Cette recherche a pour but d'étudier le rôle joué par les parties prenantes et plus spécifiquement par l'une d'entre elles, la famille, sur les décisions stratégiques des entrepreneurs de PME/TPE, en étudiant d'éventuelles différences de genre. Le cadre conceptuel retenu est celui des effets de proxémie en PME/TPE tels que définis par Torrès (2003) à partir des travaux en psycho-sociologie de l'espace de Moles et Rohmer (1978). La loi proxémique montre qu'un individu tend à privilégier tout ce qui est proche au détriment de ce qui est lointain. Torrès montre comment les entrepreneurs n'échappent pas à cette loi et comment leurs décisions stratégiques peuvent s'expliquer par ces principes hiérarchiques. Nous testons la validité d'un principe proxémique à partir de la théorie des couches de Gibb (1988) qui propose une hiérarchie des parties prenantes de la PME. L'étude est conduite à partir d'une expérimentation définie par le cadre de l'économie expérimentale. Les résultats ouvrent des perspectives innovantes dans la compréhension des décisions stratégiques des femmes entrepreneures, et mettent en évidence l'intérêt théorique de la loi proxémique pour les étudier à partir de leur réalité propre (Carrier, et al, 2006) et non pas en comparaison aux hommes. / The scope of the research is an analysis of stakeholders' influences on strategic decisions, focusing principally on the role of family, within a gender perspective. The theoretical framework is the proxemic influence in Small Businesses. This framework was defined by Torrès (2003) based on the work of psycho-sociologists Moles and Rohmer (1978). The proxemic theory emphasizes the prevalence of things, people and elements that are close compared to those which are more remote. Torrès shows how strategic decisions of entrepreneurs are embedded by this proxemic influence. We test the validity of this law through the layers of theory defended by Gibb (1988) which identified a hierarchic influence of the stakeholders. The empirical study is based on an experiment structured from the experimental economics field. Men and women entrepreneurs are the subject of the experiment.Results show, innovative opportunities to better understand the strategic decisions of women entrepreneurs. They also highlight the theoretical interest of the proxemic principle to survey women from their own perspective, rather than only from the male comparison.

Business leaders lack strategies to implement the employer shared responsibility provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). Small businesses pay approximately 18% more than larger companies for the same health coverage. Within a conceptual framework of management by objectives, the purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to explore the strategies small business leaders use to implement the employer shared responsibility provision of the ACA. Data were gathered from the review of company documents, observations, and semistructured interviews with 5 senior business leaders from small business organizations in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Data were coded via Atlas.ti to identify themes from the narative segments. Key themes that emerged from the study included business cost, lack of transparency, and consultation. Recommendations include examining alternative health providers to reduce company health premiums to improve business costs, network with other small businesses for ACA clarity, and work with health consultants for new business processes. Implications for social change include contributing to the effective implementation of the employer shared responsibility provision of the ACA that can improve the economic well-being of small businesses.

There are over 615,000 women military spouses and 1,786 known military spouse business owners who relocate every 2 to 3 years to follow their active duty spouse. The research problem addressed was the lack of strategies military spouse small business owners used to sustain their business during a mandatory military relocation. The purpose of this multiple case study was to explore the strategies that 5 women military spouse small business owners, located near Shaw Air Force Base or Fort Jackson, South Carolina, used to sustain their businesses during a relocation. The sampling method used was census sampling. The systems theory was the conceptual framework of this research supported by sustainability theory, strategic management theory, and event system theory. In-depth semistructured interviews and archival documentations (e.g., pamphlets, flyers, websites) were the chosen methods of data collection. A CADQAS software program was used to organize the data and content analysis method was to analyze the data gathered from the interviews and documents. The emergent themes were small businesses, work-life balance, business finance, barrier to business ownership, initiatives to support military spouses, and personal finances quality of life. For the military spouse small business owners or other potential business owners, a simple and accessible method to obtain information and access to government grants could assist the implication for positive social change to create new employment opportunities, growth, and innovation in communities and the economy. Additionally, the results from the study may provide insight and strategies to assist other military spouse business owners or other business owners in sustaining their business when relocating.

