It is tempting to think of the countries of Central Europe as one homogeneous region. But their prewar stages of economic development varied greatly, their communistera experience…
Abstract
It is tempting to think of the countries of Central Europe as one homogeneous region. But their prewar stages of economic development varied greatly, their communistera experience varied significantly, their ethnic and linguistic differences are as great as those between Great Britain and Spain, and the distance between Gdansk in northern Poland and Szeged in southern Hungary is greater than that between Frankfurt and Rome.
Nkoana Simon Radipere and Msindosi Sarah Radebe
The scope of this chapter is to present the key issues of taking the exit route from a business venture. Its aim is therefore to analyse the main strategies and suitable methods…
Abstract
Purpose
The scope of this chapter is to present the key issues of taking the exit route from a business venture. Its aim is therefore to analyse the main strategies and suitable methods to harvest a business venture, as well as to outline the appropriate plan and the main aspects of valuation.
Methodology/approach
Literature review was conducted on issues and aspects that are related to harvesting of a business. These issues have been illustrated with an example and case studies.
Findings
This chapter highlights the fact that every mindful entrepreneur will normally have a roadmap and a plan to exit from a business venture. It provides entrepreneurs with guidance to elaborate suitable strategies and adopt appropriate methods to exit a business.
Research limitations
This chapter is explorative in nature, based on a literature review.
Managerial/practical implications
Entrepreneurs often find themselves consumed in making a business successful, while they neglect to elaborate a plan for harvesting a business venture. This chapter provides entrepreneurs with the needed guidance on how to exit a business by preparing an effective plan, in case it is not successful or for personal reasons. It also presents a set of practical advices on decision-making about related strategies and methods.
Originality/value
The chapter analyses, in a comprehensive and practical way, the reasons, methods and strategies of harvesting, as well as the elements of an effective plan to take the exit route.
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Since nearly all types of consumer products end up in retail stores, the retail scene affects a wide range of businesses. However, retailers are competing in a marketplace…
Abstract
Since nearly all types of consumer products end up in retail stores, the retail scene affects a wide range of businesses. However, retailers are competing in a marketplace characterized by maturity, overcapacity, intense price competition, and an essential “sameness” among stores. Retailers will need new strategies to be successful.
Sara Quach, Scott Weaven, Park Thaichon, Debra Grace and Lorelle Frazer
Drawing on an outside-in marketing perspective, this paper aims to outline the development, implementation, evaluation and reflection of a real-world entrepreneurship education…
Abstract
Purpose
Drawing on an outside-in marketing perspective, this paper aims to outline the development, implementation, evaluation and reflection of a real-world entrepreneurship education (EE) intervention with cognitive, affective and ultimately behavioural objectives.
Design/methodology/approach
A specific and uniform EE program specifically targeted to current “would be” entrepreneurs who were investigating the franchising business model was developed, focusing on the behavioural outcomes. The effectiveness of the EE intervention was evaluated using a quasi-experimental research design, which involved franchisees who had not participated in the EE intervention (control group) and franchisees who had participated in the EE intervention (experimental group). The administration of the national on-line survey yielded a total of 520 responses (194 in the experimental group and 326 in the control group).
Findings
The planning process in the pre-intervention stage included situation analysis, objective setting and decisions in relation to the communication strategy, i.e. content and mode. The effectiveness of the EE intervention was evaluated in the post-intervention stage. The findings indicate that EE intervention resulted in participants’ positive cognitive, affective and behavioural outcomes such as performance and relationship management. Finally, following a reflection process, additional elements covering topics related to work-life balance were incorporated into the module pertaining to an individual’s suitability to become a franchisee.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a conceptual framework that represents an outside-in EE approach whereby problems, audiences, objectives and communication strategies (content and method) are strategically intertwined to produce relevant, measurable and diagnostic behavioural outcomes. The EE intervention can also improve the B2B relationship between actors in a business network.
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New, undestroyed greases of the same brands as those used in a field test, described in Part 1, were examined using conventional methods, such as the SKF V2F test, the roll…
Abstract
New, undestroyed greases of the same brands as those used in a field test, described in Part 1, were examined using conventional methods, such as the SKF V2F test, the roll stability test (ASTM D‐1831), the Grease Worker (ASTM D‐217), the torque test (ASTM 1478‐91), bleeding measurements ( IP 121), yield stress measurements, the 4‐ball test (ASTM D 2266‐86), base oil viscosity measurements, thickener content and the cone penetration test (ASTM D217‐88). The greases have also been tested with several new test methods developed at the University. A specification for relevant testing methods was drawn up and the connections between the tested parameters were investigated. It was found that the mechanical stability could be predicted with a combination of ASTM D‐1831 and the limiting shear stress coefficient γ. This coefficient is capable of predicting wear. It was found that the bearing temperature could be predicted by using the base oil viscosity.
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Jan Wright, Paul McDonald, Hugh Rickards and Jennifer De Souza
The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitude and understanding of research among people with Huntington's disease (HD) and their carers, as well as their experiences of…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the attitude and understanding of research among people with Huntington's disease (HD) and their carers, as well as their experiences of research participation.
Design/methodology/approach
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 participants with HD (ranging from pre-symptomatic to moderately severe HD) and ten carers. Data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Findings
The emerging themes indicated that carers played a more active part in the research process while the service users adopted a more passive role. These differences gave rise to differences in their attitudes and perceptions of research. Carers described in detail their information processing and decision-making role when participation was offered and then throughout the subsequent study. They facilitated attendance, provided support, enabled the collection of correct data for the study, as well as ensuring the wellbeing of the service user throughout the research process. Service users, however, focused upon the behavioural and physical changes they experienced during the trial. Nevertheless a great level of enthusiasm for research was reported by both service users and carers.
Originality/value
Research on the attitudes and experiences of people with HD and their carers is inadequate. Further research is therefore needed into the carers’ potentially considerable burden and significant role in HD research. This could then conceivably impact on the enhancement of the clinical trial experience and recruitment and retention in studies could be improved.
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Beatriz Pinheiro, Inês Henriques, Lara Almeida and Mário Franco
This study aims to understand whether entrepreneurial alertness is a relevant determinant in creating opportunities in the context of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to understand whether entrepreneurial alertness is a relevant determinant in creating opportunities in the context of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME).
Design/methodology/approach
To this end, qualitative research was undertaken, specifically the case study method. The study context was formed of four SMEs (cases) located in an inland region of Portugal. The data-collecting instrument was an individual interview held with the owners managers of the chosen firms, and the data treatment technique was content and thematic analyses.
Findings
The results obtained reveal that entrepreneurial alertness is always present in the SME entrepreneurs/business people’s daily lives and clearly creates good business opportunities not yet observed by the competition.
Practical implications
This study seeks to help SME owners managers to understand the phenomenon of entrepreneurial alertness and understand the importance of this determinant for their firms’ success.
Originality/value
This study is innovative as it helps to characterise and understand entrepreneurial alertness by showing its importance for SMEs in creating valuable opportunities and achieving success.
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The law-oriented short stories and novels of lawyer/English professor John William Corrington are receiving increasing attention from legal scholars. However, no one has analyzed…
Abstract
The law-oriented short stories and novels of lawyer/English professor John William Corrington are receiving increasing attention from legal scholars. However, no one has analyzed the science fiction screenplays he co-wrote with his wife, Joyce, from a legal perspective. This article analyzes two such screenplays and concludes that they are “Socratic” texts whose narrative structures and epistemological processes work in much the same way that the traditional participatory exchange works in law school. My analysis explores the links between law, allegory and science fiction as intersecting methods to imagine the possibilities for the future.