and decision-making in the usual design wars today. It is aimed to contribute to a literature in which the analysis of factors is usually done in a fragmented form, without the systematic approach that would facilitate rational and dynamic decision making.
Esteban Fernández; Sandra Valle. Battle for dominant design: A decision-making model. European Research on Management and Business Economics 2019, 25, 72 -78.
AMA StyleEsteban Fernández, Sandra Valle. Battle for dominant design: A decision-making model. European Research on Management and Business Economics. 2019; 25 (2):72-78.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsteban Fernández; Sandra Valle. 2019. "Battle for dominant design: A decision-making model." European Research on Management and Business Economics 25, no. 2: 72-78.
Esteban Fernendez; Sandra Valle; Guillermo Perez-Bustamante. Disruption Versus Discontinuity: Definition and Research Perspective From Behavioral Economics. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 2019, 67, 963 -972.
AMA StyleEsteban Fernendez, Sandra Valle, Guillermo Perez-Bustamante. Disruption Versus Discontinuity: Definition and Research Perspective From Behavioral Economics. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. 2019; 67 (3):963-972.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsteban Fernendez; Sandra Valle; Guillermo Perez-Bustamante. 2019. "Disruption Versus Discontinuity: Definition and Research Perspective From Behavioral Economics." IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 67, no. 3: 963-972.
Este trabajo se centra en el estudio de la tecnología disruptiva, una de las formas de innovación radical en producto más relevantes y sobre la que, sin embargo, aún existe mucha confusión. Para ello, y sin ánimo de desarrollar nueva teoría, se lleva a cabo una revisión y organización de los desarrollos teóricos y de la evidencia empírica existente al respecto, siendo varios los logros alcanzados. Por una parte, se clarifica lo que se entiende por tecnología disruptiva, planteándola como una de las principales formas de atacar un mercado ya consolidado y diferenciándola de otros tipos de ataques; por otra, se recopilan y clasifican todos aquellos factores que explican por qué las empresas instaladas en el mercado atacado no son capaces de defenderse con éxito. Además, se aporta claridad y precisión a una literatura rodeada en ocasiones de contradicciones y terminología imprecisa. Finalmente, se pone de manifiesto una serie de cuestiones y reflexiones que requerirían potencial investigación adicional para profundizar en su entendimiento. Con todo ello, se obtienen ventajas tanto para académicos como para directivos: los primeros pueden contar con un punto de referencia muy valioso para dirigir sus recursos y esfuerzos; los segundos pueden acumular conocimiento que les permita guiar de forma efectiva su toma de decisiones ante un ataque disruptivo.
Esteban Fernández; Sandra Valle. Tecnología disruptiva: la derrota de las empresas establecidas. Innovar 2018, 28, 9 -22.
AMA StyleEsteban Fernández, Sandra Valle. Tecnología disruptiva: la derrota de las empresas establecidas. Innovar. 2018; 28 (70):9-22.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsteban Fernández; Sandra Valle. 2018. "Tecnología disruptiva: la derrota de las empresas establecidas." Innovar 28, no. 70: 9-22.
This paper examines whether or not the relative importance of the firm and industry effects in explaining performance variations is the same regardless of the firm size. In relation to size, we think that there has been particular neglect of studying medium-sized firms separately from SMEs in general. That is why we study separately large, medium-sized and small firms. We also contribute to knowledge on the firm-industry debate testing empirically both effects distinguishing the firms by size according to a standard classification in the EU. Our results show that the performances of large and small firms are mainly explained by the firm effect, albeit for different reasons, while the performance of medium-sized firms is explained primarily by the industry effect.
Esteban Fernández; Susana Iglesias-Antelo; Vicente López-López; Marcos Rodríguez-Rey; Carlos M. Fernandez-Jardon. Firm and industry effects on small, medium-sized and large firms’ performance. BRQ Business Research Quarterly 2018, 22, 25 -35.
AMA StyleEsteban Fernández, Susana Iglesias-Antelo, Vicente López-López, Marcos Rodríguez-Rey, Carlos M. Fernandez-Jardon. Firm and industry effects on small, medium-sized and large firms’ performance. BRQ Business Research Quarterly. 2018; 22 (1):25-35.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsteban Fernández; Susana Iglesias-Antelo; Vicente López-López; Marcos Rodríguez-Rey; Carlos M. Fernandez-Jardon. 2018. "Firm and industry effects on small, medium-sized and large firms’ performance." BRQ Business Research Quarterly 22, no. 1: 25-35.
