Conventional Enterprises Research Articles

Participation rate of farmers in different multifunctional activities in the Netherlands

In this article, we present the findings from a study into the relationships between socio demographic, economic, and geographical characteristics of farm holdings and their participation rate in multifunctional activities. Recreation, nature management, care, and education services are most widespread among dairy farms. Farm holders of arable and dairy farms with extended activities are younger and the economic size of their enterprises is larger than that of conventional enterprises. For horticultural and intensive husbandry farmers, there were no age differences and, unlike the land-based types of holdings, the economic size of farms with extended activities was smaller than that of conventional farms. While care and education are more widespread in urbanized areas, the opposite was found for nature management. Proximity to sea has a positive impact on the participation rate in recreation, on-farm selling, and nature management. In order to understand the decisions of farmers, it is crucial to take the type of multifunctional activity, type of agricultural holding, and location into consideration.

Principles Guiding Practice: A Case Study Analysis of the Principles of Sustainable Agriculture for Diverse Farms

Early proponents of sustainable agriculture faced considerable resistance and initiated a long-lasting discussion over strategies for sustainable agriculture. This controversy has re-emerged recently in the discussion of agro-ecology versus sustainable intensification. Fourteen agricultural professionals participated in a guided discovery learning process on six agricultural operations in Florida that are considered to be good examples of sustainability. The six operations included large and small farms, organic and conventional farms, livestock and crop enterprises, and traditional and direct sales marketing approaches. The objective of the process was to identify the principles that the operators use to guide their specific management decisions, including decisions with economic, environmental, and social consequences. Participants studied information about each operation and created a set of questions to ask the manager(s) about the underlying philosophy and principles that guide the management and then spent one to six hours at each site. The information was analyzed in small groups after each visit, and a summative analysis was completed after all site visits were completed. Although these operations are very diverse in terms of characteristics like size, enterprise mix, farm capital, technologies used, marketing strategies, and manager experience, the study showed also similarities across the farms in the principles that guide their decision-making. From these principles, nine broad principles of sustainable agriculture were identified. Most contemporary theoretical concepts about social, economic, and environmental sustainability are reflected in the operating principles of these businesses.

Are Worker-Managed Firms More Likely to Fail Than Conventional Enterprises? Evidence from Uruguay

Various theories suggest that worker-managed firms (WMFs) are prone to failure in competitive environments. Using a long panel of Uruguayan firms, the author presents new evidence on firm survival by comparing WMFs with conventional firms. After excluding microenterprises and controlling for differences in the effective tax burden faced by the two types of firms, the hazard of dissolution is 29% lower for WMFs than for conventional firms. This result is robust to alternative estimation strategies based on semiparametric and parametric frailty duration models that take into account unobserved firm-level heterogeneity and impose a range of distributional assumptions about the shape of the baseline hazard. The higher survival rates of worker-managed firms seem to be associated with their greater employment stability. This evidence suggests that the marginal presence of WMFs in actual market economies cannot be explained by the fact that these firms are less likely to survive than conventional firms

Export barriers and path to internationalization: A comparison of conventional enterprises and international new ventures

Twenty years after the seminal work on rapid and early internationalization, export barrier research remains detached from this path of internationalization. Thus far, export research has largely disregarded the relationship between path to internationalization and the influence of export constraints. This paper opens a new thoroughfare of inquiry by distinguishing international new ventures from conventional enterprises on the basis of the export barrier construct. Using a sample of 129 small multinational enterprises, our logistic regression model separates international new ventures from conventional enterprises, with accuracy approaching 80 % on the basis of eight underlying export barrier factors. Our results convey two dynamic implications: In the realm of export research, we demonstrate that export barriers can indeed predict the path to internationalization. Thus, gradual internationalization is induced by skill and knowledge shortages, while rapid internationalization ensues from positive managerial orientation and lack of confidence in the host market. From a policymaking perspective, this study provides a basis for predicting the international new venture-to-conventional enterprise ratio within the population as well as an instructive basis for needs-based targeting of incentives.

Sustainability and Place-Based Enterprise

In this article, we critique the “placeless” character of enterprise sustainability research and introduce the concept of the place-based enterprise (PBE), arguing that such enterprises offer a potentially important means of fostering ecological and social sustainability in local communities. Drawing on a variety of disciplinary perspectives, we offer a specification of the concept of place and explore the relationships between places and enterprises. We maintain that PBEs, whose resources, productive activities, and ownership are anchored in specific local places, and who themselves possess a sense of place, may be more likely than conventional enterprises to pursue locally beneficial economic, social, and environmental outcomes. A typology of PBEs and suggestions for future research are proposed.