Thesis (MBA) --University of Limpopo, 2010 / Governments worldwide have acknowledged the impact of Small, Micro and Medium (SMME) organisations on job creation, improvement of people’s standards of living and hence an overall impact on the economy. Women are playing an important role in contributing to countries’ economic development and better governance, and the well-being of their communities and households. In March 2007, about 45% of women were owning and managing a business. In a country like South Africa with a high unemployment rate a provision of better opportunities for women could lead to improvements in poverty reduction and accelerated economic growth. However in South Africa women involvement in entrepreneurship has remained constant despite a number of initiatives by the government. The existence of gender-related barriers thwarts the economic potential of women as entrepreneurs and workers. Such barriers have an adverse impact on enterprise development, productivity, and competitiveness in the economy. Consequently, addressing gender-specific barriers and other challenges to entrepreneurship and leveraging the full participation of women in the development of South Africa together represents a significant opportunity to unleash productive potential and to strengthen economic growth. It is therefore important to understand the environment in which these women operate and the challenges they face. The literature indicates that despite significant progress in creating an enabling environment for SMMEs, much work remains, with a majority of enterprises remaining in the nascent and 'baby business' phases (less than 3.5 years in existence). Research by the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) suggests that the survival rate for start-ups in South Africa is low and that the opportunity forentrepreneurial activity is the lowest of all the reviewed developing countries (Allen et al, 2007:8; the DTI, 2008:48) A quantitative study design was employed for this project. A closed-ended questionnaire was sent out, focusing on women in small business in Capricorn District Municipality as a unit of analysis. Capricorn District Municipality has one thousand four hundred 1400 registered women business. One-hundred-and-fifty (150) questionnaires were sent out to the respondents and fifty two (52) questionnaires were returned. The research findings indicated that 29% of the women sought advice from business development services and from local business support centre respectively. While 23% of the women sought advice from business women association and 17% sought advice from other sources. 27% of the women indicated lack of business skills as the main stumbling block in the establishment of business while 23% indicated that they encountered inadequate access to finance and credit facility as the main problem of starting business. Most of the women consulted were from small and micro-enterprise, the writer could not get their views of the experiences in other sectors. The other challenges were that the sample was relatively small due to difficulties experienced in getting the number of women in small business in the Capricorn District Municipality.

The small business sector has become an increasingly important segment of the Australian economy since the 1970s. Industrial relations in the sector have been assumed to be harmonious. However, to a large extent this belief about industrial relations is based on conventional wisdom rather empirical evidence. Industrial relations research in Australia has concentrated on medium to large businesses because the centralised nature of the industrial relations system encouraged a collective emphasis. This collective emphasis ensured peak representative bodies and larger organisations had a tendency to dominate while small enterprises and their employees were, to a large extent, excluded. The perceived non-problematic nature of industrial relations in the small business sector was another reason for the lack of focus on the sector. The low incidence of strike activity and the low levels of trade union membership have meant research has been concentrated on the more "difficult" areas of industrial relations. The lack of empirical research into industrial relations in the sector is an important shortcoming. There are a number of commentators who suggest that it is too simplistic to assume harmonious relations. It is likely that there is a range of industrial relations in small business, depending on a number of variables including the personality of the owner/manager and employees, the type of business and the current economic climate. The legislative framework will also have an important affect on industrial relations. This study addresses the lack of empirical research in industrial relations in the small business sector by examining the differences between small and large registered clubs in NSW. Registered clubs have an unusual ownership structure and unusual business goals. They are also unusual since they are non-profit organisations formed by groups of people who share a common interest and who have come together to pursue or promote that interest. Registered clubs are governed by a board of directors who are responsible for the formulation of policy and for ensuring that management carries out these policies. This study found that there were significant differences in regards to some aspects of employment relations. For example, small clubs were more likely to have lower rates of unionisation than large clubs. They were also likely to have lower levels of informal bargaining than large clubs. The methods of communication within the workplace were likely to be more informal in small clubs and they were less likely to have communications with a trade union. Despite this greater degree of informality in employment relations, small clubs were more likely to use award provisions to determine wages for their managers and employees. Interestingly, despite the lower level of unionisation and the greater use of awards by smaller clubs there were no significant differences between small and large club managers' perception of the impact of awards and trade unions on club flexibility. The findings from this study suggest the deregulation of the Australian industrial relations system may not have any significant benefits for small business.

