Between a business and a social enterprise

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 530-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Durdana Islam ◽  
Fikret Berkes
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Community Economic Development ◽  
Commercial Fishing ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Commercial Fishery ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the function of an Indigenous commercial fishery at Norway House Cree Nation as a social enterprise, and to examine its potential to enhance community economic development. Design/methodology/approach The research was conducted in three phases, and the outcome of each phase was used as an input for the next phase. In the first phase, questionnaire surveys were administered among commercial fishing households. In the second phase, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants, and in the third, with fisheries experts, food development experts and government officials. Findings Norway House Fisherman’s Co-op functions as a social enterprise mainly because commercial fishers contribute to local food security by sharing fish, and the Co-op operates additional businesses which contribute to job creation and community economic development. Research limitations/implications The study was carried out in only one community and commercial fishery from northern Manitoba, and the results will not be directly applicable elsewhere. Practical implications This research provides recommendations for further development of commercial fisheries at Norway House: fuller use of existing fish resources, value-added economic development and creative use of regulatory options. Originality/value The Co-op is identified as the engine of community development. It functions well, but there are additional opportunities for development, such as reducing the discard of lower value fish, which is consistent with indigenous Cree cultural values of not wasting resources.

scholarly journals CSR practices of Palestinian Islamic banks: contribution to socio-economic development

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdalrahman Mohamed Migdad
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Secondary Analysis ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Islamic Banks ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Human Welfare ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Main Research ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Islamic Financial Institutions

Purpose Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is an important corporate activity that affirms the importance of giving back to the community. This research aims to examine the CSR practices of Palestinian Islamic banks and their contribution to socio-economic development. There is an ongoing debate regarding Islamic financial institutions’ profit motive versus their motivation to achieve human welfare. The Palestinian Islamic banks are not disconnected from this debate, and this paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach For the purpose of assessing the CSR practices of Palestinian Islamic banks, a secondary analysis of the banks’ annual reports was carried out. In addition, 11 structured interviews were conducted with Islamic banks’ practitioners at the decision-making level and with some of the banks’ Sharīʿah board members to gather their views on CSR. These have been analyzed in light of the actual CSR practices disclosed in each bank’s annual reports. Findings The main research findings suggest that the CSR practice is highly valued by the Palestinian Islamic banks, but it is small and has marginal effects on the community’s socio-economic development. Another important observation from report analysis is that Islamic banks have great potential for expansion, given that the demand for Islamic financial transactions is double of what Islamic banks currently offer. If Islamic banks live up to that opportunity, they could deliver more in CSR practices, which is their ultimate goal according to the majority of the interviewees. Originality/value Existing literature has presented findings on the CSR of Palestinian corporations in general, but there is no available literature on the CSR practices of Palestinian Islamic banks. This research attempts to fill in the gap by presenting preliminary findings on Palestinian Islamic banks’ CSR practices.

Digitalization and rural entrepreneurial attitude in Indonesia: a capability approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fikri Zul Fahmi ◽  
Medina Savira
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Digital Technology ◽  
Capability Approach ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Rural Entrepreneurship ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Capability Approach

Purpose This paper aims to identify how digitalization affects entrepreneurial attitudes in rural areas in Indonesia, a country in the Global South. The development of digital technology can help entrepreneurs, in that faster and easier information acquisition helps rural communities to identify new opportunities and innovate. Yet, digital development generates higher disparity, and thus, not all people can benefit from digitalization. Although digital technology can facilitate the development of entrepreneurship, its benefits depend on individual preferences. In this regard, the capability approach is used so as to reflect how different valuations of digital technology in rural entrepreneurs influence their attitude with regard to recognizing business opportunities and taking risks. Design/methodology/approach A double case study approach is used in which this study examines two cases of rural entrepreneurs in Indonesia that represent different uses of digital technologies and socio-economic rural contexts: coffee entrepreneurs in Kintamani and craft producers in Kamasan village. In so doing, semi-structured interviews were conducted with local entrepreneurs and communities according to purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The qualitative data were then analysed using a constant comparative technique which allows us to develop a conceptual argument by observing patterns within and between the cases. Findings The findings show that digitalization shapes the attitude of rural entrepreneurs differently, although the same opportunity from using digital technology is present in the village. Social and environmental factors facilitate the rural entrepreneurs to consider using digital technology to develop their businesses. However, as each individual entrepreneur has a different valuation of digital technology, the benefits it offers – such as broader market opportunities and new business ideas – vary. Entrepreneurs who consider digital technology to be a valuable resource for developing their businesses are more curious to explore its benefits. Originality/value The capability approach provides a new perspective in understanding rural entrepreneurship. First, the authors demonstrate that the success of rural entrepreneurship is influenced not only by concrete things (e.g. resources) but also the individual perspective on these resources which may vary across entrepreneurs. Second, the authors show not only the potential differences in socio-cultural contexts in which the capability approach is applied but also how socio-cultural values and collectivism influence the individual valuation of resources that could benefit entrepreneurs.

