Business Commons^™

The Process And Problems Of Business Start-Ups, Natasha Evers

The ITB Journal

“… there is little known about the initial phases of the process (of entrepreneurship). The conception, birth and early development of new ventures are very much an uncharted territory”. (Reynolds and White, 1997:1). This paper sets out to examine the process and problems encountered by new business start-ups. A didactic overview, based on past and current literature in the field, identifies the most common theoretical frameworks frequenting the academic literature and assesses their contribution to explaining and understanding the Process and Problems of New Venture Creation. The founding of a new organisation is not instantaneous and the process is a …

Who Wants To Be An Entrepreneur?, Maura O Connell

The ITB Journal

So you want to be an Entrepreneur? What does it take? Are you suited to entrepreneurial life? Have you got the required personality characteristics and what social factors influence whether or not you become an entrepreneur? While many studies have tried to answer these questions the results are somewhat mixed.

The Half-Life & After-Life Of New Media, Nancy Austin

Journal of Contemporary Archival Studies

It is fitting to think of the half-life of new media using the time-based metaphor of radioactive decay. As a metaphor, an object’s half-life can be a useful way to talk about the potent technological modernity of new media and, like Walter Benjamin’s well-known notion of the aura, call attention to an object’s performativity. However, Benjamin’s aura remains a constant reminder of irrevocable originality whereas remarking on half-life references a quality that changes over time. But what happens after the rhetorical impact of being new has run its course? What is the life expectancy of once-new media and what of …

Strategy Formulation For Performance Improvement Of Indian Corrugated Industry: An Application Of Swot Analysis And Qspm Matrix, Mahima Gupta, Charu Shri Dr., Anshu Agrawal Dr.

Journal of Applied Packaging Research

Strategy formulation and implementation is one of the most important tasks that managers in every organization need to perform. This process has emerged with a range of approaches that enjoyed different levels of support and recognition over time. But, somehow in Indian unorganized SMEs, it has not been applied effectively. The aim of the present study is to develop an appropriate strategy for Indian corrugated firms. To reach this object, the study suggests SWOT analysis along with QSPM and SPACE matrix. Vast literature survey was done to explore different factors for SWOT Analysis and then the weight and importance of …

The Social Accountability Paradox In The Regional Democratic Budget Policy Making, Rutiana Dwi Wahyunengseh, Sri Hastjarjo

BISNIS & BIROKRASI: Jurnal Ilmu Administrasi dan Organisasi

Social accountability has been believed as an approach to overcome the deficit of the formal accountability (both horizontal and vertical accountability). Social accountability is percieved as a public accountability which is initiated by and aimed for the society. Several studies found the effectiveness of social accountability in encouraging a more transparent government and a wider public involvement. Those studies identified variables which contribute to the social accountability, i.e. the degree of government openness; the density of community organizations and their advocation capability; social, political, and cultural environment; and the public information accessibility. Data for this paper is collected through in-depth …

Factors Affecting Dimensional Precision Of Consumer 3d Printing, David D. Hernandez

International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace

This paper investigates the factors affecting dimensional precision of consumer-grade 3D printing, attempting to isolate and mitigate sources of error. The focus is on creating engineering prototypes of, tooling for, or finalized instances of mechanical devices. A specific fused deposition modeling printer – the Ultimaker 2 – is analyzed in terms of meeting precise physical dimensions, consistent shapes, and predictable surface finish. Extensive trial and error resulted in removal of several sources of bias, with square test articles exhibiting a lower-than-anticipated mean percentage error of -0.387% (SD = 0.559), a value comparable to other modern manufacturing techniques. A full …

Pass-Through Valuation, Robert M. Hull, David P. Price

The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance

Noted scholars argue that (1) economic models of capital taxation have been inadequately adapted to owner-managed enterprises and (2) capital structure researchers have used the wrong models while also improperly measuring key variables. Thus, a model that can overcome these problems should be of interest to academics when teaching capital structure theory and practitioners when determining optimal debt levels. This paper contributes to capital structure practice by using a model that is adaptable to owner-managed enterprises like pass-throughs while also containing relevant variables that are measurable. This paper should be valuable to academics and practitioners in the following ways. First, …

Investors Dilemma, Adam R. Marasco

Walk the Talk Case Writing Competition

The case shows an ethical dilemma with Angel investor Arthur Vandelay. His Angel fund has the choice to invest in two different businesses. One was started by a Stanford MBA who may have obtained the idea for the business unethically. The other is run by a hardworking man from Pittsburgh who needs this money to keep his business alive and provide for his family. The Stanford MBA clearly has the better business and Vandelay is the deciding vote. He faces a dilemma on whether to invest with his head or go with his heart.