A Survey Analysis Of The Resource Selection Models In Agile/Virtual Enterprises

In this work, a survey is made of the analysis of the resource selection process. We approach the process also from the point of view of conventional enterprises but with particular emphasis on the existent models in Agile/Virtual Enterprises in order to identify the main limitations and shortcomings of the process. This analysis was focused in the global process of the resource selection, namely in terms of the pre-selection and selection phases, requisites, mathematical models, tools and other relevant areas in the existent models. It is concluded that the resource pre-selection is an area that is not adequately explored in a systematic way. The value concept is not incorporated in the selection process. As a result, a reasoned analysis is not performed of the decision-making process for creating an Agile/Virtual Enterprise. These conclusions were made to envision a future approach that allows the incorporation of new areas that contribute to the improvement of the resource selection process.

Entrepreneurship and social and community care

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to show that not only (obviously) social enterprises but also conventional ones are based on social intentions and that these social intentions often have community dimensions. The conclusion of these findings is that conventional research, and consequently, also the public debate on entrepreneurship as well as on social and community entrepreneurship, is guided by false notions rather than on empirical facts.Design/methodology/approachThe paper starts by presenting the dominating references on entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship and community entrepreneurship and then goes on to compare them. The existence of social motives among conventional enterprises is brought to the fore, first through a presentation of the official statistics of the motives for all new starters in Sweden and then with a presentation of cases from different sectors. The cases selected to represent the starters have all expressed social motives for going into business. “Care” was the word used by the individuals themselves and therefore the care concept is introduced.FindingsSocial intentions can be found in conventional market enterprises. The intentions of the entrepreneurs' are often expressed in terms of “care”. Care for the community is often an important part of other care dimensions.Research limitations/implicationsThe empirical findings of care in conventional market enterprises and care for the community as an important care dimension in the cases presented have implications not only for theories on conventional, social and community entrepreneurship but also for theory building in social sciences in general. The dominance of English‐speaking researchers can be a problem from this perspective.Practical implicationsBoth the descriptions and the analysis have practical implications for everyone interested in entrepreneurship and the circumstances for enterprises of all kinds as well as for local and regional development.Originality/valueThe paper questions what is taken‐for‐granted, with the help of empirical examples and not just with statements.

Analýza nástrojů zemědělské dotační politiky - aplikace produkčních funkcí

Spolecna zemědělska politika je fi nancně nejobjemnějsi spolecnou politikou Evropske unie a využite politicko-ekonomicke nastroje važou na sebe znacnou cast výdajových prostředků evropskeho rozpoctu. Produkce zemědělskeho sektoru vsak oproti tomu jednoznacně nepřispiva odpovidajici měrou k celkove hospodařske produkci. Lze samozřejmě opravněně namitat, že agrarni sektor plni dalsi, mimoprodukcni funkce, ktere jsou nezastupitelne jinými sektory narodniho hospodařstvi a jejichž naplňovani je jednim z hlavnich cilů předevsim ekologickeho zemědělstvi. Jelikož je ovsem produkce jak konvencniho, tak i ekologickeho zemědělstvi znacně podporovana politicko-ekonomickými nastroji, zejmena v podobě dotacni podpory, je nezbytne neustale průběžně analyzovat efektivnost vynaložených prostředků ve vztahu k ziskane přidane hodnotě. Předložený přispěvek nahliži na souvztažnost v soucasnosti praktikovaných makroekonomických nastrojů a ekonomických výsledků podniků, jež jsou jimi determinovany. Ekologicke zemědělstvi zaujima primarni pozici v tempu růstu nejen mezi odvětvimi zemědělske výroby Ceske republiky, ale i v celosvětovem měřitku. Koncept zemědělske výroby setrne k životnimu prostředi a branici se využivani chemických latek se zacal rozvijet od pocatku 20. stoleti pod tlakem soukromých aktivit a osobniho nadseni několika zemědělců s pozitivnim vztahem k životnimu prostředi. Objektem politických aktivit se ekologicke zemědělstvi stalo až v polovině 70. let 20. stoleti, kdy dle Lynggaarda (2006) akteři environmentalni politiky Evropskeho spolecenstvi zacali zdůrazňovat negativni vliv intenzivniho zemědělstvi na životni prostředi a poukazovat na ekologicke zemědělstvi jako variantu řeseni problemů Spolecne zemědělske politiky. Významný rozvoj podpory tohoto alternativniho systemu zemědělske produkce vsak nastava dle Lynggaarda (2006) v souvislosti s MacSharryho reformou Spolecne zemědělske politiky, ktera ekologicke zemědělstvi zařadila mezi agro-environmentalni programy podpory rozvoje venkova a ustanovila jeho podporu z garancni sekce Evropskeho zemědělskeho orientacniho a zarucniho fondu prostřednictvim nařizeni Komise (ES) 2078/92. Nieberg a Kuhnert (2007) doplňuji, že uvedene změny přinaseji nový cil podpory ekologickeho zemědělstvi, kterým je vedle využiti faremnich praktik, redukujicich znecistěni životniho prostředi zemědělskou výrobou a přispivajicich ke zlepseni tržni rovnovahy, take stabilizovat venkovske oblasti, rozsiřit tržni nabidku a tim uspokojit požadavky spotřebitelů. Pravě posledně uvaděne 1 Poznatky uvaděne v přispěvku vyplynuly z řeseni VZ MSM 6046070906 „Ekonomika zdrojů ceskeho zemědělstvi a jejich efektivni využivani v ramci multifunkcnich zemědělskopotravinařských systemů“.

