Productive, Unproductive and Destructive Entrepreneurship: A Theoretical and Empirical Exploration

Drawing on Baumolís concepts of productive, unproductive and destructive entrepreneurship and relevant amendments, this thesis aims to contribute to the entrepreneurship literature by developing a conceptual framework which allows operationalising the concepts for empirical assessment. Furthermore, using data from longitudinal survey, author makes one of the first attempts to address the concepts empirically. The results provide with support for the conceptual framework highlighting the importance to shift the focus from firmsí activities to output on both, venture and societal levels, short and long term, when concepts are addressed empirically. Overall findings suggest that productive entrepreneurs are those who are less involved in behaviour such as tax avoidance or illegal business and show a higher level of entrepreneurial orientation.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/64372/1/wp917.pd

Covid-19 Pandemic Moderating The Influence of Competence, Work Motivation and Entrepreneurship Orientation on Business Performance and Sharia Perspective

The purpose of the article to analyze and empirically provethat the COVID-19 pandemic moderates the effect of competence, work motivation, and entrepreneurial orientation towards the business performance of SMEs. This study applies an explanatory approach to explain the causal relationship between variables through the hypothesis testing. Research data was collected by utilizing a questionnaire distributed to 130 SMEs and configured in 44 center groups in the city of Surabaya. Data analysis was conducted by Partial Least Square (PLS) approach.” Theresearch finding indicates that the COVID-19 pandemic as a moderating variable of the influence between variables. However, it turns out that not all the relationships regarding the COVID-19 pandemic are significant or strengthening.The empirical findings from the results of this study indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant effect on competency, entrepreneurial orientation and business performance, as well as demonstrating the effect of entrepreneurial orientation on business performance.As for the effect of work motivation on entrepreneurial orientation and business performancehas an insignificant effec

Green Drivers and Green Manufacturing Practices Integration in Agro Processing Industry: Moderating Effect of Sustainability Orientation

Developing a balance between manufacturing and ecological preservation is considered a major issue in every society and so attention must be paid to this relationship to protect plant, animal and human lives. Pressure for manufacturing firms to become green has risen greatly. Green manufacturing has been encouraged, practiced and researched for years but mostly in developed nations, but low in developing countries. This is a follow up study on a previous one conducted by the authors on the direct effects of green drivers on green practices, and this current one aims at the moderating role of sustainability orientation on the effects of driving factors on green practices in Ghana. Analysis was done using structural equation modeling (SEM). Evidently, sustainability orientation (SUO) moderated significantly between driving factors and green design practices, green purchasing practices and green promotion/selling. Green design practices adoption was facilitated most by SUO. Green management practices and green logistics practices were not moderated by SUO. Outcomes of this work could serve as a guide towards decision making by industry actors and government of Ghana on policy formulation and better processes for integrating green practices, not just in the agro processing industry but all others with activities of possible damage to the environment. Keywords: Green drivers, green practices, agro processing, sustainability orientation DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-12-03 Publication date:June 30th 202

Impact of Dynamic Capabilities on Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) Performance in Oman

Drawing on dynamic capabilities’ theory, this study examines the impact of entrepreneurial knowledge (EK) on firm performance in Oman, a member nation of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). In addition, two aspects of dynamic capabilities: (1) opportunities recognition and (2) opportunities exploitation, were explored as potential mediators of the indirect relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and firm performance. Using a cross-sectional survey design (N=102), the study found entrepreneurial knowledge has a direct, positive, statistically significant relationship on firm performance, as measured by customer satisfaction and market effectiveness. At the same time, the sequential mediation of opportunity recognition and opportunity exploitation was positive and significant. In contrast, the proposed mediated relationship from EK through opportunity exploitation to firm performance was not significant. A subsequent analysis proposing business IT dependency (ITD) of SMEs in Oman (tech firms versus non-tech firms) as a moderator of the relationships between entrepreneurial knowledge and the sequential order mediation of opportunity recognition and opportunity exploitation to firm performance was not significant. The relatively small sample size of this study or other underlying factors, such as cultural factors, may have influenced the proposed mediated moderated results. Therefore, based on the literature, further investigation is needed to better understand these relationships. Overall, the xiii findings provide an initial understanding of potential relationships between EK and firm performance in less developed countries

