Frederic Bill

The Incubus Paradox: Attempts at Foundational Rethinking of the ‘SME Support Genre

Despite the lacking scientific support regarding efficiency, public authorities launch and owner-managers’ participate in public support programmes. Previous research has failed to address this enigma and dissolve the underlying paradox. Drawing on mythical inspiration, this article offers a framework grounded on the medieval demonic character of incubus/subbuci, by means of which this incubus paradox is analytically treated. Empirically, an indirect approach based on inserting a fictive case into a general focus-group method is adopted, thus avoiding leading questions. Two images of the small-business support syndrome emerge from the proposed mythical framework: The first one, which could be named just “incubus” ascribes malevolence to the helpers and a good deal of naivety on the part of the support programme participants. The second one, the paradox, suggests that there will be no measurable growth effect of support measures since none of the stakeholders identified in this discourse intend to actually foster development and growth in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The field material indicates that these two images jointly provide a comprehensive understanding, that there is not an incubus and a victim but rather several incubuses operating within the confines of a support programme. Thus, instead of claiming that the support agents are malevolent, the conclusion is that they have their own agenda. Since our inquiry, in addition indicates that this is true also for the participating SME representatives, they can hardly be seen as victims in the traditional sense. They rather exploit an arena where it is possible to strengthen ones own identity as responsible business persons bringing financial support to their region.

The indirect approach of semi‐focused groups: Expanding focus group research through role‐playing

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present an alternative way of using focus groups in research – a role‐play‐enhanced focus group method – in which participants are presented with the challenge of dealing with a specific task while playing a familiar but nevertheless fictive role.Design/methodology/approach – The research is performed through an experimental approach in which a focus group of small business owner‐managers are assembled and presented with a prepared case exercise. The design is a role‐play‐like setting in which the participants are to act as the board of a company.Findings – Carefully designed, well‐prepared role‐play‐like activities can add substantially to focus‐groups.Originality/value – Adding an experimental dimension to focus groups offers the possibility of addressing topics indirectly and thus increases their usefulness.

Divine Inspiration for Deities

Drawn from the pre-Christian saga the Poetic Edda, Idun’s words in the eighteenth verse places us in the centre of one its major poems. Thus, we enter into the Lokasenna (Loki’s Quarrel), a part of the Poetic Edda that describes a final rupture in the Norse celestial world. The Edda contains a number of poetic narratives regarding dealings of the pre-Christian deities, villains and heroes of Scandinavia.1 The actual age as well as the historical source value of the Edda texts is debated and seems hard to assess (Anderson, 2002; Frakes, 2002). Its mythical material has, however, undeniably influenced many Scandinavians’ perception of their own past.