Entrepreneurship is lauded as an engine of economic development and job creation, with SMEs often creating most of the new jobs in many countries. This paper identifies some…
Abstract
Entrepreneurship is lauded as an engine of economic development and job creation, with SMEs often creating most of the new jobs in many countries. This paper identifies some important factors that contribute to the start‐up and success of new business ventures in Africa, emphasizing that while personality factors such individual drive and competency and availability of resources are important for the successful launch of a new business venture, effective government policy is also critical in promoting successful entrepreneurial initiatives. Survey data collected showed that most African entrepreneurs believe that they have the requisite passion, energy, and determination needed to start and manage new businesses. However, they are constrained by scarcity of adequate start‐up capital, stiff competition, lack of employees with the right skills, and difficulty in finding adequate facilities to start their business. Building on this research and earlier work, the paper discusses the crucial role that African governments can play to stimulate and nurture entrepreneurial endeavours. While the findings and recommendations in this paper are based on the study of Ethiopian and Ghanaian entrepreneurs, they have applicability in several African countries. The actual implementation of the proposed recommendations will of course need to be adapted to suit the special circumstances prevailing in each country.
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Ven Sriram and Andrew M. Forman
As anecdotal evidence mounts that concerns over the environmentalfriendliness of products are heightening worldwide, there is a need toassess the importance of a product′s…
Abstract
As anecdotal evidence mounts that concerns over the environmental friendliness of products are heightening worldwide, there is a need to assess the importance of a product′s environmental attributes relative to its other attributes in consumers′ product choice decisions. Assesses and compares the trade‐offs among product attributes that American and Dutch consumers are willing to make for the sake of the environment, across three product categories. Survey research was conducted that examined attitudes regarding environmental protection and consumer choice criteria. Results suggest, based on conjoint analysis, that there are noteworthy differences between Americans and Dutch in how they value a product′s environmental attributes.
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Michael A. Anikeeff and Ven Sriram
Construction and development firms are going through major reorganizations in trying to define a profitable structure – including deciding whether to include construction…
Abstract
Purpose
Construction and development firms are going through major reorganizations in trying to define a profitable structure – including deciding whether to include construction operations as part of the firm or to outsource it. This paper aims to analyze the relationship between firm size, construction management strategy and performance.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper reviews relevant strategic management literature and reports the results of an empirical survey research study of 80 US real estate developers.
Findings
The results showed that there was no significant performance difference between firms that performed construction activities in‐house as opposed to those that outsourced it. However, the impact of construction strategy on performance may occur through its effect on size and size was negatively associated with performance. In addition, among the smaller firms, the ones that outsourced construction outperformed those that did construction in‐house.
Research limitations/implications
The results are in line with the findings of similar studies from other industries. In order to add to the generalizability of these findings, future studies should include larger samples and non‐US firms.
Originality/value
The study links the general strategic management literature to organizational issues of construction and development firms. Findings suggest that the scale of operation of the industry is such that even large development firms have too small a market share to take advantage of vertical integration of construction.
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Snehamay Banerjee and Ven Sriram
As the use of inter‐organizational information systems such aselectronic data interchange (EDI) increases, it becomes important todetermine what impact, if any, their adoption has…
Abstract
As the use of inter‐organizational information systems such as electronic data interchange (EDI) increases, it becomes important to determine what impact, if any, their adoption has on different functions of an organization. Since the purchasing function is among one of the most affected by EDI adoption, a survey of purchasing managers was conducted to assess the extent of EDI′s impact on purchasing. The results, based on 122 EDI users, indicate that increasing the percentage of purchasing transactions using EDI permits more automation but some of these benefits may not be fully realized due to some associated inefficiencies. However, those organizations that have encouraged their vendors to use EDI appear to have significantly improved organizational efficiencies. These organizations also did not perceive any significant organizational changes due to EDI adoption. The implications of these findings are discussed.
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Kelly D. Harper and Ven Sriram
The purpose of this paper is to share the perspective of CEO and Vice Chairman of Hexaware Technologies, P.R. Chandrasekar, while exploring the question, “Does South Asia matter?”
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to share the perspective of CEO and Vice Chairman of Hexaware Technologies, P.R. Chandrasekar, while exploring the question, “Does South Asia matter?”
Design/methodology/approach
The paper followed an interview format and utilized P.R. Chandrasekar's responses to guide and inform the discussion on South Asia.
Findings
This paper found that South Asia does matter, and always has.
Originality/value
This paper offers the perspective of a CEO of a multinational corporation with global experience and vast knowledge of the South Asian region. His first‐hand experiences add much value to the discussion on South Asia.
