Enterprise Development Program Research Articles

KEY COMPETENCE AS A BASIS FOR INNOVATION PROJECTS MANAGEMENT

By the implementing an enterprise development program, the existing key competence of the organization may undergo significant changes. Also introducing innovations, you can get not only benefits, but additional problems and even risks. It should be noted that an organization may have more than one key competence, especially when we deal with changes in the management structure or entering new markets. For this class of tasks, the classical linear optimization problem does not fit, since it does not take into account the additional conditions that arise when an organization transitions from one state to another, precisely due to the implementation of the development program. Therefore, to solve this problem, we need a dual problem. The subject of research in this article is the process of introducing key competence, as the main component of the management of innovative projects in the organization. Objective : to develop a tool for introducing key competence into an organization’s work by solving a dual linear optimization problem. Tasks : to analyze the factors influencing the results and the possibility of introducing key competence in the organization’s activities, to obtain a general algorithm for the transition from direct to dual competence. Research methods : logical generalization, analysis and synthesis, structural analysis. Results : The article considers the key competence of the enterprise as the main component of the management of innovative projects, which the company implements. Shown her place and the role that she plays. A project description model has been developed, which describes processes that take into account the impact of the production and economic system on project implementation. The article proposes a general algorithm for constructing pairs of dual linear optimization problems. The existing schemes of transition from a direct problem to a dual one are meaningful. Considering this fact, a generalized algorithm for generating pairs of related problems has been proposed and strictly proved. Formalization of the developed scheme makes it easy to get the correct pairs of dual problems. It is shown that the analysis of the key competence of the enterprise makes it possible to offer a new base for the formation of a strategic plan, the implementation of which will lead to the emergence (support) of a sustainable competitive advantage, as well as assess its potential in terms of financial plan and capabilities of the enterprise or business system as a whole. Conclusions : The tools for analysis and implementation of key competence in the organization’s activities have been developed. The results obtained in during the study allow us to state that a new base has been proposed for the formation of a strategic plan for the development of an enterprise, the use of this base will lead to a sustainable competitive advantage, which will become possible when implementing key competences in the process of changing the management structure. Taking into account that an organization can have more than one key competence, the second competence is dual to the original, that allows a general transition from direct to dual competence.

Diálogo Democrático Y Desarrollo: Un Obituario Intelectual De Björn Gustavsen

Björn Gustavsen, with an original professional background as a lawyer and judge in his native Norway, had a formative role in organisational development processes in Norway, Sweden, Scandinavia and the European Union over four decades. Following in the tradition of Norwegian working life research by Trist and Thorsrud, he provided the conceptual framework and practical case studies which have driven major national and international programmes. He learned from different experience of organisational change in, for example, the USA and Japan, but he identified a distinctive way forward for the European Union, where he acted as a senior adviser. In contrast to conventional Taylorist top-down management and reliance on expert consultants, his approach was bottom up and concept driven, with a focus on empowering workers. With a commitment to long-term sustainable processes, he emphasised the importance of capacity building and succession planning, highlighting development organisations. His approach to partnership and coalition building enabled collaboration across sectors, in the cause of creating collaborative advantage. He had a distinctive fluent academic writing style, but spentmost of his time engaged in the design and practice of development, and editing the work of younger colleagues. He saw the role of academic journals and edited books in the development process, so encouraged new publications, but without seeking to dominate. He took ideas of Action Research and case studies, and applied them to national enterprise development programmes, working with the labour market parties. This resulted in a distinctive research and development culture.

The Politics of Youth Participation in Social Intervention Programmes in Ghana: Implications for Participatory Monitoring and Evaluation (PM&E)

Participatory monitoring and evaluation (PM&E) in project evaluation has gained impetus in recent literature. This paper interrogates youth participation in intervention programmes in Ghana with special reference to Local Enterprise and Skills Development Programme (LESDEP). With the aid of primary and secondary data, this paper unpacks the questions around programme target beneficiaries, their mode of participation and the impacts of current models on PM&E. The study reveals the key constraints of youth participation in PM&E, the evolving disapproval of the top-down approach while probing into the existing opportunities. The case study reveals that youth intervention programmes in Ghana are not only confronted with uncoordinated and overlapping ministries, department and agencies, but also there are power dynamics between stakeholders, in particular, target beneficiaries and programme implementers. The elusive intersection between beneficiaries and the implementing agency impacted negatively on the programme sustainability. The poor PM&E in youth intervention programmes in Ghana is a key reason that has hampered mainstream socio-economic development. The key lesson to be drawn from the case study is the need for matching perspectives of PM&E as well as a recognition and management of power disparities between target beneficiaries and programme implementers. Thus, realizing desired programme objectives will require a different approach to structuring, implementing and monitoring of youth intervention initiatives in Ghana.

