Robin Jarvis, James Curran, John Kitching and Geoffrey Lightfoot
Concern has been expressed, over the years, about the financial management strategies adopted by small firms, but very little is known about these practices. Business performance…
Abstract
Concern has been expressed, over the years, about the financial management strategies adopted by small firms, but very little is known about these practices. Business performance measures are an important element of these financial management strategies. The paper discusses the findings from research carried out in the UK examining the quantitative and qualitative criteria in the measurement of performance in small firms. Semi‐structured interviews were carried out with 20 owner‐managers from both manufacturing and service sectors. Orthodox theory assumes that the objective of the firm is to maximise profits, and it follows that the performance measures advocated are largely based upon this theory. However, research has shown that small firms pursue a range of goals. It was, therefore, not surprising to find that owner‐managers of small firms used a variety of measures and indicators to assess business performance. Profit measures were found to be less important than conventional views suggest. In particular, cash flow indicators were considered to be critical. Other performance measures adopted by owner‐managers include the quality of inputs and outputs and intangible indicators.
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This paper comments on Allan Gibb’s keynote address to the Small Business and Enterprise Conference earlier this year reproduced in this issue of the Journal. Gibb offers a…
Abstract
This paper comments on Allan Gibb’s keynote address to the Small Business and Enterprise Conference earlier this year reproduced in this issue of the Journal. Gibb offers a critical assessment of the ways in which small business theory and research and policy making have handled the transfer of ideas as a basis for small business support policies. The arguments offered are hard hitting and persuasive, especially as an explanation for the poor record of support programmes in transitional economies. This response extends Gibb’s arguments, drawing out some implications. For instance, one of his themes is that small business theorising and research needs to give more attention to cultural and non‐economic phenomena, and this paper suggests ways in which this needs to occur. It concludes that, by accepting Gibb’s arguments, policy making would be more effective and small business theorising and research would be stronger, achieving closer relations with other social science disciplines.
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John Kitching, Robert Blackburn and James Curran
Industrial relations researchers have typically directed their attention towards large manufacturing firms to the neglect of the small business. This situation is becoming…
Abstract
Industrial relations researchers have typically directed their attention towards large manufacturing firms to the neglect of the small business. This situation is becoming increasingly difficult to justify particularly for small service sector firms. Between 1980–88 there was a 22% increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT (British Business 1989) which suggests a considerable rise in the number of small firms. About 96% of all firms have less than 20 employees and these firms, it is estimated, account for 36% of total private sector employment in the UK (G. Bannock and Partners Ltd, cited in Dept of Employment 1989). The small firm population is markedly skewed towards services with nearly 90% of all small businesses (1–24 employees) in services of construction (Cur‐ran and Burrows 1988).
Significant changes have taken place in the nature, organisation and management of research on the UK SME sector over the past decade. This is the first in a short series of…
Abstract
Significant changes have taken place in the nature, organisation and management of research on the UK SME sector over the past decade. This is the first in a short series of papers documenting and analysing those changes. The data set addressed is the published proceedings of the ‘UKEMRA’ annual research conferences, which constitute the most comparable relevant source of research output between the late 1970s and the early 1990s. This paper focuses specifically on the changing nature of the production process in SME research. It demonstrates that there has been a strong trend towards institutionalisation, with a shift in the modal form of production from sole workers to research teams. Furthermore, these teams have increasingly worked across institutions and, in a significant proportion of cases, collaboration has extended beyond academics to potential users/funders of research output. Finally, there appears to be little continuity between those active at the beginning and end of the time period reviewed. The implications for the future organisation of SME research are briefly discussed.
James M. Curran and Matthew L. Meuter
Advances in technologies have allowed service providers to incorporate many different technologies into the delivery of their services. These technologies have been implemented in…
Abstract
Purpose
Advances in technologies have allowed service providers to incorporate many different technologies into the delivery of their services. These technologies have been implemented in the service encounter for the customer to use with varying degrees of success. This research aims to focus on the examination of factors that influence consumer attitudes toward, and adoption of, self‐service technologies (SSTs).