Jesús Ángel Del Brío; Esteban Fernandez; Beatriz Junquera; Sanjay Sharma; J. Aragón-Correa. Competitive effects from eco-manufacturing strategy: influencing factors. Corporate Environmental Strategy and Competitive Advantage 2015, 1 .
AMA StyleJesús Ángel Del Brío, Esteban Fernandez, Beatriz Junquera, Sanjay Sharma, J. Aragón-Correa. Competitive effects from eco-manufacturing strategy: influencing factors. Corporate Environmental Strategy and Competitive Advantage. 2015; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJesús Ángel Del Brío; Esteban Fernandez; Beatriz Junquera; Sanjay Sharma; J. Aragón-Correa. 2015. "Competitive effects from eco-manufacturing strategy: influencing factors." Corporate Environmental Strategy and Competitive Advantage , no. : 1.
Beatriz Junquera; Jesús Ángel del Brío; Esteban Fernández. Clients' involvement in environmental issues and organizational performance in businesses: an empirical analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production 2012, 37, 288 -298.
AMA StyleBeatriz Junquera, Jesús Ángel del Brío, Esteban Fernández. Clients' involvement in environmental issues and organizational performance in businesses: an empirical analysis. Journal of Cleaner Production. 2012; 37 ():288-298.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBeatriz Junquera; Jesús Ángel del Brío; Esteban Fernández. 2012. "Clients' involvement in environmental issues and organizational performance in businesses: an empirical analysis." Journal of Cleaner Production 37, no. : 288-298.
Francisco García; Lucía Avella; Esteban Fernández. Learning from exporting: The moderating effect of technological capabilities. International Business Review 2012, 21, 1099 -1111.
AMA StyleFrancisco García, Lucía Avella, Esteban Fernández. Learning from exporting: The moderating effect of technological capabilities. International Business Review. 2012; 21 (6):1099-1111.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancisco García; Lucía Avella; Esteban Fernández. 2012. "Learning from exporting: The moderating effect of technological capabilities." International Business Review 21, no. 6: 1099-1111.
There has been intense debate in the manufacturing strategy literature on the way in which firms work on different manufacturing capabilities, with two opposing approaches considered – the trade-off model and the sand cone model. Analysis of these models has essentially been based on study of the links amongst four classic manufacturing capabilities (quality, delivery, flexibility, and cost efficiency) and has obviated the need to consider environmental protection as an important manufacturing capability. This study analyses the theoretical arguments and the prior empirical evidence on the two models, and proposes and tests an extended sand cone model which includes the environmental protection objective alongside the four traditional ones. The research uses structural equation modelling and data from a sample of 274 manufacturers to contribute additional empirical evidence on the existence of cumulative effects amongst manufacturing capabilities. It is observed that the predominant strategic model in these firms is one of multiple, non-incompatible capabilities with cumulative effects according to the following sequence: quality, delivery, flexibility, environmental protection, and cost efficiency.
L. Avella; D. Vazquez-Bustelo; Esteban Fernández. Cumulative manufacturing capabilities: an extended model and new empirical evidence. International Journal of Production Research 2011, 49, 707 -729.
AMA StyleL. Avella, D. Vazquez-Bustelo, Esteban Fernández. Cumulative manufacturing capabilities: an extended model and new empirical evidence. International Journal of Production Research. 2011; 49 (3):707-729.
Chicago/Turabian StyleL. Avella; D. Vazquez-Bustelo; Esteban Fernández. 2011. "Cumulative manufacturing capabilities: an extended model and new empirical evidence." International Journal of Production Research 49, no. 3: 707-729.
The purpose of this article is to detect issues of greatest interest and to establish a proposal that can be used as a basis to study the client's environmental entrepreneurship in service sector companies. The study is based on the existing literature on service innovation and the bibliography dedicated to environmental management specific to these innovations. This study poses a few questions that, together with many others, must be addressed in the future. These studies will inevitably contribute to improve the environmental performance of service companies.
Beatriz Junquera; Jesús A. Del Brío; Esteban Fernandez. The client as co-manufacturer and environmental entrepreneur: a research agenda. The Service Industries Journal 2008, 28, 1029 -1040.
AMA StyleBeatriz Junquera, Jesús A. Del Brío, Esteban Fernandez. The client as co-manufacturer and environmental entrepreneur: a research agenda. The Service Industries Journal. 2008; 28 (7):1029-1040.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBeatriz Junquera; Jesús A. Del Brío; Esteban Fernandez. 2008. "The client as co-manufacturer and environmental entrepreneur: a research agenda." The Service Industries Journal 28, no. 7: 1029-1040.
