Nancy J. Miller

Is the good corporation dead? the community social responsibility of small business operators

Abstract This study examined whether social responsibility is a meaningful characteristic with which to differentiate businesses given its supposed demise in the new global economy. The analysis focuses on small businesses and the social responsibility of businesses toward their community. Community social responsibility and competitive strategies were measured by the self reports of 675 small business operators in 10 Iowa cities. Cluster analysis revealed four categories of business operators designated as civic leaders, alienated business operators, followers in high collective action communities, and followers in low collective action communities. Findings demonstrate that business owners and managers can be differentiated on the basis of community social responsibility. The clusters so created are associated with meaningful business and operator demographic features and with the operator’s belief in the importance of community support as a strategy for business success. This analysis shows that in spite of changes in the economy, a significant segment of small business operators believe in tenets of the enlightened self interest model of business social responsibility, that is, that doing good is good business.

Managing Family Businesses in Small Communities

Small businesses located in communities with populations of less than 10,000 were identified in a national sample of family businesses and examined for differences in their management strategies (n = 384). These businesses were first clustered by level and type of management strategy and then analyzed to ascertain differences and similarities in both personal and business firm characteristics among the family business manager groupings. Problems associated with small business management and sources of assistance were also identified. Findings suggest that managers of small family businesses located in small U.S. communities who practiced strategies focusing on extensive planning and controlling perceived their businesses to be successful; however, these managers noted that their greatest problem involved development of sound marketing strategies.

Community and managerial predictors of performance in small rural US retail and service firms

Abstract Conducting business in todays rural community environment offers social and economic promise along with uncertainty in facing the phenomenon of having fewer customers, who make fewer visits, and spend less per visit. This research highlights the importance of both community and managerial factors to performance evaluations of small rural retail and service firm owners. Using path analysis, direct and indirect effects on perceptual and financial performance were identified for a national US sample of 275 rural small-sized retail and service businesses. This study provides information from largely successful firms for developing marketing strategies and product/service offerings as a crucial step in assisting businesses in rural communities.

Contributions of social capital theory in predicting rural community inshopping behavior

Abstract The social environment in which the retailer conducts business is not often measured for its fundamental influences on consumers’ local purchasing behavior. This study, using social capital theory as a theoretical framework, examines whether reciprocal actions exist between community members as consumers and retailers and if these actions are persuasive in predicting the economic activity regarded as consumer inshopping. Determinants of inshopping behavior are analyzed from the community member’s perspective in a study of the rural community marketplace. The sample population consisted of consumers living in two rural Iowa communities with populations less than 10,000, agricultural-based economies, and retail mixtures of locally owned and operated small-sized businesses as well as national chain and discount organizations. Structural equation modeling estimated the causal patterns among consumers’ attachment to community with two endogenous variables regarding reciprocity and inshopping behavior. Findings offer supporting evidence that social relationships aid in predicting rural marketplace relationships.

Exploring the Overlap of Family and Business Demands: Household and Family Business Managers' Adjustment Strategies

This study divided households in which at least one member is involved in managing a family business into two groups: those in which one individual performs two roles, family manager and business manager, and those in which two different individuals perform the two roles. The study compares adjustment strategies that the two groups use to manage the overlap of business and family demands within and across the two family types. Findings suggest that the individual performing dual roles is more likely than two separate managers to make adjustments by bringing the household responsibilities to the business and the business responsibilities home.

Adjustment Strategies in the Family Business: Implications of Gender and Management Role

Four gender/role categories are compared to ascertain the influence that gender and management roles and related characteristics have on adjustment strategies selected during hectic times in the family or the family business. The five adjustment strategies involve reallocation of family or business tasks, intertwining tasks, using volunteer help and hiring outside help. Data are from the 1997 National Family Business Study (n = 673). Findings from multiple regression analysis indicate that, with the exception of intertwining tasks, there are not significant differences between men and women on adjustment strategies when controlling for family and business demands and human resources. Single-role managers are more likely to reallocate family resources to the business than are two-role managers, regardless of gender.

Exploring factors of perceived social performance, health and personal control among retired seniors and seniors owning home-based businesses in non-metropolitan counties

Persons (n = 77) over age fifty-five and living within nine non-metropolitan counties participated in this study to determine if the factors of social performance, health, and personal control were perceived differently by those operating a home-based business than those individuals fully retired from any employment. No significant differences were found between the groups in terms of health or desire for self-control, though the home-based business owners were found to desire more social contact than non home-based business owners. In addition, those home-based business owners who desired high degrees of self-control, found operation of a business from the home to be highly satisfactory.