Digitalization is incrementally transforming business practices, particularly in sales and digital marketing, although the factors motivating entrepreneurs to adopt digital technologies in sales ...strategies remain underexplored. Consequently, the aim of our research is to identify the factors that influence the use of digital technologies in sales. This research elucidates the interplay between demographics and entrepreneurial motivations, utilizing data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, involving 464 entrepreneurs in Slovenia and Croatia, analyzed through logistic regression. Notably, demographic factors, including gender, age, and education, do not significantly influence digitalization adoption in sales strategies. Among entrepreneurial motives, only the aspiration “to make a difference in the world” propels entrepreneurs towards considering digital sales approaches, while other motivations do not have a significant influence. Despite extensive studies on demographic factors influencing digital technology adoption, a consistent trend is conspicuously absent, necessitating an intricate examination of various dimensions of digital business transformation. Furthermore, our findings underscore that, while digitalization is acclaimed for enhancing companies’ profitability, entrepreneurs motivated by altruistic goals demonstrate a pronounced proclivity to integrate digitalization into sales, signifying that digitalization’s pragmatic utility extends beyond merely amplifying profitability and growth, insinuating a more integrative role in sculpting sustainable entrepreneurial practices and business models.
This study examines the impact of project-management practices on high-growth small and medium-sized enterprises (HG SMEs) from a systems perspective, utilizing structural equation modelling (SEM) ...and data from a diverse SME sample. It investigates the intricate relationships among several factors: project management system support, project-management processes, stakeholder involvement, project management success, project success, and HG SME growth. Our findings highlight the substantial positive influence of project-management processes and stakeholder engagement on project management success. These factors subsequently contribute significantly to both project success and the overall growth of HG SMEs. Notably, project management system support does not exhibit a substantial influence on these success factors. Furthermore, our research uncovers important indirect effects. Project-management processes indirectly impact both project success and HG SME growth, underscoring their central role. Similarly, stakeholder involvement indirectly influences HG SME growth through its impact on project success, emphasizing its significance. This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by emphasizing the critical roles of project-management processes, stakeholder engagement, and project success as drivers of SME growth. These insights have valuable implications for SME managers, project leaders, and policymakers, highlighting the essential nature of effective project management in shaping the growth trajectory of SMEs.
Abstract
Background/Purpose
This study investigates the distinct entrepreneurial motivations driving export activities and sustainability pursuits in Slovenian businesses, with a particular focus on ...differences between newborns and mature enterprises. The study proposes that entrepreneurs who prioritize wealth accumulation are more likely to engage in export activities, particularly those running startups, under the pressures of global trade. Conversely, in light of the shifting cultural values towards sustainability, it is hypothesized that entrepreneurs who are committed to making a difference in the world will be more inclined towards sustainability engagement, a tendency that may be more pronounced in startups.
Methods
To test these hypotheses, linear regression modelling, using data collected from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor survey of businesses in Slovenia was employed.
Results
Newborns, in comparison to mature businesses, are more engaged in both exporting and sustainability pursuits. Interestingly, the motives behind these activities differ significantly. Exporting is primarily driven by the pursuit of wealth accumulation, while sustainability engagement is motivated by the desire to make a positive difference in the world.
Conclusion
These findings provide valuable insights into the unique characteristics of internationalization and sustainability pursuits in startups versus mature businesses. They highlight the role of distinct entrepreneurial motivations in shaping business practices, contributing to the literature on entrepreneurship and business sustainability.
At the end of the last century, digital technology emergence enabled millions of people to compete globally by remotely offering their knowledge and skills. In addition, business processes are ...becoming fragmented into smaller components, so-called short-term projects. These work arrangements are often carried out by so-called independent professionals (contractors), better known as freelancers. A literature review has shown that the research topic of freelancing from an entrepreneurial perspective is relatively new and has its assumptions and gaps. Different stakeholders and institutions connect, mediate and manage the services of the entrepreneurial ecosystem to support entrepreneurs. As freelancers belong to the self-employed entrepreneurial category, they are engaged in business activities and need support from their environment. To contribute to this topic, we have analyzed the relationships between freelancers’ job and career satisfaction, digitalization and entrepreneurial ecosystem factors, with the aim of making policy recommendations. Regarding the entrepreneurial environment, we analyzed the cultural and social norms and government programs that provide support, based on the measurement instrument, developed in the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) research. We surveyed 200 freelancers (respondents) in Slovenia. Using factor analysis and structural equation modelling, the empirical results suggest that digitalization and cultural and social norms are significant factors that promote the success of new careers as freelancers in terms of job and career satisfaction. The results show that both positively influence job and career satisfaction, while government programs indirectly influence the job and career satisfaction of freelancers. This explains how the entrepreneurial ecosystem, plays a special role in supporting freelancers on their career path.
