The Value of Enterprise for Disabled People

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maggie Anderson ◽  
Laura Galloway

The focus of this paper is on the role of enterprise training among disabled people. The authors first review the literature, in particular comparing work on the theoretical benefits of enterprise training provision for disabled people with empirical studies of enterprise training initiatives for disabled people in various countries. In the analysis, low social capital is implicated as a cause of much disadvantage in economic and social life among disabled people, and this is particularly pertinent in modern knowledge-based economies where responsibility for development in the lifelong learning agenda is devolved from governments to individuals, including disabled individuals. Following this, an investigation of one publicly funded initiative in Fife, Scotland, is conducted and this is used to inform a wider debate about the potential uses and value of enterprise training for disabled people in the current stratified socioeconomic milieu. The paper argues that there is potential for enterprise training to contribute on a wider basis than simply independent entrepreneurship promotion and that the research community therefore has an opportunity to engage with this broader agenda.

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 184-196
Author(s):  
Maja Dorota Wojciechowska

PurposeSocial capital, understood as intangible community values available through a network of connections, is a factor in the development of societies and improving quality of life. It helps to remove economic inequalities and prevent poverty and social exclusion, stimulate social and regional development, civic attitudes and social engagement and build a civic society as well as local and regional identity. Many of these tasks may be implemented by libraries, which, apart from providing access to information, may also offer a number of services associated with social needs. The purpose of this paper is to present the roles and functions that libraries may serve in local communities in terms of assistance, integration and development based on classical social capital theories.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the classical concepts of social capital in the context of libraries. It analyses the findings of Pierre-Félix Bourdieu, James Coleman, Francis Fukuyama, Robert Putnam, Nan Lin, Ronald Stuart Burt, Wayne Baker and Alejandro Portes. Based on their respective concepts, the paper analyses the role of the contemporary library in the social life of local communities. In particular, it focuses on the possible new functions that public libraries may serve.FindingsA critical review of the concept of social capital revealed certain dependencies between libraries and their neighbourhoods. With new services that respond to the actual social needs, libraries may serve as a keystone, namely they may integrate, animate and engage local communities. This, however, requires a certain approach to be adopted by the personnel and governing authorities as well as infrastructure and tangible resources.Originality/valueThe social engagement of libraries is usually described from the practical perspective (reports on the services provided) or in the context of research on the impact of respective projects on specific groups of users (research reports). A broader approach, based on original social theories, is rarely encountered. The paper draws on classical concepts of social capital and is a contribution to the discussion on possible uses of those concepts based on an analysis of the role of libraries in social life and in strengthening the social capital of local communities.


Author(s):  
Maija-Leena Huotari ◽  
Mirja Iivonen

This chapter provides a comprehensive basis for understanding the role of trust in knowledge management and systems in organizations. The point of departure is the resource and knowledge-based theories of an enterprise that place knowledge generation as the primary source of wealth and social well-being. The authors show the crucial role of the intangible factors of trust, knowledge and information as related to the social capital and the development of the intellectual capital of an organization. The multidisciplinary nature of the concept of knowledge management and of trust is examined by a thorough review of literature. Trust is seen as a situational and contextual phenomena whose impact on the development of an organizational culture and climate and on success with collaborating is explored as related to the relational, cognitive and structural dimensions of social capital. The overall aim is to sustain strategic capability in the networked mode of performing. The importance of normative trust, shared values and shared meanings is stressed as a frame of reference to organizational behaviour and in communities of practice, but also the role of swift trust is highlighted. The authors provide ideas for empirical research to develop theory of the strategic management of knowledge and information and outline implications for practices for the organizational development.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 2110
Author(s):  
Muhammad Dinullah ◽  
Tika Widiastuti

