Browsing by Author "Vershinina, Natalia"
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Item Open Access Are regulatory interventions seen as an obstacle or an enabler to SME performance and growth in transition economies: a study of gendered perceptions?(ISBE, 2014-12-05) Vershinina, Natalia; Rodionova, Yulia; Kitching, John; Barrett, RowenaObjectives The aim of this paper is to empirically test the influence of the perceived regulatory burden in the context of postcommunist economies on SME performance and growth from a gender perspective. Prior Work The research literature largely argues that regulation is a burden, cost or constraint for SMEs, although recent work suggests regulation has a dual influence, enabling as well as constraining firms. These conflicting influences play out variably for particular firms. Most studies focus on mature market economies where regulatory frameworks are well-established. In this paper we attempt to study the impact of regulation on small enterprises within the context of transition economies from a gender perspective. Approach Using a panel firm-level dataset from the Business Environment and Enterprise Performance survey (BEEPS) of 27 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia for 2005-2009, we study whether perceptions of regulatory interventions (tax, licencing and permits, court system, customs, inspections and labour regulations) are seen as obstacles or enablers by firms and whether perceptions differ by gender. We perform difference-in-means tests on various perception and “de facto” indicators of the regulatory environment and estimate a quartile regression model on the pooled-crossed section and the panel data to investigate the influence of dealing with governmental regulations on business performance. To control for reverse-causality, we merge firm-level perceptions with country-level indicators and financial parameters for similar interventions. Results Our preliminary findings from empirical testing suggest that there is variability in regulatory impacts by gender of business owner, firm size and firm age and ownership type. A more nuanced analysis suggests that business regulation enables growth for male-owned firms; while for female owned firms regulatory interventions are more of an obstacle. Implications Failure to understand how regulation affects business performance of female and male owned firms means that policy interventions are likely to produce unwanted consequences because neither the full range of mechanisms shaping small-business performance nor the conditions which support or hinder the exercise of these mechanisms are fully identified. Value Overall, this study seeks to contribute to existing research in the field of gender and entrepreneurship by examining the influence of regulatory burden in the context of post-communist economies rarely studied in the literature, using quantitative techniques that allow generalisation to population of entrepreneurs in transition countries.Item Metadata only Beyond the entrepreneurial ecosystem and mixed embeddedness approaches: A review and research agenda’,(ISBE, 2016-11) Gast, A.; Vershinina, Natalia; Woldesenbet, K.The research field of entrepreneurship is becoming increasingly vast and a large amount of new theories and approaches develop annually. With the growth of this research stream it sub-research fields such as the disciplines of ethnic entrepreneurship and immigrant entrepreneurship expand as well. Due to the increase in theories, it can easily be forgotten to test certain frameworks for their interdisciplinary validity or similar theories in different subfields emerge without a comparison to already existing theories. In this case the researcher has found two theories that appear to be similar at first glance. These are the mixed embeddedness framework the stems from research in the immigrant entrepreneurship stream and the model of the entrepreneurial ecosystem which is mainly used in the general entrepreneurship literature. In the following the researcher will give a closer insight into both theories and will compare similarities and differences of the two theories in order to determine the extent to which these theories correlate and can be connected.Item Open Access Breaking down the Family System: an analysis of the family stakeholders’ non-financial performance objectives(11th annual IFERA World Family Business Conference, 2011-07) Savoni., P.; Barrett, Rowena; Vershinina, NataliaIt is widely accepted by family firm researchers that family firms make considerable efforts to achieve both financial and non-financial objectives. Through the lens of stakeholder theory (Freeman, 1984; Laplume et al. 2008) we examine which non-economic performance objectives are most important to individuals within the family system of a private family firm. Case studies of two later-generation family firms are reported to highlight the differing financial and non-financial objectives of stakeholders. Qualitative data, collected through semi-structured interviews with the various family stakeholders of the two family firms was analysed using NVivo software, which helped explore which