2015 Ijbe Front Matter, Tamra Connor

International Journal for Business Education

1. Editorial Board
2. President's Letter
3. SIEC-ISBE International

Aligning Aims In Innovation Management: A Participatory Approach To Defining Mission And Vision Statements, Colm O’Kane, Pearl M. O'Rourke

Level 3

The problem of ensuring management and employees have clearly defined goals to work towards is one which has engaged management practitioners for some time. It is a challenge which engages organisations across industry sectors and business types (Prahalad 1999; O’Gorman 1999). This article describes the development of a framework for the identification of guiding goals for organisations using the principles of participatory design. The framework described involves internal and external stakeholders in the development of mission and vision statements. A pilot study using the initial stages of this framework was implemented with academic staff of an undergraduate academic programme in …

Development Of A Framework To Facilitate A Collaborative Peer Learning 2:1 Model Of Practice Placement Education, Ann-Marie Lynam, Clare Corish, Deirdre Connolly

Level 3

Aim: The educational approach towards practice placement education in health-related disciplines has changed in recent years. The use of collaborative or peer learning models has increased, associated with positive effects on desired outcomes such as learning, competence and reflective practice. At present, there is little published literature on the implementation or use of such models in dietetics practice placement education. The aim of this study was to conduct a pilot study of a collaborative peer learning 2 students to 1 educator (2:1 model). Methods: Experienced practice placement educators from four clinical sites in the discipline of dietetics in the Republic …

An Investigation Into The Tacit Knowledge Transfer Process In An Open Plan Office Environment, Caroline Bernie

Level 3

The research described in this article aimed to investigate the link between the internal organisational layout and its impact on the tacit knowledge transfer process in an open plan administrative working environment. In recent years academic literature in the area of Knowledge Management has concentrated on the management of knowledge within the organisation with particular focus placed upon management systems and the introduction of knowledge measurement tools.

Strategic Planning Objectives For Venture Capitalist Investments In Emerging Information Technologies: A Value-Focused Perspective, David L. Coss, Gupreet Dhillon, Ifeoma Udeh

The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance

Abstract

Academic and practitioner literature suggests that Venture Capitalists often have problems with aligning information technology opportunities with investment objectives. To a large extent the alignment process is not formally documented and relies on intuitive instincts. Hence it is important to define Venture Capitalist objectives for investments in emerging information technologies. This paper uses the Value-Focused Thinking approach to identify, define and structure value driven objectives. Based on data collected from a number of Venture Capitalist interviews we identified 130 values, which resulted in 72 objectives. These objectives were organized into 22 clusters, which were bifurcated into fundamental and means …

Multi-Stakeholder Assessment Of A Mobile And Temporarily Interconnected Systems Prototype: People-First Tourism, Fay Cobb Payton, Duarte Morais, Ernie Heath

The African Journal of Information Systems

While tourism has often been proposed as a mechanism for equitable and sustainable development in developing countries, most destination communities remain relegated to the role of passive “tourees” who are unable to participate in economic opportunities often controlled by tourism retail monopolies. Guided by information systems (IS) research on mobile and temporarily interconnected systems (MTIS), this work examines the ubiquitous nature of information services for users on the move. That is, users that are largely dependent on mobile telephones and temporary tourism services. Stakeholder interviews included local South African micro-entrepreneurs from under-resourced rural and peri-urban communities and other national and …

From The Editor, Spring/Fall 2015, Grace Guo

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

No abstract provided.

