Foster Entrepreneurship Research Articles

Impact of Childhood Experiences on the Development of Entrepreneurial Intentions

Fostering entrepreneurship and an entrepreneurial culture has become a key policy priority for governments. To encourage entrepreneurship and an entrepreneurial culture, however, there is a need to understand the factors that influence and shape individuals' intentions to start a business. This study extends models of entrepreneurial intentions by investigating the influence of various childhood-experience factors on the perceived feasibility and desirability of starting a business. A structured questionnaire was completed by over 1,000 university students and analysed using regression analysis. Results indicated that perceptions of entrepreneurship were influenced not only by parental ownership of a business, but also by a difficult childhood and frequent relocation.

Stumbling Blocks to Entrepreneurship in Low- and Moderate-Income Communities

There is growing and widespread interest among policy makers at all levels of government to promote entrepreneurial-friendly environments and entrepreneurship in terms of both self-employment and business ownership. The interest is motivated by a substantial body of research indicating that entrepreneurs spur the diffusion and implementation of innovative ideas, thereby creating new products, services, and markets. In addition, and perhaps more importantly, entrepreneurs contribute, whether through self-employment or the establishment of small businesses, to job formation and economic growth and development. Moreover, some consider self-employment a route out of poverty or off the unemployment rolls, especially for people encountering discrimination in the labor market. Self-employment can also be a way to increase one’s earnings. All these factors play a role in governmental efforts to foster entrepreneurship, in terms of both self-employment and business ownership, particularly in lowand moderate-income communities. Although evidence demonstrating the importance of entrepreneurship for increasing social welfare might be strong, the most important determinants of entrepreneurship are uncertain, and, therefore, so are policies that best support entrepreneurial activity. This uncertainty is twofold: it is not known fully why some individuals become entrepreneurs, while others become wage or salary workers; and factors most responsible for enabling or preventing a would-be entrepreneur from becoming self-employed or establishing a business are unclear. Researchers have studied both of these issues have been studied, but, so far, have failed to reach a consensus that provides a true roadmap to meaningful policy actions. The purpose of this paper is to explore several aspects of the various recent efforts made to understand better what works best at promoting entrepreneurship

Barriers to Bolivian participation in the global apparel industry

This paper examines the perceptions of Bolivians engaged in the country's apparel industry regarding barriers and challenges to participation in the global textile and apparel complex. Small Bolivian apparel producers perceive the apparel industry as a source of employment and an opportunity to improve the well being of their families. Government/small business relationships, economic and political uncertainty of trade partners, inadequate infrastructure, a depressed domestic market, and global trade policies were identified by participants as barriers to further development of the apparel industry. Apparel producers require support from both public and private sectors to foster entrepreneurship, promote Bolivian apparel products and join regional production networks to revitalize the apparel industry in Bolivia.

Stimulating new industries from emerging technologies: challenges for the public sector

Stimulating new industries from emerging technologies is central to successful high-tech based economic growth, employment, competition and sustainability in modern market economies. The Taiwanese experiences in developing new technology-based industries (e.g. integrated circuits, personal computers, notebooks, scanners, and TFT LCDs) illustrate some of the ways policy makers can shape the development of emerging technologies into new industries. These ways of actions are manifold, but at least policy attentions to three key mechanisms are critical. These mechanisms encourage partnership in the commercialization process, foster entrepreneurship and venture initiatives in the innovation system, and sustain commercialization and the creation of new firms. The study of Industrial Technology Research Institute in Taiwan on biochips and nanotechnology further shows how the policy makers can build a statutory body to effectively address the functions of three mechanisms as a whole.

