What makes some family-operated businesses succeed while others fail? This book presents 39 cases which might help any business family. The author guides the reader through the process of assessing the organizational dynamics of their firm, using as an example the JacMar family, a hypothetical company representative of a family business.

Did you know that, in South Africa, 70% to 80% of small businesses fail within the first five years of their establishment? Research indicates that this failure is often due to a lack of understanding of basic business concepts by the entrepreneur. In the competitive South African business environment, it is essential that aspiring entrepreneurs and new business owners have a solid foundation of knowledge on which to build sustainable businesses.

Entrepreneurship and how to establish your own business (6th edition) is a foundational book covering the key areas of entrepreneurship and small business development.

This book is the first to seriously consider quality issues in smaller firms, based upon well-conducted research and careful theorizing. Subjects covered include:
* the relevance of formal quality standards such as BS 5750 to small firms
* definitions and implementations of 'quality' in a business context, from formal standards to Total Quality Management
* interviews with a selected sample of over 150 owner-managers
* detailed case studies of small firms
* analysis of self-generated quality strategies
* the variety of formal methods of quality control.

This work addresses the fundamental questions concerning the economic reinvigoration of society through policies aimed at encouraging the development of small enterprises. Governments in Europe, the rest of the industrialized world and developing countries are increasingly including small enterprise development as a central feature of economic and social policies. Nowhere was this more evident than during the 1980s in Britain, as the Conservative government sought to establish an enterprise culture. However, despite an impressive growth in the numbers of people turning to self-employment, there is little evidence that British society has become more entrepreneurial or that the pursuit of enterprise has become part of the national culture.

A practical guide to best and worst practices for family businesses--from drawing up incorporation documents to succession planning to selling the business. The book also includes examples from actual court cases and presents these lessons in an accessible manner. Sample legal agreements are included which help to avoid some of the major risks to the family business.

This book, first published in 1998, is an attempt to better understand the human resource programs utilized by small firms and the basis for their choice. Much of the study is designed to provide a working framework from which to begin to understand the myriad of human resource decisions made in these companies on a daily basis. In this way the research seeks to make some contribution to the development of a theoretical grounding for human resources in the small business area. This title will be of interest to students of business studies and human resource management.

Since the start of the 1980's there has been a significant rise in the number of forms of collaborative pressures in the global market-place. One form of collaboration is Corporate Venture Capital Investment, or Corporate Venturing. This involves large, non-financial companies taking minority equity stakes in small unquoted firms, and can be beneficial for both parties. The levels of corporate venturing are, however, reportedly low in the UK, particularly when compared to levels in the USA. This volume addresses the lack of academic and practical research into corporate venturing by examining the role of this activity as both a form of large firm-small firm collaboration and as an alternative source of equity finance for small firms. These issues are explored through surveys of independent fund managers, corporate executives and technology-based firm directors. The author finds corporate venturing to be a valuable source of equity finance for early stage, technology-based firms, as well as for the institutional venture capital funds which specialize in investing in such ventures. Implications for both academic theorists and practitioners are considered.

Political and financial upheaval is not a new phenomenon - from the tulip bulb bubble in the Netherlands in the seventeenth century to Black Monday in 1987, businesses throughout history have worked to adapt and cope. However, today's climate is even more fraught with crises, raising the levels of concern for business, society, and governments. It especially poses a challenge for small businesses, who have to learn to cope with this increasingly turbulent environment, dealing with the difficulties and taking advantage of the new opportunities that turbulence can provide. Understanding how resilience capabilities can be developed to promote sustainable business is imperative. This book provides a new paradigm for conceptualizing resilience capabilities and advances current understanding both theoretically and practically in real-world business settings. Examining the processes of resilience during different phases of crisis reveals why businesses either fail, or outperform their counterparts during times of turbulence. Based on in-depth empirical research, researchers and advanced students in small business, strategic management and risk management will find this an invaluable guide to organizational resilience.

