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The purpose of this study is to examine consumers’ relationship with wine during the COVID-19 crisis and associated implications for hospitality and tourism operations. Despite the severe impacts of COVID-19’s aftermath, including recent reports of a global decrease in wine consumption, academic research has neglected this domain. Consequently, there is an empirical and conceptual vacuum that the present research will address.

The study proposes a comparative investigation, with data gathered from 241 Italian and Spanish wine consumers through an online questionnaire.

Overall, the analysis reveals marginal changes in wine consumption during the crisis. At the same time, however, an increased interest for more wine events and an organised wine route, for learning more about wines and new wine harvests, and the influence of comments from others in enhancing one’s wine knowledge during the crisis is also identified.

The study is one of the few studies conducted to date that seek to ascertain the extent to which wine consumers’ involvement with wine has changed during a major crisis. The findings and subsequent analysis contribute to the development of five distinctive dimensions associated with consumers: the more involved/interested, the inquisitive/explorer, the non-traditional/avid, the frugal/less involved and the conservative/avid. The first two dimensions, which are supported by mean scores close to the level of agreement (mean = 4.0) have a number of practical and conceptual implications. In addition, a conceptual framework illustrating various conceptual/empirical relationships is proposed.

The purpose of this study is to gain a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between a national product (coffee) and gastronomy. Moreover, incorporating the resource-based view of the firm framework, the importance of coffee is examined, as is the extent and potential to “marry” coffee and gastronomy into a tourism activity, and the need to develop such potential.

Semi-structured, face-to-face and online interviews were used to gather the viewpoints of 79 chefs and coffee shop owners/managers operating in Vietnam, the world’s second-largest coffee producer and home to a vibrant coffee shop industry.

The selected inductive analysis identified 11 dimensions, including “coffee infrastructure”, “coffee-based innovation”, “coffee-trigger” and “coffee resources”, emerged. These dimensions reveal a strong potential for a coffee and local gastronomy “marriage”. Furthermore, nine of the 11 dimensions provide direct guidance concerning the importance, the potential for “marriage”, coffee tourism development and what is needed to fulfil this potential.

The study affords understanding of Vietnam’s coffee industry, in particular its resources, and how these can be leveraged to combine with the nation’s gastronomy and produce more fulfilling food and beverage experiences.

Gastronomy, hospitality and tourism represent a well-defined partnership that can result in memorable consumer experiences. While the strength of this partnership is recognised, little is known about the potential to “marry” a national product such as coffee and local gastronomy. The study breaks new ground in this area and concludes with various theoretical and practical implications that contribute to more understanding of the coffee–gastronomy relationship.

The purpose of this study is to enhance the conceptual and practical understanding of individual, group and future knowledge as perceived by company owners and managers operating in Vietnam. To date, knowledge gaps remain concerning this emerging economy, for instance, regarding the significance of knowledge management (KM) skills and innovativeness in positively affecting firms' journey. Overall, the study will add to the extant KM literature, partly address extant research gaps and develop a conceptual model. To support the study's literature foundation, the knowledge-based view framework will be considered.

An inductive approach and multi-case study were chosen. The views of 17 individuals in leadership positions representing six companies were gathered through semi-structured, in-depth interviews.

The analysis revealed the influence of seven dimensions. First, the importance of individuals' knowledge is conceptualised by the conspicuous, approach-based and self-initiated dimensions. Second, the collective action-based and collective approach-based knowledge dimensions illuminate the importance of group knowledge. Third, the externally and internally-oriented knowledge dimensions provide guidance and understanding concerning future knowledge. The analysis also underlines the alignment between the findings and the knowledge-based view in various areas.

The dimensions illuminating the research have practical implications for business owners/managers, for instance, motivational and rewarding strategies that companies could consider in order to enhance or maintain a high flow of knowledge acquisition and operationalisation. Furthermore, these implications could help foster a stronger entrepreneurial culture and benefit Vietnam or other emerging economies in their development and success journey. Conceptually, a developed framework affords a richer understanding of the different facets of knowledge at a company level.

The purpose of this study is to examine factors contributing to family firms’ survival in the ongoing COVID-19 crisis; in this endeavour, the study espouses the underpinnings of social exchange theory and entrepreneurial resilience.

