Index and Abstracts

Volume 11, Number 1
March 2006

Refereed Articles

Profile of Women Entrepreneurs in a War-Torn Area: Case Study of Northeast Sri Lanka
Selvamalar Ayadurai and M. Sadiq Sohail

Venture Opportunity Evaluations: Comparisons Between Venture Capitalists and Inexperienced Pre-Nascent Entrepreneurs
Karen Bishop and Robert D. Nixon

Risk Management in Private Equity Funds: A Comparative Study of Indian and Franco-German Funds
Can Kut and Jan Smolarski

Normative, Social and Cognitive Predictors of Entrepreneurial Interest in China, Vietnam and the Philippines
C. Christopher Baughn, Johnson S.R. Cao, Linh Thi My Le, Victor A. Lim and Kent E. Neupert

Impact of Human Resource Management: SME Performance in Vietnam
Sandra King-Kauanui, Su Dang Ngo and Catherine Ashley-Cotleur

Profile of Women Entrepreneurs in a War-Torn Area: Case Study of Northeast Sri Lanka

Selvamalar Ayadurai and M. Sadiq Sohail

This study examines the demographic profile of ‘Tamil’ women entrepreneurs in the NorthEast of Sri Lanka who became entrepreneurs as a result of war. Five main areas of interest was examined, namely, i) characteristics of these women entrepreneurs; ii) factors that spurred them into entrepreneurship; iii) their challenges; iv) their measures of success; and v) the demographic profile of these women entrepreneurs. Findings indicate that a large percentage of these women were highly entrepreneurial who were motivated into entrepreneurship to get a better life, be self-reliant and support their families. Many of them went into business only after having lost their husbands at war. Most of these women were married with children and business was seen as a means to an end. These women were educated with a minimum secondary-level education and were involved in businesses such as livestock farming, office services and craft / textile which did not require a high capital outlay and expert skills and knowledge of the business. A large majority of these women were in business for the first time and most of them rated their businesses as successful ventures. Their measures of success were self-fulfillment, and a balance between family and work. The findings of this research are important for several reasons. The women entrepreneurs of the NorthEast are seen as a powerful driving force for the economic development of the country. However, they lack basic training and development programmes which will be able to transform them into skilful and expert entrepreneurs. Presently, they initiate entrepreneurial ventures based on their own expertise, advise from friends and family, and some aid from their local NGO. INGOs, Donor Agencies and UN Agencies can play a critical role in the upliftment of the socio-economic status of this group of women entrepreneurs.

Venture Opportunity Evaluations: Comparisons Between Venture Capitalists and Inexperienced Pre-Nascent Entrepreneurs

Although we know something about how venture capitalists’ (VCs) evaluate opportunities, little is known about entrepreneurs’ evaluation processes before venture creation. Opportunity evaluation beliefs are antecedents to goal choice or pre-nascent activities and are different from opportunity exploitation behaviors, which are goal striving or nascent activities. Results show that inexperienced pre-nascent entrepreneurs have not institutionalized VCs criteria as common knowledge and that evaluation criteria are used differently due to differences in learning and experience. Criteria common to VCs were not all predictive for any pre-nascent individual but, as a group, all VC criteria significantly predicted evaluations of potential success.

Risk Management in Private Equity Funds: A Comparative Study of Indian and Franco-German Funds

Can Kut and Jan Smolarski

Venture capitalist and buy-out funds are often considered experts at investing in high-risk projects and companies. To be successful investors, private equity funds must therefore manage the many aspects of risk that are associated with investing in non-public enterprises. This study examines how Indian private equity funds manage several dimensions of risk in comparison to non-Anglo-Saxon funds. We analyze risk management preferences in Indian and Franco-German funds in pre- and post-investment stages. The results, which are discussed in detail, show significant differences between the two groups.  

Normative, Social and Cognitive Predictors of Entrepreneurial Interest in China, Vietnam and the Philippines

C. Christopher Baughn, Johnson S.R. Cao, Linh Thi My Le, Victor A. Lim and Kent E. Neupert

This study addresses normative, social and cognitive factors related to the interest in becoming an entrepreneur in China, Vietnam, and the Philippines.  The study’s findings are based on surveys of 782 business students in these countries.  A rather consistent pattern of country differences was found on most of the measures, which may reflect differences in the historical, cultural, economic and political contexts of these nations.   The results of this study emphasize the importance of developing both self-efficacy and close social supports in enhancing potential for entrepreneurial activity in these countries

Impact of Human Resource Management: SME Performance in Vietnam

Sandra King-Kauanui, Su Dang Ngo and Catherine Ashley-Cotleur

In its transition from a centrally planned economy to a market economy, Vietnam has achieved remarkable success. During this transition, Vietnam businesses have implemented a number of HRM practices used primarily by companies in Western cultures. This study specifically investigates the impact of three HRM practices, training, performance appraisal systems and incentive pay, on firm performance to determine if results mirror those obtained in the more highly developed economies of the West .  A sample of 200 Hanoi manufacturing SMEs was surveyed regarding their practices in these areas. The result provides empirical support that training, performance appraisal and incentive compensation have positive effects on Vietnamese SME performance, with incentive compensation having the greatest impact.