Business Commons^™

Contributions Of Home-Based Businesses To Regional Economic Development, Calvin Wang, Elizabeth Walker, Janice Redmond, John Breen

John M. Breen

Home-based businesses (HBBs) are the most dominant form of enterprise and the fastest growing business segment in most Western economies. HBBs have raised significant government interest based on their potential to deliver economic development and growth for the communities that they operate in. While international knowledge of the home-based sector is growing in the areas of HBB occurrence, operator characteristics and business activities, there is limited focus on HBBs operating within a regional context even though HBBs are thought to be more common outside urban areas. This paper presents results from a West Australian study that explored the profile of …

Making Plans - Home-Based Businesses, Calvin Wang, Elizabeth Walker, Janice Redmond, John Breen

John M. Breen

Home-based businesses are a ‘hidden engine’ that are poorly understood and inadequately supported, claim Calvin Wang, Elizabeth A. Walker, Janice Redmond and John Breen. They undertook research to gain more insight into this sector. Continuous economic activity is vital to Australia and the main driver for the past 20 years has been small business, often referred to by politicians as the ‘engine room’ of the economy. However, little is known about those businesses that operate from a home-base, even though these represent the largest cohort both within the small business sector and the wider business community. This is potentially an …

Effective Virtual Teams For New Product Development, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

At present, the existing literature shows that the factors which influence the effectiveness of virtual teams for new product development are still ambiguous. To address this problem, a research design was developed, which includes detailed literature review, preliminary model and field survey. From literature review, the factors which influence the effectiveness of virtual teams are identified and these factors are modified using a field survey. The relationship between knowledge workers (people), process and technology in virtual teams is explored in this study. The results of the study suggest that technology and process are tightly correlated and need to be considered …

Straussian Grounded-Theory Method: An Illustration, Mai T T Thai, Li-Choy Chong, Narendra M. Agrawal

Mai T T Thai

This paper demonstrates the benefits and application of Straussian Grounded Theory method in conducting research in complex settings where parameters are poorly defined. It provides a detailed illustration on how this method can be used to build an internationalization theory. To be specific, this paper exposes readers to the behind-the-scene work to develop a theory on the internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises based in transition economies. It describes each step from sampling to coding and then to theory formation, explaining the rationale each step of the way. The readers can therefore see how a theory took shape and develop …

Architectural Dualities In Complex Systems: Components, Interfaces, Technologies And Organizations, C. Jason Woodard, Joel West

C. Jason Woodard

Research on technological innovation and product development has long recognized the importance of product architecture, and many scholars have explored its relationship to the organizational structure of the product development process. Product architecture, in turn, has long encompassed both the allocation of functionality to components and the pattern of linkages between them. In this paper, we forge new connections among these established ideas by examining them as two pairs of dual relationships. First, we draw attention to the duality between components and interfaces. While innovation and product development researchers have historically emphasized the partitioning of products and systems into components, …

A First Course In Entrepreneurship Fundamentals, Part I, Alex Stewart

Alex Stewart

This two-part article offers ideas for teaching students who are interested in entrepreneurship but unprepared for the widely-taught business plan course. Their lack of preparation is due less to a lack of business knowledge than it is to an awareness of their life and career needs and of the realities of entrepreneurial careers. Course content ideas are presented to help these students develop competencies in four areas: self-understanding, knowledge of entrepreneurial careers, a realistic sense of what ventures would work for them, and business-relevant creativity.

A First Course In Entrepreneurship Fundamentals, Part Ii, Alex Stewart

Alex Stewart

No abstract provided.

Examining The Use Of Focus Groups In Economic Development Initiatives, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Brian Nestor, Shawn Yambor

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

City officials often use focus groups in economic development. However, findings indicate that group dynamics can threaten validity when seeking consensus. Data suggest a strong rebound effect for participants to return to their earlier pre-focus group assessment beliefs. Introduced is the ‘BUCKS’ Planning Model for facilitating city economic development initiatives.

Technology Use In The Virtual R&D Teams, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha

Nader Ale Ebrahim

Problem statement: Although, literature proves the importance of the technology role in the effectiveness of virtual Research and Development (R&D) teams for new product development. However, the factors that make technology construct in a virtual R&D team are still ambiguous. The manager of virtual R&D teams for new product development does not know which type of technology should be used. Approach: To address the gap and answer the question, the study presents a set of factors that make a technology construct. The proposed construct modified by finding of the field survey (N = 240). We empirically examine the relationship between …

Virtual Collaborative R&D Teams In Malaysia Manufacturing Smes, Nader Ale Ebrahim, Shamsuddin Ahmed, Salwa Hanim Abdul Rashid, Zahari Taha, M. A. Wazed

Nader Ale Ebrahim

This paper presents the results of empirical research conducted during March to September 2009. The study focused on the influence of virtual research and development (R&D) teams within Malaysian manufacturing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The specific objective of the study is better understanding of the application of collaborative technologies in business, to find the effective factors to assist SMEs to remain competitive in the future. The paper stresses to find an answer for a question “Is there any relationship between company size, Internet connection facility and virtuality?”. The survey data shows SMEs are now technologically capable of performing …

Evaluating The Prevalence And Nature Of Self-Employment In The Informal Economy: Evidence From A 27-Nation European Survey, Colin C. Williams, Jan Windebank, Sara Nadin

Colin C Williams

Andrew Blitman: The Voice Of Our Jewish Generation?, Simi Lichtman

Andrew Blitman

No abstract provided.