The Moderating Effect of Perceived Effectiveness of Marketing Function on Network Ties – Strategic Adaptiveness Relationship

This study examines the critical role of perceived effectiveness of the Marketing function (MF) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in leveraging entrepreneurial network ties to improve strategic adaptiveness (SA). The study tests whether a MF perceived as effective by SMEs’ managers/owners moderates the relationship between SMEs network ties and SA required for improved performance. Findings of a moderated regression analysis on a sample of 263 Croatian SMEs indicate that network ties contribute significantly to their SA, and that a MF perceived as effective only moderates the impact of customer and competitor ties on SMEs’ SA. Research and practical implications are discussed

The moderating effect of mentorship on enterprise development in South Africa

Thesis is submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Management specialising in Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation to the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Business Administration,University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2018Enterprise development (ED) is concerned with helping entrepreneurs to grow their businesses. The business development process is dynamic with rapid technological and environmental change that occurs through the enterprise development life cycle. Business incubation programs play an integral part in the development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). They offer support services, both financial and non-financial, of which mentorship is regarded as one of the key aspects of incubation programs. This study looked at SMEs across South Africa, operating in different industries to evaluate the impact of entrepreneurial orientation on SME growth and determine the moderating effect of mentorship on this relationship. The South African government, through its B-BBEE policies, has mandated corporates to implement ED programs as a way of aiding the growth of SMEs. The challenge faced by SMEs within the context of ED is discussed broadly in this study with recommendations put forth in an attempt to assist the successful implementation of ED. Entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is an established construct in entrepreneurship literature and its impact on growth is well researched. The three dimensions of innovativeness, proactiveness and risk-taking, as a unidimensional composite is used to assess the level of EO exhibited by the sample. This study however, expanded on the EO-Growth relationship to assess the role of mentorship within the context of ED in South Africa. Mentorship forms part of the developmental process of entrepreneurs and is well incorporated into the ED sphere. This study considered the role of the mentors as it relates to opportunity recognition. The study applied a quantitative method to analyse the relationship between the independent variable (EO) and the dependent variable business growth (BG), with mentorship being the moderating variable. The survey questionnaire was electronically distributed, producing a final number of 215 respondents as the empirical research sample. Growth, the dependent variable, was considered as a measure of success for SMEs. The measurement of SME growth focused on sales, assets, profit, annual turn-over and employment growth. The high failure rate of SMEs in SA is a cause of great concern to the government. This study provided empirical research, which further investigated the reasons attributed to government’s concerns. It further argued for certain interventions that can be of value to SMEs, government, ED practitioners, mentors and corporates. A regression analysis and bivariate correlation analysis was adopted to test the hypotheses, confirmatory factor analysis assessed the factorial validity of the constructs. Pearson’s test tested the significance of the correlations, visual tests (histograms) and descriptive statistics (skewness and kurtosis) assessed the normality of variables, before hypothesis testing was carried out, factor analysis determined the empirical analysis to confirm the theory, and to reduce dimensions of variables within constructs. In addition, the overall level of Cronbach reliability (0.68≤α≤0.89), and the corresponding EVA of close to 0.3, showed excellent reliability. The empirical findings of the study revealed that EO had a positive impact on SME growth and that the relationship between EO and growth was moderated by mentorship. As such, this study contributes to the theoretical discourse through its contribution to the existing body of literature. It further adds to literature concerned with the role of mentors in ED, and how this influences the growth of SMEs participating in ED programs. From a practical perspective, it provides recommendations to all stakeholders of ED in South Africa. Finally, this study provides ED practitioners, incubation managers, government policy makers, corporates, mentors, SMEs and entrepreneurs with relevant information to support their strategic planning and the implementation of enterprise development in South Africa.MT 201

