Improving Design of Micro-business Systems via VSM and Constituent Orientation Analysis

This paper describes recent design research into prototypical ‘classes’ of designs for operational business systems for micro-businesses of 1-10 employees typical of traditional craft and contemporary information economies. Business process design is an increasingly important and relatively new sub-field of design and design research. Its increasing importance is driven by three factors made more potent by information technology: increasing ability for very small business units to contribute to local and national economies; potential for increased efficiency of micro-businesses via reduction in Coasian transaction costs; increasingly competitive business environments leading to pressure on micro-businesses to deeply cut costs; and increased potential for improved design of micro-business processes to create significant benefits for the micro-businesses themselves and to local and national economies. The analyses used in this paper combine Tellefsen's perspective on constituent orientation with Beerian Viable System analysis and Cashflow Quadrant analysis (Beer, 1972, 1988, 1989, 1995; Kiyosaki & Lechter, 2007; Tellefsen, 1995, 1999, 2001; Tellefsen & Love, 2003). These analyses are used to identify promising foci of design effort particularly with the intention of automating and systematizing business activities. The paper first describes the importance of developing improved guidelines for design of organisational structures and business processes in the micro-business arena. It then outlines the structural, humanistic, financial, business management and computerized automation considerations that need to be addressed. Design issues are illustrated via mini case studies of three characteristic micro-businesses in the areas of publishing, plumbing, and rental investment. The paper shows how improvements to the design of business processes can be viewed through how four constituent orientations: • Self employed • Business managers • Business owners • Investors The paper concludes by integrating the outcomes of the above analyses into a preliminary checklist for the design of effective and efficient automated and systematized business processes for micro-businesses and small business enterprises. Keywords: Business Process Design, Micro-Business, Viable Systems, Constituent Orientation, Cashflow Quadrant Analysis.</p

Why leadership matters for micro and small firms in the East Midlands?

This report was produced with data and assistance from East Midlands Chamber of Commerce and is being made available to business organisations in the East Midlands.This report highlights the importance of micro- and small firms in the East Midlands economy and the role of leadership in their development. It explores the adverse and rapidly changing conditions, and explains why business leadership, resilience and competitiveness are vitally important in addressing them. The strengths and vulnerabilities of the micro and small firm sectors in the East Midlands economy are summarised, including concerns over productivity levels and their effects on smaller firm competitiveness. Local Enterprise Partnership strategies for productivity improvement in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire are summarised. It highlights the lack of a single voice for business leadership in the region, and introduces the 'Leading for Growth' pilot programme led by the Small Business Charter with three regional universities

Factors Affecting Micro and Small-Scale Industries Income: a Case Study on Coffee Processing Industry

Development the competitive industries primarily small firms ought to be realized for improving economic growth of a community. Small industries have an important role especially on income equity improvement in rural areas. The objective of this study was to assess industry players motivation for developing their business in coffee processing and also to analyze factors which influence business income focused on micro and small-scale coffee industries in Bondowoso District. Survey method was used in this study for collecting primary and secondary data. A number of respondents were 25 coffee industry players who be determined by judgement sampling method. Data were analyzed by descriptive and statistic method. Multiple linear regression was used in the suspected factors that affect small industries income. The results indicated that the main motivation of industry players in initiating and developing coffee business was financial incentive. Consecutively, indicators that may explain industry player\u27s motivation were expectation, motive and incentive. Micro and small-scale industries income was affected by raw material, marketing reach, technology and business experience. Meanwhile, micro and small-scale industries income was not affected by labor cost and source of capital

Microfinancing Influence on Micro-Entrepreneurs Business Growth: Mediating Role of Psychological and Social Capital

This paper is set out to uncover the phenomena of micro-enterprises business growth by hypothesizing microfinancing, social and psychological capital as factors. This research is important due to the fact that the paucity of information on how microfinancing, social and psychological capital relate to micro-enterprises business growth would obscure the ways in which they survive. In Malaysia, microfinance is used as one of the tools to alleviate poverty, as well as to improve the livelihood and standards of living of the poor and those who are financially excluded.&nbsp; However, almost three decades after the introduction of microfinancing programmes, the performance of microfinancing recipients’ i.e. micro-enterprises in Malaysia is not satisfactory. Besides providing loans to these micro-entrepreneurs, other aspects of facilitation, including the inculcation of the entrepreneur’s intangible resources, need to be addressed. Therefore, this research examines the mediating effect of micro-entrepreneurs’ psychological and social capital on the relationship between microfinance provisions and the business growth of micro-enterprises. The samples are identified from two microfinance providers, i.e., Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) and the National Entrepreneur Group Economic Fund (TEKUN) micro credit financing scheme recipients’ databases. A total of 250 useable survey questionnaires was collected and analysed to test the hypothesised relationship. The data was analysed using Partial Least Square-SEM and the structural model was examined to test the hypotheses. The findings show that micro-entrepreneurs’ psychological and social capital have a significant mediating effects on the relationship between provision of microfinance and the business growth of micro-enterprises in Kelantan. This research offers the practical implication that the effects of micro finance provision on the business growth of micro-enterprises are better exerted through micro-entrepreneurs’ psychological and social capital. This theoretically supports the applicability of the Resource-based View (RBV) theory to explain the mediating effect of psychological and social capital on the relationship between microfinance provisions and business growth. Research paper Keywords: Micro-enterprise, Business growth, Psychological capital, Social capital, Mediation, Microfinance institutions Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Nordin, N., Siti-Nabiha, A.K., &amp; Kamalia, Z. (2019). Microfinancing Influence on Micro-Entrepreneurs Business Growth: Mediating Role of Psychological and Social Capital, Journal of Entrepreneurship, Business and Economics, 7(2),&nbsp;130–161

