Business Perceptions Research Articles

The effect of investments in recreational trail development on trail-related business operations and profitability: a case study of Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT In nature-based tourism (NBT), recreational trails may play an important role for sustainable recreation and local communities’ development. Therefore, development of the trail-related tourism sector is essential, in particular through successful trail-related business operations. However, trail-related businesses as one of the key stakeholders have been neglected in decision-making processes. Therefore, this research note studied trail-related business perceptions of environmental and recreational amenities and estimated projected effects of investments in trail-related recreation on business operations and profitability. Businesses see natural and recreational landscapes as being the most important. Branding and marketing was viewed as the highest priority attribute of trail investments. The feedback from business was shown to be essential for local economic development since it ensures maximized efficiency of investments. Implications were suggested for enhanced sustainable trail destination development and management.

ANALISIS PENGARUH SIKAP PETERNAK TERHADAP KEMAMPUAN BERWIRAUSAHA PENGGEMUKAN DAN PEMBIBITAN SAPI DI KECAMATAN PADEMAWU KABUPATEN PAMEKASAN

Pamekasan Regency has the lowest cattle population in Madura, 194,283 heads. The attitude of farmers who have an important role in the cattle business. This study aims to determine 1) the entrepreneurial characteristics of farmers, 2) the attributes of the dominant attitudes of farmers, and 3) the relationship between the attitudes of farmers and their entrepreneurial abilities in Pademawu District, Pamekasan Regency. The method used is descriptive quantitative, using secondary and primary data from 35 cattle breeders. This study uses a descriptive analysis and multi-attribute Fishbein. The results of this study indicate that 1) the entrepreneurial characteristics of breeders are still common, and their entrepreneurial skills are still low; 2) the dominant attitude of farmers in entrepreneurship is the selling price of farmers, while the attitude that has the lowest rank is maintenance; 3) the relationship between attitudes and abilities in entrepreneurship of breeders is said to be quite close, entrepreneurial attitudes of breeders such as motivation, yield orientation, risk-taking, opportunity utilization and perceptions of livestock business are not dominant attributes, but have a large enough effect. Cattle breeders in Pademawu District need counseling about maintenance risks, financial management, opportunity utilization, yield orientation, and increased motivation.

Small business leadership, peacebuilding, and citizen perceptions of businesses as peacebuilders: theory and evidence from Colombia

Purpose Businesses are increasingly engaged in actions to support peace in conflict- and violence-affected communities. Yet there is limited knowledge about why business leaders engage in peace or how citizens perceive the importance, efficacy and impacts of business contributions to address conflict and violence. These gaps are particularly acute for small business scholarship. This paper aims to address these. Design/methodology/approach This paper considers how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) view their peace-positive actions and how these are perceived by communities. This paper examines this by using two original primary surveys conducted concurrently in May 2021 in Bogotá and Medellín, Colombia. Question themes included: SMEs operating environments, relationships and networks, experiences of violence, SMEs community contributions and citizen perceptions of businesses as peacebuilding agents. Findings The results show that small business leaders who supported their communities with peace-positive actions saw their businesses perform better and held positive views of the benefits of engagement. Further, citizen perceptions of businesses contributions to peace declined where insecurity increased and improved where businesses – and in particular MSMSEs – engaged more in their communities. Research limitations/implications This paper discusses certain limitations related to the use of a mobile-phone based sampling methodology enumerated during an ongoing pandemic. Originality/value This paper presents an original contribution that examines both SME and citizen perceptions of businesses peace-positive actions. The findings inform notions of SME leadership in fragile contexts, as well as the role of the private sector in conflict spaces more generally. They also suggest a greater focus on understanding the broader perceptions of businesses actions toward peacebuilding within society.

Pengaruh Persepsi Layanan Publik terhadap Migrasi di Indonesia

Population mobility occurs every day. Many factors encourage individuals to make the movement. In addition to economic driving factors, social factors such as public services also influence individual decisions to migrate. Regions with good quality public services will trigger migration growth. The quality of public services is assessed on individual perceptions. This research focuses on 4 (four) perceptions of public services, namely perceptions of transportation services, perceptions of education services, perceptions of health services, and perceptions of business license services. The test was carried out using the Random Effect Probit Regression method. We find that perceptions of transportation services, education and business permits have a significant effect on migration.