The focus of this inquiry is “New Zealand small business employers’ perspectives of the important factors in return-to-work (RTW) of an employee following a musculoskeletal injury or an illness”. Whilst worldwide there is an increasing amount of attention focused on the RTW process in large organisations, there continues to be little understanding of this phenomenon in small businesses. I chose to use a social constructivist theoretical framework drawing on grounded theory methodology to construct some understanding of the employers’ perspectives of the RTW process. Eight small business employers from Auckland and Christchurch participated in this research. Data were gathered using semi-structured interviews. Constant comparative analysis, theoretical sampling and thematic analysis were used to construct two themes from the data. The findings showed that small business employers prefer informal organisational approaches, rely on close working relationships with their staff, are generally wary of bureaucracy and often must run their businesses with limited staff and financial resources. Having an employee off work for a prolonged period of time creates a sizable gap in the staff resources that keep the business running. The employer has responsibility to fill this gap while maintaining a productive business. In the absence of formal injury management practices an ad hoc approach was taken to the RTW process. A number of the employers felt undervalued by key stakeholders, such as doctors, treatment providers, Accident Compensation Corporation and in some cases RTW co-ordinators. Health and safety was a risk all employers appeared to take seriously whereas injury management information and support seemed less of a focus. This research suggests there may be little focus on injury management in small businesses by employers and, that employers perceive greater government emphasis on injury prevention. The extent and associated costs of work disability in small businesses is as yet unknown, but it is likely to be significant. How to support and encourage the uptake of injury management in small businesses in the long term warrants further investigation. Understanding that employers may well lack injury management expertise, experience and resources requires stakeholders to make specific effort with the employer, at the workplace, to facilitate the RTW process.

<p>This thesis is an effort to analyze the importance of business network partners for successful participation in trade shows for small firms to grow more in international markets. This study would be helpful to demonstrate the value of trade shows. Trade shows provide the opportunities to introduce new products, expand network connection, and enhancing firm’s corporate image. To participate in any trade show may be a very lucrative process, but there are many challenges and tasks which are to be met to get the maximum share of international market. </p><p>To analyse the effectiveness of business network for successful participation in trade shows, I have included one case study of trade shows, named Beauty World 2009, held at Frankfurt Germany. In this show, among the firms from all over the world, 16 small companies manufacturing beauty instruments, companies from my home city, namely Sialkot, Pakistan, also participated. Their experiences, participation, views and observation will also be used to analyze the importance of trade show for creating new business networks through this show.</p><p>This research indicates the effectiveness of network member providing support to small and growing firms for successful participation in trade shows. With the help of these network members, trade shows can be used as exclusive platforms to introduce new firms, as well as products, to potential consumers. In general, we can indicate that existing network partners, if mobilized accordingly, have the ability to reduce the overall cost incurred at trade shows.</p>

This thesis is an effort to analyze the importance of business network partners for successful participation in trade shows for small firms to grow more in international markets. This study would be helpful to demonstrate the value of trade shows. Trade shows provide the opportunities to introduce new products, expand network connection, and enhancing firm’s corporate image. To participate in any trade show may be a very lucrative process, but there are many challenges and tasks which are to be met to get the maximum share of international market. To analyse the effectiveness of business network for successful participation in trade shows, I have included one case study of trade shows, named Beauty World 2009, held at Frankfurt Germany. In this show, among the firms from all over the world, 16 small companies manufacturing beauty instruments, companies from my home city, namely Sialkot, Pakistan, also participated. Their experiences, participation, views and observation will also be used to analyze the importance of trade show for creating new business networks through this show. This research indicates the effectiveness of network member providing support to small and growing firms for successful participation in trade shows. With the help of these network members, trade shows can be used as exclusive platforms to introduce new firms, as well as products, to potential consumers. In general, we can indicate that existing network partners, if mobilized accordingly, have the ability to reduce the overall cost incurred at trade shows.

