Entrepreneurial Competencies and Success of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs): Evidence from Ethiopia

Small business success has been a central phenomenon in business studies across time and remains to be the major concern across nations because SMEs play a vital role in economic development. However, it has been frequently quoted that the failure rate for smaller businesses is high due to the influences of a variety of internal and external factors. Past research for the most part has focused on the role of external factors in affecting small business success. Yet such focus on external factors though important to enhance our understanding of the entrepreneurship phenomenon, it overlooks the role played by the entrepreneur’s competencies and behaviors. The purpose of this study hence is to examine the effect of personal entrepreneurial competencies (goal setting, systematic planning and monitoring, commitment, and persistence) on business performance on a sample of 462 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Amhara Regional State, Ethiopia. In addition to individual main effects, the combined effect of entrepreneurial competencies on business success is examined. The structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed SMEs performance model. The findings of the present study well suggest that the personal entrepreneurial competencies exhibited by the SMEs owners were the determining factors for the performance of SMEs. In addition to main effects, the interaction effects of competencies on business performance were more strongly evident when the business owners exhibit a considerable level of persistence and commitment competencies. Business owner-managers with motivational goals, plans and hard work (persistence and commitment) are able to look for opportunities, assess and exploit them to generate acceptable business outcomes. These resources are important to facilitate small business success particularly when the business owners possess a considerable level of these resources and integrate them for the pursuit of business success. Success in business results from a combination of inspiration and hard work. These core competencies are key characteristics of successful business people which enable them to convert an entrepreneurial vision into successful products or services that are required to meet or surpass market needs. Managerial and policy implications are also provided. Keywords:Entrepreneurial behavior; entrepreneurial competencies; goal setting; systematic planning; commitment; persistence DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/11-19-02 Publication date:July 31st 201

Okada v. Eighth Judicial Dist. Ct., 131 Nev. Adv. Op. 83 (Oct. 15, 2015)

The Court determined that (1) NRCP 30 generally governs the taking of depositions but does not set restrictions as to where the deposition must take place; and (2) while NRCP 30 generally limits depositions to “1 day of 7 hours,”NRCP 26(b)(2) sets for general considerations that district courts should take into account when determining whether the length of a depositions should deviate from the presumption one-day time frame

Longitudinal Urinary Microbiome Studies: A Need to Transition to Voided Urine

It is now established that the bladder is not sterile; it contains communities of microbes (microbiota). While the healthy bladder microbiota have been defined using expanded quantitative urine culture (EQUC) and urines obtained by transurethral catheterization (TUC), longitudinal and population studies have not previously been possible. These studies cannot be done using TUC urines, as it would be impractical to catheterize participants daily. Instead, we must transition to using voided urines.In order to make this switch, we have addressed three main issues raised by using voided urine. First, we showed that EQUC out performs standard urine culture on voided urines in a clinically relevant population. Next, we defined the constituents of the urethral and peri-urethral microbiota in an attempt to deconstruct voided urine. Finally, we identified a cleaner catch method. Combined, these studies provide crucial insight for interpreting voided urine for urinary microbiome research

Poremba v. S. Nev. Paving; and S&C Claims Servs., Inc. 132 Nev. Ad. Op. 24 (April 7, 2016)

The Court considers an appeal from a district court order. The Court clarified that medical treatment is not the only expense on which a workers’ compensation claimant is permitted to exhaust his or her settlement funds. Reversed and remanded with instructions

Golightly & Vannah, PLLC v. TJ Allen, LLC, 132 Nev. Adv. Op. 41 (Jun. 2, 2016)

In order for attorneys working on a contingency basis to comply with NRS 18.015’s requirement of perfecting a lien before receiving the funds, the notice of the lien must disclose the agreed upon contingency percentage and also claim court costs and out-of-pocket costs advanced by the attorney in an amount to be determined

A comparative study of the foreman in industry and the noncommissioned officer in the Air Force as communication and public relations sources.

Thesis (M.S.)--Boston Universit

Monomer screening for sequence defined polymerization in a genetically modified ribosome

Sequence defined polymers, or polymers of a pre-determined length and sequence, are the “Holy Grail” of polymer synthesis. As the physical properties of polymers are highly dependent upon their chemical composition, the wide range of potential applications for sequence defined polymers has yet to be explored. After millions of years of evolution, the ribosome has become a highly efficient polymerization catalyst. In this project, we will work to capitalize on this efficiency to work to create unnatural sequence defined polymers in a genetically modified ribosome. Collaborators in the Jewett group are currently genetically modifying the ribosomal active site to widen the library of chemistries the ribosome is able to catalyze, while we are exploring the chemistries of monomers that could be polymerized by a genetically modified ribosome. This thesis will first identify monomers capable of polymerization under the restricted conditions set by the ribosome, followed by synthesis of promising monomers, and finally taking steps towards loading the synthesized monomers onto tRNA.Chemistr

Grant County Public Utilities District - Rotor Pole Lifting Device

Grant County Public Utilities District is planning a rehabilitation of all turbine and generator units at Priest Rapids Dam beginning in August 2016. After the generator rotor is removed from the unit, the rotor poles must be removed from the rotor. They are oriented vertically in the rotor and horizontally on the floor and in shipping containers. The objective of this project is to design, manufacture and test a lifting and a turning device for Priest Rapids Dam’s generator rotor poles. The lifting device was designed to attach a 3500 pound rotor pole to a crane and lift it. The turning device is designed to orient the rotor pole. Once a design had been finalized, drawings were sent for quotes on the manufacture of the device. Busby International, Inc., out of Moses Lake, WA built the device and delivered it to Grant County PUD. Then the device was tested to ensure usability. Strain gages were applied to critical areas and two load tests were performed, both at twice the working load of the device. One test was used to ensure usability of the device when it is oriented vertically and one test was to ensure usability when it was oriented horizontally. It was found the device was sufficient for the purpose it was intended for. This device will be used for the removal and installation of all rotor poles at Priest Rapids Dam during the turbine/generator rehabilitation project

Teaching Social Justice Issues Using Informational Texts

In response to the increasing diverse population of the world and in our schools, it is necessary that teachers modify their instruction to prepare students to become accepting and respectful citizens in our society. For this self-study, I designed lessons to accommodate the new requirement of using informational texts in the classroom while simultaneously enriching my elementary students’ knowledge on social justice issues. I implemented a three-lesson language arts unit with a focus on identifying the main idea and details of informational text. Each informational text introduced one of the following social justice issues — family differences, world’s children, and houses of the world. Per lesson, I collected students’ work that assessed their understanding of identifying the main idea and details. I documented and reflected upon class discussions of each of the three social justice issues using video or audio recordings, and also photographed the texts that were used in instruction. Some teachers avoid incorporating social justice issues in their lesson plans due to their belief that younger students are not ready for such complex and meaningful discussion. However, I found that creating lesson plans that use informational texts with social justice themes was an effective way to accommodate the Common Core State Standards while enhancing students’ understanding of social justice issues