STRATEGI PEMERINTAH KOTA MALANG DALAM PENGEMBANGAN DIGITAL USAHA MIKRO DI KOTA MALANG

Digitalization is something that cannot be avoided in this world. Technological advancements have made everything shift towards digitalization. From business models to education, even governments have to adapt to technological developments. Being adaptive to technological advancements is essential for every layer of society, including micro-business actors. Micro-businesses are the smallest scale of businesses compared to other scales within the MSME (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) sector. The fact that many micro-business actors are not yet adaptive to technological developments necessitates the government's involvement. Through government strategies, it is hoped that micro-business actors can adapt to the digital world and also develop their businesses. This is being done by the Malang City Government, through the Department of Cooperatives Industry and Trade, particularly in the Micro-Business Division. The Malang City Government has strategies for the digital development of micro-businesses to enable micro-business actors to be adaptive to the digital world and increase the scale of their businesses. The research method used in this study is qualitative and descriptive, with data collection through interviews, observations, and secondary data from reliable sources. The aim of this research is to understand the strategies implemented by the Malang City Government in the digital development of micro-businesses in Malang City

SMEs e-business behaviour: a demographics and strategic analysis

The aim of this research was to understand the strategic uses of e-business systems and technologies by classifying companies and particularly small and medium businesses according to demographics as well as e-business behavior variables.The study was based on data from a large quantitative survey of European E-business W@tch for the period 2007 using questionnaire interviews (N=409). We employed two-step cluster analysis, multinomial logistic regression and stepwise descriminant analysis as the most appropriate methods for our analysis. The findings revealed six clusters associated to e-business adoption. The six groups differ in terms of demographic characteristics as well as e-business applications they use. We found that the following clusters exist: (a) Leaders: large companies that extensively use ebusiness in a strategic manner (b) innovators: use e-business in an way that allows them to innovate and differentiate from other companies (c Beginners: small and medium companies across all sectors that only recently start to use e-business (d) Unready Adopters: micro and small companies that lag behind (e) Late Adopters: small-size companies but larger that the Unready Adopters, that appear not to be interest in the advances of ICTs and (f) Laggards: micro companies with little use of e-business.The results of our survey can positively contribute to managers aiming to take advantage of technological advances in electronic business as well as to any researcher who study e-business management and applications

Listening to micro-business operators: what are their social and educational needs?

This paper discusses issues that had been revealed during 15 in-depth interviews and a subsequent questionnaire survey of 91 micro-business (five or fewer employees) operators in Hamilton, New Zealand. ‘How to support micro-business operators in their efforts to achieve successful, sustainable self-employment within this changing social world?’ has been the guiding research theme. The questionnaire was used to gauge opinions on and the extent of attitudes and feelings about being self-employed that had been revealed during the in-depth interviews and small business literature. This work gives voice to the perspectives of micro-business operators rather than that of experts or small business operators in general. Findings from this research suggest that micro-business operators need to be provided with opportunities for support and education to cope with psychological and social factors, particularly with fears, anxiety and isolation. Further, it appears that support is not available to micro-business operators in a way they can readily engage with. Lack of time appears as a reoccurring theme. Given the global trend towards self employment as a career option in the 21st Century, social policy makers need to be aware of the changing social and education needs and provide support to enhance micro-business start-up, survival and growth by encouraging initiatives that facilitate co-operative relationships and build social skills

SMEs in Focus : Exploring the experience of micro, small and medium enterprise owners in Malta

Report commissioned by the Ministry for Fair Competition, Small Business and Consumers in 2011. In-depth qualitative interviews were carried out on a purposive sample of business owners (n=31) to explore the relational dynamics at the root of doing business. Analysis focuses on two key intersections across macro/micro dimensions: the interface between the State and the Individual; and also that between the Market and the Individual enterprise. Key themes: Entrepreneurial motivation; Process of Process of ‘Rationalisation’ and ‘Regulation’; Enterprise owners’ perceived burdens/assets; Influence of family and gender; Collaboration and CompetitionMinistry for Fair Competition, Small Business and Consumerspeer-reviewe

Micro and nanotechnology commercialization: balance between exploration and exploitation

Innovative materials, components, and systems based on micro and nanotechnologies are recognized as promising growth innovators. The coming years the commercialization of micro and nanotechnology will be extended, but in order to commercialize micro and nanotechnology successfully, besides exploration a parallel focus should be aimed at exploitation. This paper presents in a brief and non-exhaustive manor a theoretical introduction and two company introductions related to exploitation and exploration focus embedded in the innovation development process to commercialize customer-oriented applications. A balanced approach between exploration and exploitation within organizations business, technological, and scientific domain could sharpen micro and nanotechnology companies into sustainable competitive market-driven enterprises.