Research based yet action oriented: Developing individual level enterprising competencies

This paper outlines an approach to teaching enterprising competencies in the university setting of Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand. It is characterised by two features. First, it has an experiential component in the form of developmental exercises; forms of practice which are devised by the students themselves. Second, the exercises are research-based: students study academic articles and book chapters that give clues about how to practice the various competencies. The method is inspired by Gibb’s (1993, 1998, 2002a, 2002b) ideas about simulating the essences of enterprise in the learning environment. The approach used at Massey is outlined at the end of the paper. The paper begins with offering the rationales for the course. First, it provides arguments as to why enterprising competencies are becoming increasingly important for our students. Second, it is argued why, out of three approaches to competency, the behavioural approach is deemed to be the most suitable for the approach employed at Massey. Third, in the debate about generic versus situation specific competencies, it argues for the relevance of generic competencies. The paper then describes entrepreneurship / small business (E/SB) research on competencies, and discusses why entrepreneurship research is often of little help for ‘how to’ approaches. Finally, the Massey approach is described in detail

Perseverance Strategies for Enterprising Individuals

Published version available here: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/journals.htm?issn=1355-2554&volume=18&issue=6&articleid=17054913Purpose: To arrive at a conceptual understanding of perseverance processes in the context of enterprising behavior. To outline readily employable perseverance strategies for situations characterized by obstacles, challenges and setbacks. Approach: This paper presents a process model of perseverance, drawing on elements of control theory (Carver and Scheier 1981, 1998) and appraisal theory (Lazarus, 1966, 1999; Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). Findings: From this model, it derives a variety of perseverance strategies within four broad categories: strategies that affect adversity itself; strategies that change the way adversity is perceived; strategies that reframe the aim that adversity has made difficult to attain; and strategies that help to increase self-regulatory strength. James Dyson‟s biography provides examples for the strategies. Research implications: A research agenda is provided. Practical implications: A broad variety of strategies are discussed help individuals to persevere in reaching their enterprising goals. Social implications: This paper aims to contribute to the persevering abilities of enterprising individuals. Originality/Value: Although it is a widely held perception that perseverance is needed to successfully start and run a venture, the perseverance process and perseverance strategies have received little research attention. Classification of Paper type: Post-prin

Rashba and intrinsic spin-orbit interactions in biased bilayer graphene

We investigate the effect that the intrinsic spin-orbit and the inter- and intra-layer Rashba interactions have on the energy spectrum of either an unbiased or a biased graphene bilayer. We find that under certain conditions, a Dirac cone is formed out of a parabolic band and that it is possible to create a "Mexican hat"-like energy dispersion in an unbiased bilayer. In addition, in the presence of only an intralayer Rashba interaction, the K (K') point splits into four distinct ones, contrarily to the case in single-layer graphene, where the splitting also takes place, but the low-energy dispersion at these points remains identical.Comment: 10 pages, 10 figure

Home-based internet businesses as drivers of variety

The paper shows how and why Home-Based Internet Businesses are drivers of variety. This paper argues, by means of five theoretical perspectives, that because of the variety HBIBs generate, they contribute to the economy over and above their direct and indirect contributions in terms of revenue and employment. A multiple case study approach is employed studying the best practices of eight HBIBs. It is found that HBIBs generate variety because of the unique way in which they operate, and because of the reasons why they are started. How HBIBs operate can be captured in the acronym SMILES: Speed, Multiple income, Inexpensive, LEan, and Smart. They are founded (amongst other motives) for reasons of autonomy, freedom and independence. Both aspects – the how and why – of HBIBs are conducive to the creation of variety as they facilitate trial-and-error commercialization of authentic ideas. Five theoretical perspectives posit that variety is important for the industry and the economy: evolutionary theory, strategic management, organic urban planning, opportunity recognition, and the knowledge economy. The findings are discussed in the context of each perspective

Setting up a business in the Netherlands

Onderzoekt de kenmerken van mensen die de plannen voor het starten van een onderneming realiseren, vergeleken met de mensen die opgeven of bezig blijven met het opzetten van de onderneming.

Encountered Problems and Outcome Status in Nascent Entrepreneurship

Post-printThe relationship between outcome status and encountered problems in the business start-up process is investigated. Contrary to expectations, we find that starters do not substantially differ from quitters in number and type of problems encountered, and that problems encountered generally do not affect outcome status. This research is based on a sample of 414 Dutch nascent entrepreneurs followed over a three year period. Its design is comparable to the U.S. PSED (Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics)

The multiple sources of autonomy as a start-up motive

Autonomy is a primary motive for a large majority of small business starters. However, as an explanation of why people want their own (autonomous) business it is largely circular. In this paper, we focus on an explanation of the autonomy motive itself. We provide a theoretical and empirical exposition of autonomy as a startup motive. Specifically, it is questioned why small business starters want autonomy. A distinction is made between proximal and distal reasons for wanting autonomy. Our framework is confirmed studying a sample of 167 nascent entrepreneurs motivated by autonomy. The findings suggest that beneath the surface of small business starters striving for autonomy, they differ in their relative emphasis on the underlying sources of the autonomy motive.

«Mare liberum»: Hugo Grocio, entre la defensa del colonialismo y los derechos de ‘otros’

Els arguments d’Hugo Groci en Mare liberum en defensa de la llibertat dels mars i, en particular, del dret natural al comerç, que tant afavoria els interessos mercantils neerlandesos, han estat interpretats per alguns historiadors com a legitimació de l’expansió imperialista europea de l’època. En front d’aquesta opinió, i com a resultat de l’estudi a fons de l’obra grociana per a l’edició crítica que prepara sobre el seu De iure belli ac pacis, l’autor argumenta que, en realitat, la defensa del dret natural a l’autoconservació —que tenia arrels en autors espanyols de la Segona Escolàstica— abastava també als no europeus i que facultava uns i altres a desplaçar-se en cerca de refugi o d’una vida millor. Com a corolari, l’autor troba en la doctrina de Groci un renovat interès avui en dia, sobre el fenòmen de la immigració que viuen les nostres societat

Motivation based policies for an entrepreneurial EU economy

This paper investigates the impact of various entrepreneurial motives and institutional conditions on entrepreneurial aspirations in terms of innovativeness, job growth expectations and export orientation. We estimate a two-equation model explaining entrepreneurial motivations and entrepreneurial aspirations, while taking into account the interrelationship between both groups of variables. We use data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and find that entrepreneurial aspirations are different for various types of entrepreneurial motives. For example, we find that the increase wealth motive as a prime driver for becoming selfemployed is positively related to innovation and growth ambitions, whereas we find no evidence of a relation between the independence motive and entrepreneurial aspirations. On the basis of our findings policy directions are presented for an entrepreneurial EU economy. An updated version of this paper is numbered H200710.

Success and risk factors in the pre-startup phase

Why does one person actually succeed in starting a business, while a second person gives up? In order to answer this question, a sample of 517 nascent entrepreneurs (people in the process of setting up a business) was followed over a three-year period. After this period, it was established that 195 efforts were successful and that 115 startup efforts were abandoned. Our research focuses on estimating the relative importance of a variety of approaches and variables in explaining pre-startup success. These influences are organised in terms of Gartner's framework of new venture creation. This framework suggests that start-up efforts differ in terms of the characteristics of the individual(s) who start the venture, the organisation which they create, the environment surrounding the new venture, and the process by which the new venture is started. Logistic regression analyses are run for the sample as a whole as well as for subgroups within the sample, namely for those with high ambition vs. low ambition and for those with substantial vs. limited experience. The results point to the importance of perceived risk of the market as a predictor of getting started vs. abandoning the startup effort.