bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Creativity in Business/Business in Creativity
Authors: Penaluna Andrew , Penaluna Kathryn
Published: September 2010

Recent guidance for UK government policy makers has warned that HEIs face an uncertain future and has advocated transdisciplinary curricula. Earlier, in 2005, two other UK government papers highlighted the advantages of integrating design-related strategies into business environments and addressed the impact creativity could have on business performance. A key recommendation was to strengthen the relationships between businesses, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and creative professionals from design disciplines who could positively affect business performance and provide digital media, industrial design, packaging, graphic design, branding and advertising. If the successful entrepreneur has personal skills, attributes and behaviours that extend beyond the purely commercial, HEIs need to develop students with capabilities that meet the entrepreneurial challenges of the knowledge economy. This paper draws on entrepreneurship and business education strategies that have evolved out of art and design disciplines at Swansea Metropolitan University in the UK. The authors argue that curriculum development should incorporate ‘business’ acumen in all programmes outside business schools and should develop the fundamental skills for developing and exploiting ‘creativity’ in programmes within them. The provision of a symbiotic experience of business and creativity across the curriculum has many benefits, not least because it responds to calls from entrepreneurship educators for a paradigm shift to develop right-brain entrepreneurial capabilities as well as left-brain analytical skills. Such pedagogies are well-established in the design disciplines and the evidence suggests that they are important as a wide-reaching, cross-disciplinary enabling strategy.
Participation in Tourism Consumption and the Intensity of Participation: An Analysis of Their Socio-Demographic and Economic Determinants
Authors: Alegre Joaquín , Mateo Sara , Pou Llorenç
Published: September 2010

Unlike other goods, tourism services are not consumed by a significant percentage of households. Thus, knowledge of aggregate tourism demand hinges on the determinants of corner solutions at the microeconomic level. Furthermore, with regard to those households that consume tourism, their travel frequency patterns in the year need not be the same. This paper uses household microdata to examine the socio-demographic and economic determinants of both decisions: holiday participation and the intensity of participation in the year conditional on participation. The results highlight the relevance in tourism demand analyses of distinguishing between both decisions. In fact, many socio-demographic variables show only explanatory power for the participation decision. The two key factors in explaining both decisions are the previous year's tourism participation pattern, suggesting evidence of habit persistence, and income, although with an income elasticity below unity.
Quality, Quantity and Duration Decisions in Household Demand for Vacations
Authors: Fleischer Aliza , Rivlin (Byk) Judith
Published: September 2010

A trend observed recently in the household demand for vacations has been towards multiple but shorter vacations and higher-quality tourism services. It is argued in this paper that analysing vacation expenditure without distinguishing between its components – the quality, quantity and duration of vacations – can be misleading. The authors develop a theoretical model to analyse the properties of household demand functions for these vacation components. By applying the model to Israeli data, they find that the rise in income and quality-adjusted price are responsible for the increase in the number of vacations and their level of quality. The increase in the wage rate (time cost) is the main impetus behind the observed trend towards short vacations.
Modelling Air Passenger Arrivals in the Balearic and Canary Islands, Spain
Authors: Bartolomé Ana , McAleer Michael , Ramos Vicente , Rey-Maquieira Javier
Published: September 2010

This paper models daily air passenger arrivals and their volatility for the Balearic and Canary Islands, Spain. Due to climatic conditions, tourism seasonality is clear in the Balearics, with an increasing number of arrivals during the winter months. In the Canary Islands, the seasonal pattern is different, with decreasing numbers in recent years. Three univariate conditional volatility models are estimated for both the Balearics and the Canaries, concentrating on empirical issues relating to short- and long-run persistence, as well as the symmetric and asymmetric effects of positive and negative shocks of equal magnitude on volatility.
The Dynamics of Tourism's Economic Impact
Authors: Blake Adam
Published: September 2010

When considering the economic impact of tourism, it is common to model tourism expenditures in a static model, providing the impact that tourism spending would have if its effects were contained in a single year. This confuses two features; first, that any change in tourism spending has a time dimension and, second, it ignores changes that may occur in years after the change in spending has taken place, or that occur prior to it if the spending is anticipated. This paper uses a dynamic CGE model to examine these effects, providing comparisons between anticipated and unanticipated tourism booms.
Estimation of Outbound Italian Tourism Demand: A Monthly Dynamic EC-LAIDS Model
Authors: Cortés-Jiménez Isabel , Durbarry Ramesh , Pulina Manuela
Published: September 2010