IMPLEMENTATION OF SVM-PSO IN SENTIMENT ANALYSIS OF GOOGLE PLACE REVIEW USERS AT CAFE HEADQUARTERS

Sentiment analysis plays an important role in understanding customer perceptions of businesses, allowing companies to respond more effectively to customer needs and satisfaction. This study aims to evaluate the performance of a Support Vector Machine (SVM) model optimized with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) in classifying the sentiment of user reviews on Markas Cafe. The dataset consists of 1,533 user reviews categorized into three sentiment classes: positive, neutral, and negative. The optimization process using PSO is used to find the optimal SVM parameters. The results showed that the SVM-PSO model achieved an accuracy of 87.7% and an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.85, with the best performance on positive sentiment (94.7% precision and 92.8% recall). Although the model showed good ability in detecting positive sentiments, the results for neutral and negative sentiments indicated the need for further improvement. This study confirms the effectiveness of SVM-PSO in sentiment analysis and suggests this approach can be utilized by businesses to improve marketing and customer service strategies based on user feedback.

Prototypically small: an exploration of consumers’ small business prototypes

PurposeAs consumers interact with various small businesses, they develop a mental image, called a prototype, to represent what small businesses are as a generalized, conceptual category. However, prior research has said little about what this small business prototype entails. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore consumers’ perceptions of the prototypical small business by identifying common attributes among small businesses that differentiate them from large businesses.Design/methodology/approachThis study undertakes a thorough review of the relevant consumer research literature for the attributes that consumers use to evaluate small businesses. Then, using a contemporary parallel analysis approach, it conducts an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) on a sample of 266 university students who were asked to evaluate how common those attributes are of small businesses. A second comparative EFA for large businesses is also conducted.FindingsThe EFA reveals two dimensions on which consumers evaluate small businesses: a sincere–authentic dimension and a disruptive–innovative dimension. Specifically, consumers view the prototypical small business to be relatively high on sincere–authentic and moderate on disruptive–innovative dimensions.Originality/valueThrough a comprehensive literature review and exploratory analysis, this study provides a novel understanding of consumers’ conceptualizations of small businesses. In studying the mental image consumers associate with the prototypical small business, this research fills a significant gap in the existing literature and provides important insights for practitioners and researchers alike.

Willingness to adopt green house gas mitigation measures: Agricultural land managers in the United Kingdom.

Rapid uptake of greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation measures is central to reducing agricultural and land use emissions and meeting the UK Net Zero policy. The socioeconomic challenges and barriers to uptake are poorly understood, with yet unclear structural pathways to the uptake of GHG mitigation measures. Using an online survey of 201 agricultural land managers across the UK, and applying multiple linear regression and stepwise regression analysis, this research established farm and farmers' factors influencing perceptions and willingness to adopt GHG mitigation measures. The results consistently show that farm sector, farmers' business perception, and labour availability influence willingness to adopt GHG mitigation measures. Based on the farmers' qualitative feedback, other barriers to adoption include costs and concerns for profitability, lack of flexibility in land tenancy contracts, poor awareness and knowledge of the application of some GHG mitigation measures, perception about market demand e.g bioenergy crops, and scepticism about the future impacts of adopting varying GHG mitigation measures. In the midst of the ongoing net zero transition, this study identifies existing barriers to the uptake of GHG mitigation measures, and specifically, a substantial gap between farmers and the science of GHG mitigation measures and the need to incentivise a farm and farming community-led policy interventions to promote adoption of GHG mitigation measures.

Advancing the dual learning system in Kazakhstan: Perspectives of agri‐business sector employers

AbstractThe dual learning system gained prominence as part of the education system in Kazakhstan, involving training students in close collaboration with businesses to equip them with the skills and expertise needed for a modern workforce. This study contributes to existing literature examining the adoption and implementation of German‐originated training practices in developing countries using an empirical evaluation of the performance of the dual learning system and traditional education in the Kazakhstani agri‐food business sector based on perceptions of businesses, their attitudes and motivation for participation. A qualitative methodology based on the Expectancy Theory of Motivation was utilized by implementing Focus Group Discussions with employers of 19 businesses of different sizes. Results showed that while certain businesses implementing dual learning excel in attracting skilled professionals, most employers highlight hesitance among younger individuals to pursue careers in the agri‐food sector. Small businesses mainly encounter difficulties in effectively communicating the benefits of working in the sector, coping with high costs, and grappling with uncertainties surrounding the retention of graduates. Managerial and policy recommendations from the study include incentivizing businesses for data sharing on the implementation of dual learning, facilitating graduate retention support and standardizing training conditions.

