scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION ON SMEs PERFORMANCE IN GHANA: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CAPITAL AND GOVERNMENT SUPPORT POLICIES

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-114
Author(s):  
Solomon Gbene Zaato ◽  
Mohammad Ismail ◽  
Sathiswaran Uthamaputhran ◽  
Wilberforce Owusu-Ansah

The primary purpose of this study was to propose a conceptual framework on the impact of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on SMEs performance in Ghana: The role of social capital (SC) and government support policies (GSPs). The study re­viewed existing literature pertaining the five dimensions of EO and used measures of SC, and GSPs in relation to SMEs performance in Ghana. This study would be anchored on two theories thus the resource-based view and the social capital theories stressing the need for SMEs to focus more on their unique resources that existed with­in their social network relations. The study would further provide new insight to prac­titioners to understand and appreciate the role of SC and GSPs on SMEs performance

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):  
Katarzyna Zajda ◽  
Elżbieta Psyk-Piotrowska

In the article there is an analysis of the impact of the LEADER approach on the social capital of rural women involved in the local action groups. The aim of the article is to characterize the features of this capital taking into consideration the capital belonging to men involved in these organizations. The question is whether the role of local action groups as far as the social capital is concerned equally applies to women and men associated in these structures. On the basis of the research carried out in 2011–2013 (on a sample of 238 women and 327 men) within the framework of the project entitled: “Structure and determinants of social capital of local action groups” (National Science Centre grant) women social capital analysis was made (with its definition by R. Putnam). In the social survey distributed surveys technique was used. The result of the analysis is a statement that women social capital differs from men social capital mainly in the area of trust component and network component.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiba C. Panda ◽  
Bharat Singh ◽  
Janmejoy Khuntia

In this paper an attempt has been made to analyse such dimensions which support or otherwise impact the entrepreneurial environment that perpetuates prevalence of social capital leading to growth of entrepreneurship among the underprivileged class in an Indian State of Odisha. For example, various sources of owner’s capital, entrepreneurs affiliation to community groups, how existence of various forms of support system available for entrepreneurial orientation benefitted Govt.’s role vis-à-vis the social groups perception of existence of state support are discussed so as to derive the role and contribution of social capital for entrepreneurial orientation among the underprivileged class of Odisha particularly at the micro level. In a backward State like Odisha understanding of the existence of social conditions towards preference for entrepreneurship as an occupational choice would pave ways for policy initiative towards realization of widespread entrepreneurial engagement.


2004 ◽  
Vol 38 (01n02) ◽  
pp. 53-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
洪 黃

本文根據調查資料,分析香港邊緣社群(包括貧窮人士以及無業、不固定工作者)的社會網絡,並根據這些人士的社會網絡的規模及同質化程度,來衡量其社會資本的數量及性質。結果顯示貧窮人士社會網絡的規模明顯較非貧窮人士小,尤其以介紹工作網絡的差別最明顯,這顯示貧窮人士的社會資本較非貧窮人士少。貧窮戶的社會網絡中亦以無業人士居多,以致社會網絡出現同質化的情況。沒有工作及屬不固定工作人士的社會網絡的規模亦明顯小於有固定工作的人士,其社會網絡亦出現同質化,而無業或工作不穩定對男性造成同質化的影響較女性大。所以,無業及不穩定工作人士的社會資本較固定工作人士少。要真正解決香港的貧窮問題,必須增加貧窮人士的社會資本。 This paper, based on a sample survey, analysed the social network of the marginal groups including the poor, the un-employed and people with unstable jobs in Hong Kong. The quantity and quality of social capital of the above groups were measured according to the size and homogeneity of their social network. Results showed that the size of social network of the poor was significantly smaller than that of the non-poor, especially in the network of job searching. This suggests that the social capital of the poor was less than that of the non-poor. It is more likely that the social network of the poor was constituted of the un-employed, that was why it was more homogenous. Social network of the un-employed and people with unstable jobs was smaller than that of the people with stable jobs. The un-employed or unstable job holders also induced homogeneity in their social network, the impact of which was greater on male than female. To alleviate the problem of poverty in Hong Kong, we should increase the social capital of the deprived people.


