Network dynamics and new ventures in China: A longitudinal study

This study examines the effects of networking skills of entrepreneurs on network dynamics and venture legitimacy. The article is based on the longitudinal survey data of 94 Internet entrepreneurs in Beijing, China. The findings suggest that networking skills of entrepreneurs have positive effects on the structural changes of entrepreneurial networks over time. Further, improvements in networking skills of entrepreneurs are conducive to greater venture legitimacy measured as the number of institutional investors in the new venture. The research and practical implications are discussed.     

Building entrepreneurs’ innovativeness through knowledge management: the mediating effect of entrepreneurial alertness

This paper explores the possible relationship between sources of knowledge acquisition and entrepreneurs’ innovativeness from the perspective of knowledge management. Specifically, it employs the partial least squares structure equation model to study the entrepreneurs’ innovativeness through knowledge acquisition. It has been found that knowledge acquisition through social networks with suppliers, manufacturers and distributors and management practices has a positive effect on entrepreneurial alertness to business ideas. Moreover, entrepreneurial alertness plays a mediating role between sources of knowledge acquisition and entrepreneurs’ innovativeness. In addition, entrepreneurial alertness plays a completely mediating role between core social network knowledge and entrepreneurs’ innovativeness, and a partial mediating role between sources of knowledge acquisition and entrepreneurs’ innovativeness. This finding has both theoretical and practical implications for entrepreneurial learning in general.     

Women’s experiences of legitimacy,satisfaction and commitment as entrepreneurs: embedded in gender hierarchy and networks in private and business spheres

ABSTRACT

When a woman perceives legitimacy in her job as an entrepreneur from networks that are often influenced by the gender hierarchy that grants men higher status than women, she is encouraged in her job. What are the effects of gender hierarchy and networks on the legitimacy a female entrepreneur perceives and on her satisfaction and commitment to the job? A sample of 5997 female entrepreneurs in the developing world was surveyed for Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. They were found to experience legitimacy as entrepreneurs in their networks in the private sphere and the business sphere. Gender hierarchy constrains legitimacy more in the private sphere than it does in the business sphere. Legitimacy in the business sphere can fulfil the need to feel competent and enhance job satisfaction, while legitimacy in the private sphere can fulfil the need to feel related and enhance job commitment. The account contributes to a two-level contextualization of experiences: micro-level embedding in networks that are nested in macro-level embedding in gender hierarchy.     

Importance and Measurement of Entrepreneurial Quality and Processes in Tourism

ABSTRACT

Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) dominate the tourism industry in Europe. In the European Union, 94.4% of the accommodation and food sector has been classified as small businesses employing nine or less employees. In central and southern Europe for example, the average establishment size of hotels is 37 beds in 1998 (Hubertus, 2000, Weiermair and Peters, 2002). Due to the fact that small businesses are characterized by a preponderance of owner manager influence (Gagnon et al., 2000), entrepreneurial processes in tourism should be considered as one of the major fields of tourism research.

The behaviour of the owner manager moulds all factors that are relevant for the service delivery process (service quality, processes, structure, corporate culture, innovation management, etc.). The entrepreneur converts detected opportunities into marketable improvements and innovations and his perception and information processing mechanisms influence his actions.

Given the scant literature on entrepreneurial processes and decision making in tourism (but see Leghorél et al., 2000), the authors have developed an experimental design to form the conceptual foundation of enquiry into entrepreneurial processes. In particular, we postulate entrepreneurial quality to be measured not only by output, but by taking into account the structure, availability and use of information in the respective economic environment (Cooper et al., 1995, Magee, 1998).

While social sciences substantially contribute to entrepreneurial studies, their theoretical constructs are rather conceptional and sometimes difficult to link with economic reality (Swedberg, 2000). In some areas however these studies show considerable deficits. Economic theory for example neglects the psychological aspects of entrepreneurial behaviour. The psychology of entrepreneurs thus requires closer attention.