The Role of Effective Project Management in Strengthening Competitiveness

Objective: The complexity, or complexity of our world is not only due to the increasing number of changes in our lives. We are faced with more and more difficult and complex tasks and goals every day, and it is very difficult to perform better and better in the face of these tasks and challenges. Project management is precisely about helping to turn complex tasks into well-executed processes that always end with a result. Project management is more than a set of methodologies: it is a dynamic discipline that organises complex tasks, mitigates risks and directs efforts towards a common goal. Its relevance can be demonstrated in many areas. We can measure the success of our project management system on a number of points, from efficiency to the quality of teamwork and management satisfaction. Defining criteria for success is also an important challenge for researchers today. This paper addresses similar issues, thus trying to shed light on the importance of project management, while also trying to highlight the barriers and obstacles. Project management can be a major competitive advantage for companies in the 21st century, but only if it is carried out professionally and well, i.e. if it is given the right framework and support. Method: After a secondary literature review, this paper presents the results of a primary research study covering two countries. The research instrument was a questionnaire that assessed the project perception of Hungarian and Slovakian enterprises and the transformation of this perception in a complex way, based on the perceptions of enterprises in both countries. In addition to classical basic statistical methods, the study drew conclusions with the help of analysis of variance. Results and conclusion: In this study, we set out to assess the project perceptions of Hungarian and Slovakian businesses based on the opinions of SMEs. The sample clearly shows that Slovak enterprises attach more importance to the project approach, as indicated by the mean scores for each statement. The results also show that there is a high heterogeneity in the perception of enterprises on project management and project approach, especially when grouped along different size categories. All these results also show significant differences by country and segment, which are presented in detail in the research part of the study. Research implications: Our research results provide a good basis for businesses and educational institutions on how to look at their projects and their management. The study aims to strengthen the ability to think in terms of projects and to think in terms of projects, drawing attention to the most important directions and paths. Originality/value: The main focus of the study is on how such knowledge is perceived by the stakeholders interviewed and whether the answers can be used to draw conclusions that are of interest and informative for the wider society.

The impact of social networks of historically underrepresented group operators (HUGOs) business recovery

While Historically Underrepresented Group Operators (HUGOs) businesses typically depend on social networks for disaster recovery, this aspect remains inadequately researched. This research investigates whether leveraging particular social networks (bonding, bridging, and linking) to obtain financial and informational access influences small business perceptions of recovery. Data was collected through a survey of 200 businesses in Salt Lake City, UT affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and analyzed using logistic regression. The findings indicate that: (1) small businesses that utilized bonding, bridging, or linking networking experienced negative recovery; however (2) HUGOs that utilized linking networks were more likely to experience a positive recovery than non-HUGOs. The research underscores the importance of diversifying social networking channels for successful HUGO business recovery and points to the need for economic recovery programs that build this networking capacity.

Agro-Investments among Small Farm Business Entrepreneurs in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution: A Case in the Mpumalanga Province, South Africa

Agro-investment in the fourth industrial revolution will be an imperative driving factor and a sacrosanct enabler for small farm business entrepreneurs to participate holistically in the agricultural economic value chain. Investing in advanced technology and entrepreneurship has the potential to promote business modernization and improve the productivity and profitability of farm businesses. This study assessed agro-investments in small farm business entrepreneurs in the era of the fourth industrial revolution in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. The study objectives were precisely to determine the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs on agro-investment and examine the impact of agro-investment for small farm business entrepreneurs in the fourth industrial revolution. The questionnaire used in this study employed structured and semi-structured questions for data collection, and an aggregate of 235 participants were randomly selected. The results on perception indicate that small farm business entrepreneurs mostly perceive agro-investment in the fourth industrial revolution as not suitable for small farm business conditions; this may be attributed to modern agricultural implements being predominantly manufactured in accordance with commercial sector specifications. The results from the binary logistic regression analysis on the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs in the fourth industrial revolution revealed that gender (P-value = 0.031), level of education (P-value = 0.04), farm size (P-value = 0.048), farming skills and knowledge (P-value = 0.027), farm productivity (P-value = 0.059) and investment opportunities (P-value = 0.057) were significant and influence the perception of small farm business entrepreneurs. The mean and standard deviation were used to assess the degree of severity of impact. From the results, sources of investment, technology, market participation, economic benefits, and government interventions were discovered to be impactful on agro-investment for small farm business entrepreneurs. The key contributions of agro-investments among small farm business entrepreneurs in the technological era embody catalyzed rural development, a diversified inclusive rural economy, and competitive participation in the agricultural food value chain. Another crucial contribution of the study is unlocking and accentuating the potential and opportunities that investors, technology designers, and manufacturers can exploit in small farm business agro-investments. This paper identifies and recommends that the South African government ought to create enabling environments for agricultural investment activities to thrive, especially among small farm business entrepreneurs, thereby providing grant funding and training, and enabling public-private stakeholder linkages.

