Small Business Leaders Research Articles

The Effect of Leadership Style on the Job Satisfaction of Micro and Small Enterprises

The major factors that determine both success and failure of Small Business include substantive and legitimate, learning strategies and leadership behaviors that may be among the principal reasons why some small businesses succeed while others fail to understand the learning strategies, leadership knowledge, and skills used by successful small business leaders (SSBLs). The objective of the study is to reveal out the relationship between leadership style and job satisfaction of MSEs at western oromia, Ethiopia.Stratified random sampling was used to get information from different sizes of the MSEs. selected from Manufacturing, service, agriculture, construction and trade sectors on proportional basis. Accordingly, 334 respondents were selected from the total of 1931 MSEs. Finally, the study revealed out that that there is statistically significant relationship between leadership style and job satisfaction. Also, the more exercising transformational leadership style, there would be more possibility of enhancing level of job satisfaction of MSEs. Keywords: Leadership style, Transactional, Transformational, Charismatic, Job satisfaction, Micro and Small Enterprises * Department of Management, Jimma University, PO box 378, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia https://doi.org/10.21632/irjbs.13.1.27-32

Total Worker Health Leadership and Business Strategies Are Related to Safety and Health Climates in Small Business.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between Total Worker Health® (TWH) business strategies and employee perceptions of leadership commitment and safety and health climates. Using data from 53 small enterprises and 1271 of their workers collected as part of the Small + Safe + Well (SSWell) Study, we confirm the primacy of the relationship between leadership commitment to safety and workplace safety climate. After accounting for leadership commitment to safety, business-reported policies and practices that promote the health, safety, and well-being of workers (i.e., TWH strategies) were no longer related to safety climate. In contrast, the relationship between TWH strategies and health climate were significantly associated with the level of small business leadership commitment to worksite wellness. Relatedly, our results demonstrate that leadership is a common correlate to both safety climate and health climate. Future research should investigate integrated TWH leadership development strategies as a means of simultaneously improving safety and health climates.

El liderazgo estratégico, la negociación y su influencia sobre la percepción del prestigio en pequeñas empresas

En esta investigación, se analizó el liderazgo estratégico, la negociación integrativa y su influencia sobre el prestigio y estatus organizacional percibido de líderes de pequeñas empresas de la región del Estado de Guanajuato, México. Para ello, se empleó una muestra de 418 participantes. El método utilizado para llevar a cabo la investigación es explicativo, observacional y transversal. Se desarrolló un modelo de ecuación estructural (SEM) hipotético. Para evaluar el modelo, se emplea­ron los índices de bondad de ajuste ( X2 = 632,03; GL = 345; CFI = 0,914; TLI = 0,905; RMSEA = 0,04; SRMR = 0,04), porque el SEM resultó ser aceptable. De acuerdo con los hallazgos de la investigación, se demuestra que el liderazgo estratégico y la estrategia de negociación influyen positiva y signifi­cativamente sobre la percepción del prestigio y estatus organizacional; asimismo, la estrategia de negociación integrativa influye positiva y significativamente como variable mediadora entre el liderazgo estratégico y la percepción del prestigio y estatus organizacional; por otra parte, no se encontraron diferencias significativas en la percepción del prestigio y estatus de la organización entre hombres y mujeres líderes de pequeñas empresas de la región del Estado de Guanajuato.

Data Usage in Talent Management – Challenges for SMEs in the Field of Skilled Crafts

The main purpose of this study is to analyze the main challenges and opportunities in the context of the use of innovative technologies in the management of talent in small and medium-sized craft enterprises. The systematization of literary sources and approaches has shown that the complexities of talent management processes in the personnel management system are related to the consequences of socio-economic, demographic, and climatic changes in society, the activation of globalization processes, and the rapid development of information technologies. The article analyzes the impact of digitization on the talent management process, as well as identifies the main factors that impede the transition of small and medium-sized enterprises to the use of HR software solutions. The study used methods of bibliometric analysis and predictive analytics and selected the activity of small and medium-sized craft enterprises in Germany. Literature research has shown that in most small and medium-sized craft enterprises, the decision to use innovative technology approaches to the process of talent management in small and medium-sized enterprises is the sole responsibility of the company owner. The results of data analysis using software products play an important role in reducing the risk of making wrong decisions, especially in the talent management process. In the course of the research, it is established that the use of information technologies of data processing allows us to determine the level of qualification of employees, their psychophysiological parameters, as well as to monitor the dynamics of changes of certain professional characteristics. The main threats and challenges arising from the use of information systems with elements of artificial intelligence of data processing, when managing talents, are highlighted in the work. The results presented in this article may be useful for small and medium-sized business leaders to promote the practice of using innovative technology approaches in the enterprise talent management process. Keywords: skilled labor; digitization; human resources management; small and medium enterprises, talent management.