One of the most pressing concerns for contemporary society is the issue of violence and the factors that promote it. In Altared Ground, Brian Schroeder stages an engagement between Emmanuel Levinas, one of the leading figures in twentieth century Continental philosophy, and Plato, Hegel, Heidegger, Nietzsche, Merleau-Ponty, Derrida and others. Not merely an exposition of Levinas's original and complex thinking, Altared Ground seeks to re-read the history of Western philosophy and religion by going beyond Levinas's alternatives to traditional theories of the self in order to suggest a notion of subjectivity that is not grounded in violence.
Schroeder contributes to current discussions of reconceiving subjectivity as inter-subjectivity in a postmodern context through a sustained analysis of interpersonal violence. In addition, he takes up the themes of alterity, ground, transcendence, responsibility, language, community, politics, divinity, and futurity.

This text discusses the meaning of education through an examination of life paths, identities and significant learning experiences. Looking at education over three generations (of war and scant education; of structural change and increasing educational opportunities; and of social well-being and wide educational choice) the book examines a variety of questions.;The book demonstrates how the synthesis of social and cultural interpretations of education forms four groups: resource, status, conformity and individualism. The implications to education policy in late-modern or postmodern society are also discussed.

Drawing on studies and expertise from around the world, this book describes the transition from research to policy and covers the pre-requisites to successful new firm formation policies. At a time when a new firm formation is promoted by central and local government, business development agencies and the private sector, this book questions the economic dependence on small firms and explores the relevance of networking, information and advice.

This text discusses the meaning of education through an examination of life paths, identities and significant learning experiences. Looking at education over three generations of war and scant education; of structural change and increasing educational opportunities; and of social well-being and wide educational choice the book examines a variety of questions.; The book demonstrates how the synthesis of social and cultural interpretations of education forms four groups: resource, status, conformity and individualism. The implications to education policy in late-modern or postmodern society are also discussed.

This book focuses on the relationship between business strategy and competition among Italian SMEs in the aftermath of the economic crisis. First examining business strategy and competitive advantage in a broader sense, Business Strategies and Competitiveness in Times of Crisis goes on to analyse the strategic behaviour of SMEs and the key factors that allow them to overcome the challenges they face. The book covers wide-ranging topics such as marketing and communication strategies, internationalization process and entry modes, access to credit, networking, innovation process and human resources enhancement. Referring to insightful case studies and surveys conducted between 2011 and 2014, it reflects on managerial implications for Italian SMEs and identifies their three main competitive challenges.

This book is an indispensable guide for those who don't have the time to wade through the theory, but want ideas which can be readily put in practice. 50 'Quick Wins' is packed with no-nonsense advice and proven examples from business owners who have made their sales and marketing work for them. It is set out in 7 easy access chapters with the emphasis on simplicity, practicality and effectiveness - it does exactly what it says on the cover. This book is like having your own pocket business mentor motivating you to take the action to obtain the results your business deserves.

This book provides the first comprehensive account of the clinical applications of personal construct theory. Clinicians who wish to employ methods derived from the theory will find guidelines set out, and a thorough examination of the similarities and contrasts between personal construct theory and other major approaches to psychological disorders and their treatments presented. "Personal Construct Psychology in Clinical Practice" will serve as a major professional resource for those already familiar with PCP and for those wishing to know more.

This unique text focuses upon the inherent difficulties associated with small firm contractual relationships.
The authors investigate:
* The economic interests and incentives associated with various small firm ownership and financial structures.
* The difficulties in monitoring and enforcing contractual obligations.
* The problems of obtaining reliable information on firm performance.
* The importance of internal decision making and the management of change.
* The impact of legislation and other non-governmental forms of regulation in small business relationships.
The analysis and discussion of these issues draws together for the first time recent theoretical and empirical developments from the economics of industrial organization and labour and financial economics.

