When Your Birth Control Isnt Covered: Health Plan Non-Compliance With the Federal Contraceptive Coverage Requirement

The passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a tremendous step forward and brought basic health care within reach for millions of people across the country. Notably, the ACA included a first-of-its-kind provision that required health insurance plans to cover the full range of FDA approved birth control methods with no out-of-pocket expense. More than 62 million women have gained access to affordable birth control thanks to the ACA.However, there are still significant gaps in making full coverage a reality for everyone. As we know, effective implementation and enforcement are crucial to ensuring that laws like the ACA are able to meet their ambitious goals. This new report makes this point clear by uncovering far too many examples of health insurance plans falling short of the ACA's standards and guidance. Despite having ample time to come into compliance, our report found that many health care plans still seem to lack a process that ensures people can get the birth control best suited to them, without exception or dela

Strengthening Federal Bankruptcy Laws: Implications for Small Businesses

Significant  changes  in the American  bankruptcy  laws  have  recently  been passed   by  both Houses of Congress. Although the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 have temporarily delayed final approval by President Bush, he has indicated his endorsement of these modifications to the law, and eventual realization is expected. While most of the publicity regarding these proposed changes has focused on their  impact upon individuals and their ability to erase personal debts, small businesses are also extensively impacted by  these changes. This article first explains bankruptcy law in general as it affects small companies, then discusses the expected changes in the law and their small business implications,  and finally suggests appropriate responses for small business owners, managers and their consultants

Barter: A Small Business Strategic Option In A Weak Economy

This article probes the currently growing phenomenon of barter as a small business strategic tool. First, the concept of a barter exchange is explained, and the mechanics of small business membership in such exchanges are described. This is followed by a review of the literature, which indicates minimal academic analysis of this phenomenon. The research methodology of this study, involving a two-stage series of in-depth telephone interviews with owners, managers and small business members of barter exchanges, is then described. The research findings are then presented and are used to generate a set of specific guidelines for the small business owner/manager considering membership in a barter exchange. These guidelines answer the q1umions: "Will barter be applicable and beneficial for my company?"  "How should  I choose a barter exchange?"  "How can I fully benefit from barter exchange membership?

The Influence of the Entrepreneur's Education Level on Strategic Decision Making

The Entrepreneurship literature includes many studies focusing upon antecedents of entrepreneurial behavior and performance, but a specific focus upon education as an antecedent has been minimal. This study of 184 small businesses specifically tests the relationship between two variables: 1) the owner/manager's level of formal education and 2) his or her choice of entrepreneurial strategies for the business. To measure strategy, the Entrepreneurial Strategy Matrix, a situational model which suggests appropriate entrepreneurial strategies for both new and ongoing ventures, was utilized. As discussed below, certain limited relationships between these two variables were found. The implications of these findings and the opportunities for future research are presented. This study and its conclusions advance the literature of entrepreneurship and offer implications for those who study and/or assist small business owners and managers

Testing Prison Inmates for Entrepreneurial Aptitude

A pilot study of prison inmates was conducted to measure their entrepreneurial aptitude, with the objective of determining whether self-employment training/or such inmates would be of value. Statistical analysis of the collected aptitude data , measured by Miner Sentence Completion Scale-Form T testing of task motivation, indicates that these inmates have such a propensity, at a level comparable to or higher than samples of currently practicing  entrepreneurs. Since a major cause of inmate recidivism is the inability of ex-convicts to obtain employment, then if prison inmates have significant entrepreneurial propensity, it follows that self-employment should be considered a valid alternative path for ex-convicts. Self-employment training would facilitate inmates’ movement along this path.  Further, and more probing, research is suggested

The Influence of Family Business Size on Management Activities, Styles and Characteristics

This is an empirical study of family firm size, as measured by the number of employees, and the relationship of a firm’s size to a variety of management activities, styles, and characteristics. A statistical analysis of data drawn from 159 American family businesses indicates significant differences by size with regard to the number of nonfamily members in top management, use of outside advisors, time spent engaged in strategic management, use of sophisticated methods of financial management, proportion of women family members involved in firm management, and level of conflict between family members. Implications are offered for family firm owner-managers, for those who assist such businesses, and for researchers in the field of family business

Innovative Turning Points in the Path to Entrepreneurial Success

      In a study of highly successful privately owned firms, a very large percentage of CEOs reported a specific strategic turning point  in their companies' histories that was instrumental toward their success.  This pa per proves  this phenomenon  and  relates it to existing theories of  organizational  innovation and organizational life cycles.            

An Analysis of ethical attitudes of family business owners in a transitional economy: The Case of Kosovo

A transitional economy provides an opportunity to examine the ethical attitudes of small businesses and family owned businesses. In this paper a survey of family businesses in Kosovo finds that family businesses do have different ethical attitudes than non-family businesses, although the differences are slight. Conflict among family members is associated with slightly improved ethical attitudes

Entrepreneurial strategy: The relationship between firm size and levels of innovation and risk in small businesses

The expression that “Innovation is the central issue in economic prosperity” (Michael Porter), encapsulates the importance of entrepreneurial strategy, which has been linked to firm growth, particularly through its dimensions of innovation and risk. Firm growth will increase its size, which in turn may affect the entrepreneurial strategy; a research area that has been under-studied. This research contributes to the literature by exploring the relationship between firm size and the entrepreneurial strategy. Findings support the hypothesis that in larger firms the owners pursue a strategy that tends to be higher in innovation but with reduced risk, while in smaller firms the owners pursue a strategy that is higher in risk but lower in innovation. Additionally, it was found that the firms’ Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) is moderated by the organizational size; which supports the notion of bi-directional relationship between EO and organization attribute