Design/methodology/approach
A conceptual model of the adoption process for SSTs is developed and tested across three different technologies used in the banking industry. One of these technologies (ATMs) has been available for many years and is widely adopted, another technology (bank by phone) has been available for many years but has not been widely adopted, and the third technology (online banking) is relatively new to the marketplace. Data were collected using a random telephone survey of banking customers in a three‐state area of the northeast USA and analyzed using structural equation modeling.
Findings
A comparison of the results of the model tests on the three technologies provides evidence that different factors influence attitudes toward each of these technologies and offers an explanation of the varying degrees of acceptance found among consumers. This research has demonstrated that multiple factors need to be considered when introducing technologies into the service encounter and that the salient factors may vary among technologies and their stages in the adoption process.
Research limitations/implications
The three different technologies used were all based in the banking industry, which limits the generalizability to other industries. Also cross‐sectional data are used rather than a longitudinal study, the feasibility of which is limited by time and cost contraints.
Originality/value
The practical application of these findings may guide marketers to emphasize issues related to certain critical constructs when utilizing SSTs in their service delivery.
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Audhesh K. Paswan and S. Prasad Kantamneni
A framework for evaluating public opinion towards franchising is proposed and empirically tested in an emerging market, India. Franchising in an emerging market was selected as…
Abstract
A framework for evaluating public opinion towards franchising is proposed and empirically tested in an emerging market, India. Franchising in an emerging market was selected as the context because – (1) future growth is likely to come from newly emerging markets, (2) franchising is primarily seen as a foreign concept in emerging markets and has attracted its fair share of attention, both positive and negative. The results indicate that people evaluate franchising using four key factors – well being of small businesses, socio‐economic, socio‐cultural well being, and employment opportunity. This study further investigates the relationship between these factors and patronage behaviour. Some of these factors were associated with patronage behaviour and the associated residual feeling. Clearly, in order to succeed in emerging and developing markets, the franchising industry must pay heed to public opinion.
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Critically examines claims for the use of information and communication technologies for the easy availability of information and so for the improvement of citizen participation…
Abstract
Critically examines claims for the use of information and communication technologies for the easy availability of information and so for the improvement of citizen participation in democratic processes. Examines the quality as opposed to the quantity of information available and discusses the nature of the information infrastructure as envisioned in the New Library: The People’s Network report against the historical reality of the failure of established systems to fulfill their potential and the characteristics of the present information environment. Considers attacks on the established public library system and discusses the nature of official information as embodied in official statistics. Examines the commercialisation of broadcasting, the decline of public service broadcasting and the failure of radio and television to develop in private hands into vehicles for mass education, concluding that where quality of content is paramount for information purposes over techniques of presentation, the claims for technological solutions for the information age are overstated.
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The purpose of this study is to examine the culture of transparency in the Norwegian ministries considering the public sphere. The research question has been as follows: to what…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to examine the culture of transparency in the Norwegian ministries considering the public sphere. The research question has been as follows: to what extent do the Norwegian ministries’ records registration and transparency practices contribute to the public sphere today?
Design/methodology/approach
A follow-up study after the Norwegian Auditor General’s investigation of records management and transparency in the Norwegian ministries and at The Office of the Prime Minister in 2014–2016 is presented. The design was a case study. The methods were a combination of an interview and document research.
Findings
Registries are published faster than when the original investigation was done, which means the possibilities of debate are increased. However, wide use of confidentiality provisions may indicate that too many records are defined as belonging to the private sphere. Registration routines have improved, which may increase control of the ministries. However, this is counteracted by extensive use of exception clauses.
Originality/value
Research about the public sphere has usually dealt with the participants in public debate and places for debate. This paper broadens the perspective using data from various official sources to shed light on the role of records centers and online public records registries in the public sphere.