Sustainable entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial ecosystems research is ever evolving and this timely book stimulates further exploration, offering a research agenda and alternative approaches. Presenting new scientific evidence together with policy and other practical implications, chapters demonstrate the vibrancy and diversity of approaches in the field. Chapters on sustainable entrepreneurship analyse the circular economy, entrepreneurial decision-making logics, the drivers of eco-process innovations and strategic sustainability decision-making. Entrepreneurial ecosystems are investigated through discussion of different ecosystem orientations as factors influencing entrepreneurial behaviour. This thought-provoking book concludes with consideration of the conditions predicting entrepreneurial activity or behaviour, including family background and the growth of social and commercial SMEs. This book's up-to-date analysis and practical insight will prove invaluable to scholars and researchers in entrepreneurship as well as other business and management academics, policy-makers and practitioners.

The applied nature of the field of entrepreneurship means it is crucial for scholars and researchers to connect with practitioners to ensure that their work has an impact on real-world activity. This insightful book examines the need to bridge the gap between scientific rigour in entrepreneurship research and its practical relevance to external stakeholders, and demonstrates clearly how this can be achieved in practice. Featuring cutting-edge research, Rigour and Relevance in Entrepreneurship Research, Resources and Outcomes presents and evaluates current critical approaches in the field, analysing their theoretical value and their relevance to policy and practice. Chapters examine these approaches through the lens of specific issues and circumstances such as intrapreneurship, freelancing, crowdfunding, family firms and technology-based start-ups, providing a variety of perspectives and exemplifying how pragmatic questions can productively influence research agendas. This book's up-to-date analysis and practical insight will prove invaluable to scholars and researchers in entrepreneurship as well as other business and management academics. Students at all levels in these fields will also find it useful for considering future research.

Entrepreneurship education is an area of growing importance within entrepreneurship research. This book critically discusses innovation and entrepreneurship in new and varied contexts in Europe. Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Education explores the need for researching innovation and learning in family firms, micro firms, SMEs and in rural and network contexts. The chapters offer new insights into the antecedents of business performance in SMEs by investigating social capital and marketing capabilities. The book includes a new typology for analysing entrepreneurship education programmes, discusses opportunities in embedding entrepreneurship in teacher education and explores entrepreneurship in the informal learning arenas in universities. This book includes a wide range of studies from different analytical and methodological perspectives and from various regional and industrial contexts. As such, it is a valuable tool for advanced students wishing to gain an overview of research on European entrepreneurship. Researchers in entrepreneurship would also benefit from the up-to-date research analysis in this book. Contributors include: L. Aaboen, T. Aadland, K. Axelsson, D. Aylward, M. Belarouci, R. Blackburn, A. De Massis, V. Francois, U. Hytti, S. Joensuu-Salo, E.J.B. Jorgensen, F. Kelliher, S. Kettunen, K. Kohtakangas, C. Lafaye, E. Laveren, M. Markowska, L. Mathisen, P. Parkkari, L. Reinl, P. Rovelli, K. Sorama, F. Welter, M. Westerberg

Context is everything in entrepreneurship research. This book compellingly demonstrates the ways in which the distinctive European cultural, societal and geographic environments enable research into new entrepreneurial phenomena. It also gives guidance as to how future research should endeavour to understand the influences of context. The Dynamics of Entrepreneurial Contexts explores the European methodological diversity encompassing various academic disciplines and research paradigms. Contributors suggest European entrepreneurship research should give priority to the local and individual to enable new research questions that are resonant with context. Finally, the book welcomes critical analyses of entrepreneurship that aim at questioning the taken-for-granted assumptions and analyses that increase our understanding of the counterproductive forms of entrepreneurship. Providing a unique insight into the emerging topics of entrepreneurship research, both European and international researchers will benefit from the different analytical and methodological perspectives provided to understand the differences, similarities and the configurations of context. With a variety of regional and industry examples, postgraduates will significantly benefit from the overview of new and important research. Contributors include: S. Aaltonen, E. Akola, K. Axelsson, R. Blackburn, F.M. Cesaroni, L. Hoeglund, U. Hytti, A. Isaksson, T. Jones, T. Lepistoe, H. Loefsten, M. Martensson, M. Pospisilova, M. Ram, H. Rannikko, H. Rydehell, A. Sentuti, S. Tegtmeier, E. Tornikoski, M. Villares-Varela, D. Yar Hamidi

The role of resources is pivotal in entrepreneurship for the success of new and small ventures, though most face resource constraints. The book offers multiple perspectives on analyzing and understanding the importance of resources in entrepreneurship development. Approaching the subject with both a practice-theory and research-based approach, the contributors analyse topics such as processes and structures in social entrepreneuring; entrepreneurship and equity in crowdfunding; and forming alliances with large firms to overcome resource constraints. The contributors provide evidence, for example, on how business angels can contribute more than finance to small ventures and how the flexibility of resources is important in internationalisation. Students and scholars of entrepreneurship, business and management, and other related subjects will find this book to be of interest. It will also be of use to practitioners in the field looking for practical advice. Contributors include: J. Alpenberg, R. Blackburn, Y. Chu, P. Eriksson, D. Fletcher, B. Giordano, S. Horner, T. Huynh, U. Hytti, S. Joensuu-Salo, B. Johannisson, P. Karhunen, O.-M. Nevalainen, I. Olimpieva, K. Salamonsen, H. Sapienza, P. Strandberg, E. Varamaki, A. Viljamaa, F. Welter