An almost ideal demand system with monthly frequency, in both long-run and dynamic forms, is used to quantify the responsiveness of Italian tourism demand to changes in relative prices, exchange rates, expenditure and unexpected one-off events in four main European destinations. Short-term elasticities, which are crucial for policies regarding own price, as well as cross prices and expenditure elasticities are derived from the dynamic model. It is also found that the dynamic model outperforms the long-run model in forecasting accuracy. This paper provides useful information for policymakers to maintain high market shares of Italian tourism demand.
Specialization in Luxury Goods, Productivity Gaps and the Rapid Growth of Small Tourism Countries
Authors: Álvarez-Albelo Carmen D. , Hernández-Martín Raúl
Published: September 2010

This paper shows that specialization in luxury goods accounts for the remarkable growth performance of small tourism countries during recent decades. Two two-country models are constructed for this purpose. One country is large and rich and produces traded capital goods; the other is a small poor economy that produces traded tourism services. The models differ only in the luxury good nature of tourism. In both models, the tourism economy grows sustainably because its terms of trade improve continuously. This result is related to sectoral productivity gaps. Throughout the transition, the growth differential between the countries is significantly higher when tourism is a luxury good. In this case, there is a faster increase in the tourism imports of the rich economy. As a result, the terms of trade of the poor economy improve greatly and its investment is boosted.
Estimating the Impact of Avian Flu on International Tourism Demand Using Panel Data
Authors: Kuo Hsiao-I , Chang Chia-Lin , Huang Bing-Wen , Chen Chi-Chung , McAleer Michael
Published: September 2010

This paper investigates the impacts of avian flu on global and Asian tourism using panel data procedures. Both static and dynamic fixed effects panel data models are adopted to estimate the impacts of this infectious disease. The empirical results from static and dynamic fixed effects panel data models are consistent and indicate that the number of affected poultry outbreaks has significant impacts on the international tourism of global and Asian affected countries. The high mortality rate among humans, the potential of a global flu pandemic and some media frenzy with hype and speculation might adversely affect the images of these infected destinations as a safe tourist destination. Moreover, it was found that the average damage to Asian tourism was more serious, which might have been induced by an ineffective suppression in numerous Asian infected countries. In addition, Asia was the earliest affected region and the area infected most seriously by avian flu, both in humans and in poultry. Since the potential risks and damage arising from avian flu and the subsequent pandemic influenza are much greater than for previous diseases, the need to take necessary precautions in the event of an outbreak of avian flu and pandemic influenza warrants further attention and action in modelling and managing international tourism demand and risk.
Are Preferences for Water Quality Different for Second-Home Residents?
Authors: Torres Catalina M. , Riera Antoni , García Dolores
Published: September 2010

The latest trends in tourism indicate the emergence of a new segment of visitors looking for accommodation in private residences. The increase in second-home residents has led to efforts to improve knowledge of the preferences of this new type of tourist in those destinations where their presence is considerable. As one of the key variables affecting the choice of residential tourists is the environmental quality of the area, this paper focuses on testing for the existence of an inverse correlation between the loss of coastal water transparency, viewed as a measure of environmental quality, and beach aesthetics in Santa Ponça Bay, a Mallorcan coastal area containing two urban beach zones of intensive recreational use, where the proportion of second-home residents is high. The results show that the willingness to pay for improvements in water transparency diminishes in a non-linear way when transparency deteriorates, resulting in no statistically significant differences between first- and second-home residents.
Financial Sustainability for Social Entrepreneurship – Pragmatic Social Imperative or Impractical Financial Challenge?
Authors: Jelen Jonatan
Published: September 2010

This article identifies recent forms of US enterprises that have pragmatically – if unintentionally – expanded the definition of ‘social entrepreneurship’ through an unprecedented level of social value creation without compromising the American tradition of private initiative. In capturing the dimensions of these new firms, the author proposes new theory in three respects: (a) social entrepreneurship can be reframed to incorporate a set of new activities that qualify as social value-creating activities; (b) social ventures can be designed in ways to attract private capital as intensely as traditional ventures; and (c) this originally US model can serve as a blueprint for international initiatives.
How Do Social Networks Make a Difference in the Internationalization of High-Tech SMEs?
Authors: Ferro Luz Marina , Préfontaine Lise , Skander Dorra
Published: September 2010

How do social networks contribute to the success of the internationalization process of high-technology small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)? A study of the literature and of five Colombian SMEs in the software industry identifies three roles played by networks: informational, linked to opportunities, vision and uncertainty; as a catalyst or moderator in the decision-making and internationalization process; and as leverage during the acquisition and development of resources. The results are integrated into a holistic model of the internationalization process and show that social networks make a difference in ensuring its success. They also add to the evidence of the irrelevance of geographical specificity to the international entrepreneurship phenomenon – Colombia being an emerging and little studied economy.
Literature Review of Online Remedial Education
Authors: Brants Lotte , Struyven Katrien
Published: September 2010