Islamic economic empowerment is an activity of giving power, ability, or power to the helpless party with effort to help society to improve its ability in creating new entrepreneur in accordance with the laws of the Qur’an and Hadith. In the application of social capital-based that is trust, norm, and network is part of social life that can encourage the achievement of common goals. By means of Sharia cooperative and its network is useful to improve prosperity for society and jama'ah in the scope of hut. So it can empower santri and jama'ah to improve their economy. This research uses descriptive qualitative approach. The research strategy used is case study on Islamic Economic Empowerment based on social capital case study of sharia cooperative in Surabaya. Data collection used is by interview, observation and documentation. The validation technique uses source triangulation and engineering triangulation. Data analysis using the theory put forward by Miles and Huberman. The result of the research based on data analysis shows that the role of Kopontren Ummul Quroo is able to empower and give enough improvement of Islamic welfare where each informant has fulfilled at least the dharuriyat level requirement consisting of clothing needs, food requirement, health requirement, education requirement and requirement vehicle.Keywords: Empowerment, Social Capital, and Sharia Cooperatives


2019 ◽  
pp. 243-263
Author(s):  
Krishna S. Dhir

With increased globalization of trade and business in a knowledge-based economy, and increasing diversification of the workforce, there is increasing pressure on multinational companies to report, and even measure, their social capital. This article explores the role of language in the creation of corporate social capital. The language used in a corporation is an asset, which creates value and corporate social capital in the use and exchange of ideas. Linguists have long attempted to assess the value of language as a commodity, but with little success. This article offers an approach to overcome this difficulty and to measure the value of language as an element of corporate social capital. To do so, it draws an analogy between the functions of language and functions of currency. The article goes on to suggest that multinational corporations should hold a portfolio of language skills, much as it does a portfolio of currencies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (01) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Pera Sundarianingsih ◽  
Khusnul Ashar ◽  
Putu Mahardika Adi Saputra

Bali has two village governance systems: administrative-village and customary-village. Administrative-village is the extension of government’s authority in administrative aspects. Meanwhile, customary-village (pakraman village) denotes traditional institution that has a function to organize krama (residents) based on the awig-awig (customary law). The role of customary-village is fundamental in carrying on the custom and culture of Bali as well as triggering the economical aspect from the society through Village Credit Institution (LPD). This study is intended to describe the existence of social capital over the LPD by employing inductive-qualitative approach. Social capital over the LPD can improve the societies’ harmony that have been established in advance. Furthermore, the social capital bonding, bridging and linking can be used continuously in social life.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 3200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anfal Al-Ali ◽  
Praveen Maghelal ◽  
Khaled Alawadi

Behavioral research studies propose that urban open spaces contribute to enhance sociability in urban areas. The urban areas in the city of Abu Dhabi are less appealing to attract vibrant activity and social life. This study investigates the role of the built environment in the enhancement of neighborhood satisfaction and social capital in a residential neighborhood of Abu Dhabi. A total of 145 residents were surveyed for their perception, attitude, and behavior. Regression analyses to predict the role of the built environment of the open space, as well as the ethnicity of respondents, on measures of neighborhood satisfaction and social capital were performed. Spatial data and audit tools were used to assess the lack of suitable built-environment in the study area. Results indicate that improvements to the built environment can improve both the social capital and neighborhood satisfaction of the urban residents of Abu Dhabi. Implications of this study include recommendations to enhance the experience of urban spaces in arid regions like Abu Dhabi. Recommendations include adding landscape elements, providing a comfortable walking environment, adding attractive locations and destinations, and a clean and safe environment with attractive buildings or homes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-96
Author(s):  
Omar Belkhodja ◽  
Abdelkader Daghfous

PurposeFor family businesses, familiness constitutes a unique bundle of resources and capabilities resulting from family relationships and influences. The extant literature has shown that familiness impacts organizational outcomes such as performance and innovation. This paper investigates the role of familiness in relation to absorptive capacity (ACAP). It also explores the specificities of nonfamily members’ social capital when different knowledge management (KM) approaches are adopted.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory comparative case study design is adopted. Data from three family firms based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) provide the empirical setting for this study. The data were collected using semi-structured interviews, available documents, observations and company websites.FindingsOur results reveal that the role of familiness in relation to ACAP varies according to the adopted KM approach. Familiness targets the potential ACAP when an explicit KM approach is adopted, the realized ACAP when a tacit KM approach is adopted, and both potential and realized ACAPs when a strategic KM approach is adopted. Our results also show that family firms invest in KM processes that support knowledge exploration and/or exploitation.Originality/valueThis paper provides further evidence for the role of familiness. It moves beyond the study of familiness from a resource-based view and adopts a knowledge-based perspective to develop a better understanding of the role of familiness in relation to ACAP. It also improves our understanding of nonfamily members’ social capital in family firms.


