Networking-bonding actions, quality of ties, and channel member collaboration: Evidence from U.K.-based small firms

Abstract„Quality is not everything but everything is nothing without quality”. The famous quotation from K. Ishikawa brings to our attention the fact that nowadays quality is one of strategic concepts from the point of view of functioning of companies, especially production-oriented ones. The lack of quality often eliminates a product from the basket of potential further choices. That means that quality is a prerequisite in the contemporary, highly competitive and saturated market. In order to ensure quality, enterprises introduce various concepts and methods to support quality management. They include, among others, the kaizen philosophy, which allows to minimize unnecessary actions (losses). It is especially recommended to small firms as an inexpensive method assuring high quality of products because they are constantly improved, which, in turn, guarantees maintaining a high position among competitors. This article aims to introduce the concept of kaizen by describing how it works and considering whether it can be successful in Polish companies.

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Small Firms, Corruption, and Demand for Credit. Evidence from the Euro Area

International Business Research ◽

10.5539/ibr.v10n11p158 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 158 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emma Galli ◽

Danilo V. Mascia ◽

Stefania P. S. Rossi

Keyword(s):

Euro Area ◽

Small Businesses ◽

Small Firms ◽

Institutional Environment ◽

Bank Loans ◽

Access To Credit ◽

Policies And Measures

In this paper, we aim to assess how the quality of the institutional environment – identified according to the level of corruption perceived in a country – may affect the access to credit for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Based on a sample of 68,115 observations – drawn from the ECB-SAFE survey – related to MSMEs chartered in 11 euro area countries, we investigate whether the level of corruption affects their demand for bank loans during the period 2009–2014.Overall, we find that the degree of corruption seems to play a role in the applications for bank loans when small firms are under investigation. Interestingly, results highlight that small businesses chartered in highly corrupt countries face a greater probability of self-restraint regarding their loan applications (about 7.4%) than small firms located in low-corruption economies (around 6%). The results are robust to various model specifications and econometric methodologies. Our findings suggest that anti-corruption policies and measures enhancing transparency in the economy may be crucial in reducing the negative spillovers generated by a low-quality institutional environment on the access to credit by small firms.

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How network managers influence the export intensity: evidence from Italy

Journal of Management Development ◽

10.1108/jmd-04-2017-0100 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 36 (10) ◽

pp. 1317-1331 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Michele Rubino ◽

Filippo Vitolla ◽

Antonello Garzoni

Keyword(s):

Small Firms ◽

Significant Variable ◽

Export Intensity ◽

Content Type ◽

Specific Analysis ◽

Network Manager ◽

Practical Implications ◽

Theoretical Standpoint

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to analyze, through an empirical study, the Italian network agreements in order to evaluate how the activities and attitudes of the network managers impact on export intensity. Design/methodology/approach Using the data of a questionnaire survey from 182 Italian firms that have joined the network in 2012; regression analysis was applied to test the hypotheses related to the network managers. Findings The results indicate that planning activity performed by the network manager is the most significant variable that positively influences the export intensity. Also the international experience and social and relational activities performed by the network managers influence the level of exports. Network managers’ perceived advantages and barriers have a different impact on the dependent variable. Practical implications The analysis of the role played by network managers helps to increase the awareness that the success of the network depends on the quality of the network managers’ activities and their attitudes and characteristics. The results suggest that in every network should be present the figure of the network manager. Originality/value This research is one of the first studies to analyze the Italian network agreements and role of network managers. Second, from a theoretical standpoint, the authors add to the existing literature a specific analysis that relates primarily to small firms, showing that, in this context the results are not always consistent with prior studies.