The authors first explore the changing European society and its impact on higher education. This forms a background to the main focus of the paper – the effectiveness of remedial or developmental education. The paper then provides an overview of the core elements of successful remedial or developmental courses and summarizes developments in online education and computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL). The added value of IT in remedial education is subsequently examined in depth through a review of the literature and research. Finally, addressing the role of information and communications technology in online remedial education, the authors clarify the connections between the key components of remedial and online education.
Who Profits Most from Blended Learning?
Authors: Tempelaar Dirk T. , Rienties Bart , Giesbers Bas
Published: September 2010

The authors investigate the relationship between student learning choices and learning styles in the use of an innovative learning environment for statistics. For teaching introductory statistics to first-year students in economics and business, Maastricht University uses a blended learning environment. It allows students to individualize learning by attuning the available learning tools to their personal preferences. The blended learning environment consists of tutorials focused on problem-based learning, lectures, independent learning and an electronic learning environment (ALEKS) based on knowledge space theory. The paper examines the intensity of use of ALEKS and investigates the relationship between this and student learning dispositions in a correlational study. Data from around 4,650 students are used. The findings suggest that less academically-inclined students, such as those with ‘surface’ approaches to learning, profit most from the availability of e-learning tools.
Implementing E-Learning and Web 2.0 Innovation
Authors: Durkee David , Brant Stephen , Nevin Pete , Odell Annette , Williams Godfried , Melomey Divina , Roberts Hedley , Imafidon Chris , Perryman Roy , Lopes Anna
Published: September 2010

This paper examines the practical implications for teachers wishing to incorporate e-learning and Web 2.0 technologies into their pedagogy. The authors concentrate on applied didactical scenarios and the impacts of e-learning innovations. The methods applied stem from grounded theory and action research. An analytical framework was derived by inverting problem-based learning (PBL). Three practices at the University of East London (UEL) are examined in the context of this framework, using, respectively, a formal virtual learning environment, Facebook and Skype. The paper's findings have implications and provide guidance for those planning and implementing online collaboration and learning in education and industry.
Social Presence, Web Videoconferencing and Learning in Virtual Teams
Authors: Giesbers Bas , Rienties Bart , Gijselaers Wim H. , Segers Mien , Tempelaar Dirk T.
Published: September 2010

The potential of information technology to facilitate collaboration in education has grown considerably in recent years. The use of Web videoconferencing, whereby learners in an online classroom can simultaneously collaborate using audiovisual communication tools, increases the learner's ability in social and emotional expression, thus improving communication which may enhance learning satisfaction. This paper compares two cohorts of students who attended the same online course in economics. Both could communicate via a discussion board and one cohort had the additional opportunity to participate in Web conferences. Contrary to expectations, learning satisfaction did not seem to increase with the introduction of Web videoconferencing. This finding leads to several questions for future research.
Fruit and Vegetable Production in the New Millennium
Authors: Galanopoulos Konstantinos , Nilsson Fredrik O.L. , Wajnblom Emma , Surry Yves
Published: September 2010

The Barcelona Agreement, which aims to establish a free trade zone between most Mediterranean countries and the EU, was seen as an opportunity for the former to gain easier access to and increase their share of the European fruit and vegetable market. Mediterranean countries are traditional growers of fruit and vegetables, but are struggling to remain competitive in the global market. This paper reports on the current situation and on future prospects for production and trade in fruit and vegetables in the Mediterranean, emphasizing the challenges these countries need to tackle to increase their competitiveness.
Disease Management, Economic Incentives and Trade
Authors: Kerr William A. , Loppacher Laura J. , Barichello Richard R.
Published: September 2010

Barriers to trade can be imposed if a threat of importing a disease exists. Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures have historically been applied on a national basis, even though regions in an exporting country may have very different disease profiles. The World Trade Organization's 1995 Agreement on SPS Measures included a provision for exports from disease-free subnational areas. Regionalization has been explored in depth by many countries from a scientific disease control perspective, but not from an economic perspective, and negotiations have been exclusively science-focused. As yet, little progress has been made towards correcting this provision. This article examines the question of creating a sustainable subnational disease-free area approved for export from an economic perspective. The analysis shows that there may be significant benefits from applying regionalization to international trade, but these benefits are not guaranteed. Recognition of economic incentives provides the key to creating sustainable disease-free subnational regions. In particular, removing the incentive to smuggle between regions is an essential requirement of an exporter's domestic policy. Economic incentives have largely been ignored both by the responsible domestic agencies and by international negotiators, but until the question of economic incentives is included in the international agenda, little progress can be expected.
Economics of Rural Governance
Authors: Valentinov Vladislav , Fritzsch Jana
Published: September 2010

