Showing papers on "Entrepreneurship published in 1970"

"Culture" And Other Explanatory Variables In Comparative Management Studies

Abstract: A partial survey of the literature of comparative management reveals that there are four major types of explanation of managerial similarities and differences: cultural, economic, psychological, an

Pioneers for profit; foreign entrepreneurship and Russian industrialization, 1885-1913

Abstract: Foreign investment increased from 17 percent of the capital of industrial corporations in Imperial Russia in 1880 to 47 percent in 1914, coinciding with the rapid development of Russian industrialization before World War I. John McKay's study, based largely on intensive research in numerous archives and utilizing many previously unexplored private business records, is the first detailed analysis of the impact of foreign enterprise on Russian industry during this period. His conclusions are significant for historians, economists, and those interested in the development of modern industrial society.

Study of Entrepreneurialship in Developing Countries: The Development of One Chinese Concern in Indonesia

Abstract: In the past many of us have been accustomed to visualizing developmental analysis as taking an inventory of physical resources, distributing them (or merely imagining them) in different fields of production, and then, according to preconceived ideas of technical coefficients, calculating future output. This might be termed the "skeleton" of economic theory. But the real meat of development lies in the efficiency of implementation of decisions, whether planned or laissez-faire. The efficiency of implemen tation depends on the quality of entrepreneurship ; again, whether in publicly or privately owned establishments. This quality of entrepreneurship is determined by the attitude of management and labour leaders to supervision, morale and workers, breakdowns in machinery, commercial risks, and all uncertainties which cannot be effectively program med. We believe it is taking an inadequate and misleading view of economic development to regard technical coefficients as reliable indicators of the fruitfulness of investments. For instance, a $10 million investment in steel in China might have quite a different impact on a range of economic indicators than the same investment in India. We would like to stress at the outset that this article is not intended to be a defence

Entrepreneurial Studies in Japan: An Introduction

Abstract: Where are the Rockefellers, Carnegies, and Fords of recent Japanese history? Their absence may be explained by a lack of scholarly attention to the areas of entrepreneurship, business organization, and managerial practices. Professors Rosovsky and Yamamura review the historiography of Japan's industrialization and place the five articles in this special issue within the context of recent work in business and economic history.

Born Virtuals and Avapreneurship: A case study of achieving successful outcomes in Peace Train – a Second Life organization

Abstract: Borrowing from the international entrepreneurship business literature that uses the term “Born Globals,” I label organizations that have been created to discover and exploit opportunities primarily within virtual worlds as “Born Virtuals.” While relatively easy to establish, the challenge for Born Virtuals and avapreneurs, or entrepreneurial avatars, is to accomplish the critical task of coordinating the actions of multiple actors to achieve important outcomes – a challenge that has been repeatedly documented in research on virtual teams and organizations with geographically dispersed members. As such, this paper’s intent is to investigate two research questions: RQ1) What are the challenges for avapreneurs to achieving successful organizational outcomes in Born Virtuals? and RQ2) How can collective competence be developed such that these challenges can be overcome? To answer these questions, this paper presents a study of Peace Train, one Born Virtual organization created in Second Life. Peace Train was founded by three social avapreneurs interested in promoting peace in the world, and together with more than 100 volunteers, Peace Train organized during the course of eleven months PeaceFest 08, one of the largest fund-raising events to date in virtual worlds. This event attracted 8,000 to 10,000 unique avatars and raised 870,000 Linden dollars from approximately 3,000 individuals from across the globe, which were then donated to 10 real world charitable organizations.

The problem of sustaining the growth of small and medium enterprises in a typical sub--saharan african context

Abstract: This paper focused on factors that impede the sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SME) and by extension entrepreneurship development in a typical sub-Saharan Africa context in South the available statistics the study area (the industrial layout of business is predominant) die within five years of establishment. The study used the analytical survey met (X2) inferential statistics to a sample of respondents collected from the study area, it was found that poor infrastructural facilities (especially electricity, water and roads), lack of access violent crime leading to high operational costs are the major impediments to sustaining the growth and survival of small and medium enterprises. It was specifically found that due to of self-generated electricity, small and medium enterprises collapse at an alarming rate in Nigeria. The study recommends that the government should urgently address the issue of poor infrastructural facilities esp well as establish an SME stimulus package to rejuvenate SME development and sustainability. This has become critical in view of the potentials of the SME sector in entrepreneurship development, poverty reduction, employment ge wealth creation.

