Startup Competitions and their Role in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: A Conceptual Attempt

2020 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 233-246
Author(s):  
Lennard Stolz
Keyword(s):  
General Framework ◽  
Policy Instrument ◽  
Learning Networks ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystems ◽  
Support Organizations ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Positive Climate

AbstractResearch on entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) is still advancing as a concept that both practitioners and scholars claim has advanced beyond other approaches to fostering or explaining regional entrepreneurship. However, criticism of the concept centers on a lack of understanding of causes and effects and the importance of single instruments for its functionality. While practitioners and policy makers are jumping on the bandwagon and trying to aim policies directly at entrepreneurial ecosystems, investigation of the role of single instruments and their impact on entrepreneurial ecosystems remains insufficient. Fostering entrepreneurship through startup competitions (SUCs) is a decades-old policy instrument. Today, both scholars and practitioners mention SUCs as an element of entrepreneurial ecosystems, but analyzing them from that perspective remains undone. Building on a regional understanding of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems, this paper provides a novel framework for the role of startup competitions in entrepreneurial ecosystems. Following on previous studies of SUCs, this study identifies core mechanisms and benefits of the competitions and presents a general framework for SUCs. Then, the study results are synthesized with mechanisms central to entrepreneurial ecosystems, e.g., entrepreneurial learning, networks of entrepreneurial-related actors in the region, and financing entrepreneurship. It is argued that startup competitions work as network hubs in entrepreneurial ecosystems because they connect: a) entrepreneurs with each other, b) entrepreneurs with relevant actors (e.g., financiers, experts, entrepreneurship support organizations), c) those actors among themselves. Therefore, the competitions are “anchor events” and strengthen the overall quality of the EE in which they occur. The study also argues that SUCs benefit from a functioning EE’s positive climate for entrepreneurship and the availability of resources. The study is theoretical, and its findings lead to an agenda for further research.

La politica dei Cluster in Europa: tendenze e criticitŕ emergenti

ARGOMENTI ◽  
2009 ◽  
pp. 99-122
Author(s):  
Alessandro Minello
Keyword(s):  
European Commission ◽  
Complex Adaptive Systems ◽  
Adaptive Systems ◽  
Triple Helix ◽  
Cluster Policy ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Critical Elements ◽  
Complex Adaptive

- Cluster policy today represent one of the main elements of the European agenda, both for policy makers and for practitioners. In the last decade an extensive-type cluster policy has produced a proliferation of clusters all over the Europe, but the generated quality of clusters created has not always been quite satisfactory. Following the input by the European commission, currently is underway a qualitative review of the goals and processes of European cluster policy. This paper aims at presenting such changes in the European cluster policy, beside the main lessons that can be learned. The analysis emphasizes some critical elements of the current process of "clustering" and highlights the role of the institutions, besides the market, in the planning of new clusters and the strengthening of those existing. The final message is that Europe needs a better cluster policy, rather than more clusters, according to the growing complexity and dynamism of clusters.Parole chiave: cluster, politica dei cluster, approccio triple-helix, sistemi adattivi complessi.Keywords: cluster, cluster policy, triple helix approach, complex adaptive systems.

scholarly journals Teacher Standards and Professionalism

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Pauline Barnes
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Secondary School Teachers ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Collective Responsibility ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Teaching Profession ◽  
Teacher Professionalism ◽  
Policy Makers

<p>The focus of this research is teacher professionalism in New Zealand and the possible role of the ‘Standards for the Teaching Profession’ that were released in 2017, in strengthening the quality of teaching. Evidence suggests that the quality of teachers’ work is an important factor in students’ success. So, a challenge for education policy-makers is to create a system that encourages and enables teachers to be high quality and motivated to keep improving. The literature suggests a strategy to enable this is to encourage a mature profession, where teachers take collective responsibility for improvement. Standards for teachers can be a positive influence on improving teacher practice when their use is balanced between regulatory and development functions, so that they are a catalyst for professional development. This research involved 45 teachers in English Medium settings participating in sector specific focus groups for early childhood, primary school and secondary school teachers, a review of policy documents and secondary data from Education Council workshops. The analysis suggests that aspects of organisational professionalism influence the environment, although most teachers did not consciously align themselves to this discourse. There appeared to be some differences between sectors, with those in early childhood aligning more closely to their organisation than other teachers and feeling like they were not accepted as a legitimate part of the teaching profession. Although teachers were generally positive about the new standards, few teachers considered using them for reflection or professional conversations outside of formal appraisal. The aspiration presented in literature of a mature profession that works collaboratively with a mix of stakeholders to combine expertise, ask tough questions to create solutions and grows professional knowledge was not apparent, however teachers identified opportunities to shift the profession towards this discourse.</p>

scholarly journals Current issues in Scandinavian acute psychiatric wards

2006 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torleif Ruud ◽  
Nils Lindefors ◽  
Anne Lindhardt
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Psychiatric Units ◽  
Acute Psychiatric Wards ◽  
Field Information ◽  
The Right

