Small Business and the Environment in the UK and the Netherlands: Toward Stakeholder Cooperation

2000 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 945-965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura J. Spence ◽  
Ronald Jeurissen ◽  
Robert Rutherfoord
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Ethical Issue ◽  
Small Firm ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Environmental Responsibility ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Stakeholder Cooperation ◽  
Business And The Environment

Abstract:In this paper, the approaches of a sample of small firms to environmental issues in the UK and the Netherlands are compared. The study makes a contribution by addressing the lack of research on small firms and the environment, as well as offering insights into the influence that cultural, institutional, and political frameworks can have on small firm owner-managers’ attitudes to external issues. The environment is considered here as an ethical issue, drawing on work on the environmental responsibility of business by both Bowie (1990) and Hoffman (1991). It is argued that the approaches to the environment identified in this study by Dutch and UK small firm owner-managers do not fit in with the positions of either Bowie or Hoffman. The concept of stakeholder cooperation is proposed as a more realistic alternative.

Small Business Growth Characteristics

1981 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 33-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin M. Boardman ◽  
Jon W. Bartley ◽  
Richard L. Ratliff
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Firm ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Inflation Rate ◽  
Growth Characteristics ◽  
Business Growth ◽  
Is Success ◽  
Small Business Growth ◽  
Financial Characteristics ◽  
Is Failure

Financial characteristics are presented for small firms whose sales increased at a rate greater than the inflation rate over the period 1974–1979. It is noted that these characteristics differ somewhat depending on whether they were a retailer, manufacturer or wholesaler. A growing small firm is generally characterized as one which increases its leverage, decreases its liquidity and incurs a heavy investment in operational assets. Interestingly, it is also shown that these same characteristics, if taken to extremes, are typical of the failed companies in the sample. The reward of growth is success; the risk of growth is failure.

scholarly journals Effects of public procurement of R&D on the innovation process: evidence from the UK small business research initiative

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kostas Selviaridis
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Market Failure ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Innovation Process ◽  
Business Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Research Initiative ◽  
The Uk

Purpose The study aims to investigate how pre-commercial procurement (PCP) influences the activities, capabilities and behaviours of actors participating in the innovation process. Unlike much of PCP research underpinned by a market failure theoretical framework that evaluates the additionality of innovation inputs and outputs, this paper focusses on the role and capacity of PCP in addressing systemic failures impeding the process of innovation. Design/methodology/approach PCP effects on the innovation process were studied through a qualitative study of the UK small business research initiative (SBRI) programme. Data collection comprised 33 semi-structured interviews with key informants within 30 organisations and analysis of 80-plus secondary data sources. Interviewees included executives of technology-based small businesses, managers within public buying organisations and innovation policymakers and experts. Findings The UK SBRI improves connectivity and instigates research and development (R&D) related interactions and cooperation. Through securing government R&D contracts, small firms access relevant innovation ecosystems, build up their knowledge and capabilities and explore possible routes to market. Public organisations use the SBRI to connect to innovative small firms and access their sets of expertise and novel ideas. They also learn to appreciate the strategic role of procurement. Nonetheless, SBRI-funded small business face commercialisation and innovation adoption challenges because of institutional constraints pertaining to rules, regulations and public-sector norms of conduct. Research limitations/implications The study contributes to existing PCP research by demonstrating innovation process-related effects of PCP policies. It also complements literature on small business-friendly public procurement measures by highlighting the ways through which PCP, rather than commercial procurement procedures, can support the development of small businesses other than just facilitating their access to government (R&D) contracts. Social implications The study identifies several challenge areas that policymakers should address to improve the implementation of the UK SBRI programme. Originality/value The study demonstrates the effects of PCP on the activities, capabilities and behaviours of small businesses and public buying organisations involved in the innovation process.

Adopting ICT in the Mompreneurs Business

2011 ◽  
pp. 17-34
Author(s):  
Yvonne Costin
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Firm ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Firm Growth ◽  
Business Transactions ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Stakeholder Requirements

It is advocated that the role of technology is instrumental in determining the effectiveness and efficiency of where, when and how business transactions are undertaken to meet stakeholder requirements in a competitive manner. However, research by the Small Business Forum (2006) suggest the use and application of ICT in small firms overall is poor where entrepreneurs do not capitalise sufficiently on the benefits of ICT. To succeed and grow, mompreneurs’ businesses should be using ICT as a backbone for the business in an integrated manner. The objective of this chapter is to examine the adoption and application of ICT in the mompreneurs business and challenges encountered in its effective use. A specific emphasis is placed on the issue of ICT and its use by the mompreneur in undertaking business transactions and as a means of facilitating small firm growth.

