| 1. |
- Kremel, Anna, 1965-, et al.
(författare)
-
Business Networks at Start-up : Swedish Native-Owned and Immigrant-Owned Companies
- 2014
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - UK : InderScience Publishers. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 22:3, s. 307-325
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this study is to examine the differences between native Swedish and immigrant entrepreneurs' business networks at start-up stage. The study is based on a database consisting of 261 immigrant- and 2,463 native-owned companies, applying several univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Immigrant entrepreneurs' business networks are less likely to include mainstream contacts at the start-up stage than native born entrepreneurs. Thus, ethnicity is an important variable explaining differences in such networks at the start-up stage. A combination of both mainstream and immigrant networks has the potential to give rise to more growth for immigrant-owned businesses. As a result, these businesses may have potential to create new jobs for unemployed immigrants. This study provides a deeper understanding of how ethnicity may influence the entrepreneurs' use of business networks. It may lead to policy makers considering access to mainstreaming networks as an important issue in the social and economic integration.
|
|
| 2. |
- Yazdanfar, Darush, et al.
(författare)
-
Competence development and performance among Swedish micro firms
- 2014
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Training and Development. - UK : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2046-9012. ; 38:3, s. 162-179
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: This study examines the association between performance and competence development among Swedish micro firms, measured as number of hours per person a company allocates annually to competence development. Design/methodology/approach: A panel dataset consisting of around 395 firms will be analyzed using seemingly unrelated regression-model (SUR-model) for relationships between the hours allocated to competence development and various proxies for business performance, and the relationship between attending a business training program and various proxies for business performance. Findings: The empirical results are mixed showing a positive association between owners' attendance on a business training program and company performance merely with regard to four performance variables: better job satisfaction within a company, increased number of employees, organizational improvements and increased exports. However, the findings provide no evidence to suggest that there is a link between competence development and other performance variables. Practical implications: The present study provides a better understanding of the relationship between company performance and competence development. An investment in entrepreneur training and education could ensure the improvement of the performance of micro firms. This implication is especially relevant to firms in such industries as the service sectors, which are highly competitive. Originality/value: This study is based on a unique sample including many relevant variables, compared to previous researches. To the authors' best knowledge, this study is the one of the first empirical investigations focusing on this issue in the Swedish context.
|
|
| 3. |
- Abbasian, Saeid, et al.
(författare)
-
The determinant of external financing at the start-up stage : Empirical evidences from Swedish data
- 2014
-
Ingår i: World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development. - Switzerland : InderScience Publishers. - 1746-0573 .- 1746-0581. ; 10:1, s. 124-141
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Small firms in general have limited access to funding, which is a major problem for entrepreneurs. In particular, this problem is evident for women and ethnic minority groups. The purpose of the study is to examine empirically the impact of gender, ethnicity and other relevant variables on the access to external financing of new small firms. A sample of 2,764 female– and male–owned small businesses, based on a unique and large database gathered through interviews, was investigated employing binary logistic regression models. The results suggest that both gender and ethnicity are significant explanatory variables influencing the access to external capital at the start–up stage. Entrepreneurs' age, experience of starting businesses and education, as well as additional jobs beside their own business, are other variables that influence the way in which entrepreneurs finance their business. Moreover, firm characteristics in terms of personal start–up capital, firm size and legal form have an impact on financing behaviour at start–up. Since the knowledge about this issue is limited, the results of this study add to our understanding of the variables affecting the behaviour of small business endeavours in seeking funding at start–up
|
|
| 4. |
- Abbasian, Saeid, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
-
The Experience Economy and Creative Industries
- 2011. - 1
-
Ingår i: Local Development and Creative Industries. - Visby/Sweden : Gotland University Press. - 9789186343057 ; , s. 33-56
-
Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 5. |
- Abbasian, Saeid, 1961-, et al.
(författare)
-
Women in Creative Industries
- 2011. - 1
-
Ingår i: Local development and Creative Industries. - Visby/Sweden : Gotland University Press. - 9789186343057 ; , s. 59-97
-
Bokkapitel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)
|
|
| 6. |
- Tesfaye, Besrat, et al.
(författare)
-
Managing the COVID-19 Crisis. A Case Study of Entrepreneurship and Social Responsibility in Swedish SMEs
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability during the Coronavirus Crisis. - Cham : Palgrave Macmillan. - 9783030738464 - 9783030738495 - 9783030738471 ; , s. 103-134
-
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The COVID-19 pandemic has posed serious challenges to businesses across the globe. However, the effects of pandemic on businesses vary widely across nations, regions, and industries. Some businesses are being pushed into liquidation and bankruptcy while others are struggling to maintain operational continuity. Yet others are forced to repurpose their expertise and resources in order to meet a sudden upsurge in the demand for their products and services. Likewise, there is a variation in the understandings and responses of entrepreneurs to the COVID-19 crisis. Our case study illustrates these variations. Using a multiple case study, we explore the perceptions, strategic responses, and managerial practices of Swedish SMEs during the COVID-19 crisis. The aim is to gain some insight into how SMEs manage the COVID-19 pandemic from both economic and CSR perspectives. The results indicate that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is related to the state of the industry in which the case companies are located, and the pre-crisis status of the companies. The perceptions of the entrepreneurs also differ. Some entrepreneurs perceive the crisis as a threat to their business while others see opportunities for innovation. These perceptions are likely to guide the strategic choices and managerial practices of the entrepreneurs. Digitalization is a common denominator with regard to social responsibility. However, the primary focus is on socially responsible practices for the health and safety of employees.
|
|
| 7. |
- Sörensson, Anna, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
-
What Happens to Corporate Responsibility in a Worldwide Health Emergency?