non-financial performance objectives were most important to which group. The contribution of this paper to the field of family business is the examination in detail, of the family system, and the importance to which this system pursues non-financial objectives.Item Metadata only Breaking out or Breaking in? Exploring family dynamics in planning for succession(2016) Vershinina, Natalia; Woldesenbet, K.; Kaur, Kranjit; Trehan, K.The aim of this paper is to explore family succession and continuity in Punjabi-Indian ethnic family firms in the UK using stakeholder approach. The research objectives are to analyse how household dynamics can shape activities within small family enterprises within a specific cultural and sociological context, and to examine whether these later generation family firms actively involve family members in developing family businesses, that can be sustained beyond the current generation. The transition of ownership is crucial for small family business and extant literature indicates the differences between first and later generation family firms succession processes (Zellweger et al., 2011; Nodqvist et al., 2013). British-born second and third generation ethnic minorities are determining a new multicultural image of Britain and their methods of conducting business are somewhat different from their parents. Family firms literature indicates that second generation are more likely to “break out” by seeking professional salaried employment. Hence, succession in later generation family firms is a strategic issue, and all potential family stakeholders ought to be involved in the decision-making process (Rusinovic, 2008; Sharma, 2013). In this exploratory study of Punjabi-Indian ethnic minority family firms ten family firms based in Bedfordshire were recruited. In order to analyse the extent of second and later generations’ involvement in the business, a series of qualitative focus group interviews were undertaken with four to six family members of each ethnic minority business. In explaining our findings, we introduce a concept of “reverse break-out”, indicating that the later generation family stakeholders, show interest in being actively involved in shaping the family business. They show willingness to succeed and develop the business by diversifying away from cultural proclivity. Despite their aspirations to enter professional trajectory, the long-standing family business setting provides a platform for their ambitions to be realised. “Reverse break-out” actions of family members balance unstable and divergent stakeholder interests within Punjabi-Indian households. The unique dataset illustrated the power, influence and dynamics of relationships in the later generation family firms, as well as positive changes in family values and the impact of different family stakeholders have on succession planning.Item Open Access Building the base for cross national comparisons of ethnic entrepreneurship: Understanding Polish entrepreneurs in Western Australia(34th ISBE Conference Sheffield, 2011-11-09) Vershinina, Natalia; Barrett, Rowena; Moguilnaia, Natalia A.The paper accounts for the nature of Polish entrepreneurial activity in Western Australia. First, it examines it through the deployment of Bourdieu’s ‘forms of capital’ model (1983) used in explaining the entrepreneurial activity of Polish immigrants. By adopting a case study approach informed by the principal of ‘maximum variation’, the paper highlights considerable diversity within a small but significant ethnic community in Western Australia. This paper is informed by literature dealing with forms of capital to explain ethnic entrepreneurship which points to the role of social, human, financial and cultural resources employed by migrants in their entrepreneurial activities. Case studies were undertaken with 12 firms during March 2011. In each of the businesses, detailed ethnographic interviews were conducted with business owners to establish their migration history, the motivations for self-employment, and journey to becoming a business owner. The interviews were transcribed and the data was analyzed using thematic content analysis. This paper extends the investigators UK-based work into Australia, as it examines Polish ethnic entrepreneurship in WA not only as a function of capitals, but how these forms are used and converted within certain institutional frameworks, opportunity structures and historical contexts. Around 10% of Polish born people in Australia reside in Western Australia while some 10% of those in Australia reporting Polish ancestry live in WA. All of the entrepreneurs interviewed spent over 20 years in WA; they partly assimilated, and this gave them time to develop their businesses. Their connection to the local Polish community had fuelled the development of these firms; however, with time passing the influence of their ethnic social and cultural capital was reduced. The paper has implications for researchers and policy-makers. For researchers, the limitations of extant theoretical approaches are exposed. Conversely, the value of the forms of capital approach applied to the field of ethnic minority entrepreneurship is highlighted. Further, a neglected ethnic community is brought within the gaze of the research community. For policy-makers, an insight is gained into areas where intervention could facilitate new immigrant entrepreneurship. The paper's main contributions are: an innovative deployment of models from complementary disciplines; an empirical focus on a new ethnic community.Item Metadata only Creativity - A catalyst for technological innovation.(2003) Coconete, D. E.; Moguilnaia, Natalia A.; Cross, R. B. M.; De Souza, P. E.; Sankara Narayanan, E. M.; Vershinina, NataliaItem Metadata only The Critical Role of The Cultural Boundary Spanner for Pluralist Organisations(2015) Broderick, Anne; McHardy, Peter; Obembe, Demola; Vershinina, NataliaIn management studies, we are just beginning to address the pluralist turn. One area where this pluralist perspective on networking is gaining ground lies in the field of boundary spanning studies. This paper examines recent boundary spanning literature to capture some of the contemporary academic directions in how boundary spanning occurs in practice in heterogeneous intercultural contexts and identifies the importance of examining the individual cultural boundary spanning role now critical in contemporary global business. This paper posits that the requirement for organisational agility that characterizes international management is now placing emphasis on the role of the individual cultural boundary spanner and outlines a future research direction that arguably will require a more pluralist conception of the boundary role.Item Open Access Do ‘Harambee Spirit’ and ‘Familiness’ share their meanings in the context of ICT Sector Family Businesses in Kenya?(EURAM, 2017-03-21) Murithi, W.; Woldesenbet, K.; Vershinina, NataliaThis paper examines the two seemingly unrelated concepts of ‘Familiness’ and ‘Harambee Spirit’ in the context of Kenya. The key questions addressed in this paper are ‘to what extent are family firms, in particular, those operating in ICT sector, are embedded in ‘Harambee spirit’ and how does such embeddedness shape the family firms’ business operations? Based on the purposively selected three family ICT firms and relevant literature, the study provides evidence which shows the presence of main features of the ‘Harambee spirit’ and ‘Familiness’, and that some elements of these overlap. Furthermore, the study found variations in the extent to which some ‘Familiness” features were observed in sample firms. In a wider plane, the study furthers our understanding of how both the family and the national cultural contexts shape the behaviour of firms.Item Embargo Entrepreneuring mothers motivation and commitment from the perspective of possible selves(ISBE Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship., 2017-08-13) Vershinina, Natalia; Phillips, N.Abstract Objectives We examine the relationships between how women cope with role conflict and develop self-conceptions during motherhood and whilst managing an entrepreneurial venture. Prior Work The concept of possible selves (Markus and Nurius, 1986), representing individuals’ ideas of who they may become, ought to become and fear becoming, is applied to interpret mothers’ personal entrepreneurial narratives. We draw from contemporary psychological theory, which emphasises the dynamic and socially constituted nature of self-construals that offer explanations for identity-based motivations and commitment to an entrepreneurial career (Dasgupta, 2011, 2013, Oyserman 2015) of entrepreneuring mothers. Whilst we recognise that gender role identities and differential personal values systems have been implicated in women’s (alternative) entrepreneurial aspirations (Shepherd and Haynie, 2009, Zampetakis, et al., 2016; Eddleston and Powell, 2008), the concept of self might be helpful in explaining their pursuit of meaning or social purpose over profit maximization. Approach Semi-structured interviews with twenty-six entrepreneuring mothers based in the UK between 2012 and 2016 were analysed to explore the extent to which the way they think about the future exerts motivational influence. Mothers’ narratives focussed on the decision to start-up in business, their future aspirations and the nature of rewards they seek and derive from venturing. Results We find that women readily imagine themselves in the future and that multiple possible selves exert powerful motivational influence but also perpetuate self-dissonance. The pursuit of deeper meaning and purpose in work, combined with a constant striving for social legitimacy of thought, feeling and action – the ought self with respect to both work and home – characterises the lived experience of entrepreneuring mothers. Contributions: By illuminating the complexity of the identity work that entrepreneuring mothers undertake and the motivational influence of multi-domain possible selves, we extend current conceptualisations of entrepreneurial identity, self-efficacy and work-life balance. Further, we challenge the notion that only positive future selves, specific to the work domain motivate pro-active career behaviours (Strauss, Griffin and Parker, 2012). Mothers can be driven forward toward an