Democratic Dialogue and Development: An Intellectual Obituary of Björn Gustavsen

Björn Gustavsen, with an original professional background as a lawyer and judge in his native Norway, had a formative role in organisational development processes in Norway, Sweden, Scandinavia and the European Union over four decades. Following in the tradition of Norwegian working life research by Trist and Thorsrud, he provided the conceptual framework and practical case studies which have driven major national and international programmes. He learned from different experience of organisational change in, for example, the USA and Japan, but he identified a distinctive way forward for the European Union, where he acted as a senior adviser. In contrast to conventional Taylorist top-down management and reliance on expert consultants, his approach was bottom up and concept driven, with a focus on empowering workers. With a commitment to long-term sustainable processes, he emphasised the importance of capacity building and succession planning, highlighting development organisations. His approach to partnership and coalition building enabled collaboration across sectors, in the cause of creating collaborative advantage. He had a distinctive fluent academic writing style, but spent most of his time engaged in the design and practice of development, and editing the work of younger colleagues. He saw the role of academic journals and edited books in the development process, so encouraged new publications, but without seeking to dominate. He took ideas of Action Research and case studies, and applied them to national enterprise development programmes, working with the labour market parties. This resulted in a distinctive research and development culture.

Risk-oriented approach to ecological safety management at oil refinery

The article considers place and role of the risk-oriented approach in environmental management at enterprises, describes mechanisms for use of risk assessment in environmental management processes and documents, tools for use of risk characteristics in development and implementation of programmes and plans for oil refineries.The study relevance is based on the need to improve the environmental management system of “Orsknefteorgsintez” in line with the plans to include risk-oriented approach in supervisory work, including state environmental supervision.The main goal of the work was development of approaches to risk-oriented environmental management at “Orsknefteorgsintez” based on the health risk assessment from environment pollution, followed by interpretation of gained data and appropriate management decisions.The research was conducted in two stages. The first stage included health risk levels determination resulted from air pollution by “Orsknefteorgsintez”. The results included hygienic studies of human health risk assessment from negative impact by “Orsknefteorgsintez” considering the implementation of the middle-term enterprise development program; and results of comparative analysis of human health risk levels prior to and after operational commissioning of reconstructed objects within the middle-term enterprise development program. The recommendation on human health risk management from the “Orsknefteorgsintez” production facilities (including control and monitoring) are based on the results of the first stage.Risk-oriented improves environmental management systems at enterprises, helps in interactions with government bodies, enhances management decisions in line with environmental legislation and increases environmental-economic investment efficiency.

Practices of Micro Enterprises in Nepal

Entrepreneurship is perceived as an effective way to escape from poverty and paternalism. In developing countries, the informal sector is an important source of employment. Micro-enterprise is a tiny industry usually of 1-10 people that is profit-oriented and may be owned by a man or a woman. Micro Enterprise Development Programme (MEDEP) is launched in the country with technical and financial support of United Nations development Programme (UNDP) since 1998. Parbat and Baglung districts are selected for the purpose of fieldwork. Objectives of the study are to identify practices of business registration, nature and types of enterprises, location of business, conducted of main business and entrepreneurs manage their business premises. The study is based on survey research approach. Data are collected through primary sources. Both qualitative and quantitative data have been used in this study. The result shows that out of total respondents 78.6 percent respondents did not register their firm in concern authority. Main reasons for not registered their business in concerned authorities is as follows: respondents have no knowledge, lengthy procedures; registration office is too far, costly, difficult to fill in the forms, and other reasons for not being registered. The result of study shows that out of total micro enterprises, 83.9 percent enterprise belongs to sole proprietorship and 10.8 percent belongs to partnership. To identify nature of business, there were given seven options. It is found that out of total respondents, near about fifty percent entrepreneurs have agro-based enterprises, 15.8 percent and 15.2 percent entrepreneurs have forest –based enterprise, and skilled-based enterprises respectively. The result shows that most of the entrepreneurs conducted their business in rural area i.e. 90.6 percent. An attempt has been made to identify conducted main business through questionnaire and it is found that out of total entrepreneurs, more than two third entrepreneurs conducted their business in their own land and building. Another survey result showed that 80.6 percent entrepreneurs arrange their business premises in without rent. It seems that most of the entrepreneurs conduct their business in rent free premises.The Journal of Nepalese Business Studies Vol. X No. 1 December 2017, Page: 20-27

