scholarly journals Gender and the use of external business advice: a Swedish study

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darush Yazdanfar ◽  
Saeid Abbasian
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The aim of this study is to examine whether there are significant differences between female and male entrepreneurs’ use of consultation during business start-ups. Design/methodology/approach – Using several statistical tools, including ANOVA and seemingly unrelated regressions, empirical analyses are conducted on a unique and firm-level panel database of 837 female- and 1926 male-owned active small firms. Findings – The results indicate that gender may be an important variable in the use of advice among small business owners in Sweden. Female owners in this study are shown to be more eager than male owners to use external business advice, and do so to a higher extent. Practical implications – One implication of this study is that firms may not be able to use all business advice types simultaneously during their start-up stage, so an ordered list of consultancy services would help them prioritize and adjust their needs accordingly. Because the use of business advice is context-based, the findings of this study may not be generalized to firms in other countries. This paper shows some gender-based attributes/features relating to the use of business advice, which need to be better integrated into policymaking for the future assistance of small businesses. Originality/value – This article focuses on an important issue and is unique partly because few studies have examined the relationship between gender and external business advice. By explicitly and empirically examining this issue, this article makes a contribution to the small- and medium-sized enterprises’ literature.

scholarly journals VALUE CO-CREATION THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA: A CASE STUDY OF A START-UP COMPANY

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junic Kim ◽  
Hwanho Choi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Media Platform ◽  
Social Media Tools ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Social Media Strategy

This research examines social media users’ value-creation processes and the drivers of a start-up company’s successful social media strategy. This research primarily aims to understand start-ups’ effective utilization of social media and value co-creation processes. Although utilizing social media has become key for many organizations, start-ups and small businesses often suffer from a lack of understanding and knowledge of the utilization of social media tools. Therefore, this article uses a case study on the relationship between a social media platform and users’ value co-creation to offer a conceptual framework for start-ups to consider in utilizing social media. Our research reveals that four core drivers of social media success include experience, satisfaction, expression, and sharing ability. Each of these drivers in turn contains conditions for understanding users’ value-creation process and the creation of drivers for successful social media strategies. The research contributes to literature by providing a detailed review of users’ value co-creation as a part of a start-up’s successful social media strategy.

The relationship between growth and volatility in small firms

2014 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1516-1532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria Moreno ◽  
Jose A. Zarrias ◽  
Jose L. Barbero
Keyword(s):  
Small Firm ◽  
Entrepreneurial Orientation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Quantitative Information ◽  
Similar Nature ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Environmental Hostility

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of predictors of growth (entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and environmental hostility) and growth itself on small-firm volatility. The objective is to find out: first, whether growth and volatility possess a similar nature; second, what are the predictors of small-firm volatility. Design/methodology/approach – Questionnaire data were collected from CEOs of 433 Spanish small firms (<500 employees) who provided qualitative as well as quantitative information. Findings – The authors find that some of the predictors on growth can also be used to predict firm volatility. Specifically, the authors find that firm volatility is influenced by EO and environmental hostility. Growth also influences firm volatility. The authors also find a strong interaction effect of growth and firm size on firm volatility. The authors conclude that although growth and firm volatility are related concepts, they are different. Originality/value – Growth has concentrated small-firm research during the last 20 years. However, during the last few years, the environment has become very dynamic and small firms need research helping them to deal with such dynamism. There are few studies on firm-level volatility. The research helps understand more the determinants of small-firm volatility.

IT readiness in small firms

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 807-823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Riccardo Spinelli ◽  
Romano Dyerson ◽  
G. Harindranath
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Business Owners ◽  
Small Business Owners ◽  
It Adoption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Capability ◽  
And Cluster Analysis ◽  
It Application

Purpose – The aim of the paper is to explore conceptually and empirically the application of the concept of IT readiness to small firms. Design/methodology/approach – The approach taken was a questionnaire administered to small manufacturing business owners in the Liguria region of Italy. Data were analysed using factor and cluster analysis. Findings – IT readiness concept appears valid with the emergence of three constructs: strategic vision; project management capability; and IT application infrastructure. The date analysis yielded four distinctive and varying profiles of small business owners. Research limitations/implications – This quantitative study exploring a cross section of small firms suggests antecedents to change have been ignored relative to IT adoption decisions. Practical implications – Provision of policy and support services requires a much more nuanced approach to small businesses. Originality/value – There are very few studies of IT readiness in the literature, making the paper original in its intent. The construction of the IT readiness concept appears robust when subjected to empirical testing and yields a number of specific small business profiles with respect to IT.

