scholarly journals Digital Vapor Trails: Using Website Behavior to Nowcast Entrepreneurial Activity

Author(s):  
Timothy F. Slaper ◽  
Alyssa Bianco ◽  
Peter E. Lenz

Following recent research, we explore virtually contemporaneous, and geographically granular, user online activity related to entrepreneurship. In this paper, we present evidence that data harvested by Dstillery can complement efforts of, and data collected by, government agencies and organizations advocating for entrepreneurship, business formation and economic growth, e.g., the Kauffman Foundation. Our website-based behavior data is close to real time and at a geographically granular level. We find that the concentration of a region’s visits to website resources for entrepreneurship and business development are statistically related to business start-up and, particularly, growth activity. Visits to websites related to entrepreneurship are more strongly associated with growth entrepreneurship, in contrast to start-up entrepreneurship. While data capture and analysis related to entrepreneurship website activity is in its infancy, this analysis points to the potential of this data source to nowcast business formation and growth at a regional level.

Author(s):  
Laura Blid

Abstract Senior population is still a valuable resource for the labour market and for entrepreneurship. While ageing population is a global phenomenon and solution are needed to milder the economic impact, there are also to consider the positive outcomes related to the optimal use of potential in the senior population and the benefits of an active life upon the elderly. This paper focuses on the entrepreneurial activity of senior population at regional level in Romania (Bucharest-Ilfov and South-Muntenia), considering a panel of 200 limited liability companies established in the last 5 years, by a single shareholder aged 60+ years. The empirical descriptive study is mainly based on the information about these companies searched for on the Ministry of Finance website. The paper aims to answer questions related to entrepreneurial activity of grey population like e.g. fields of activity raising interest of senior entrepreneurs at regional level in Romania and size of companies in terms of employees’ number and yearly turnover. The paper presents few considerations in view of assessing some dimensions of this phenomenon of senior entrepreneurship at regional level in Romania, based on the data obtained for the last 5 years. The results of this analysis will be enhanced by a further study on the same panel addressing mainly motivational drivers to start-up a business.


Author(s):  
Alla Tkachenko ◽  
◽  
Dmytro Plinokos ◽  

The article examines the conditions and features of the formation of an idea for the development of a modern product, modern technology or a new vector of development of entrepreneurial activity on the platform of design thinking. This category - design thinking should become one of the main areas of business development, startups and creating a comfortable environment not only in business but also in the organization of public programs and decisions, the organization of municipal economy, as well as management at the state level. Any startup begins with the formation of the idea. It should not be just an idea, but the idea that can change the world, change people's lives for the better. A mandatory condition for the development of the country's economic system is the development of the entrepreneurship. During the political reorientation of our country, changes in the economy are taking place primarily through the introduction of new ideas. Based on the existing issues of business organization, entrepreneurship development and especially the creation of startup projects in Ukraine, requires clarification of the peculiarities of the development of startups based on a new approach - design thinking. Requires research and further clarification of the application of design thinking in the work of enterprises, the use of innovative approaches to the organization of both new forms of business and the improvement of existing relationships and business processes. The purpose of the article is to study the conditions and features of the formation of the idea for the development of a modern product, modern technology or a new vector of business development on the platform of design thinking. Of course, these changes require the promotion of more competitive products created using innovative approaches, there is the implementation of a startup. Many methods can be used to understand the real problem and its causes. It is worth to analyze the problem. The analysis of the problem better provides understanding of the problem before starting work with it. Even at the stage of the problem formulation, may arise a lot of questions connecting with people perception, misunderstanding, and vision of its solutions. A fundamentally new approach of solving the problem is the design thinking. The design thinking is a method of creating products and services that are focused on the person. It is the process when researchers try to understand the consumer problems, to make assumptions and to check them, to change the problem statement and try to find alternative strategies and solutions. The design thinking basis is the empathy and the ability to form schematic images in the imagination to further identify patterns and generate ideas with emotional and functional content. Empathy is a broad concept that refers to a person's cognitive and emotional reactions to another's experience. The empathy benefits to build and rebuild relationships. On the other hand, through support we acquire the skills of better regulation of personal emotions, especially using such useful and valuable experiense in stressful circumstances. This determines another property of empathy - it promotes the development of healthier and more meaningful behavior. Implementing business ideas creates additional opportunities for businesses. This process begins with a specific problem - a task for design thinking. This task must be accessible, understandable and feasible. Solving this problem will meet the needs of consumers, solve their problem, and create a new, unique product that is in demand. The development of startups, business organizations, the work of enterprises on this principle will provide significant benefits, and will be more successful and competitive.


