title: A secret ingredient for SMEs performance:  Human resource management in cafés and restaurants in Auckland and Waikato, New Zealand

authors: Chairungruang, Saifon

subjects: SMEs

abstract: Though entrepreneurship theory has developed extensively over the last few decades, the drivers behind small business performance are underdeveloped in terms of human resource management (HRM) practices, particularly in café and restaurant businesses. This research has investigated the associations between entrepreneurship, HRM, and firm performance in the context of café and restaurant businesses in the Auckland and Waikato regions in New Zealand. The study used mixed methods: with priority to surveys first and conducting semi-structured interviews in later stage. The quantitative (survey) data comprised matched pairs of 107 small- and medium-sized cafés and restaurants owner/manager and a random employee. In addition, nine owner-manager qualitative interviews were conducted for enhanced understanding of HRM practices and entrepreneurship. 

The research extends empirical evidence into HRM and entrepreneurship of small- and medium sized enterprises, and widens firm performance measures to non-financial outcomes and focuses on the employee by using two data sources: owner/managers and employees. How owner entrepreneurial traits and characteristics, and HRM practices influence not only the firm but the workers provide unique insights to the field.
The findings show the statistical significance of positive relationship of entrepreneurial traits, skills and motivation, and employee outcomes. The finding also identified the statistical significance of small size in the effect of a direct positive relationship between the HRM practices and service climate reported by owner/managers. 

The study provides recommendations for future research, and implications for practice for small business owners/managers and policy-makers by suggesting how entrepreneurship and HRM can be linked to firm performance: improved communication, role of owner/entrepreneurs in HRM, and importance of flexi-time practice in cafés and restaurants.

text: A secret ingredient for SMEs performance:  Human resource management in cafés and restaurants in Auckland and Waikato, New Zealand Though entrepreneurship theory has developed extensively over the last few decades, the drivers behind small business performance are underdeveloped in terms of human resource management (HRM) practices, particularly in café and restaurant businesses. This research has investigated the associations between entrepreneurship, HRM, and firm performance in the context of café and restaurant businesses in the Auckland and Waikato regions in New Zealand. The study used mixed methods: with priority to surveys first and conducting semi-structured interviews in later stage. The quantitative (survey) data comprised matched pairs of 107 small- and medium-sized cafés and restaurants owner/manager and a random employee. In addition, nine owner-manager qualitative interviews were conducted for enhanced understanding of HRM practices and entrepreneurship. 

The research extends empirical evidence into HRM and entrepreneurship of small- and medium sized enterprises, and widens firm performance measures to non-financial outcomes and focuses on the employee by using two data sources: owner/managers and employees. How owner entrepreneurial traits and characteristics, and HRM practices influence not only the firm but the workers provide unique insights to the field.
The findings show the statistical significance of positive relationship of entrepreneurial traits, skills and motivation, and employee outcomes. The finding also identified the statistical significance of small size in the effect of a direct positive relationship between the HRM practices and service climate reported by owner/managers. 

The study provides recommendations for future research, and implications for practice for small business owners/managers and policy-makers by suggesting how entrepreneurship and HRM can be linked to firm performance: improved communication, role of owner/entrepreneurs in HRM, and importance of flexi-time practice in cafés and restaurants.

year: 2016

title: Willingness-to-pay for renewable energy: Primary and discretionary choice of British households' for micro-generation technologies

authors: Scarpa, Riccardo

subjects: renewable energy

abstract: This paper documents the policy context of renewable energy production in the European Union. The research adopts a choice experiment approach to investigate households' WTP for these renewable energy technologies in the UK. The micro-generation technologies comprise solar photovoltaic, micro-wind, solar thermal, heat pumps, and biomass boilers and pellet stoves. The study compares the results from conditional and mixed logit models, which estimate the distribution of utility coefficients and then derives WTP values as a ratio of the attribute coefficient to the price coefficient, with a model in which the WTP distribution is estimated directly from utility in the money space. The results suggest that whilst renewable energy adoption is significantly valued by households, this value is not sufficiently large, for the vast majority of households, to cover the higher capital costs of micro-generation energy technologies.

text: Willingness-to-pay for renewable energy: Primary and discretionary choice of British households' for micro-generation technologies This paper documents the policy context of renewable energy production in the European Union. The research adopts a choice experiment approach to investigate households' WTP for these renewable energy technologies in the UK. The micro-generation technologies comprise solar photovoltaic, micro-wind, solar thermal, heat pumps, and biomass boilers and pellet stoves. The study compares the results from conditional and mixed logit models, which estimate the distribution of utility coefficients and then derives WTP values as a ratio of the attribute coefficient to the price coefficient, with a model in which the WTP distribution is estimated directly from utility in the money space. The results suggest that whilst renewable energy adoption is significantly valued by households, this value is not sufficiently large, for the vast majority of households, to cover the higher capital costs of micro-generation energy technologies.

year: 2010

title: Respecting and recognising Indigenous rights when challenged by commercial activities

authors: Toki, Valmaine

abstract: The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was hailed as a triumph among Indigenous peoples, signalling a long-awaited recognition of their fundamental human rights. Despite this, many violations of these basic rights continue, particularly in relation to extractive industries and business activities. In response, a business reference guide seeks to inform industries of their responsibilities. This article examines the tenuous relationship between Indigenous rights, state responsibilities and business expectations.

text: Respecting and recognising Indigenous rights when challenged by commercial activities The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples was hailed as a triumph among Indigenous peoples, signalling a long-awaited recognition of their fundamental human rights. Despite this, many violations of these basic rights continue, particularly in relation to extractive industries and business activities. In response, a business reference guide seeks to inform industries of their responsibilities. This article examines the tenuous relationship between Indigenous rights, state responsibilities and business expectations.

year: 2018