Balancing European SME managers’ training contents: perceived importance & training needs

Background: Given the limited available time of in-service professionals, the balance between the perceived importance of the course content and training needs is essential for the acceptance and attractiveness of training courses aimed at them. Objectives: The goal of the paper is to contribute to the development of entrepreneurship and business training programs for European SME managers. Methods/Approach: In six European countries a survey focusing on SME managers’ views on the importance of individual items from a list of potential course content items, and their training needs was carried out, and followed by an analysis using exploratory and multivariate techniques. It was aimed at identifying homogeneous groups of managers with common training needs and perceptions of content importance. Results: Homogeneous groups of managers who assign the same importance to certain competences and who have common training needs are identified. Conclusions: Results of our research could help training institutions to develop courses aimed at SME managers. The balancing approach proved to be an interesting method of combining conflicting requirements for the training course curriculum development.This paper is based on work developed with support from the European Commission (Education and Culture Directorate-General, Lifelong Learning Programme). This publication reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained herein. The development of this paper was partly financed by the ERDF - European Regional Development Fund through the COMPETE Programme (operational programme for competitiveness) and by National Funds through the FCT - Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology) within projects "FCOMP - 01-0124-FEDER-022701" and "FCOMP-010124-FEDER-022692"

Dirigeants des PME en croissance : Profil sociodémographique, psychologique et comportemental

Le présent article a pour objectif de mettre en lumière les recherches relatives à la  compréhension du dirigeant de la PME. Deux approches ont divisé les chercheurs durant le dernier siècle. L’approche par les traits de personnalité qui se base sur une démarche ontologique et confère un poids considérable à la dimension psychologique du dirigeant en mettant l’accent sur certaines de ses caractéristiques intrinsèques en l’occurrence : le besoin de réalisation de soi, le lieu de contrôle interne et la prise de risque. Tandis que l’approche par compétences adopte une démarche praxéologique et examine les différentes habiletés du dirigeant principalement celles entrepreneuriales, managériales et fonctionnelles. De surcroît, cette contribution fondée sur une étude empirique, vise à décrire le profil des dirigeants de PME marocaines, en particulier ceux réalisant la croissance de leurs entreprises.Nous développerons leurs caractéristiques sociodémographiques, psychologiques et comportementales et identifierons leurs traits de personnalité les plus saillants, leurs compétences distinctives et celles lacunaires. Les résultats présentés sont puisés de l’étude quantitative que nous avons réalisée auprès de cent dirigeants de PME à Casablanca respectant les quotas des différents secteurs économiques

THE INFLUENCE OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FINANCE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF SMMEs IN THE FREE STATE: A CASE OF AFRO HAIR SALONS IN MANGAUNG METROPOLITAN AREA

Published ThesisThis study examines the combined influence of public and private funding on the growth and profitability of small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) in the beauty and cosmetology industry. The study drew from an awareness of the fact that the growing body of literature that identifies finance as a major obstacle to the performance of SMMEs in developing countries tends to be indiscriminate about the nature and source of funding. The scant literature that examines the isolated influences of private and public funding on SMME performance makes the unravelling of the combined influence of these different funding sources on the performance of emerging firms a distant reality. More so, the literature on the environmental and organisational variables that mediate the funding-performance relationship in small, emerging firms remains deeply fragmented, hence the study. The choice of the beauty and cosmetology industry was informed by the fact that many hair saloon businesses are predominantly owned by foreign nationals, who frequently struggle to finance their businesses due to their disqualification from public and private funding on nationality and perceived risk grounds. The study drew on a quantitative approach and survey research design, in which 150 structured questionnaires were administered to Afro hair salon SMMEs in the Mangaung Metropolitan Area, which covers Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba Nchu. A total of 110 questionnaires were correctly completed and returned, representing a response rate of 73%. The combined influence of private and public finance on performance was established using correlational analysis to reveal the significance and size of these relationships. The findings suggest that there is a weak relationship between the both sources of funding and firm performance. Furthermore, the study revealed that most SMMEs depend on private funding, especially loans from Matshonisas (i.e. individual private lenders located in former townships), community or group savings, and family and friends than public funding. The study recommends multiple interventions that broaden access to public funding, improve SMME owner/managers awareness of public funding institutions and improve financial inclusion in funding options available for SMMEs

Incidencia del efecto frontera en la actividad emprendedora: el caso de Alentejo y Extremadura

