| 11. |
- Henschel, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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Risk management in Scottish, Chinese and German small and medium-sized enterprises : a country comparison
- 2016
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In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 29:1, s. 112-132
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Even though the study of risk management (RM) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) has increased recently, there have been few cross-country studies. Therefore, the present research project can be considered as one of the first of its kind drawing upon an extensive empirical study into the status of RM in SMEs. More precisely, the cross-country study, involving SMEs from China, Germany and Scotland, investigates differences in their RM practices. The findings, which were based on a web-based survey, provide a clearer understanding of the personal and organisational factors that have influenced the RM practices of SMEs in these countries. This study also sheds light on the influence that the perception of environmental uncertainty has on the RM efforts in SMEs.
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| 12. |
- Johansson Sevä, Ingemar, et al.
(author)
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The prevalence, characteristics and well-being of 'necessity' self-employed and 'latent' entrepreneurs : findings from Sweden
- 2016
-
In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 28:1, s. 58-77
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Self-employment is often discussed in terms of 'push' and 'pull' factors. The aim of this article is to assess not only the prevalence of 'necessity' self-employed and 'latent' entrepreneurs in Sweden, but also the characteristics in terms of socio-demography, personality traits, intrinsic work motivation and preference for independence associated with each group. In addition, the article investigates whether 'necessity' self-employment and 'latent' entrepreneurship are related to four measures of well-being. This is done using a nationally representative survey of the self-employed (small-business owners, n = 2,483) and regularly employed (n = 2,642) in Sweden. The main findings indicate that 'necessity' self-employed have characteristics and preferences that differ from other (non-'necessity') self-employed. They display relatively low intrinsic work motivation and preference for independence as well as scores on personality traits typically associated with entrepreneurship. They also report lower levels of work autonomy, job-satisfaction, life satisfaction and family-life satisfaction than other self-employed. 'Latent' entrepreneurs resemble entrepreneurs in many ways but they nevertheless report lower levels of well-being than non-'necessity' self-employed.
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| 13. |
- Lundberg, Heléne, 1960-, et al.
(author)
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The immigrant effect from employer and employee perspectives in a Swedish context
- 2019
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In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - : Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 36:1-2, s. 126-147
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This explorative study addresses the immigrant effect. Not only is the employer perspective considered, but employed immigrants also share their experiences. We report a multi-case comparative study of two immigrant-employing SMEs in Vasternorrland, a peripheral and sparsely populated region located in Mid Sweden, in northern Europe. The employment of immigrants reportedly had several advantages as well as disadvantages. Both employers and immigrant employees agreed that the immigrants' language and cultural competences reduced psychic distances between the company and the export market represented by the immigrant's country of origin. Employers reported a generally increased awareness of psychic distance among markets resulting from the employment of immigrants, though employing immigrants resulted in increased psychic distance within the companies.
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| 14. |
- Olsson, Anna Karin, 1966-
(author)
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Canals, Rivers and Lakes as Experiencescapes : Destination Development Based on Strategic Use of Inland Water
- 2016
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In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 29:2, s. 217-243
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Earlier studies show that there is an increasing interest in exploration and (re)development of waterways sites with surrounding areas used for leisure, recreation and tourism. The aim of this study is to explore selected Nordic destinations with focus on the strategic use of inland water areas as experiencescapes to promote destination development. Competition among destinations has escalated, hence also the need for well- coordinated tourism offerings. As shown in many studies various stakeholders from private, public and voluntary sectors often interact at destinations. Earlier tourism studies show that coordination of networks is crucial since successful destinations are based on interrelated stakeholders that understand the concept of the destination and are committed to cooperate in offering a holistic experience to visitors. The data collection includes a combination of different methods: observations, interviews with destination stakeholders, and collection of documents related to the selected destinations and regions. Findings show a varied mix of elements and dimensions related to physical, social and sensory settings in the studied experiencescapes. Thevariety in applied approaches for co-ordination of offerings, collaboration and management of destination stakeholders in inland water areas is discussed.
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| 15. |
- Petersson McIntyre, Magdalena, 1968
(author)
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Queering all aboard: challenging the maleness of the leisure boat
- 2015
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In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 24:1, s. 4-22
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The concept boat All Aboard was designed to meet women's expectations of leisure boats. A constellation of firms worked together to find solutions that could lead to business opportunities by challenging the implicit male norms of the leisure boat industry. This article examines the cultural notions of gender and equality that mattered in the process and explores the relationship between bodies, technologies, design, and gender using qualitative ethnographic methods. Based on queer theory, this article argues that ideas of the female body and the female relationship with boats played a significant role in this innovation process. Although invisible (and male) norms masked by so-called neutral designs and technologies were challenged, new norms of what women are like and what it means to be a woman were simultaneously created.