Analisis Deskriptif Standard Kepemimpinan Small business Suzuki Magetan

In general, small business leadership in Indonesia adheres to traditional leadership or traditional. The object of this research is Suzuki Magetan's small business leadership in Suzuki's automotive sales, repair and maintenance services, which is based on the Suzuki Leadership Standards combined with traditional leadership. This study used descriptive qualitative method. Data obtained through participant observation where the researcher is involved with daily activities of the data source. Suzuki Magetan small business leadership standards based on the Suzuki Leadership Standards and traditional leadership, namely: making a written job description, making a plan of target work (goal setting), data analysis, action plan, following training in communication skills, business English, ESQ leadership, seminars, etc. Result oriented by looking at process oriented using PDCA circulation (Plan, Do, Check, Action).

Small business strategic management practices and performance: A configurational approach

Small businesses contribute to society on many fronts: job creation, tax revenues, functional products and services, charitable donations, technological developments, and social contributions to communities. Given these contributions, and small firms’ limited resources, it is important to understand what strategic management practices (SMPs) – activities engaged to develop and implement strategy – positively impact small firm performance. Small business leaders may apply various combinations of SMPs to achieve performance objectives. Here, we apply Fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to explore how various combinations of six different SMPs – entrepreneurial orientation (EO), strategic planning, goal setting, total quality management (TQM), social capital, and small business owners’ analysis of financial ratios – affect performance. From a sample of U.S. printing companies, we found four different configurations of SMPs related to higher small business performance.

Strategies That Small Business Leaders Use to Motivate Millennial Employees

Millennial workers occupy the majority of employment positions worldwide, which is a concern to business leaders in the United States related to having knowledge and ability to train, motivate, and retain millennial employees. Using Gilbert’s behavior engineering model as a conceptual framework, this multiple case study explored the strategies that business leaders used to motivate millennial employees. The study population included 4 leaders of small restaurant businesses in eastern North Carolina, USA. Data were collected from semistructured, face-to-face interviews using 7 open-ended questions and a review of company documents, websites, and social media. Data were coded and analyzed following Morse’s method of data analysis. Three themes emerged from data analysis: rewards and recognition, high-quality leader-member relationship, and professional development. The findings of this research are significant for small business leaders who want to implement effective motivational strategies to manage millennial employees to keep their organizations productive and profitable. The implications of this study for positive social change include the potential to help millennial workers grow in their careers, become financially stable, and develop into prospective leaders prepared to proper their organizations and societies in the future.

Sustainable leadership and entrepreneurship for corporate sustainability in small enterprises: an empirical analysis

This paper empirically investigates leadership and management practices that the literature suggests to influence organisational performance and corporate sustainability in entrepreneurial firms, an area that is lacking to date. Survey data were gathered from the 357 small business leaders in Thailand. A sustainability research model and hypotheses were developed based on sustainable leadership's theoretical framework. Factor analysis revealed eight leadership and management factors, including enabling and trusting team, valuing people, empowerment, ethics, long-term orientation, quality, stakeholder consideration and innovation, which were postulated to significantly and positively predict superior financial performance and sustainability in small, entrepreneurial firms. Regression results indicated that innovation, high quality and stakeholder consideration were three significant drivers for enhanced long-term financial performance, thereby contributing to corporate sustainability. Therefore, small and entrepreneurial enterprises in Thailand and possibly in other Asian countries should consider adopting these strategic leadership and management practices to grow superior financial results and corporate sustainability.

Sustainable leadership and entrepreneurship for corporate sustainability in small enterprises: an empirical analysis

This paper empirically investigates leadership and management practices that the literature suggests to influence organisational performance and corporate sustainability in entrepreneurial firms, an area that is lacking to date. Survey data were gathered from the 357 small business leaders in Thailand. A sustainability research model and hypotheses were developed based on sustainable leadership's theoretical framework. Factor analysis revealed eight leadership and management factors, including enabling and trusting team, valuing people, empowerment, ethics, long-term orientation, quality, stakeholder consideration and innovation, which were postulated to significantly and positively predict superior financial performance and sustainability in small, entrepreneurial firms. Regression results indicated that innovation, high quality and stakeholder consideration were three significant drivers for enhanced long-term financial performance, thereby contributing to corporate sustainability. Therefore, small and entrepreneurial enterprises in Thailand and possibly in other Asian countries should consider adopting these strategic leadership and management practices to grow superior financial results and corporate sustainability.