entrepreneurial future because they fear returning to a past-work self that is irreconcilable with ought and hoped-for selves in the family domain. Value: Acute sensitivity to social expectations of role achievement in both work and home domains mitigates the motivational power of personal hopes and fears for entrepreneuring mothers and may underpin women’s willingness to sacrifice their own wellbeing in the attempt to ‘do it all’. We propose that highly individualised subjective value/s underpin the meaning of work for women that is critical for understanding i) how mothers may best be supported to start-up and sustain commitment to an entrepreneurial path or ii) how organisational cultures, policies and practices need to change to protect women’s positive future work selves from terminal ‘loss of hope’ post-partum.Item Metadata only Examining the Corporate Social Responsibility Contribution to Environmental Sustainability in Developing Countries: The Role of Accountability Perspectives”(2015-06) Jeremiah, M.; Woldesenbet, K.; Vershinina, NataliaThere has been a significant policy shift in several organisations particularly in the mining, and oil and gas industries attempting to implement effective corporate social responsibility (CSR) perspectives in the last two decades. Voluntary approach is at the centre of the debate presently. Its non-mandatory perspective to corporate environmental sustainability makes it popular among firms, governments and global development actors. However, commitment to its implementation and contribution to environmental sustainability differs greatly in developed and developing countries. The authors believe that, voluntary CSR is almost incapable of enabling the envisaged sustainable development in developing countries because of poor governance and state weakness coupled with business pursuit of corporate profits at the detriment of the local environment. Therefore, we propose that an accountability approach to CSR will enable business corporations to significantly contribute to environmental sustainability especially in developing countries where legal institutions are relatively weak. We use Diagrams and Table to illustrate how accountability approach to CSR could lead to environmental sustainability where there is weak legal framework. This is our main contribution to literature on environmental sustainability. The conceptual framework for applicability of accountability approach to CSR is also highlighted and discussed.Item Metadata only EXPLORING STRATEGIC BEHAVIOURS OF FAMILY BUSINESSES IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICAN CONTEXT(2019-11-14) Vershinina, Natalia; Murithi, W.The study investigates the effects of strategic behavioural differences on firm contribution to regional development related to the characteristics of family and nonfamily firms. The study questions whether there might be an association between the firm strategic behaviours, the performance of firms and the development of the regional economies that are shaped by localised institutional influences. Family businesses that are characterised by family ownership, managerial influence and governance, are a common business entity in both developed and developing economies. Despite their predominance, there is a dearth of academic literature examining how the presence and performance of family businesses might explain the development of regional economies. Furthermore, several studies have argued that specific spatial characteristics (e.g. location, size, age and industry) can indeed explain the family firms’ strategic decision-making and behaviours. We contribute to theoretical development by developing and testing a multilevel model exploring ways family firms’ strategic behaviours and their performance have explanatory power over regional development. The study established that there exist strategic differences between family and non family businesses, which influence their differentiated contribution to regional development outcomes. The study concludes with implications for practice and policy.Item Open Access Flying Business Class: A Case of Russian Entrepreneurs in London(35th ISBE Conference Dublin, 2012-11-07) Vershinina, Natalia; Moguilnaia, Natalia A.This paper’s objectives are to examine a new community, rarely explored in the literature in the context of the broader entrepreneurship literature. Moreover, the attempt is made to engage in theoretical development by extending the “forms of capital” framework (Ram et al, 2008, Vershinina, et.al. 2011) in light of transnational migration literature which is applied to a sample of Russian business owners operating in London. Russian entrepreneurship is examined in the extant literature in the context of Russian political and economic environment, and some studies look at entrepreneurial characteristics of such business owners and the ethical dimensions of running a small business in Russia. A largely undeveloped area of research on ethnic entrepreneurs is amongst Russian migrants who leave their country of birth in search of opportunities abroad. A conceptual framework has been developed based on “forms of capital” and transnational