Business Advisers' Assessments of SMEs

2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 77-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Mole ◽  
John Hassall
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Systems Model ◽  
Management Capability ◽  
Small Business Management ◽  
Rules Of Thumb ◽  
Growth Firms ◽  
The Uk ◽  
And Control ◽  
Self Administered Questionnaire

This paper reports research on business advisers' advice to small firms in the context of the UK attempt to target small business advice, through personal business advisers (PBAs), to growth firms. The study employed qualitative methods to elicit heuristics (‘rules of thumb’) that reflect business advisers' experience. The study corroborated the interview findings with a self-administered questionnaire to 175 personal business advisers employed in UK Business Links. The research reveals heuristics that advisers Use in an attempt to assess the management capability within the small firm. Advisers' responses emphasized control within the business, signalled by, for example, visible tidiness. The paper develops a systems model of small business management incorporating owner-manager objectives, strategies (including growth) and control (including profitability). Finally, the paper considers the implications for government policies aimed towards support for growth-oriented small firms.

scholarly journals Achieving Long Term Sustainability through Green Process Innovation: A Study on Small Packaging Companies in the UK

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Fasih Khalid
Keyword(s):  
Small Firms ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Process Innovation ◽  
Manufacturing Flexibility ◽  
Green Process ◽  
Clear Guideline ◽  
Packaging Industry ◽  
Green Process Innovation ◽  
The Uk

Packaging is increasingly considered as dominating environmental issue in the last two decades and has forced many global businesses to reconsider the true function of their packaging. Manufacturing flexibility and efficiency are considered highly competitive for industrial success. However, several packaging organizations are trying to see the packaging problem from the aspect of sustainability and in the 21st century, the word “green” and sustainability have become essential adjectives for the packaging industry. To maintain environmental impact and sustainability together, packaging has required clear directions to address challenges, while addressing environmental issues that result from packaging waste. Packaging operations for small firms is a costly and timely endeavour and there is no crystal-clear guideline for small firms to get the most from their existing processes. Green process innovation is seen as an efficient solution that can help society and businesses to deal with environmental problems but green process innovation popularity among researchers is not prominent. With having very little information on green process innovation this research considers various elements to bridge the sustainable framework. Based on the analysis this research identifies the key implementations and develops a framework of sustainable green process innovation. This research also discusses the limitations and provide greater insight on the implementation of green process innovation in the small packaging business.

Adopting ICT in the Mompreneurs Business

2013 ◽  
pp. 322-339
Author(s):  
Yvonne Costin
Keyword(s):  
Small Business ◽  
Small Firm ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Firm Growth ◽  
Business Transactions ◽  
Effectiveness And Efficiency ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Stakeholder Requirements

It is advocated that the role of technology is instrumental in determining the effectiveness and efficiency of where, when and how business transactions are undertaken to meet stakeholder requirements in a competitive manner. However, research by the Small Business Forum (2006) suggest the use and application of ICT in small firms overall is poor where entrepreneurs do not capitalise sufficiently on the benefits of ICT. To succeed and grow, mompreneurs’ businesses should be using ICT as a backbone for the business in an integrated manner. The objective of this chapter is to examine the adoption and application of ICT in the mompreneurs business and challenges encountered in its effective use. A specific emphasis is placed on the issue of ICT and its use by the mompreneur in undertaking business transactions and as a means of facilitating small firm growth.

UNDERSTANDING SMALL BUSINESS STRATEGY: A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY ON SMALL FIRMS IN THE E.U. STATE OF MALTA

2012 ◽  
Vol 20 (03) ◽  
pp. 287-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALEXANDER RIZZO ◽  
HEATHER FULFORD
Keyword(s):  
Grounded Theory ◽  
Small Business ◽  
Small Firm ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Business Strategy ◽  
Small Firms ◽  
Grounded Theory Research ◽  
Competitive Behaviour ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Theory Research

The common argument for the small business is that there simply is no strategy; that small businesses react heuristically to events, guided by the whims and passions of the owner-manager. Strategy, however, can be looked at from a behavioural perspective, as opposed to the more normative strategic planning schools that small firms rarely abide by. This concept of strategy as 'behaviour' encompasses the actions of the owner-manager, the context of the small firm, and the consequences of the actions taken. It looks at strategy as part deliberate and part emergent, allowing for the inclusion of both external influences and internal decision making. Grounded theory research on small firms in Malta has in fact shown strategy to be a dynamic phenomenon, one that can be viewed as a set of defined pathways between identifiable life cycle states. The paper shall outline the research findings that have identified five distinct patterns of small firm strategic behaviour, each with its own unique trajectory and performance implications. Understanding which strategic pathway a small firm belongs to allows for a comprehensive insight into the firm's competitive behaviour, and a prediction of the consequences of that behaviour.

Asylum-seekers falsely implicating themselves in international crimes: Should they be informed of the existence of Article 1F of the Refugee Convention?

2014 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-101
Author(s):  
Brian Moore ◽  
Joris van Wijk
Keyword(s):  
The Netherlands ◽  
Case Studies ◽  
Asylum Seekers ◽  
Refugee Convention ◽  
International Crimes ◽  
Refugee Claim ◽  
The Uk ◽  
National Governments

Case studies in the Netherlands and the UK of asylum applicants excluded or under consideration of exclusion pursuant to Article 1Fa of the Refugee Convention reveal that some applicants falsely implicated themselves in serious crimes or behaviours in order to enhance their refugee claim. This may have serious consequences for the excluded persons themselves, as well as for national governments dealing with them. For this reason we suggest immigration authorities could consider forewarning asylum applicants i.e. before their interview, about the existence, purpose and possible consequences of exclusion on the basis of Article 1F.

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