|
The Informal Sector, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development
Michael Morris, Peter Jones, and Deon Nel
Federal Funding Opportunities for Microenterprise Programs
Diane Meyerhoff
Johnson Publishing Inc., A Case of Strategic Development
Kellye Jones
Designing Effective Management Training and Education for Small Businesses
Kelwyn A. D'Souza, Robert Askew, and Vikki Richardson
Teaching About Women Managers and Women Entrepreneurs Across Cultures
Miriam Ben-Yoseph and Lisa Gundry
Book, Software, and Web Site Reviews: Developmental Entrepreneurship on the Internet
William Lewis Randolph
Candida G. Brush
Author's note: Candida G. Brush is Assistant Professor of Management Policy and Core Faculty in the Entrepreneurial Management Institute at Boston University. The author thanks James E. Post for his thoughtful advice in the preparation of this manuscript, David Brophy for guidance throughout this entire project, Trish Mattoff for research assistance, and Patricia Greene and David Brush for comments and suggestions. In particular, the author is most grateful to the eight women who dedicated the better part of a day participating in the Focus group; Rose Slade, Regina McManus, Jennifer Kushel, Terrian Barnes, Sharon Hadary, Barbara Davis-Solomon, Petra Barrera, and Dorothy Brunson.
Abstract: Record numbers of women are creating new businesses in all sectors and regions of the U.S. This impressive growth suggests that situational and dispositional barriers posited by theories are being overcome with regard to venture creation and acquisition. However, academic research examining factors leading to performance is sparse and inconclusive. This exploratory study reports conclusions from a focus group of women business owners. Seven themes emerged, four obstacles and three opportunities. Following theory, propositions for future investigation are suggested.
Key words: Women business owners, Advantages for women in business, Obstacles to women in business.
Christopher P. Neck, Heidi M. Neck and Charles C. Manz
Authors' note: Christopher P. Neck is Assistant Professor of Management at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Heidi M. Neck is a doctoral student in the Department of Management at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Charles C. Manz is the Nirenberg Professor of Business Leadership at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Abstract: Entrepreneurs are practically guaranteed to find themselves confronting challenging situations. Various training programs have been used to help entrepreneurs overcome these challenges and thus enhance their success rates. This paper proposes that traditional entrepreneurial training programs may be omitting an element crucial to entrepreneurship success; the element of self-control of thought processes. We argue that by developing habits and patterns to manage their thought processes, entrepreneurs can better recognize and act on ideas. Further, cognitive self-control can help entrepreneurs view challenging situations in more positive ways--that is to see the "opportunistic" road to new venture creation.
Key words: Entrepreneurship training, cognitive self-control, thought processes.
William Lewis Randolph
Authors note: William Lewis Randolph is Professor of Finance at Norfolk State University. He wishes to thank the reviewers for their insightful comments and Francis Achampong for supervising the review process.
Abstract: The Virginia Enterprise Initiative (VEI) is a state program established with the objective to help fund 15 microenterprise loan programs beginning in 1995. An important aspect of the VEI program is the use of leverage. A relatively small amount of state funds is used to attract a much larger amount of funds available from the Federal government, commercial banks and other sources. The program was successful in using leverage and attracted $4.7 million in matching funds to support the programs that received state grants. The major sources of these funds were the Federal government ($2.6 million) and commercial banks ($1.4 million). This paper examines the sources of the matching funds and the degree of leverage achieved by this Department of order to analyze the sources of funding available for start up microloan programs during this period.
Key words: Microenterprise loan programs, microloan funds in Virginia, capitalizing microloan funds.
Matthew C. Sonfield
Author's note: Matthew C. Sonfield is the Robert F. Dall Distinguished Professor in Business at Hofstra University on Long Island.
Abstract: For many years, Federal, state and local government set-aside contracts have provided opportunities for minority-owned (and more recently women-owned) small businesses to attain the sales volume needed to achieve break-even and subsequent profitability on an uneven playing field. Yet in recent years court rulings, legislative actions and voter referendums, in combination with a more conservative public attitude, have resulted in reductions, cessation or moratoriums of such programs, with the threat of more severe program cuts in the future. This article suggests a variety of strategies available to minority and women small business owners who feel threatened by these political and legislative changes, and provides a comprehensive and current listing of practitioner-oriented references to allow the small business owner or advisor to pursue in-depth information about these changes and suggested strategies.
Key words: Government set-aside contracts, minority and women small business owners, discrimination.
Vickie Cox Edmondson
Author's note: Vickie Cox Edmondson is Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.
Abstract: Due to the recent increase in the amount of interest and research on businesses owned by people of color in the U.S., it is necessary to address the applicability and longevity of the term "minority" as in minority business enterprises to represent firms owned or controlled by people of color. Another term "ethnic business enterprise" is offered.
Key words: Minority business enterprise, terminology.
Ivan Light
Author's note: Ivan Light is Professor of Sociology, University of California, Los Angeles.
Key words: Minority business enterprise, terminology.
Vickie Cox Edmondson
Key words: Minority business enterprise, terminology.
Keith Ferrell
Author's note: Keith Ferrell is the founder and Executive Director of Technical Assistants, a non-profit economic development organization located at 1315 Walnut Street, Suite 500, Philadelphia, PA, 19107. Technical Assistants conducts a targeted training curriculum, aimed at teaching essential skills which the business owner may lack. The organization-also prepares loan packages and offers individual consulting for business owners in Philadelphia, PA and Camden, NJ. All clients of Technical Assistants must agree to participate in the organization's long-term research study.
Abstract: This study examines a group of borrowers serviced by Enterprise Growth Fund and compares them to borrowers serviced by other lenders. From a economic development point of view, I find that the borrowers approved by the Enterprise Growth Fund show less potential.