Characteristics of small business leadership from employees’ perspective: A qualitative study

Leadership is a much-studied topic, and yet, the topic still attracts researchers. As an essential factor in every organization, however, leadership contributes significantly to a business failure, especially in small independent restaurant businesses and this could be due to the unique operations of the industry and the lack of leadership studies on small hospitality businesses. This study aims to fill the gap by exploring the ideal characteristics for small independent restaurant leaders to become an effective leader using a qualitative approach from their employees’ perspectives. Qualitative data were collected through four focus groups and one dyadic interview. The findings of the qualitative data analysis revealed nine themes: respectful, compassionate, effective communicator, experienced, effective delegator, gives recognition, sociable, emotionally controlled, organized. The paper discussed implications of the findings for small independent restaurant businesses and the hospitality industry in general as well as implications for theory.

Total Worker Health: A Small Business Leader Perspective.

Total Worker Health® (TWH) frameworks call for attention to organizational leadership in the implementation and effectiveness of TWH approaches. It is especially important to study this within in the small business environment where employees face significant health, safety, and well-being concerns and employers face barriers to addressing these concerns. The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of how small business leaders perceive employee health, safety, and well-being in the context of their own actions. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 18 small business senior leaders and used a qualitative coding approach to analyze the transcripts to determine the frequency with which leaders discussed each code. When we asked leaders about their leadership practices for health, safety, and well-being, leaders reflected upon their business (65%), themselves (28%), and their employees (7%). Leaders rarely discussed the ways in which they integrate health, safety, and well-being. The interviews demonstrate that small business leaders care about the health of their employees, but because of the perceived value to their business, not to employees or themselves. Thus, they may lack the knowledge and skills to be successful TWH leaders. The present study supports a need for continued small business TWH leadership research.

Organizational and economic features of the functioning of small enterprises of the forest sector of economics and the causes of strengthening the deformation of enterprise activity

In modern Russian conditions of economic management, it is important to analyze deformations in the development of small business in those sectors of the economy that are strategically important for the development of the economy of the whole country. So, for Russia strategic resources, determining the vector of development of its economy, among others are forestry. This is due to the fact that Russia is the world's largest country with forest resources. It ranks first in the world in terms of forest area and the volume of timber reserves. In addition, the development of entrepreneurship in forestry, including small business, is the most problematic in the current economic conditions. Due to the specific scope and the lack of financial capacity of small businesses in this sector demonstrates the lack of effectiveness in its development, which is reflected in the increase in arrears to the budgets of all levels, increasing the size of the shadow work and others. The results of the survey of small business leaders revealed that businesses can to lead a part of the activity into the shadow, first of all, with the goal of reducing costs. According to the estimates of the World Wide Fund for Nature, the extent of deforestation in the informal sector in Russia is more than 30%, and in the surplus regions up to 59-70%. According to expert estimates, federal and regional budgets are losing every year in this connection from 1 to 1.5 billion rubles. forest payments. The reasons for the deforming activities in small business are inadequate state, legal and economic policies and the lack of effective measures to support small business. This necessitates a more careful study of the implemented instruments of state support for small business in the forest sector of the economy, taking into account the currently existing factors of business deformation.

The relationship between discretionary slack and growth in small firms

Discretionary slack, along with entrepreneurial orientation (EO), are vital to the growth and long-term survival of small firms. This research combines a Penrosian view of growth with structural contingency theory to develop and test a conceptual model of the relationship between slack and growth. Using a survey of Canadian firms with fewer than 50 employees, the study finds that discretionary slack has positive effect on growth which is fully mediated by EO. In addition, the analysis confirms a positive reciprocal effect of a feedback loop between growth and slack. The study controls for, and considers the effects of, firm age, size and industry knowledge intensity. This research contributes valuable insights for further development of firm growth theory, specifically in relation to small firms. The study is also important for policy development given that: a) small firms have the potential to contribute more than larger firms to job creation but may not due to early exit; b) firms exhibiting even modest growth more than double their chances of survival; and, c) those firms that survive grow fast. This study contributes to the literature on firm growth and informs small business leaders. It also provides policy makers with practical insights to facilitate their role in supporting the growth and survival of small firms that make such an important contribution to the economy.

Exploring business model innovation in business school - small business engagements: understanding and helping small business leaders through action learning programs

This research studies the value and impact of small business leaders' action learning programs. Previous studies have suggested that understanding and interpreting a small business leader's business model is key to co-creating value for the small business, and for the business school too. Our study is part of an ongoing series of research studies looking at the value of business schools in their local business community. The evolving nature of the program and the differing engagement activities ensured a personalised fit to the small businesses' specific requirements, and ultimately proved beneficial to the business school and the small businesses. It suggests that business schools, and universities in general, have a key role to play in local economic small business growth – particularly in helping these smaller businesses develop a sustainable business model.