The entrepreneur's cognitive procedures have an influence on the design of the service delivery process. Psychological aspects of the entrepreneur particularly have an impact on information search and the detection of new opportunities as well as the realization of information and ideas. This paper thus investigates the market-related behaviour of entrepreneurs and the implementation of their ideas. The process of information acquisition is in the middle of attention.

The paper starts with a short overview on the role of cognition and affection in service processes. It is argued that tourism research should not be limited to analyzing entrepreneurs' personality structures but has to focus on the information handling and decision making behaviour of entrepreneurs. The second part hence provides a literature review of entrepreneurial processes, in general, and entrepreneurial behaviour, in particular, with the aim to construct a model of the entrepreneurial process (Koh, 1996, Wall, 2001). Our specific research agenda includes, as a special feature, information search and information usage behaviour of entrepreneurs in tourism as well as perception of and reaction to changes in the respective economic environment. Open research questions can be derived and will be the starting point for the main part of the paper, namely the experimental design. The aim of experimental methods is to exclude as many external variables as possible and thus to gather valid data on entrepreneurial processes and the respective independent variables which influence entrepreneurs' activities and decisions. The authors conclude with recommendations for future tourism research agendas.     

Beyond ideal-type depictions of entrepreneurship: some lessons from the service sector in England

To evaluate critically the ideal-type depiction of entrepreneurs as wholesome super heroes that permeates the entrepreneurship literature, this paper analyses whether entrepreneurs in the service sector are involved in off-the-books transactions. Reporting data from interviews conducted in England with 91 early-stage entrepreneurs (defined here as individuals starting-up an enterprise in the past 3 years) and 81 more established self-employed in the service sector, the finding is that 77 and 74%, respectively engaged in off-the-books transactions. The outcome is a call to move beyond ideal-type representations of entrepreneurs and towards a fuller comprehension of the lived practices of entrepreneurship.     

The wellsprings of work: The USA and the UK

Summary

The results of research on the US economy are discussed. It is based on a file of 5.6 million business establishments which is used to study how each business evolves. Underlying relatively slow changes in the aggregate totals was a set of large flows, and substantial ‘churning’. Most regions in the USA lose about 8 % of their jobs each year, and the healthiest economies have the highest losses. Small firms were significant creators of new jobs. Studies in the UK found that the contribution of small firms to employment generation is small, that the rate of new firm formation depends upon whether a region is dominated by large firms, that subcontracting, cheap premises and a good general environment are important. Births and deaths of businesses balanced each other at around 8 % each per annum, but some regions were declining because they were not sharing in the growth side of the equation, as in the USA. One difference between the USA and the UK is in terms of micro‐ and macrostability. Microstability is that of the individual job and business, and macrostability that of the economy as a whole, and the two are in inherent conflict. The choice between these two forms of stability is a very painful one, and a price must be paid either way.     

中山市青年创业素质调查研究

本文以实地调研的方法,从创业准备及目的、创业素质及心态两方面对中山市青年的创业素质进行了调查和研究,分析了青年在创业中出现的问题及原因,并提出高校、社会和政府三位一体的帮扶建议,以期对有志青年的成功创业有所帮助。     

Welcome back: Repeat visitation and tourist wellbeing

Although repeat visitation is professed as a desirable phenomenon in studies on destination loyalty, there is limited explicit consideration of well-being as a psychological outcome for repeat visitors. Consequently, this research explores the intersection between repeat visitation and the well-being of repeat visitors to Fiji. Drawing from in-depth semi-structured interviews, findings highlight the fundamental importance of repeat visitation and familiarity in enhancing individual well-being. Consistent with the core tenets of the Self-Determination Theory, a conceptual framework is proposed that shows the contribution of autonomy, relatedness and competence to restorative tourism experiences for repeat travellers. Future research should draw on established well-being models in positive psychology to further elucidate the underlying dimensions contributing to repeat visitors' well-being.     

江苏中小企业家创新能力研究

本文在比较江苏与浙江中小企业家的基础上,分析江苏企业家在创新过程中面临的主要问题,从提高企业家素质、培育冒险精神、培养责任心、营造良好外部环境等五方面提升中小企业家的创新能力。