- 2021
-
Ingår i: Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability during the Coronavirus Crisis. - Cham : Palgrave Macmillan. - 9783030738464 - 9783030738495 - 9783030738471 ; , s. 1-12
-
Bokkapitel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this introductory chapter we discuss what happens to corporate social responsibility during the COVID-19 crisis. Specifically, we consider how organisations responded to the pandemic and the implications of such organisational responses for corporate social responsibility (CSR) research and practice. We then describe the nine chapters included in the book and finally reflect on these new arrangements between businesses and society.
|
|
| 8. |
- Abbasian, Saeid, et al.
(författare)
-
Attitudes towards participation in business development programmes : An ethnic comparison in Sweden
- 2015
-
Ingår i: European Journal of Training and Development. - UK : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 2046-9012 .- 2046-9020. ; 39:1, s. 59-75
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose – The aim of the study is to investigate whether there are any differences between the attitudes towards participation in development programmes of entrepreneurs who are immigrants and those who are native-born. Design/methodology/approach – Several statistical methods, including a binary logistic regression model, were used to analyse a unique, firm-level dataset collected by the Swedish Small Business Forum in October and November 2012. The dataset was based on a questionnaire composed of 60 closed questions that was completed by 531 participants representing 395 companies. Findings – Based on the analysis of 15 different attitude variables, the empirical findings are that immigrant managers/owners are more likely to show a positive attitude to participation in development programmes, in terms of nine of those attitude variables, than their native counterparts. Because there are no data about second generation of immigrants in the sample, thus, this category may have had an impact on the results. However, there is no possibility to identify any impact on the results. Originality/value – There is no prior research focusing specifically on this question, and to the authors' knowledge, this study is the first that has attempted to deal with the issue. This study is based on a recent and unique database, and provides new evidence on the relationship between ethnicity and attitude towards participation in development programmes among entrepreneurs. Its context is different from that of prior research.
|
|
| 9. |
- Abbasian, Saeid, et al.
(författare)
-
Gender as a determinant of informal capital in the financing of small firms’ start-up : Swedish data
- 2015
-
Ingår i: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - Switzerland : InderScience Publishers. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 24:2, s. 249-267
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- This research explores the differences in informal capital acquisition between female- and male-owned firms in the start-up stage in Sweden. A binary logistic regression model is used to analyse a sample including 836 female- and 1928 male-owned firms in 2008, providing 47,022 observations. The results indicate that the main explanatory variable, gender, is significant in distinguishing between female- and male-owned firms with regards to the use of informal capital in terms of loans from family members. Thus, female-owned firms tend to rely more on loans from family members than male-owned firms. The findings also indicate that one control variable, namely owners previous experience of starting up a company, negatively influences the use of loans from family members as a financing source in the start-up stage. This study is based on a unique and large sample including many different variables compared with previous research. Knowledge on the differences between Swedish female- and male-owned firms in using informal capital in the start-up stage is limited and ambiguous. The presented results contribute to research into small firm financing by adding insight into the relationships between informal capital acquisition, gender, and other relevant variables.
|
|
| 10. |
- Yazdanfar, Darush, et al.
(författare)
-
Business Advice Strategies of Immigrant Entrepreneurs in Sweden
- 2015
-
Ingår i: Baltic Journal of Management. - UK : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1746-5265 .- 1746-5273. ; 10:1, s. 98-118
-
Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine whether there are any significant differences between native Swedish and immigrant entrepreneurs in business advice sought at start-up.Design/methodology/approach – The study, based on a unique and large database consisting of 304 immigrant and 2,512 native-owned firms, applies several univariate and multivariate statistical methods including ANOVA and regression analysis.Findings – According to the results there are certain similarities and differences between Swedish native- and immigrant-owned firms concerning the type of external business advice they seek. The results suggest there are significant differences between native and immigrant-owned firms for four of 20 types of advice received. Native-owned firms, on average, tend to seek more advice on accounting and on the choice of business form as well as the help of a knowledgeable person. On the other hand, immigrants seek, on average, more advice on export questions than their native counterparts.Research limitations/implications – This research contributes to policy-making by helping authorities gain a better understanding of the impact of immigrant background on business network decisions at the nascent stage of development. Immigrant access to good advice in the nascent stage should increase new firm survival. This study does not, however, measure performance. As this research is based on aggregate level secondary data, more specific analysis has been impossible. This is an important limitation of this paper. In addition, immigrants are not homogenous groups and they differ in age, education, work experiences, etc. The results should therefore be interpreted carefully.Originality/value – This paper is one of the first and few empirical studies investigating the issue of immigrant business advice strategies in the Swedish context. The study provides a detailed overview of how ethnicity influences entrepreneurs’ use of external business advice in the firm formation stage for micro and small firms.
|
|
