scholarly journals Micro and small business innovation in a traditional industry

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 311-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Alessandro Bressan
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Wine Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Traditional Industry ◽  
New Consumer

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore innovation among micro and small business operators in Italy’s wine industry. Moreover, in adopting the theory of innovation, the study examines winery operators’ perceptions on innovation, ways in which wineries are innovating and whether participants’ responses vary based on demographic characteristics. Design/methodology/approach An online questionnaire designed for this study gathered the responses of 211 participants, composed by owners, winemakers, directors and business partners. Findings Innovation is fundamentally associated with minimising ecological footprint, investments, making improvements in the winery, adapting to trends and new consumer demands and, importantly, with maintaining traditions while enhancing the quality of the wines. Further, participants primarily agree with involvement in wine tourism and adoption of social media as predominant forms of innovating. Several inter-group differences particularly based on levels of wine production and size of the winery emerged. Overall, the findings align with the dimensions of the theory of innovation, namely, benefits, costs, resources and discounting factors. Originality/value Despite the significance of Italy’s wine industry, in terms of exports and consumption on a global scale, academic research focusing on this industry’s innovative practices has been limited. Similarly, there is scant research on innovation among micro and small firms, or on industries relevant to countries’ socio-economic capital. This exploratory study provides an element of originality and value, exploring and contributing to the literature on these under-researched areas.

Confronting the unprecedented: micro and small businesses in the age of coronavirus disease 2019

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Bressan ◽  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Seng Kiat Kok
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Theory Of Planned Behaviour ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to understand how micro and small firms are navigating through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) threat, and the alternatives they are implementing to coexist with the ongoing crisis. To this end, Italy's socioeconomically and traditionally significant wine industry is examined. The study considers insights of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) and develops a theoretical framework, which proposes various emerging theoretical dimensions, including proactiveness, support-reliance and resourcefulness.Design/methodology/approachWinery owners–managers were contacted and invited to partake in the study completing an online questionnaire. Overall, 167 useable responses were collected.FindingsWhile facing the loss of vital income through decreasing demand and exports, participants resort to exploiting various initiatives, including “reinventing” their firms. Their observations also recognise the vital supporting role of various key stakeholders, first and foremost family members, as well as clients and staff. Concerning how owners-managers envision managing their firm post-COVID-19, two predominant groups are identified, one strongly favouring modern-day alternatives, and the second committing to the firm's traditional business model. Overall, the different predictors of the TPB, namely attitude, subjective norms and perceived behavioural control emerged.Originality/valueThis study is one of the first that empirically analyses micro and small firms in a socioeconomically and traditionally significant industry during an unprecedented event. In addition, the proposed theoretical framework provides a roadmap and guide to examine, understand and assimilate the entrepreneurial journey through a devastating event.

scholarly journals A resource-based view of the firm and micro and small Italian wine firms

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Alessandro Bressan
Keyword(s):  
Small Firms ◽  
Qualitative Data ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Small Enterprise ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Resource Based View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sustained Competitive Advantage ◽  
Red Tape

Purpose The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm is adopted to explore the most important resources among micro and small firms operating in Italy’s wine industry. Second, the study incorporates a SWOT analysis to examine perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats based on the perceptions of owners and managers of these firms. Design/methodology/approach An online questionnaire was designed to gather both quantitative and qualitative data from Italian wineries; a total of 211 firms participated in the study. Findings Product quality, managerial/staff capabilities, knowledge, reputation, service quality and the territory/region emerge as most important resources, clearly aligning with the attributes of the RBV, namely, valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable and (non)substitutable resources. However, based on the RBV, the future-sustained competitive advantage is threatened by, among other factors, the firm’s finances, competition, red tape and the complexity of increasing sales. Originality/value Fundamentally, the research contributes to micro and small enterprise literature, and to the limited number of studies that have used the RBV of the firm in the context of micro and small wineries. This theoretical framework is used among wineries of one of the world’s leading wine producing nations. Some dimensions of this country’s wine industry have received limited academic attention. In addition, the study provides practical value in identifying resources, limitations, and threats at a time when micro and small wineries are seeking to develop or increase their international presence.