AbstractThe aim of the paper is to provide an overview of some of the most important issues faced by acute inpatient facilities in three Scandinavian countries, including reflections and critical remarks for discussion in this field. Information was drawn from scientific articles and official reports published in recent years, as well as the authors' own knowledge of acute facilities in their home countries. Acute inpatient facilities, including General Hospital Psychiatric Units (GHPUs), in all Scandinavian countries have several issues and problems in common, which include the organisation and capacity of acute services, the assessment of dangerousness and suicidality, the use of coercion and efforts to reduce coercion, the need to define and improve the quality of acute services, and the necessity to improve collaboration and continuity between acute services and other services. Although the emphasis some of these issues receive can vary across the three countries, Scandinavian mental health professionals (and policy makers) have begun to systematically share their experiences in developing a growing spirit of collaboration. Despite the role of welfare state and the deployment of substantial resources in Scandinavian countries, mental health practitioners are struggling to implement best practices in acute wards, to develop differentiated forms of acute services, and to reach the right balance and coordination between acute services and other services.

The roles of friends and neighbours in providing support for older people

2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 341-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW NOCON ◽  
MAGGIE PEARSON
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Social Services ◽  
White Paper ◽  
Frail Older People ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
The People ◽  
Direct Support ◽  
Published Research

Most published research on informal care for older people focuses on the support provided by relatives. The role of non-kin carers can, however, also be significant in supporting older people in their own homes. In this paper, we report the findings from an exploratory study of the support provided by friends and neighbours who are the main carers of frail older people. It draws on interviews with an opportunistic sample of friends, neighbours and older people, which explored their views about the support arrangements, the reasons why help was provided and any difficulties experienced. Several friends and neighbours provided intensive and frequent help, and some played a key role in co-ordinating other services. One of the main forms of direct support related to older people's quality of life, at a broader level than the practical help provided by statutory services. The flexibility of such support, and the friends' and neighbours' concern for older people as individuals, were particularly important to the people they helped. Nevertheless, such help was not provided without costs to the carers. The study highlights the need for policy-makers and practitioners not to take help from friends and neighbours for granted and, in line with the White Paper Modernising Social Services, to provide the support services they need.

scholarly journals The Role of Cooperatives, Remittances, and Infrastructure in Export Performance of Nepal: ARDL Approach of Cointegration

2020 ◽  
pp. 151-159
Author(s):  
Ramesh C. Paudel ◽  
Chakrapani Acharya ◽  
Resham Thapa-Parajuli
Keyword(s):  
Time Series Data ◽  
Export Performance ◽  
Series Data ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Ardl Approach ◽  
Negative Role ◽  
Supply Side Factors

Cooperatives, remittances, and foreign direct investment (FDI) are crucial source of funds required for better entrepreneurships, which combinedly along with the quality of infrastructure can contribute to enhance the supply side factors of the export performance. Due to the well perceived role of cooperatives, Nepal’s constitution 2015 mentions this sector as one of the three pillars of the national economy while around 30 percent of Nepal’s GDP comes from remittances. As the country lacks the domestic sources for investment, FDI has become an indispensable part of the development sources of the developing countries in the recent decades. This paper analyzes the role of cooperatives, remittances, FDI and infrastructure in export performance of Nepal using the Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) approach of cointegration as suggested by the properties of the time series data for the period of 26 years from 1993 to 2018. The major finding shows that the cooperatives have not contributed to export performance as expected, however the role is positive. The remittances have a strong negative role on export performance, which is largely impacted by the number and quality of the infrastructure. The role of FDI is also negative and might be due to insufficient volume to contribute substantially. This fact seeks the urgent attention from the policy makers to make the country more investment friendly.