An Entrepreneurial Context For The Theory Of The Firm: Exploring Assumptions And Consequences, Arturo E. Osorio, Banu Ozkazanc-Pan, Paul F. Donnelly

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

While entrepreneurship may be driven by personal interests and lifestyle choices, entrepreneurial actions are not only economically driven opportunity-searching processes but also enactments of social transformation that may or may not lead to socioeconomic benefits. We advance that exploring these entrepreneurial processes can inform a theory of the firm that may explain how socioeconomic processes shape the socioeconomic environment of communities while serving individuals. This article discusses several understandings of the firm, as theorized in extant literature. Guided by these different conceptualizations, we present a case study of an artist and artisan cluster in Western Massachusetts to demonstrate various understandings …

Construction Of Entrepreneurial Orientation: Dispute, Demand, And Dare, Vishal K. Gupta

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Invited editorial by Vishal K. Gupta, discussing the concept of entrepreneurial orientation (EO). Stated succinctly, entrepreneurial orientation (EO) refers to specific aspects of an organization-wide proclivity toward new endeavors. After about four decades of research on this topic, EO has emerged as a predominant construct of interest in strategic management. Over the years, a large—and growing—body of research has accumulated about EO, but questions do persist about the way(s) in which the various facets of EO are linked to each other. This essay distinguishes between three ways in which the various entrepreneurial elements can be combined to form the overall …

New England Journal Of Entrepreneurship, Spring/Fall 2015

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

No abstract provided.

Examining The Age—Performance Relationship For Entrepreneurs: Does The Innovativeness Of A Venture Make A Difference?, Kanti V. Prasad, Kyle Ehrhardt, Yiyuan Liu, Kamlesh Tiwari

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Whether older or younger entrepreneurs may be better positioned to achieve performance outcomes for their ventures is a much debated question. Here, we draw on Galenson’s theory of creativity to propose a contingency perspective for understanding the relationship between entrepreneur age and venture performance, suggesting that a venture’s level of innovativeness plays a moderating role. Results from a representative sample of 1,182 nascent entrepreneurs revealed mixed support for our hypotheses. While a negative relationship was found between entrepreneur age and performance for those developing “innovative” ventures, no relationship was found between entrepreneur age and performance for those developing “imitative” ventures.

Out Of The Building, Into The Fire: An Analysis Of Cognitive Biases During Entrepreneurial Interviews, Tianxu Chen, Mark Simon, Ph.D., John Kim, Brian Poploskie

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

A major source of failure for new ventures is the entrepreneurs’ misunderstanding of the product-market fit. Recently, researchers have suggested that to get a better understanding of the product-market fit, entrepreneurs should “get out of the building” and interview many customers. This approach, while advantageous, is not without drawbacks. This article presents a conceptual model that incorporates the characteristics of “getting out of the building” to conduct customer interviews, and the biases that can arise to influence the entrepreneurs’ misjudgment of the product-market fit. We provide recommendations to overcome these biases.

Relational Ties In Emerging Markets: What Is Their Contribution To Sme Growth?, Natalya Totskaya

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Prior studies argue that social capital is vital for firm growth. Adding to this line of research, this paper provides more evidence regarding the contribution of bonding and bridging social ties to various aspects of small-l and medium-sized enterprise (SME) development. Building on the original data from Russia, this paper investigates the effects of firm-internal and firm-external relational ties on SME performance and geographic expansion. The findings indicate that horizontal bridging ties facilitate specific strategies of SME growth. Thus, this paper supports prior research conducted in the Asian context, and allows for extending the outcomes of bonding and bridging social …

New England Journal Of Entrepreneurship, Special Issue 2015

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

No abstract provided.

Charting New Directions In Entrepreneurship Research, Vishal K. Gupta, Golshan Javadian

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Like all peer-reviewed journal articles, the papers published here were subjected to rigorous peer review and editorial oversight. This screening was in addition to the fact that authors could submit papers to the special issue of New England Journal of Entrepreneurship only if the paper had previously been presented at an Eastern Academy of Management (EAM) conference (either in the United States or internationally). Thus, each of the articles in this special issue has been through at least two independent peer-review processes, one at an EAM conference and another at NEJE. This rigorous two-tier procedure resulted in a selection of …

The Differing Impact Of Household Income On Firm Emergence By Heterogeneous Start-Up Configuration, Enrique Nunez

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Using the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics II dataset, we examine the role that household income plays in the emergence of consumer-oriented start-ups by individual (solo), family-based (family), and non-family based start-ups (team). In particular, we address the research question: Does household income impact firm emergence, and if so, is emergence impacted differently based on start-up configuration? Our results indicate that household income does have a significant impact on average firm emergence, as well as on emergence growth rates for solo and family firms, playing an especially significant role for family firms. Furthermore, we found that household income is not …