Enterprise Development Programming in Partnership with Local Government, Science and Business. The Example of Rybnik

The article concerns the mechanisms of entrepreneurship development in partnership with local government, science and business. The author presents evidence that the sector partnership is crucial for the success of projects developing entrepreneurship in the local and regional perspective. Local government has the resources and capabilities to act as initiators of projects and programs supporting the economic development of the city or voivodeship. At the same time, representatives of local government units must use appropriate operational and management methods in the implementation of the policy of strengthening entrepreneurship. Inter-sectoral collaboration requires the application of organisational solutions allowing for the involvement of units in different fields and basing on various legislation. The author also indicates that the source of the competitive advantage of cities and regions may be the specialisation, as well as the commercialisation of knowledge and technology. In this case, the inter-sectoral partnership is crucial as it conditions the success of economic development programs in its social, economic and political sense. At the same time, the article describes the methods of building the inter-sectoral cooperation. As a basis for the appropriate use of the different potential of the cooperating participants, the authors indicated projects and programs embracing groups of projects. All this is worth being recognised within the framework of strategic documents, such as development plans, strategies, and other records used by local government agencies. The article uses the outcome of the participatory workshops during the preparation of the Rybnik Enterprise Development Program. The aim of the study is the verification of the assumption that the sectoral partnership is crucial to the processes of local and regional entrepreneurship development.

EVALUATION OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN PT FREEPORT INDONESIA

This research is aimed to evaluate the implementation of Micro, Small and medium enterprise development Program in PT Freeport Indonesia. The method used for this research was qualitative descriptive, using CIPP (Context, Input, Process, and Product) evaluation model. Primary data was obtain through interviews and observation, and secondary data document study. The results showed that Program Context, Input and process were classified as high category, while outcomes as moderate categories. The overall evaluation shows Moderate categories.The Program was rendered effective to achieve the goal of enhancing the Micro, Small and Medium enterprise Development.It should be continued and further enhanced by the management to acquire better enterprise graduates.Keywords: Evaluation of Program, Micro, small and medium enterprise, PT Freeport Indonesia

EVALUATION OF MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM IN PT FREEPORT INDONESIA

This research is aimed to evaluate the implementation of Micro, Small and medium enterprise development Program in PT Freeport Indonesia. The method used for this research was qualitative descriptive, using CIPP (Context, Input, Process, and Product) evaluation model. Primary data was obtain through interviews and observation, and secondary data document study. The results showed that Program Context, Input and process were classified as high category, while outcomes as moderate categories. The overall evaluation shows Moderate categories.The Program was rendered effective to achieve the goal of enhancing the Micro, Small and Medium enterprise Development.It should be continued and further enhanced by the management to acquire better enterprise graduates.Keywords: Evaluation of Program, Micro, small and medium enterprise, PT Freeport Indonesia

THE ROLE OF OPEN INNOVATION INTERMEDIARIES IN ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEMS DESIGN

Unemployment levels in South Africa have reached astronomical levels. This has spurred the government to fund entrepreneurship initiatives such as the Enterprise and Supplier Development programmes. Thus it is vital to enable and create entrepreneurial ecosystems that attract, cultivate, and sustain entrepreneurs. This paper explores how entrepreneurial firms use external actors for value creation in an entrepreneurial ecosystem through intermediaries. The focus is on how an intermediary organisation can facilitate value co-creation. The authors present the results and findings from a case study of the Oslo Cancer Cluster incubator in Norway, and relate these findings to ecosystems management and design.