Daniel Vazquez-Bustelo; Lucía Avella; Esteban Fernández. Agility drivers, enablers and outcomes. International Journal of Operations & Production Management 2007, 27, 1303 -1332.
AMA StyleDaniel Vazquez-Bustelo, Lucía Avella, Esteban Fernández. Agility drivers, enablers and outcomes. International Journal of Operations & Production Management. 2007; 27 (12):1303-1332.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDaniel Vazquez-Bustelo; Lucía Avella; Esteban Fernández. 2007. "Agility drivers, enablers and outcomes." International Journal of Operations & Production Management 27, no. 12: 1303-1332.
Jesús Ángel Del Brío; Esteban Fernández; Beatriz Junquera. Management and employee involvement in achieving an environmental action-based competitive advantage: an empirical study. The International Journal of Human Resource Management 2007, 18, 491 -522.
AMA StyleJesús Ángel Del Brío, Esteban Fernández, Beatriz Junquera. Management and employee involvement in achieving an environmental action-based competitive advantage: an empirical study. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. 2007; 18 (4):491-522.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJesús Ángel Del Brío; Esteban Fernández; Beatriz Junquera. 2007. "Management and employee involvement in achieving an environmental action-based competitive advantage: an empirical study." The International Journal of Human Resource Management 18, no. 4: 491-522.
The aim of this paper is to illustrate the capability of a customer of a service business to act as a co-manufacturer. Thus, the customer becomes a key element in simultaneously improving environmental performance and competitiveness, in both the environmental dimension as well as in other dimensions. To this end, we have analyzed the case of the Dydee Company. In order to address the root of the environmental issues, certain procedures were used to change the customers’ habits. This option turned out to be much more efficient and less risky than its alternatives. The challenge laid in getting the customers, once informed, to be willing to modify such a personal and delicate task.
Jesús Ángel Del Brío; Esteban Fernández; Beatriz Junquera. Customer interaction in environmental innovation: the case of cloth diaper laundering. Service Business 2006, 1, 141 -158.
AMA StyleJesús Ángel Del Brío, Esteban Fernández, Beatriz Junquera. Customer interaction in environmental innovation: the case of cloth diaper laundering. Service Business. 2006; 1 (2):141-158.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJesús Ángel Del Brío; Esteban Fernández; Beatriz Junquera. 2006. "Customer interaction in environmental innovation: the case of cloth diaper laundering." Service Business 1, no. 2: 141-158.
Environmental legislation and stakeholders are putting pressure on organizations to change. The role of management is a key factor. The aim of the present work is to determine the key characteristics required of a manager with environmental responsibilities and determine which are the critical aptitudes and attitudes for environmental success through a deep review of the literature. We include three kinds of characteristic: (a) managerial attitude and social influence, (b) individual characteristics (demographic characteristics, capability to perceive strategic opportunities, leadership, individual entrepreneurial ability and international awareness) and (c) organizational characteristics (organizational culture, capability to influence strategy, long‐term orientation, organizational structure and demographic characteristics). With this purpose, we have collected and integrated the most relevant contributions of the literature. We have also suggested future research streams: for example, analysis of the interdependences among the diverse dimensions of a manager with environmental responsibilities, analysis of the characteristics typical of external stakeholders that condition the managerial behaviour and other aspects of environmental strategy on which management attitude has an influence. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Esteban Fernández; Beatriz Junquera; Mónica Ordiz. Managers' profile in environmental strategy: a review of the literature. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management 2006, 13, 261 -274.
AMA StyleEsteban Fernández, Beatriz Junquera, Mónica Ordiz. Managers' profile in environmental strategy: a review of the literature. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management. 2006; 13 (5):261-274.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsteban Fernández; Beatriz Junquera; Mónica Ordiz. 2006. "Managers' profile in environmental strategy: a review of the literature." Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management 13, no. 5: 261-274.
The aim of this work is to examine the effect that human resource practice has on performance. From a database made up of 250 companies in Spain and by means of a regression analysis, we test empirically whether human resource practices generate positive results under any circumstance or if their effectiveness depends on certain contexts. In this respect, focusing the study on the activity sector and the environment, we analyse whether high levels of competition in the environment and service companies constitute more attractive contexts for the adoption of high involvement practices.
Mónica Ordiz; Esteban Fernandez. Influence of the sector and the environment on human resource practices' effectiveness. The International Journal of Human Resource Management 2005, 16, 1349 -1373.