Os dilemas da economia solidária: um estudo acerca da dificuldade de inserção dos indivíduos na lógica cooperativista

Este artigo tem como objetivo contribuir para o debate na área da Economia Solidária. Fundamentando-se nas idéias de Guerreiro Ramos e Maurício Tragtenberg, buscou-se analisar as dificuldades encontradas pelos indivíduos para se inserirem na lógica cooperativista. Para isso, realizou-se um estudo de caso na COOPETEX, no qual foram analisados aspectos como a vivência dos princípios cooperativistas, a participação e a autogestão, bem como a presença dos valores e práticas características do modelo capitalista de produção. Foi possível identificar uma desvalorização dos princípios que norteiam o movimento cooperativista e que a autogestão existe apenas enquanto discurso. Constatou-se também que os valores e métodos capitalistas são amplamente utilizados, o que torna a cooperativa uma reprodução das empresas convencionais. A partir dos resultados obtidos foi possível observar o quanto a mudança de postura dos cooperados é vital para que a cooperativa funcione de forma legítima.

Federal State Shareholdings in Russian Companies: Origin, Forms and Consequences for Enterprise Perfomance

This paper studies the impact of federal state shareholdings on the performance of Russian companies. It differs from most similar studies in two respects. Firstly, it focuses on mixed ownership companies rather than conventional state enterprises. Secondly, it distinguishes between several types of federal state shareholdings, namely elected blocks, residual blocks (which may be held by two bodies with different functions - the Ministry for State Property and the Russian Fund for Federal Property) and golden shares. The paper describes the origin of federal state shareholdings and discusses their possible implications for company performance. Econometric analysis shows that companies with state ownership generally perform worse than the average firm in terms of labour productivity and profitability. However, there are remarkable differences in the performance of companies with different types of state shareholdings. Companies with residual blocks held by the Property Fund are the worst performers, followed by companies with residual blocks held by the Ministry for State Property. Companies with elected shareholdings as well as with golden shares do not differ from the average enterprises in the respective industries. These differences in performance are explained by the different degrees of control the federal state has over enterprises with various types of shareholdings - greater control is associated with better performance. The paper concludes that the government should avoid keeping equity stakes in companies unless there is a good reason to retain them. If the state wants to keep an ownership stake in a company, reliable control structures must be created. Finally, the issue of golden shares in strategically important companies seems to be a reasonable alternative to retaining some control over them through equity ownership.

Cooperatives, Worker-Owned Enterprises, Productivity and the International Labor Organization

A survey of empirical research on productivity in worker-owned enterprises and cooperatives finds a substantial literature that largely supports the proposition that worker-owned enterprises equal or exceed the productivity of conventional enterprises when employee involvement is combined with ownership. The weight of a sparser literature on cooperatives tends toward the same pattern. In addition, employee-owned firms create local employment, anchor jobs in their communities and enrich local social capital. The International Labor Organization has recently begun to expand its promotion of cooperatives and to explore worker ownership as useful tools for economic development in a ‘fair globalization’ strategy.