Determinants and dimensions of firm growth

Firm growth is an important indicator of a thriving economy. Although the determinants of firm growth have been studied in various disciplines, an integrated analysis is still lacking. This paper attempts to provide such an analysis. Many determinants of firm growth are summarized and classified into three dimensions: individual, organizational, and environmental determinants. By conducting an empirical study using 523 Dutch small and medium sized firms, we identify the determinants of firm growth which is measured by employment growth. Our findings show that environmental determinants do not affect firm growth. Individual ones do: entrepreneurs with growth motivation and having technical knowledge are more likely to grow their firms while entrepreneurs characterized by a strong need of achievement are less likely to engage in firm growth. Organizational determinants have the most influence on firm growth: the older thefirm, the less likely it is to grow. Availability of financial capital is found to be crucial to firm growth. Finally, the firm’s scalability (its preparedness to grow) is found to have a positive impact on firm growth.

Imprinting effects, managerial knowledge and the internationalisation of small and medium size enterprises from emerging economies

This thesis examines the internationalisation behaviour of small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) from emerging economies. In summary, the thesis comprises of five chapters: First, Chapter 1 provides a brief introduction to the full thesis. Chapter 2 systematically reviews 55 selected articles, first examining the underlying reasons why SMEs in emerging markets internationalise, followed by their corresponding barriers. Concurrently, by examining theories that have been used to study the internationalisation of SMEs from emerging markets, findings from the literature are analysed. Findings suggest that through collaborations, in the form of networks, these SMEs have been able to indulge their resources, and in turn benefit from superior impacts on their overall performance. The management of information, knowledge and collaboration is therefore re-emphasised in this review, to ensure the success of emerging markets SMEs’ internationalisation. The analysis on this review provides valuable input on research suggestions and directions for future work in this area. Next, Chapter 3 discusses the issue of whether a firm’s ‘home’ environment influences SMEs’ scope of internationalisation. This chapter uses institutional and organisational imprinting theories to argue that emerging market SMEs born during the market liberalisation period are likely to have a greater scope of internationalisation than those founded in other periods. It also argues that this effect is moderated by the SMEs’ size, its dispersed ownership structure, and its geographical diversification. Hypotheses are tested using a sample of 177 Indian SMEs collected using secondary data from the Bureau Van Dijk’s ORBIS database. Results support the hypothesis on the relationship between home-market liberalisation imprinting and SMEs’ scope of internationalisation. Findings also support that the moderating effect of SMEs’ size, geographical diversification and ownership dispersion reduces the imprinting effect of the above relationship. Chapter 4 is about the relationship between SMEs’ managerial knowledge (i.e., foreign institutional knowledge, foreign business knowledge, foreign supply chain knowledge, and internationalisation knowledge) and their financial and non-financial performance. It examines the above link based on data collected from questionnaire survey responses of 295 SMEs from India involved in internationalisation. Research findings suggest that (1) SMEs’ managerial knowledge has a direct impact on their financial and non-financial performance, and that (2) SMEs financial performance plays a mediating role between their managerial knowledge and their non-financial performance. Hypotheses are based on the knowledge-based view of internationalisation, and the chapter provides deeper insights into the role of managerial knowledge on emerging-market SMEs’ internationalisation performance. Finally, Chapter 5 includes a discussion and conclusions of research findings from the PhD study. First, it describes how the research questions mentioned in the introduction chapter were addressed. Second, some suggestions and recommendations are given for continuation of the work presented in this thesis

Entrepreneurial Orientation, Psychological Capital, Entrepreneurial Strategy, and Firm Performance on Private Daycare in Indonesia: A Conceptual Paper

This paper aims to develop a conceptual model of the nexus of entrepreneurial orientation, psychological capital, entrepreneurial strategy, and firm performance in private daycare in Indonesia. This paper develops a conceptual model to look at the performance of daycare businesses in Indonesia based on a literature review by integrating relevant theories (such as entrepreneurial orientation, entrepreneurial strategies, and psychological capital) and logical reasoning. Research hypotheses are given to stimulate follow-up research. Based on the conceptual model, improving the performance of daycare business can be accomplished by the influence of the dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation, the role of business strategy mediation, and the moderation of psychological capital. It is hoped that empirical studies will be conducted to validate the relationship and interrelationships between related concepts and constructs in providing practical implications in the daycare business