Green supplier selection using an AHP-Entropy-TOPSIS framework

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 327-340 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Freeman ◽  
Tao Chen
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supplier Selection ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Entropy Weight ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Analytic Hierarchy ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Green Supplier Selection

Purpose – This paper aims to focus on development of a green supplier selection model using an index system based on a combination of traditional supplier and environmental supplier selection criteria. Strategies that balance economic and environmental performance are increasingly sought after as enterprises that increasingly focus on the sustainability of their operations. Green supply chain management (GSCM) in particular, enables the integration of environmentally friendly suppliers into the supply chain to be systematised to fit with specific environmental regulations and policies. More persuasively, GSCM allows enterprises to improve profits whilst lowering impacts on the global environment. Design/methodology/approach – A two-phase survey approach was adopted for the research. For the first phase, semi-structured interviews with senior management representatives of the case company – a Chinese-based electronic machinery manufacturer – were used to determine green supplier selection criteria. For the second phase, a two-part questionnaire survey was undertaken, the first part providing the data for an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) analysis of the first-phase criteria and the second with collecting data for an Entropy weight analysis. The resultant AHP and Entropy weights were then combined to form compromised weights – which, using technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) methodology, were translated into preferential rankings of suppliers. Findings – Senior managers were found to rank traditional criteria more highly than environmental alternatives – the implication being that for the company, concerned, it may take some time before environmental awareness is fully assimilated into GSCM practice. Originality/value – The paper moves us a significant step closer to the application more widely, of innovative AHP-Entropy/TOPSIS methodology to real-world SCM problems.

scholarly journals Recommendations to improve insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran: A multi-criteria decision making approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Shahabi ◽  
Seyed Taghi Heydari ◽  
Kamran Bagheri Lankarani ◽  
Leila Zarei
Keyword(s):  
Population Aging ◽  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Goods And Services

Abstract Background: High toll of traffic-related injuries, climate change, natural disasters, population aging, as well as chronic diseases have all made considerable demands on receiving physiotherapy services in Iran. Nevertheless, there is an assortment of complications facing utilization of such services, particularly poor insurance coverage. Therefore, the present study investigated and prioritized potential policy recommendations to improve insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran.Methods: This project was carried out in Iran, using a mix-methods (viz. qualitative-quantitative) approach. Within the first phase, a qualitative study was completed to find policy recommendations. Such recommendations were then prioritized through the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), in the second phase, based on effectiveness, acceptability, cost, fairness, feasibility, and time. Results: Within the first phase, a total number of 30 semi-structured interviews with health policy-makers, health insurers, faculty members, rehabilitation experts, and physiotherapists were completed. Several policy recommendations were also proposed by the study participants. Following the second phase, prioritized recommendations were provided to promote stewardship (e.g. informing policy-makers about physiotherapy services), collection of funds (e.g. placing value-added taxes on luxury goods and services), pooling of funds (e.g. moving allocated resources towards insurance [viz. third-party] mechanism), purchasing (e.g. using strategic purchasing), and benefit package (e.g. considering preventive interventions) as the main components of insurance coverage. Conclusion: The study findings provided a favorable ground to improve insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran. As well, decision- and policy-makers can place these recommendations on the agenda in the health sector to protect population health status, especially that of groups with disabilities.

scholarly journals Recommendations to improve the insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran A multi-criteria decision making approach

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Shahabi ◽  
Seyed Taghi Heydari ◽  
Kamran Bagheri Lankarani ◽  
Leila Zarei
Keyword(s):  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Third Party ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Policy Recommendations ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Goods And Services

