Social capital and rural innovation process. The evaluation of the measure 124 \u201cCooperation for Development of New Products, Processes and Technologies in the Agriculture, Food and Forestry Sector\u201d in the Umbria Region (Italy)

The most recent theories on innovation point out the role of social networks, demonstrating how knowledge is intertwined with network communities and social capital represents an essential factor to comprehend innovation. The social network dimension of the innovation process is also acknowledged in the actual definition of an agricultural innovation system (AIS). This study attempts to assess the role played by social capital in agricultural innovation projects co-financed by the Measure 124 of the Rural Development Program (2007-2013) of the Umbria Region (Italy), based on the analysis of 5 evaluation criteria (relevance, innovation, effectiveness, sustainability, and social capital) in relation to 8 selected projects. The obtained results confirm the validity of the proposed methodology both for the purpose of internal monitoring of the project and for the assessment of the measure on the basis of tangible and intangible factors, such as social capital

An Investigation into the Management of Vehicle Repair Garages in the Bolgatanga Municipality of Ghana

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the management of vehicle repair garages in the Bolgatanga Municipality. A 67 item questionnaire was used to collect data from a randomly selected sample of 52 entrepreneurs of vehicle repair garages in the Bolgatanga Municipality. Frequency counts, percentages, and Pearson’s chi-square test for independence were used to analyze the data collected. The study found that majority of the entrepreneurs of vehicle repair garages in the Bolgatanga Municipality were predominantly young males (between 29-39yrs), possessed no formal school certificate, and had between six and 11years of working experience. Also, the study revealed that the factors contributing to the success of vehicle repair garages in the Bolgatanga Municipality were management skills, entrepreneurial characteristics, and human capital. Moreover, the study noted that the business challenges facing vehicle repair garages in the Bolgatanga Municipality were high cost of inputs, high cost of borrowing money, high utility charges, high rental charges, debts collection from business creditors, and unfavourable business laws. In addition, the study found that gender, age, level of education, and working experience of the entrepreneurs are independent of the performance of vehicle repair garages in the Bolgatanga Municipality. Keywords: Management, Demographic Characteristics, and Vehicle Repair Garages

The best practice of CRM implementation for small- and medium-sized enterprises

The biggest key aspect to the success of a business is a satisfied customer. For this reason, it is possible to state that the growing trend of focusing on the customer and his/her needs has prevailed in recent years. The aim of this article is to analyze the use of CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Czech Republic and to find the determinants for CRM system implementation. The best practice for CRM implementation suitable for SMEs is clarified using a specific case of a global enterprise. A fully functional CRM system can be considered a competitive advantage, and this is not only the case for global companies, but also for small and medium enterprises. Using a functional CRM interconnected with an ERP system, enterprises are able to manage business and direct marketing activities, as well as the company’s overall profits. These functional systems lead to an integrated system called funnel management, which improves customer relationship management and leads to a sustainable business.Web of Science91art. no. 2

Productivity Measurement System for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) using Balanced Scorecard Approach

Productivity measurement is important in inculcating performance evaluation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Balanced Scorecard is undoubtedly one of the most widely recognized methods used in measuring productivity. When measuring productivity in SMEs, there is a lack of research in the usage of Balanced Scorecard approach. The objective of this project is to develop a productivity measurement system (PMS) for SMEs using Balanced Scorecard approach. This work presents a proposed application of Balanced Scorecard approach to a SME’s PMS. The proposed model can be used to measure the productivity level of a SME based on the four Balanced Scorecard perspectives. The scope of this work was the findings regarding PMS and various methods used in measuring productivity. The methodology used in developing PMS was the Prototyping Method. Through this project, it is found that SMEs and large organizations have the similar design in process steps for Balanced Scorecard approach. However, the key difference is the duration of the process involved. Thus, Balanced Scorecard can be successfully implemented in SMEs when it adapts to the characteristics in SMEs. As a result, PMS for SMEs using Balanced Scorecard approach was being developed in order to demonstrate the application of the proposed model