Entrepreneurial Orientation In A Situational Context: Comparisons Between Germany and The United States

Abstract: Previous research has evaluated some elements of US students 'entrepreneurial orientation, while the present research extends and broadens this research to consider different situational settings across students in both Germany (n = 95) and the United States (n = 147) The study evaluates both self-perceptions of entrepreneurial orientation and perceptions of the average level of entrepreneurial orientation of the country in which the student resides, based on parental involvement and the different economic and social conditions within which the student resides Results indicate that parental entrepreneurship and country of origin affect self-perception of entrepreneurial orientation, but that only country of origin affects perceptions of one's countrymen's entrepreneurial orientation Entrepreneurial orientation provides an indicator of the requisite behavioral initiatives that are conducive to new venture development (Lumpkin & Dess, 1996) and insight into the predispositions that an individual may carry with him or her into a business setting (Grant & Bush, 1995; West, Bamford, & Marsden, 2008) However, limited attention has been given to the evaluation of an individual's self-perceptions of his or her entrepreneurial orientation and how that evaluation may differ by the social and economic background of the country in which the individual was socialized The present paper attempts to integrate an explanation of the effects of social and economic issues on self-perception of entrepreneurial orientation The paper begins by providing a basic literature review and overview of its major hypotheses, the methods used to collect the data are described along with the process used to evaluate the data, and finally results are presented along with a discussion of the outcomes of the process [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Literature Review and Hypothesis Development Lumpkin and Dess (1996:136-137) note that entrepreneurial orientation (EO) "involves the intentions and actions of key players functioning in a dynamic generative process aimed at new venture creation The key dimensions that characterize an entrepreneurial orientation include a propensity to act autonomously, a willingness to innovate and take risks, and a tendency to be aggressive toward competitors and proactive relative to marketplace opportunities" Miller (1983) noted that competitive aggressiveness was a strong component of entrepreneurial orientation, and Burgelman (1983) noted that independent action and autonomy were critical elements of internal corporate venturing behavior The present research attempts to formulate a clearer understanding of some of the precursors to individuals' own perceptions of entrepreneurial orientation As shown in Figure 1, the research model attempts to link the economic and social setting within which an individual grows up to his or her own perceptions of entrepreneurial orientation In addition, the model recognizes and builds on prior work that indicates that situational factors, such as role models in entrepreneurial activity, and demographic factors also may affect entrepreneurial orientation The following paragraphs further delineate the constructs under study, provide background on the research supporting the model's proposed relationships, and develop specific hypotheses which are tested in the research A core challenge with the previous conceptualization of much of the work on entrepreneurial orientation is that it is linked only to the top management team level, or to the organizational level and not to the individual level of analysis To formalize the measurement of the construct of entrepreneurial orientation, a variety of scales have been developed Lyon, Lumpkin, and Dess (2000) note numerous ways to measure the construct, but point out that it may be an artifact of the individual respondent, rather than a firm-level construct …

From Cultural to Economic Capital: Community Employment Creation in Otara

Abstract: This paper stresses the need for community responses to the ethnic unemployment problem in New Zealand. It aims to show the potential for direct employment creation on the basis of a community entrepreneurship model as well as a widened definition of human capital, using case study of the labour market disadvantaged community of Otara, in South Auckland. Projects harnessing cultural and ethnic riches to create Otara as an attractive visitor destination undertaken by Enterprise Otara (EO) are examined. A participatory research methodology, chiefly formative evaluation is used. ·This paper seeks to break down a prevalent view that grassroots responses to unemployment are necessarily small-scale ventures and to get away from the 'small is beautiful' mind-set when Local Employment Initiatives (ILEs) are involved. Additionally, the collaborative role of 'outsiders ' in the 'bottom-up' approach to employment creation is shown to be important in 'getting things moving ' at the community level. Constraints faced by community organisations are highlighted. The importance of ILEs and the partnership concept in the mitigation of high unemployment in disadvantaged communities, is affirmed.