This book presents case material on modern small business enterprises, in the form of profiles. These are constructed on a consistent basis for 17 small firms, and use a contemporary framework drawn from business strategy and industrial organization. Each profile is designed to show how an entrepreneur has tried to achieve a competitive advantage in the market-place by fighting against "extended rivalry", market competitors, buyers, suppliers, substitutes and potential entrants. As well as looking at comprehensive and defensive strategies, the book extends analysis to financial structure, including discussion of reasons for cash flow problems and problems associated with excessive "gearing". A comparative analysis of the profiles, grouped according to the degree of market concentration and associated market structure, enables new conclusions to be reached about resources of competitive advantage. The authors bring varied insight from managerial economics, industrial organization and small firms' consultancy. Their criterion was that the analysis should always be well-grounded in the reality of small business existence.

This book is concerned with one of the major contemporary issues of industrial organization: the role of small business enterprise in a mature market economy. Key issues covered are start-up and its financial features; static and dynamic scale economies; enterprise case histories; small business strategy; competitive forces; strategic pricing policy; determinants of growth and survival; and the political economy of fair trade and enterprise. The treatment is analytical and empirical, well grounded in business reality, and set within the context of the political economy of small business. It is based on a unique and extensive database of small business enterprise, containing over 40,000 data points gathered by fieldwork within the firm. The book starts with a section on the database and then applies diverse methods; statistical analysis; enterprise and case histories; econometrics; and political economy. In this way, a picture of the modern small business emerges, it is viewed from different perspectives.

Massage therapists need basic, practical business advice such as low to mid-cost marketing techniques, taxes, and recordkeeping, but there is also no denying the benefits of "been there, done that" information that can only come from someone else's experience. How to Start a Home-based Massage Therapy Business offers a gold mine of tips and ideas that can lessen the learning curve, stimulate thinking outside-the-box, and increase the odds of having a wildly successful practice.

This title was first published in 2000: Since 1998, there have been many diagnoses, studies and theories attempting to explain the East Asian economic crisis and the impact on major economic and financial sectors. This text aims to fill a gap in the literature by examining the effects on small and medium-sized enterprises. From early 1998, unemployment figures in the region rose rapidly although large enterprises were not as yet engaged in corporate restructuring. Registered small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and microenterprises were a major source of this unemployment, especially among unskilled and seasonal workers. This volume covers the debate in five ways. An introductory chapter presents an overview of the SME international experience both in OECD and developing economies. Part I looks at the economic and social contribution of SMEs in Thailand before and after the 1997-1998 crisis and Part II reviews government policy and SME promotion initiatives. Part III explores the assumption that local SMEs linked to large firms have been more resilient, while the concluding chapter suggests a range of policies which have been derived from experiences in places other than Thailand.

The book aims to collect the most recent research and best practices in the cooperative and networking small business field identifying new theoretical models and describing the relationship between cooperation and networks in the small business strategy context. It examines different concepts and analytical techniques better understand the links between cooperative strategies and networks in small business. It also studies the existing economic conditions of network and strategic implications to small business from the point of view of their internal and external consistency. Cooperation and networks is a fashionable topic. It is receiving increasing attention in popular management publications, as well as specialized academic journals. Cooperation between firms and industries is a means of leveraging and aggregating knowledge also generating direct benefits in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. Various options and decisions made within the framework of strategic alliances may be identified and differentiated. For example, it has been argued that R&D cooperation between competing firms also facilitates the search for incremental efficiency gains and is thus a competitive advantage. In parallel with a theoretical acceptance of the importance of a sustained competitive advantage to formulate strategy, there is a growing understanding that cooperative and networking behavior among small firms is at the root of many success stories in today's small business management. This condition requires an effort to develop a study of both aspects of cooperation and networks as compatible, complementary facets of a unique reality. In short, the cooperative and networking relationships of a small business can be the source of its competitive advantage. Enhancement of local resources and capabilities for the generation and dissemination of knowledge is still an issue for defining public policies in many countries.Featuring contributions covering such topics as green innovation, social commerce, university cooperation networks, and regional entrepreneurship, this book provides a comprehensive and richly illustrated study of cooperation and networks in small business that will be pertinent to students, academics, professionals, scholars, and policy makers.

