Entrepreneurs face constraints that more mature organizations may not. These constraints cause unique pressures within entrepreneurship. Although ethics and entrepreneurship have individually received much attention in the academic literature, not enough research has investigated ethics within entrepreneurship. This study addresses the need of ethics research within entrepreneurship. Utilizing the theory of planned behavior, this research investigates the ethical decision making process of entrepreneurs. Not all ethical situations are created equally, and not all entrepreneurs are created equally. The ethical environment of any situation can be financially concerned or socially concerned. Likewise, entrepreneurs can be motivated by a private financial gain or a social impact. A multi-scenario approach known as policy-capturing is used to examine the relative importance entrepreneurs place on attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control (PBC), and self-identity when faced with a financial and a social ethical decision. The findings suggest that the environment does affect the ethical decision making process as defined by the relative importance of the variables. Within each environment, personal demographic variables of entrepreneurs were also found to affect their ethical decision making process. Such variables included entrepreneurial orientation, gender, love of money, financial security, spirituality/religiosity, idealism, and relativism. By considering the effects of the ethical environment along with the demographics of the entrepreneur, potential investors may be able to more accurately gauge investment opportunities. Implications of the findings, limitations of the study, and future research areas are discussed.

La théorie néo institutionnelle nous renseigne sur les facteurs structurant les organisations et les marchés. Elle offre une grille de lecture adaptée pour tous ceux qui sont soucieux de comprendre et maîtriser les évolutions d’un champ organisationnel, en particulier s’ils sont acteurs de cette évolution. Cette grille de lecture est particulièrement riche d’enseignement pour les entrepreneurs qui cherchent à modifier durablement le domaine dans lequel ils interviennent. Un des axes peu étudié de l’action entrepreneuriale, concerne la dimension spatiale, c’est-à-dire la capacité à arranger la disposition des réalités sociales distinctes. La littérature sur les territoires nous renseigne sur le lien fort qui existe entre espace et institutions. Ce qui nous mène à la question de recherche principale : comment une action forte sur l’espace va modifier les institutions, et transformer l’entrepreneur en entrepreneur institutionnel ? Cette recherche se propose d’étudier plusieurs cas de parcours d’entrepreneurs suivant une stratégie spatiale et de vérifier si leur démarche s’inscrit dans le processus du travail institutionnel. Le premier intérêt de cette recherche sera de définir ce qu’est une « stratégie spatiale » en matière de gestion et, plus précisément, en matière entrepreneuriale, en détaillant son processus, les compétences clés et en fournissant des modèles génériques. Le second intérêt sera d’apporter un éclairage théorique nouveau sur l’entrepreneur institutionnel, « boson de Higgs » de la Théorie Néo Institutionnelle. / The new institutional theory plays an important part to our understanding of the structural elements shaping organizations and markets. It brings an analytical framework for anyone interested in understanding and managing changes in an organizational field, and more specifically for those who want to be actor of that change. This framework is particularly helpful for entrepreneurs wishing to change their field of operation. Spatial activity, namely the capacity to organize social distinct realities, is a dimension of the entrepreneurial activity that has remained quite unexplored. The literature on territories gives us an indication of the strong relationship between space and institution. This brings us to the backbone question of this research: how can deliberate actions on space (or “doing with space” as written by Michel Lussault) change institutions and turn the entrepreneur into an institutional entrepreneur? This research will be based on several case studies about entrepreneurs who follow a spatial strategy, to test whether it fits the definition of institutional work. First, it will define what a “spatial strategy” is in management studies, and in particular for entrepreneurship, by detailing its process and the key competences and by proposing various generic models. Finally, it will shed a new light on the institutional entrepreneur, “Higgs boson” of the New Institutional Theory.

