Dianne H.B. Welsh

An examination of international retail franchising in emerging markets

There has been an urgent call from both the franchise industry and the academic community for research on world franchising markets, specifically in the retail sector. This article is an attempt to summarize the main research that has been conducted thus far on international retail franchising. The article begins with an overview of the development of the literature and then discusses the nature and scope of emerging markets, with particular reference to their impact on the stakeholders of international retail franchising. Next, the article develops a conceptual model relating international retail franchising to its stakeholders. Then, a review of the research is divided into the areas of emerging world market: Central and Eastern Europe, Mexico and South America, Asia, and other areas that include India, Kuwait, and South Africa. The article concludes by discussing the next step to developing a research base for further understanding of emerging markets in addition to the opportunities and challenges for retail franchising and future research.

Locus of control and entrepreneurship in the Russian Republic

An internal locus of control has been linked empirically to entrepreneurial activity. In changing to a market economy, therefore, the Russian Republic may face hidden psychological barriers if 70 years of a closely managed economy has Induced a perception of control located In powerful others rather than oneself. Levensons (three-dimensional) locus of control scale Is administered In the former Soviet Union and the results compared to baseline data across various countries and cultures. The findings Indicate that when compared to most countries, the Russian respondents did possess lower Internal locus of control scores and In some Instances higher powerful other scores.

Organization and Management in the Embrace of Government

The article reviews the book ‘Organization and Management in the Embrace of Government,’ by Jone L. Pearce.

Family Business in the Middle East: An Eexploratory Study of Retail Management in Kuwait and Lebanon

The Middle East is a growing, lucrative marketplace that has recently captured the interest of the world for political as well as economic reasons due to the War in Iraq, which began in 2003. This exploratory study examines the relationship between retail small/medium enterprises (SMEs) that are family business owned, organizational commitment, and management and employee perceptions of customer service on a number of dimensions. The results suggest that managers and employees of family-owned businesses in the Middle East behave in ways similar to those in Western countries; however, there are differences, probably related to cultural characteristics. The Middle East is a richly diverse region, a myriad of unique cultures. As the market becomes more sophisticated, the importance of service quality increases. Global retailers can benefit from this study by better understanding the managers and employees in the region and the pivotal role of the family on business. Implications for practice are discussed.

A descriptive model of managerial effectiveness

This study was designed to help understand what effective managers really do. Unlike previous research on managerial effectiveness, a diverse sample (N = 78) of managers was directly observed in natural settings. These data on managerial activities gathered by trained observers were related to a subordinate-report measure of unit effectiveness. Using canonical correlation analysis, a descriptive model of managerial effectiveness was derived. This one-dimensional model consists of a continuum ranging from a quantity-oriented human resource manager (who was observed to exhibit considerable staffing and motivating or reinforcing activities and was perceived to have quantity performance in the unit) to quality- oriented traditional manager (who was observed to exhibit a lot of interaction with outsiders, controlling and planning activities, and was perceived to have quality performance in the unit). This empirically derived descriptive model helps identify needed managerial activities and skills for quantity and quality performance in todays organizations.

An exploratory study of influences on retail service quality: A focus on Kuwait and Lebanon

The Middle East is a growing and lucrative marketplace. This exploratory study examines retail service in Kuwait and Lebanon, regions with long histories of trade. Retail service, however, has not been well documented in this region. As far as is known, this is the first study that examines customer and salespeople perceptions of service encounters in these countries in light of their culture, religion, and nationalities. As retailers expand into new markets worldwide, such information is vital to their success. Future research directions are discussed.

Japanese Women Entrepreneurs: Implications for Family Firms

Japanese women entrepreneurs and their predominately family‐owned firms are a growing economic segment in apan. The number of entrepreneurs of both genders in apan is proportionately very small compared to other countries. The purpose of this research is to investigate the characteristics of Japanese women entrepreneurs and their family firms, identify barriers and resources that affect their success. A customized long‐term support system with strong connections between family business supporters and women business owners by both the governmental and private agencies was identified as important for further growth of Japanese women entrepreneurs. Implications are discussed.

The Ethical Orientation of Russian Entrepreneurs

Ethics has been a significant concern in the management literature and recent efforts have investigated ethical orientations across culture. However, little, if any, work has looked at ethical orientations among entrepreneurs and managers in the transforming Russian economy. This study surveyed the ethical orientations of Russian owner-managers (n=194) involved in entrepreneurial and privatisation activities. A cross-cultural comparison to US normative responses found no difference in Machiavellian orientation in general, though female Russian entrepreneurs perceived themselves as more likely to engage in opportunistic behaviour. Additionally, Russian entrepreneurs in general perceived themselves as more ethically rigid. These respondents also felt Russian organisations fostered more interpersonally collective but structurally opportunistic organisational climates. La litte´rature sur le management s’est beaucoup pre´occupe´e des problemes e´thiques et des investigations re´centes ont porte´ sur les variations interculturelles. Toutefois, tres peu, voire aucune recherche ne s’est inte´resse´e a l’e´thique des patrons et cadres de l’e´conomie russe en pleine transformation. Cette enquete a porte´ sur l’e´thique de 194 entrepreneurs russes implique´s dans les privatisations et la cre´ation d’entreprise. Une comparaison interculturelle avec les re´ponses normatives ame´ricaines ne de´cela aucune diffe´rence dans l’attitude globalement machiave´lique, bien que les femmes chefs d’entreprise russes se perc¸oivent elles-memes comme plus dispose´es a se lancer dans des comportements opportunistes. De plus, les entrepreneurs russes se percevaient en general eux-memes comme e´thiquement plus strictes. Les repondants avaient aussi l’impression que les organisations russes suscitaient plus des climats favorisant les relations que des ambiances structurellement opportunistes.

Going Beyond Research on Goal Setting: : A Proposed Role for Organizational Psychological Capital of Family Firms

Kotlar and De Massis found that membership assortment and the number of organizational members, as well as the imminence of succession, influence goal diversity in family firms. They also showed that goal diversity can be managed and family–centered goals can be stabilized through professional and familial social interactions, driving the formation of collective commitment to family–centered goals (CCFG). Using this research as a point of departure, we propose that CCFG may impact family firm economic and noneconomic performance. Furthermore, we introduce to the family firm literature the organizational psychological capital (OPC), consisting of hope, efficacy, resilience, and optimism. We also suggest that OPC may be more prevalent in family firms than in nonfamily firms. Moreover, OPC of family firms may play an important role in the link between CCFG and economic as well as noneconomic performance.

The evolution of social entrepreneurship: what have we learned?

Purpose – If there is one thing that truly characterizes entrepreneurship and especially social entrepreneurship, it is the “engaged scholarship” at their very heart. That is, teaching, outreach/service and research are connected, often tightly. The purpose of this paper therefore is to discuss the evolution of social entrepreneurship and the lessons learned. Design/methodology/approach – The paper reports on the results of a multi-country survey dealing with social entrepreneurship. Findings – It is found that a lot of maturing needs to be done in the area of social entrepreneurship work. Originality/value – This paper provides real value to the literature by showing what is actually done in the teaching of social entrepreneurship.