Abstract Background High rate of traffic injuries, climate changes, natural disasters, aging, and chronic diseases have been resulted in a considerable demand for receiving physiotherapy in Iran. However, there are various complications in utilization of physiotherapy services, especially poor insurance coverage. This study investigated and prioritized potential policy recommendations to improve the insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran. Methods The present project was carried out using mix-method (qualitative-quantitative) approach in Iran. In the first phase, a qualitative study was conducted to find the policy recommendations and in the second phase, obtained policy recommendations were prioritized based on the effectiveness, acceptability, cost, fairness, feasibility, and time using Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Results In the first phase, 30 semi-structured interviews with health policy-makers, health insurers, faculty members, rehabilitation experts, and physiotherapists were conducted. Several policy recommendations were proposed by participants. Following the second phase, prioritized recommendations were provided to promote stewardship (e.g. informing the policy-makers about physiotherapy services), collection of funds (e.g. value-added tax on luxury goods and services), pooling of funds (e.g. moving the allocated resources to insurance (third party) mechanism), purchasing (e.g. using strategic purchasing), and benefit package (e.g. considering the preventive interventions) as main components of insurance coverage. Conclusion The findings of this study will be provided a favorable ground to improve the insurance coverage for physiotherapy services in Iran, and decision- and policy-makers can place these recommendations at their agenda settings in the health sector to protect the health status of population, especially disabled groups.

scholarly journals Motives to SME internationalisation

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bowen
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Cultural Influences ◽  
Government Support ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food And Drink

Purpose This study offers a comparative analysis of attitudes to small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) internationalisation in two different cultural settings, Wales and Brittany. The purpose of this paper is to conduct an in-depth investigation of attitudes to internationalisation among food and drink SMEs using mixed methods and focussing on both SMEs that internationalise and those that do not. This leads to a more comprehensive understanding of the issues influencing attitudes to SME internationalisation, which could facilitate policy development for such companies. Design/methodology/approach Mixed methods are used in this study to provide a richness of data in investigating this complex issue. The majority of research in this field has focussed on quantitative research, however, this study heeds calls for more plurality in research on SME internationalisation to achieve a more detailed understanding of the issues affecting SME internationalisation. This is achieved through an online questionnaire of 169 food producing SMEs in Wales and Brittany, informed by International Entrepreneurship theory. A second phase of semi-structured interviews provides more context to the questionnaire findings, with 37 interviews conducted with respondents from the questionnaire. Each phase was conducted independently, with findings triangulated for further investigation. Findings Companies of all characteristics have the ability to internationalise; however, cultural differences were observed between Wales and Brittany in both attitudes and the conditions for internationalisation. Breton SMEs displayed more proactivity to internationalisation, stemming from more favourable conditions, a greater reputation for food and more confidence. Conversely, Welsh SMEs were more reactive, relying on government support in encouraging internationalisation. Breton SMEs also benefitted from the strong cultural identity of food products, especially through the Produit en Bretagne brand and its network of producers. Originality/value The study makes both a theoretical and methodological contribution to research on SME internationalisation. The comparative study of Wales and Brittany is significant in understanding cultural influences to internationalisation in two regions where the food and drink industry represents an important part of the economy. The focus on a single industry is significant in understanding the particularities of internationalisation within an industrial context, as findings from studies across multiple industries are considered less generalisable. A methodological contribution is sought through using mixed methods to provide a more comprehensive study.

Socio-economic and technological new normal in supply chain management: lessons from COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mian M. Ajmal ◽  
Mehmood Khan ◽  
Muhammad Kashif Shad ◽  
Haseena AlKatheeri ◽  
Fauzia Jabeen
Keyword(s):  
Factor Analysis ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Service Industry ◽  
Measurement Scale ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
New Normal ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Digital Platforms

PurposeThis paper explores the new normal activities and strategic responses of the service industry towards the challenges created by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak and other constructs and validates the measurement scale for socio-economic and technological new normal activities following lockdown and social distancing practices.Design/methodology/approachFirst, structured interviews with 28 participants helped us generate items and develop survey instruments for cross-sectional data collection in the second phase. So, the authors received 256 complete responses from the top and middle management of the services industry. Exploratory factor analysis helped us explore the factors and reliability of the items. Confirmatory factor analysis aided us in generating and confirming the factorial structure of the constructs.FindingsResults indicated that amid COVID-19's pandemic, new normal activities are emerging in which organizations are deploying crisis strategies to safeguard their business and stakeholders. Organizations are re-opening swiftly, focusing on digital transformation, developing digital platforms for ease in working and improved consumer services, to name a few operational changes.Practical implicationsDiscussion on empirical analysis revolves around the guidelines to service industry's managers and top management to improve shortcomings in combating the challenges they face in their operations.Originality/valuePrior studies have provided substantial insights on the COVID-19 pandemic, but relatively little research exists on new normal activities in the supply chain network of the service industry. Among other reasons for such less empirical evidence on new normal activities is the unavailability of a comprehensive tool for measuring the socio-economic and technological new normal activities. This paper is a contribution to bridging this knowledge gap.

