Clare Brindley

Barriers to Women Achieving Their Entrepreneurial Potential: Women and Risk

Purpose – This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the academic literature with regard to risk and its role in the entrepreneurial experience of women. Entrepreneurial risk has an under-developed conceptual basis and distilling gender-specific aspects is difficult. Various academic disciplines have contributed to the topic of risk, e.g., economics, and often decision making is used to contextualise the topic. Though the literature does not always prove an association between the different facets of risk and entrepreneurship, there is general agreement that a number of factors, e.g., personal, political and social inter-relate to influence risk and subsequent behaviour. Design/methodology/approach – Uses a desk-based approach to data collection. An overview of the main issues concerning risk and entrepreneurship is given to contexualise the gender aspects to be discussed, drawing on the extant literature. Findings – The paper posits that an understanding of the gender aspects of risk is required if policy measures are to be constructive and help women overcome barriers and achieve their entrepreneurial potential. The conclusions drawn from the literature provide the foundations for a discussion of the likely policy measures that are required to encourage women entrepreneurs. Research limitations/implications – A summary is provided of the research and information gaps that remain in terms of women entrepreneurship and risk with the aim of encouraging further research in the area. Originality/value – Provides a comprehensive summary of the literature with regard to risk and the entrepreneurial experience of women, and discusses the likely policy measures required to encourage women entrepreneurs.

Supply chain risk

Contents: Research Frameworks: Introduction, Clare Brindley and Bob Ritchie Categorization of supply chain risk and risk management, Andreas Norrman and Robert Lindroth Risk characteristics of the supply chain - a contingency framework, Bob Ritchie and Clare Brindley Risk management in supplier relationships and networks, Jukka Hallikas and Veli-Matti Virolainen Risk focus towards customers, Clare Brindley Supply chain risk management, Ulf Paulsson. Techniques and Applications: Examining risk and supply chain collaborative working in the UK construction industry, Simon A. Burtonshaw-Gunn Early supplier involvement as a tool for reducing supply risk, George A. Zsidisin and Michael E. Smith A risk analysis framework for marine transport of packaged dangerous goods, Arben Mullai Outsourcing advanced logistics: shippers and providers perspective on risks, Dan Andersson and Andreas Norrman Effective practices and tools for ensuring supply continuity, George A. Zsidisin, Gary L. Ragatz and Steven A. Melnyk Conclusion, Bob Ritchie and Clare Brindley Index.

Peer Assessment in Undergraduate Programmes

Abstract Peer assessment was introduced into the assessment strategy of two marketing modules on two undergraduate programmes at Manchester Metropolitan University. A questionnaire was used to elicit responses from a sample of 80 students concerning their attitudes to and experience of, the peer assessment exercise. Students felt that the benefits of peer assessment were: the increase in personal motivation as a result of their active involvement in the assessment process; the opportunity to compare and discuss the assignment, and the opportunity to gain knowledge and develop a greater understanding of the assignment content and assessment process. Criticisms included the effects of personal bias on the marks awarded, the interpretation of criteria and the ability of the students to assess. Some students regarded peer assessment as an incentive to perform, while others saw it as an unfair system that lacked objectivity. Over half the sample regarded assessment as solely a role for the tutor. The research ...

Disintermediation, disintegration and risk in the SME global supply chain

The paper’s premiss is that the extant linear supply chain relationship model that dominates most sectors will rapidly be replaced by a more amorphous supply chain relationship model. It is suggested that entirely new business models are appearing, where the ability to build flexible alliances at speed is a critical management skill. Although these changes will have an impact on all organisations irrespective of size, the focus of the paper is directed towards the SME sector. It is anticipated that the outcomes from this review and the associated research will enhance awareness and understanding of the nature of changes to markets and commercial/supply chain relationships, highlight the potential opportunities and risks and provide guidelines for the developments in strategic management, relationship marketing and risk management.

The information-risk conundrum

Information technologies have been deliberately targeted towards enhancing database access, analytical powers and the communications capacity of marketers. The justification for these efforts has been based on the premise that more and better quality information will result in reduced uncertainty and improved risk perceptions in decision situations. This premiss is examined in the context of decision maker behaviour, drawing on empirical research involving 50 managers undertaking strategic analysis and decisions. The research methodology employed a computer‐based simulation of a strategic decision situation, enabling the managers to access structured information databases to support their decision making. Concludes that the initial perceptions of uncertainty and risk relating to the decisions faced are unlikely to be modified irrespective of the quantity or quality of the information transmitted and processed by the decision maker. The evidence suggests that the decision maker may also construct their decision‐taking behaviour to constrain the opportunity for new information to alter the initial perceptions and choices made.

Undergraduates and small and medium‐sized enterprises: opportunities for a symbiotic partnership?

In the UK, the Department for Education and Employment has sought to improve the responsiveness of higher education to the needs of the labour market and to foster partnerships between higher education institutions and employers. This paper reports the experiences of the UK Government North West Office funded project that fostered such a partnership approach. A substantive theme of the research addressed the issues associated with graduate recruitment within the SME sector. The process model used to engender the partnerships is outlined, along with the research instrument that elicited perceptions of both the SMEs and the undergraduate students about each other prior to and subsequent to the completion of the project. The study found significant changes in perceptions held by the undergraduates and the host companies at the end of the partnership. An evaluation of the operation of the partnership project is undertaken and recommendations for course developments and other learning methods are discussed.

The European Commission and SME support mechanisms for e‐business

This paper explores and validates the premise that European small‐ to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) are less advanced in their adoption of e‐business than their US counterparts. The authors then examine the efforts of the European Information Society Project Office (ECISPO) in encouraging and informing SMEs by using the Internet as an educational, informational and networking tool. The methods employed by the ECISPO are evaluated against an information processing model. The authors then question the validity/usefulness of the site usage statistics which are provided in an aggregated format. The paper concludes that the full interactivity of the Web is being underutilised as an informational tool and proposes an e‐business adoption model for the SME sector. The paper also concludes that site usage statistics need to be presented in a disaggregated form to enable more detailed analysis to be performed.

The marketing of gambling on the Internet

It is estimated that gambling on the Internet will be worth as much as

Reassessing the management of the global supply chain

3bn by 2001. Gambling via interactive technology is already underpinned by two recent changes in consumer behaviour. First, increasing familiarisation with interactive technology and second, by changes in the way the gambling market operates. These already changing behaviour patterns, signal the success drivers on which gambling on the internet can build. The implications of this new leisure consumption pattern are discussed and the paper concludes that the synergy between marketing gambling and technology will transform the production and consumption of gambling.

Adoption of ‘eco-advantage’ by SMEs: emerging opportunities and constraints

Focuses on specific elements of supply‐chain and partnering arrangements to assess the contribution of these to managing the supply chain and making it more responsive to the changing business environment. The initial sections of the paper articulate the key elements of supply chain management, risk management and relationship marketing. A model is then developed that displays the complementarity of these elements. Conclusions are drawn from three case studies in relation to certain key elements of the model, with suggestions for further development of the model in terms of conceptual and applied research.