Author(s):  
Marta Barna ◽  
Svitlana Moroz

Іntroduction. The stable functioning and qualitative development of enterprises of the small business sector largely depend on the state's effective regulatory policy in a modern economy. Necessary are regulatory measures of the state in relation to entrepreneurship development, increase their efficiency, improvement of methods of influence on entrepreneurial activity, which will help to equalize cyclical tendencies in the functioning of small businesses, increase their social role in the social and economic development of regions and the country as a whole. In this regard, it is expedient to study the current state of small business development through the prism of identifying the advantages and disadvantages of regulatory policy in this area. Methods. General scientific and special methods are used: statistical analysis and systematization; empirical synthesis and generalization in the process of research. Results. The article covers the existing manifestations of improvement of certain important economic indicators: increase of sales volumes, growth of the share of small business in GDP and in the total number of economic entities, increase of assets and capital, increase of labor productivity and social parameters. The shortcomings of small business development in Ukraine were identified, among them: a decrease in the number of small business entities, low financial and economic efficiency, weak financial and economic status of small enterprises, high level of profitability of economic activity, small number of employed and self-employed in this sector of the economy, reduction of available workers places, critical imbalances and deformations in the development of the small business sector in the spatial and sectoral aspects. Discussion. Since regulatory policy plays a strategically important role in the functioning of the small business sector, the study of its effectiveness and the identification of deficiencies will allow to form a high-quality business environment favorable for the activation of the entrepreneurial activity of the population, the emergence of new ones, and the improvement of the efficiency of business activities of the small business actors, balanced development of the entrepreneurial sector of the national economy as a whole. Keywords: development, small business, regulatory policy, financial and economic condition, labor productivity.


1970 ◽  
pp. 17-25
Author(s):  
Yusuf Sidani

This study attempts to sketch a profile of young female entrepreneurs in the Arab region as they start their business organisations and take the first few steps in the development of their business. It attempts to draw a profile of a number of local Emirati women entrepreneurs and their characteristics, what attracts them to their businesses, and the hurdles they face as they enter into their line of business. In addition, it outlines the makeup of their entrepreneurial businesses, and identifies some barriers that women face at the start-up stage, in addition to their entrepreneurial motivations and driving forces, satisfactions, and frustrations. This is preceded by a brief overview of models of female entrepreneurship and an exploration of previous research into female entrepreneurship and women status in the Arab region. To accomplish this, we conducted thirteen interviews with young female entrepreneurs to assess the special challenges facing them as they go about starting and running their business ventures. We tried to gauge the interviewees’ entrepreneurial activities, their satisfaction with their business ventures, and the perceived opportunities and obstacles that they face. While this study explores the specific case of the UAE, the wider implications on young female Arab entrepreneurs are discussed.


2009 ◽  
pp. 67-92
Author(s):  
Camilla Lenzi ◽  
Maria Luisa Mancusi

- This paper evaluates the importance of some key elements in the process leading to the birth and start-up of a new firm. We focus on a sample of recently founded and innovative European firms in technological fields characterised by strong innovative and competitive dynamics in the last 15 years. Emphasis is placed both on the role of the founder and on the assets exploited and developed in the new ventures early stages. The analysis of the questionnaire confirms the importance of the intellectual capital of the founder and of the scientific and technological knowledge acquired during advanced studies or previous work experiences. It further confirms the importance of the human and financial capital (particularly, access to external funds) necessary to the start of entrepreneurial activity, of intellectual property rights and of the network of relationships with actors having complementary knowledge and assets (other firms, universities and public research centres, parent organisation). The analysis finally highlights interesting differences both at the geographical and sectoral level. Differences across geographical regions include the degree of development of financial markets and the opportunities to access external financial resources, but also and mostly the functions performed and the effectiveness of the university system. On the other side, differences across sectors include the assets exploited in founding the new venture and the key competences that allow it to survive and eventually grow. Keywords: entrepreneurship, spin-off, patent Parole chiave: imprenditorialitŕ, spin-off, brevetto Jel Classification: L10, M13, O30


2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Gil Avnimelech ◽  
Yaron Zelekha

There is a consensus that corruption may result in high societal costs. A growing body of research reveals the negative effects of corruption on a variety of economic indicators. This chapter presents a literature review on the impact of corruption on entrepreneurship. It allows us to suggest that one of the transition channels through which corruption has impacted growth is entrepreneurship. The main channels in which corruption impacts entrepreneurship is through reduced incentives for entrepreneurial activity and reduced trust within the system. The authors present evidence that the negative impact of an incremental increase in the level of corruption on entrepreneurship is more harmful in developed countries than in developing countries. Thus, they stress the need for more research in this area with the aim of establishing appropriate frameworks for the fight of corruption in both developing and developed countries and suggest significant gains from anti-corruption efforts, especially in developed countries.