migration literature and tested empirically. Fourteen firms from different sectors were recruited for this study with Russian business owners as participants to undertake semi-structured interviews which lasted two hours. Themes were developed through iterations of the transcribed data with reference to broader theoretical contexts. This study examines the stories of fourteen Russian entrepreneurs, who set up their business in London, UK. This group of migrants access, use and convert economic, social and cultural capital in order to set and run their business in London. However, their businesses are not aimed at the enclave economy with reliance on co-ethnic migrant customers. Instead, their entrepreneurial activity in London is influenced by the transnational nature of their social and professional networks, which helped these migrants identify better and more stable business opportunities than those in the country of birth, as well as with much higher profit margins, than those achieved by other ethnic business ventures in UK. The main contribution of this paper is to argue that for Russian transnational entrepreneurs, unlike other ethnic groups, the unique combination of financial, social and cultural capitals aligned to fit the prevailing positive economic and regulatory environment of the UK, allows for development of successful businesses.Item Metadata only Forms of capital, intra-ethnic variation and Polish entrepreneurs in Leicester.(Work, Employment and Society, 2011-03) Vershinina, Natalia; Barrett, Rowena; Meyer, Michael; Moguilnaia, Natalia A.A study of 10 Polish entrepreneurs operating in Leicester, UK is reported in this article. The concepts of social, cultural and economic capital are used as the lens through which to explore the way the capital they access is employed and converted into entrepreneurial activity. Ethnic entrepreneurship takes place within wider social, political and economic institutional frameworks and opportunity structures and so this is taken into account by differentiating two groups – post-war and contemporary Polish entrepreneurs. The differing origins and amounts of forms of capital they can access are shown as is how these are converted into valued outcomes. Combining the mixed embeddedness approach with a forms-of-capital analysis enables looking beyond social capital to elaborate on intra-ethnic variation in the UK’s Polish entrepreneurial community.Item Open Access Gaining legitimacy through proactive stakeholder management: The Experiences of high-tech women entrepreneurs in Russia(Elsevier, 2018-12-16) Vershinina, Natalia; Rodgers, P.; Khan, Zaheer; Tarba, Shlomo Y.; Stokes, PeterAbstract: In this article, we offer insights into the critical role played by stakeholder relationships for female-owned high-technology firms in their pursuit of the legitimacy they need to acquire the resources that, in turn, will lead to sustainable innovation and firm growth. By reporting the findings drawn from interviews conducted with Russian female business owners, we showcase how, being faced with the liabilities of smallness and newness—which are further exacerbated by gender-associated liabilities—these entrepreneurs develop strategies suited to assist their entrepreneurial ventures. Within the nascent hightechnology global sphere, these female entrepreneurs develop legitimacy for their ventures abroad by accessing external international stakeholders, which leads them to securing much-needed financial and knowledge resources. In addition, their ties with international stakeholders enable them to gain legitimacy among internal Russian stakeholders, thus further enhancing the innovation and performance of their ventures.Item Open Access How does national culture enable or constrain entrepreneurship? Exploring the role of Harambee in Kenya(Emerald Insight, 2018-08-13) Vershinina, Natalia; Woldesenbet, K.; Murithi, W.The paper seeks to conceptualise how various value dimensions of Harambee, the Kenyan culture, affect the fostering of entrepreneurial behaviours. Theoretically, we draw upon perspectives that view culture as a toolkit and use cultural variables provided by Hofstede to examine the links between national culture and entrepreneurial endeavours in an African context. The paper is based on review and synthesis of accessible secondary sources (published research, country specific reports, policy documents, firm level empirical evidences, etc.,) on the topic and related areas to understand and advance research propositions on the link between enterprising efforts and national culture specific to Kenyan context. Several theoretical propositions are offered on themes of collective reliance, social responsibility, enterprising, resource mobilisation, and political philanthropy to establish relationships, both positive and negative, between values of Harambee and entrepreneurial behaviours. Further, the study provides initial insights into how actors blend both collectivistic and emergent individualistic orientations and display collective identity in the process of mobilising resources and engaging in entrepreneurship. The conceptual framework presented bears a considerable relevance to advancing theory, policy and practice associated with national culture and entrepreneurial behaviour in the African context and has potential to generate valuable insights. This original study provides a springboard for studying the relationship between African cultural context and entrepreneurial behaviours.Item Metadata only Human aspect of rapid product commercialization in power microelectronics.