Business Networks Research Articles

Integration of Gentry and Merchants in Singapore’s Chinese Community and Their Realist Policies (1877–1941)

In colonial times Chinese merchants in Singapore aspired to the status of gentry, played the role of gentry in society, and performed social functions of gentry. At the same time, some gentry became involved in trade to gain, maintain and expand their power and prestige. We call the phenomenon the integration of gentry and merchants. In the traditional research paradigm scholars have analyzed the phenomenon in terms of national, political, and cultural identity. It is true that Chinese merchant leaders in Singapore of that time considered themselves patriots of China and were devoted to China at heart. But this article reinterprets some aspects of the Chinese diaspora in Singapore. The authors outline three major sources of power: personal business networks, the Chinese government and consulate, the colonial government. To gain power, merchants used five main strategies: expanding cultural nexus of power, interlocking officership, leading political or cultural movement, political loyalty, family legacy and marriage alliances. There were four main organizational models: dialect group association, chamber of Commerce across dialect groups, British-Chinese association, and modern political organizations. Their activities are divided into four types: philanthropic business, political movements, social reform, comprehensive activities. The integration of gentry and merchants and their realist policies reflected social needs, traditional Chinese values and psychological needs. It was the essence of their economic, social and cultural activities to acquire, maintain and expand their wealth, power and prestige.

Entrepreneurial Mentoring Synergy: An In-Depth Analysis of Polytechnic and Community College (PolyCC) Lecturers as Mentors to Student Start-Up Entrepreneurs

This study was conducted to investigate the role of academicians as mentors to student startup entrepreneurs in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Although the lecturers at Polytechnic and Community College (PolyCC) may not be real entrepreneurs themselves, they have effectively nurtured student entrepreneurs who have sustained their businesses to this day. Nevertheless, this success rate is quite modest when compared to the total number of mentors that have been appointed. Hence, the objective of this study is to comprehend the methods by which non-entrepreneurial academics effectively fulfill their responsibilities as mentors, as well as the aspects that impact their efficacy in mentoring students toward entrepreneurship. The research design employed in this study is qualitative and utilizes a semi-structured interview instrument. The instrument's validity has been confirmed by four experts, and it exhibits a Cohen's Kappa value of 1.0. The sampling method employed is purposive sampling, specifically targeting lecturers from PolyCC who have been selected as 15 finalists in the category of Best Entrepreneurship Mentor Award for the Ministry of Higher Education Entrepreneurship Award (MEA) 2021. These lecturers also serve as mentors to student startup entrepreneurs at PolyCC, and the student entrepreneurs have successfully sustained their businesses up to the present time. The data obtained from the interviews were subjected to thematic analysis using ATLAS.ti 9 to discern patterns, trends, and interrelationships among the data pieces. The research yielded a theme and competency framework model with an inter-rater reliability, as measured by Cohen's Kappa value, of 0.99. The research yielded an "Entrepreneurship Mentoring Synergy Diagram (EMSD)," a visual representation that illustrates the connection and interplay among the components of entrepreneurial mentoring. The features encompass mentors (lecturers), and mentees (students), as well as the notion of relationships and interactions with external entities (business networks) and strategic planning to foster business growth. This graphic is anticipated to be beneficial for HEI lecturers who are designated as entrepreneurial mentors. It is intended to serve as a guide for them in their endeavors to enhance the proportion of entrepreneurs among HEI students.

Small Business Empowerment Strategy in the Agricultural Sector Through Digital Entrepreneurship

This study looks at how digital entrepreneurship is being used by small enterprises in the agriculture industry to empower them. It focusses on how this is affecting market access, production efficiency, and bolstering competitiveness. The advent of digital transformation has presented small enterprises with novel prospects to surmount customary constraints, including restricted availability of markets, finance, and technology. This research employs a qualitative methodology and a case study approach to investigate how small agricultural firms might use digital technologies, like e-commerce platforms and the Internet of Things (IoT), to increase market access and productivity. In-depth interviews with small business owners, technology suppliers, and other stakeholders were used to gather data. Direct observation and document analysis were also used. The results of this study show that small enterprises' operational efficiency and revenue are greatly increased when digital entrepreneurship is implemented. Collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including the government and academic institutions, and sufficient digital literacy have shown to be crucial for the effective execution of this plan. This study also emphasises how crucial it is to create both domestic and global business networks in an effort to increase market penetration and boost the competitiveness of small enterprises in the agriculture industry. In order to increase the sustainability and competitiveness of small enterprises in the agriculture sector, this study makes recommendations based on its results for policy makers and industry participants to assist the widespread adoption of digital entrepreneurship.