Adaptation and Validation of Online Consumer Behavior, Acceptance and use of Tech, and Social Media Engagement Scales to Arabic: The case of Yemen

Purpose–The research aims to develop a robust tool for analyzing and comprehending consumer behavior concerning online shopping in Arab countries, with a specific focus on Yemen. Given the limited availability of Arabic scales in this context, the study employsa multi-scale adaptation approach to identify the factors influencing the adoption of online shopping and the role of social media engagement in targeting potential customers.Design/Methodology/Approach –The study follows established best practices, back translation, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, as well as reliability and validity assessments, to create and validate the adapted scales using AMOS and SPSS software. The investigation uncovers distinct factors within the Arabic-adopted scales compared to their original versions. Findings –The research findings shed light on the unique factors influencing online shopping adoption and social media engagement in Arab countries, particularly in Yemen. The online consumer behavior scale reveals three factors: awareness, social cognition, and online business perception, while the extended scale derived from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology encompasses usability, price value, and adoption intention. in contrast, the social media engagement scale yields a single predominant factor. Discussion–The study's outcomes hold significant implications for shaping future models and understanding the distinct consumer behavior patterns in Yemen and similar countries. Furthermore, these insights can inform strategies to enhance the online shopping industry, ensuring it aligns with the specific needs and preferences of consumers in the region.

The Meaning of Profit in Traditional Markets in Frame of Understanding Manunggaling Kawula Lan Gusti

This study focuses on a traditional market in Pasuruan, East Java, using an ethnographic approach to explore the cultural significance of profit. The concept is deeply influenced by "Manunggaling Kawula Lan Gusti," impacting culture, business, and subjective interpretation. From a cultural standpoint, profit goes beyond finances, intertwining with spiritual values, ethics, and societal contributions. Business practitioners adopting this philosophy view profit as a result of honest service, community empowerment, environmental conservation, and high ethical standards. Subjective interpretations vary, reflecting personal experiences and values. Benefits are seen as reflections of personal well-being, cultural contributions, community empowerment, and enriching relationships. The study suggests further research to explore integrating "Manunggaling Kawula Lan Gusti" in modern business. Understanding perceptions of businesses embracing these values can offer insights into their relevance and sustainability in contemporary contexts. Practically, businesses can draw inspiration from this research to develop more sustainable, ethical, and spiritually-oriented models, creating positive impacts financially, socially, and environmentally

Socialinių paslaugų įstaigų socialinio verslo turinio kontekstualizavimas

Social business is defined as a business focused on the well-being of people and communities. Creative activity and social innovation prevail in such a business. It constantly updates services, products and processes that are necessary for improving the social well-being of the individual and the community. Social business is usually carried out by non-governmental organizations. The purpose of this article is to find out the context of social business content of social service institutions. 4 social workers working in an institution with persons with disabilities participated in the study. Qualitative content analysis revealed the perception of social business as a process, it is interpreted as promoting the integration of clients into the community, an activity that has added value for social workers and their clients. The components of social business, mission, community, profit, innovation, market are significant in its implementation. Keywords: social business, social innovation, disabled person, reinvestment, empowerment.

Pengaruh Persepsi Usaha, Literasi Keuangan, Pengetahuan Akuntansi Dan Pengalaman Usaha Terhadap Perilaku Keuangan UMKM (Studi Kasus Di Glugur Kota Medan)

Medan city as the capital of North Sumatra province is the largest city in the eastern region of Sumatra island. Micro, Small and medium enterprises, often called UMKM, are forms of business managed by a person or group of people with a certain amount of capital and set up a business with the aim of making a profit with the ability to develop flexible business processes. The approach in this study is a quantitative approach. In this study, researchers used quantitative descriptive research methods. Total population and sample of 63 business units. Data collection techniques are questionnaires, interviews and documentation. Data analysis techniques using E-view. The conclusion of this study is that the perception of business has a positive and significant effect on the financial behavior of UMKM, Financial Literacy, accounting knowledge and business experience do not affect the financial behavior of UMKM. Implementation of business perception, financial literacy, knowledge and business experience support can encourage high financial behavior.
 Keywords: Business Perception, Financial Literacy, Accounting Knowledge, Business Experience Financial Behavior

Attitudes towards Footpath Businesses in Nepalgunj

This research report investigates the attitude towards footpath business and its satisfaction scenario of footpath business of Nepalgunj metropolitan city. The study found that the majority of people have a positive attitude towards footpath business, as it provides a source of income for many people who would otherwise be unemployed. However, there are also some negative perceptions of footpath business, such as that it is unsightly and can be a nuisance. The study also found that the level of satisfaction among footpath businessmen is mixed. Some are satisfied with their income, while others are not. The level of income also varies depending on the type of business and the location. The study concludes that footpath business is an important part of the local economy in Nepalgunj. However, it is important to address the negative perceptions of footpath business and to ensure that footpath businessmen are able to operate safely and legally.

