Examining the Moderating Effect of Environmental Hostility on the Entrepreneurial Orientation -Performance Relationship

Abstract: While the EO-performance nexus has received extensive attention in entrepreneurship literature, other studies suggest that the magnitude of this relationship is dependent upon the external environment and internal organizational processes. The objective of this study was to measure the effects of EO (innovativeness, risk-taking, proactiveness, autonomy and competitive aggressiveness) on SME performance, as well as to examine the moderating effect of environmental hostility on the EO-performance relationship in South Africa. The study showed thatwhile innovativeness and proactiveness does not have a significant effect on SME performance; risk taking propensity, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy have a significant positive effect on SME performance. It was also seen that while the risk taking-performance relationship is negatively moderated by environmental hostility, the competitive aggressiveness-performance relationship is positively moderated by environmental hostility. This suggest the need for SMEs to always align their business strategies with appropriate EO dimensions to mitigate some of the negative consequences of operating in hostile business environments and improve the performance of their businesses. Keywords: Entrepreneurial orientation, SME performance, Environmental Hostility, South Afric

Local responses to the European refugee crisis : volunteering and the critique on humanitarianism

Since the summer of 2015 a wave of voluntary engagement with refugees has spread throughout Europe. In this context, tensions and concerns around the issue of help, power and solidarity have been debated. This article contributes to this debate by focusing on volunteering in the context of a so-called European refugee crisis.Based mostly on participant observation and informal interviews, this study explores the need to help from the point of view of volunteers and different actors within emerging formal and informal networks. In particular, my research aims at understanding the complex meanings of volunteering and its contested social role.On the one hand, based on data gathered during several months of fieldwork in Bern, Switzerland, this study examines volunteers' perceptions, expectations and motivations. On the other hand, it focuses on ongoing negotiations of the role of volunteering, within an emerging network of established aid organizations, faith-based institutions, community organizations and volunteers.The anthropological critique on humanitarianism provides a theoretical basis for analyzing the moral obligations perceived by volunteers and the effects of the resulting relationships. Political theory will be employed in order to investigate emerging urban arrangements linked to volunteering in Bern. Based on my preliminary conclusions, I propose that by looking at humanitarian interventions, such as volunteering, the current position of civil society and its social and political potential can be demonstratedDesde el verano de 2015, una ola de compromiso voluntario con los refugiados se ha extendido por toda Europa. En este contexto, se han debatido las tensiones y preocupaciones en torno a la cuestión de la ayuda, el poder y la solidaridad. Este artículo contribuye a este debate centrándose en el voluntariado en el contexto de la llamada crisis europea de los refugiados.Basado principalmente en observación participante y entrevistas informales, este estudio explora la necesidad de ayudar desde el punto de vista de los voluntarios y los diferentes actores en el seno de redes formales e informales emergentes. En particular, mi investigación tiene como objetivo comprender los complejos significados del voluntariado y su controvertido papel social.Por un lado, a partir de datos recogidos durante varios meses de trabajo de campo en Berna, Suiza, este estudio examina las percepciones, expectativas y motivaciones de los voluntarios. Por otro lado, se centra en las negociaciones en curso sobre el papel del voluntariado, dentro de una red emergente de organizaciones humanitarias, instituciones religiosas, organizaciones comunitarias y voluntariado.La crítica antropológica sobre el humanitarismo proporciona una base teórica para analizar las obligaciones morales percibidas por los voluntarios y los efectos de las relaciones resultantes. Recurriré a la teoría política para investigar arreglos urbanos emergentes vinculados al voluntariado en Berna. Sobre la base de mis conclusiones preliminares, propongo que es a través de las intervenciones humanitarias, como el voluntariado, que se puede atestiguar la posición actual de la sociedad civil y su potencial social y polític

The relationship between knowledge sharing socialisation mechanisms structural capital and organisational performance

