SME development strategy and product/service innovation intention

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) are tasked with driving economic recovery globally, in terms of contribution to economic growth. Understanding the determinants of SME innovation is essential in clarifying this phenomena. This study investigates the link between SME strategies and intention to undertake future innovation, using Federation of Small Businesses data. The analysis employs the novel N-State Classification and Ranking Belief Simplex (NCaRBS) technique, investigating relationships between changes in SME strategies, including staffing levels, importing/exporting and client base, and future (including uncertain) innovation intentions. NCaRBS can analyse an incomplete data set, with missing values in the considered characteristic variables, without the need to manage their presence. NCaRBS can also generate results providing insights into SME behaviour regarding strategy and innovation, while also increasing learning about potential reasons behind SMEs uncertainty regarding innovation intention. The study provides novel perspectives into how SMEs develop innovation intentions and the strategies required to support/exploit such intentions, of value to academia, enterprise support agencies and policymaker

Flood risk insurance, mitigation and commercial property valuation

© 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to understand how built environment professionals approach the valuation of flood risk in commercial property markets and whether insurance promotes mitigation in different insurance and risk management regimes, draw common conclusions and highlight opportunities to transfer learning. Design/methodology/approach: An illustrative case study approach involving literature search and 72 interviews with built environment professionals, across five countries in four continents. Findings: Common difficulties arise in availability, reliability and interpretation of risk information, and in evaluating the impact of mitigation. These factors, coupled with the heterogeneous nature of commercial property, lack of transactional data and remote investors, make valuation of risk particularly challenging in the sector. Insurance incentives for risk mitigation are somewhat effective where employed and could be further developed, however, the influence of insurance is hampered by lack of insurance penetration and underinsurance. Research limitations/implications: Further investigation of the means to improve uptake of insurance and to develop insurance incentives for mitigation is recommended. Practical implications: Flood risk is inconsistently reflected in commercial property values leading to lack of mitigation and vulnerability of investments to future flooding. Improvements are needed in: access to adequate risk information; professional skills in valuing risk; guidance on valuation of flood risk; and regulation to ensure adequate consideration of risk and mitigation options. Originality/value: The research addresses a global issue that threatens local, and regional economies through loss of utility, business profitability and commercial property value. It is unique in consulting professionals across international markets

The Enterprise Network in Scotland A survey of member's opinions

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:q96/33149 / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Ratepayers' defence manual A guide to local government, our rights, your opportunities and the role of the district auditor

SIGLELD:82/14602(Ratepayers'). / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Occupational safety and health and smaller organisations: research challenges and opportunities

Despite the prevalence of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and micro organisations, comparatively little is known about how such organisations approach occupational safety and health (OSH). Research has tended to present a negative picture of OSH practices in smaller organisations. This paper discusses some of the challenges to researching OSH in SMEs and micro organisations and how these challenges can be overcome. It draws lessons and experiences from a qualitative study involving 149 structured interviews, nine short-term ethnographies and 21 semi-structured interviews with owners and employees in SMEs and micro organisations from a broad cross-section of industry sectors in the UK, including construction, retail, healthcare, logistics and agriculture. Data from the study suggest that the established boundaries between micro, small and medium-sized enterprises are less meaningful in an OSH context - OSH practices are influenced more by the culture of the organisation, the type of work being undertaken and the sector that an organisation operates in. OSH practices in SMEs and micro organisations tend to reflect more informal characteristics of such organisations, with more emphasis (than many larger organisations) on tacit knowledge, learning by doing and improvisation. Such practices should not necessarily be assumed to be unsafe or incompatible with formalised OSH