Norma Juma

The Relationship Between Intellectual Capital And New Venture Performance: An Empirical Investigation Of The Moderating Role Of The Environment

Many organizations today view intellectual capital (IC) as their most valuable asset. New ventures, in particular, can leverage their IC to attain and sustain a competitive advantage. This study investigates whether IC has a direct impact on venture performance. We also seek to determine if this relationship is moderated by environmental dimensions. Our findings suggest that human capital is the most critical component of IC when predicting operating performance of high-tech ventures, while intellectual property is the crucial component when predicting market-based performance. Our findings also suggest that the relationship between IC and venture performance is influenced by the environment.

Effects of entrepreneurs’ individual factors and environmental contingencies on venture performance: a case study of African-American women-owned ventures

Few researchers have explored the determinants of venture performance of firms owned by African-American women. In recent years, the growth in the number of these firms have exceeded that of all women-owned firms however the growth in employment and revenues in African-American women-owned firms has lagged when compared with that of other minority women entrepreneurs. This qualitative study builds a conceptual framework that addresses the role that various resources and environmental factors may play in African-American women entrepreneurs’ venture performance. We argue that although some African-American women entrepreneurs may possess various individual level resources (i.e. human, social, psychological and financial capital) at business start-up, the environment in which they operate may greatly affect their ventures’ performance and sustainability. Anchoring our arguments in the resource constraint variant of labor market disadvantage and protected market theories, we provide propositions that detail how and why environmental contingencies can have both a mediating and moderating effect on African-American womens venture performance. Our results show that the way in which the entrepreneurs experience their contextual environment can strengthen, weaken or negate the environments effect on their firms’ performance.

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO WOMEN’S VENTURE SUCCESS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: AN EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS

Although the body of literature on female entrepreneurs is relatively small when compared to that of men; the majority of articles that have focused on female entrepreneurs and issues surrounding them center on women in developed countries. Few studies place emphasis on female entrepreneurs in developing countries. Guided by the resource-based view of human and social capital, the article explores the relationship among individual and entrepreneurial factors, institutional factors and women’s venture success in developing countries. Hypotheses are tested with a sample of 350 female entrepreneurs using individual and country level data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) database and the Heritage Foundation’s Index of Economic Freedom. Female entrepreneurs were chosen from six developing countries: Argentina, Brazil, Hungary, India, Mexico and South Africa. Results indicate certain factors (i.e. household income, knowing an entrepreneur, and country of origin) play a role in venture success for female entrepreneurs in developing countries. Secondary analyses demonstrated that the developing country’s economic freedom, cultural norms, financial support and government supportiveness may also impact women’s venture success.

The moderating effects of traditionality–modernity on the effects of internal labor market beliefs on employee affective commitment and their turnover intention

This study addresses a possible moderating effect of cultural values on the relationship between employee beliefs in human resource management (HRM) practices and employee outcomes. Although employee belief regarding internal labor market (ILM) operation within their firms could be positively related to employee commitment and negatively related to their turnover intention, employee cultural values may act as a contextual variable that strengthens or weakens such relationships. We test the moderating effects of two cultural values, traditionality and modernity in the context of Kenya where the blend of these cultural values is an emerging reality, given the rapid pace of urbanization in recent years coupled with effects of globalization and the digital era. Our study indeed found support for the moderating effects of these cultural values. The association between ILM beliefs and employee affective commitment was found to be greater for employees with more traditional values. In contrast, the relationship was weaker for employees with more modern cultural values. These moderating patterns were also found in the relationship between ILM beliefs and turnover intention. Implications for management research, theory, and practice are discussed.

Sustainable entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: the collaborative multi-system model

In this article, we explore the dimensions involved in creating a sustainability-focused entrepreneurial venture within a community. In these ventures the entrepreneur may be the central hub of venture activities, but the interdependence between the entrepreneur and partners in the community is critical. Our observations suggest that the path toward sustainability starts with external collaboration with entities in the entrepreneurs surrounding system. Our aim is to extend entrepreneurship research through an examination of sustainability, which calls for a recalibration in the role of profit and social/economic good. This research offers a comparative analysis of two case studies, and proposes a fluid and integrative multi-systems model of collaboration with various entities, including governments, the private sector, non-government organizations (NGOs), and the larger community.

ENTREPRENEURIALISM IN CIRCUMVENTING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS: A CASE STUDY OF ROSEMARY'S POULTRY FARM

ACADEMIC ABSTRACT This case presents a real-life example of issues facing women entrepreneurs in developing nations. It provides fertile ground for courses that cover opportunity recognition, social and human capital, cultural diversity of entrepreneurship, family business/small business management, cultural issues in international business, the dynamics of evolving external environment and the inevitable realignment of the internal structures and strategies of a firm. It can be used for both undergraduates and introductory courses at the graduate level. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This case outlines an entrepreneur’s journey from opportunity recognition to a successful business launch. The entrepreneur details how she acquired her seed capital and initial marketing through a women’s group. She has a lot to be proud of including a lifestyle she sought. However, a large scale commercial farmer just moved into town and her business model is severely threatened by the new player’s low price strategy. The entrepreneur invites a local Small Business Consultant to her farm to help her redefine her business model. According to the entrepreneur there are just two options: either increase her operation to a much larger scale or find a way to drastically cut her costs in order to breakeven at the competition’s prices. The case stops shy of the consultant’s recommendation(s). The students will have to assume the role of the consultant and come up with recommendations. Hopefully the students will be able to generate more alternatives beyond those identified by the entrepreneur. This case is particularly important in terms of illustrating the enormous impact of the dynamics external environment on business models. This case clearly depicts the inevitable realignment of the internal structures and strategies of a firm in hypercompetitive environment.