A Recipe for What? UK Universities, Enterprise and Knowledge Transfer

2010 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pickernell ◽  
Gary Packham ◽  
David Brooksbank ◽  
Paul Jones
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship

Universities play multiple knowledge-related roles in economies, creating (or co-creating), absorbing, disseminating and utilizing knowledge. These roles, however, are not without difficulty, for reasons related to universities themselves and the small firms that need to use such knowledge. This paper uses the UK Federation of Small Businesses 2008 survey to examine (a) the mechanisms in place to facilitate the dissemination to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of university knowledge and assistance; (b) the relative importance of the contribution of university-derived assistance to SMEs; (c) the relationship between the assistance obtained from universities and the requirements and capabilities of SMEs; and (d) the relationships between university-derived assistance and measures of growth.

STRATEGIC AWARENESS AND THE PROCESS OF INNOVATION

1997 ◽  
Vol 05 (02) ◽  
pp. 193-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANDREW ATHERTON ◽  
PAUL HANNON
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Customer Needs ◽  
Innovation Research ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship

Inherent to enterprising behaviour is the exercise of strategic awareness, a process of understanding and learning from the environment in which the entrepreneur and the small business operate. This paper notes that a growing recognition of high levels of change and uncertainty in the environment infers a need to increase small business understanding of what is changing and why. Strategic awareness is an individual and organisational capability, tailored to contextual needs and contingencies, that describes processes for identifying, understanding, interpreting and acting on events and influences. It also contributes to the process of innovation. Research in the UK, and later in Western Australia, identified a customer needs-focused and outwardly-directed approach to innovation that relies on understanding the external environment. This paper concludes by stressing the relationship between strategic awareness and innovation, and suggests that the nature of these processes demands a rethink in how we support and research small businesses and entrepreneurs.

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.

Modernization of Universities through Greater Interaction with Small Firms

1999 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Tilley ◽  
David Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
North East ◽  
The North ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Political Economic ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

This paper explores the ‘best practice’ interactions between universities and small firms in the UK. The purpose is to identify ways in which a university can build stronger and more effective links with small firms. The relationship between universities and small firms is of growing importance. There are political, economic and educational pressures which influence the behaviour and relationship of higher education toward the business sector, and small firms in particular. The wider context of the changes taking place within higher education are discussed. This is followed by the initial findings from a recently completed research project for the Council for Industry and Higher Education which investigated the foremost components in ‘best practice’ interactions and linkages between small firms and universities in the North East of England. Some preliminary ideas are suggested on how best practice can be further facilitated. These proposals are then interpreted in terms of the operational implications for universities and other strategic organizations involved in building linkages with small firms.

Value generation in B2B contexts: the SMEs’ perspective

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lourdes Pérez ◽  
Jesús Cambra-Fierro
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Value Appropriation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
A Value ◽  
Novel Concept ◽  
To Receive ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Asymmetric Relationships

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to understand the process of value creation in business-to-business (B2B) contexts from the perspective of small- and medium-sized firms (SMEs). Small businesses are challenged to compete and collaborate with larger firms. While the “sharks” dilemma (often the most dangerous sharks also have the most valuable resources) focuses on specific defences, the authors emphasize a value generation perspective. Design/methodology/approach – The concept of asymmetric relationships is taken as a reference and examined using a longitudinal multi-case study. Findings – The authors results demonstrate how small firms not always assume an inferior, defensive position. Ambitious and growth-oriented SMEs learn to collaborate with larger partners and exhibit a proactive attitude towards relationship management. They understand the importance of developing social ties. They foster frequent and informal communication with their customers, favouring personal visits as a means to receive advice for directing their research efforts and exchange information and views. Such ties help them to develop shared plans and goals. Research limitations/implications – In asymmetric relationships, partner selection models should help firms to concentrate their efforts in a reduced group of key partners. These models should include not only economic performance indicators – variables such as flexibility and autonomy – but also innovation and improvement in processes, image, prestige and positioning, access to markets and stability. Originality/value – The authors found insight into a novel concept: dual-value appropriation, where partners do not split the pie of the total value generated, as frequently proposed in the literature, but fully appropriate a different and unique value from the relationship. The authors further highlight the important role played by the committed champions in developing communication and trust.

Human Resource Compensation and Maintenance Practices

1985 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sita C. Amba-Rao ◽  
Dilip Pendse
Keyword(s):  
Human Resource ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Rational Approach ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Human Resource Management Practices ◽  
Short Run ◽  
The Relationship

A survey of small business firms In North-Central Indiana Indicated that, while these firms provided a work place and an Income to employees, most of their practices on compensation and maintenance of human resources lacked a systematic and rational approach. Their emphasis appeared to be more on the short run rather than on the long run. Further, small businesses seemed to lack an understanding of the relationship between productivity and generally accepted human resource management practices. In the absence of clear, written policies on human resource maintenance and compensation, small firms will continue to have personnel-related problems. Further research needs In this area are suggested.