Author(s):  
Alvin Perry ◽  
Emad Rahim ◽  
Bill Davis

While entrepreneurs help to drive venture growth through business development in their respective cities, approximately 50% of new business ventures fail within the first 5 years of operation. Boss concluded that over 60% of entrepreneurs and small business owners fail within the first 6 years of doing business. This article examines some of the main factors that support early growth stage entrepreneurial sustainability for small business startups. In this article, entrepreneurship success factors, failure rates and sustainability are examined through qualitative research, expanding on factors identified in previous studies and applying them to different geographical areas. The results of this study can help reduce the number of small business failures by providing actionable knowledge to entrepreneurs in the start-up and early growth stages of business development.


Author(s):  
Aron Perenyi ◽  
Roxanne Zolin ◽  
Alex Maritz

Purpose Why is self-employment an attractive option for certain seniors and what drives seniors into business start-ups? In this study, the motivations and preferences of senior entrepreneurs in Australia, to become self-employed, by means of business start-ups, are explored. The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical basis for policy implications. Design/methodology/approach A mixed methods study is conducted. Members of the National Senior’s Association in Australia were interviewed and surveyed. The semi-structured interviews identified the key factors influencing senior entrepreneurs in relation to self-employment and entrepreneurial choices at a later career stage. The survey collected information on intentionality, motivation, skills, opportunities, success, satisfaction, participation, barriers, benefits, education and training, and perceptions of policy support for senior entrepreneurs. Findings Respondents gave an account of the prevalence of pull factors motivating their choice of an entrepreneurial career. Multivariate statistical analysis of survey responses showed that senior entrepreneurs are more driven by opportunity than necessity and are primarily internally motivated. Research limitations/implications Results of this study suggest a weak link between motivation by others and the act of start-up, but this may also imply that those seniors who are more likely to become entrepreneurs are more likely to ignore the impulses from their social context. This requires further investigation to ensure a robust identification of drivers and an elimination of contextual effects. Further research is suggested to compose a relevant model structure in different contexts and a representative sample to confirm the model outcomes. Originality/value This is the first mixed methods study of the antecedents of senior entrepreneurs’ start-up intentions in Australia. The study also uses entrepreneurial activity as opposed to intention as its dependent variable, which allows for a more accurate evaluation of antecedents to the senior entrepreneurship phenomenon.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-7

Purpose This paper aims to review the latest management developments across the globe and pinpoint practical implications from cutting-edge research and case studies. Design/methodology/approach This briefing is prepared by an independent writer who adds their own impartial comments and places the articles in context. Findings Special interests guided the interpretation of ambiguous evidence. The study reveals a need for an increased awareness of the difficulties related to measuring entrepreneurial activity in general and start-up and growth rates for new firms in particular. What seems to be convincing evidence and recommendations at first glance may well contradict other evidence and recommendations, thus calling for further elaboration and discussions with experts and stakeholders before major policy decisions are made. Practical implications The paper provides strategic insights and practical thinking that have influenced some of the world’s leading organizations. Originality/value The briefing saves busy executives and researchers hours of reading time by selecting only the very best, most pertinent information and presenting it in a condensed and easy-to-digest format.


Author(s):  
Yuliia S. Pinkovetskaia

The relevance of the study of early entrepreneurship in modern national economies is determined by the increasing importance of entrepreneurs in both developed and developing countries. Entrepreneurs make a significant contribution to the economic growth, increasing gross domestic product, creating new jobs, and reducing poverty and social exclusion. Therefore, one of the main tasks of public administration bodies is to develop and implement measures that ensure an effective sectoral policy in the field of business development. The purpose of the study becomes the assessment of the current level of specialization of early entrepreneurs in modern national economies. In the course of the research, the following tasks were solved: determining the main sectors in which entrepreneurs create their business; forming an array of empirical data describing the specific weights of entrepreneurs specializing in the production of goods and services in the total number of early entrepreneurs by country; developing economic and mathematical models that characterize the two main sectors of specialization of early entrepreneurs. The source of information for assessing the industry specialization of start-up entrepreneurs became the data provided in the Global entrepreneurship monitoring project, based on the results of a survey of more than 2000 early entrepreneurs in each of the 50 countries. In the process of economic and mathematical modeling, the authors developed density functions of normal distribution. The result of the computational experiment was an assessment of the values of indicators that characterize the involvement of early entrepreneurs in the production and service sectors of national economies. As a result of the research, the average values and ranges of changes in indicators of industry specialization were established, and countries with high and low values of indicators were identified; a comparative analysis of the values of indicators for Russia and foreign countries is carried out; three hypotheses put forward during the research were confirmed. The obtained research results have a significant novelty and originality, they have a certain theoretical and applied value. The proposed indicators and their calculation models can be used in justifying business development programs by the government, regional and municipal authorities. The results of calculations are of interest to entrepreneurs, including beginners.


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