2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Szulczewska-Remi ◽  
Hanna Nowak-Mizgalska

Purpose Consistent with the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship, the purpose of this paper is to recognise the complementary entrepreneurial role of knowledge transfer intermediary organisations in the context of two Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries: Poland and the Czech Republic. Design/methodology/approach The aim was achieved through empirical studies relying on multiple-case study methodology and cross-case analysis covering 21 cases of commercialisation intermediary institutions. It was assumed that institutional and geographical conditions can impact the knowledge-based opportunity exploitation between different national economies. Findings Research confirmed that scientists in Poland and the Czech Republic are the central figures of the commercialisation process in terms of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition; however, they need support from intermediary organisations in many other entrepreneurial activities. The history of knowledge commercialisation and its intermediating entities in these countries is relatively young and spin-off company creation is not a common practice. Expertise knowledge, creativity and self-confidence admitted, by the respondents in both countries, can be an optimistic sign for the future efforts in fostering innovativeness of CEE countries. Stronger support of formal institutional framework and policies in those countries is expected. Originality/value Science commercialisation has lately attracted much attention, but only a few studies have tried to develop conceptual frameworks considering knowledge-based entrepreneurship and knowledge commercialisation in their relations and subsequential roles. Also, over the past couple of years literature in this area has expanded mainly relying on observations in the USA and Western European countries. Hence, this study allowed to collect findings from CEE countries for which data are still insufficient but can significantly contribute to the theory development. Also, some recommendations for policymakers arise from this study. Further research could validate the results in an extensive quantitative study.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiana A. Guzhavina

The concept of social capital that has become popular in the last decades has significant heuristic potential. It is developed through the broadening of the object of research. Today, the study of the externalities of social capital remains an under-investigated area. The use of social capital has a wide range of external effects. Most often, attention is paid to their occurrence in the economy. However, they are present in all spheres of social life and are significant there, too. Thus, in the sphere of political engagement, social effects may include various forms of civic engagement, which facilitate the functioning of civil society, and, in particular, the implementation of its function as a mechanism of feedback between the society and state. This article aims to demonstrate using empirical material the dependence of respondents’ civic engagement on their social capital. The empirical research base is represented by the results of public opinion polls of the population of Vologda Region, conducted in June 2016 by specialists of the Vologda Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences Federal Publicly Funded Institution of Science. During data analysis carried out on the basis of an indicator model of social capital measurement developed in the course of the Regional Social Capital in Crisis Conditions project, groups of social capital bearers different in accumulation level were identified. Data were analyzed with the use of the SPSS package. The research discovered that the civic activity demonstrated by respondents depends on their belonging to a group with accumulated social capital. Persons with social capital of higher level were to a much greater extent involved in various forms of civic engagement.


Author(s):  
Magdalena KOZERA-KOWALSKA ◽  
Adam KOZIOLEK

The article discusses the role of the Internet as an innovative form of interpersonal communication. We assumed that Internet usage in rural areas may not only result in better access to knowledge and information, but also contribute to stronger social cohesion and prevent exclusion of the elderly. We analysed information about individual Internet users in Poland and the EU, including changes related to age, education and domicile. The data enabled us to identify expected change tendencies in rural areas. We highlighted the process of ageing of European farmers with its related social and economic consequences. Against this background, we show the dual role played by the Internet in strengthening social capital in rural areas. On the one hand, it is educational in that it educates and activates young farmers. On the other, it is social, i.e. it helps the elderly stay in touch and participate in social life. We also raised the problem of potential digital exclusion of the elderly.


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