Micro Enterprises in Nepal: Prospect and Practices

The Government of Nepal (GoN), Ministry of Industry (MoI) is especially responsible for development of micro enterprises (MEs). With the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a new programme has been launching since 1998 i.e. micro enterprise development programme (MEDEP) with the aim of improve the socio economic condition of the low income families and socially excluded people in Nepal. The time between 1999 and 2011, 53345 micro enterprises are created by MEDEP in Nepal. A little more than two third i.e. 67.9 percentage micro enterprises are operated by women entrepreneurs and remaining enterprises i.e. 32.1 percentage enterprises are operated by male entrepreneurs. Out of five development region, central development region has got success to establish more MEs i.e. 15573 in number and 29.2 percentages. In the context of types of caste involved in MEs, higher number of Janajati (35.6%) are involved, then after Brahaman/Chhetri (35.3%), Dalit (22.0) and other caste (7.1%) in total. In different development region, higher numbers of Dalit (35.4 %) and other caste (15.7 %) are conducted MEs in eastern development region. Like it, higher number of Janajati (46.7%) and Brahaman/Chhetri (57.1 %) are conducted MEs in central development region and far-western development region respectively. Janapriya Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies Vol. 2, No.1 (December 2013), page: 29-36

Developing effective local content regulations in sub-Sahara Africa

PurposeThe authors propose a strategic-balance approach to local content laws in which less developed economies in sub-Sahara Africa can develop investment incentive policies for attracting multinationals and direct foreign investment but, at the same time, have a structured and operational framework for the enforcement of local content laws. The purpose of the paper is to identify the elements involved in the equation: the incentives, the potential spillovers and the criteria for evaluation.Design/methodology/approachThe approach involves a review of the literature and the operational details and limitations of local content laws in sub-Sahara Africa.FindingsThe paper develops a conceptual model for a holistic understanding and management of this dilemma by policymakers and development practitioners to maximize the benefits of natural resources to less developed countries in sub-Sahara Africa towards the fight against poverty and underdevelopment.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper provides the opportunity to influence policy direction in relation to the adoption of investment incentive policies and programs and the enforcement of local content policy guidelines and regulations in sub-Sahara Africa.Practical implicationsMultinational companies (MNCs) operating in less developed and emerging economies in sub-Sahara Africa should consider how their economic and corporate social responsibility activities can help develop the capabilities of the local workforce through training and development activities; develop domestic firms’ capabilities via enterprise development programs; and develop local firm’s absorptive capacities through knowledge transfers and innovation systems to support development activities.Social implicationsPolicymakers in less developed and emerging economies in sub-Sahara Africa need to strike a balance in adopting investment incentives policies towards attracting foreign investments and the enforcement of local content regulations to make sure they derive the maximum benefits from their strategic resources. It is important for policymakers to understand that the mere attraction of MNCs into an economy does not explicitly guarantee domestic job creation; rather, it depends on how MNCs respond to local content policy regulations through their business strategies. Linking investment incentives with local content policy regulations at a critical point could potentially support and strengthen industrial development in sub-Sahara Africa.Originality/valueThis paper is among the first to examine the challenges of both attracting foreign direct investment and enforcing local content laws and regulations in sub-Sahara Africa. This paper contributes to the understanding of this dilemma and how less developed economies can manage such a crucial and important issue using our proposed strategic-balance approach. The contribution of local content laws and the design and adoption of investment incentives policies and programs to attract foreign investment to promoting sustainable domestic growth and development must depend on the balance between the enforcement of local content policy guidelines and the provision of such investment incentive packages to attracting foreign investment.

The latest ‘big thing’ for South African companies: Enterprise and supplier development – proposing an implementation framework

Background: Although enterprise development and supplier development are two distinct concepts in the organisational and management literature, the Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) legislation refers to the enterprise development and supplier development as a single concept. As a result, many companies have a single policy, strategy and structural arrangements to manage enterprise development and supplier development programs and activities, thereby conflating the two concepts.Objectives: The aim of this conceptual article was to propose an implementation framework for enterprise and supplier development and to show the rationale of keeping enterprise development and supplier development as two distinct but related activities.Method: The conceptual article provided an overview of the policy context regarding enterprise development, followed by a discussion on enterprise development and its complexities. The article drew from the literature on supplier development and from the supplier adaptation, relational view, and learning and knowledge perspective theories in the development of its argument.Results: The article presented an implementation framework for enterprise and supplier development and then concluded with some recommendations and direction for future research.Conclusion: The implications of this research have great value for organisations as they prepare to implement Enterprise and supplier development (ESD) programmes. The proposed framework will also contribute to a better understanding of the ESD process and the link between enterprise development and supplier development processes.