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| 16. |
- Philipson, Sarah, et al.
(author)
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From Budapest to Berlin : the role of reputation in the market economy
- 2016
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In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 28:2/3, s. 310-322
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During a trip from Budapest to Berlin in 1990, Joakim Philipson made observations about a grey market trade between Rumanian Roma and Vietnamese guest students in Berlin. It was seemingly inexplicable how the two groups could enter into business relationships without a common language. This paper uses the narrative as a basis for a discussion and interpretation of conditional trust and validates classical economic value theory. As “...research on trust... is relatively diverse and multidisciplinary” (Dirks and Ferrin, 2001; Lewicki et al., 1998; both after Gordon, 2007), we are drawing on research in as diverse fields as sociology, game theory, anthropology, and classical economics to question the paradigm that is the basis of both transaction cost economics and relationship management. As such the paper is a narrative case used for conceptual discourse.
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| 17. |
- Sandberg, Susanne, et al.
(author)
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Refugee entrepreneurship : taking a social network view on immigrants with refugee backgrounds starting transnational businesses in Sweden
- 2019
-
In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - : InderScience Publishers. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 36:1/2, s. 216-241
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The global world of today is characterized by movement, both voluntarily and forced. Despite the current situation, few studies have focused on refugees and their entrepreneurial activities. The research question is: how do immigrant entrepreneurs with a refugee background start and run transnational business in their country of residence? The purposes of the paper are (1) to identify the characteristics of the refugee entrepreneur and (2) to examine how the social network is utilized for starting up and running the business. Through this, the scarce understanding of refugee entrepreneurial activities will be enhanced and particular traits of refugee entrepreneurship can be determined. Four cases of immigrant entrepreneurs with a refugee background who conduct business with transnational characteristics have been studied. Consequently, contributions of both theoretical development, integrating refugee entrepreneurship into the field of international business, as well as novel empirical contributions through a less-studied angle on refugee entrepreneurship, are made.
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| 18. |
- Suseno, Yuliani, et al.
(author)
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Informal Training in Chinese Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises
- 2019
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In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 37:1, s. 1-24
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Entrepreneurs in small- and medium-sized enterprises are significantcontributors to economic development. The purpose of this research is to examine the extent and motives for the use of informal training in Chinese SMEs. Using case studies, we found that informal training is widely used and generally accepted in Chinese SMEs. We also uncovered three separate categories on the motives for SMEs in adopting informal training based on the financial and time constraints they face, the perceived outcomes of training activities in terms of organisational performance, employee turnover, and the development of Guanxi and positive team cohesion, as well as the attitudinal aspects of both managers and employees that influence their intentions in adopting a specific training approach. Our study contributes to the literature of HRM in Asia, and has important implications for the government and institutions in emerging countries to support entrepreneurship and SMEs.
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| 19. |
- Sörensson, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Sustainable tourism among swedish tourism service providers : easy to say but difficult to implement
- 2016
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In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 29:2, s. 309-321
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The research objective of this study was to investigate and analyse how Swedish tourism service providers present their work with sustainability. Data was collected from 48 randomly selected tourism service providers in Sweden, ranging from micro and small to medium-sized tourism service providers. The 48 different tourism service providers also offer different types of tourism services (e.g. tourist agency, stay, do and travel). The results show that the issues of sustainable tourism are present but that the scope is fairly small; focus is mainly on economic sustainability. There are some micro tourism service providers that are strongly focused on all three dimensions of sustainably, often offering some kind of nature-based tourism attraction. The medium-sized and small tourism service providers address the issues of environmental sustainability but in reality there is little action; sustainable tourism is more of a buzzword for the Swedish tourism service providers than concrete action.
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| 20. |
- von Friedrichs, Yvonne, et al.
(author)
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Social entrepreneurship in rural areas : a sports club’s mobilisation of people, money and social Capital
- 2016
-
In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. - 1476-1297 .- 1741-8054. ; 29:2, s. 199-216
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper is about the growth, roots and concerns of social entrepreneurship in a small, peripheral society, where the sports club has taken over common public responsibilities and become a change agent for the community development. The aim is to contribute to the knowledge about the conditions and challenges of social entrepreneurship when the voluntary sector in the form of a sports club takes over traditional public commitments in small, rural societies. An exploratory case study approach is used. The clubs social embeddedness is found to have given it credibility in the local society, and its geographical proximity has turned it into a bricoleur, while its ability to mobilize critical resources has been key to its success as a social entrepreneur. The study contributes to the growing field of social entrepreneurship with empirical evidence on how volunteers can serve as important change agents in rural local societies.
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