Delving into the Architecture of International B2B Relationship Marketing During the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Business Convergence to Partnership Effectiveness

ABSTRACT Purpose The study seeks to address the influence of different facets of business-to-business (B2B) relationship marketing on internationalization effectiveness, by taking into account the turbulent environment generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The focus falls on the factors that generate, frame, catalyze, sustain and strengthen international business relationships between managers from organizations with converging interests. Methodology B2B relationship marketing in the international arena is analyzed by means of various angles such as business convergence, business context, interpersonal compatibility, business credibility and network interconnections as availed by the “new normal” triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire-based survey with 158 business owners and managers from European industrial companies was carried out during November 2023 to investigate the configuration and dynamics of B2B relationship marketing in the unprecedented and systemic COVID-19 crisis. Data was analyzed via structural equation modeling using SmartPLS 4. Findings The findings showed that while business convergence remains a strong influencer of all the other relational dimensions, the restrictions and limitations engendered by the pandemic have also altered international B2B relationship marketing to such an extent that the only significant factor for internationalization effectiveness relies on business networking. Research and practical implications The study has both theoretical and practical implications, bringing forward a topical perspective on international B2B relationships during COVID-19 disruptions and their impact on the effectiveness of international operations. Originality The study advances a phenomenological view of the unprecedented changes and their influences on the overseas operations of SMEs in a particular field. It complements and adds to the literature by stressing a more articulated relationship-centric architecture, which probed relevance during the pandemic.

NETWORK ORIENTED ENTERPRISE – CHARACTERISTICS, COMPONENTS AND BENEFITS: COMPREHENSIVE LITERATURE REVIEW

The concept of network based economy refers to the interconnectivity of the current business environment, in the context of the global economy, where the main way of progress is given by the participation in a network. On the other hand, the network orientation of a business organization has as a priority its integration within physical or virtual networks, in order to increase its efficiency, acquire new information and finally achieve competitiveness. This paper carries out an extensive literature review, and it will explain different characteristics related to the two concepts, as well as their components. Thus, the present research is of a theoretical nature, carried out in a qualitative manner, because a series of articles from the scientific literature have been analyzed. Also, this study will identify the benefits of an organization orientation towards business networks in order to facilitate incremental and radical product, service and process innovation, as a result of the fact that innovation has a high importance for a company in order to ensure its competitiveness in a sustainable manner in the turbulent economic environment in which it operates. Moreover, the benefits of focusing on business networks are also propagated on the processes of ensuring efficient human resources at company level, as a result of the fact that the dynamic economic environment brings with it a need to correlate employees' skills with the new needs existing in the business environment. Thus, business organizations must be constantly on the lookout for best practices in human resources, which is made easier by their participation in networks. Finally, the main benefit of this research is the providing a new perspective on a company's business network orientation.

Navigating Uncharted Territory: A post Covid-19 Exploration of the Resilience of Women Owned Small Businesses in the Wake of the Pandemic

Resilience has long been acknowledged in the literature as a crucial aspect of the entrepreneur's character and personality. Additionally, it is acknowledged as a vital component of the entrepreneurial process that propels businesses to great outcomes. However, to the researchers’ knowledge, there remains limited understanding regarding how women-owned small businesses in South Africa withstand and function during challenging social and economic crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. In the post-modern period we live in today, women will inevitably play an important part in business and economic development, and they are eager to become involved and make a difference in their communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in growing their businesses. This research focuses on investigating how resilient South African women entrepreneurs have been in response to the pandemic. Drawing from resilience theory, the study employed a qualitative approach to gather and analyze data from a group of 15 women entrepreneurs based in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa, using thematic analysis. The following four themes emerged from the findings; business agility; optimistic outlook; leveraged digital technology; and business networks. This research enhances existing resilience theory by integrating fresh insights gathered from the resilience strategies employed by female entrepreneurs in times of crisis. Results from the study are also expected to contribute to sustaining South African women owned small businesses and empowering their resilience, despite adversities.