Submitted by Maicon Juliano Schmidt (maicons) on 2015-07-08T18:35:42Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Vitória Vieira Mattiello da Silva.pdf: 1094020 bytes, checksum: 451e9bee4567bc8a559de6f34ecfff4d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-08T18:35:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Juliana Vitória Vieira Mattiello da Silva.pdf: 1094020 bytes, checksum: 451e9bee4567bc8a559de6f34ecfff4d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-01-31 / Nenhuma / O presente trabalho objetiva identificar a avaliação dos empreendedores individuais do Estado de Mato Grosso, quanto aos benefícios da formalização do seu negócio, amparados na Lei Complementar n. 128/2008. A pesquisa foi conduzida por meio de levantamento (survey), caracteriza-se quanto aos seus objetivos como exploratória e descritiva e quanto à abordagem do problema, predominantemente, quantitativa. A população deste estudo é formada pelos microempreendedores individuais formalizados do Estado de Mato Grosso. Considerou-se as 12 regiões do Estado para esse estudo. A amostra foi encontrada mediante a aplicação da fórmula citada por Sampieri (2006), em um total de 607 empreendedores individuais. Utilizou-se para a coleta de dados, a entrevista por telefone, com questionário, previamente, formulado, aplicado aos empreendedores individuais da amostra, conforme banco de dados repassado à pesquisadora pelo SEBRAE/MT. Para análise dos dados da pesquisa, foi realizada a estatística descritiva, a conjoint analysis, o teste de mann-whitney e o teste de kruskal-wallis. Os resultados encontrados revelam que a maioria dos EIs de MT são do sexo masculino, jovens entre 30 a 39 anos e com baixo nível de instrução. Os principais motivos que estimularam os EIs de MT à adesão para a formalização de seus empreendimentos foram: ter uma empresa formal, trabalhar por conta própria, benefícios previdenciários e segurança jurídica. Quanto à satisfação dos EIs de MT, em relação à formalização, pode-se afirmar que eles estão satisfeitos pela formalização; o fato é que a satisfação com a formalização é muito superior que a percepção de melhoria em benefícios individuais, ou seja, mais importante que um único benefício isolado é o conjunto de transformações que a formalização proporcionou. Detectou-se diferenças entre as regiões, isso em decorrência da análise das respostas e pela percepção dos respondentes quanto à formalização do seu negócio. Acredita-se por esse estudo que a Lei Complementar n. 128/08 alcançou seus objetivos. / The aim of this dissertation is identify the evaluation of individual entrepreneurs concerning the formalization of their business, supported by the Complementary Law nº. 128/2008, of the State of Mato Grosso. The research was made through survey, it is characterized, concerning to its goals, as exploratory and descriptive, and concerning the approach of the problem, as predominantly quantitative. For this study, the 12 areas of the State were considered. The sample was found through the formula mentioned by Sampieri (2006), in a total of 607 individual entrepreneurs. As for the collecting of data, it was used the telephone interview, with questionnaire, previously, formulated, applied to the individual entrepreneurs of the State of Mato Grosso, according to the database granted to the researcher by SEBRAE/MT. As for the analysis of research data, the descriptive statistics was done, the conjoint analysis, the test of mann-whitney and the test of kruskal-wallis. The found results reveal that most of the individual entrepreneurs (EIs) of MT are men, young people, aged between 30 and 39 and with low instruction level. The main reasons that stimulated the EIs of MT to the adhesion for the formalization of their business were: to have a formal company, to work independently, pension benefits and juridical safety. As it concerns the satisfaction of the EIs of MT, with regard to formalization under the Law no. 128/08, it can be affirmed that they are satisfied by the formalization, the fact is that the satisfaction with the formalization is very superior than the improvement perception on individual benefits, in other words, more important than an unique isolated benefit is the set of transformations that the formalization provided. The areas that presented most differences were: area 2, area 3, area 6, area 7 and area 9. It can be realized that there is a strong presence of entrepreneurs in the areas 3 and 7 by necessity, that due to the analysis of the answers and by the perception of the respondents with regard to the formalization of their business. As for its turn, the area 6, it is realized that the Complementary Law nº. 128/08 solved an immediate problem for the EIs who were on the informality, because they took the benefits to benefit themselves, and were differed by the benefit “exemption of taxation for registration of the company” " and “fiscal security”, and for they already are informal, they can be characterized as entrepreneurs by necessity. However, in the areas 2 and 9 it can be realized a strong presence of the entrepreneurs by opportunity. This perception is due to the EIs, as for the course of their business post-formalization. It is believed that the Complementary Law nº. 128/08 has met its goals. Complementary Law nº. 128/08 achieved its objectives.