Globalisation, increasing competition, turbulent economic environments, and technological changes have shifted the significance of traditional assets as primary resources in sustaining competitive advantage for organisations. Whilst traditional assets remain valuable, knowledge sharing has become increasingly recognised as another critically important factor. Arguably, the use of knowledge sharing mechanisms (personal socialisation and electronic socialisation) and structural capital dimensions such as network ties, network configuration, network stability, and centrality will impact organisational performance. Thus hypothetically, knowledge sharing mechanisms are likely to affect organisational performance through the mediating role of structural capital dimensions. However, the existing literature has largely overlooked the association between knowledge sharing mechanisms, structural capital and organisational performance. Subsequently, the holistic integration of the above constructs remains under-explored. As a result, this study examines the direct and indirect effects between knowledge sharing mechanisms and structural capital on organisational performance. In addition, it validates a conceptual framework and tests a range of research hypotheses. Using a hypothetic-deductive approach, a research instrument was developed based on the existing literature. The piloted research instrument was administered to a census of the UK Top 500 companies listed in the FAME database. A useable response from 167 chief executives, chief operating officers and top managers surveyed resulted in a 33.4% response rate. Multivariate analysis results indicate the internal reliability (total Cronbach Alpha values) of retained factors ranging from .72 to .90. Structural equation modelling (SEM) show adequate goodness of fit indices: CMIN/DF=1.11, NFI=.97, GFI=.91, CFI=.98, TLI=.99, and RMSEA=.03. Results demonstrate that structural capital mediates the relationship between knowledge sharing mechanisms and organisational performance: the hypotheses were confirmed. Moreover, electronic socialisation was shown to have a positive significant effect on operations performance. This study successfully validated the conceptual framework derived from a range of relevant theories. The study provides unique insights into how knowledge sharing mechanisms interacted with structural capital which leads to organisational performance: In integrating the aforementioned research constructs this study fills theoretical gaps by broadening the conceptualisation of the structural capital dimensionality and organisational performance facets. As a result, this study advances our understanding of organisational performance determinants. Accordingly, it provides managerial implications based on the results obtained. Limitations of the methodological approach and avenues for further studies are discussed

Family-work Conflict and Performance of Women-owned Enterprises: The Role of Social Capital in Developing Countries--Implications for South Africa and Beyond

One critical issue that is highly overlooked in developing regions is the family embeddedness of women entrepreneurs, even though the women in developing countries simultaneously hold several roles in the family and their businesses. As such, this study focused on evaluating the impact of family-work conflict (FWC) on the performance of women-owned businesses in a developing world context. The findings indicate that FWC negatively influenced the performance of women-owned businesses. Additionally, the moderating effect of social capital in this association was examined. The findings suggest that both bonding social capital and bridging social capital buffers the negative effect of FWC on the performance of women-owned businesses, such that the performance of women-owned businesses characterized by high levels of bonding/bridging social capital is affected less by FWC than those with low levels of bonding/bridging social capital. The study culminates with a discussion of the implications and policy measures that can be adopted to harness the potentials and capabilities of women entrepreneurs in developing countries to foster economic growth and development

Why foreignness matters: The impact of business-family interference on the exit intentions of women entrepreneur

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of family-to-business and business-to-family interference on the exit intentions of women entrepreneurs. Additionally, the study examines the moderating role of foreignness on these associations. Data was gathered from 300 women entrepreneurs operating in South Africa using a survey approach. The collected data was analyzed using regression analysis to test the hypothesized associations. The results showed that both family-to-business and business-to-family interference had a significant positive influence on the exit intentions of women entrepreneurs. Also, it was observed that foreignness moderated these associations such that the effect of both types of interference on exit intentions was stronger for local than for immigrant women entrepreneurs. Moreover, in general, immigrant women entrepreneurs were less likely to exit their businesses than locals. This shows some valuable connections between the immigrant entrepreneurship and women entrepreneurship literature. Additionally, the study presents some new control factors when examining exit intentions such as access to finance and copreneurship, which are seen to significantly shape the exit intentions of women entrepreneurs.   &nbsp

Achieving optimal business performance through business practices: evidence from SMEs in selected areas in South Africa

