RAN - Revista Academia & Negocios

Integrating challenge-based learning and agile methodologies to transform vocational training

Fernando González-Ferriz — 2025-01-01

Purpose: This article aims to provide the scholars in the XXI century with an innovative perspective, based on agile methodologies, enabling them to adapt the traditional teaching-learning process to present and future needs. The objective is to employ a practical approach to train teachers, so that they can redesign traditional methods into dynamic learning experiences which are adapted to new generations.

Methodology: The study integrates Challenge Based Learning (CBL) in Vocational Training with the SCRUM methodology. Going through a series of weekly stages called sprints, each group will be responsible for planning and implementing a set number of tasks focused on achieving high added value. Moreover, using digital technologies enhances efficiency and process visualization.

Findings: The new methodology fosters an active learning style, which is oriented to students’ involvement and resulting in the application of lateral thinking techniques in a collaborative work environment. The findings of the investigation show that both students’ motivation and the work environment improved by 8% to 12%.

Implications: a highly practical approach to education will not only enhance students’ employability but also increase their motivation and commitment with very positive results in their learning process.

Originality: This methodology contributes to the development of key consistent with European Union guidelines and the current legislation in Spain, and provides an innovative environment which is in line with current learning demands.

Evolution of business administration: a bibliometric analysis from the perspective of global business dynamics

Campo Elías López-Rodríguez — 2025-01-01

Purpose: To identify how Business Administration has evolved in the context of global business through a bibliometric analysis.

Methodology: The Scopus database was utilized to examine 1515 documents focused on the fields of Business, Administration, Economics, Econometrics, Finance, Social Sciences, and Multidisciplinary Studies, employing techniques such as citation network analysis, bibliographic coupling, and conceptual structure analysis of the selected documents.

Findings: Thematic clusters proposed include: Economic dynamics and the global market; management and sustainable business development; digital transformation and efficiency in global business; comprehensive risk management and assessment; integrated business management and innovation; global marketing and strategic management, and human-centered approaches in international cooperation.

Practical implications: Globalization has significantly influenced the production and dissemination of knowledge in Business Administration.

Originality: Each thematic cluster presented serves as foundation for research lines in business schools as well as strategic alternatives for companies seeking to expand their business models to global markets.

Keywords: Integrated business management and innovation; sustainable business development; digital transformation; global marketing; strategic management; bibliometrics.

Directive leadership and contextual support on students' interest in STEM disciplines: a systematic review

Dalina Sugey López Santiago — 2025-01-01

Purpose: to examine various studies on directive leadership and contextual support in students' interest for STEM disciplines.

Methodology: 35 articles were selected from databases such as ERIC, SCOPUS, DOAJ, Redalyc, Springer, and Google Scholar, published between 2018 and 2024. Inclusion criteria included English and Spanish language, with a focus on STEM-related themes and high-quality information.

Results: 68.6% of the literature focuses on contextual support for students' interest in STEM careers, while only 31.4% is related to leadership. Additionally, the country with the highest number of studies is the United States.

Implications: Several contextual variables (environmental, social, cultural, economic, and educational) influence interest in STEM careers, some of which correlate with leadership. Effective leadership is crucial for promoting STEM programs and supporting optimal teaching and learning experiences for students. However, there is a notable gap in research in leadership.

Originality: Further studies should focus on school directors' leadership in the STEM field and its impact on students' interest in these disciplines. This study contributes to expanding literature, understanding leadership across different countries, and identifying common or differing variables on a global scale.

Innovation and Technology for a Sustainable Mexican Agriculture: A qualitative study

Veronica Cerroblanco-Vazquez — 2024-10-16

Purpose: To explore the innovations and technologies adopted and their impact on the sustainability of the Mexican agricultural sector from an academic perspective.

Methodology: The study employed a qualitative approach, utilizing e-Delphi method by applying a web questionnaire to a panel of experts.

Findings: The agricultural sector's expectations are focused on modernization and increased production. Its technological innovation strategies encompass training and enhanced agricultural methods. The sustainability indicators include the sustainable use of natural resources and the collaborative development of research among teachers, researchers, and students. However, the current situation is lagging, and most technologies remain inaccessible to many producers.

Practical implications: A stronger alliance among industry, academia, and producers is necessary. Universities must articulate strategies and guidelines to develop projects and programs adapted to the needs of each producer, thus promoting a more sustainable sector in Mexico.

Originality: The research offers a unique perspective on the adoption and impact of technologies for Mexican agricultural sector’s sustainability within the scope of UN’s SDG number two, providing a novel understanding of the sector’s challenges and possible solutions from an academic standpoint.

Perception of the Contribution of Collaborative Economy to the Sustainable Development Goals

Juan Bernardo Amezcua Nunez — 2024-10-14

Purpose: To assess self-perception of sharing economy (SE) online platform users regarding their contribution to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Methodology: An electronic survey through convenience sampling, targeting 500 users of sharing economy online platforms. Structural equation modeling with Partial Least Squares (PLS SEM) was employed to model relationships among latent variables such as the use of circular economy applications, acceptance of these applications, and perceptions of their impact on the SDGs compliance.

Results: SE users perceive that their participation contributes to achieving the SDGs by helping to protect the environment, improve social welfare, and promote economic growth. They acknowledge the importance of participation from businesses and governments to ensure SE is sustainable and has a positive societal impact.

Implications: The study validates users' perspectives and provides empirical evidence supporting the theory that SE can be an effective tool for achieving the SDGs. These findings can guide businesses, governments, and civil society organizations in implementing strategies to promote adoption of sustainable practices within SE.