Purpose: The fundamental driving force of entrepreneurship is the individual with their ambitions and entrepreneurial spirit, but also with their obstacles that prevent them from following an ...entrepreneurial path. These obstacles can be of a personal nature, but also factors of the immediate living environment, the prevailing cultural values, the general attitude of society towards entrepreneurship, etc. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the known barriers to early-stage youth entrepreneurship compared to the total population based on the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) data for the 34 countries studied.
Methodology: The methodology includes frequency distribution, descriptive statistics and linear regression analysis. Data from GEM 2016-2020 on early-stage entrepreneurial activity, perceived skills, and fear of failure were used.
Results: We showed that there are differences in perceived entrepreneurial skills between youth and the total population, namely that youth perceive lower levels of entrepreneurial knowledge, experience, and skills. We confirmed that perceived entrepreneurial skills have a positive, statistically significant impact on total early-stage entrepreneurial activity, which is true for both the total population and youth. The test of the influence of fear of failure on total early-stage entrepreneurial activity for a sample of the total population and youth indicates a negative influence, but it is not statistically significant.
Conclusion: From the study, recommendations emerge for policymakers regarding entrepreneurship education as a key intervention to help youth acquire and develop relevant entrepreneurial skills that are thus beneficial for the youth to better overcome obstacles in the business environment as well as in various life situations.
New business models have emerged in the late 20th century due to Internet technology (IT) development and digital transformation. One of them - known as the gig economy - represents a new business ...concept that stands for a market system in which individuals offer their services on a fixed-time basis to other businesses through a digital platform. The purpose of this paper is to explore the relatively new field of the gig economy and its context based on previous findings and literature. Accordingly, the concept of the gig economy is based on a triangular relationship between the individual (worker; provider), the digital intermediary of the process (online labour platform) and the end-user of the service (employer). Such a concept implies various benefits for all parties involved but also brings many challenges. The paper aims to provide a descriptive insight into the literature and findings and introduce terminology related to the gig economy concept. It also aims to discuss the nature of work within the gig economy, its current dimensions, its value creation for firms and entrepreneurship, and the issues that need to be addressed for the gig workforce and its likely future policy implications. The paper's limitations are the lack of agreement on standard definitions and national and international frameworks of the gig economy workforce, even though studies suggest that gig workers are among the fastest-growing forces in contemporary work arrangements. Therefore, the paper encourages the development of policies and programs to identify the specifics, benefits, and challenges of the gig economy and its impact on society in order to facilitate and promote this new, growing entrepreneurial category.
Novi poslovni modeli pojavili su se krajem 20. stoljeća razvojem internetske tehnologije (IT) i digitalne transformacije. Jedan od njih – poznat pod nazivom gig ekonomija – predstavlja novi poslovni koncept koji se odnosi na tržišni sustav u kojem pojedinci nude svoje usluge na određeno vrijeme drugim tvrtkama putem digitalnih platforma. Svrha je ovog rada istražiti relativno novo područje gig ekonomije i njezin kontekst na temelju prethodnih istraživanja i literature. Prema tome koncept gig ekonomije temelji se na trokutastom odnosu između pojedinca (radnika; davatelja usluga), digitalnog posrednika procesa (mrežne platforme rada) i krajnjeg korisnika usluge (poslodavca). Takav koncept podrazumijeva različite koristi za sve uključene strane, ali donosi i brojne izazove. Cilj je rada pružiti opisni uvid u literaturu i istraživanja te uvesti, odnosno predstaviti terminologiju koja se odnosi na koncept gig ekonomije. Također je cilj raspraviti o prirodi rada unutar gig ekonomije, njeznim trenutnim značajkama, stvaranju vrijednosti za tvrtke i poduzetništvo te pitanjima koja treba riješiti vezano za radnu snagu gig ekonomije i budućim implikacijama na politiku. Ograničenja rada su nedostatak sporazuma o standardnim definicijama i nacionalnim i međunarodnim okvirima radne snage iako studije sugeriraju da je radna snaga gig ekonomije među najbrže rastućim silama u suvremenim radnim odnosima. Stoga rad potiče razvoj politika i programa za identificiranje specifičnosti, koristi i izazova gig ekonomije te njezinog utjecaja na društvo kako bi se olakšala i promovirala nova, rastuća poduzetnička kategorija.