Over 35 years of gross economic mismanagement and business failures led Liberia's gross domestic product to collapse by 90% in less than two decades. As a result of a general lack of business skills, up to 80% of Liberian small-business entrepreneurs fail in business beyond the first year. Based on the theory of constraints, the purpose of this exploratory multiple case study was to explore the business skills that Liberian small-business entrepreneurs used to succeed in business beyond the first year. Data came from semistructured face-to-face interviews with 5 central regional Liberian small-business entrepreneurs who had succeeded in business beyond the first year. Participant observation, the use of company documents, and the use of member checking allowed for methodological triangulation and verification of the themes. Analysis of data involved using pattern-matching technique and date coding to evaluate, organize, code, and analyze the raw data. There were 3 prominent themes that emerged among entrepreneurs during data analysis: business knowledge, bookkeeping, and pricing skills. The data from the results indicated, within this particular context, Liberian small-business entrepreneurs used business skills for knowledge, finance, and marketing. Focusing on these practices may lead to increased profit and business success beyond the first year for other Liberian small-business entrepreneurs. The findings from the study could provide mechanisms for social change by giving Liberian small-business entrepreneurs additional ideas for using their business skills in their businesses. Furthermore, the findings may aid the Liberian communities to create training programs and curriculums for numerous Liberian colleges and institutions for future Liberian small-business owners.

This study intended to establish whether there was a link between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and the perceived success of the explosives manufacturing and marketing industry within South Africa. The five dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (autonomy, innovativeness, pro-activeness, risk-taking and competitive aggressiveness), were used in the study to establish a link between them and the perceived success of the business. A literature study was conducted prior to the survey being distributed and links between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and the perceived success were found in other studies. The various studies indicated that the dimensions act either independently or interdependently. Various significant relationships were found in other industries between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and perceived success. To conduct the empirical study, a structured questionnaire was distributed to the Sasol Nitro Explosive Division. The questionnaire was distributed by sending out an e-mail containing link that connected the respondents to the questionnaire. After the respondents had completed the survey, a data analysis was done by the statistical department of the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. The reliability of the data was tested by calculating the Cronbach alpha coefficients. The instrument data was found to be reliable and could be interpreted as a valid data source. The questionnaire used two dependable variables to measure the business’s perceived success, namely business growth and business development and improvement. The five entrepreneurial orientation dimensions were measured against the dependable variables. A total of 139 respondents’ surveys could be utilized for the analysis. The research within the Sasol Nitro Explosive Division indicated that there was a link between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and perceived success. Three of the dimensions indicated a significant relationship with regard to each other, and that of the perceived success of the business. These dimensions were Autonomy, Innovativeness and Pro-activeness. Autonomy and Innovation indicated a significant relationship pertaining to the perceived performance factor of growth within the business and Autonomy while pro-activeness indicated a significant relationship relating to the perceived performance factor of business development and improvement. Recommendations were made to the business to nurture the corporate entrepreneurial environment within the company. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

This study intended to establish whether there was a link between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and the perceived success of the explosives manufacturing and marketing industry within South Africa. The five dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation (autonomy, innovativeness, pro-activeness, risk-taking and competitive aggressiveness), were used in the study to establish a link between them and the perceived success of the business. A literature study was conducted prior to the survey being distributed and links between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and the perceived success were found in other studies. The various studies indicated that the dimensions act either independently or interdependently. Various significant relationships were found in other industries between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and perceived success. To conduct the empirical study, a structured questionnaire was distributed to the Sasol Nitro Explosive Division. The questionnaire was distributed by sending out an e-mail containing link that connected the respondents to the questionnaire. After the respondents had completed the survey, a data analysis was done by the statistical department of the North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus. The reliability of the data was tested by calculating the Cronbach alpha coefficients. The instrument data was found to be reliable and could be interpreted as a valid data source. The questionnaire used two dependable variables to measure the business’s perceived success, namely business growth and business development and improvement. The five entrepreneurial orientation dimensions were measured against the dependable variables. A total of 139 respondents’ surveys could be utilized for the analysis. The research within the Sasol Nitro Explosive Division indicated that there was a link between the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions and perceived success. Three of the dimensions indicated a significant relationship with regard to each other, and that of the perceived success of the business. These dimensions were Autonomy, Innovativeness and Pro-activeness. Autonomy and Innovation indicated a significant relationship pertaining to the perceived performance factor of growth within the business and Autonomy while pro-activeness indicated a significant relationship relating to the perceived performance factor of business development and improvement. Recommendations were made to the business to nurture the corporate entrepreneurial environment within the company. / MBA, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

The importance attached to preparing graduates for a role on an international stage has become increasingly recognised by U.K. higher education institutions and by successive U.K. governments in recent years. At the same time, the contribution that enterprising individuals make to an economy has also gained in importance, but the answer to the question of what makes an 'enterprising individual' is still uncertain. This thesis investigates whether internationally mobile students develop or enhance certain entrepreneurial attitudes through a study or work placement period abroad and, if so, why certain attitudes may have developed or been positively enhanced by a prolonged exposure abroad. I have also considered the impact that such a sojourn has on the entrepreneurial intent and behaviour of graduates. I have followed a concurrent mixed method approach using a group of mobile students and, as a control group, students who do not undertake mobility during their degree. The results indicate that there is little difference in certain entrepreneurial attitudes between the two groups before mobility, but that the mobile students show a higher degree of (positive) change in some entrepreneurial attitudes than the non-mobile students after mobility. There are a range of factors from the international sojourn that could account for this change. The results imply that, along with other benefits of international education, an international sojourn contributes to developing potential entrepreneurial behaviour, as evidenced by the careers and activities of internationally mobile graduates. This thesis contributes to the existing body of knowledge in the fields of international education and entrepreneurship in a number of ways. Firstly it provides more insight into the entrepreneurial behaviour of graduates who have studied abroad. Secondly, my results add to the debate about what differentiates a mobile student from a non-mobile student. Thirdly, my research findings support the assertion that student mobility brings benefits (both to an individual and to the economy) by turning anecdotal indicators and suppositions about the benefits into more concrete and substantial evidence. Fourthly, and finally, through using a mixed method approach I have extended the to-date narrow focus of much of the research into the area of student mobility to provide an atypical approach to investigating international education benefits.