Matt Geiger (Com ’12) – Hoop Book Live

Dr. Harold Welsch

Hoop Book is a software firm that simplifies the scorekeeping process for school and recreational basketball teams, and won the 2010 Launch DePaul competition (for-profit track). Matt is currently running his venture part-time, with a business partner, while he completes his degree in Finance. In addition to receiving continued coaching through the Blueprint program, Matt is engaged with the Coleman Center as a speaker in entrepreneurship courses.

Otc Market, Tiffany C. Walsh

Tiffany Walsh J.D., B.Comm.

Every private company should consider the advantages and disadvantages of going public when promoting the growth of their operations and earnings. Because of the benefits a public company can offer, a company should consider taking their company to this next stage of growth and the various avenues to do so. The most known and prestigious stock exchanges, such as NASDAQ and NYSE, are catered to larger and more established companies, however, there are trading boards available for smaller companies as well which encompass many of the large stock exchange characteristics. The over the counter (OTC) market provides an alternative for …

Out Of Africa: Somali Immigrants Bring Entrepreneurial Spirit To The Great Plains, Riza Dogan

Riza Dogan

ABSTRACT The Great Plains have long been a magnet for immigrants, with a huge influx of settlers, mostly of European descent, moving into the area following the 1862 Homestead Act. A century later, some towns in Central Nebraska such as Lexington and Grand Island were transformed by thousands of Hispanic immigrants moving to the region to take advantage of job opportunities. In the past decade, a new wave of Somali immigrants has moved into the region, also in search of greater opportunity, bringing with them a spirit of entrepreneurship. This increased diversity has created challenges and opportunities. Providing expanded support, …

Regional Determinants Of Efficiency Growth Of Small And Medium-Sized Enterprises. Evidence From Poland, Teresa Łuczka, Paweł Przepióra

Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation JEMI

SMEs sector plays a vital role in modern economies. Therefore, the interest in its functioning among economists is in fact quite natural. This article is a part of a current research on regional factors contributing to the development of enterprises in this category. The first section examines earlier studies in this field conducted globally and in Poland. According to them, many elements enable the SME’s development. It is not surprisingly that the specified set of pro-growth factors does not exists. Next section describes the results of the author’s own studies in the fields. These studies relate to regional factors contributing …

Trends In The Market For Entrepreneurship Faculty From 1989 To 2010, Todd A. Finkle

Todd A Finkle

Wisdom From Warren Buffett, Todd A. Finkle

Todd A Finkle

Financing Activities Of Entrepreneurship Centers In The United States, Todd A. Finkle, Teresa Menzies, Donald F. Kuratko, Michael G. Goldsby

Todd A Finkle

Regional Industrial Structure And Agglomeration Economies: An Analysis Of Productivity In Three Manufacturing Industries., Joshua Drucker, Edward Feser

Joshua Drucker

Evaluating The Variations In Undeclared Work In The Eu28, Colin C. Williams

Colin C Williams

Explaining The Persistence Of The Informal Economy In Central And Eastern Europe: Some Lessons From Moscow, Colin C. Williams

Colin C Williams

To evaluate critically the competing explanations for the persistence of the informal economy that variously represent this sphere as a residue, by-product, alternative and/or complement to the formal economy, this paper reports a survey of livelihood practices in 313 Moscow households. The finding is that the majority of households primarily depend on informal work to secure their livelihood and that although each and every theorisation is wholly valid with regard to particular types of informal work and/or specific population groups, no one articulation fully captures the diverse nature and multiple meanings of the informal economy in contemporary Moscow. The paper …

Theorizing The Self-Service Economy: A Case Study Of Do-It-Yourself (Diy) Activity, Colin C. Williams

Colin C Williams

Recently, it has become increasingly recognised that self-servicing is a growing rather than declining phenomenon. To explain this, a range of competing theories have emerged which variously portray those engaged in self-servicing either as rational economic actors, dupes, seekers of self-identity, or simply doing so out of necessity or choice. This paper evaluates critically the validity of these rival explanations. To do this, the extent of, and reasons for, self-servicing in the domestic realm is empirically evaluated through an internet survey of 5,500 people living in the city of Sheffield in England. This resulted in 418 valid responses (a 7.6 …

Blurring The Formal/Informal Economy Divide: Beyond A Dual Economies Approach, Colin C. Williams, Sara Nadin

Colin C Williams

Enabling Enterprise: Tackling The Barriers To Formalisation, Colin C. Williams

Colin C Williams

No abstract provided.

Jde 2012 Ghana Motives.Pdf, Colin C. Williams

Colin C Williams

Evaluating Competing Theories Of Informal Entrepreneurship: Some Lessons From Ukraine, Colin C. Williams, Sara Nadin, Peter Rodgers

Colin C Williams

From Market Hegemony To Diverse Economies: Evaluating The Plurality Of Labour Practices In Ukraine, Colin C. Williams

Colin C Williams

Drawing inspiration from a burgeoning corpus of scholars who have begun to question the narrative of impending market hegemony, this paper seeks to further advance this emergent ‘diverse economies’ literature by constructing a conceptual framework for representing the multiple labour practices in economies. Transcending the simplistic market/non-market dichotomy, this conceptualises multiple kinds of labour existing along a spectrum from market-oriented to non-market oriented practices, which is cross-cut by another spectrum ranging from wholly monetised to wholly non-monetised practices. The resultant portrayal of a plurality of labour practices that seamlessly merge into each other is then applied to understanding the types …

How Much For Cash?: Tackling The Cash-In-Hand Culture In The European Property And Construction Sector, Colin C. Williams, Sara Nadin, Jan Windebank

Colin C Williams

Entrepreneurship In The Informal Economy: Commercial Or Social Entrepreneurs?, Colin C. Williams, Sara Nadin

Colin C Williams