Analysis and Critique of Mongolia's Draft Law on Information Technology

Mongolia's Ministry of Infrastructure has proposed a Draft Law on Information Technology that is now being considered by Mongolia's State Great Khural, the country's parliament. The core conclusion of this analysis and critique is that the Draft Law as it now stands would do significant harm to Mongolia's vibrant and promising information and communication technology (ICT) sector. For the reasons detailed in this analysis, the Draft Law should be substantially revised and rewritten. To fulfill its responsibilities as the guardian of the people of Mongolia, the Great Khural must give careful consideration to each of the many policy choices that would be codified in the provisions of the Draft Law. An alarmingly high portion of the policy choices in the Draft Law will cause harm to Mongolia's national Internet and e-commerce sectors and to its future as a competitive player in the global information and communication technology markets. Many provisions are confused and confusing, apparently reflecting a lack of technical understanding. At home, the Draft Law would crush e-commerce with unnecessary regulatory burdens, block effective deployment of new technologies and infrastructures, raise the costs of Mongolia's ICT enterprises, restrict the range and reduce the quality of communications services, and increase the monthly bills for Mongolian users. If the Draft Law is approved and implemented as it is currently written, Mongolian citizens will be saddled with fewer choices, older technology, slower connectivity, higher prices, irrational limits on technology, and more bureaucracy. Perhaps worst of all, the Draft Law's burdensome regulations are so vague and expansive that they will undoubtedly open new vistas for governmental abuse and corruption. For Mongolia, the net result would be a costly tragedy of short-sightedness and a squandering of potential: with its high levels of education, literacy, and technical skills, the country is well-situated to be a highly competitive player in the global market for ICT services. Mongolia deserves much better than the broken legal framework of the Draft Law on Information Technology. If the country is to foster entrepreneurship, local enterprise, and low-cost, high-quality ICTs for all Mongolians, the Draft Law must be thoroughly reconsidered and rewritten.

Pathways to successful entrepreneurship: Parenting, personality, early entrepreneurial competence, and interests

Personality traits and parenting may relate to entrepreneurial competence (EC) and entrepreneurial interests (EI), which both are central elements of Holland's E-type. Three hundred and twenty 10th grade students and 139 small business founders from East Germany were studied using structural equation modeling. Results showed that an entrepreneurial personality (low agreeableness and neuroticism, high extraversion, openness, and conscientiousness), and authoritative parenting were linked to adolescent EC in both samples. EC predicted stronger EI, which in turn related to entrepreneurial career prospects in the students, and to an earlier timing of the first business start-up in the founders. Concerning entrepreneurial success, an early start-up and an entrepreneurial personality of the founder were both found to be beneficial. The discussion concentrates on two implications of the findings: bank professionals dealing with venture capital loans would profit from a more thorough assessment of personality traits and programs to foster entrepreneurship should address adolescents in addition to adults.

Mapping the motivations and intentions of technology orientated entrepreneurs

The role of entrepreneurs in stimulating growth in the small business economy has received significant interest in the last three decades. This growing interest is prompted, in part, by the government’s assumption that the establishment and expansion of existing small firms could be greatly enhanced by the promotion of entrepreneurial education programmes in colleges and universities. Whilst there has been significant interest in the role, type and effect of entrepreneurs in the economy, few studies have examined the effect of entrepreneurial programmes on the progression of an idea through to commercialisation. This is because such research, whilst seemingly desirable, is problematic. Evidence can be gleaned through the development of suitable conceptual frameworks and methods, to assess the role and impact of entrepreneurial programmes on the commercialisation of products or processes, and the enhancement of entrepreneurial capabilities. To address this problem, the research will examine different approaches and frameworks that have been developed and applied hitherto. The objective of this will be to highlight the difficulties in assessing the motivations, cognitive and behavioural changes of entrepreneurs. Also, the research will demonstrate the need to undertake adequate controls, which illustrate possible improvement in entrepreneurial capabilities, networks, and credibility in comparison to students that embarked on courses without entrepreneurial elements. The process will confine itself to business development within the higher education (HEI) context. The MSEC has as its remit to provide opportunity, education, awareness and training to foster entrepreneurship within science and engineering departments across four universities in Greater Manchester. This setting will provide a unique situation in which to investigate the development of germinal technology businesses from the inception of an idea to the point of incubation, prototype development and investment. There is a requirement to understand the needs of the virgin entrepreneur, possible obstacles to commercialisation and the process of new venture creation. The methodology to be adopted has been identified, and forges new ground on combining positivist and phenomenological paradigms. The multi–paradigm approach supports the use of critical incident technique to reveal greater insights in to the personal and cognitive development of virginal entrepreneurs, the suitability of enterprise programmes to act as catalysts for venture creation, and their role in supporting technology transfer. The research will not only confine itself to examining undergraduate and postgraduate projects within MSEC’s business creation unit, but will also continue to assess the experience of entrepreneurs’ when they leave the programme. The research also documents the economic contribution of the programme, in terms of generation of new technology–based firms and the impact of entrepreneurs joining established small firms. Ultimately the aim is to build a long–term picture of the role of enterprise programmes in HEIs that will inform policy and practice.

Innovative policies for entrepreneurship: the Principality of Liechtenstein and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

Despite the lack of abundant natural resources, Liechtenstein and Luxembourg have created a competitive advantage for themselves by means of innovative policies that foster enterprise. Based on interviews conducted in these two tiny countries, this paper gives an overview of the innovative policies that foster entrepreneurship in these two environments.