Author(s):  
Franziska Förster ◽  
Melanie Luppa ◽  
Alexander Pabst ◽  
Kathrin Heser ◽  
Luca Kleineidam ◽  
...  

Widowhood is common in old age, can be accompanied by serious health consequences and is often linked to substantial changes in social network. Little is known about the impact of social isolation on the development of depressive symptoms over time taking widowhood into account. We provide results from the follow-up 5 to follow-up 9 from the longitudinal study AgeCoDe and its follow-up study AgeQualiDe. Depression was measured with GDS-15 and social isolation was assessed using the Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6). The group was aligned of married and widowed people in old age and education through entropy balancing. Linear mixed models were used to examine the frequency of occurrence of depressive symptoms for widowed and married elderly people depending on the risk of social isolation. Our study shows that widowhood alone does not lead to an increased occurrence of depressive symptoms. However, “widowed oldest old”, who are also at risk of social isolation, have significantly more depressive symptoms than those without risk. In the group of “married oldest old”, women have significantly more depressive symptoms than men, but isolated and non-isolated do not differ. Especially for people who have lost a spouse, the social network changes significantly and increases the risk for social isolation. This represents a risk factor for the occurrence of depressive symptoms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1346
Author(s):  
Alexey SMIRNOV ◽  
Natalia BELOZEROVA ◽  
Natalia ALANICHEVA ◽  
Irina TRUBNIKOVA ◽  
Yuriy MOTORYGIN

The article is focused on the impact of social networks which are becoming increasingly important for information dissemination, user-centered response and efficient coordination between residents and governmental departments at all stages of a disaster. We intend to examine the definition of ‘social network», the most important types of emergency domain-related social media, their functions and benefits. We also propose to investigate the recent activities of the Ministry of Emergencies of the Russian Federation in the sphere of emergency prevention and risk reduction via accessing the social networks pages and assessing their effectiveness.


Author(s):  
Richard Ladwein ◽  
Mohamed Slim Ben Mimoun

Prior research deals rather extensively with psychological aspects related to social network sites usage. In contrast, the present study focuses on “psychosociological aspects” related to social network site usage, such as attachment to the sites. The present research seeks to determine the impact of the “need for social belonging” on the extent of a user social network and time spent on Facebook, as well as the resultant effects on social recognition and brand attachment. The research model was tested with data from 315 Facebook users using a web survey. The structural equation model in AMOS was used to test the proposed hypotheses. The results highlight the central role of social recognition in explaining attachment to Facebook. They show that the need for social belonging affects the number of friends but not time spent on Facebook. Results indicate that it is the quality of the social ties and activity on Facebook together with a feeling of social recognition that explain attachment to Facebook.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0247320
Author(s):  
Mingyue Fan ◽  
Sikandar Ali Qalati ◽  
Muhammad Aamir Shafique Khan ◽  
Syed Mir Muhammad Shah ◽  
Muhammad Ramzan ◽  
...  

The increase of social media (SM) has led to continuous deviations in how day-to-day entrepreneurial activities can be carried out. Additionally, studies devoted to SM entrepreneurship and SM are relatively limited and fragmented in their focus. However there is growing interest from scholars, practitioners and academia for upcoming studies and exploration within small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) context. This research explores the impact of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on SM adoption and SME performance in developing countries. We employed the resource-based view (RBV) as the foundation for developing the conceptual framework The present study employed a closed-ended questionnaire to collect data from SMEs located in Pakistan. Partial-least-squares-structural equation-modeling (PLS-SEM) was utilized for the analysis of 423 responses. The results proved a direct positive link between EO–SMEs performance, EO–SM adoption, SM adoption–SMEs performance, innovation capabilities (IC), and SME performance. Partial mediation was found between EO and SME performance, and the significant moderation effect of IC was found between SM adoption and SME performance. This paper has implications for practitioners and researchers regarding SM adoption in the SMEs. It builds an empirical, multi-dimensional hypothesized model, including mediating and moderating roles affecting the relationships.


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