Analytical support tools for sustainable futures

The aim of this study is to assess the usefulness of analytical tools for policy evaluation. The study focuses on a multi‐method integrated toolkit for sustainability assessment, the so‐called SMILE toolkit 1. This toolkit is developed to provide salient features that are required for monitoring policy‐making in a spatial‐environmental context. The sustainable development perspective is rather difficult to operationalize due to its dynamism and its multi- dimensionality. Therefore, in this study, we aim to assess the usefulness of the SMILE toolkit for sustainable development issues on the basis of a systemic set of critical factors for sustainable development. We will demonstrate the usefulness of the toolkit in order to create awareness among policymakers on the critical factors for sustainable development in the future

New Entrepreneurship in Urban Diasporas in our Modern World

ABSTRACT: Entrepreneurship among migrants – often called new, migrant or ethnic entrepreneurship – has over the past years become a significant component of the urban economy in many developed countries. Migrant entrepreneurship has a considerable welfare enhancing impact on the city, notably a contribution to innovation and growth, creation of new jobs for less favoured population groups, advancement of benefits from cultural diversity, and reinforcement of economic opportunities related to international connectivity. The present paper aims to investigate the backgrounds of migrant entrepreneurship in large Dutch cities, in particular, the critical success factors of business performance of these entrepreneurs in relation to their ethnic background, their levels of skill, and other specific and general contextual factors. To address the drivers of break-out strategies for new markets, a sample of second-generation Moroccan entrepreneurs is extensively interviewed to extract detailed information at a micro business level. The wealth of qualitative information on both input factors and output (performance) achievements is next systematically coded in a qualitative survey table which is converted into a format that is suitable for application of a rough set analysis. This is an artificial intelligence technique that is able to extract and identify the set of combinations of different drivers that altogether make up for a final outcome. The results show that longer stay in the host country, male gender, family network support and education of the entrepreneurs concerned are critical variables for the business performance of these urban diaspora entrepreneurs. KEYWORDS: Migrant entrepreneurship, break-out strategies, change agents, second-generation migrant entrepreneurs, urban economy, innovation, cultural diversity, international connectivity, business performance, rough set analysis, urban diaspora entreprene

Evaluation of cyber-tools in cultural tourism

Nowadays, e-services technology has demonstrated a pervasive character in the modern tourism industry. E-services implemented by the tourism industry, e.g., e-tourism, appeared to produce significant cost reductions and market efficiencies. Since online services are continuously accessible, time and geographic differences do not hinder the interaction between tourism service providers and their customers anymore. By usingICTs, (small) tourism organisations can enlarge their markets or operate in niche markets by serving a specific group of customers. The increased use of ICTs has thus resulted in a significant change in the structure of the tourism industry. The present paper aims to provide an overview of experiences and findings that address the socioeconomic impacts of e-services for the (cultural) tourist industry, on the basis of a systematic impact analysis. We use a SWOT approach to organise a systematic evaluation of various e-services effects, which are specifically differentiated for e-services and e-tourism (including cultural heritage) of socioeconomic importance. The main sources to identify the strengths and weaknesses of e-services are the academic and management literature that describes the experience in practice of various stakeholders. Copyright © 2011 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd