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The article presents a study on whether habitual entrepreneurs in Great Britain could report a higher information search and identify more opportunities in business than novice entrepreneurs. Four hypotheses were tested, in which human capital and cognitive theories have guided them, for a sample of 625 entrepreneurs. It has found out that habitual entrepreneurs do not have lower intensity of information search and could identify more business opportunities.

Family firms that can leverage entrepreneurial experience and knowledge can shape local economic development. Practitioners concerned with fostering enterprise sustainability need to be aware that family firms cite contrasting goals, resource profiles and requirements. Family firms are not a homogeneous entity. The 'targeting' of support to 'types' of family firms could enable practitioners to satisfy their wealth creation and social inclusion objectives. To stimulate increased critical reflection, insights from agency and stewardship theories were drawn upon to illustrate six conceptualized 'types' of private firms based on company ownership and management structures as well as company objectives. Cross-sectional survey evidence was gathered from key informants in family firms in the UK. An agglomerative hierarchical QUICK CLUSTER analysis identified seven empirical 'types' of family firms. Four out of the six conceptualized 'types' were validated by the exploratory empirical taxonomy. Implications for policy-makers and practitioners as well as researchers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agency and stewardship theories are used to explore associations between ownership and management profiles and the performance and objectives of family firms. Using data from privately held family firms in the United Kingdom, a range of performance measures and objectives were examined. Multivariate regression analysis detected that closely held family firms did not report superior firm performance. The results show that the management rather than the ownership structure of a family firm was generally associated with selected firm-performance indicators and nonfinancial company objectives. Although family CEOs were associated with lower propensity to export, presented evidence generally fails to suggest that private family firms should avoid employing family members in management roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Successive British governments have encouraged young people to accumulate skills and attributes that would enable them to obtain jobs in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as develop careers in enterprise. This article evaluates the contribution of the 1994 Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP) that subsidised the placement of students in SMEs. In 1997, responses were gathered from STEP students as well as a control group of non-STEP students. The human capital profiles of students reporting full-time employment positions in smaller private firms as well as those reporting a favourable attitude towards self-employment or business ownership were ascertained. Participation in the programme was not found to be significantly associated with the selected outcomes. Skills and attributes honed by the programme were, however, significantly associated with the selected outcomes. Policy-makers need to appreciate that the skills and attributes reported by students associated with the propensity to obtain employment positions in smaller private firms are not the same as those associated with the propensity to report a favourable attitude towards self-employment or business ownership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitual (experienced) entrepreneurs are an important sub-group of entrepreneurs who make a fundamental contribution to the process of wealth creation in society. They have been associated with the "entrepreneurial mindset" which induces them to passionately seek and exploit the best opportunities. Despite these exceptional qualities, there are conflicting views among financiers as to whether the additional experience possessed by habitual entrepreneurs is an asset or a liability. Furthermore, there has been limited empirical work that has examined how these experienced entrepreneurs identify and exploit opportunities and whether their practices do indeed differ from those of their novice counterparts. This study seeks to address this void by examining the attitudes and behaviors of 773 novice and habitual entrepreneurs who own firms located throughout Great Britain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compares the performance of firms located on and off British science parks. Agenda for additional research on the effects of the science parks on the performance of new technology-based firms; History of science parks in Great Britain.

A matched sample methodology was utilized to detect ownership and management differences between first generation and multi-generation independent unquoted family companies in the UK. Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in first generation and multi-generation companies were generally drawn from the family owning the company. Both types of companies also had small management teams. Several statistically significant differences were detected. CEOs served longer apprenticeships in multi-generation rather than first generation companies. Multi-generation rather than first generation companies were more likely to employ managers drawn from the family owning the company. In other respects, multi-generation companies generally appeared to be better managed than first generation companies. Multi-generation companies had larger boards of directors. Moreover, a larger proportion of multi-generation rather than first generation companies employed a non-executive director. Owners of both types of family companies, but particularly the owners of first generation companies may be 'control averse'. Many first generation companies (and some multi-generation companies) associated with a shallower managerial pool had failed to address this potential managerial and strategic weakness by selective use of 'outside' managerial expertise. Implications for practitioners and researchers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following broad research question is explored in this study: do manufacturing firms cite the same exporting methods and modes as those cited by firms engaged in construction or service activities? This study, therefore, addresses a major weakness associated with stage models of internationalization (i.e. a focus solely upon manufacturing firms). In 1990/91, survey responses were gathered from 621 independent businesses located in Great Britain. In 1997, a follow-on telephone survey was conducted with 150 surviving firms. This survey gathered information on the propensity to export goods or services abroad and the mode of export behaviour. Implications for researchers, practitioners and policy-makers are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Explores the applicability of the M. Bullock model which suggests firms established to provide soft services transform over time to provide hard manufactured products. Focus on a comparative data from technology-based firms in British Science Parks; Findings showing the contribution of soft and hard Science Park firms to wealth creation and job generation.