Influences on food choices of urban Chinese teenagers

2014 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 296-311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Veeck ◽  
Fang Grace Yu ◽  
Hongyan Yu ◽  
Gregory Veeck ◽  
James W. Gentry
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Cultural Values ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
School Students ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Marketing Environment

Purpose – This study aims to examine the major influences of food choices of Chinese teenagers within a dynamic food marketing environment. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports findings from semi-structured interviews with high school students which examine teenagers’ guidelines for selecting food, along with their actual eating behavior. Findings – The results reflect on how four major influences – personal, family, peer and retailer – may intersect to affect the eating behaviors of Chinese adolescents, as they navigate an intense education schedule during a time of rapidly changing cultural values. Different norms of food choice – nutrition, food safety, taste, body image, price, convenience, sharing, friendship and fun – are evoked according to the social context and concurrent activities of the teenagers. Social implications – The findings offer tentative insights related to the potential for promoting healthier eating habits for adolescents in urban areas of China. Originality/value – The study demonstrates how, within this rapidly changing food environment, food retailers are creating alliances with teenagers to meet needs of convenience, speed, taste and social interaction.

scholarly journals Australian indigenous social enterprise: measuring performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 397-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rochelle Spencer ◽  
Martin Brueckner ◽  
Gareth Wise ◽  
Banduk Marika
Keyword(s):  
Nonprofit Organizations ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Policy Support ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Community Impact ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Entrepreneurial Activities

Purpose Using an integrated framework for performance management of nonprofit organizations, this paper aims to present an analysis of the activities of an Indigenous social enterprise in the town of Yirrkala in northeast Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory of Australia. The evaluation focuses on the social effectiveness of the organization and its ability to help generate income and employment and drive social capital creation. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is informed by data derived from “yarns” with social enterprise staff and semi-structured interviews conducted with key informants who were selected using snowball sampling. Data were transcribed and analyzed thematically. Findings The analysis reveals that the organization provides a successful community-based pathway for increasing Indigenous economic participation on local terms at a time of regional economic decline and high levels of Indigenous unemployment nationally. Practical implications The measured effectiveness of Nuwul highlights the need for targeted policy support for Indigenous enterprises and that social entrepreneurship is far more likely to be successful in a supportive government policy environment, a critical need for government-initiated policies to encourage the formation of Indigenous social enterprises that are entrepreneurial and innovative in their solutions to poverty and marginalization. Such policies should not only aid the establishment of Indigenous ventures but also facilitate their long-term growth and sustainability. Originality/value Although Indigenous entrepreneurial activities have been found to be effective in addressing Indigenous disadvantage in Australia, little is known about their community impact. The article provides original empirically grounded research on the measurement of Indigenous entrepreneurial activities and their wider community impact. The data show, against the backdrop of mixed results of government efforts to drive Indigenous economic mainstreaming, that the entrepreneurial activities analyzed in this paper are an example of more flexible and culturally appropriate pathways for achieving Indigenous equality in rural and remote regions of Australia.

scholarly journals Bricolage in the marketing efforts of a social enterprise

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-196 ◽  
Author(s):  
Merie Joseph Kannampuzha ◽  
Mari Suoranta
Keyword(s):  
Social Enterprise ◽  
Resource Constraints ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Entrepreneurship Education ◽  
Social Enterprises ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Creative Solutions ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Resource Leveraging

Purpose The paper aims to understand how resource constraints are addressed in the development of a marketing strategy by a social enterprise. Design/methodology/approach The authors have used an in-depth case study of collaboration between a Finnish university and an Indian social enterprise as the methodology for the research in which the data were collected over a period of two years. The data involve semi-structured interviews, field notes and student reports. Findings The authors propose bricolage as a method of marketing ingenuity in resource-constrained social enterprises. Network bricolage and entrepreneurship education bricolage were identified as two mechanisms adopted to address resource constraints in the early stage of the development of a social enterprise. Further studies need to be conducted to test the applicability of network bricolage among a variety of small and medium-sized enterprises and start-ups. Bricolage could be explored in more detail as an alternative to resource leveraging to understand the marketing activities of social businesses in their initial stages. Research limitations/implications Network bricolage is a type of bricolage in which an entrepreneur utilizes existing personal and professional networks as a resource at hand. Although networking and resource leveraging imply that the founders of an organization pursue resources from previously unknown people, network bricolage involves already known contacts of the entrepreneur. Practical implications Another type of bricolage that observed by the authors was entrepreneurship education bricolage. A combination of students, business mentors and university resources such as faculty members was utilized as an ingenuity mechanism to develop creative solutions for a shortage of marketing resources. Originality/value The theoretical framework of entrepreneurial bricolage is applied in the context of the marketing of a social enterprise.

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