The process of small business establishment is examined in a step by step approach with reference to John Williams. Initially, the entrepreneurial focus is considered and the case…
Abstract
The process of small business establishment is examined in a step by step approach with reference to John Williams. Initially, the entrepreneurial focus is considered and the case study leads to the examination of entrepreneurial traits. Some facts relating to the owners personal situation are given. As opportunities appear they are also presented for decision‐making purposes and these lead into marketing issues such as customer identification, environmental influences and the marketing mix variables. As the case study concludes, it establishes a focus on the future direction of the firm, bearing in mind a record of sales 23% above target for the first year. There are four assignment stages, each of which is free‐standing: the start‐up decision; preparation of a business plan; marketing planning; and planning for growth. The learning experience of this case study is broad and it has been specifically developed to suit a wide range of readers from academic and non‐academic backgrounds.
The entrepreneurial potential of graduates has risen in the national agenda and has been attracting the interest of policy makers, educationists and development agencies in recent…
Abstract
Purpose
The entrepreneurial potential of graduates has risen in the national agenda and has been attracting the interest of policy makers, educationists and development agencies in recent years. This paper focuses on a detailed study into the entrepreneurial activities of graduates in East Anglia and principally examines issues impacting on their business development.
Design/methodology/approach
Seven main issues were investigated: business establishment; location; premises; concerns; advice utilisation; education and training; and support requirements. A sample of 39 graduate businesses, which commenced in the past five years, was assembled and comprehensively assessed. The entrepreneurs' ages ranged from 20 to 26 years, with a mean business age of 2.4 years.
Findings
Findings are significant in respect of each of the categories of investigation and principally confirmed that the graduates were poorly prepared for business activity. Two major issues of concern were confirmed, namely, marketing and finance, the latter of which increased as time progressed. Elements relating to all of the seven issues are explored at both business establishment and development stages, mainly because it was recognised that these would materially change over time.
Originality/value
The value and impact of business advice is explored and rated in respect of three sources – Princes Trust, Business Link, and Enterprise Agency. The paper concludes with an examination of the competency of graduates, through the introduction of three categories of competency and application of Gadenne's seven elements.
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Commences with an examination of SME research, traces how it has progressed over the past two decades and then focuses on the growing interest relating to the application of…
Abstract
Commences with an examination of SME research, traces how it has progressed over the past two decades and then focuses on the growing interest relating to the application of graduate skills. It primarily results from research carried out between 1996 and 1998, using a database of 206 graduates and 32 firms. The framework of knowledge associated with skills and competitiveness is explored, as is the issue of the categorisation of skills. Two categories are principally identified – personal and business – with listings introduced following a process of qualitative interviews with graduates and managers of SMEs. The lack of consensual paradigms in relation to skills is explored. It is argued that the resulting SME value chain is a valid alternative model with wider application among SME managers.
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Roy McLarty and Terry Robinson
There is a paucity of information on the development and practice of consultancy. This paper seeks to fill in some of the gaps in knowledge particularly in relation to the nature…
Abstract
There is a paucity of information on the development and practice of consultancy. This paper seeks to fill in some of the gaps in knowledge particularly in relation to the nature of consultancy, market opportunities management and practice development. The paper commences with a discussion on the role of the consultant and moves on to examine why organisations use consultants. Thereafter attention is devoted to the market opportunities and discusses how business is developed. Reference is made to a number of writers and their views are integrated into the discussions, particularly where they cite reasons as to how business was obtained. A model which originated in the USA is developed in relation to the management of assignments and a claim is made as to essential “task processes”. In conclusion, recommendations are made as to practice development strategy and a five‐stage model, developed by the authors, is suggested.
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Asserts that SMEs are increasingly viewed as the major source of jobs within the UK, but that there is considerable evidence that many fail to grow. Focuses on the development of…
Abstract
Asserts that SMEs are increasingly viewed as the major source of jobs within the UK, but that there is considerable evidence that many fail to grow. Focuses on the development of a particular SME, Pine Cabin, and seeks to highlight the set of factors (mainly internal) which have enabled it to grow. These internal factors are probed and conclusions reached. The research objectives are: (1) how significant was Pine Cabin’s growth?; (2) what were the major contributory factors; and (3) what lessons do theoretical perspectives provide? Concludes that marketing planning, the correct marketing mix, the firm’s strategic approach and, in particular, value chain management have lead to the firm’s financial success.
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Sania Arif and Sidrah Al Hassan
Employees of Pakistani public sector organizations feel thwarted toward their goal attainment because of strict adherence to rules and regulations and tall hierarchies existing in…
Abstract
Purpose
Employees of Pakistani public sector organizations feel thwarted toward their goal attainment because of strict adherence to rules and regulations and tall hierarchies existing in this region. Therefore, keeping in view the harmful effects of perceived organizational obstruction, the aim of the current study was to investigate the perceived organizational obstruction as an attribution that triggers job neglect through perceived organizational frustration. Harvey’s expanded attribution-emotion model of workplace aggression and an attributional perspective on workplace aggression provide the theoretical justification. Moreover, the moderating role of self-control was proposed to mitigate the indirect effect of organizational obstruction on job neglect through perceived organizational frustration.