Sänkningen av aktiekapitalkravet från 100 000 till 50 000 SEK den 1 april 2010, förverkligades för att förbättra de institutionella villkoren för de privata aktiebolagen och för att fungera som ett incitament till att öka småföretagande. Syftet med denna uppsats är att undersöka om de privata aktiebolagen har valt att lösgöra eller behålla sitt aktiekapital efter denna nya regel och varför. Dessutom ämnar studien att undersöka om det finns skillnader mellan de som väljer att minska eller att behålla sitt aktiekapital avseende bransch, ålder och omsättning. Studien baseras på en enkätundersökning som innefattar 212 respondenter. De resultat som denna undersökning kommer fram till är:  Att majoriteten av de privata aktiebolagen har valt att behålla sitt aktiekapital. Att anledningen bakom att behålla aktiekapitalet är att bevara företagets kreditvärdighet, att använda aktiekapitalet i verksamheten och för att proceduren med att sänka aktiekapitalet anses vara krångligt och tidskrävande. Framförallt anser inte dessa företag att en minskning av aktiekapitalet har någon större betydelse då det mesta av minskningen antingen försvinner i form av beskattning eller att mängden 50 000 SEK inte anses vara en väsentlig summa. Skillnaderna mellan de privata aktiebolagen utgörs endast av omsättningsvolym. För företag med omsättning över 3 000 000 SEK/år tenderar en minskning av aktiekapitalet att avta helt och förkommer bland företagen med mindre omsättning än 3 000 000 SEK/år.  Detta innebär att de privata aktiebolagen som ingår i studien inte upplever möjligheten till att sänka aktiekapitalet som en förbättring av de institutionella villkoren eller som ett incitament, där regeln inte alls anses ha någon inverkan för företagen. / The reduction of share capital requirement from 100 000 to 50 000 SEK, which was implemented April 1, 2010 to improve the institutional conditions for the private limited companies and to act as an incentive to increase small businesses. The purpose of this essay is to examine whether the private limited companies have chosen to reduce or maintain its share capital after this new rule and why. In addition, the study intends to investigate whether there are differences between those who have chosen to reduce or maintain its share capital regarding branch, age and revenue. The study is based on a survey involving 212 respondents. The results of this study are the following: The majority of the private limited companies have chosen to maintain their share capital. The reason behind keeping the share capital is to maintain the company’s credit rating, to use the share capital in their respective the business and because of the process of lowering the share capital is considered to be complex and time consuming. Above all, these companies do not consider a reduction of share capital having a greater significance when most of the reduction either disappear in the form of taxation or the amount of 50 000 SEK is not considered as a substantial amount.  The differences among the private limited companies consist only of revenue. For companies with revenue of more than 3 000 000 SEK/year, tends a reduction of share capital to subside completely and occurs among the companies with turnover less than 3 000 000 SEK/year. This means that the private limited companies do not perceive the possibility of lowering the share capital as an improvement of the institutional conditions or as an incentive where the reduction of share capital requirement is not considered to have any impact on businesses.

<p>Systemutvecklingsmetoder har funnits för att utveckla system och</p><p>programvaror sedan vattenfallsmodellen gjorde sin introduktion på den</p><p>tiden då IT kallades för data processning. Sedan dess har det funnits ett</p><p>antal metoder, vissa av dem används än idag. Gemensamt för de flesta</p><p>metoderna är att de är anpassade till mycket komplexa system som används</p><p>inom stora organisationer. Inom det Svenska samhället så fanns det år 2005</p><p>över 890 000 småföretag (0-49 anställda) enligt statistiska centralbyrån.</p><p>Det är lätt att förstå att småföretagen är viktiga för Sverige. För att Sveriges</p><p>småföretag skall kunna överleva i en allt tuffare konkurrenssituation så är</p><p>det viktigt att de hela tiden effektiviserar sina verksamhetsprocesser med</p><p>exempelvis innovativa IT lösningar. Denna rapport kommer att undersöka</p><p>tänkbara systemutvecklingsmetoder till småföretag och där efter</p><p>specialanpassa en metod.</p> / <p>System development methods have existed to develop systems and</p><p>programs since the waterfall model was introduced when IT was called</p><p>data processing. There have been a number of methods since that day,</p><p>some of them are still used. A common denominator for the most software</p><p>development methods are that they where all developed to support software</p><p>engineering to complex system in large organizations. Within the Swedish</p><p>society there were over 890 000 small businesses (0-49 employed) in year</p><p>2005 according to statistiska centralbyrån. It’s no secret that the small</p><p>businesses are very important to Sweden. To assure survival when the</p><p>competition gets harder the small businesses must the entire time look over</p><p>there business processes. Sometimes this means that they need new custom</p><p>made IT systems. This thesis will examine possible system development</p><p>methods for small Swedish businesses and adopt one method to fit small</p><p>business software development.</p>