Editorial

Citation

(1998), "Editorial", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 4 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ijebr.1998.16004aaa.001

Editorial

Welcome to the first edition of the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research of 1998. Reviewing 1997, is gratifying that we managed to present a range of high quality articles commenting upon entrepreneurial activity and research, we look forward to maintaining this standard in the coming year. The IJEBR Conference, held at the University of Paisley, based on the theme, "Enterprise and Learning" was a great success with a considerable number of papers offered during the two day meeting. David Deakins, the conference organiser will be editing a "Special Edition" of the Journal in the Spring based on the Conference theme. A further conference is planned for 1998, the venue, theme and call for papers will be announced shortly.

In this edition of the Journal we have an interesting range of papers with an International flavour. The paper by Dickson and Hadjimanolis examines innovation and networking amongst small Cypriot firms. With a continued focus upon Europe, the activities of smaller Island economies, where SMEs are a critical part of the economy can be overlooked. The paper by Glancey offers an important comment upon the issues of profitability and growth but develops an analysis based upon an entrepreneurial stance rather than the more frequently utilised managerial view. Hansemark examines the effect of an entrepreneurship programme to develop basic psychological attributes for entrepreneurial action. This research was based in Sweden and concludes that such programmes can make a useful contribution to an individuals entrepreneurial orientation, but variables related to individual characteristics do emerge which will effect the participants entrepreneurial orientation. This article should provoke interest amongst those who believe in targeting resources to those firms most likely to survive and grow. The final article by Ian Clark develops the theme of entrepreneurship in larger organisations. An empirical examination of Engineering Process Plant Contracting, which has a multi-million pound turnover, demonstrates how an entrepreneurial approach to strategic human resource management can significantly improve the efficiency of project management. This is a particularly important paper as it develops a rarely considered theme, that of entrepreneurial activity in larger firms.

Over the coming year, it would be challenging to expand our understanding of entrepreneurial activity and we would particularly welcome papers considering entrepreneurism in larger firms. For example, managers being encouraged to develop entrepreneurial approaches to organisational problems, or how enterprises are responding to "stakeholder" concepts and changing to accommodate such issues would be thought provoking. However, analysis and investigation of smaller firms will continue to be the focus of much entrepreneurial debate and will form a crucial part of the discussion upon entrepreneurial activity and research.