Exploring business model innovation in business school - small business engagements: understanding and helping small business leaders through action learning programs

Exploring business model innovation in business school - small business engagements: understanding and helping small business leaders through action learning programs

Practice of Social Responsibility in Moroccan Companies « An Exploratory Study »

This paper discusses the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility in the Moroccan context. The main purpose of this study is to draw up an inventory current situation of the CSR in Moroccan small business companies, as such to help understand the commitment of this type of business in sustainable economic development. It has been proven, by the survey among forty small Casablanca business leaders representing different sectors of activity, that the managers integrate unknowingly in their management the concept of SR, and that when it comes to social practices a link certainly exist between the company and its stakeholders (costumers, providers…). The survey shows that more than half of the interviewed executives stipulate that either they heard or know about SR; this awareness towards the concept is an increasing function which depend on the size of company. As also Moroccan leaders are aware of the advantages in engaging social responsibility approach in their business; this finding suggests as well that social responsibility can be of direct economic value for the firm.

Survey of Small Business Barriers to Department of Defense Contracts

Abstract : A key tenet of the Better Buying Power initiatives is to increase small business participation in Department of Defense contracting. The department has had mixed success in retaining small businesses and meeting small business contracting goals. Results of a survey given to 681 small business leaders show many factors commonly exist that prevent small businesses from pursuing defense contracts. Some factors are more common than others, with the most cited factors related to a lack of communication from government leads or to the government taking too long to give approvals and make decisions. Statistical evidence also supports the perceptions, of smaller and newer small businesses, that the defense business is more challenging for them than for their larger and more experienced competitors. However, this turned out to be the case for only a subset of the factors we explored.

Small Business Strategies for Sustainability Beyond 10 Years

Small businesses are vital to the health of the U.S. economy, as they account for approximately 50% of all jobs and 99% of all firms. Historically, there has been a problem with small businesses being able to sustain their operations beyond 10 years. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, when averaged across all industries, approximately 75% of new businesses failed within the first 5 years. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the business strategies some small business owners use to sustain their company beyond 10 years of operation. Data were gathered through semistructured interviews and a review of financial documents with a purposive sample of eight small business owners. Transcript reviews and member checking were completed to assure credibility and trustworthiness. Based on the methodological triangulation of the data sources collected, four emergent themes were identified after completing the data analysis: (a) building relationships, (b) finding your passion, (c) enhancing business knowledge, and (d) ensuring financial management. Small business leaders and their stakeholders may use the findings to advance the evolution of sustainable business models that meet the needs of small business owners.

Transformation of a City

Gentrification changes the landscape and the cultural makeup of a city by increasing property values and changing consumption patterns. Since the late 1980s, gentrification has challenged the residential and small business community of Harlem, New York. Guided by the rent gap theory and the consumption-side theory, the purpose of this case study was to explore how small business leaders can compete with demographical changes brought by gentrification. A purposive sample of 20 Harlem small business owners operating during the city’s gentrification participated in interviews. Interview interpretations were triangulated with government documents and periodicals to bolster the trustworthiness of the final report. These findings may contribute to positive social change by informing the strategies employed by small business owners who are currently facing gentrification.

Leaping innovation barriers to small business longevity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to address the challenges faced by small businesses and to explain the importance of using strategic innovation to achieve long-term sustainability and viability. Design/methodology/approach This study of small business innovation includes reviewing the types and determinants of innovation as well as strategies to overcome innovation barriers. In addition, the authors developed a model that portrays elements needed for strategic innovation that supports the long-term viability of small businesses. Findings Small businesses serve as the economic foundation for many nations because they stimulate innovation, provide jobs, foster competitiveness and support overall economic growth. Small businesses can rapidly adapt to change, adopt new strategies and provide flexibility that supports strategic innovation. As a result, strategic innovation is a key driver of sustainable competitive advantage for small businesses. Practical implications Small business leaders need to integrate strategic innovation with their strategic planning to remain competitive. The strategic innovation model presented in this paper can assist them in understanding elements needed for successful strategic innovation and long-term viability. Social implications Globally, small businesses exert a strong influence on economic growth and create opportunities, employment and technological development. This paper will assist small business leaders as they strive to use strategic innovation to strengthen their competitive capabilities. Originality/value The unique strategic innovation model that the authors developed can help small businesses to achieve long-term sustainability and viability in the competitive marketplace.