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo estudiar el impacto del Efecto Frontera sobre la actividad empresarial en las regiones de frontera Portugal-España, en concreto, de Alentejo y Extremadura. Por lo tanto, además de analizar los factores potenciadores y caracterizadores del emprendedorismo en las regiones, analizamos las dos regiones en estudio tratando de identificar las características que afectan al emprendimiento local, desde el punto de vista del ecosistema emprendedor hasta la competitividad regiones. A partir de la revisión de la literatura sobre Actividad Emprendedora, Efecto Fronterizo, y Desarrollo Regional, pasamos después al análisis a datos estadísticos a través de fuentes secundarias, intentamos encontrar factores de diferenciación, así como características internas y externas condicionantes de la competitividad regional, que nos pudieran conducir al modelo conceptual que apoya la parte empírica de la investigación. Ante la escasez de investigación sobre esta particularidad regional, así como ante su especificidad, en la parte práctica del trabajo optamos por el Estudio de Casos. Trabajamos con tres empresas portuguesas y dos españolas, con diferentes dimensiones y diferentes edades, en las mismas o similares sectores con el fin de cumplir con los objetivos de esta investigación. Es posible concluir que, sólo para uno de los casos la frontera fue determinante en la elección de la ubicación, posteriormente los impactos son más negativos que positivos, pero su base está relacionada con los mercados proveedor y cliente y con la accesibilidad física, distanciamiento de los centros de poder y diferencias fiscales.This work aims to study the impact of the Border Effect on business activity in the Portugal-Spain border regions, specifically, Alentejo and Extremadura. Therefore, in addition to analyzing the potentiating and characterizing factors of entrepreneurship in the regions, we analyze the two regions under study trying to identify the characteristics that affect local entrepreneurship, from the point of view of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to regions competitiveness. From the review of the literature on Entrepreneurial Activity, Border Effect, and Regional Development, we then turn to the analysis of statistical data through secondary sources, we try to find differentiation factors, as well as internal and external characteristics that determine regional competitiveness, that could lead us to the conceptual model that supports the empirical part of research. Given the lack of research on this regional particularity, as well as its specificity, in the practical part of the work we opted for Case Studies. We work with three Portuguese and two Spanish companies, with different dimensions and different ages, in the same or similar sectors in order to meet the objectives of this research. It is possible to conclude that, only for one of the cases the border was decisive in the choice of location, subsequently the impacts are more negative than positive, but its base is related to the supplier and customer markets and to the physical accessibility, distance from the centers of power and fiscal differences.Este trabalho tem como objetivo o estudo da incidência do Efeito Fronteira na Atividade Empreendedora das regiões de fronteira Portugal-Espanha, especificamente, do Alentejo e da Extremadura. A envolvência territorial e as questões da proximidade tornam-se visíveis e pertinentes para uma melhor performance empresarial, logo interessa perceber se nestas regiões, as empresas estão cada vez mais a aproveitar sinergias resultantes da sua proximidade territorial ou se o efeito da fronteira continua a ser de barreira, representando algum afastamento proveniente das suas características internas e também da sua localização. Este fenómeno foi, no contexto, denominado Efeito-Fronteira, pelo que se pretende perceber a que ponto funciona no empreendedorismo das empresas, nomeadamente entre as regiões de fronteira, Alentejo e Extremadura, uma vez que essas iniciativas potênciam o desenvolvimento local. Partindo da questão de base se “O Efeito Fronteira constitui, ou não, um fator de entrave ao empreendedorismo nas regiões do Alentejo e Extremadura” formulamos várias questões secundárias por forma a perceber o contexto de desenvolvimento dessas regiões e se a localização junto à fronteira influi na sua realidade atual. Sendo assim, para além de analisar os fatores potenciadores e caracterizadores do empreendedorismo nas regiões, onde incluimos a inovação, analisamos as duas regiões em estudo tentando identificar as características que afetam o empreendedorismo local, desde o ponto de vista do ecossistema empreendedor até à competitividade das regiões. A análise destas duas áreas territoriais foi preponderante para o entendimento da existência ou não de efeito fronteira e que factores ainda o potenciam. Começando pela revisão da literatura sobre Actividade Empreendedora, Efeito Fronteira, e Desenvolvimento Regional passamos depois a análise a dados estatísticos através de fontes secundárias, tentamos encontrar fatores de diferenciação, bem como características internas e externas condicionantes da competitividade regional, que nos pudessem conduzir ao modelo conceptual que suporta a parte empírica da investigação. Face à escassez de investigação sobre esta particularidade regional, bem como face à sua especificidade, na parte prática do trabalho optamos pelo estudo de casos. Trabalhamos com 3 empresas Portuguesas e 2 Espanholas, com dimensões diferentes e idades diferentes e em sectores iguais ou semelhantes de forma a responder aos objectivos desta investigação. Para uma maior standartização e isenção da análise, na entrevista realizada aos intervenientes utilizamos um questionário que nos guiou em todo o trabalho e nos permitiu concluir sobre as mesmas questões. Foi possível concluir que se apenas para um dos casos a fronteira foi determinante na escolha da localização, posteriormente os impactos são mais negativos do que positivos, mas a sua base está relacionada com os mercados fornecedor e cliente, com a acessibilidade física, distanciamento dos centros de poder e diferenças fiscais

Cultura de la innovación y microempresa en sistemas regionales de I+D+i : actitudes y comportamientos innovadores en las micropymes de la comunidad autónoma de canarias

Esta tesis se ocupa de estudiar la influencia de la cultura en la actividad económica y en las dinámicas de innovación de Canarias, en el marco de su sistema regional de innovación (SRI), atendiendo especialmente al caso de las microempresas. Con este fin, se aspira a situar la cultura de la innovación como elemento explicativo de las capacidades y los resultados de innovación en las Islas Canarias, para lo que se realiza un análisis detallado de los componentes de su SRI y de sus características socioeconómicas. En este análisis las microempresas reciben una especial atención como agentes económicos principales de una economía eminentemente de servicios, caracterizada por su dependencia del sector turístico, alejada de los principales mercados y de los centros de producción y distribución de referencia, a lo que se une una marcada fragmentación territorial