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Achieving growth-quality of work life ambidexterity in small firms

Journal of Service Theory and Practice ◽

10.1108/jstp-04-2014-0064 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 529-550 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Lan Snell ◽

Phyra Sok ◽

Tracey S. Danaher

Keyword(s):

Small Firms ◽

Work Life ◽

Quality Of Work Life ◽

Service Firms ◽

Content Type ◽

Quality Of Work ◽

Growth Quality ◽

The Relationship ◽

Passion For Work

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the individual mechanisms that mediate the relationship between marketing practices and growth-quality of work life ambidexterity. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from small service firms via an online survey questionnaire electronically distributed to 7,271 owners of small firms in Australia. Partial least squares was used to test our mediation hypotheses on the data obtained. Findings – The authors demonstrate the mediation effect of entrepreneurial self-efficacy and passion for work in enhancing the relationship between marketing practices and growth-quality of work life ambidexterity. Practical implications – The findings indicate that being good at marketing does not always lead directly to achieving growth-quality of work life ambidexterity. The results suggest that achievement in both domains requires owners of small service firms to have a strong self-belief that they can perform their job successfully (entrepreneurial self-efficacy) as well as a strong passion to do the job they are doing (passion for work). Policy makers or small firm advisors can include this information to develop enactive mastery measures to promote efficacy and passion for work which can increase small firm survival rates. Originality/value – The high percentage of business terminations reported without financial loss underscores the importance of including both financial and non-financial goals for small firms. The approach to conceptualize and operationalize growth-quality of work life ambidexterity as a dependent variable representing firm performance assists by providing a more detailed and practical understanding of the organizational and individual variables that enable small firms to realize both.

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International market selection for small firms: a fuzzy-based decision process

European Journal of Marketing ◽

10.1108/ejm-09-2012-0512 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 48 (11/12) ◽

pp. 2198-2212 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Gianluca Marchi ◽

Marina Vignola ◽

Gisella Facchinetti ◽

Giovanni Mastroleo

Keyword(s):

Decision Process ◽

Small Firms ◽

Cognitive Biases ◽

Single Case ◽

International Market ◽

Market Selection ◽

Content Type ◽

Study Approach ◽

First Time

Purpose – This study aims to build and test an International Market Selection (IMS) decision process method that is able to capture, within a small firm’s risk-averse setting, the entrepreneur's experience, reduce cognitive biases, and preserve the flexibility of the decision, by combining the advantages of systematic and behavioural-based international market selection approaches. Design/methodology/approach – The unit of analysis is the IMS decision process of a small firm venturing abroad. We adopt a ranking approach based on three-step screening. We assess the markets through a multi-criteria approach with a wider set of variables aggregated within a tree-shaped model. To obtain the ranking, we use a Fuzzy Expert System (FES) as an evaluative tool. Findings – The results show that the proposed decision method is consistent with the entrepreneur’s strategic orientation and experience, while preserving the flexibility requested for decision-making in small firms. Unlike traditional behavioural IMS approaches, the method demonstrates an ability to reduce the cognitive biases associated with the use of a limited set of variables and unreliable evaluation models. Research limitations/implications – The single-case-study approach limits generalization of the findings. Practical implications – The proposed methodology helps the decision-maker to improve the quality of the IMS decision by reducing the effect of cognitive biases that usually affect traditional behavioural models. Originality/value – For the first time, a decision-process methodology based on an FES is applied to a small firm’s IMS problem.

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Acquisitions for Sleep

The B E Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy ◽

10.1515/bejeap-2019-0021 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Pehr-Johan Norbäck ◽

Charlotta Olofsson ◽

Lars Persson

Keyword(s):

Intellectual Property ◽

Small Firms ◽

Property Law ◽

Policy Debate ◽

Intellectual Property Law

AbstractWithin the policy debate, there is a fear that large incumbent firms buy small firms’ inventions to ensure that they are not used in the market. We show that such “acquisitions for sleep” can occur if and only if the quality of a process invention is small; otherwise, the entry profit will be higher than the entry-deterring value. We then show that the incentive for acquiring for the purpose of putting a patent to sleep decreases when the intellectual property law is stricter because the profit for the entrant then increases more than the entry-deterring value does.

