Miroslav Rebernik

Fostering innovation by unlearning tacit knowledge

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate the problems of managing tacit knowledge and the importance of unlearning it. As the main problem of managing tacit knowledge lies in the fact that it escapes observation and measurement, an adequate framework that would make some dimensions of tacit knowledge visible has to be developed.Design/methodology/approach – On the basis of literature surveys the authors discuss several types of knowledge and issues related to sharing, learning and, most importantly, unlearning obsolete tacit knowledge dimensions.Findings – To overcome the perpetual elusiveness of tacit knowledge is presented a framework that could help highlight dimensions of tacit knowledge that can be mobilized and observed through the manifestation of different behaviour. It is partly possible to make explicit some dimensions of tacit knowledge that not only contribute to successful sharing and mutual learning, but also enable the identification of those parts of knowledge that hinder innovati...

INFORMAL SYSTEMS THINKING OR SYSTEMS THEORY

Systems thinking is the practice of holistic thinking, which can be informal or based on systems theory. Success has always depended on holistic rather than one-sided thinking. Empirical findings about the innovative society can exemplify this statement, though there seems to be no universal agreement as to what the basic attributes of systems thinking are, and we offer a summary of them. To test them, we investigated an industrial latecomer country and found that the understanding of both the innovative society and the systemic thinking are rare: one-sidedness prevails. What do we do to come closer to holistic thinking? Neither the General Systems Theory nor most other systems theories (except the Dialectical Systems Theory) provide a methodology supportive of holism; however, the case of the visionary companies proves that informal systems thinking can be very powerful. Hence, systems theories should work more on informal systems thinking.

Requisite holism, isolating mechanisms and entrepreneurship

Holism is a familiar concept, but it lacks a coherent definition in either theory or practice. This impedes common understanding and realistic observation and action. At the heart of the problem is the inevitability of human specialisation, which tends to be accompanied by a lack of cooperation, especially of an interdisciplinary nature. False holism may result in unpleasant surprises due to oversights. People who are able to avoid them tend to employ, even though tacitly, the law of requisite holism. This article seeks to explain this phenomenon by associating it with the practice of entrepreneurial management.

Cooperation and opportunistic behaviour in transformational outsourcing

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to investigate possible opportunistic behaviour in transformational outsourcing relationship and to indicate possibilities how to avoid it.Design/methodology/approach – On the basis of literature survey authors discuss several important aspects of managing successful outsourcing relationship.Findings – Holistic perception of business processes and expertise on critical success factors in transformational outsourcing become increasingly important. For a collaboration in which the process of transformational outsourcing will prosper participants must be interdependent (and be aware of their interdependence) and have a long‐termed strategic interest to cooperate.Originality/value – Introduced insight is important for understanding the long‐term outsourcing partnership, and to recognize possible opportunistic behaviour and be able to avoid it.

Growth ambitions and succession solutions in family businesses

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to establish whether succession problems in family businesses contribute to more modest growth aspirations compared to family businesses where succession solutions are gained. It aims to focus especially on transition countries, where studies on this topic are very rare.Design/methodology/approach – The main data source for the study was a telephone survey of 350 small to medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) in Slovenia. To obtain population estimates, 95 percent confidence intervals were calculated. To test the differences in the case of two independent samples, the t‐test and χ2‐test were used. The general criterion for accepting the hypothesis that differences exist was the statistical signification at the 5 percent level (p< 0.05; two‐tailed).Findings – The research shows that a high proportion of family enterprises in Slovenia are going to face the problem of succession in the near future. Research results also suggest that anticipation of an increase in the number o...

Beyond Markets, Hierarchies and Ownership Mania in Transitional Countries

This paper deals with the concept that for the success of the transition in Central and Eastern Europe the canonic business economics theory underlying transitional processes is not enough, because its paradigm is exhausted in many ways, and because it deals only with economic subsystem. For these countries to come to the same footings with the rest of the developed world we need a more holistic approach, to employ systems thinking, and with the help of the law of requisite variety, to try to think and act beyond markets, hierarchies and ownership.

Achieving Synergy of Business System Via Anticipatory System

The existence and development of business systems depend increasingly on its capability to keep the achieving synergy of their functioning development that presents a possible solution toward a harmonized and target oriented business. The integration processes between parts of a business system or between several business systems, lead to the quality improvement, e.g. synergetic effects. The paper discusses the thesis that the functioning of a business system (and its results) can be improved by the application of the business anticipatory systems rather than a short ‐ sighted behavior. The anticipatory system significantly influences business functioning mainly by its ability to ensure a future oriented functioning, appropriate behavior in relation to the environment and such a direction of the behavior that would lead to flexibility and ergodics.

Gender differences in the usage of resources in the entrepreneurial opportunity identification process in Slovenia and Croatia

While entrepreneurship research is usually focused on early-stage or established entrepreneurship, in this article we are taking a step back to earlier stages in the entrepreneurial process and focus on the opportunity identification and resources that might support it. The article provides a clearer insight into the extent of resources possessed by adults in Slovenia and Croatia, into gender differences in the opportunity identification process and the usage of resources within this process. Our research shows that women possess on average lower levels of resources, which explain their lower opportunity identification prevalence. Results show that the increase in resources, especially in the area of human capital consisting of skills, knowledge and experiences for entrepreneurship, has a significant and positive effect on opportunity identification among women.

Building an Entrepreneurial Society : 25 years of entrepreneurship at FEB UM

The present scientific monograph was formed on the occasion of the anniversary celebrated in the academic year 2017/2018 by current and former members of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Business Economics, and the members of the Institute of Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management at the University of Maribor. Twenty-five years – a quarter of a century – is a period after which it is worth looking back on the past and summing up the memories of the achievements and milestones that have marked it. The monograph is also an acknowledgment and tribute to the initiator and founder of the first study track for entrepreneurship education, and the head of the Department and Institute, Professor Doctor Miroslav Rebernik. The collection of selected scientific contributions is thus put together in such a way that he is the co-author of all of them, with individual members of the Department. A collection was created that chronologically presents some of the most visible contributions of the 25-year period. We would like to thank all publishing houses that approved the reprint of the contributions.

Dynamics of Entrepreneurial Potential: GEM Slovenia 2016, Executive summary

The book presents the results of the largest longitudinal study of entrepreneurship in the world, the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor. It is based on data collected in 2016 and before, and deals with the interconnectedness of entrepreneurship and economic development. This monograph brings the results of the study of entrepreneurship in Slovenia and compares them with the results of other countries. It is based on a joint methodology and performed within a closely linked and interconnected global network of researchers, allowing detailed international comparisons. The book enables a better understanding of societal values about entrepreneurship and the specific individual characteristics of persons, such as their perception of their own entrepreneurial capabilities, their ability to perceive business opportunities, their entrepreneurial intentions and their fear of failure. Because the survey monitored entrepreneurial activity in all phases of the life cycle (nascent, new and established businesses, business discontinuation), and according to the impact and type of activity, it delivers a comprehensive picture of entrepreneurship processes and their ecosystem. A substantial amount of attention is also devoted to entrepreneurial aspirations and the quality of the entrepreneurship ecosystem, since the latter may significantly foster (or constrain) entrepreneurial processes in a society.