This paper develops an economic rationalization of the ‘shift from government to governance’ by employing the logic of the property rights theory of the firm. Rural governance is defined as being based on the equal assignment of property rights and is hypothesized as being preferred by rural stakeholders in those cases where the stakeholders' interests are significantly common. This theoretical argument has been confirmed by an empirical analysis of rural governance in Ukraine through a survey of members of various rural cooperatives in the Kiev region.
The US Bayh–Dole Act and Revisionism Redux
Authors: Bremer Howard , Allen Joseph , Latker Norman J.
Published: September 2010

In the past several years various published papers have questioned whether the Bayh–Dole Act of 1980 (The University and Small Business Patent Procedures Act) has in reality been a determining factor in promoting the transfer of technology from US universities, as has been credited to it. This paper responds to that criticism, presenting facts and analysis in support of the contributions universities have made under the auspices of the Act. The authors point out flawed interpretations and misreadings of pertinent data by critics and discuss the circumstances surrounding the inception, passage and implementation of Bayh–Dole.
Price Interactions between Theme Park and Tour Operator
Authors: Song Haiyan , Yang Shu , Huang George Q.
Published: September 2010

This paper conducts a theoretical investigation into pricing competition and coordination between Hong Kong Disneyland (HKD) and a tour operator. HKD supplies two types of admission ticket to the tour operator: an admission-only ticket and a package ticket that combines admission to the park and one night's accommodation in its hotels. The tour operator then sells these two types of admission ticket in the target market. A Stackelberg game model is proposed to formulate the leader–follower relationship, with HKD leading and the tour operator following. The equilibrium prices are derived by backward induction. The theoretical results show that HKD can coordinate with the tour operator through a quantity discount schedule. A Nash bargaining game suggests that HKD receives a larger share of the profit growth due to its dominant market power.
Gender Segregation and Wage Difference in the Hospitality Industry
Authors: Campos-Soria Juan Antonio , Ortega-Aguaza Bienvenido , Ropero-García Miguel Angel
Published: September 2010

This article estimates the contribution of different types of gender segregation to the wage difference between men and women in the hospitality industry. Matched employer–employee data from a sample of hotels and restaurants in Andalusia are used to this end. The data source includes information on 181 hotels and 121 restaurants. Impacts on the wage gap are obtained for two empirical specifications. In the first, equal returns of observable variables are assumed for men and women and, in the second, returns are assumed to be different for each gender. The authors find that industrial and vertical segregation – and to a lesser extent establishment segregation – increase the wage differential. However, horizontal and category segregation help to diminish this, although the impact of the latter is not very substantial. Regarding occupational segregation, women predominate in worst-paid jobs, but their wages drop less than men's earnings. These estimations are robust to both empirical specifications.
The Economics of US Cruise Companies' European Brand Strategies
Authors: Vogel Michael P.
Published: September 2010

Carnival and Royal Caribbean control two-thirds of the global cruise ship capacity. Although they share the same ambition to grow in Europe, they have never shared the same strategy. Carnival adopted a strategy of multiple decentralized local brands, each with its own capacities and prices, while Royal Caribbean chose a global brand, capacity and pricing strategy. However, Royal Caribbean's acquisition of Pullmantur in Spain, and the subsequent announcements of a dedicated cruise line for France and of a joint venture with TUI in Germany, mark a fundamental strategy change. Using microeconomic modelling, this paper investigates the rationale for that change.
An Analysis of the Relationship between Transport Capital and Tourism Development in a Dynamic Framework
Authors: Seetanah Boopen , Khadaroo Jameel
Published: September 2010

This paper investigates the contribution of transportation capital, an often neglected element in the overall attractiveness of Mauritius as a tourist destination. To gauge its effect, the study extends a classical demand for international tourism function to include a proxy of transport infrastructure. Accounting for the possibility of endogeneity and dynamism in tourism modelling, cointegration analysis in a vector autoregressive model is employed to assess the hypothesized link. Results from the analysis show that the stock of transport capital has contributed positively to the number of tourist arrivals in both the short run and the long run. The study thus highlights the importance of transport capital in adding to the value of tourism service and experience.
When They Do It: Institutional Entrepreneurship in Two Québécois Organizations
Authors: Coulombe Caroline , Martí Ignasi
Published: September 2010

This article analyses from an institutional perspective efforts by two entrepreneurs in governmental organizations to promote new practices and programmes and the nature of the challenges they encounter as they deviate from, and attempt to disrupt, institutionalized practices. These two case studies are used to gain knowledge on why and how individuals become institutional entrepreneurs. The article provides insights into the processes an institutional entrepreneur goes through in an institution that does not provide support. The authors finally suggest potential avenues for cross-fertilization between the corporate entrepreneurship and institutional entrepreneurship literatures.
Entrepreneurial Orientation: The Making of a Concept
Authors: Basso Olivier , Fayolle Alain , Bouchard Véronique
Published: September 2010