Boards as Resource Providers and Monitors for Research and Development

Abstract: Innovation is essential for every organization. Yet the relationship between boards and innovation remains unclear. We argue that boards not only monitor, but also provide resources, and innovations require both proper levels of resources (skills) from the board, and appropriate forms of control. In this study, we integrate resource-dependence and agency perspectives to examine how a board's knowledge and skills (board diversity) and a board's preference for behavior based controls (board composition) influence the board's ability to provide resources and design controls, which in turn affect the level of research and development intensity in the firm. Hypotheses are tested using a panel data set of firms in research intensive industries. INTRODUCTION "Every organization needs one core competence, innovation" (Drucker, 1995) Certainly, most top managers would agree that innovation is essential for the survival of business, especially in these times of technological and global turbulence. Despite this recognition, though, few firms are able to sustain innovation. Each decade seems to bring renewed recognition that inertia drives out innovation in many established firms (Christensen, 1997; Cooper and Schendel, 1976; Miller, 1990). Not surprisingly, CEOs and their top management bear some blame for the problem. Under the pressure of meeting quarterly forecasts, CEOs claim to have little time to formulate and implement long-range growth initiatives. While there may be a natural excess of managerial myopia within the executive team, we suggest here that part of the cause for near-sighted management may lie with the board of directors. Research has shown that boards can influence major corporate decisions such as strategic changes (Goodstein and Boeker, 1991; Golden and Zajac, 2001), diversification (Amihud and Lev, 1981; Lane, Cannella and Lubatkin, 1998), shifts in RD Hill and Snell, 1988), restructuring (Goodstein, Gautam, and Boeker, 1994; Johnson, Hoskisson, and Hitt, 1993), and corporate entrepreneurship (Zahra, 1996, 2000). Clearly, boards can influence some major change episodes. Yet to date, research has not provided consistent explanations on how boards affect varied aspects of firm innovativeness. For example, Goodstein, Gautam, and Boeker (1994) found that board diversity may hinder the board's ability to initiate strategic change, despite scholars' arguments on how board diversity promotes a wider range of solutions and decision criteria for strategic decisions and encourages strategic change (Eisenhardt & Bourgeois, 1988; Kosnik, 1990). Another example of inconsistency occurs in investigations of the relationship between outside directors and innovation. Arguments based on agency theory suggest that independent outsiders better align the strategic orientation to stockholders' interest, encouraging more risk-taking and increases in RD Hill and Snell, 1988), suggesting that insiders better safeguard innovation. We believe that the inconsistencies in our understanding of the relationship between boards and innovation can be traced to three causes. First, the board's role is not one dimensional. Boards of directors play multiple roles, which include monitoring management and providing resources (Zahra & Pearce, 1989; Adams, Hermalin & Weisbach, 2010). These two roles sometimes are complementary, but at other times may be conflicting. Past research tended to look at each role using differing theoretical lenses. Agency theory has mainly focused on the control role, while resource-dependence theory usually considers the resource role. However, controls and resources are each related to firm innovation. A study combining these two diverse perspectives will provide a clearer picture of how boards influence firm innovation. …