Analyzing the Requirements for Smart Pedestrian Applications: Findings from Nicosia, Cyprus

This paper elicits and analyzes the main requirements for Smart Pedestrian applications designed to enhance the pedestrian experience in urban environments by offering optimized walking routes, improved accessibility, and support for social inclusion and connectivity. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines qualitative insights with quantitative data analysis based on surveys conducted in two strategically selected urban areas of Nicosia, Cyprus. Through the survey, the requirements and potential use of Smart Pedestrian apps are investigated while accounting for the quality of service of the urban infrastructure in a medium-sized city context. Additionally, the study contrasts the current smartphone applications, as they predominantly facilitate vehicular transportation, with the potential use of ICT/ITS to support pedestrians for sustainable mobility. The findings reveal a significant demand for a Pedestrian Smartphone app, driven by its ability to provide relevant information on optimum pedestrian routes, as well as act as a citizen’s voice for spotting infrastructure problems and improving the pedestrian network. Further, it is also revealed that limitations in the pedestrian infrastructure substantially restrict walking preferences, emphasizing the need for urgent city-level urban planning solutions to support active mobility. Additionally, the research carried out underscores the importance of a sustainable business model to support the successful deployment of Smart Pedestrian apps. Ultimately, the results of the study suggest prioritizing a smart technology leverage with a crowdsourcing social network business model to promote pedestrian mobility, thereby reducing vehicular dependence, enhancing public health, and improving the quality of life. Such an approach would act as catalyst for policymakers to concentrate on sustainability by investing in digital technology for integrated pedestrian networks, fostering the emergence of genuine smart cities.

Editorial: Relational approaches to business network development: new insights and future research directions

Editorial: Relational approaches to business network development: new insights and future research directions

Analysis of coverage of business network services in informal neighborhoods, Central District Honduras

Analysis of coverage of business network services in informal neighborhoods, Central District Honduras

Knowledge-Based Development and Ventures in Building Coastal Resilience

Due to climate change and rapidly increasing challenges of environmental disturbances, building coastal resilience is becoming necessary for coastal communities. Knowledge-based development and ventures are major subjects in the literature of building coastal resilience. However, current literature on the relationship between knowledge-based development and knowledge-based ventures in building coastal resilience is limited. In this paper, the author shows a design methodology of integrating both knowledge-based development and ventures in building coastal resilience. The methodology is grounded in the theories of input-process-output model of strategic entrepreneurship, docility and business incubation, distributed cognition and network effects, and process-centered value generation. The design is put into action to study the experiences of Louisiana in building coastal resilience during and after historical hurricane Katrina.

Analysis of the Role of Bank Indonesia's Leading Entrepreneurship Initiative (WUBI) in Increasing Competitiveness in the Digital Era, Case Study of MSMEs Representatives of Bank Indonesia North Sumatra

Bank Indonesia has a program called Wirausaha Binaan Unggulan Bank Indonesia (WUBI) which focuses on improving the competitiveness of MSMEs in the digital era. This research analyzes the role of WUBI in improving the competitiveness of MSMEs with a case study of MSMEs assisted by Bank Indonesia Representative of North Sumatra. Qualitative research methods were used with primary data obtained through in-depth interviews with fostered MSMEs. The results showed that WUBI plays an important role in improving the competitiveness of MSMEs in the digital era through: (1) capacity building through training and mentoring, (2) business and marketing network development, and (3) utilization of digital technology for business efficiency and effectiveness. In conclusion, the WUBI Program has a positive impact on MSME competitiveness, increasing sales, profitability, and market access. The program also helps MSMEs improve their financial management, digital marketing, and product development skills.

Strategies in Improving Business Networks in Fried Banana Culinary Businesses

Strategies in Improving Business Networks in Fried Banana Culinary Businesses

Peran BUMDes (Badan Usaha Milik Desa) Untuk Pemulihan Ekonomi Masyarakat Desa

In Law No. 6 of 2014, the establishment of Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes) is intended to encourage or accommodate all activities to increase community income, both those that develop according to local customs and culture, as well as economic activities that are submitted to be managed by the community through programs or local government programs projects. As a village business, the establishment of BUMDes is expected to be able to take advantage of all the potential of the village community, both in terms of economy, natural resources and human resources. The establishment of BUMDes in villages is able to absorb village workers, open up productive economic business opportunities, build business networks, improve the welfare of rural communities, and have a contribution to PADes (Village Original Income). BUMDes S is one of the important economic forces owned by the village in the midst of the entry of various national and international business forces. Even during the pandemic and post-covid-19 pandemic, BUMDes is one of the institutions in the village that plays an important role in supporting the economic recovery of rural communities. BUMDES is expected to be the "base of the people's economy" and strengthen village government finances through productive economic business activities for rural communities and contribute to economic recovery of rural communities.