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Fostering Commercialization of Innovation and Student Entrepreneurship in Innovation Ecosystems: the Case of the Business Center of North Savo in Finland

Revista Nacional de Administración ◽

10.22458/rna.v12i1.3556 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Jarkko Pellikka ◽

Joonas Ruuskanen1 ◽

Paola Rosales Suazo de Kontro

Keyword(s):

Small Firms ◽

Business Environment ◽

Case Study Methodology ◽

Student Entrepreneurship ◽

The North ◽

Quality Of Delivery ◽

Study Methodology ◽

Innovation Support

The capability to plan and execute commercialization processes of innovation is crucial for entrepreneurs, SMEs and large companies in a dynamic business environment. Enterprising students particularly need Innovation Support Services (ISS) that focus on their needs, type of service and quality of delivery. Using the case study methodology, this research presents the initiative of the Business Center of the North Savo Program in Finland. Results indicate that entrepreneurs and small firms typically conduct similar steps and, therefore, it is essential to create a comprehensive blueprint of innovation services based on the needs and tailored to the respective phase of commercialization processes.

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Quality of employment in small firms

Journal of Economic Development Environment and People ◽

10.26458/jedep.v7i2.586 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 56

Author(s):

Cristian UȚĂ

Keyword(s):

Small Firms ◽

Publishing House ◽

Political Agenda ◽

The European Union ◽

Economic Implications ◽

Knowledge Based ◽

Strategic Objective ◽

Knowledge Based Economy ◽

Sustainable Economic Growth

The strategic objective of the European Union set out in Lisbon is to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy capable of delivering sustainable economic growth, increasing employment and developing greater social cohesion. At the heart of this strategy are businesses, and given that the vast majority of them are SMEs (less than 250 employees), policies to achieve this are focused on them. At the same time, improving the quality of work and working conditions is still an important objective on the European political agenda due to multiple socio-economic implications. In this context, the work "Quality of Employment in Small Companies" by Daniela Paşnicu and Gabriela Tănase is very current. Appeared in 2017 at the University Publishing House, the paper is structured in five chapters.

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Female entrepreneurs: motivations and constraints. An Italian regional study

International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship ◽

10.1108/ijge-08-2015-0029 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 198-220 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Marina Bianchi ◽

Valentino Parisi ◽

Renato Salvatore

Keyword(s):

Small Firms ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Research Approach ◽

Regional Study ◽

Female Entrepreneurs ◽

Content Type ◽

Positive Effects ◽

And Cluster Analysis ◽

Determining Factor

Purpose This paper aims to identify the specific contextual constraints that women might face in becoming entrepreneurs; to correlate these constraints with the motivations that have determined this choice; and to ascertain how strongly constraints and motivations are correlated with individual rewards in terms of personal satisfaction and economic payoffs. Design/methodology/approach The empirical base is a survey that the authors conducted among female entrepreneurs in a Southern province of Italy in 2012. Data are analyzed through a correspondence and cluster analysis. The socio-economic context of the province within which these female-led firms operate is taken into account by means of a correspondence canonical analysis. Findings In terms of results: first, two-thirds of female entrepreneurs in the province are positively motivated, and this is a determining factor in their choice to become entrepreneurs. This translates into they also being satisfied with the choice they made. Second, contrary to the expectations, being positively motivated and satisfied holds both for firms operating in more dynamic and demanding sectors and for small firms using little financial or human capital. Research limitations/implications The chosen research approach has allowed to identify the most important decisional variables that affect female entrepreneurial choice. However, as most of the variables are categorical, the research’s results remain descriptive. Practical implications Positive motivations and personal rewards are clearly relevant for women making an entrepreneurial choice. However, they are not enough to stimulate fully the potential for growth of their enterprises: education and a social environment conducive to female creative expression are also necessary. To this end, the authors suggest that an important function of change could be played in particular by universities by fostering a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship. Social implications By stressing the connections between positive motivations and wellbeing, the authors suggest that the promotion of women’s entrepreneurial choices through networks and education generates more than purely economic benefits. It also has positive effects on their quality of life and on social welfare as well. Originality/value This paper responds to a need – not yet fulfilled in the literature – to better understand the relations between women’s motivation, satisfaction and the type of business selected.

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