The Impact Of Immigrant Entrepreneurs’ Social Capital Related Motivations, Claudia Gomez, B. Yasanthi Perera, Judith Y. Weisinger, David H. Tobey, Taylor Zinsmeister-Teeters

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

The immigrant entrepreneurship literature indicates that immigrant entrepreneurs reap numerous benefits from their co-ethnic communities’ social capital. These benefits, however, often come at a price because scholars note the potential for this community social capital to impose limitations on the entrepreneurs. While the literature largely focuses on the benefits of social capital, there is no research on what motivates the immigrant entrepreneurs to engage with their co-ethnic community in terms of contributing to, and utilizing, their co-ethnic communities’ social capital, and the consequences these may have on their enterprises. Addressing this gap in the literature is important in the development …

A Gender Integrative Conceptualization Of Entrepreneurship, Susan Clark Muntean, Banu Ozkazanc-Pan

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Guided by feminist perspectives, we critique existing approaches to the study of women’s entrepreneurship on epistemological grounds and suggest that the entrepreneurship field needs to recognize gendered assumptions in theorizing. Deploying a feminist framework, we suggest that understanding the “gender gap” in entrepreneurship requires focus on institutional and structural barriers women entrepreneurs face. Existing studies of women entrepreneurs often compare women with men without considering how gender and gender relations impact the very concepts and ideas of entrepreneurship. We propose, therefore, a conceptualization of entrepreneurship that illuminates gender bias and calls attention to the interrelated individual, institutional, and structural barriers …

What’S In It For Me? Reciprocal Exchanges Between Underwriters And Venture Capitalists, Douglas R. Miller, Tera L. Galloway, Dustin B. Smith

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

In this article, we examine the impact of repeat interactions between VCs and underwriters. Past research has suggested that such interactions build trust and may contribute to more equitable treatment of issuing firms. We adopt an alternative perspective and suggest that these repeat interactions are characterized by reciprocal exchanges facilitated by opportunistic behavior from the VC. Our analysis demonstrates that VCs and underwriters interact in order to appropriate greater value from the IPO. This article provides a more complete understanding of repeat interactions between the VC and the underwriter by identifying characteristics of the relationship that have an impact on …

Entrepreneurial Behavior During Industry Emergence: An Unconventional Study Of Discovery And Creation In The Early Pc Industry, Alka Gupta, Christoph K. Streb, Vishal K. Gupta, Erik Markin

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Acting entrepreneurially in nascent industries is a complex endeavor characterized by uncertainty and ambiguity. Nevertheless, entirely new industries do emerge, often as a direct result of entrepreneurial behavior. We extend and apply discovery and creation approaches to study entrepreneurial behavior during industry emergence by means of qualitative analysis of a film about the personal computer (PC) industry’s formative years. We find that discovery and creation behavior are fundamentally interrelated and share a common element: bricolage. Moreover, ideological activism is a major component of entrepreneurial behavior in a new industry’s formative years during both creation and discovery processes. Implications for research …

Adjustment Strategies And Business Success In Minority-Owned Family Firms, Yoon G. Lee, Margaret A. Fitzgerald, Kenneth R. Bartkus, Myung S. Lee

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

With data from the 2003 and 2005 National Minority Business Owners Survey, we examined the extent to which minority business owners differ from nonminority business owners in their reported use of adjustment strategies, and the relationship between the use of adjustment strategies and perceived business success. The sample consisted of 193 African American, 200 Mexican American, 200 Korean American, and 210 white business owners. Mexican American and Korean American business owners reported higher levels of adjustment strategy use than African American and white business owners. The ordinary least squares show that reallocating family resources to meet business needs and reallocating …

Adoption Of Innovation In Small-Scale Forestry: The Case Of Portable-Sawmill-Based Microenterprises, Crystal V. Lupo

Journal of Sustainable Social Change

Microenterprise development can be a valuable societal component not only in terms of filling important niche markets, but also by enhancing a society's wellbeing through creating opportunities available to people who are marginalized by the labor force for one reason or another. Forest microenterprises, in particular, can enhance rural community development efforts, as well as forest conservation goals, by empowering local people to successfully manage their resources as well as offer the possibility of income enhancement (Salafsky, Cordes, Leighton, Henderson, Watt, & Cherry, 1997; Lupo, 2012). This paper explores the adoption of portable-sawmill-based forest microenterprises. Key findings include common factors …