The views of 128 Italian family micro and small-sized firm owners/managers operating in different industries were gathered through an online questionnaire.

The analysis uncovers 12 fundamental factors contributing to firms’ survival; these are encapsulated in three dimensions and presented in two theoretical frameworks. The “beneficiary” dimension stresses the support from various internal and external stakeholders, while the “benefactor” dimension illustrates the commitment to extend the family tradition and be responsive to stakeholders. Finally, the “immersion/embeddedness” dimension denotes firms’ entrepreneurial behaviour, agility, decision-making and drive.

Firstly, and from a practitioner perspective, this study addresses recognised knowledge and research gaps in contemporary family business research, including how family firms are confronting the current unprecedented crisis. This response to current extant gaps provides first-hand empirical findings that could be primarily considered by industry stakeholders. Secondly, and from a theoretical angle, the aforementioned dimensions revealed through the analysis, coupled with the development of a theoretical framework, contribute to conceptual rigour and, therefore, a deeper understanding of family firms’ journey through an unprecedented event.

The purpose of this study is to examine the implementation of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) through the lens of the dynamic capabilities framework. Contrary to most existing research, this study chooses a cross-national viewpoint, exploring companies operating in two emerging economies.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 80 company managers operating in eight industries in Vietnam and Bolivia. The chosen inductive analysis was supported by qualitative content analysis and data structure.

The analysis reveals 13 conceptual dimensions. For instance, sensing opportunities underlines tangible and intangible “direct prospects”, such as enhanced accuracy, speed and cost effectiveness, whereas “operational management pressures” (sensing threats) identify the dilemma of changing individuals’ mindset, recruitment and addressing financial needs. While there is an overall agreement in key dimensions, differences between managers from both countries also arise, including staff’s adaptation and constant upskilling.

Empirically, this study responds to calls for cross-national studies investigating I4.0 initiatives. In doing so, the data gathered from company managers engaged in business in emerging economies afford new perspectives, with practitioner value. Theoretically, the numerous dimensions emerging from the data analysis provide useful conceptual insights to understand managerial aspects in considering and adapting to I4.0 expectations and requirements. These insights are reinforced by the development of a conceptual model that illuminates the initiatives, efforts and challenges of embracing this phenomenon.

The purpose of this study is to examine various key aspects associated with entrepreneurs’ behaviour following a long-term crisis. Specifically, the study compares the perceptions of female and male entrepreneurs operating in Cyprus and Greece concerning success factors and firm performance in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. Conceptually, the study considers the organisational adaptation literature (Miles and Snow’s typology).

The views of female and male micro and small firm owners-managers operating in Greece and Cyprus, a total of 406, were gathered through a questionnaire. To analyse the quantitative data, independent samples t-test and exploratory factor analysis were applied.

Participants’ responses reveal similar levels of perceived importance between genders regarding adaptive measures and strategies to confront a long-term crisis, as well as perceived firm performance. Nevertheless, exploratory factor analysis highlights differences in how male/female entrepreneurs perceive actions that, as in the case of financial management, can safeguard the immediate outlook of the firm.

While scholarly discourses on gender and entrepreneurship abound, important knowledge gaps still exist, for instance, in entrepreneurs’ problem-solving strategies adopted by female and male entrepreneurs following crises. In addressing this scholarly gap cross-culturally, that is, drawing on cross-national data (Cyprus and Greece); the present study makes an important contribution. Empirically, the study ascertains similar entrepreneurial behavioural characteristics between female-male entrepreneurs. Theoretically, the study validates Miles and Snow’s typology and develops a theoretical framework linking the typology and dimensions emerging from the empirical findings.

The purpose of the present study is twofold. First, the study will investigate the importance of tradition for businesses operating during the COVID-19 crisis, notably, as a valuable proposition and strategy. Second, the study seeks to advance theoretical understanding, proposing two frameworks based upon emerging dimensions, the resource-based view and dynamic capabilities.

An online survey gathered the views of 107 predominantly micro and small-scale owner-manager and family-owned firms involved in the food and wine sector. These participants are based in Italy, one of the hardest-hit countries in the crisis.