The relationship between education and entrepreneurship in Nigeria

Abstract: The rate of economic growth is dependent upon the growth in factors of production and the rate of technical change. Recently some economists have shifted the emphasis away from the growth of physical capital to the growth of high-level manpower, such as entrepreneurship, as the major determinant of the rate of economic growth. In part, this shift has resulted from empirical studies based on American economic growth, which suggest that increases in the supply of physical capital explain no more than a fraction of growth in aggregate output.' To some extent, the reorientation has resulted from the increased use of the tools of other social sciences in the theory of economic development. Many scholars using these tools have contended that high-level human skills are key variables which link the sociocultural milieu with the rate of economic development. Despite the increased emphasis upon the need for entrepreneurs, empirical data on their determinants are lacking. A priori, a number of variables seem likely to influence the supply2 and success of entrepreneurs, including the socioeconomic class, socioethnic community, family structure, other politicosocio-cultural attachments, time perspective, education, training and work experience of the entrepreneurs; the nature of the labor and capital markets;

Functional Contributions of Bootlegging and Entrepreneurship in Research Organizations

Abstract: One of the central concerns in modern social science is the examination of conditions under which various types of social systems maintain their existence. As industrialized society developed, the complex formal organization emerged as a pervasive and important type of social system whose maintenance has been widely studied. The development of complex organizations was paralleled by a more recent characteristic of modern society, the rapid professionalization of these complex organizations. The dual problems of systems maintenance and the relationship of professionals to complex organizations are closely related in the organizations that are the object of this study - i.e., large scientific research organizations, probably the most professionalized of modern organizations.

The Competitive Cohort: An Extension of Strategic Understanding

Abstract: The use of referent others to establish the concept of competitive cohorts is presented as a way to extend the understanding of strategic decision making in organizations The competitive cohort concept does not replace other perspectives of the firm, industry or strategic group definitions, strategy formulation, or decision making, but rather, helps in understanding how organizational goals are established and performance is shaped and measured The use of the competitive cohort concept may also give a new coherency in and view of the concepts of competitive advantage and sustained competitive advantage Introduction A fundamental concern of research in the strategic management and entrepreneurship literatures is to provide explanations for strategic managerial decision making and firm performance That concern has prompted examination and instruction of both external and internal factors that have the potential to influence strategy formulation, implementation, and resultant performance For example, Hitt, Ireland, and Hoskisson's (2011) widely used textbook for strategic management categorizes inputs into the strategic management decision making process as either belonging to the external or the internal environments of the organization The textbook uses the industrial-organizational (I/O) perspective to address the external factors decision makers must consider and the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm to address internal factors facing decision makers Though not specifically directed toward antecedents of firm performance, traditional I/O economics as a field includes a focus on effects that industries have upon firm performance (Nair & Kotha, 2001; Thomas & Pollock, 1999) That focus has not resulted in a complete understanding of firm performance, though it has provided some useful insights regarding external influences upon performance In contrast, the RBV and its internal perspective of the firm have been elaborated upon in a variety of ways that attempt to explain performance based on the heterogeneity of the resources and capabilities within organizational boundaries (Barney, 2001; Barney, Wright, & Ketchen, 2001; Oliver, 1997) The RBV has turned the search for antecedents of performance toward the internal factors that influence firm performance, but it does not answer important questions about the external influences that are exerted upon performance In this light, then, an important question arises when considering the two separate domains of external and internal factors that influence decision making inside firms: How do decision makers link the two domains within a management process and develop performance goals? The concept of a competitive cohort, introduced below, is proffered as a way to help answer that question because it seeks to address the motivations of decision makers as they process information and formulate organizational strategy within the intersection of external and internal domains Additionally, organizational boundaries are changing in ways that may blur the traditional categorizations of internal and external influences upon performance and complicate decision making about adopting performance goals and measures Some of those changes result in organizations operating in nontraditional ways and with fewer people (Conner, 2003; Markus, Manville, & Agres, 2000) Not only are the boundaries changing, but so too are the ways in which comparisons across firms are made SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) or NAICS (North American Industry Classification System) codes were the traditional way in which organizations were classified as a way to understand groups of organizations and their operations The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) has replaced the US Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system Developed jointly by the US, Canada, and Mexico, NAICS provides new comparability in statistics about business activity across North America …