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Anthony Patino, Velitchka D. Kaltcheva, Dennis Pitta, Ven Sriram and Robert D. Winsor
The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance consumers place on various types of socially responsible marketing practices, and whether the level of importance varies by…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the importance consumers place on various types of socially responsible marketing practices, and whether the level of importance varies by gender, race, and consumers' income.
Design/methodology/approach
A survey was designed that asked subjects their attitudes toward the various social marketing practices that were uncovered through an analysis of recent literature from ABI-Inform, Fordham University's Center for Positive Marketing and focus groups. The survey was administered to 232 subjects and included information regarding race, gender, and income. Survey results were analyzed using latent class analysis (LCA). The results of the LCA were used to develop a correspondence analysis map.
Findings
The results confirm the importance of key demographic factors (income, gender, and race) in understanding consumers' perceptions of socially responsible marketing.
Research limitations/implications
One limitation is that the sample was collected in Baltimore, Maryland and not entirely representative of the population of the USA. Another limitation is that consumers’ perceptions of socially responsible marketing are only captured at one point in time rather than showing the evolution of a belief.
Practical implications
Marketers need to target their messages carefully if they are promoting socially responsible marketing as a differentiating factor. Understanding how each demographic group responds to these socially responsible marketing messages can assist managers in their promotional efforts.
Originality/value
Limited research has been completed that segments the market with regards to socially responsible marketing options. The research explores these segments by surveying active consumers.
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Ven Sriram, Tigineh Mersha and Lanny Herron
Successful new venture creation may be one solution to many of the economic problems that affect the mostly minority populations that live in US inner cities. This paper sets out…
Abstract
Purpose
Successful new venture creation may be one solution to many of the economic problems that affect the mostly minority populations that live in US inner cities. This paper sets out to develop a model and a set of research questions that may help increase understanding of African‐American entrepreneurship.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper provides an integrated review of the literature from the USA and Europe pertaining to minority entrepreneurial behavior and achievement. It identifies challenges faced by African‐American urban entrepreneurs and suggests a set of interventions that can enhance entrepreneurial success in the inner cities. The paper then poses a set of research questions with a particular focus on African‐Americans and presents an integrative model that can serve as a framework to examine these questions.
Findings
The model posits that motivation and skills drive entrepreneurial behavior and that availability of resources has a moderating effect on both entrepreneurial behavior and achievement. In addition to explaining entrepreneurship in general, the proposed model also suggests that specific variables may work differently for different subcultures.
Practical implications
If this model is supported by empirical evidence, it will have significant implications for formulating appropriate interventions that would enable the successful start‐up and management of new business ventures in different subcultures. It will be of value to cities in the USA, Europe and elsewhere that have large minority populations, and can better inform programs that impart entrepreneurial skills and training.
Originality/value
This paper adds to the growing literature that recognizes that the drivers of entrepreneurial pursuit are frequently embedded in culture. While this has been studied cross‐nationally, few studies examine this aspect within a heterogeneous society.
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Business, management, workers and governments are responding to global imperatives. These imperatives include marketing. The origins of global marketing lie in exporting. Presents…
Abstract
Business, management, workers and governments are responding to global imperatives. These imperatives include marketing. The origins of global marketing lie in exporting. Presents and analyses data relating to small businesses in Australia which currently export or which plan to export. Thirty‐five per cent of small businesses which consider it feasible to export have no plans to do so. The reasons for this export rejection are analysed. Other critical factors such as motivation to export; source of expert advice; and problems experienced with developing export markets are also reported and analysed. Provides recommendations as to how to increase the participation rate of small business in the growing global economy.
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Kevin K. Jones, Richard L. Baskerville, Ram S. Sriram and Balasubramaniam Ramesh
The purpose of this study is to show how the presence of change caused a shift in the roles and responsibilities of the internal audit function (IAF).
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to show how the presence of change caused a shift in the roles and responsibilities of the internal audit function (IAF).
Design/methodology/approach
The methodological design/approach was constructed by combining specific aspects of widely known management accounting and organizational change frameworks. The theoretical premise was based on the old institutional economics component of institutional theory. As such, this study used the case study method to examine and analyze the impact of this change in eight specific organizations using the new two-tiered organizational change framework.
Findings
This new framework analyzes the multidimensional facets of organizational change in the IAF. From the findings, it was observed that the change can be evolutionary, episodic, continuous and/or teleological, and people, organisms and organizations that are subject to it will react or respond to that change in a myriad of ways.
Practical implications
Moreover, the implications of change can be environmental, socioeconomic and political.
Originality/value
This study makes an intellectual contribution by introducing a new two-tiered organizational change framework to explain the IAF’s response to the environmental change factor of regulation.