This volume demonstrates the dynamism and diversity of entrepreneurship as it is practised by men and women across a variety of contexts, and also the vibrancy and relevance of the entrepreneurship research field as it attempts to understand and communicate this widespread social and economic phenomenon.' - Sara Carter, Strathclyde Business School, UK'This book showcases thought-provoking studies that reflect what European entrepreneurship scholarship has successfully pioneered: penetrating analyses of often taken-for-granted assumptions about the nature of entrepreneurship. These chapters direct readers to where entrepreneurship scholarship will likely go in the future, particularly in using 'gendered' perspectives to realize the heterogeneity of entrepreneurial activity in various contexts.' - William B. Gartner, Copenhagen Business School, Denmark and California Lutheran University, US By combining high-quality and in-depth research in the field, this book provides a state-of-the-art analysis of the current topical issues in European entrepreneurship and small business research. With contributions from international experts, the book provides a particular focus on the behaviour between individuals and groups within different contexts; the personal and structural factors that shape entrepreneurial and small business activity; and a focus on gender in entrepreneurship within different contexts. Students and academics interested in gender and entrepreneurship will benefit from this far-reaching book. The contextual and practical approach will also be of use to national and regional policy makers. Contributors: S. Aaltonen, R. Blackburn, J. Byrne, A. Chepurenko, O. Duygulu, S. Fattoum, C.I. Goegus, M. Guerrero, J. Hermes, U. Hytti, T. Mainela, S. Marlow, J. Mitra, OE. OErge, S. Tegtmeier, D. Urbano, F. Welter

In today's educational climate, advocacy is a critical part of any teacher or leader's job. Advocacy From A to Z unpacks the difficult task of understanding the movers and shakers-including teachers, parents, the union, legislatures, and policy makers-that impact your school, affect your students, and shape policy. Organized into 26 chapters-one for each letter of the alphabet- this book provides school-based examples and specific strategies needed to be a successful advocate for education. Advocacy begins at the local level, and the newest book in the A to Z series helps educational leaders navigate, plan, and shape their message to the right people at the right time. Now you can find your voice and become an active advocate to help your students succeed.

Entrepreneurial Business and Society summarizes contemporary research in the field of entrepreneurship and small business and explores the interplay between the entrepreneur, the entrepreneurial firm and society.The contributors highlight that entrepreneurship may also contribute to social change and that welfare and success could be measured in terms of their effect on society. Topics explored throughout the volume are the promotion of entrepreneurial businesses, entrepreneurial people and entrepreneurial sectors. The book will prove invaluable for advanced undergraduate and postgraduate students of entrepreneurship and small business. Entrepreneurship and small business researchers as well as policy makers will also find plenty of relevant information in this important resource. Contributors: B.W. Amo, F. Bertoni, M. Bianchi, R. Blackburn, M. Brettel, D. Chiaroni, J. Collis, A. Croce, P. Eckerle, F. Frattini, J. Grande, M. Guerini, J. Heinonen, L. Hurmerinta, U. Hytti, E. Ka perova, J. Kitching, E. Ljunggren, R. Mauer, T. Minola, OE. OErge, E. Paavilainen-Mantymaki, R.K. Pati, E. Vuorinen, F. Welter, S.A. Zahra, L. Zhao

Intellectual property protection is increasingly becoming a central issue for businesses. This book provides a wealth of original research on intellectual property management in small and medium sized enterprises, while also addressing the context of innovation and knowledge management.

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.

In today's educational climate, advocacy is a critical part of any teacher or leader's job. Advocacy From A to Z unpacks the difficult task of understanding the movers and shakers-including teachers, parents, the union, legislatures, and policy makers-that impact your school, affect your students, and shape policy. Organized into 26 chapters-one for each letter of the alphabet- this book provides school-based examples and specific strategies needed to be a successful advocate for education. Advocacy begins at the local level, and the newest book in the A to Z series helps educational leaders navigate, plan, and shape their message to the right people at the right time. Now you can find your voice and become an active advocate to help your students succeed.

Prepared to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the European Convention of Human Rights in 1950, this major new book studies the effect of the ECHR on the domestic law and public affairs of 32 of its Member States. Today it is increasingly important for practitioners and academics to be knowledgeable about the operation of the ECHR in other European member states, and this book is excellent both for comparative purposes and as an influential source upon the developing case law of the European Court of Human Rights. The book will be of special interest in the UK where the ECHR has recently been incorporated into its own domestic law under the terms of the Human Rights Act 1998. The book's editors, Professor Robert Blackburn and Dr Jörg Polakiewicz, are recognized authorities on European human rights law.

Although there are plenty of books devoted to small business and management research, few give much attention to the small enterprise. This book focuses systematically on researching the small firm, from basic issues of definition, to selecting topics and research designs, to fieldwork problems, analysis data and finally, writing and presenting results.

The discussion is set in the wider context of issues and problems in business research. Quantitative and especially qualitative approaches are explored and illustrated by drawing in depth on a wide range of research on the small enterprise. The result is an extensive resource book for researchers at all levels to draw upon in planning and conducting effective research.

Although there are plenty of books devoted to small business and management research, few give much attention to the small enterprise. This book focuses systematically on researching the small firm, from basic issues of definition, to selecting topics and research designs, to fieldwork problems, analysis data and finally, writing and presenting results. The discussion is set in the wider context of issues and problems in business research. Quantitative and especially qualitative approaches are explored and illustrated by drawing in depth on a wide range of research on the small enterprise. The result is an extensive resource book for researchers at all levels to draw upon in planning and conducting effective research.