Three fundamental dimensions emerge from the findings. The first, “embedded advantage”, concerns firms' more direct involvement and tradition-related actions. The second, “active advantage”, highlights the already established value of tradition, for example, through firm identity gained, well-established roots and firm culture. The third dimension, “strategic fusion”, underscores the importance of upgrading the business model, where innovation complements tradition strategically.

The study's revealed dimensions provide new conceptual perspectives to understand tradition in the context of firms confronting an unprecedented event. The first proposed theoretical framework illustrates that firms appear to mainly rely on tradition as the fundamental pillar of their overall strategy. Additionally, other firms engage in actions to consolidate tradition's strategic significance, while others embrace innovation to further strengthen their competitiveness. The second framework emphasises relations between these dimensions and key attributes associated with the two adopted theoretical foundations, where the need to “reconfigure tradition” clearly emerges.

The purpose of this study is to examine adaptation to a dynamic business environment from the perspective of family and non-family firms. Furthermore, the study provides a comparative component and proposes a theoretical framework to understand firm adaptation, incorporating the dynamic capabilities approach.

Semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews were undertaken predominantly with firm owners and managers of family and non-family-owned firms operating in Western Australia.

Regardless of firms’ family or non-family background, valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable and non-substitutable attributes were strongly associated with both groups. Moreover, expertise, tacit and new knowledge, innovation or established brand image emerged as key adaptive responses to challenges posed by new trends, consumer expectations, increased demand or competition. These attributes allowed firms to sense and seize opportunities, and experience transformational processes to remain competitive. Implications of the findings and future research directions will be discussed.

First, and empirically, the study’s objectives contribute to addressing extant research gaps, including scant research on methodologies and innovative approaches used by family firms to adapt to contemporary challenges. Thus, the study complements entrepreneurship scholarly discourses on firms’ adaptation. Second, the chosen inductive approach results in the development of a framework, which also exhibits various relationships with the adopted dynamic capabilities approach. Both the findings and the developed framework enhance the understanding of adaptive behaviour among both family and non-family firms. Finally, the study contributes to the literature examining firms operating in geographically dispersed and isolated regions.

The purpose of this study is to shed new light on empirical and conceptual aspects related to chefs’ careers and the hospitality sector. The study examines how the future of the chef’s profession is perceived, how future generations of chefs could be developed and the main emerging trends within the chef’s scene.

Semi-structured, face-to-face, online and telephone interviews were conducted with 34 chefs operating in Australia and 35 in Vietnam.

The findings reveal ten dimensions that strongly adhere to knowledge management (KM) and the notions of the knowledge-based view of the firm. In addition, numerous differences in how the two groups perceived aspects of their careers transpire. Based on these findings, a conceptual framework was developed, with important theoretical and practical implications.

The importance of KM through talent development, mentoring, creating a learning environment and enhancing problem-solving skills is highlighted.

While scholarly works emphasise chefs’ value, importance and contributions, little is known about the links between their careers and KM. Furthermore, almost no study has compared chefs across geographic/cultural domains. The study addresses these research gaps and contributes to the conceptual understanding of KM within the chefs’ domain.

The purpose of this study is to ascertain factors that enable micro- and small firms (MSFs) to cope with the effects of a long-term crisis and develop a model which guides conceptual understanding. This study’s setting is represented by the global financial crisis and by Cyprus and Greece, two nations severely affected.

On-site, unstructured, face-to-face interviews were conducted among 135 MSF leaders.

Sixteen different coping factors were identified as central to participants, resulting in the emergence of four key dimensions. Three dimensions, self-initiative, financial acumen and human attributes, are associated with entrepreneurs’ skills, initiatives, passion and networks, whereas one dimension, individual-firm advantage, considers firms’ and individuals’ valuable assets and resources, namely, image/reputation, quality or location. Almost two-thirds of participants recognised a lack of collaboration beyond their suppliers within their industry. Several intergroup differences were revealed, including Cypriot participants’ higher optimism concerning their firms’ future.

This study responds to calls for research that illuminates the understanding of firms’ ability to overcome inadequacies imposed by the socio-economic environment in which they operate. To this end, a theoretical framework emphasising the vital significance of four dimensions is proposed. Apart from their conceptual insightfulness, the dimensions identify clear associations with resilience and coping and can therefore be of practical value to micro–small-sized firms and their respective industry.