The Decision to Finish Cattle on Pasture: An Ethnographic Approach

ABSTRACT Conventional cattle enterprises send grain-finished beef to a commodity market. Pasture-finishing offers farmers better returns in an alternative “niche” market with different costs, uncertainties and risks. Such enterprise decisions are not well-structured problems soluble with classical decision analysis. Instead, they require an ethnographic process of “framing” from a personal viewpoint. Here we examine the natural and cultural setting of beef cattle enterprise systems, and their time frame for action planning and implementation. We present four brief case studies of farmers who practice pasture-finishing. An “ethnographic decision model” (EDM) asks farmers about their personal, material, social and financial resources. In behavioral decision theory, a parallel line of research is “naturalistic decision making” (NDM), focused on the proficiency of decision makers dealing with ill-structured problems, incomplete information, uncertainty, and urgency. Pasture-finished beef production can be an addition to a risk-reducing portfolio of enterprises. The key is classification of the herd into two groups, destined either for the niche market or for the commodity market. When forage growth conditions are unfavorable, the niche group receives preference and commodity animals get second best.

Economic evaluation of cattle management in the system of organic farming

This paper introduces partial results of the research project QC 1140 aimed at the efficiency of enterprises operating in the system of organic farming, especially considering the use of grassland linked with cattle management. Economic evaluation of cattle management in the system of organic farming is compared with conventional enterprises. Economic evaluation applies to dairy cattle and beef cattle. Proposals of the measures will be formed with respect to the results of analysys, which should contribute to the support of organic enterprises and to better satisfaction of the increasing demand for organic food.

A holon‐based process modeling methodology

Process models are a valuable tool in the design and configuration of enterprises. However, current modeling techniques have shortcomings that prevent them from fully supporting the analysis required to design an enterprise. This is especially true when considering the needs of modeling highly distributed and temporary multi‐company enterprises such as fractal or virtual enterprises. This paper presents a modeling scheme that supports a process‐centered approach to the analysis and design of both conventional and extended enterprises. Using a holon‐based approach to model the components of an enterprise, it allows for the development of integrated business rule, activity, resource, business process, and organizational views of the enterprise using the IDEF suite of modeling methods. The scheme is built around a central IDEF5 model of the enterprise from which the other views are extracted. The paper also describes the technique for developing an enterprise model using the scheme.

The Relationship of Employee Ownership and Participation to Workplace Safety

This article investigates whether enterprises with high levels of worker control are safer places to work in than matched conventional firms in the same industry. The results, based on comparisons of self-reports from 1285 workers in four different kinds of enterprises in the wood products industry (producer coops, ESOPs, union and non-union), are disappointing for advocates of employee ownership. The coops and the ESOPs either did no better than the conventional enterprises on various safety indicators or actually had worse safety performances. Reasons for these results are discussed, particularly in the context of the precarious economic conditions these employee-owned firms find themselves in. We conclude that employee ownership of vulnerable enterprises may be hazardous for worker morale and worker safety.

Institutional Bias, Risk, and Workers’ Risk Aversion

The collapse of central planning in Central and Eastern Europe has brought greater attention to labor-managed firms (LMFs) as alternatives to both Soviet-type enterprises and conventional capitalist firms. LMFs are firms where labor either holds positions of power or is the ultimate decision-making body. LMFs are democratic organizations; decision making is based on the democratic principle of one person, one vote. This differs sharply from decision making within conventional capitalist enterprises, where decision making is based on the undemocratic principle of one share, one vote. 1 LMFs are both owned and controlled by workers. Capitalmanaged firms (CMFs) are firms where labor holds little or no ownership and exercises no control (the dominant species), or where labor nominally owns the firm, but where control is vested in managerial elites (as is often the case with Employee Stock [or Share] Ownership Plans). Workers associated with LMFs are commonly referred to as members, while workers associated with CMFs are known as employees [see Ellerman 1990 for a fuller exposition].2 An often-cited, and quite popular, explanation for the dearth of LMFs is workers' risk aversion. Risk-averse workers are said to prefer the contractually fixed remuneration granted under employee status to the income fluctuations associated with membership with LMFs [see Meade 1972; Buck 1982; Drago 1986; Fanning and McCarthy 1986; Conte 1986; Ben-Ner 1988; Dreze 1993]. Thus, risk aversion shapes organizational design; workers are said to reveal a preference for organizations that insulate them from market fluctuations. LMFs are generally believed to be a more risky option for workers. However, this paper argues that while some risks are intrinsic to the nature of entrepreneurship, other risks associated with alternative organization structures are correlated