Now showing 1 - 10 of 17
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Structure-Based Innovation Index (SBII) and Firm Performance in Ecuadorian Manufacturing SMEs: Evidence from Capital Efficiency and Sales per Employee
    (MDPI AG, 2026-04-23)
    Godoy Hurtado, Edgar Paul
    ;
    ;
    Manufacturing SMEs in Ecuador operate under macroeconomic volatility and limited financing; improvements in processes and management are key mechanisms for sustaining productivity and competitiveness. In contexts where conventional innovation indicators are unavailable, financial ratios constitute replicable signals that close a measurement gap in emerging economies. This study constructs the Structure-Based Innovation Index (SBII) as the mean of within-sample percentile ranks of capital efficiency (EBIT/Assets) and sales per employee, using financial statements from the SCVS, sectoral indicators from ENESEM, and size classification from REEM. The sample includes 58 formal manufacturing SMEs in Ecuador in 2023, stratified by province and size. Performance is measured through labor productivity and operating profitability (EBIT/Sales). Tercile comparisons reveal clear performance differentiation: the high-SBII group exhibits substantially higher median sales per employee (USD 129,552 vs. USD 40,176 in the low group) and higher operating profitability. Signals are more strongly reflected in productivity than in margins, indicating that operational gains materialize earlier. A robustness check using SBIIalt confirms that gradients are not index artifacts. High-performing SMEs are distinguished by institutionalized operational discipline: asset utilization, throughput stability, and cost control. The SBII is a replicable proxy for structure-based innovation in data-constrained environments. The findings align with SDGs 8, 9, and 12. © 2026 by the authors.
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Analysis of the Business Dimension in the Construction Sector in Ecuador: An Economic Approach
    (2024) ;
    Dayaneth Arroba-Naranjo
    ;
    Ximena Morales-Urrutia
    ;
    Diego Lara-Haro
    The objective of this research work is to study the business size of the construction sector in Ecuador through the application of a panel data econometric model. It seeks to identify the factors that influence the growth of this sector. The study population is construction companies active in Ecuador, according to the ISIC F classification, in the period 2018–2021. A methodology is used that includes a descriptive analysis to establish the behavior of the sector variables, as well as a correlational analysis to measure the significance of these variables in relation to growth. In addition, a panel data model that applies the assumption of fixed effects is used to verify Gibrat’s Law, which establishes that all companies have the same probability of growing regardless of their size. In conclusion, a significant relationship was found between sales and business size and growth in the construction sector in Ecuador. However, Gibrat’s Law is rejected in this case study
      30
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Differential Performance of Satellite Navigation in Urban and Rural Andes of Ecuador
    (2024)
    David Rivas-Lalaleo
    ;
    Víctor Bautista-Naranjo
    ;
    ;
    Tatiana Freire-Guachamín
    ;
    Jefferson Pilicita-Veloso
    This study assesses the effectiveness of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in Ecuador, a country situated on the equator, where unique challenges include elevated ionospheric activity and increased solar radiation. It focuses on the accuracy of major satellite navigation systems such as GPS, Glonass, and Galileo in various environments, from open fields to urban areas with dense building coverage. Using a satellite communication module and a data logger capturing information every second, the study provides a detailed comparison of these systems. The findings indicate that a combination of GPS and Glonass significantly enhances accuracy, reducing errors to less than 20 cm, which is crucial for high-precision applications in the equatorial region. This outcome is consistent with and expands the understanding of satellite navigation performance across different Andean landscapes, highlighting the need for tailored approaches in both urban and rural settings within the equatorial context. In summary, the research reaffirms the transformative role of geopositioning and GNSS in global navigation and emphasizes the potential for improving GNSS accuracy in the equatorial region. It contributes significantly to ongoing efforts to optimize geopositioning systems, ensuring their effectiveness in diverse geographical and environmental conditions, as exemplified in the Andean regions of Ecuador.
      6
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
      28
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    A long-range, low-cost technique to measure water level variations over limnimeters on hydraulic weir using machine vision and IoT
    (2022)
    Chiliquinga-Chiliquinga A.
    ;
    Garcés-Llerena R.
    ;
    Bautista-Naranjo V.
    ;
    ;
    Castillo-Velazquez J.-I.