Exporting wine in complex times: a study among small and medium wineries

2014 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 345-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abel Duarte Alonso ◽  
Alessandro Bressan ◽  
Michelle O’Shea ◽  
Vlad Krajsic
Keyword(s):  
Business Environment ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Business Climate ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Wine Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Playing Field ◽  
Wine Market ◽  
Internationalisation Strategies

Purpose – For many wineries, internationalisation strategies, particularly in the form of exports may provide opportunities and financial gains. However, as more wine producers enter and compete in an increasingly convoluted wine market, accordingly the “playing field” in the wine industry becomes increasingly complex. To shed more light into wineries’ internationalisation efforts through exports in the currently uncertain business climate, this preliminary study investigates a group of predominantly micro, small, and medium wineries from both New and Old Worlds of wine. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – An online questionnaire was designed to gather data from winery owners and managers that invited to participate voluntarily in the study; a total of 499 usable responses were obtained. Findings – Diversifying and entering new markets, especially due to domestic competition are respondents’ main reasons for embarking in exports, while unfavourable currency exchange, issues of trust, or entry barriers are key challenges many of them face. Further, despite the relatively limited wine production of most participating wineries, respondents perceive a necessity to be present internationally. Indeed, rather than fitting into a specific business model/cycle, the current complex business environment is triggering export strategies among entrepreneurs. Originality/value – The fiercely competitive wine market and continuously changing consumer trends significantly contribute to the complexities the wine industry faces. However, few academic studies have investigated some of the complexities that wineries located in different geographic, economic, political, and social environments face. In this regard, the study makes a contribution by identifying several developments related to complexity theory, including the impacts of globalisation, competition, and change, and the resulting complexity in the wine sector.

A brief history of small business in Australia, 1970-2010

2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 222-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Schaper
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Formal Education ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
Role Of Government ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Tools ◽  
History Of ◽  
Training And Research

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the development of the SME sector in Australia, concentrating on a number of key areas: small business definitions and numbers; the role of government; the emergence of key industry groups; and the evolution of education, training and research services. Design/methodology/approach – The study is a result of extensive literature reviews, desk research and the recollections of various participants in the field. Findings – There have been major changes to the Australian small business sector over the last 40 years. In 1983-1984 there were an estimated 550,000 small firms, and by 2010 this had grown to almost two million. Government involvement in, and support for, SMEs was virtually non-existent before 1970. Following the delivery of the Wiltshire report (1971), however, both state and federal governments responded by developing specialist advisory services, funding programmes and other support tools. Virtually non-existent before the 1970s, several peak industry associations were formed between 1977 and the 1990s. At the same time, formal education and teaching in the area expanded in the 1970s and 1980s and is now widespread. Practical implications – Development of the small business sector in Australia has often paralleled similar trends in other OECD nations. State and territory governments have often (but not always) been the principal drivers of policy change. Originality/value – There has been no little, if any, prior documentation of the evolution of the small business sector in Australia in the last 40 years.

The new retail model: global reach demands omni-channels

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Do Vale ◽  
Isabelle Collin-Lachaud ◽  
Xavier Lecocq
Keyword(s):  
Business Model ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Transformation Process ◽  
Content Type ◽  
New Business ◽  
Business Cases ◽  
Established Firms ◽  
New Consumer ◽  
Global Reach

Purpose To cope with online competitors and new consumer behaviors, retailers need to hybrid digital and physical offerings to implement an omni-channel business model. This constitutes a digital transformation of the traditional business model. However, business cases on how traditional retailers are shifting from multi-channel to omni-channel retailing are lacking. This paper aims to explore the different issues and organizational paths during the transformation of a business model. Design/methodology/approach This study is based on a qualitative multiple case study of five retailers with a global reach currently implementing an omni-channel business model. Findings This research sheds light on three main issues encountered by retailers and the different underlying decisions when moving toward an omni-channel business model. The first relates to revenue attribution across channels, which involves rethinking traditional key performance indicators to give incentives to stores when promoting digital offers. The second issue concerns the supply chain decisions associated with cross-channel operations. The third issue relates to the delicate balance between global reach (digital channel) and local reach (specific store) for communication on social media and marketing decisions on pricing. This study provides empirical evidence about the variety of choices that retailers make to cope with the issues during the implementation of an omni-channel business model. Originality/value This work explores the issues faced by established firms when moving toward a new business model that is the hybridization of two existing business model managed separately. It provides comprehensive and clear illustration of how to manage such a business model transformation process that can be used by both business strategy practice and academic research.