Researchers in management science are increasingly concerned with the rigour of their research work and their capacity to build knowledge based on a cumulative research model. This article examines the strength of the entrepreneurial orientation construct, extensively used in entrepreneurship and strategy. Based on a close analysis of the seminal literature, the authors propose a critical evaluation of the development of the construct, which is a preliminary condition to enhancing its operationalization.
Solving the Innovation Dilemma by Creating Organizational Think Tanks
Authors: Puhan Tatjana-Xenia , Vogel Rick
Published: September 2010

In business venturing, the simultaneous activity of searching for hitherto unknown opportunities while pursuing already identified opportunities gives rise to high-tension and contradictory processes. This innovation dilemma presents a key managerial challenge to corporate entrepreneurship. To this dilemma the authors apply the exploration/exploitation framework and argue that a balance of the divergent organizational and managerial needs of these two activities can be achieved more efficiently and effectively in a network-like structure of organizations. They take a design-oriented approach and, as a solution to the innovation dilemma, argue the case for a centre of explorative excellence as both focal point and mediator in an inter-organizational network, which they call an ‘organizational think tank’.
Making a Difference by Becoming the Same
Authors: Mialet Hélène
Published: September 2010

Based on an ethnographic study in an international petroleum company, this paper shows how a research scientist behind the discovery of groundbreaking new techniques distinguishes himself through his creative skills in formulating working instruments, organizational structures and human relations. The author argues that the more this actor is linked up with his institution, his objects of research, his co-workers, and so on, the more inventive he becomes; and the more inventive he becomes, the more he seemingly distinguishes himself by his singularity as an inventor – a genius who exists beyond social, material and cultural constraints. The author calls this actor the ‘distributed-centred subject’.
The Value of Client Perceptions in University Strategic Planning: An Empirical Research Study
Authors: del Barrio-García Salvador , Luque-Martínez Teodoro
Published: September 2010

Given the normative changes in higher education at European, national and regional levels, together with social, economic, demographic and technological developments, universities need to adopt a client-oriented approach and to make this client orientation an integral component of their strategic planning process. The university's ‘clients’ should thus be involved in its strategic planning. This paper demonstrates how an importance–performance analysis applied to the perceptions of different groups of clients and stakeholders about the institution can be an effective tool in this regard. The proposed methodology will assist managers, and those responsible for university planning, to diagnose the internal situation of the institution by building matrices of points of excellence and deficiencies. In illustrating the effectiveness of this methodology, the authors stress the need for higher education institutions to move from a product orientation, based on the notion that the institution is best able to decide what its clients need, to a client orientation, based on knowledge of who its clients are and on a detailed investigation of their needs and interests.
Economic Gardening through Entrepreneurship Education
Authors: Desplaces David E. , Wergeles Fred , McGuigan Patrick
Published: September 2010

This article outlines the implementation of a service-learning approach in an entrepreneurship programme using an ‘economic gardening’ strategy. Economic Gardening through Service-Learning (EGS-L) is an approach to economic development that helps local businesses and students grow through a facilitated learning process. Learning is made possible by appealing to the action orientation of entrepreneurs and supplying students with a real laboratory in which to implement, test and experience theory. Economic gardening effectively strengthens businesses in the community and promotes community awareness by bringing businesses, students, academics and community leaders together in a receptive and proactive environment. The authors draw on first-hand experience from programmes at various institutions and include in their discussion some preliminary results with regard to civic attitudes.
Delivering Seeds of ‘Orphan’ Crops
Authors: Pal Suresh , Singh Harbir , Mathur Prasoon
Published: September 2010

This paper examines the performance of the Indian seed system with reference to high-volume, low-value seed crops, using case studies of potato and groundnut. For both crops, traditional sources of seed meet more than two-thirds of the total demand and the rest is met by the organized sector, mainly public seed agencies. Most farmers buy fresh seed for reasons of quality, and only 12–15% purchase seed to change varieties. Technological innovations that increase the multiplication rate and improve the quality of seed provide a significant cost advantage in potato, and therefore have attracted the private sector's participation. This trend has been strengthened by the availability of source seed from public plant breeding programmes. However, it is unlikely that self-pollinated crops will attract private investment in plant breeding in the near future. Therefore, the public research system should continue to take responsibility for plant breeding and develop partnerships with the private sector to promote decentralized seed production and distribution. The development of supply chains, especially for premium markets, is another way to attract commercial interest in the seed as well as the product market.
GM Cotton for Africa
Authors: Hillocks R.J.
Published: September 2010