    It is neither practical nor economical to make continuous and direct measurements of the water flow in a stream, so indirect methods must be used to measure the water level and, based on a calibration curve, relate it to the corresponding flow rate. A hydraulic weir with a limnimeter fulfills this purpose, but its disadvantage is that it does not allow the automated registration of the water level and therefore new and more efficient technologies must be used to perform this measurement automatically and thus have a lower waste and optimization of the resource. This experiment develops an algorithm based on computer vision and the inclusion of the concepts of the Internet of Things, in order to measure and record the values of the water level in a hydraulic dam, also includes energy storage system, power supply, remote computer, devices with wireless communication and IoT platform that allow a measurement error of less than ± 2% to be obtained with respect to a visual measurement made by the operator. © 2022 IEEE.
      64
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Organizational Commitment in Savings and Credit Cooperatives
    (2024)
    Shaina Johanna Sisa
    ;
    ; ;
    Ximena Morales-Urrutia
    With globalization and technological advancements, companies face changes that require a culture of continuous learning and adaptation. The changes effectively managing can determine an organization's success in a dynamic environment. Organizational Commitment (OC) is crucial as it measures employees' identification, belonging, and loyalty. In Ecuador, savings and credit unions and non-profit financial institutions decreased from 817 active entities in 2015 to 408 in 2023, functioning as an important source of employment. It is essential to determine the OC level and analyze its variables. Therefore, a bibliometric review was conducted to identify the scientific production on the subject, followed by a systematic review to substantiate and identify methods for measuring OC. The Meyer and Allen scale test was applied to 169 employees of a cooperative union. The data was processed using SPSS to perform a descriptive and correlational analysis with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design. The sample was evenly split between men and women, revealing connections between study dimensions and areas for improvement..
      13
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Digital Marketing in the Tourism Sector of the City of Ambato
    The research analyzes the digital marketing strategies applied by the tourism sector of the city of Ambato, as it is evident that, in the context of the pandemic and technological advances, companies were forced to digitize their businesses to be more competitive. By identifying the marketing strategies that are used in the sector, alternatives for improvement can be proposed, and counteract the effects of the pandemic. The methodology is of quantitative approach with a descriptive scope, non-experimental design which allows, through data collection and statistical analysis, to establish behavioral patterns and test theories. In this sense, the sector and the most used marketing strategies are identified and characterized. The results obtained conclude that Ambateño tourism companies do not have marketing departments that plan successful campaigns. In addition, it is observed that, for the most part, companies focus their efforts solely on social networks, especially Facebook, and do not take advantage of others that allow them to show more explicitly the attractions of a tourist destination and generate greater engagement. Therefore, it is proposed that tourism companies should digitize their businesses and rely on strategies that allow them to interact in real time with tourists without any restrictions. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.
      52
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Human Capital and Per Capita Income in Ecuador
    (2024) ;
    Morales-Urrutia X.
    ;
    Mesias J.P.M.
    ;
    Yucsin K.
    Human capital and per capita income are crucial in Ecuador’s economic development. Human capital, represented by the population’s education, health, and skills, directly influences the productivity and economic growth of the country. In turn, per capita income reflects citizens’ average income level and ability to access goods and services. The data analyzed comes from the World Bank database from 2000 to 2020. The main results indicate significant improvements in human capital due to various education and training strategies that different governments have applied. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.
      30
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Artificial Intelligence in Marketing: A Bibliometric Study
    Nowadays, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing and transforming businesses. In the field of marketing, it has enabled the optimization of strategies and campaigns, content personalization, more precise segmentation, and maximization of planning results, thanks to its ability to process and analyze data. The research aims to provide a bibliometric approach to current knowledge on AI in marketing. The methodology involved a bibliometric review by obtaining indexed research papers from the SCOPUS database, which were then analyzed using the VOSviewer application. The results identified that countries such as the United States, India, and China have the highest scientific production on the subject. Additionally, it was revealed that the most relevant knowledge areas are engineering, management and business, and accounting. In this context, it is concluded that it is crucial for companies worldwide to observe the advancements made by these countries to replicate strategies according to their needs. Considering that AI, thanks to the internet, is accessible for all types of businesses, they only need to identify opportunities and key areas to apply AI tools and train their personnel.
      32
  • Some of the metrics are blocked by your 
    Item type:Publication,
    Factors for the Creation of Technological Startups in Latin America
    (2024) ;
    Morales-Urrutia X.
    ;
    Naranjo-Santamaría J.
    The changes produced in recent years have made innovation and technology play an important role in the growth of technological start-ups. Likewise, public policies have been developed that contribute to the development and strengthening of this business sector. The aim of the study is to analyze the incidence of institutional factors, education and innovation, in the generation of technological startups. The data analyzed comes from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the Pearson Correlation statistical technique was applied. The results suggest that there is a direct relationship between the factors analyzed. In conclusion, the growth of this type of companies is still incipient in Latin American countries, however, there is significant growth of these in the region. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2024.
      31