Key words: Microenterprise programs, Enterprise Growth Fund, economic development.
Michael H Morris, Peter Jones and Deon Nel
Authors' note: Michael H Morris is Visiting Professor at the School of Business, Georgetown University, Washington, DC. Peter Jones is Research Associate and Deon Nel is Professor of Marketing at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. An earlier version of this paper won the Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship Best Paper award at the 1997 World Conference of the International Council for Small Business.
Abstract: The role of entrepreneurship in economic development has been extensively studied in the richer Western (i.e., first world) countries, but it could be argued that entrepreneurship is even more vital in developing countries. The informal sector in developing countries not only makes a significant contribution towards gross domestic product, but is a major potential source of entrepreneurship. This study explores the emerging nature of the informal sector, and attempts to distinguish entrepreneurial from non-entrepreneurial business activity within the sector. Results are reported of a series of in-depth interviews with tavern owners within South African Black townships. Significant relationships are identified between measures of the entrepreneur's background, the operational sophistication of his/her enterprise, and company outlook.
Key words: Informal economy, black pub owners, South Africa, entrepreneurship.
Diane Meyerhoff
Author's note: Diane Meyerhoff is the Principal of Third Sector Associates, a training and consulting firm dedicated to assisting nonprofit agencies. Ms. Meyerhoff is an adjunct faculty member at Trinity College of Vermont in Burlington. The author would like to thank all the resource people who shared their valuable information.Abstract: This paper presents opportunities for nonprofit and government agencies exploring funding for microenterprise programs. The number of microenterprise programs has increased greatly and, in some cases, so has federal funding. Presented here are federal agencies that offer funding for technical assistance and loan programs and expect to do so in the future.
Key words: Microenterprise programs, federal funding, federal grants, technical assistance funds.
Kellye Jones
Author's note: Kellye Jones is Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Texas, San Antonio.
Abstract: Johnson Publishing Inc. has endured for more that 50 years and is the largest African American owned publishing company. This organization developed and evolved during a period of time when social conditions for African Americans were, for the most part, deplorable and Jim Crow laws ruled the country. This investigation uses the case study method to explore the role of strategy as John Johnson overcame various challenges during the development of Johnson Publishing Inc. Using the resources dependence theory of organizations and Porter's model of competitive strategy, critical incidents surrounding the development of the firm are examined and analyzed.
Key words: Johnson Publishing Inc., case study, competitive strategy, dependence theory.
Kelwyn A. D'Souza, Robert Askew, and Vikki Richardson
Authors' note: Kelwyn A. D'Souza is Associate Professor and Chairperson of the Department of Management, School of Business at Hampton University, Hampton, Virginia. At the time of the study, Robert Askew was Director, Center for Entrepreneurial Studies (CES), Hampton University and currently he is Associate Professor at Norfolk State University. Vikki Richardson is Former Graduate Student, School of Business, Hampton University, and is currently with Ford Motor Company, Detroit, Michigan. The paper draws upon the results from the ETTAP grant number ETTAP9596/HAM supported by the Office of the Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U. S. Department of Transportation, Washington, D. C. (1995). The activities of the CES are supported by the Kellogg Foundation.
Abstract: Designing effective management training programs for small business owners and managers require a great deal of pre-planning. Management educators from business schools have offered traditional training programs developed for students seeking careers with large corporations and academic institutes. These programs have not addressed the unique problems faced by small businesses, resulting in a poor response to training announcements. This paper presents the result of a pilot study conducted to analyze the training needs of small businesses located in the largest metropolitan areas of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and recommends problem-oriented management training modules that balance theory and practice. In the first part of the study, a series of informal seminars were organized on selected topics of interest to small business owners and managers. The on-site feedback obtained through the evaluations were statistically analyzed to summarize the responses and design the modules. In the second part of the study, each module was conducted at different sites and the management effectiveness was monitored. The first and second parts of the study are reported in this paper.
Key words: Small business training, management training, training and management effectiveness.
Miriam Ben-Yoseph and Lisa Gundry
Authors' note: Miriam Ben-Yoseph is Assistant Professor at the School for New Learning, and Lisa Gundry is Associate Professor in the Department of Management, Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, both at DePaul University. The authors gratefully acknowledge the comments of two anonymous reviewers, the feedback from our students, and the support of DePaul University's Joint Council for Teaching and Research.
Abstract: Although women constitute over fifty percent of the world's population, in no country do they represent half of the managers or the owners of businesses. In most countries, management is still seen as masculine, with obstacles for women to get into the recruitment pool, and many more to being hired. Therefore, an option that appears to be attracting an increasing number of women in industrialized countries is entrepreneurship. Inspired by these research findings, the authors designed and taught a course to students of two different colleges, focusing on women managers and women entrepreneurs across cultures. The framework for the course integrated culture, gender, and work. Topics such as women managers' background, experiences and circumstances were explored. For women entrepreneurs, topics covered included: paths to ownership, characteristics, sources of opportunities and barriers to growth. We also examined how women managers and women business owners function in the home and in the workplace, and we discussed the contribution of these women to the global economy and the local community. The purpose of this paper is to share some of the insights we gained from teaching this course and make some recommendations that could further enhance the learning experience for everyone involved.
Key words: Women entrepreneurs, women managers, cross cultural business training.
William Lewis Randolph
This column will appear on an occasional basis to provide our readership with information on Internet resources. There are many valuable sources of information on entrepreneurship and microcredit on the Internet. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to find up-to-date information on the topic of interest especially for the beginning Internet user. This initial column will introduce some terminology and describe two types of resources available on the Internet; Web sites and mailing lists.
Key words: Developmental entrepreneurship, internet, web sites, mailing lists.
|