Cotton is the most important cash crop for smallholders in many countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Although GM cotton has been grown in South Africa for more than 10 years, most of the other SSA countries are only now enacting the biosafety legislation, with the supporting biotechnology policy, to enable them to acquire GM cotton technology from the biotechnology companies that hold the intellectual property rights. Burkina Faso, now the largest cotton producer in SSA, will be the first to make GM cotton available to smallholders. GM cotton is being promoted in the rest of SSA on the basis of its apparent success in improving the profitability of cotton growing as a smallholder enterprise in South Africa, India and China. With several other African countries soon to follow Burkina Faso in adopting GM cotton technology, this paper examines the potential benefits for Africa in the light of evidence from smallholder adoption elsewhere in the world.
Communities and Their Agrobiodiversity
Authors: Farooquee Nehal A. , Maikhuri R.K.
Published: September 2010

Poor scientific understanding of traditional farming systems and related socioeconomic issues seriously impede the identification of solutions for sustainable agricultural development in the Himalayan region. Traditional agrobiodiversity management plays a key role in coping with the uncertainties prevailing in the Himalaya. There is an urgent need to bring desirable changes in agricultural policy, research and development, land use and breeding approaches to mountainous regions. This paper describes the general characteristics of agrobiodiversity, its significance, status, rate of change and causal factors, ecological, social and policy dimensions and their impacts on agrobiodiversity loss and strategies for management of the Himalayan agroecosystems.
Developing a Strategy to Improve Irrigation Efficiency in a Temperate Climate
Authors: Knox Jerry , Weatherhead Keith , Díaz Juan Rodríguez , Kay Melvyn
Published: September 2010

Irrigation is an essential component of agricultural production in England, but the water resources required are under intense pressure due to rising competition, demands for greater environmental protection and the longer-term threats from climate change. This paper describes the development of a water strategy for agriculture to assure its future sustainability by reducing water wastage and maximizing the benefit from the water used. Three themes have been defined – working together, making best use of available water and developing a knowledge base. The approaches described have international relevance to countries where agricultural irrigation is an important component of water abstraction.
Technological Entrepreneurship and Firm Strategy: The Development and Commercialization of the Ballard Fuel Cell
Authors: Peters S.R. , Coles A.M.
Published: September 2010

An entrepreneurial strategy has been identified as playing a key role in radical innovation due to the risk-taking nature of the entrepreneurial firm. However, less attention has been paid to the factors that are critical to the success of such innovations by small firms in which these occur. The Schumpeterian idea of visionary individuals who can both operate in the world of advanced engineering and take on a business role as part of a global industry still appears to be essential. This article focuses on the fate of one such individual, Geoffrey Ballard, who has played a pioneering role in developing and commercializing fuel cells for vehicle propulsion.
Competitive Strategies and Links with Environmental Dynamism and Hostility
Authors: Urban Boris
Published: September 2010

Technology enterprises contribute significantly to raising national competitiveness, productivity and efficiency. Previous research indicates that a key part of a technology strategy is the interaction of that strategy with the venture's external environment. Exploratory, comparative and correlation and regression analysis were conducted to test hypothesized relationships. The sample was based on a previous conceptualization of early-stage technology enterprises (n = 165). No significant associations between strategies and the perceived environment were detected. The findings reveal that environmental dynamism and hostility affect the competitive strategic stance of only those firms that have been in existence for three to seven years and that have more than 50 employees.
Organizational Innovation Promoters and Performance Effects in Small, Knowledge-Intensive Firms
Authors: Jenssen Jan Inge , Aasheim Kari
Published: September 2010

This paper investigates the impacts of organizational factors on innovation and performance in small, knowledge-intensive firms. The study focused on Norwegian firms with 5 to 30 employees. The findings indicate that differentiating between product, process and market innovation provides a better understanding of the factors that drive innovation. This strategy seems to influence innovation. For instance, low-cost strategy positively impacts on both process innovation and market innovation. Also, external relationships significantly influence innovation: for instance, market participation in a product development context has a significant influence on product development.
Taking over the Reins: The Needs of Individuals Who Purchase Small Established Enterprises
Authors: Perry Jane , Badger Beryl , Lean Jonathan , Leybourne Steve
Published: September 2010

Although many small firms are purchased as going concerns, these businesses are rarely researched as a separate subgroup. Little is therefore known about (a) the skills and competences required to run these businesses; (b) the support and learning sources used by small business purchasers (SBPs); and (c) whether there is a need for additional training and support. This paper examines these issues through qualitative interviews, held with a selected sample of SBPs. The findings show that, while the majority of owner-manager skills are developed through informal learning methods, there is also a need for support that focuses on effecting a smooth takeover, preserving the firm's goodwill, maintaining trade levels and building satisfactory relationships with inherited employees.
Rewards to Education in the Tourism Sector: One Step Ahead
Authors: Lillo-Bañuls Adelaida , Casado-Díaz José M.
Published: September 2010