Someone old or someone new? The effects of ceo change on corporate entrepreneurship

Boards of directors often attempt to foster corporate entrepreneurship by replacing a firmʼs chief executive officer (CEO). Compelling theoretical arguments and anecdotal evidence suggest that when firm performance has suffered, a new CEO is best suited to lead the firmʼs creative endeavors. On the other hand, among firms that retain their existing CEO after a decline in performance, manipulating the CEOʼs compensation package is a common governance practice used by boards to encourage innovation. In these cases, some have argued that increasing the CEOʼs pay will encourage corporate entrepreneurship, because the CEO has been compensated for assuming additional risk. Counter to these propositions, this study develops theoretical arguments that a firmʼs existing CEO is better equipped to foster corporate entrepreneurship and that this probability increases when the CEOʼs cash compensation is decreased. Results from a sample of 100 single-product manufacturing firms suggest firms that retain their current CEO and decrease the CEOʼs cash compensation are most likely to engage in corporate entrepreneurship. Implications that this research has for corporate entrepreneurship, corporate governance, and firm performance are discussed.

Diversity Is Smart Business for True Success

The president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce cites data from the 2000 census to demonstrate the growth of the Hispanic community in the United States. He goes on to describe the contributions that are being made by Hispanics in various fields. Diversity is seen here as a competitive advantage for America. Efforts being made to give Hispanic firms access to capital and business opportunities are described, as are steps being taken to close the "digital divide," to foster entrepreneurship among young people, and increase participation in the political process.

Fostering entrepreneurship during international expansion:: Managing key challenges

The rapid globalization of world markets has encouraged companies of all sizes and national origins to expand internationally. To benefit from their international expansion, companies need to foster entrepreneurship throughout their operations. This article identifies several challenges companies encounter as they attempt to promote entrepreneurship and it discusses ways executives can creatively address them. The article shows how managing these challenges can encourage organizational learning of new skills, thereby giving companies new competencies that allow them to profit from expanding their international operations.

Mending the Social Safety Net after State Socialism: "Dobrobit"- One Nongovernmental Organization in Zagreb, Croatia

The breakdown of structural arrangements in the former state socialist countries of Eastern Europe means that the "rules of the game" are being renegotiated. Intermediating institutions are now emerging as actors in this process. Based on a series of interviews with key members of one young nongovernmental organization in Croatia, this study seeks to test the validity of particular Western theories to explain whether such organizations foster policy entrepreneurship. Analysis suggests that both contextual and structural factors have an impact on nascent third sector infrastructure development in ways that delimit entrepreneurial resources.

Associations for organizing small enterprises in war-affected areas of Mozambique

The war in Mozambique has left towns in Zambezia Province with crippled infrastructure and populated by displaced people. A project initiated by Save the Children Fund has established associations of artisans which have been organized to supply the basic requirements of the population in return for wages. Conceived primarily as a relief and rehabilitation project, the associations have some potential to foster entrepreneurship among their members, although the transition to self-reliance and autonomy is seen to be problematic.

Functionalist Vs. Conflict Theories: Entrepreneurship Disrupts the Power Structure in a Small Southern Community

After a period of downtown retail decline, entrepreneurial activity was initiated in a small, southern, rural community. A decline in the agricultural base of the region spurred public sector decision makers to find funding to encourage enterprise creation and expansion. This paper examines the disruptive effects of a public/private effort to introduce an innovative venture intended to spur further economic development. The findings suggest that entrepreneurial activity is most likely to occur under conditions described in the conflict model of community power. Conflict initiated by an entrepreneurial faction may preempt potential opposition by power elites while generating community interest and support. In addition, useful information for community development practitioners is provided on the successful use of public funds to foster entrepreneurship and economic development.

Creating bioentrepreneurs: How graduate student organisations foster science entrepreneurship

Despite an increase in life science technology commercialisation and venture creation, graduate schools have largely failed to provide ample opportunities for students to acquire knowledge and experience in bioentrepreneurship. Postdoctoral trainees and graduate students have recognised this educational gap, as well as a role in complementing university-run bioentrepreneurship programmes, and formed student organisations that foster bioentrepreneurship education. These groups are uniquely positioned to facilitate campus bioentrepreneurship. This paper identifies life science graduate student organisations and examines how these groups promote bioentrepreneurship in their respective communities. This report also discusses the challenges and advantages of student groups, and identifies best practices for development of bioentrepreneurship programmes. Furthermore, the authors propose a framework for identifying gaps in bioentrepreneurship education.