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Small Enterprises (small + enterprises)
Selected AbstractsDefining Expertise in Software Development While Doing GenderGENDER, WORK & ORGANISATION, Issue 4 2007Esther Ruiz Ben The optimism regarding opportunities for women to enter the professionalization process in software development during the past years has not been fully realized and the gender gap in Germany's information technology (IT) sector still persists. Women are almost completely unrepresented in the technical fields of the German software industry, particularly in small enterprises. In this article, I firstly offer an overview of the German IT sector's development and current status. Secondly, I discuss the construction of expertise and gendered meanings in the practice of software development and related implications for the enrolment of women in this field. Gender stereotypical assumptions about expertise in the practice of software development and structural factors related to the lack of life,work balance programmes, as well as the lack of internal training in most IT companies, contribute to organizational segregation [source] Internationalization, Strategic Behavior, and the Small Firm: A Comparative InvestigationJOURNAL OF SMALL BUSINESS MANAGEMENT, Issue 3 2004Christos Kalantaridis Previous research on the internationalization of the small firm explored the relationship between the adoption of a global orientation and strategic thinking. However, there was difference in opinion between those arguing that there is a positive relationship between the two variables and others who contended that small firms may internationalize by adopting a passive or reactive approach to the external environment. Within this context, this study sets out to further the discussion by comparing the experience of small enterprises with their medium and large-scale counterparts. In doing so, it draws upon the findings of survey of 1,000 internationalized enterprises located in the main urban conurbations of England. The results suggest that overall there is little disparity in strategy development among internationalized enterprises of different sizes. However, whereas the incidence of strategic behavior among medium and large businesses increases with the complexity of international operations, this is not the case for small firms. [source] Occupational health crossing borders part 2: Comparison of 18 occupational health systems across the globeAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010Katja Radon MSc Abstract Background Occupational health and safety (OHS) is considered one of the most important factors for a sustainable development; however, it is often considered a luxury by decision-makers. This article compares OHS systems of 18 countries at different stages of development. Methods In an international summer school, structure of the national OHS system, definition of occupational accidents and diseases, procedures for compensation claims, outcome (expressed as incidence of occupational accidents) and training opportunities were presented. Results National OHS systems ranged from non-existent to systems implemented almost 200 years ago. Priorities, incidence of occupational accidents and training opportunities varied. Common problems included the lack of OHS service for small enterprises and in rural areas. Conclusions International training programs like this summer school might enhance the exchange about OHS opportunities around the globe and contribute to improved workers health. Am. J. Ind. Med. 53:55,63, 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Political Economy of Income Distribution: A Comparative Study of Taiwan and MexicoPOLICY STUDIES JOURNAL, Issue 2 2000He Li Both Taiwan and Mexico have experienced remarkable economic growth since the 1960s. Taiwan demonstrates that higher income level can be accompanied by falling income inequalities. However, unlike Taiwan, the course of economic growth in Mexico has left the country with a very unequal distribution of income. This paper compares the government policies of income distribution in Mexico and Taiwan and identifies the factors contributing to the success of Taiwan and to the highly uneven income distribution in Mexico. The paper concludes that market-oriented growth does not automatically reduce inequality or poverty. The prospects for better income equity and sustainable economic development would be greatly enhanced through implementation of policies aimed at redistributing land and skills, facilitating small enterprises, and increasing domestic saving. [source] The possible role of bovine herpesvirus type-4 infection in cow infertilityANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 3 2010Sibel GÜR ABSTRACT Experimental and field studies have proven that the bovine herpesvirus type-4 (BHV-4) infection leads to various reproductive system problems. In this study, the role of BHV-4 infection in repeat breeding was investigated serologically. Eighty-four samples were obtained from repeat-breeding diagnosed cows in two organized dairy herds; an equal number of healthy cows were sampled from the same farms. The rest of the samples (105) were obtained from reproductively normal cows that were breeding in 18 small enterprises as a control group. The seropositivity proportion in repeat-breeding diagnosed cows was found to be significantly higher (69% (58/84)) than other cows (44% (37/84)) on the same farms. The lowest antibody positivity value for BHV-4 was detected as 24.7% (26/105) in the samples from family-type small farms. The odds ratio (OR) value was calculated as 2.834 in repeat-breeding diagnosed and healthy cows on the same farms, while 6.778 was determined in cows with and without reproductive problems on organized farms compared to small farms. As a result, the BHV-4 infection can be considered one of the reasons for repeat breeding besides other reproductive disorders. [source] Sustainability report in small enterprises: case studies in Italian furniture companiesBUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 3 2009Francesca Borga Abstract The recent evolution of the economic and social context has led enterprises to consider and assess corporate environmental and social impacts integrated with the traditionally measured economic and operating performances. ,,From this point of view, the international debate on the advantages given by the firms' adoption of socially responsible behaviour has been developed; the increasing consciousness of the social character in enterprises' activities has enlarged the interest in communication. For this reason, several different standards have been developed in order to transmit, to the stakeholders, data, information and approaches about environmental, social and sustainability topics related to the firm's activities. In this dynamic context, the features of SMEs require specific guidelines, which address the contents of an SME-oriented sustainability report. ,,In this perspective the aim is to design guidelines able to meet with these SMEs' requirements; seven case studies, on Italian furniture small enterprises, complete the study. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Sustainability practices of SMEs: the case of NZBUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 4 2006S. R. Lawrence Abstract While individually small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) may have small social, environmental and financial impacts, cumulatively their impact is significant. One of the fundamental questions is how a single economic entity, especially a small-scale enterprise, can be engaged in the uptake of sustainability practices. This question is particularly pertinent to New Zealand, where 98% of enterprises are SMEs. In this paper questions are raised about the conventional models of ,business ethics' and accountability and their relevance to SMEs. The paper reports on actual practices and discusses the possibility of small enterprises having accountability for their social and environmental impacts. Ways of linking individual firm activities to sustainability, such as a communitarian model of accountability, are discussed and illustrated. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Leadership strategies for sustainable SME operationBUSINESS STRATEGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT, Issue 1 2006Ian Rankin Kerr Abstract Research has been completed that explored the issues of sustainable enterprise operation for small/medium-size enterprises and also for larger enterprises. The results provide an understanding of how enterprises develop strategies and policies to manage environmental issues and pressures and how this process influences the development of enterprise management systems, functions and culture. To enable small/medium-size enterprises to facilitate the process of developing their management systems and functions for sustainable enterprise operation, the research has developed a profile of core competencies, which would guide them to operate in a sustainable way. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] | ||||||||||