The effect of taxes, similar financial liabilities and demographic variables on Turkey's table wine market: a survey

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayse Nil Tosun ◽  
Ayfer Ezgi Yilmaz
Keyword(s):  
Resource Utilization ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Heavy Load ◽  
Wine Production ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wine Market ◽  
Support Fund

PurposeThis study examines the effect of taxes, similar financial liabilities, and demographic variables such as respondent age, company age, and field of operation on the table wine market in Turkey.Design/methodology/approachAn online survey was conducted on the wine producers and importers via SurveyMonkey. Thirty-six survey questions were answered using a five-point Likert scale. The responses obtained from 51 owners and administrators of wine companies were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 23 program.FindingsExcise and value-added taxes affected the amount and price of table wine production in Turkey, whereas the banderole affected quality and price. The excise tax, value-added tax, banderole, Resource Utilization Support Fund, customs duty, and authorizations also affected the amount, quality and price of table wine imports. Although financial liabilities such as the banderole, Resource Utilization Support Fund and authorizations required for import do not constitute a heavy load on wine costs, they do have similar effects as other taxes on table wine imports.Research limitations/implicationsA limitation of this study was its sample size. Only 51 individuals responded, as it was an online questionnaire. However, this did not compromise the representativeness of the sample with regard to the company's field of operation (production and import of table wine), lending credibility to the opinions provided.Originality/valueThis study establishes that, contrary to popular belief, decisions regarding wine production and import are not solely affected by a heavy tax burden. Other factors, such as the banderole, Resource Utilization Support Fund, ages of companies and respondents and authorizations required for import, which are not viewed as a heavy burden in monetary terms, also prove to be decisive.

Small Firms Crafting Growth Niches in the French Wine Industry: The Role of Entrepreneurial Marketing

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 211-218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa C. Barton ◽  
Sandra Painbéni ◽  
Harry Barton
Keyword(s):  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Firm Growth ◽  
Wine Industry ◽  
Product Knowledge ◽  
Wine Production ◽  
Entrepreneurial Marketing ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

The Case Study section of the International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation serves two purposes. First, the case studies presented are concerned with problematical issues that are pertinent to students of entrepreneurship. Thus they constitute appropriate teaching and learning vehicles on a variety of postgraduate and undergraduate programmes. Each case study is accompanied by a set of guidelines for the use of tutors. Second, it is envisaged that those engaged in entrepreneurial activities will find the cases both interesting and useful. This case study focuses on Domaine de Mourchon, a niche producer of Côtes du Rhône Villages, Séguret Wines in France, owned by the Scottish McKinlay family. The case explores the role of entrepreneurial marketing in helping small independent wine producers to craft strong niche positions in a mature industry. Over the last two decades, French wine producers have been faced with changing consumption and production patterns and fiercer competition, particularly from the New World wine producers. McKinlay entered wine production in 1998 at the height of the industry decline in France. The case allows for the exploration of how a small independent domaine has been proactive in integrating customer preferences, competitor intelligence and product knowledge into the process of creating and delivering superior value to customers in an attempt to achieve a strong market positioning. The activities of McKinlay highlight some of the important considerations for successful entrepreneurial marketing in an industry facing severe marketing problems. Learning objectives: a) to explore the role of entrepreneurial marketing in promoting small firm growth, particularly in mature and/or declining industries; (b) to assess branding and the establishment of or involvement in cooperative interorganizational networks as key factors in successful entrepreneurial marketing; and (c) to stimulate debate about the role of entrepreneurial marketing for small and large firms in different industries.

scholarly journals The influence of celebrity chefs on a student population

2015 ◽  
Vol 117 (2) ◽  
pp. 614-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Rosemary Lane ◽  
Stephanie Margaret Fisher
Keyword(s):  
Food Habits ◽  
Public Perception ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Student Population ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Study Population