How product owner teams scale agile methods to large distributed enterprises

Software development teams in large scale offshore enterprise development programmes are often under intense pressure to deliver high quality software within challenging time contraints. Project failures can attract adverse publicity and damage corporate reputations. Agile methods have been advocated to reduce project risks, improving both productivity and product quality. This article uses practitioner descriptions of agile method tailoring to explore large scale offshore enterprise development programmes with a focus on product owner role tailoring, where the product owner identifies and prioritises customer requirements. In globalised projects, the product owner must reconcile competing business interests, whilst generating and then prioritising large numbers of requirements for numerous development teams. The study comprises eight international companies, based in London, Bangalore and Delhi. Interviews with 46 practitioners were conducted between February 2010 and May 2012. Grounded theory was used to identify that product owners form into teams. The main contribution of this research is to describe the nine product owner team functions identified: groom, prioritiser, release master, technical architect, governor, communicator, traveller, intermediary and risk assessor. These product owner functions arbitrate between conflicting customer requirements, approve release schedules, disseminate architectural design decisions, provide technical governance and propogate information across teams. The functions identified in this research are mapped to a scrum of scrums process, and a taxonomy of the functions shows how focusing on either decision-making or information dissemination in each helps to tailor agile methods to large scale offshore enterprise development programmes.

Entrepreneurial motivations and intentions: investigating the role of education major

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore the difference in entrepreneurial intentions, perceived entrepreneurial motivation, and cognitive profiles (attitudes towards entrepreneurship, perceived behaviour control, and subjective norms) between individuals who have participated in enterprise education programmes in the universities and those who have not. The paper also investigates the mediating role of attitudes towards entrepreneurship, perceived behaviour control, and subjective norms related to entrepreneurial motivation and the forming of entrepreneurial intentions.Design/methodology/approachSurvey information from 321 students from three universities in the Ukraine was hand collected. Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to test hypotheses.FindingsIndividuals who participate in enterprise programmes tend to have higher entrepreneurial motivation and are more likely to become entrepreneurs. Empirical evidence shows that attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behaviour control mediate the relationship between perceived entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial intentions.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is based on data collected from three universities in one city. The implications for education managers related to the inclusion of enterprise courses into the study plans of engineering students are also discussed here.Practical implicationsThe findings have implications for the stimulation of student enterprise in transitional economies where attitudinal and resource (i.e. skill, competence and knowledge) deficiencies can retard enterprise. Entrepreneurial motivation is an important link between an intention and action. Enterprise education programs which stimulate entrepreneurial motivation should be offered to engineering students since many of them start ventures later. Engagement into enterprise development programs of engineering students might evoke earlier interest in self‐employment career path among young people.Originality/valueThe article contributes to the field of entrepreneurial motivation and intentions. The study extends insights from the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) (i.e. subjective norms, attitudes toward this behaviour, and perceived behavioural control) by also considering the perceived entrepreneurial motivation profiles of students.

Editorial: Introducing changes to EDM

March 2013 Welcome to 2013! I am very pleased to be letting you know that this year we plan a number of exciting changes for the journal that will make it both more content rich and more widely available. these will be phased in over the course of the year and we look forward to your feedback. We are going to publish more non-theme issues – up to two a year – allowing for the acceptance of many excellent papers that we receive throughout the year across a range of topics. We continue to encourage authors to submit high-quality research that reflects on the policy, practice, and impact of enterprise development and microfinance programmes. We are also planning to feature more guest editors for themed issues as well as featuring the best papers from upcoming conferences. monique cohen will guest edit our September issue on Financial literacy and we plan to select papers from the CERMi (Centre for European Research into Microfinance) conference for December’s edition. the book reviews section and the Webwatch column will alternate editions and be longer, allowing coverage of more items – the March and September issues will typically include three book reviews while Webwatch will appear in June and December. Crossfire will continue as usual (always a favourite with our readers!), and the editorial will become more topical, less focused on the papers in the journal, and somewhat longer. Finally, we will no longer have callout quotes in the outside borders allowing for wider columns and an increased number of words per page. the way you can access EDM online will be enhanced by a new ‘online first’ publication of papers. this will enable authors and readers to view articles soon after they are accepted for publication and before they are compiled in a quarterly issue – enabling rapid publication of important research. Finally, we are bringing in an online submissions system, which will help authors to upload their articles and the associated information to our submissions website as smoothly and easily as possible. this quarterly issue is a non-themed edition which brings forward some interesting ideas and discussions. Our Crossfire begins with a debate between Paul Rippey and Hari Subhash on CSR. Paul argues that CSR is ‘greenwashing’ while Hari takes the view that corporations can be socially responsible and we must strive for that end. Although I am of the same generation as Paul, and probably more cynical, the idealism of Hari is inspiring, and I recommend a read of this thought-provoking debate. Barca, Hurrell, MacAuslan, Visram, and Willis delve into a review of cash transfers in Kenya. they thankfully do not reopen the debate on whether or not cash transfers are the right way to go, but rather focus on how the choice of payment system affects the costs and barriers faced by those receiving cash as well as the costs and risks of Editorial: Introducing changes to EDM