The authors analyse private returns to education in the Spanish tourism sector – that is, the increase in salary associated with an additional year of study. Mincer-type functions are estimated, drawing on a large sample from the Spanish Survey on Working Conditions, which allows robust estimations. Unlike previous analyses, the existence of an ability bias is considered explicitly through the use of instrumental variables techniques. The results show that, contrary to previous estimates based on OLS, the estimated returns in the tourism sector are not significantly different from those of the Spanish economy as a whole. The authors also provide additional evidence on the heterogeneity that is apparent when the tourism sector workforce is disaggregated by age, sex and work experience.
The Rise, Fall and Renaissance of the Resort: A Simple Economic Model
Authors: Swann G.M. Peter
Published: September 2010

There is a large volume of literature on the life cycle of the tourist resort. However, there is scope to develop this body of work by harnessing recent contributions in the economics literature on cycles or waves in demand. This paper presents a simple economic model of the rise, fall and possible renaissance of the resort. The analysis is based on the work of Cowan et al (1997, 2004), which models waves in consumption when there are interdependencies between consumers. Of particular interest here are the conditions under which we may observe a ‘travelling wave’, where a new resort starts off as a distinctive and select venue but then, as it grows in popularity, starts to go downmarket. After the resort has been unfashionable for some time and unattractive associations are far enough in the past, a new sort of pioneer (accompanied by a new wave of investment) can start off a second wave of popularity. The model presented was motivated by reference to the history of the city of Bath, which enjoyed a long period as a very popular resort and then fell into decline in the 19th century, but enjoyed a renaissance in the mid-20th century to become one of the most popular medium-sized towns in England.
Testing the Empirical Link between Tourism and Competitiveness: Evidence from Puerto Rico
Authors: Croes Robertico , Rivera Manuel Antonio
Published: September 2010

This study examines the empirical relationship between tourism and the competitiveness of a destination. It uses the cointegration and error correction model (ECM) in a bivariate context as a precondition to apply the Granger causality test. This procedure was carried out in the case of Puerto Rico's tourism industry during 1960–2004. The study found cointegration in the intertemporal rather than the contemporaneous effects, as well as a one-directional causality running from changes in tourism spending to changes in competitiveness. This result highlights the long-run equilibrium spending behaviour of tourists as a major concern of destination managers.
Game-Theoretic Study of the Dynamics of Tourism Supply Chains for Package Holidays under Quantity Competition
Authors: Huang George Q. , Chen Wanli , Song Haiyan , Zhang Xinyan
Published: September 2010

This paper considers a tourism supply chain (TSC) for package holidays. Three sectors are included: a theme park, hotel and accommodation providers and tour operators. The different sectors are coordinated with each other, while enterprises within each compete in order to optimize their own objectives. This research studies the impacts of competitive and cooperative relationships between the enterprises on the dynamics of the TSC under quantity competition. Simultaneous non-cooperative games are used to model the competitive quantity decisions between enterprises in the same sector. A sequential game is established between the three sectors to coordinate tourist numbers. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to examine the dynamics of the supply chain in terms of several operating parameters, such as operating costs, sector size and product differentiation. Among the key findings are that member enterprises in one sector can benefit from intensified competition in a complementary sector in the same layer and that the upstream enterprises in the tourism supply chain prefer package holiday product differentiation strategies.
Capitalizing on Knowledge from Public Research Institutions
Authors: Lynskey Michael J.
Published: September 2010

Knowledge spillovers from universities and other public research institutions (PRIs) are viewed as essential for innovation. Previous studies examining the impact of such spillovers have been confined to the West, and there are no comparable studies using empirical data from Japan that explore the relationship between spillovers from PRIs and innovation in firms. The author attempts to address this gap by using data from Japanese PRIs and new technology-based firms (NTBFs). He examines several topics: the evidence that knowledge spillovers from PRIs are localized in Japan; the extent to which such spillovers are contingent on geographical proximity; whether the type of tool used to measure spillovers – patents or scientific publications – has a bearing on the results; and the relationship between spillovers and innovation in Japanese NTBFs.
Accelerating Venture Creation and Building on Mutual Strengths in Experimental Business Labs
Authors: Curley Martin G. , Formica Piero
Published: September 2010