Nacionalinė valstybių narių teisė yra įtakojama Europos Sąjungos leidžiamų reglamentų ir valstybės narės dėl teisiškai privalomų tam tikros srities teisės aktų priėmimo ir ta kompetencija direkyvų, kurių turi šalys narės laikytis, tačiau yra sričių, kuriose savo kompetencija dalijasi Europos Sąjunga valstybės narės naudojasi tik tiek, kiek ES nepasinaudojo ar nusprendė nepasinaudoti. 2013m. LR Aukščiausiasis teismas kilus klausimui dėl ES teisės autonominio aiškinimo kreipėsi į Europos Sąjungos Teisingumo Teismą dėl prejudicinio sprendimo priėmimo. Šiame darbe keliama problema yra ta, ar advokatas gali būti pripažintas verslininku, kuris teikia atlygintines teisines paslaugas fiziniui asmeniui, vartotojų teisių apsaugos atžvilgiu. Šiame darbe siekiama: 1) atskleisti advokato profesijos veiklos principus; 2) išanalizuoti advokatų teikiamų teisinių paslaugų turinį; 3) išnagrinėti verslo ir verslininko sąvokas, veiklos ypatumus; 4) palyginti verslininko ir advokato veiklas, išskirti panašumus ir skirtumus; 5) vartotojų teisių apsaugos sutarčių analizavimas ir ES reglamentų bei direktyvų aptarimas šiuo klausimu. Vartojimo sutartis turi atitikti esminius požymius, kad silpnesniajai šaliai būtų suteikiamos vartotojų teisių apsaugos garantijos: 1) paslaugas turi įsigyti fizinis asmuo; 2) paslaugas įsigyjantis fizinis asmuo, jas turi įsigyti savo asmeniniams, šeimos, namų ūkio poreikiams tenkinti; 3) paslaugas teikia fizinis ar juridinis asmuo, kuris yra laikomas verslininku ir... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The title of this work: Does a lawyer providing legal services to private persons under recoverable concluded contracts for legal services must be recognized as an entrepreneur in consumer protection in law terms? The national law of Member States of the European Union is subject to the regulations and directives that must followed by the Member States, but there are areas where the competence is shared between the European Union and its Member States as concerns the legally binding law-making in a certain area, and the competence is exercised by the Member States to the extent that the EU did exercise or decided not to exercise. The Supreme Court of the Republic of Lithuanian has applied to the European Court of Justice for a preliminary ruling regarding the issue of autonomous interpretation of the EU law in 2013. The problem raised in this work is whether a lawyer can be recognized as an entrepreneur who provides chargeable legal services to natural persons in respect of protection of the consumer rights. This work aims to: 1) identify principles of the professional practice of lawyers; 2) analyze contents of the legal services provided by lawyers; 3) examine the concepts of business and entrepreneur, and business peculiarities; 4) compare activities of entrepreneurs and lawyers, to highlighting the similarities and differences; 5) analysis of treaties on consumer rights and discussion of EU regulations and directives on this issue. Consumer contracts must comply with the... [to full text]

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the factors that influence the brand building in startup companies. Method: This study implements a qualitative approach and consists of twelve startup companies located in Sweden. Results and Conclusion: The findings suggest that the design of a brand (name and visual aspects), the use of social media, event participation and establishing partnerships is important parts of brand building. In addition, startups frequently make use of employees’ and entrepreneurs’ individual personality for branding purposes. Not only do all participants view branding as an important part of their business but a few respondents even feel it is crucial for the survival of their business. Suggestions for further research: The participants of this study reside in separate industries. This, combined with the sample size is not evidence enough to draw conclusion upon similarities and differences between startups branding practices in terms of industry. Thus, this could be interesting undertaking in the future due to the limited research on this topic. Contribution of the study: This study adds to the existing body of knowledge by uncovering factors such as brand design and social media, to name a few, that is used by startups to build their brand. As a result of this study insights has been given on the importance of branding and the strategies used to increase the brand equity of startups.

This diploma thesis deals with specificity of the position of an entrepreneur in concluding business contracts. Entrepreneur is mainly viewed as a professional with presumed substantial advantage over non-business parties, especially over consumers. This fact corresponds to his lower level of legal protection, whilst he is obliged to obey higher level of duties and to withstand more limitation in his relationship towards non-business parties, including when he is contracting with them. However, there are some protecting rules in favour of the entrepreneur; these are considered in this work as well. Such rules reflect plain reality, in which the entrepreneur might be in fact the weaker party. Right after definition of fundamental terms, as business law, business contract and entrepreneur are, is further attention aimed to specific legal instruments, some of which are novelty to the Czech legal system. These are pre- contractual negotiation, pre-contractual liability and legal documents used in context with them, esp. in the B2B relationship. Next topic is concluding contracts of adhesion, and position of the entrepreneur as the weaker party. Following chapter is dedicated to deviations from general rules of contracting, namely to modified acceptance of an offer, business confirmation letter and legal...