Perceived Barriers to Innovation in Small to Mediume Enterprises (SMEs)

Innovation is crucial to the successful development of small to medium-sized enterprises- and SMEs themselves are key to the continuing growth of the economy. Yet the owner/managers of many SMEs perceive the existence of many barriers to innovation. Whether such obstacles are real or merely perceived makes little difference to the strategic management and marketing practice of these firms. To illustrate this problem, this article reports both quantitative and qualitative research about barriers to innovation in smaller firms. A postal survey of 375 owner/managers who empoly fewer than 50 people indicated these managers\u27 views and concerns about a range of innovation-related issues such as high tax rates, innovation costs and cultural lethargy towards innovation. The owner/managers also suggested how such barriers to innovation might be overcome. These opinions were subsequently contrasted with those of officialdom, elicited from in-depth interviews with a sample of senior officials of state support agencies. This enabled some interesting observation and illumination about obstacle and possible incentives to greater levels of innovation in SMEs. A number of policy recommendations are proffered, including a suggestion that the state support agencies themselves be more innovatory in their approach

General Records (Ireland)

Standing outside a pub, Billy Barrett and Martin Murphy faithfully obeyed the no smoking ban that was now a feature of the Irish social scene. As they smoked their cigarettes, they discussed the singer/songwriter who played inside the premises that they stood against so nonchalantly. The gig was enjoying a great reception, with the crowd enthusiastically applauding the eclectic mix of blues, rock, and traditional music. ‘Well, Billy, how would fancy starting a record company?’ asked Martin, as if it was not really a challenge. ‘The singer playing inside wants to record a CD but she has no label. I reckon that if we could put the money together, we could sign her up as our first artist and expand slowly as we learn about the industry. We could start it as a hobby and then see where it takes us

Echinades Fish Farm (Greece)

The past decade had seen a dramatic decline in the regional economy along the west coast of the Greece as agriculture faded and few incentives existed for manufacturing companies to locate there given its relatively poor infrastructure. Since the long-established Greek strength of tourism was still focused on the islands and in areas where large natural beaches offered holidaymakers the opportunity to lay out in the glorious Mediterranean sunshine, this region of barren land and traditional lifestyle offered little to entice the modern tourist. Despite this pessimistic background, Nikos Anagnopoulos stood on the deck of the small boat that had pulled alongside his fish farm and talked enthusiastically to his E.U. visitors about the potential for aquaculture in Greece

Entrepreneurs with Disabilities: Profile of a Forgotten Minority.

The hosting of the Special Olympics in Ireland in 2003 compellingly brought to the forefront of public consciousness the capacity of people with disabilities to significantly contribute economically and socially to the nation. However, a body of research now exists highlighting that people with disabilities are less likely to be gainfully employed and will have lower earnings than non-disabled people. These differentials are caused by a variety of factors, including perceived and actual discrimination. An alternative career option for people with disabilities is to become self-employed, which has the benefits of the freedom, flexibility, and independence associated with self-employment, as well as autonomy from access-related obstacles such as transportation, fatigue, inaccessible work environments, and the need for personal assistance. However, people with disabilities who are considering establishing their own business face many barriers that a non-disabled person will not endure and therefore require training programs that are tailored to their particular needs. This paper examines the background to people with disabilities becoming self-employed and identifies what can be done, both at a policy and a practical level, to help them via entrepreneurship education and training

Developing Entrepreneurship Programmes for Female Members of the Irish Traveller Community

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the distinctive challenges faced by female travellers (Roma, Sinti and Gypsy) in starting their own business. Design/methodology/approach – The paper details a pilot “start your own business” programme that was delivered in Ireland to 12 women from the traveller community. Findings – Four distinct categories of entrepreneurship barriers faced by female travellers were recognised: self-esteem, traveller identity, welfare trap and family responsibilities. Research limitations/implications – The findings are based on just one programme and so no general conclusions can be drawn. Practical implications – The paper identifies the successes and failures of the programme, plus it highlights the future steps that need to be taken to bring appropriate entrepreneurship support to traveller women who experience triple discrimination – discrimination as women, as travellers and as traveller women. Originality/value – Very little is known about female travellers in terms of entrepreneurship activity and so this is a significant addition to a very small body of knowledge

Supreme Seafoods

Fintan Barrett’s four year old daughter would often turn to him while playing and exclaim “what to do, Daddy?” Indeed, this very question of what to do next had frequently swirled around his own head as he considered the options that were now available to him and his business Supreme Seafoods. Some commentators had described the recent economic crisis as ‘a perfect storm’ and that analogy was particularly apt for someone operating in the fish industry. Although Fintan’s family had worked in the fishing industry for many generations, whether out at sea or processing and selling fish on land, the older surviving members could not recall such a gathering of negative economic happenings ever previously coming together in such proximity

Radicalism in American Political Thought : Black Power, the Black Panthers, and the American Creed

American Political Thought has presented somewhat of a challenge to many because of the conflict between the ideals found within the American Creed and the reality of America\u27s treatment of ethnic and social minorities. The various forms of marginalization and oppression facing women, blacks, Native Americans, and Asian-Americans have been as much a part of the story of America as have been natural rights and the Constitution. Taking this into account, this thesis is an effort to argue that the radicalism on display in the Black Panther Party, a group that emerged in the turmoil of the 1960\u27 s, was a direct descendant of the ideas found within the Black Power movement. It will be argued that these militant critiques of American society were radical, but were not so radical as to be viewed as outside of the context provided by the ideals found in the American Creed. In order to do so, it will be necessary first to present and analyze the various approaches toward explaining the content and nature of the American Creed. The Creed will be presented as separate from American political reality, as an ideal type. As a result it appears to be a rather amorphous tool which can be used both by supporters of a more robust realization of the Creed\u27s ideals and those who wish to limit the scope of these ideals. Having discussed these approaches toward the American Creed, a discussion of radical political ideas will serve to introduce the Black Power movement and the later Black Panther Party. It will be argued that the radical ideas on display were born out of a frustration with American society, but were at the same time an endorsement of the American Creed. It will be concluded that the American Creed is a powerful force acting upon American political thought, so powerful that even those who should rationally reject the Creed forcefully embrace it

An Anthology of Enterprise Policy in Ireland

Ruane and Gorg (1996: 37) remarked that \u27any careful comparison of the Irish economy with other economies in the European Union immediately focuses on two key features of Ireland\u27s pattern of industrial development: the enormous significance of foreign direct investment (FDI) and the very high export ratios in the Irish manufacturing sector among foreign-owned companies. These two features have not developed by accident, but are directly related to the industrial strategy which Ireland has pursued over the past forty years, namely, of promoting export-led growth in Irish manufacturing through various incentives and of encouraging foreign companies to establish manufacturing plants in Ireland, producing specifically for export markets\u27

Passport to Trade: Connecting Europe’s SMEs from East to West?

: An EFER report in 1995observed that little of the growth of Europe’s top 500 companies came from existing products in existing markets, but almost two-thirds of the growth came from entering new markets [1]. A large majority of Europe’s 500 are active in export markets, with exports accounting for 40% of their turnover as opposed to the 10% export share for SMEs overall. One of the critical reasons for the poor performance of SMEs within the international arena is their ignorance of local business cultures. This paper is based upon the work of an EU initiative with the project title “Passport to Trade” whose primary objective was to improve the existing vocational training materials in business culture for SMEs, incorporating material across the whole EU. A needs analysis was conducted across the EU and qualitative testing in three markets. The on-line delivery method used allows SMEs and their employees to access training materials remotely at their convenience