This paper articulates the opportunity of using an experimental business laboratory approach as a means of accelerating the creation, incubation and testing of new venture ideas. Such a strategy leads to the establishment of a micro-ecosystem of aspiring entrepreneurs and others in a business laboratory environment. The goal is to create a mini idea-supercollider, in which a microscopic ‘De Medici Effect’ (Johansson, 2004) can be achieved, with aspiring entrepreneurs with different ideas, experiences and disciplines meeting in a spirit of open innovation – the sum of the whole being much greater than the sum of the individual parts. The development of an ecosystem for idea generation and rapid testing using business simulation tools can accelerate the creation, mobilization and diffusion stages of the knowledge lifecycle (Birkinshaw and Sheehan, 2002) in a knowledge- driven entrepreneurship venture, while de-risking potential ventures before significant capital is applied.
SME Performance – Results from a Longitudinal Study
Authors: Isaacs Eslyn , Friedrich Christian
Published: September 2010

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have become the backbone of industrialized economies. This trend is also evident in South Africa, where, however, there are more closures than expansions: it is believed that only around 1% of the micro-enterprises started with fewer than five employees grow to employ up to 10 people. Consequently, these businesses contribute little to the taxation base of the economy, thus depriving the country of potential and much needed tax revenue. The rhetoric about the importance of SMEs in relation to the sustainability of jobs and poverty alleviation is current in South Africa, as elsewhere. Yet no studies have been conducted in the country to confirm that SMEs do have the desired effects. This study was therefore undertaken to ascertain whether SMEs do indeed contribute to and/or are able to sustain jobs over time. Performance data on SMEs were collected over a three-year period. During this period, a very small number of businesses closed due to failure; others simply disappeared or ceased business operations without formally de-registering the business.
Achieving and Sustaining New Knowledge Development in High-Expectation Start-ups
Authors: Matricano Diego
Published: September 2010

In markets characterized by strong competition, new knowledge and new knowledge development are generally recognized as the key means for an enterprise to gain competitive advantage. This knowledge-based competitive advantage is critical for all commercial ventures, but is especially so for high-expectation start-ups (technology-based ventures anticipating high growth rates). Even though the organizational processes of a start-up are still under development, the success of new knowledge development is affected by three critical factors – the structure of the enterprise, the organizational technology and the knowledge promoters. An analysis of these factors suggests that the role of the knowledge promoter is the key determinant of knowledge development success in the case of early-stage high-expectation start-ups.
University–Industry Relationships: Benefits and Risks
Authors: Sandelin Jon
Published: September 2010

University–industry relationships can bring significant benefits to the university, the company and the individual researcher, but there is also the potential for risks to all parties. This paper presents the potential rewards and risks from university–industry relationships and the related opportunities for economic growth and job creation. The author describes how conflicts of interest and conflicts of commitment (COIC) can have potential adverse effects for society, research institutions and individual researchers. He provides information on managing COIC to avoid risks and gives examples of COIC situations and how they might be dealt with. The final section of the paper includes references to sources of information on appropriate policies and procedures for dealing with COIC.
SWOT Analysis: Appraisal of a New Tool in European Rural Development Policies
Authors: Knierim Andrea , Nowicki Peter
Published: September 2010

Strategic policy making for rural regions has gained increasing importance during the last few decades in the European Union. A coherent framework for the development of agricultural and rural policy measures has been made available (Council Decision 2006/144/EC), which integrates Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis as an essential step in regional stocktaking and ex ante appraisal. The authors start with an outline of the SWOT tool as part of the EU's overall strategic approach and follow this with an overview of the conceptual backgrounds in management theory and organizational development. Then, on the basis of two examples, the tool's recent use in agriculture and rural development is demonstrated and discussed. Conclusions are drawn for the instrument's future application.
Integrated Soil Fertility Management
Authors: Vanlauwe B. , Bationo A. , Chianu J. , Giller K.E. , Merckx R. , Mokwunye U. , Ohiokpehai O. , Pypers P. , Tabo R. , Shepherd K.D. , Smaling E.M.A. , Woomer P.L. , Sanginga N.
Published: September 2010

Traditional farming systems in Sub-Saharan Africa depend primarily on mining soil nutrients. The African green revolution aims to intensify agriculture through the dissemination of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM). This paper develops a robust and operational definition of ISFM based on detailed knowledge of African farming systems and their inherent variability and of the optimal use of nutrients. The authors define ISFM as a set of soil fertility management practices that necessarily include the use of fertilizer, organic inputs and improved germplasm, combined with the knowledge on how to adapt these practices to local conditions, aimed at maximizing agronomic use efficiency of the applied nutrients and improving crop productivity. All inputs need to be managed in accordance with sound agronomic principles. The integration of ISFM practices into farming systems is illustrated with the dual-purpose grain legume–maize rotations in the savannas and fertilizer micro-dosing in the Sahel. Finally, the dissemination of ISFM practices is discussed.