From a traditional university to the development of the metaverse: network and target effects

Digital and information technologies are driving changes in traditional business models. Depending on the level of immersion in the digital environment, they are transformed into other formats: from offline business with a "digital shadow" to the creation of platforms and metaverse based on them. The study deals with the economic and target effects arising from the transition of a traditional university to the network business model of an educational metaverse. The concept of network economy and the theory of business models served as a methodological basis; general scientific research methods were used in the paper. Substantive changes in the business model of the university are clarified, the key differences of the educational metaverse are highlighted. The economic efficiency of the metaverse is achieved through the realization of network benefits, which, in turn, transforms the opportunities for achieving its mission as target efficiency.

Securing Blockchain-Based Supply Chain Management: Textual Data Encryption and Access Control

A supply chain (SC) encompasses a network of businesses, individuals, events, data, and resources orchestrating the movement of goods or services from suppliers to customers. Leveraging a blockchain-based platform, smart contracts play a pivotal role in aligning business logic and tracking progress within supply chain activities. Employing two distinct ledgers, namely Hyperledger and Ethereum, introduces challenges in handling the escalating volume of data and addressing the technical expertise gap related to supply chain management (SCM) tools in blockchain technology. Within the domain of blockchain-based SCM, the growing volume of data activities introduces challenges in the efficient regulation of data flow and the assurance of privacy. To tackle these challenges, a straightforward approach is recommended to manage data growth and thwart unauthorized entries or spam attempts within blockchain ledgers. The proposed technique focuses on validating hashes to ensure blockchain integrity. Emphasizing the authentication of sensitive data on the blockchain to bolster SCM, this approach compels applications to shoulder increased accountability. The suggested technique involves converting all data into textual format, implementing code encryption, and establishing permission-based access control. This strategy aims to address inherent weaknesses in blockchain within SCM. The results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed technique in providing security and privacy for various types of data within SCM. Overall, the approach enhances the robustness of blockchain-based SCM, offering a comprehensive solution to navigate evolving challenges in data management and privacy assurance.

Turnaround Strategies and Performance of Kenya Planters Cooperative Union in Nairobi County, Kenya

This study sought to establish the influence of turnaround strategies on performance of Kenya Planters Cooperative Union. The specific objectives guiding the study were to assess the influence of restructuring strategy, reorganization strategy, repositioning strategy and diversification strategy on performance of Kenya Planters Cooperative Union. The resource-based view theory, contingency theory, institutional theory, and balanced scorecard theory all served as the study's guiding theories. The research design used for this study was a descriptive survey. The study's target population comprised all 815 people who work for the organization. A desired sample size of 268 respondents was reached by proportionate stratified sampling technique. With the aid of semi-structured questionnaires, primary data was gathered. To evaluate quantitative data, descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were used. In the inquiry, two inferential statistics were used: correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. The study found that Kenya Planters Cooperative Union's performance was positively and significantly impacted by restructuring strategy, reorganization strategy, repositioning strategy, and diversification strategy. The analysis found that the organization can reduce operating costs for the business and retail network by implementing a restructuring approach. The organization can respond to the financial challenges and pressures it is now experiencing by reorganizing. Based on the study findings, it is recommended that Kenya Planters Cooperative Union should evaluate its strengths and weaknesses by looking at how well and how poorly the current organizational structure accomplishes business goals.

Exploring network typology and their role in immigrant entrepreneurship: insights from South Africa

Purpose This study aims to explore network typology and the role of networks in immigrant entrepreneurs’ (IEs) business operations in South Africa (SA). Design/methodology/approach In-depth interviews were carried out with 25 IEs operating their business ventures in SA, selected via the purposive sampling method. Findings The findings indicated that IEs in SA use social networks most often, with minimal use of international business networks. In addition, the findings showed that IE networks’ key roles include providing them with access to referrals and resource provision. However, whilst resource provision emerged as a significant role, finance appeared as the main resource provided by networks. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this original paper provided theoretical and empirical contributions to research on network typology and its role for IEs. Thus, the study extended the current literature on the intersection of IEs and their networking behaviours.