AMA StyleMónica Ordiz, Esteban Fernandez. Influence of the sector and the environment on human resource practices' effectiveness. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. 2005; 16 (8):1349-1373.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMónica Ordiz; Esteban Fernandez. 2005. "Influence of the sector and the environment on human resource practices' effectiveness." The International Journal of Human Resource Management 16, no. 8: 1349-1373.
Using data on 250 Spanish firms, we examine the incidence of high-involvement practices and investigate what variables are associated with the adoption of these practices. Particularly, we analyse the influence of size, age, competitive advantage, activity sector, the existence of a recent crisis, culture, leadership style and the competitiveness of the environment on the adoption of high-involvement work practices. With all this, we try to offer an exploratory view of nature of the contexts that condition the adoption of such practices, with the aim of motivating future research more thoroughly.
Mónica Ordiz-Fuertes; Esteban Fernández. High-involvement practices in human resource management: concept and factors that motivate their adoption. The International Journal of Human Resource Management 2003, 14, 511 -529.
AMA StyleMónica Ordiz-Fuertes, Esteban Fernández. High-involvement practices in human resource management: concept and factors that motivate their adoption. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. 2003; 14 (4):511-529.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMónica Ordiz-Fuertes; Esteban Fernández. 2003. "High-involvement practices in human resource management: concept and factors that motivate their adoption." The International Journal of Human Resource Management 14, no. 4: 511-529.
From the resourced-based view, the weakness of organizations' business culture and their shortcomings in human resources may be important obstacles in the process of environmental action. However, as the number of works on these questions is still limited, our aim is to integrate the classical literature concerning business culture and human resources and the small number of works concerning these aspects of environmental management. Several issues, such as managerial duties, the role of organizational culture in the formation of environmental internal stakeholders' awareness, organizational involvement in environmental issues, environmental training and concern, environmental motivation and incentives and implementation and organizational innovations, may be very important for thesuccess of companies' environmental strategy. However, it seems necessary to carry out studies in which qualitative and quantitative methodologies are applied.
Esteban Fernández; Beatriz Junquera; Mónica Ordiz. Organizational culture and human resources in the environmental issue: a review of the literature. The International Journal of Human Resource Management 2003, 14, 634 -656.
AMA StyleEsteban Fernández, Beatriz Junquera, Mónica Ordiz. Organizational culture and human resources in the environmental issue: a review of the literature. The International Journal of Human Resource Management. 2003; 14 (4):634-656.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEsteban Fernández; Beatriz Junquera; Mónica Ordiz. 2003. "Organizational culture and human resources in the environmental issue: a review of the literature." The International Journal of Human Resource Management 14, no. 4: 634-656.
The aim of this study is to identify which new product development (NPD) success factors most frequently mentioned in the international literature are also critical for Spanish firms. The analysis is based on a sample of 125 firms representative of the most innovative manufacturing industries in Spain. The results show both similarities with and differences from previous international studies. Similarities could suggest that there is, to some extent, a global or worldwide formula for successful NPD; differences, however, could imply that research results from one country should be applied cautiously to other countries.
Sandra Valle; Esteban Fernández; Lucia Avella. New product development process: strategic and organisational success factors. International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management 2003, 5, 197 .
AMA StyleSandra Valle, Esteban Fernández, Lucia Avella. New product development process: strategic and organisational success factors. International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management. 2003; 5 (3):197.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSandra Valle; Esteban Fernández; Lucia Avella. 2003. "New product development process: strategic and organisational success factors." International Journal of Manufacturing Technology and Management 5, no. 3: 197.
This work presents part of the results of a multi-sector environment study undertaken in Spain on the Spanish firms' experience with the ISO 9000 certification and its consequences. Specifically, the article is focused on the analysis of the firm's technological status and its influence on the perception of the certification's results, as well as its possible relationship with the firm's decision to proceed towards Total Quality. The results show that the technologically superior firms are the ones that seem to be the most satisfied with the certification's results. In like manner, the analyses performed have enabled us to confirm the presence of a positive relationship between a high technological level and the firm's advance towards TQM.
Carmen Escanciano; Esteban Fernandez; Camilo Vázquez. Linking the firm's technological status and ISO 9000 certification: results of an empirical research. Technovation 2002, 22, 509 -515.
AMA StyleCarmen Escanciano, Esteban Fernandez, Camilo Vázquez. Linking the firm's technological status and ISO 9000 certification: results of an empirical research. Technovation. 2002; 22 (8):509-515.
Chicago/Turabian StyleCarmen Escanciano; Esteban Fernandez; Camilo Vázquez. 2002. "Linking the firm's technological status and ISO 9000 certification: results of an empirical research." Technovation 22, no. 8: 509-515.