Entrepreneurial Motivations and Intentions: Investigating the Role of Education Major

Purpose – The study explores the difference in entrepreneurial intentions, perceived entrepreneurial motivation, and cognitive profiles (attitudes towards entrepreneurship, perceived behaviour control, and subjective norms) between individuals who have participated in enterprise education programmes in the universities and those who have not. The paper also investigates the mediating role of attitudes towards entrepreneurship, perceived behaviour control, and subjective norms related to entrepreneurial motivation and the forming of entrepreneurial intentions. Design/methodology/approach – Survey information from 321 students from three universities in the Ukraine was hand collected. Hierarchical multiple regressions were used to test hypotheses.Findings – Individuals who participate in enterprise programmes tend to have higher entrepreneurial motivation and are more likely to become entrepreneurs. Empirical evidence shows that attitudes, subjective norms and perceived behaviour control mediate the relations hip between perceived entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial intentions.Research limitations/implications – The study is based on data collected from three universities in one city. The implications for education managers related to the inclusion of enterprise courses into the study plans of engineering students are also discussed here.Practical implications – The findings have implications for the stimulation of student enterprise in transitional economies where attitudinal and resource (i.e., skill, competence and knowledge) deficiencies can retard enterprise. Entrepreneurial motivation is an important link between an intention and action. Enterprise education programs which stimulate entrepreneurial motivation should be offered to engineering students since many of them later start ventures. Engagement into enterprise development programs of engineering students might evoke earlier interest in self-employment career path among young people.Originality/value – The article contributes to the field of entrepreneurial motivation and intentions. The study extends insights from the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) (i.e., subjective norms, attitudes toward this behaviour, and perceived behavioural control) by also considering the perceived entrepreneurial motivation profiles of students.

Development and Deployment of the Purdue TAP Green Enterprise Development Program

Purdue University–Mechanical, Engineering, and Technology (MET) faculty and Purdue Technical Assistance Program (TAP) staff partnered with the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME) to create a new workforce training program and certificate exam in the field of green manufacturing. This article describes how the body of knowledge for the training program and exam was assembled and validated, how training materials were developed, and how training methods practiced by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Centers were incorporated into a culture changing worker training program.

Beyond participation: making enterprise development really work for women

Oxfam has been involved in sustainable livelihoods and enterprise development since the 1960s, gaining practical experience in setting up businesses that deliver social as well as economic development. Since we believe that gender inequality is one of the greatest barriers to poverty eradication worldwide, over the last three years we have been piloting an innovative Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) – a unique initiative that uses a business approach to create wealth, and deliver economic growth, while increasing women's power in markets and wider society. This article outlines the reasons why Oxfam is encouraging this type of investment in rural Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), the importance of promoting the role of women in enterprise development, and some of the successes and challenges faced by the EDP so far. We hope that the lessons that we have learned will help and inspire other international development practitioners to support and invest in SMEs that work for women.

A longitudinal reflection of blended/reflexive enterprise and entrepreneurial education

This article seeks to investigate the experiences, aspirations and outcomes of participants on the MA Business and Enterprise Development (MA BED) programme at the Newport Business School as interpreted through their own reflective practice. The development of an enterprise programme within the Newport Business School arose from the need to provide relevant enterprise-related education and support to students seeking to develop their enterprise skills and entrepreneurial aspirations; it also complemented government policy at the time. The investigation takes a longitudinal approach and further seeks to explore the pedagogic success (or not) of a blended enterprise education and entrepreneurship education masters programme from the participants’ standpoint. Results suggest that a blended/reflective pedagogic approach to enterprise and entrepreneurship education has value in developing a wider range of skills within participants and also has a greater effect on aspiration. In this case ‘aspiration’ appears to be closely linked to an individual’s confidence (a likelihood that they will be positively predisposed to negative circumstances) which in turn has a disproportionate (positive) effect on their ability to identify and rationalise opportunity. The latter reference to rationalisation appears linked to the higher-level thinking (reflective practice: both reflection and reflexivity) and analytical skills developed throughout the masters programme.