Enhancing business performance is of increasing interest to all business leaders in today’s business environment. Studies relating to both large firms and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) constantly emphasise a positive relationship between business practices, management activities and performance, as it is often articulated that best business practices produce superlative business performance. This study examines empirically which business practices are implemented by SMEs in some selected areas in South Africa and how these business practices impact on their optimal performance. The population for the study comprised business owner-managers in the SME sector in Bloemfontein, Botshabelo and Thaba’Nchu (Free State province of South Africa). A statistical methodology was used to test the relationships hypothesised in the research model. The results reveal that all six selected business practices that were examined (marketing practices, strategic planning practices, human resource management practices, risk management practices, performance management practices and teamwork practices) have a positive and significant relationship with SME performance. Moreover, 97.1% of the SMEs that implemented all six business practices had optimal business performance. This study could serve as a guide for business consultants and SME support mechanisms to develop SME training programmes to help SME owners/managers to acquire the necessary skills to properly implement these six business practices, which will enable SMEs to achieve optimal performance.Achieving optimal business performance through business practices Key words: SMEs, business practices, SME performance, optimal performance, South Afric

Responsibility and resistance : children and young people’s accounts of smoking in the home and car

Following the implementation of the smokefree law in 2006, which formed part of the Smoking, Health and Social Care (Scotland) Act 2005, smoking in enclosed public spaces has been prohibited in Scotland. The law has led to a number of improvements in public health but does not cover homes and cars where children are primarily exposed. Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with particularly significant risks to child health, yet few studies have explored children’s perspectives on SHS and smoking in the home and car. Comprising a qualitative exploration of the views and experiences of 38, 10- to 15-year-olds of SHS in the home and car, this thesis begins to address this gap. It addresses the nature and extent of children’s involvement in negotiating smoking restrictions, compares the understandings, experiences and involvement among participants living in communities of contrasting socioeconomic profiles and considers the implications for health promotion interventions aimed at reducing children’s exposure to SHS in the home and car. Informed by a Childhood Studies perspective, the study focuses, both in methods and content, on the voices and agency of the participants. Recruited from two Edinburgh communities with contrasting socioeconomic profiles, the participants were interviewed either individually, in pairs or in small focus groups about their understandings of SHS, smoking restrictions in their homes and cars and their role in negotiating them. Home floor plans constructed by the participants were used to prompt discussion and also served to identify spatial and temporal home smoking restrictions. Both discursive and thematic techniques were used in analysis. The thesis details the participants’ overt and covert strategies to resist family members’ smoking, demonstrating the active roles that participants describe in their accounts. While acknowledging SHS as a health risk and using an embodied language of disgust to describe it, the participants’ main concern was for their smoking family members’ health, rather than their own. Many participants also challenged the stigma surrounding smoking parents by detailing the ways in which their parents restricted where, how much and with whom they smoked. Parents were described as especially careful in protecting small children from SHS. While most participants described such protective practices, those from the disadvantaged area reported less stringent smoking restrictions that were more challenging to negotiate. Participants’ resistant (to smoking) and defensive (of parents who smoke) accounts may stem from the growing stigma associated with smoking, particularly smoking in the presence of children. Such findings highlight the importance of a sensitive and asset based public health response that acknowledges parents’ attempts to protect their children from SHS and recognises the potential of the active role of children in family negotiations around smoking in the home and car

Stigma and Smoking in the Home:Parents' Accounts of Using Nicotine Replacement Therapy to Protect Their Children from Second-Hand Smoke

Evidence and campaigns highlighting smoking and secondhand smoke risks have significantly reduced smoking prevalence and denormalised smoking in the home in Scotland. However, smoking prevalence remains disproportionally high in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. Using stigma as a theoretical lens, this article presents a thematic analysis of parents' accounts of attempting to abstain from smoking at home, using nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), in disadvantaged areas of Edinburgh and the Lothians. Smoking stigma, particularly self-stigma, underpinned accounts, with two overarching themes: interplaying barriers and enablers for creation of a smoke-free home and reconceptualisation of the study as an opportunity to quit smoking. Personal motivation to abstain or stop smoking empowered participants to reduce or quit smoking to resist stigma. For those struggling to believe in their ability to stop smoking, stigma led to negative self-labelling. Previously hidden smoking in the home gradually emerged in accounts, suggesting that parents may fear disclosure of smoking in the home in societies where smoking stigma exists. This study suggests that stigma may act both as an enabler and barrier in this group. Reductions in smoking in the home were dependent on self-efficacy and motivations to abstain, and stigma was entwined in these beliefs