Value generation in B2B contexts: the SMEs’ perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourdes Pérez ◽  
Jesús Cambra-Fierro
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Value Appropriation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
A Value ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
To Receive ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Asymmetric Relationships

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to understand the process of value creation in business-to-business (B2B) contexts from the perspective of small- and medium-sized firms (SMEs). Small businesses are challenged to compete and collaborate with larger firms. While the “sharks” dilemma (often the most dangerous sharks also have the most valuable resources) focuses on specific defences, the authors emphasize a value generation perspective. Design/methodology/approach – The concept of asymmetric relationships is taken as a reference and examined using a longitudinal multi-case study. Findings – The authors results demonstrate how small firms not always assume an inferior, defensive position. Ambitious and growth-oriented SMEs learn to collaborate with larger partners and exhibit a proactive attitude towards relationship management. They understand the importance of developing social ties. They foster frequent and informal communication with their customers, favouring personal visits as a means to receive advice for directing their research efforts and exchange information and views. Such ties help them to develop shared plans and goals. Research limitations/implications – In asymmetric relationships, partner selection models should help firms to concentrate their efforts in a reduced group of key partners. These models should include not only economic performance indicators – variables such as flexibility and autonomy – but also innovation and improvement in processes, image, prestige and positioning, access to markets and stability. Originality/value – The authors found insight into a novel concept: dual-value appropriation, where partners do not split the pie of the total value generated, as frequently proposed in the literature, but fully appropriate a different and unique value from the relationship. The authors further highlight the important role played by the committed champions in developing communication and trust.

Tech start-ups: networking strategies for better performance

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Youngeun Chu ◽  
Woojin Yoon
Keyword(s):  
Strategic Alliances ◽  
Network Theory ◽  
Basic Assumption ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Life Cycle Stages ◽  
Resource Needs ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Entrepreneurial Strategies ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose This study aims to explore the relationship between entrepreneurial strategies and the performance of technological start-up companies. Design/methodology/approach Building on the extant literature on network theory, this paper derives the propositions that observe the effect of strategic alliances on the growth of technology-based ventures. Findings This study suggests that the network of a start-up evolves in response to the changing resource needs and resource acquisition challenges of a firm as it moves through the life cycle stages of emergence and early growth. Originality/value The present study challenges the basic assumption that more embeddedness is better by examining which kinds of specific ties are more beneficial than others, and whether these beneficiaries are maintained overtime.

Fulfilling the need of business advisory services among Swedish immigrant entrepreneurs

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Kremel
Keyword(s):  
First Generation ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
First Generation Immigrants ◽  
Advisory Services ◽  
Telephone Interviews ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Private And Public ◽  
Strategic Advice ◽  
Start Ups

Purpose Taking the entrepreneur’s perspective and a broad view of business advisory services, the purpose of this paper is to examine to what degree the need of business advisory services among Swedish start-ups, first-generation immigrants compared to non-immigrants, is fulfilled. Design/methodology/approach The sample data consist of a unique and comprehensive firm-level database and contain telephone interviews with 2,800 Swedish start-up entrepreneurs. The study examines 20 different kinds of business advice services, in terms of both need and use. Statistical methods such as Mann-Whitney test and regression analysis are used while controlling for entrepreneurial characteristics. Findings The findings suggest that immigrants’ compared to non-immigrants’ need for business advisory service was not fulfilled. Of the 20 different business advices, ten were fulfilled and ten were not fulfilled. Both strategic advice and operational advice were fulfilled as well as unfulfilled. Apart from ethnicity, other variables did influence the need of business advisory services. Research limitations/implications The author was not able to make comparisons between different immigrant groups. Practical implications This study offers an explorative approach that contributes on how business advisory services are differentially tailored between start-ups by immigrants and those by non-immigrants. It illustrates to what extent public- and/or private-funded organizations contribute to fulfilment of the needs of immigrant and non-immigrant start-ups. Originality/value Few studies take the entrepreneur’s perspective and from such a perspective examine the fulfilment of needs of advice regarding both private and public organizations role in the area. Both the need and the use of business advisory services are studied as well as the kind of business advice that is needed.

scholarly journals A start-up in interaction with its partners

IMP Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamara Oukes ◽  
Ariane Raesfeld von
Keyword(s):  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Focal Firm ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Process And Outcome ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

Purpose – Start-ups are companies that are not yet embedded in a pre-existing network of relationships. Studies that researched how start-ups act in their relationships focused on just one type of action and assumed that start-ups are autonomous in how they choose to act. However, organisational action in relationships is both interactive and dynamic. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate how a start-up interacts with its partners over time. Design/methodology/approach – The research aim is addressed through a longitudinal case study of a start-up in the medical device business. It was analysed how this start-up and its six key partners acted and reacted during 18 interactions episodes, what triggered these actions and what the outcomes of their actions were. In addition, the researchers explored if and how the subsequent episodes were related. Findings – First, the case shows that the past and the future affect current episodes. Second, it shows that action was triggered by both internal and external events which could expand or constrain opportunities for future interactions. Third, the findings show that there was a pattern in the interaction modes used during the relationship. Fourth, the findings show that the initial mode of interaction was often imitated by the counterparty. Finally, it is shown that there are clear links between the trigger, interaction process and outcome in an interaction episode. Research limitations/implications – The results indicate that besides the focal firm, partners should always be actively and directly involved in any research into organisational action. Moreover, action in relationships should be characterised as a dynamic process that is in a state of continual change. Practical implications – Managers of start-ups: can influence the outcomes of their relationships through their actions; have to react to both opportunities and conflicts in their relationships; can rely on their network to solve conflicts; and should closely consider their own actions and their counterparty’s actions. Originality/value – The research is valuable because it studies the interactive and dynamic nature of start-ups’ action in relationships.