Perceived Corruption and Informality among Croatian Businesspeople

The pervasiveness of corruption in Croatia is documented by corruption perception indicators and surveys, yet there is no comprehensive knowledge about corruption and informality in the private sector. This quantitative study uses primary survey data of Croatian business actors to determine business perceptions and attitudes towards corruption and informality. The results show that Croatian businesspeople express low trust in institutions, but do not see them as obstacles to doing business. Similarly, Croatia’s EU membership is perceived as insignificant in the fight against corruption and informality. The SMEs are allegedly suffering more due to corruption, whereas the large companies are seen as the main generators of corruption. Corrupt behaviour and informal practices in everyday business are more accepted and used by the owners and managers working in small and micro firms. This study thus contributes to research on doing business and managerial behaviour and offers policy recommendations to mitigate the harmful effects of corruption and informality.

기업체 인식조사를 통한 국가산업단지 융·복합 공간조성 연구

National industrial complexes are playing a pivotal role in the national economy, contributing tremendously to the creation of industrial jobs in Korea. However, the changing industrial environment and the resulting industrial policies are not supported, and the production, export, and utilization rates of industrial complexes are falling due to the downturn in the main industry and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The development of the ICT industry has changed the industrial paradigm and it is time to change the existing traditional manufacturing method. Since the 4th Industrial Revolution, the pace of industrial change has progressed more rapidly, and Korean industrial complexes have to solve urgent and wide-ranging tasks to overcome stagnation and crisis. It is not possible to maintain competitiveness with a single facility in the manufacturing industry, and it is necessary to pursue the creation of a space that combines complex economic spaces such as production, R&D, service, education and training, and life and leisure spaces for workers.
 Therefore, this study aims to analyze the basic status of the national industrial complex and examine the possibilities and necessary factors of the convergence and complex space through a survey on the perception of businesses and workers in the industrial complex. The main purpose of the study is to derive implications for each business and worker based on the review, suggest future-oriented industrial development directions for the national industrial complex, and suggest plans for the creation of future convergence and complex spaces.

Internationalisation of Australian small and medium-sized enterprises: The case of the Australia and EU Free Trade Agreement

Australia is a member of many multilateral trade bodies and engages in trade agreements of a multilateral and bilateral kind across most regions. In June 2018, it launched negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU) which are still ongoing and since then Australia and the EU have conducted fifteen rounds of negotiations (last one on 28 May 2023 in Brussels). This paper aims to explore the business awareness of the EU amongst Australian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and to analyse the factors that influence their internationalisation. To ascertain this, we reviewed the results of two surveys[1] that were conducted pre- and post-COVID-19 pandemic (also coinciding with the Brexit transition period). This paper argues that SMEs in Australia are essentially unaware of the EU as a market and that no significant change in the business perception of the EU and potential international trade opportunities occurred between the pre- and post-COVID-19 political contexts.

Assessing the Socioeconomic Impact of Abia State University in Uturu Communities, Nigeria

Universities play a role in stimulating regional innovation and development. However, comprehending higher education's multidimensional community impacts necessitates rigorous mixed methods, especially in developing contexts. This study assessed Abia State University's influence on Uturu, Nigeria over 30 years via concurrent triangulation of quantitative surveys (N=200) and qualitative interviews (N=33) with academics, staff, graduates and leaders. Surveys examined perceptions of employment, businesses, infrastructure and livelihoods while interviews generated contextual narratives. Statistical and thematic analyses revealed direct and indirect human capital, income, amenities and social capital bolstering. Surveys showed educational attainment-living standard correlations; interviews corroborated widespread economic opportunities and upgraded infrastructure. Nonetheless, disproportionate costs, skills mismatches and participation barriers indicated policy attention is needed to maximize equitable, sustainable impacts aligned with UN priorities. This examination offers critical insights into higher education's complex contributions to regional transformation in developing contexts through evidence-based, culturally sensitive strategies and partnerships. Keywords: University impacts, Socio-economic development, Higher University-community partnerships, Stakeholder engagement, Infrastructure development, Mixed methods research.