A matheuristic applied to clustering rural properties and allocating plants for biogas generation

Establishing partnerships among agro-industrial properties and selecting ideal locations for biogas plants are crucial challenges in large-scale biogas production and can influence both operational efficiency and waste management. In this context, this research proposes a new matheuristic that addresses the problems of defining a group of properties and an optimal number of groups and identifies the best allocation to the biogas plant. The group properties were defined by hierarchical and K-means cluster algorithms. The best location for the biogas plant was determined by the proposed multiobjective mathematical model. The best cluster number was decided by two strategies: (1) one that selected the closest non-dominated solutions to the ideal solution (M1) and (2) one that favored the most environmentally friendly solution (M2). The matheuristic was tested using three real databases, which yielded strategic clusters with an average daily biogas production of 544.93 m³/day (M1 and M2) for DataBase 1, 1635,156.00 m³/day (M1) and 403,497.50 m³/day (M2) for DataBase 2, and 318,662.50 m³/day (M1) and 20,479.58 m³/day (M2) for DataBase 3. This research provides an opportunity to add value to agro-industrial properties by achieving energy security and developing new business networks.

Biodiversity Offset Mechanisms and Compensation for Loss from Exceptional to Popular: Rediscovering Environmental Law

The use of compensatory mechanisms for biodiversity conservation, also known as biodiversity offsets, has increased significantly in recent decades. The Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework mentions them as an innovative scheme in support of substantially and progressively increasing the level of financial resources for biodiversity conservation. This article traces the origin of compensatory mechanisms in international environmental law and their development in transnational biodiversity governance. The article points to the shifts in the application of the biodiversity offsets: from the context of wetlands to other habitats and ecosystems; from its use in intergovernmental conventions to an increasing number of transnational (business) networks; and from an instrument of last resort to a source of additional funding for biodiversity conservation. In the evolution, compensatory mechanisms have been decoupled from their original purpose as an exceptional mitigation measure and a strong focus of environmental law on the preventive function. The increased rhetoric of commitment to no net loss, net gain, restoration, and the mitigation hierarchy has not been matched by an improved status of wetlands and other ecosystems. The processes within the biodiversity conventions (Ramsar and CBD) have accepted an ongoing destruction of nature and limited the role of environmental law to minimizing harmful impacts on nature and consolidating the decline, rather than shaping socio-ecological outcomes. An ambiguous position about the spread of compensatory mechanisms has been part and parcel of this; biodiversity conventions have neither endorsed nor distanced themselves from the application, promotion, and justification of compensatory mechanisms. To maintain the integrity of environmental law, the rules that prevent biodiversity loss need to be emphasised and enforced.

Role of supply chain management in improving competitive advantage of Indonesian small and medium enterprises

Global competition has forced companies, including small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to improve their competitive advantage. Supply chain management practices are the ways to improve the competitive advantage, particularly in the global competition context. However, there is still doubt SMEs can compete globally, considering they face limited resources, skilled workforce, and business networks. Therefore, this study aims to examine the influence of supply chain management practices, covering cross-functional integration, partnership, responsiveness, and resilience. Moreover, this study has examined which practices dominate in improving competitive advantage. The quantitative study involved 445 SMEs located in East Java, Indonesia. The respondents are supervisors or higher levels and work in departments related to supply chain management, as they can provide the relevant information and possess complete knowledge of management practices. The data were collected via a questionnaire designed with a five-point Likert scale. The responses were analyzed using SmartPLS software 4.0. The results show that cross-function integration improves supply chain partnership, responsiveness, and resilience (β = 0.705, 0.382, 0.324; t-value = 25.177, 6.697, 5.783). Supply chain partnerships affect supply chain responsiveness, resilience, and competitive advantage (β = 0.327, 0.257, 0.249; t-value = 5.933, 4.536, 5.651). Moreover, supply chain responsiveness improves supply chain resilience and competitive advantage (β = 0.285, 0.106; t-value = 5.690, 2.099). Supply chain resilience improves competitive advantage (β = 0.435 and t-value = 8.987). SMEs can enhance their competitive advantage by integrating their internal cross-functional integration and adopting supply chain partnership, responsiveness, and resilience. Acknowledgments The authors would like to thank DIKTI 2023 and Research and Community Outreach Petra Christian University for providing the grant to fund this research.