Strategic implications of e-business in the construction industry

Electronic Business (e-Business) is recognised as being able to help organisations in the construction industry to achieve competitiveness and substantial benefits. However, the uptake of e-business in the construction industry has been relatively limited and ineffective. Previous research covers the body of knowledge about how to identify the value of e-business once it has been created or how to identify the capabilities that can create value. There is no guidance available to help organisations to maximise their leverage by investing intelligently and matching the size of their demand for e-business solutions to the size of the market they plan to supply. This research aims to identify the strategic e-business needs and requirements of organisations in the construction industry; it helps them to scan or position their current situation, and provide a holistic approach to assist them in developing an executable e-business strategy. In order to achieve the aim and the formulated objectives, a multi-methodological research design and a pragmatic mixed-methods approach, involving a combination of both quantitative and qualitative datasets, were adopted to investigate the e-business practices of organisations in the industry. These include an exploratory investigation (an industry survey with 250 industry organisations), and an explanatory investigation (four case studies with specific industry end-user companies). The collected data was analysed and problems were identified; the elements for a holistic approach to manage e-business implementation emerged. Subsequently, a Strategic e-Business Framework was developed to provide a holistic approach for organisations in the construction industry to plan, execute and review their e-business strategies. The Framework enables organisations to consider the medium term (three to five years), long-term (over five to ten years), and emergent needs to derive business value. The key features of the Framework include six phases and phase gates, five functional factors, and 23 activities. The six phases include Analyse Situation, Establish Vision, Define Critical Success Factors (CSFs), Develop Action Plan, Implement Action Plan, and Review Strategy. The phases were defined to guide the IT leaders in carrying out consistent e-business planning. The outputs of each phase (phase gates) were defined to assist IT leaders in the review of procedures during their e-business implementation. The functional factors include management, people, process, technology and external environment. The factors were identified to address every facet of an organisation, and obtain collaboration efforts from both internal and external. They also ensure organisations have the opportunities to improve capabilities in these areas, and make them ready for immediate e-business implementation. Five groups of people or teams were assigned to the activities. The five groups were the Senior Management Board, IT Managers and their teams, Middle Level Management, Lower Level Management and other End-users, and external collaborators. The activities were categorised in order to provide a basis for organisations to utilise their resources, specifically human resource. Finally, a feedback loop was defined to enable the Framework to act as a cycle for going through repeatedly, which makes the continuous improvement of e-business implementation possible within organisations and provides a learning and feedback function that ensures lessons to be learned from past e-business implementation. The evaluation of the Framework was conducted via six structured interviews with industry practitioners. The findings indicated that the industry practitioners welcomed the Framework and considered it as a positive step towards e-business management

Adaptation of domestic state governance to international governance models

The purpose of the article is to provide the evolving international trends of modern management models and authorial vision of model of state governance system in Ukraine, its subsystems, in particular, the system of provision of administrative services that is appropriate for the contemporary times. Methodology. On the basis of scientific and theoretical approaches to the definitions of terms “state governance” and “public governance”, there was an explanation of considerable difference between them and, taking into consideration, the mentality of Ukrainian society and peculiar weak side in self-organization, the authors offered to form authorial model of governance on the basis of historically traditional for Ukraine model of state governance and to add some elements of management concepts that proved their significance, efficiency and priority in practice. Results. The authors emphasized the following two prevailing modern management models in the international practice: “new state management” and “good governance”. The first concept offered for consideration served as a basis for the semantic content of state activity that reflects more the state of administrative reformation. Practical meaning. A practical introduction of management to the domestic model of governance creates the range of contradictions that do not allow implementing herein concept. Pursuant to authors, the second one allows in considerable measure to reform state governance, considering historically developed peculiarities of this model. Moreover, the involvement of concept herein into introduction of informational and communicational technologies in the process of governance eliminates the necessity of power decentralization, it allows to form real net structure and, at the same, to keep vertical power structure, to involve citizens for formation and taking of management decisions, to form electronic communicational channel of feedback, to provide citizens with electronic administrative services. All indicated advantages of the concept certify about the necessity to reform state governance exactly in this field. Meaning/ Distinction. This article raises a question about the significance of formation and sequence of state policy in Ukraine aimed at creating an information-oriented society, space, as well as informational and technological infrastructure

