International Research in the Business Disciplines – Serie

The world of business has always been considered quick and unforgiving, but it is certainly getting even quicker and less forgiving as we enter the new "millennium." New problems have given rise to new approaches while some, but not all, old problems yield new solutions. The theme of this volume "Strategies and organizations in Transition" reflects a world in which variety, change, and unique perspectives are interwoven into the fabric of 21st-century business. The volume articles presented here represent a combination of empirical business research and practical business insight covering a wide range of current and future business issues, with specific emphasis upon the changing dynamics. Articles of particular interest such as Neil Kay's examination of cooperative strategies from a transaction cost theoretical basis, Srinivasan and Brush's examination of modern vertical relationships, and Ryman and Fryxell's analysis of the impact of technology on the health care system are all likely to have implications well beyond the pages of this volume. Equally, "Strategies and Organizations in Transition" also contains Bennett and Stamper's groundbreaking exploration of the complex area of discretionary workplace behaviour and Curt Stiles' exploration of product diversity and specialization in industry. With a more academic focus, Dean and Bamford provide a conceptual examination and interpretation of various economic disequilibrium theories of classical economists as a foundation for extending entrepreneurial research, while Ling, Lubatkin and Schulze explore the relationship between altruism and the governance of family firms. The volume also attempts to further extend the realm of traditional business concerns by its inclusion of two papers that underscore how traditional business and Government constraints impact those wishing to engage in space related entrepreneurial activity.

The papers in this volume, the fourth in the series International Research in the Business Disciplines, provide a broad survey of the nature and scope of entrepreneurship within ethnic groups. Of particular interest, the contributors address the role of ethnic entrepreneurship in shaping the structure of modern economies. Ethnicity has heretofore been given less attention in entrepreneurship research than its importance might seem to warrant due largely to the prevalence of the assimilation hypothesis: the assumption that everyone, without regard to ethnicity, works as a producer in the general economy and buys as a consumer from the general economy. The economic uniformity implied by this assumption invites critical comment. In five parts, the collection explores aspects of ethnic entrepreneurship as both part of the structure of the general economy and in terms of the process of movement toward or away from assimilation. The collection features a comprehensive new study of ethnic entrepreneurship by Ivan Light. Additional highlights include examination of structural variables and abstract models, analysis of the components of the definition of ethnicity, consideration of impacts on assimilation, and finally, the relevance of access to financial capital provided by the general economy. Researchers are bringing new insights and methods to the phenomena of ethnic producers and consumers of ethnic products dependent on ethnic market mechanisms. This volume makes a significant contribution to this research.

This 5th volume provides a timely survey of the most critical aspects of developmental entrepreneurship currently being discussed in the fields of entrepreneurship, sociology, and economics. Written by the top luminaries in the field, the fifteen articles presented here represent a combination of empirical research, theoretical insight and practical suggestions. The volume focuses on issues related to entrepreneurship and small business development within a global environment, especially under conditions of adversity, high environmental uncertainty, or weak institutional frameworks. It examines a broad set of issues, including entrepreneurial strategies and economic development in post-war and post-natural disaster environments, entrepreneurship and education within ethic and indigenous groups, the role of entrepreneurship as economic development mechanism within less developed and transitional economies, entrepreneurial activities within isolated environments, and the role of international institutions and law in small enterprise development. It discusses small business development in a global environment. It addresses entrepreneurial strategies and development in post-war/post-natural disaster environments.