scholarly journals The Role of Enterprise Education and Training in the Performance of Small Manufacturing Firms: Evidence from West Midlands (United Kingdom)

2020 ◽  
Vol V (I) ◽  
pp. 260-268
Author(s):  
Fahad Sultan ◽  
Syed Haider Khalil ◽  
Syed Mohsin Ali Shah
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Method ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Education And Training ◽  
Mixed Method Approach ◽  
Enterprise Education ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
And Training ◽  
Method Approach

Enterprise education and training play a pivotal role in bridging workforce skills and improving the performance of small businesses. Considering the significant role of small businesses, this study attempts to investigate how small manufacturing units improve their performance using training methods. Therefore, for this study mixed-method approach was adopted to find the relationship between both variables. In the first part of the methodology, face to face, and semi-structured interviews were conducted with business owners and managers. Furthermore, survey questionnaires were carried out to find the relationship between both variables. For a mixed-method approach, 26 owners/managers were interviewed, and 136 respondents were identified from food and furniture manufacturing units with several employees who comes on the definition of small firms. The results of the study confirm in small firms positively impacted the individual performance and overall non-financial turnover of employees. The study concludes with future recommendations for academicians and policymakers.

scholarly journals Bank switching of US small businesses: new methods and evidence

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Song Zhang ◽  
Liang Han ◽  
Konstantinos Kallias ◽  
Antonios Kallias
Keyword(s):  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Financial Institution ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Ex Post ◽  
Loan Approval ◽  
Primary Relationship ◽  
Borrowing Cost ◽  
First Time ◽  
The Relationship

AbstractDespite being informationally opaque, small firms often switch from their primary financial institution to transactional lenders, with the relationship banking theory invoking the holdup problem as a culprit explanation. Using US evidence and an estimation strategy that overcomes traditional shortcomings in small business research, our study captures the determinants and, for the first time, the ex post effects of the switching decision. We find that switching is less likely when the primary financial institution is a nearby bank associated with quality services and connected to the firm via other business or social relationships. Small firms become more loyal as they grow in size and pursue nonmortgage credit. Outside the primary relationship, both loan approval and borrowing cost are adversely impacted, however loan maturities are longer. Moreover, the likelihood of pledging collateral remains unaffected, provided that the type of collateral is least sensitive to the borrower’s information environment. Jointly, our findings describe a trade-off inconsistent with the holdup problem, and an opportunity for banks to enhance customer loyalty by improving aspects of the relationship unrelated to the terms of credit.

The Relationship of Strategic Intent to the Enablers and Inhibitors of E-Business Adoption in SMEs

2011 ◽  
pp. 244-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margi Levy ◽  
Philip Powell ◽  
Les Worrall
Keyword(s):  
Product Innovation ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Strategic Intent ◽  
West Midlands ◽  
Growth Product ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Relationship

Small firms’ use of e-business is limited and little is known about what drives them to embrace e-business. Using survey data from 354 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK West Midlands, this chapter investigates e-business use and drivers. It first discusses different growth strategies adopted by SMEs and reviews Internet adoption in SMEs. Drivers and inhibitors of e-business are identified. Three research questions are derived—does strategic intent drive e-business adoption and is it a factor of market position or product innovation? Is this consistent across sectors? And how is strategic intent and industry adoption influenced by the enablers and inhibitors of e-business adoption? This research demonstrates that strategic intent influences decisions to invest in e-business. Those SMEs remaining in their existing markets are the least likely to invest, primarily due to the Internet not being seen as necessary for growth. Product innovation rather than market penetration drives e-business and e-business drivers and inhibitors provide insights into this.

scholarly journals Small business responses to a major economic downturn: Empirical perspectives from New Zealand and the United Kingdom

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (7) ◽  
pp. 754-777 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Smallbone ◽  
David Deakins ◽  
Martina Battisti ◽  
John Kitching
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Business Performance ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Adaptive Behaviour ◽  
Economic Downturn ◽  
Sectoral Composition ◽  
The Uk ◽  
High Level

This article analyses small firm responses to a major economic downturn, based on empirical investigation in the UK and New Zealand. Despite differences in the timing and depth of the downturn, there is remarkable similarity in the sectoral composition of small enterprises and methods of financing in reported recession-related effects and business performance during 2008–2009. While recognising that the study focused on surviving businesses, in neither country did the downturn have a consistently negative impact on small businesses and in both countries a significant minority of firms surveyed performed well. The study provides much needed evidence on small businesse responses to major economic crisis. Conceptually it demonstrates that although many small firms are vulnerable to changes in circumstances over which they have no control, they show underlying resilience and a high level of adaptability and flexibility. Longitudinal follow-up is necessary to show how the types of adaptive behaviour observed impact on business performance.

THE SINGLE EUROPEAN ACT AND THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SMALL FIRMS AND THEIR BANKS IN THE UK

1990 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 7-13
Author(s):  
M.R. Binks ◽  
C.T. Ennew ◽  
G.V. Reed
Keyword(s):  
Small Firms ◽  
Single European Act ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document