René Díaz-Pichardo

From Farmers to Entrepreneurs The Importance of Collaborative Behaviour

The purpose of this article is to discuss the problems associated with attempting to develop collaborative enterprise amongst farmers in Mexico. Sustainable development of agricultural land requires the development of entrepreneurial and organisational competency in farmers. However, the educational processes involved in such development have been insufficiently studied, especially in emerging economies. This research aims to explore the early stages of the process of transformation from farmers to entrepreneurs, through in-depth interviews with participants in a public pilot project in Mexico. Interviews were performed in the locations where the farmers meet. In total, 28 interviews were carried out: 18 farmers, seven promoters and representatives from three farm links agencies. Results suggest that associative behaviour of farmers is a key element in the process of improving entrepreneurial and organisational competency in the agricultural land. Little prior research into the entrepreneurial development of farmers in Mexico has been undertaken.

EXPLAINING INEQUALITY WITHIN THE BOP: URBAN VS. RURAL

Little has been written about inequality within the base of the pyramid (BOP) and how this inequality offers different opportunities and challenges to detonate inclusive business innovation processes. This research contributes to the BOP literature by offering evidence of structural differences between urban and rural BOP based on unmet needs expressed by members of the BOP in both contexts. It can also be seen as a first approximation of the knowledge that multinational corporations, social entrepreneurs and policy makers need to detonate inclusive business innovation processes at the Mexican BOP. In-depth interviews were conducted with families, owners/people in charge of small businesses and government officials in ten different BOP communities randomly selected from each of the country’s five regions. The results provide relevant insights about unattended needs, consumption habits, and differences and similarities between urban and rural BOP communities, from which business opportunities might be discovered.

Unattended Basic Necessities and Consuming Habits in the Rural and Urban Mexican Base of the Pyramid: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

This exploratory field study aims to help identify necessities and consuming habits of people in low income segments as a necessary condition to envision business opportunities and develop successful business models in the Mexican Base of the Pyramid (BOP). In depth interviews were done with families, owners/people in charge of small businesses, and opinion leaders in ten different BOP communities, randomly selected from each of the five regions in the country. Results give relevant information about unattended basic necessities, consuming habits, as well as differences and similarities between rural and urban BOP communities, from which business opportunities might be discovered. For instance: job creation is quite necessary almost everywhere; formal financial services are practically non existent in rural communities; telecommunication infrastructure is quite limited and expensive; high schools and universities are demanded, as well as an educational scheme that helps improve the entrepreneurial capabilities of the Mexican BOP. Business opportunities like those exploited by credit stores, such as Elektra and Coppel, which offer direct credit to consumers in low income segments for the purchasing of furniture and appliances, could be found in the lack of basic services. On the other hand, commercial firms could take advantage of the widely spread entrepreneurial initiative and disposition of the Mexican BOP, in order to co-create commercial networks in these unattended markets.