How e-Entrepreneurs operate in the context of open source software

The Internet has become an integral part of our everyday lives and it is often difficult to imagine how we ever functioned without it. This chapter presents experiences of two entrepreneurial companies, one of which has survived the 'dot-com bubble burst.' The chapter identifies current and future online business environments especially in light of open source software (OSS)   being accepted globally. Unlike proprietary software (such as Windows), OSS comes with its internal implementation details (source code) visible both to its developers and users, along with the freedom to change and redistribute this source. The significant implications of this unique style of software distribution for e-entrepreneurs are examined. Having a flexible  strategic plan; possessing management skills; providing excellent service; and having patience are some of the recommendations provided by  interviewed e-entrepreneurs. When made part of the decision making  process, these recommendations would enhance current and future e_entrepreneurs in sustaining their business.

The development of cultural entrepreneurs through new venture cases in the business classroom

Artists and workers in the creative industries who embody the essence of creativity are thwart by economic values in delivering their art work or creative concept to consumers. This is particularly evident for students in courses in creative industries who graduate with entrepreneurial aspirations, but not the means to pitch their creative concept or build the business model for the new venture. This paper analyses a university business course developed to take cultural entrepreneurs through venture building as a live case in the creative economy.

The development of cultural entrepreneurs through new venture cases in the business classroom

Artists and workers in the creative industries who embody the essence of creativity are thwart by economic values in delivering their art work or creative concept to consumers. This is particularly evident for students in courses in creative industries who graduate with entrepreneurial aspirations, but not the means to pitch their creative concept or build the business model for the new venture. This paper analyses a university business course developed to take cultural entrepreneurs through venture building as a live case in the creative economy.

A study of social responsibility of Sri Lankan immigrant entrepreneurs in Australia

Increasing globalisation, technological advancement and migration waves in the last few decades have changed the look of many advanced countries to be more cosmopolitan and Australia is no exception. The number of South Asian migrants in Australia is steadily increasing. Among the South Asians, there are 31,482 Sri Lankans in the state of Victoria and the majority of them are entrepreneurs. Social responsibility perceptions and practices of these entrepreneurs have not been researched. The study aims to fill this gap by undertaking a triangulation method to investigate the social responsibility perceptions and practices of these entrepreneurs and identify whether or not they are influenced by home country contextual factors, specifically national culture, and business environment. The study is a work in progress and the survey will be undertaken in the second quarter of the year. Socially responsible businesses have the potential to promote an overall approach to quality and sustainable development as they can have positive impacts not only on their own businesses but also on the community and the environment in which they operate. This study is thus significant as it will deliver economic, social and environmental benefits to Australia.

Are rural health professionals also social entrepreneurs?

Social entrepreneurs formally or informally generate community associations and networking that produces social outcomes. Social entrepreneurship is a relatively new and poorly understood concept. Policy promotes generating community activity, particularly in rural areas, for health and social benefits and ‘community resilience’. Rural health professionals might be well placed to generate community activity due to their status and networks. This exploratory study, conducted in rural Tasmania and the Highlands and Islands of Scotland considered whether rural health professionals act as social entrepreneurs. We investigated activities generated and processes of production. Thirty-eight interviews were conducted with general practitioners, community nurses, primary healthcare managers and allied health professionals living and working rurally. Interviewees were self-selecting responders to an invitation for rural health professionals who were ‘formally or informally generating community associations or networking that produced social outcomes’. We found that rural health professionals initiated many community activities with social outcomes, most related to health. Their identification of opportunities related to knowledge of health needs and examples of initiatives seen elsewhere. Health professionals described ready access to useful people and financial resources. In building activities, health professionals could simultaneously utilise skills and knowledge from professional, community member and personal dimensions. Outcomes included social and health benefits, personal ‘buzz’ and community capacity. Health professionals' actions could be described as social entrepreneurship: identifying opportunities, utilising resources and making ‘deals’. They also align with community development. Health professionals use contextual knowledge to envisage and grow activities, indicating that, as social entrepreneurs, they do not explicitly choose a social mission, rather they act within their known world-view. Policymakers could consider ways to engage rural health professionals as social entrepreneurs, in helping to produce resilient communities.

Introduction to special issue on indigenous entrepreneurs

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to introduce the content of a special issue of Journal of Enterprising Communities focusing on indigenous entrepreneurs.

Design/methodology/approach: The paper provides a brief description of the six contributions to the special issue.

Findings: The papers are found to range over New Zealand, Australia, Hawaii, Sweden Samoa and Ghana.

Originality/value: The papers comprising this special issue are of value in increasing understanding of how uniquely indigenous political, economic and social systems can explain cultural, social and political factors that both inhibit and enhance indigenous economic prosperity.

Opportunity recognition attitudes of nascent indigenous entrepreneurs

This exploratory research aims to fill a gap in the literature. The current theory of entrepreneurial attitude toward opportunity recognition (EOR) is primarily based upon a non-indigenous entrepreneurship theory. Yet, there are significant differences between non-indigenous and indigenous forms of entrepreneurship. Non-indigenous entrepreneurship tends to emphasise economic objectives whereas indigenous entrepreneurship tends to embrace both economic and non-economic objectives. As such, the current EOR theory needs to be expanded to include both non-indigenous and indigenous similarities and differences. This research uses indigenous culture as a context for examining the relationships between personal values, EOR and expected personal success of nascent indigenous entrepreneurs.