Digital technologies are underpinning a wide range of products, services, processes, and business model innovations that are significantly transforming industries, organizations, and society. They ...are increasingly permeating every aspect of our daily lives. In this paper, we looked at the challenges of digitalization, leading to a new way of working in the market and new business models, such as the gig economy. Individuals are becoming more mobile and self-directed in their careers, as opposed to traditional careers. We investigated the demographic characteristics of the new, growing group of self-employed, so-called freelancers, at the national level in Slovenia and investigated the relationships between human capital and their subjective (job and career satisfaction, life satisfaction) and objective success (income satisfaction). The survey was conducted among 200 freelancers (respondents). The empirical results show that most Slovenian freelancers working from home work in professional, scientific, and technical occupations; are between 35 and 44 years old; have completed the second level of tertiary education; work more than 40 hours per week; and have 16 years or more of work experience. To explore the quality of life of freelancers, empirical analysis showed that human capital factors are important for the success of a new career as a freelancer. The results show that freelancers’ human capital factors (education and experience, skills, and training) positively influence subjective and objective success. Using structural equation modeling, we also confirmed that human capital has a greater impact on freelancers’ subjective success (life satisfaction, career satisfaction) than on objective success (income satisfaction), suggesting that job and life satisfaction should be considered an important resource that freelancers rely on to determine their quality of life.
Nowadays, the development of Internet technology and the effects of digital transformation are leading to the need for more skilful information and communications technology (ICT) specialists in ...almost every sector of the economy, in order to benefit from technological innovations. That also leads to the need for every employee to be prepared for new changes in production and service delivery processes in their professional life within a modern society. In this study, the factors of digital skills in enterprises that significantly affect the digital entrepreneurship start-up sub-index and digital entrepreneurship scale-up sub-index in the EU countries, are identified and the models are designed to analyse the relationships between the factors. In an increasingly digital world where production processes and service delivery are continuously evolving, EU countries, that is, policymakers and entrepreneurs should be aware of the digital transformation which is happening right now and, thus, pay attention to the digital skills and provide learning opportunities and supportive environment for the workers in acquiring the new skills and knowledge.
Despite growing literature on the different aspects of airline service quality in relation to behavioural intentions, less attention has been paid to some specific aspects of in-flight services. The ...focus of the present research is, therefore, on a multiple conceptual model of the quality of in-flight services in relation to passengers’ perception of value, followed by recommendations (word of mouth - WOM) of airlines, as well as the quality and comfort of airline seats. The study is performed using two databases of reviewers’/passengers’ opinions regarding the quality of in-flight airline services and airline seat comfort. Our research results reveal that the perceived comfort of the airplane seat is the most important factor of passengers’ perceived quality of in-flight airline services, which also considerably affects the passengers’ perception of value, and consequently moderates behavioural intentions (in our research, expressed through positive WOM). The analysis of the relative importance of the components of perceived airline seats’ comfort shows that seat width is the most significant factor that contributes to the overall perceived comfort of the airline seat.
The development of Internet technology (IT) at the end of the 20th century and its integration into the business sector has led to the emergence of digital labour platforms that provoke a ...reorganization of work arrangements by matching the demand and supply of goods and services, known as the "gig economy". The "gig economy" stands for economic activities or work arrangements related to the performance of very short-term tasks facilitated by digital platforms and can include freelance work, temporary work, work on-demand and contract work. Our paper focuses on the new, growing workforce of freelancers. Freelancers belong to the self-employed category of entrepreneurial activity who do not employ workers, who pay their own taxes, work on projects, work for several clients, and work remotely, usually from home. According to various sources and findings, they are also referred to as entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, digital micro-entrepreneurs, hybrids of employees and entrepreneurs, enablers of entrepreneurship, potential entrepreneurs, etc. The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between freelancers and entrepreneurs. The paper will use a literature-review approach to highlight the similarities and main differences between freelancers and entrepreneurs and to find an answer to the question whether freelancers can be considered entrepreneurs or not. In addition, the paper provides insights into freelance work and highlights the benefits and challenges that freelancers face in the labour market.
PDF
