Thomas M. Cooney – författare

It is not widely understood that the importance of small businesses only became apparent with the publication of David Birch’s book The Job Generation Process in 1979. Over the past four decades, governments across the globe have struggled to design, implement and evaluate policies that benefit the development of small firms. Deciding whether macro or micro policies are more appropriate for a given context has usually created an initial challenge for policy-makers. However, a cause for even greater dispute has been determining and agreeing what might be the preferred outcomes of such policies (e.g. more firms, better performing firms, fewer firm failures, job creation, greater productivity, higher levels of innovation, inclusivity of disadvantaged groups). Furthermore, evaluating the impact of specific policies presents a wide range of difficulties since it is impossible to isolate a simple cause-and-effect relationship between policy and its stated goal. This book explores the development of small business policy in five countries across five continents and seeks to develop a deeper understanding regarding how small business policy has evolved in these countries and what we might learn from their experiences.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Small Enterprise Research.

It is not widely understood that the importance of small businesses only became apparent with the publication of David Birch’s book The Job Generation Process in 1979. Over the past four decades, governments across the globe have struggled to design, implement and evaluate policies that benefit the development of small firms. Deciding whether macro or micro policies are more appropriate for a given context has usually created an initial challenge for policy-makers. However, a cause for even greater dispute has been determining and agreeing what might be the preferred outcomes of such policies (e.g. more firms, better performing firms, fewer firm failures, job creation, greater productivity, higher levels of innovation, inclusivity of disadvantaged groups). Furthermore, evaluating the impact of specific policies presents a wide range of difficulties since it is impossible to isolate a simple cause-and-effect relationship between policy and its stated goal. This book explores the development of small business policy in five countries across five continents and seeks to develop a deeper understanding regarding how small business policy has evolved in these countries and what we might learn from their experiences.

This book was originally published as a special issue of Small Enterprise Research.

Research Handbook on Entrepreneurial Teams expands the boundaries of entrepreneurship literature by examining essential issues such as formation, structuring, deep-level diversity and emergent states. The chapters also consider different contexts of application and investigate under-researched topics such as entrepreneurial teams within indigenous communities, ethnically diverse groups and women entrepreneurs.

This comprehensive Research Handbook offers a wide range of research methodologies, perspectives and insights that will appeal to scholars, practitioners and entrepreneurs alike.

Contributors include: H.E. Aldrich, C. Ben-Hafaiedh, M. Brettel, G. Campopiano, L. Cassia, L.M. Cloutier, T.M. Cooney, S. Cueille, J.P. De Borst, A. Discua Cruz, F. Dufays, E. Hadjielias, M. Henare, C. Howorth, B. Huybrechts, M.K. Kihiko, P.H. Kim, M.W. Kinoti, J.-F. Lalonde, J. Levie, B. Lythberg, R. Mauer, T. Minola, A. Nicholson, G. Recasens, S. Schoss, D. Vredenburgh, C. Woods, W. Zhou

Key Features:

This expansive casebook will be perfect for those teaching entrepreneurship to students of STEM and business disciplines. Due to its practical scope, it will additionally benefit students and early career graduates pursuing entrepreneurship.

Bringing much needed clarity and definition to the term ''minority entrepreneur,'' this authoritative and timely handbook explores the distinctive challenges that minority communities face when founding and managing new ventures. The handbook is inclusive of any community who might be considered disadvantaged or under-represented in terms of entrepreneurial activity and included are women, youths, seniors, disabled, immigrants, Indigenous peoples, LBGTQ+, ex-offenders, Roma, refugees and many others. Chapters highlight the idiosyncratic nature of the many communities examined before offering frameworks and models that draw together the various findings. 

With a cast of international contributors, this scholarly handbook discusses the surrounding literature of minority entrepreneurship and takes an all-encompassing approach to its interpretation.  It also addresses the sorely under-researched area of entrepreneurial behaviour among minorities and disadvantaged groups. This is particularly important for policymakers tasked with designing and delivering initiatives that are appropriate for the needs of these communities. 

Ultimately this handbook contributes to existing knowledge by:

•providing a current understanding of the literature for each of the communities;

•investigating the uniqueness of the entrepreneurial behaviour within the communities; 

The handbook provides a comprehensive account of an important and fast emerging field of entrepreneurship, and is an invaluable resource for students, researchers and policymakers. 

This groundbreaking monograph explores the urgent need for tailored support systems that empower female immigrant entrepreneurs to navigate the complex challenges and unlock the opportunities they encounter in their host countries.  Anchored in the Andragogy-in-Practice framework, the book critically examines the alignment between existing Entrepreneurship Education and Training provision and the entrepreneurial needs of female immigrants, drawing on qualitative research conducted in the Irish context. It highlights the systemic gaps in current training offerings while showcasing the potential of adult learning principles to foster inclusive, culturally responsive education. Offering both academic insight and practical guidance, this volume serves as a valuable resource for educators, trainers, policymakers, and support organisations. It provides a clear, evidence-based roadmap for designing and delivering impactful programmes that recognise and build upon the unique strengths, aspirations, and lived experiences of this often underrepresented yet economically vital group.