This study explores the perceived benefits of a science park location in the UK for independent technology-based firms. Property needs of independent science parks firms were compared with the property needs of a 'control' group of similar firms located off-park. Factors which influenced owner-managers to locate their ventures on a science park or an off-park location were ascertained. Further, the perceived benefits of selected locations were explored. Conclusions and implications for policy-makers and practitioners are detailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel 'NED employment in unquoted companies model' was formulated to 'explain' the employment of NEDs by unquoted companies. Eleven 'explanatory' variables presumed to be associated with the employment of NEDs in unquoted companies were identified. Less than 20% of the 427 surveyed unquoted companies located throughout the United Kingdom reported they employed a NED. Only 11.5% of micro companies that employed 9 or fewer employees reported they employed NEDs. In marked contrast, 53% of companies, which employed 50 or more employees, employed NEDs. This bivariate evidence tentatively suggested that resource availability (i.e., the ability to pay a NED) might be a key trigger influencing the employment of NEDs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the combination of variables associated with the employment of NEDs by unquoted companies. The analysis focused upon four samples of unquoted companies: companies which employed 1 or more employees (i.e., the total sample), micro companies which employed between 1 and 9 employees, small companies which employed between 10 and 49 employees and medium and large companies which employed 50 or more employees. In the total sample model, five 'explanatory' variables were found to be significantly associated with the employment of NEDs. As hypothesised, the total sample model found that older and larger employment sized companies were significantly more likely to have employed NEDs. Further, the employment of NEDs was markedly less likely to be reported by owner-managed companies. The strategic focus of a company was associated with the employment of NEDs. Companies focusing upon technology concerns and/or a focus upon external financing were markedly more likely to have employed NEDs. Interestingly, four 'explanatory' variables were found to significantly influence the employment of NEDs in the small companies' model. In marked contrast, only one 'explanatory' variable was found to significantly influence the employment of NEDs in the micro companies' model. Most notably, owner-managed micro companies were significantly less likely to have employed a NED. Presented evidence suggests that many micro companies may be 'ignorant' of the benefits associated with the employment of a NED. Policy implications and directions for future research surrounding the employment and contribution of NEDs in unquoted companies are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the benefits of a managed science park location in the UK for independent technology-based firms. Property needs of independent technology-based firms located on managed science parks are compared with the property needs of technologybased firms located on non-managed parks. The role played by the science park manager/ director in the development of firms located on managed and non-managed science parks is also explored. Conclusions and implications for policy-makers and practitioners are detailed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assesses the contribution of the 1994 Shell Technology Enterprise Programme (STEP) which subsidized the employment of students in small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in Great Britain. Short-term effectiveness of the program; Results of the program for `host' business and participating businesses; Impact of the program on recruitment.

Examines the relationship between small firm performance and participation in management training in Great Britain. Review of related literature; Improvement of the internal efficiency and business performance small and medium-sized enterprises; Reasons for the weak relationship between management training and small business performance in well-conducted research.

The scale of family company activity in the United Kingdom was measured with regard to several family firm definitions. This study confirms that family companies are a numerically important group of businesses. Policy makers and practitioners must, however, be aware that the scale of family firm activity in any developed economy is highly sensitive to the family firm definition selected. Within a bivariate as well as multivariate statistical framework, marked demographic differences were identified between family and non-family companies with regard to several family firm definitions. We suggest that bivariate studies comparing the management practices and performance of family and non-family firms may have identified 'demographic sample' differences rather than 'real' differences. Implications for future research exploring the management and performance of family and non-family firms are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the research & development performance of technology-based firms located in science parks in Great Britain. Comparison with firms located outside science parks; Review of literature on `input' and `output' measures of research and development; Innovative measures developed by science park-based technology firms.