Entrepreneurial Strategies for Emerging Markets

Abstract: This study involves an investigation into the strategies utilized by entrepreneurial firms in India. Given the number of people living in emerging markets (e.g., China, India, others), understanding which conditions are related to the opportunity-seeking behavior of productive entrepreneurship is an important first step in deriving better policies aimed at improving living standards in countries that have been historically plagued by extreme poverty. Equipped with insights regarding factors that increase opportunity-seeking behavior, scholars, regulators, and practitioners alike can be better positioned to positively shape competitive environments in emerging markets. INTRODUCTION This study involves an investigation into the strategies utilized by entrepreneurial firms in India. Given the number of people living in emerging markets (e.g., China, India, others), understanding which conditions are related to the opportunity-seeking behavior of productive entrepreneurship is an important first step in deriving better policies aimed at improving living standards in countries that have been historically plagued by extreme poverty. Equipped with insights regarding factors that increase opportunity-seeking behavior, scholars, regulators, and practitioners alike can be better positioned to positively shape competitive environments in emerging markets. Emerging markets represent a unique and complex context in which to examine entrepreneurial activity (Bruton, Ahlstrom & Obloj, 2008). From a theoretical perspective this is due to the fact that emerging markets are characterized by relatively weak economic institutions (Ahlstrom & Bruton, 2002). Such 'institutional voids' represent potential barriers to the success of entrepreneurial firms in emerging markets. Entrepreneurial firms competing in emerging markets must pursue strategies that allow them to overcome these challenges. As a result, gaining access to critical and often limited resources represents a fundamental challenge of implementing such strategies. From a practical perspective emerging economies are experiencing rapid growth (Hoskisson, Eden, Lau & Wright, 2000) and increased integration with developed financial markets (Bell. Moore, & Al-Shammari, 2008), thus also providing significant entrepreneurial opportunities. With their rapid growth and increasing integration with developed financial markets (Bell, Moore, & Al-Shammari, 2008), developing economies provide significant entrepreneurial opportunities (North, 2005). Exploitation of these opportunities, however, requires entrepreneurs within these countries to confront institutional challenges frequently not faced by their Western counterparts (Ahlstrom & Bruton, 2002). For example, the failure to create and protect property rights in developing countries often frustrates entrepreneurs' attempts to appropriate the value they have created, strongly discouraging investment in innovation (Baumol, 2002; Khanna & Rivken, 2006). Similarly, high transaction costs can delay the introduction and diffusion of innovations by preventing the internalization of technological externalities (Rodrik, 2007) or the incorporation of feedback from the price system (Hayek, 2002; McMullen, Bagby, & Palich, 2008). Thus, entrepreneurial firms competing in emerging markets must pursue strategies that allow them to overcome these institutional obstacles while simultaneously striving to allocate critical and limited resources as effectively and efficiently as possible. Firms must respond to idiosyncratic institutional environments to succeed in international markets and develop a competitive advantage. These idiosyncratic constraints directly influence how effectively entrepreneurs choose strategic alternatives and manage key resources under conflicting demands from multiple stakeholders (Delios & Beamish, 2001; Hitt & Collins, 2007; Kostova & Zaheer, 1999). …

I am an Entrepreneur

Abstract: What are the characteristics of a successful entrepreneur? What skills do you need and how do you develop them? At Young Enterprise Scotland we believe that to help you develop skills it is good to know what your starting point is.

Outputs of Minority Entrepreneurship Programs

Abstract: A realistic appraisal indicates clearly that America is not the \"melting pot\" it has often claimed to be. Rather, it is characterized by a majority ethnic group whose society is dominant and a number of'smaller ethnic groups whose societies are both subordinate to and dependent upon the larger society. \"Our nation is moving toward two. societies, one black, one white separate and unequal.\" t The largest of these subsocieties is the one composed of black people in America. In 1968 the total non-white population was 24.1 millic,n; the total black population was 22.1 million. 2 It is the effect of minority entrepreneurship programs on this particular subsociety that will be dealt with in detail in this paper, and the most obvious indication of the existence of black subsocieties in America are black urban ghettos. Thomas L.iCross, author of a book entitled Black Capitalism, says that \"The painfully apparent features of the ghetto economy are its economic weakness, a low level of productivity, and the poverty level of its const~mers. No so obvious is the economic isolation of the ghetto its complete separation from the normal, mainstream economy of which it