Patterns of empowering small businesses in Mantsopa through entrepreneurial skills development

Abstract : Mantsopa Municipality is faced with a challenge of high unemployment and stagnant economic performance. The study explores the relationship between the entrepreneurship skills of small and medium-size business owners and business success. It assumes that if business owners lack entrepreneurial skills, then business success will be low. Therefore, a positive relationship between the two variables was assumed. Low levels of entrepreneurship skills and business success have a high chance to serve as a partial explanation for unemployment and stagnant economic performance in the Mantsopa Municipality. The technical research project identifies the relationship between the investigated variables, and analyses the existing gaps that might be related to poor business performance. An exploratory, cross-sectional survey design has been conducted. The findings confirmed that technical business skills have a strong influence on business practice to acquire a large-scale market share and to sustain business in the long term. Improving business success can enhance the potential for vibrant economic activities to impede the high level of unemployment rate that has been persistent in this local municipality of Ladybrand.M.Com. (Local Economic Development

Net structure of subject-to-subject relations in the management of the system of administrative services provision

The purpose of the work is to form the net structure of management of the system of administrative services provision on the basis of implementation of subject-to-subject interactions between state sector and civil society. Methodology. The methodology basis for the investigation is the abstract-logical analysis of theoretical and methodological backgrounds for management of relations and interactions. For the theoretical generalization and formation of net structure, there are used scientific recommendations of Ukrainian scientists regarding the necessity to implement subject-to-subject relations in the system of administrative services provision. Results. The investigations allowed confirming that the hierarchical structure of the state governance system does not give an opportunity to implement equal interaction between a subject of provision and a subject of an appeal as these relations have one – way communication and the feedback channel has a formal character. Moreover, the civil society is not considered by state sector to be a source of methods and ways to develop the system of state governance, in particular, the management system of administrative services provision. Practical meaning. The net structure of management will allow implementing the subject-subject relations in the system, under which the actions of the subject of provision – that means state sector – will be directed to the realization of rights and interests of the subjects of appeal. In their turn, apart from the performance of all legislative responsibilities that they should perform, they can carry out activities directed to the development of management activity in the system of administrative services provision and the whole system of state governance as an integral system of management. Meaning/Distinction. The provided model of the net structure will allow involving citizens in the processes of state governance and increasing the impact of the civil sector during the making of state and management decisions and, as a result, to confirm subject-to-subject positions in the relations

The Effect of Enterprise Risk Management Implementation on Debt Financing Access. Case Finnish Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

Enterprise risk management (ERM) is a definition for the contemporary risk management concept that has emerged after the accounting and corporate scandals of the early 2000s. The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) responded to these events and developed an ERM conceptual framework, the COSO ERM, which offers a practical tool to evaluate the holistic risk management systems of SMEs. Contingency theory is the leading theoretical background for this research, as the important preconditions behind the ERM implementation are being examined. The debt financing access of Finnish small and medium-sized enterprises has received national public attention, however remaining a sparsely researched topic. The main purpose of this study is to find relationships between the debt financing access qualities and the degree of ERM implementation. The research data was gathered using the survey method. Survey questionnaire was sent to 1636 members of Finnish Foundation of Entrepreneurs. 61 firms were accepted to the final sample from the 135 participants. Cluster analysis were conducted to find ‘active’ and ‘passive’ firms of risk management activities. First part of the study provides insight into the risk management activities of Finnish SMEs, and how the characteristics of size, sector and ownership are associated with the degree of ERM implementation. Second part of the study examines the relationship between the degree of ERM implementation and its relationship with the debt financing access of the SMEs. The results of the study support the literature based hypotheses that the size and the sector of a firm is associated with the degree of ERM implementation. Sample data does not support the ownership hypotheses. Only the positive attitudes to alternative sources of debt were found to be statistically significant in the relationship between degree of ERM implementation and SME debt financing access.fi=Opinnäytetyö kokotekstinä PDF-muodossa.|en=Thesis fulltext in PDF format.|sv=Lärdomsprov tillgängligt som fulltext i PDF-format