Design/methodology/approach
A three-wave data collection was done by using a close-ended questionnaire distributed to a total of 600 administrative employees of public sector organizations operating in Rawalpindi/Islamabad (Pakistan). However, matching three times and discarding the incomplete questionnaires led to a sample of 375 on which the analysis was done.
Findings
Perceived organizational obstruction positively predicted job neglect. Likewise, organizational frustration mediated the aforementioned link. Moreover, the higher level of self-control weakens this underlying process by suppressing job neglect behavior.
Originality/value
The current study added to the limited literature on public sector organizations that has taken perceived organizational obstruction as a predictor variable. Moreover, this study explains how this phenomenon translates into non-hostile behavior that is difficult to identify and punish in public sector organizations. Moreover, the trait of self-control is added to the literature of non-hostile behaviors that dampen the impulsivity to indulge in job neglect.
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Powder coating in the car industry. “The future for powder coatings in the car industry is bright”, Chrysler Corporation's Ernie McLaughlin said in the keynote address at the…
Abstract
Powder coating in the car industry. “The future for powder coatings in the car industry is bright”, Chrysler Corporation's Ernie McLaughlin said in the keynote address at the recent Powder Coating '94 in Cincinnati.
Chunjiang Yang, Yashuo Chen, Xinyuan (Roy) Zhao and Nan Hua
This paper aims to examine the impacts of transformational leadership and employee proactive personality on service performance, the mediation role of organizational embeddedness…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to examine the impacts of transformational leadership and employee proactive personality on service performance, the mediation role of organizational embeddedness and the synergies of transformational leadership and proactive personality within the proposed framework.
Design/methodology/approach
Data was collected following a time-lagged research approach. The study sample included 218 frontline employees and their supervisors from ten carefully selected five-star hotels in China. Structural equation modeling was employed for the data analysis.
Findings
Transformational leadership and proactive personality had positive effects on task performance and contextual performance via organizational embeddedness. The interactive influences of transformational leadership and proactive personality on task performance and contextual performance were found significant and negative.
Originality/value
Transformational leaders and proactive employees have been shown to exert a strong influence on excellent service performance, with organizational embeddedness playing a critical role.
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This paper aims to predict a college football team’s competitiveness using physical resources, human resources and organizational resources.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to predict a college football team’s competitiveness using physical resources, human resources and organizational resources.
Design/methodology/approach
Guided by the resource-based theory, the study used archival data of 101 college football teams. The dependent variable was competitiveness (indicated by win-loss records), the independent variables were physical resources (operationalized as home attendance and total revenues), human resources (measured as coaches’ salary and coaches’ experience) and organizational resources (specified as conference rankings and the number of sports). Kendall Tau correlation and binary logistic regression were used to examine the associative and predictive competitive advantages.
Findings
The binary logistic regression model showed an overall percentage predictive correctness of 71.3%, with a Negelkerke R2 of 41.1% of the variance of all predictors – with coaches’ experience, total revenues and home attendance being the best predictors of generating competitive advantages that produced superior win-loss records.
Research limitations/implications
The research focused exclusively on physical, organizational and human resources as sources of competitive advantage and not physiological and/or psychological variables.
Practical implications
College football teams aspiring to be competitive may benefit from this study by applying a three-fold strategy of hiring well-paid high performing and experienced coaches who can increase attendance and revenues.
Originality/value
The study was unique in two ways – one, it made clear the positive significance of coaches’ experience as a source of competitive advantage, and second, it highlighted the catalytic effects of revenues and attendance in fueling competitiveness.
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Nicholous M. Deal, Milorad M. Novicevic, Albert J. Mills, Caleb W. Lugar and Foster Roberts
This paper aims to find common ground between the supposed incompatible meta-historical positioning of positivism and post-positivism through a turn to mnemohistory in management…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to find common ground between the supposed incompatible meta-historical positioning of positivism and post-positivism through a turn to mnemohistory in management and organizational history.
Design/methodology/approach
Drawing on the idea of creative synthesis and positioning theory, the authors interject concepts from cultural memory studies in historical research on business and organizations to encourage management historians and organization theorists interested in joining the dialogue around how the past is known in the present. Using notions of “aftermath” and “events,” the idea of apositivism is written into historical organization studies to focus on understanding the complex ways of how past events translate into history. The critical historic turn event is raised as an exemplar of these ideas.
Findings
The overview of the emergence of the controversial historic turn in management and organization studies and the positioning of its adherents and antagonists revealed that there may be some commonality between the fragmented sense of the field. It was revealed that effective history vis-à-vis mnemohistory may hold the potential of a shared scholarly ethic.
Originality/value
The research builds on recent work that has sought to bring together the boundaries of management and organizational history. This paper explains how mnemohistory can offer a common position that is instrumental for theorizing the relationships among the past-infused constructs such as organizational heritage, legacy and identity.