Information needs of Malaysian Bumiputera would-be entrepreneurs

Abstract: This paper reports on the findings of a part of a study that aims to investigate the information needs of Malaysian Bumiputera entrepreneurs. The study adopted a quantitative approach and questionnaires were distributed to a sample of 400 Bumiputera would-be entrepreneurs who had attended entrepreneurial development courses. It was found that the types of business information needed by the respondents were preparation of business plan, followed by planning of cash flow, examination of business opportunities, and profit planning. The results indicated that the types of business information considered very important were information related to planning of cash flow, followed by preparation of business plan, profit planning, communications with clients, business opportunities, courses on entrepreneurship, and creativeness and innovativeness in business. The study found that respondents obtained most of their business information by talking to other entrepreneurs, followed by sharing experience with other entrepreneurs, discussing with friends/relatives, reading newspaper and magazines, and asking clients. The results revealed that the sources from which respondents obtained their business information were courses, followed by business exhibitions, Internet/e-mail, business premises, government agencies, and technical training. The respondents considered clients and other entrepreneurs as very important sources of business information. The study had a profound impact on making recommendations to business supporting agencies concerning entrepreneurs’ and business sectors’ information needs in Malaysia.

Be the best you can be...

Abstract: Enterprise, entrepreneurship, Inspiring, engaging, connecting, supporting, Students, pitching, learning, educating,

Exploring Young Female Entrepreneurial Activity in the United Arab Emirates: Issues, Prospects, and Implications for the Region

Abstract: This study attempts to sketch a profile of young female entrepreneurs in the Arab region as they start their business organisations and take the first few steps in the development of their business. It attempts to draw a profile of a number of local Emirati women entrepreneurs and their characteristics, what attracts them to their businesses, and the hurdles they face as they enter into their line of business. In addition, it outlines the makeup of their entrepreneurial businesses, and identifies some barriers that women face at the start-up stage, in addition to their entrepreneurial motivations and driving forces, satisfactions, and frustrations. This is preceded by a brief overview of models of female entrepreneurship and an exploration of previous research into female entrepreneurship and women status in the Arab region. To accomplish this, we conducted thirteen interviews with young female entrepreneurs to assess the special challenges facing them as they go about starting and running their business ventures. We tried to gauge the interviewees’ entrepreneurial activities, their satisfaction with their business ventures, and the perceived opportunities and obstacles that they face. While this study explores the specific case of the UAE, the wider implications on young female Arab entrepreneurs are discussed.

The Free Trade Debate, Economic Recession and the Global South since 2000AD

Abstract: The end of the Cold War, which came on the heels of the disintegration of the Soviet Union and the near-collapse of the Soviet-styled communist ideology, paved the way for globalization and the entrenchment of a Western-styled economic system hinged on free enterprises. Free enterprises encourage such liberal economic programmes as private initiative and entrepreneurship, accumulation of capital, de-regulation, competition, and trade liberalization, among others. Most developing countries, without much choice, got integrated into this global capitalist system. How they fare as regards economic growth and development is determined by an objective research and interpretation of available data on their economic performance since the trend of “free trade” absorbed them in the global capitalism. The debate on the credibility of “free trade” as a determinant of mutual economic growth and development has been prevalent in international political economy discourse since the 18th century. The credibility of “free trade” has been called into question, especially its effects on the countries of the global South or the developing economies. This study assesses the debate on free trade over the years and how this trend affects the countries of the South in the 21st century economic recession. Most of the scholars and experts of the developing world extraction vehemently kick against the premature integration of the developing economies into the already established western capitalism. They blame the adverse effects of the recession on the South on this unequal relationship. This study also presents some of their arguments. The work makes use of diverse secondary and tertiary sources and the thematic historical approach in the interpretation and discussion of the accounts presented. Key words : Free trade, globalization, economic recession, and global South