Originality: This research innovates by exploring how users' perceptions of SE applications impact sustainable consumption behaviors and intersectoral collaborations. It offers new theoretical and practical insights to promote business practices and public policies aligned with the SDGs.

Relation between innovation and 4.0 industry in micro and small enterprises: Case study research in Durango

Ernesto Geovani Figueroa González — 2024-11-07

Purpose: To analyze the correlation between the innovation variable and its four dimensions -market-oriented, process, goods or services, and human resources -and Industry 4.0 variable in micro and small enterprises (MYPES) in the municipality of Durango, Mexico.

Methodology: The study employed a quantitative approach using Pearson correlation analysis. Data collection was conducted through a questionnaire administered to 448 directors of micro and small enterprises.

Results: Empirical data is provided on how innovation relates to the adoption of advanced technologies in a vital sector for the local economy, potentially applicable in other similar environments, such as in other countries in Latin America.

Originality: It identifies and quantifies the relationship between dimensions of innovation and Industry 4.0 in MYPES of Durango, Mexico. The research analyzes the correlation in a particular region, making it comparable with similar studies in other contexts, and highlights the importance of innovation for the competitiveness of MYPES in the Industry 4.0 era.

Implications: This study results may be useful in the formulation of public policies and strategies.

Teleworking and Work-Family Reconciliation in the Public Sector: Impact of Gender and Family

Andres Jimenez-Figueroa — 2024-11-14

Purpose: To analyze Chilean public servants’ perception of working from home and work-family reconciliation.

Methodology: The research design was quantitative, descriptive. Standardized questionnaires were applied in a convenience sample of 1135 public servants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and linear regression models, in order to identify possible differences regarding the perception of remote work and work-family balance according to sex, the existence of caring responsibilities at home and type of contract.

Results: There is a positive general perception of remote work, given adequate institutional support, work-family balance and environmental conditions. However, significant differences were found in the perception of the convenience of remote work and work-family balance based on gender, caregiving responsibilities for children and/or older adults, and contract type.

Implications: This study contributes to discuss how remote work may be equally beneficial for organizations and workers, provided that work autonomy and adequate conditions are granted, as well as the existence of organizational policies aimed at making work and family conciliation feasible.

Originality: Results suggest the importance of considering gender, caregiving responsibilities, and contract type among the variables that might affect organizational outcomes of remote work, as these factors have been less explored in previous research.

Exploring audio branding and its impact on consumers: the case of Apple and Samsung

Patricia Ramos-Rubio — 2025-01-01

Purpose: To examine the impact of sound branding on the emotions evoked by the music in Apple and Samsung advertisements.

Methodology: The study employed a mixed approach, both exploratory and descriptive. The selection criteria were based on the top-ranked technology brands in 2022’s Interbrand report and the impact of these brands advertisements.

Results: There is an influence of audio on the perception and evaluation of the advertisements and the emotions evoked by music highlight significant differences between brands. Emotions such as joy and tenderness are significantly associated with Apple advertisements. The music in Samsung advertisements showed a strong connection with transcendence and peace. The sense of hearing ensures a strong recall and positively influences perception and predisposition of consumers towards a brand.

Implications: it identifies a set of sound branding elements that become relevant and effective strategies for brands.

Value: Sound branding emerges as a key element for marketing strategy and business administration and is a powerful way to capture consumer’s attention and to differentiate products or services.

Financial culture in business owners and directors: Design and validation of a scale

Carlos Robles Acosta — 2025-01-01

Objective: To analyze the metric properties for a scale of financial culture in owners and managers of medium-sized companies in Mexico to facilitate strategic decision making and business sustainability.

Method: A Likert-type scale was designed based on the conceptual analysis of the financial culture construct. An expert review and a pilot test were carried out to refine the items. The final sample consisted of 505 subjects. A confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate factor loadings, model fit indices and the reliability of the instrument.

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported an 8-factor model reporting adequate fit indices (NFI=0.91, IFI=0.95, TLI=0.94, CFI=0.95, CMIN/DF= 1.847, SRMR=0.045 and RMSEA=0.041). The estimated factor loadings support the convergent validity of the factors of financial inclusion, self-efficacy and subjective financial knowledge, financial management behaviors, claims anticipation, financial attitude, attitude towards purchase, propensity to indebtedness and compulsive buying. The reliability of the instrument was adequate (?=0.869).

Practical implications: The scale is a useful tool for owners and managers of medium-sized companies, allowing them to identify key areas for improving their financial culture. Its application supports their decision-making processes and enhances the financial management of their companies.

Originality: It is one of the first specific scales to measure the financial culture of owners and managers of medium-sized companies in Mexico. The scale allows an accurate and contextualized measurement, enabling the development of new research on financial culture, its relationship with other constructs and its evolution over time.

Effects of temperature shocks during early childhood on school performance: the case of Peru

Christopher Liao — 2025-01-01

Purpose: To estimate the effect of temperature shocks during gestation and early childhood (up to 5 years old) on academic performance of second elementary grade students in Peru.

Methodology: Weather data from the Climatic Research Unit were combined with second grade math and communications test scores to estimate multivariate regressions, controlling for the effects of year and birth district.

Results: Temperature shocks have asymmetric effects on school performance. Heat shocks increase students´ scores in cold regions but reduce them in warm regions. Cold shocks negatively affect school performance in cold regions and have no statistically significant effects in warm regions. These effects were observed in both urban and rural areas. Temperature shocks tend to have a stronger effect among girls than boys.

Implications: Education policymakers must put implement mechanisms to support students affected by temperature shocks during early childhood, and their families.

Originality: Exposure to temperature shocks during gestation and early childhood have long-lasting effects.