In the aftermath of the global recession, job creation is a policy priority. While it is a well-accepted fact that the majority of jobs are created by small and medium-sized enterprises, not all SMEs are rapidly growing, or even intend to expand. With limited public budgets, business models within the SME population that do show high job creation potential become very attractive. One of the business types identified as major engines of job creation are 'born globals' characterised as firms which engage intensively in internationalisation activities shortly after start-up. They are high on the entrepreneurship research agenda but so far little attention has been devoted to their potential as job creators, the processes they apply when hiring and the barriers they face. Through a combination of secondary data analysis, literature reviews and international case studies, European Born Globals sheds new light on the motivations and processes of job creation in born global firms. It will contribute to understanding the 'why' and 'how' of job creation in born globals, essential not only for policy makers, but also for academic research and management education.

The literature on family business has developed significantly over the last years. However, efforts remain to summarize and systematize the main aspects that affect the behavior of this type of company. In this regard, the topic of strategic management has been developed. In this sense, it is especially important to recognize how the family decisively influences the behavior of the company and also to identify how the existence of the company affects family dynamics. Those who manage family businesses, whether family or not, must reconcile both perspectives (business and family) in the definition of strategic objectives, allowing sustainability and continuity in this type of organization. Challenges and Opportunities for the Strategic Management of Family Businesses provides emerging research that covers how strategic management in the family business has been developed and identifies the objectives that sustain this strategic behavior, the main areas of analysis (family and business), the definition of strategies, and their implementation. Also, the authors of this book review the different scenarios for family firms and propose strategies to tackle the challenges and seize the possibilities to grow in a competitive and dynamic environment. Featuring coverage on a broad range of topics such as human capital, organizational leadership, and knowledge creation, this book is ideally designed for family firms, managers, advisors, consultants, policymakers, business professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, researchers, academicians, and students.

Following the 2008 global financial crisis, entrepreneurship has never been more vital. As jobs were lost from large organizations, most new jobs came from innovative startups. The lure of hi-tech has attracted many people who see themselves as future entrepreneurs, but who lack the perspective of the total experience. To meet this demand, community colleges and universities across the world have set up entrepreneurship courses. The Global Entrepreneur is a life-changing book. To leave the comfort of a steady job and enter the tumultuous world of the entrepreneur is a major and often fearful step. For those who are contemplating this change, or who have already embarked upon this exciting venture, reassurance based on the experience of both successful and even not so successful entrepreneurs can be invaluable. The book provides an overview of the entrepreneurial experience broken down into all of its essential elements. Today, startups are global in nature and the book helps a budding entrepreneur understand the effect of different cultures both on the company and his/herself. This book differs from the existing literature in that its focus is on the individual and his or her reaction to the international nature of the entrepreneurial experience backed by both the lived experience of actual entrepreneurs and case studies of entrepreneurship across the world. Business success is measured by financial return. The book will be a vital tool in this endeavour. This book will appeal to students of business or management and individuals who are considering a career change, to create or join a startup, and need more knowledge to make their decision.

For private business owners, managing a successful exit from their business is one of the most important events in their business lives. This book shows you how to do so with the minimum of fuss and maximum return. It is unique because the author writes from the owner's point of view, bringing together in one place all you need to know about planning this complex process. Exit Strategy Planning emphasises the need to place exit planning on a firm foundation, with taxation planning and business continuity planning providing the basis to ensure a smooth transition that will yield the maximum return. The first three parts of the book ('Laying the Foundations', 'Choosing your Exit Strategy' and 'Preparing and Implementing your Plans') present a best practice approach to this complex subject. Here the book highlights the importance of planning, often several years in advance, and explains the need to make the business 'investor ready' by identifying and removing impediments to sale. Part 3 culminates in a step-by-step guide to producing and implementing your Master Exit Strategy Plan. Following on from this the extensive appendices in Part 4 discuss in detail each of the exit options open to you (many of which you have probably never considered) and show how to choose the optimum exit route. Exit Strategy Planning is a book that will do more than save you time and money now and in the future; it will help you to maximise on what may well be a lifetime's investment.