Racial dissimilarity and diversity climate effect organizational identification

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 314-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brooklyn Cole ◽  
Raymond J. Jones ◽  
Lisa M. Russell
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Identification ◽  
Turnover Intentions ◽  
Ordinary Least Squares ◽  
Important Variable ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Diversity Climate ◽  
Climate Effect ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to empirically examine the relationship between psychological diversity climate (PDC) and organizational identification (OID) when influenced by racial dissimilarity between the subordinate and supervisor. Design/methodology/approach Ordinary least squares hierarchical regression analysis was run for hypotheses testing. Findings Three of the four hypothesized relationships were supported. Support was found for the direct relationship between PDC and OID. The moderator race was significant thus also supported. The moderator of dissimilarity was not supported. Finally the three-way interaction with race and dissimilarity was supported. Practical implications OID is an important variable for overall organizational success. OID influences a wealth of organizationally relevant outcomes including turnover intentions. Considering higher turnover exists for minority employees, understanding how diversity climate perceptions vary by employee race and therefore impact OID differently, helps managers when making decisions about various initiatives. Originality/value This study is the first the authors know of to investigate the impact of dissimilarity on the PDC-OID relationship.

Linking CEO relationship-focused leadership and corporate entrepreneurship: a multilevel moderated mediation model

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yueyue Liu ◽  
Meng Xi ◽  
Feifei Li ◽  
Xiulin Geng
Keyword(s):  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Organizational Identification ◽  
Identity Theory ◽  
Environmental Uncertainty ◽  
Corporate Entrepreneurship ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Strategic Leadership ◽  
Firm Level ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose Corporate entrepreneurship is an important way for organizations to gain competitive advantages and achieve sustainable development. However, few studies pay attention to the influence of CEO strategic leadership on corporate entrepreneurship. Drawing on social identity theory and uncertainty-identity theory, this study aims to investigate whether CEO relationship-focused leadership impacts corporate entrepreneurship through middle managers’ (MMs’) organizational identification and whether the indirect effect is moderated by environmental uncertainty. Design/methodology/approach Using 192 Chinese samples with 192 firm-level and 716 department-level observations, this study uses multilevel structural equations modeling by Mplus 8.0 to test the theoretical model. Findings This study finds that CEO relationship-focused leadership positively predicts MMs’ organizational identification and corporate entrepreneurship, and MMs’ organizational identification mediates the relationship between CEO relationship-focused leadership and corporate entrepreneurship. In addition, environmental uncertainty moderates not only the relationship between CEO relationship-focused leadership and MMs’ organizational identification but also the indirect effect of CEO relationship-focused leadership on corporate entrepreneurship through MMs’ organizational identification. Research limitations/implications This study enriches the understanding of process and contextualization of CEO strategic leadership influencing on corporate entrepreneurship. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is among the first to explore the influence of CEO relationship-focused leadership on corporate entrepreneurship.

Student entrepreneurship ecosystems at Australian higher education institutions

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alex Maritz ◽  
Quan Nguyen ◽  
Sergey Ivanov
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
University Student ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Student Entrepreneurship ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Entrepreneurship Ecosystems ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
The Impact

PurposeDespite the significance, university student start-ups and student entrepreneurship ecosystems (SEEs) have been subject to little research. This study aims to apply a qualitative emergent enquiry approach to explore best practice SEEs in Australia, complimented by narratives from leading scholars in higher education institutions with the aim of delineating the integrative components of SEEs.Design/methodology/approachAdopting the entrepreneurial ecosystem framework and aligned to the social cognitive theory, this paper explores the components and dynamics of SEEs, contributing to an understanding of how such components can better support the growth, sustainability and success of student start-ups. The authors extend entrepreneurship research on social construction using narrative research.FindingsThe findings provide guidelines for researchers, entrepreneurship scholars and educators, entrepreneurship students, policymakers and practitioners to enhance the impact and success of university student start-ups by adopting a student ecosystem approach.Research limitations/implicationsThe narratives represent a limited number of universities with an opportunity for further research to empirically measure the impact and outcomes of SEEs. The research is exploratory, inherently conceptual and emergent, providing an opportunity for validation of narrative frameworks in future studies.Practical implicationsThe findings may assist university managers to be more aware of their own subconscious preferences to student entrepreneurship and start-up initiatives, which may be useful in refining their impact and offerings regarding a quest toward the entrepreneurial university.Social implicationsFrom social perspectives, the alignment of the components of SEE has the ability to enhance and shift the entrepreneurial mindset of entrepreneurship students, notwithstanding enhancement of intentionality and self-efficacy.Originality/valueThis is the first study of SEEs in Australia, highlighting the importance of the integration of entrepreneurship education programs, entrepreneurship education ecosystems, the entrepreneurial university and specific start-up initiatives such as university accelerators. Furthermore, students may enhance their entrepreneurial mindset by actively engaging in such ecosystems.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document