Probable impact of the 1994 elections on laboratory medicine

1995 ◽  
Vol 41 (8) ◽  
pp. 1223-1227
Author(s):  
H S Foster
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Laboratory ◽  
Quality Of Healthcare ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Quarter Century ◽  
The Past ◽  
Probable Impact ◽  
Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments

Abstract During the past quarter century, federal health policy makers concerned themselves with: (a) improving the quality of healthcare delivered to the American public; (b) increasing access to needed healthcare services; and (c) curtailing the escalating cost of such services. These goals led Congress to expand the role of the federal government in regulating the delivery of healthcare. The enactment of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA '88) was a significant and widely discussed example of how Congress, when controlled by the Democrats, sought to correct healthcare problems and achieve federal objectives. In November 1994, the Republicans won majorities in both the Senate and the House, promising to reduce the federal government's power. Many now believe that CLIA '88, or significant parts of it, could be substantially modified as part of this effort. This paper addresses the developments that led the Democrats to seek enactment of CLIA '88 and the likely arguments that may be offered by the Republicans to lessen the rigor and scope of the law.

Gimme shelter or fade away: the impact of regional entrepreneurial ecosystem quality on venture survival

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 827-854 ◽  
Author(s):  
Siddharth Vedula ◽  
Phillip H Kim
Keyword(s):  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ◽  
Ecosystem Quality ◽  
Support Organizations ◽  
Key Characteristics ◽  
Serial Entrepreneurs ◽  
Innovation Capacity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Our study addresses a popular question in entrepreneurship research—to what extent does the quality of a region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem matter for venture survival? To tackle this question, we created a regional entrepreneurial ecosystem quality index based on five key characteristics: supportive entrepreneurial culture, access to finance, availability of human capital, innovation capacity, and formal support organizations. We analyze 301 United States Metropolitan Statistical Areas for these characteristics and measure the aggregated contextual influence on venture survival within these regions over time. In addition to analyzing the relationship between this index and venture survival, we also consider the moderating role of founders’ experience on survival outcomes. Our findings confirm that, in general, higher quality ecosystems shelter ventures, while ventures in weaker ecosystems are more likely to fade away and fail. However, for serial entrepreneurs, we find that ecosystem quality has a much smaller impact on venture survival.

Empirically Validated Treatments: Health Psychology Interventions

1997 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-8
Author(s):  
Jack E. James
Keyword(s):  
Population Level ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Modern Medicine ◽  
Behaviour Pattern ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Psychological Practice ◽  
Health Practitioners ◽  
Public Health Practitioners

Whereas King's (1977) focus was clinical psychology, the present commentary considers empirical validation of psychological practice in health settings. Comparisons are made with the fact that most diagnostic and therapeutic medical practices in use have yet to be empirically validated. At the population level, modern medicine does not appear to have had a large impact on any of the major causes of premature death, past or present. Conversely, there is strong evidence that all current major causes of death are closely related to behaviour pattern. However, there are formidable obstacles to the uptake and future development of behavioural interventions in health settings. Issues subsumed under the rubric of quality of care are particularly important, including appropriateness (treatment should not be applied when it is not needed — avoidance of overservicing), and necessity (treatment should be available to persons in need — avoidance of underservicing). The general public, health practitioners, and health policy makers are relatively uninformed about relevant psychological practices and about the central role of psychological processes in all aspects of human health.

scholarly journals The Factors Affect the Quality of Financial Statements Audit in Vietnam Businesses

2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Do Huu Hai ◽  
Ngo Sy Trung
Keyword(s):  
Structural Equation ◽  
Audit Quality ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Financial Information ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Occupational Qualification

<p>The development of a market economy, especially the financial markets is asking for transparency and truthfulness of the financial information with high quality. The information in the financial statements will impact directly and indirectly to the rights and decisions of investors. Independent auditors play a role of evaluating truthfulness and reasonable financial information in enterprises, however there are still risks. This study focuses on analyzing the factors affecting the quality of financial statements audit in enterprises. The analytical methods used in this study are: factor analysis method to explore and test the Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the construction and testing of measuring scales. Moreover, linear structural modeling method (Structural Equation Modeling SEM) is used to test the reliability and value of discrimination, convergence, unitary of the concept and scale of research. The study results showed that occupational qualification is an important factor affecting the audit quality in the establishment of the business financial statements and legal environment factors, factors belonging to business, factor of independence, factors of quality control system of audit firm.</p>

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