(2003) Moguilnaia, Natalia A.; Coconete, D. E.; Sankara Narayanan, E. M.; Vershinina, NataliaItem Open Access Institutional Environments and Youths Entrepreneurial Orientation: Evidence from Nigeria(2018) Ogunsade, Isaac A.; Obembe, Demola; Woldesenbet, K.; Vershinina, NataliaEntrepreneurial activities and venture creation among youths represent one of the key drivers of job creation and economic growth (OECD, 2016; Acs, 2006). What influences individual entrepreneur to business start-up remains an enduring issue of interest in academic research on entrepreneurship. Recent studies suggest that the institutional context plays a key role in influencing individual behaviour, as well as in facilitating entrepreneurial climate for new ventures. Consequently, this study draws on institutional theory as a valuable lens to investigate the extent to which the regulative, normative and cultural-cognitive environments affect individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) and self-employment among Nigerian youths. The study adopts a quantitative research approach, allowing for primary data collection conducted through survey questionnaire and administered to a sample of 482 student respondents. A three-stage hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses and to investigate the predictability impact of the model. The result revealed that all three predictor variables (Institutional environments) made a statistical unique contribution to the model. However, the regulative and cognitive model made a statistically significant unique contribution to impacting the individual entrepreneurial orientation among the university educated Nigerian youths.Item Open Access Logics and rationalisations underpinning entrepreneurial decision-making(Emerald Publishing Ltd, 2017-02-20) Vershinina, Natalia; Barrett, Rowena; McHardy, PeterItem Metadata only Management(Cengage Learning, 2010) Daft, Richard L.; Kendrick, Martyn; Vershinina, NataliaThe market-leading textbook for principles of management courses reaches a new level with Richard L. Daft being joined by Martyn Kendrick and Natalia Vershinina (both Leicester Business School) to provide an unparalleled resource for students in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). After listening to the requirements of lecturers, the authors have maintained the same comprehensive coverage and structure of the original work but carefully threaded in new EMEA and wider global examples and theory throughout. A new running case on IKEA allows students to track their understanding throughout the course, while a new text-opening case study on managing in times of turbulence ensures learning is mapped directly against modern business challenges. Features •Employs the same hallmark table of contents of the original text but with new EMEA examples and theory threaded throughout •New EMEA and global chapter cases throughout, while a new running case study on IKEA prepared by Alan Hogarth at Glasgow Caledonian University ensures students will identify easily with the material •Boosted coverage of ethics and enterprise •Stronger emphasis on getting students to reflect critically on the material, with extended “Take a Moment” boxes populated throughout •Fully adapted supplements package including Instructor’s Manual, ExamView Test Bank, Additional Case Studies and much moreItem Open Access Measuring business relationship success: The case of an industrial textiles manufacturer.(The Leicester Business School Occasional Papers, 2007-10) Vershinina, Natalia; Moguilnaia, Natalia A.This exploratory paper investigates why some companies appear to find successful business relationships relatively effortless. It seems that the organisation’s search for and utilisation of key resources can guarantee its success in the market place. The paper incorporates a critique of literature from technology strategy, cross cultural management, and strategic management fields. The research questions, set by the author, are designed to explore the technological, managerial and cultural factors contributing to the success of the organisation and its further growth in the market. The company on which this research is based in this research is a leader in the paper machine clothing industry - Albany International Corp. The search for key success factors contributing to Albany International’s leadership position in the industry have been identified and analysed. Data have been collected through survey questionnaires, and have been used to develop a model designed to predict the success of business relationships in the paper machine clothing industry. Further investigation into relationships between variables has been carried out and a number of proposed dependencies are highlighted in the paper.