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the exposure of a student population to celebrity chef television programmes, to assess the influence these figures have, and how they are perceived. Design/methodology/approach – A survey was conducted through an online questionnaire distributed at Bath Spa University. The approach included asking respondents why they watched programmes featuring celebrity chefs; to select a named celebrity chef whom they thought had most influenced their food habits, and to name particular chefs relating to campaign descriptions. Findings – A significant proportion of the study group watched television programmes fronted by celebrity chefs (84 per cent); the main reason for watching was for entertainment. Overall, reported influence was insignificant, though Jamie Oliver was selected as the chef with most influence on the respondent’s food habits. Jamie Oliver’s campaign to improve school dinners was also the most recognised, and celebrity chefs were generally viewed positively. Research limitations/implications – The study population was quite specific in its gender, age and ethnicity, and therefore might not be representative of wider society. Further work could consider gender differences in chef influence, as well as different forms of exposure. Originality/value – Despite their ubiquity, academic research into the role of the celebrity chef in modern society is limited, where very few studies have assessed the influence of named chefs or the public perception of these figures. This paper gives an insight into this under-researched field.

Prediction model of business success or failure for Palestinian small enterprises in the West Bank

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir D. Baidoun ◽  
Robert N. Lussier ◽  
Maisa Burbar ◽  
Sawsan Awashra
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
West Bank ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Business Failure ◽  
Business Success ◽  
The West ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Random Guessing

Purpose The aim of this study is to examine the factors that lead to success or failure of a small business in the West Bank of Palestine. Design/methodology/approach This study methodology is a survey research, testing the Lussier model of business success and failure with a sample of 246 small businesses (90 failed and 156 successful) to better understand the reasons of their success or failure using logistic regression statistical analysis. Findings The model is significant (p = 0.000); it will predict a group of businesses as successful or failed more accurately than random guessing 99 per cent of the time. The model will also predict a specific small firm as successful or failed 94 per cent of the time vs. 50 per cent for random guessing. The r-square is very high (r = 0.70), indicating that the model variables are, in fact, significant predictors of success or failure. Results indicate that having adequate capital, keeping good records with financial controls, making plans and getting professional advice on how to manage the firm are the most important factors for the viability and success of small businesses. Practical implications With the high rate of small business failure globally, results of this study provide a list of variables that contribute to the success of small firms. Firms that focus on these important factors will increase their odds of success. Thus, avoiding failure, firms better utilize resources that contribute to economic growth. Originality/value This is the first study that looks at success and failure of small businesses in Palestine. There is no one single accepted theory that may be applied to small businesses. This paper aims to further contribute to the global validity of Lussier success and failure model moving toward a theory to better understand why some businesses succeed and others fail.

scholarly journals Effects of public procurement of R&D on the innovation process: evidence from the UK small business research initiative

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kostas Selviaridis
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Market Failure ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Business Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Initiative ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The study aims to investigate how pre-commercial procurement (PCP) influences the activities, capabilities and behaviours of actors participating in the innovation process. Unlike much of PCP research underpinned by a market failure theoretical framework that evaluates the additionality of innovation inputs and outputs, this paper focusses on the role and capacity of PCP in addressing systemic failures impeding the process of innovation. Design/methodology/approach PCP effects on the innovation process were studied through a qualitative study of the UK small business research initiative (SBRI) programme. Data collection comprised 33 semi-structured interviews with key informants within 30 organisations and analysis of 80-plus secondary data sources. Interviewees included executives of technology-based small businesses, managers within public buying organisations and innovation policymakers and experts. Findings The UK SBRI improves connectivity and instigates research and development (R&D) related interactions and cooperation. Through securing government R&D contracts, small firms access relevant innovation ecosystems, build up their knowledge and capabilities and explore possible routes to market. Public organisations use the SBRI to connect to innovative small firms and access their sets of expertise and novel ideas. They also learn to appreciate the strategic role of procurement. Nonetheless, SBRI-funded small business face commercialisation and innovation adoption challenges because of institutional constraints pertaining to rules, regulations and public-sector norms of conduct. Research limitations/implications The study contributes to existing PCP research by demonstrating innovation process-related effects of PCP policies. It also complements literature on small business-friendly public procurement measures by highlighting the ways through which PCP, rather than commercial procurement procedures, can support the development of small businesses other than just facilitating their access to government (R&D) contracts. Social implications The study identifies several challenge areas that policymakers should address to improve the implementation of the UK SBRI programme. Originality/value The study demonstrates the effects of PCP on the activities, capabilities and behaviours of small businesses and public buying organisations involved in the innovation process.

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