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In recent years there has been considerable focus on business processes which has created a debate on their definition. One school of thought believes that a standard set of business processes can be applied fairly universally to most businesses; others believe that business processes are individual and specific to organizations. Reviews this debate and presents a view based on a technique developed to define business processes using a bottom‐up approach. This technique focuses first on the business activities and goes on to quantify the relationships between business activities. The hypothesis behind the work described is that the closely coupled activities could be grouped together to form a natural business process. Describes the technique developed for bottom‐up identification of business processes in some detail and presents a case study which has been designed as a controlled experiment.

Given the complexity of inclusive business (IB) to combine social contribution and business sustainability, companies make strategic choices. One multinational corporation (MNC) avoided interconnections with villagers and used only market-based relations with stimulants and incentives in the market. Another one delegated management completely to local partners, succeeding in stimulating the poor’s self-initiated economic activities. MNCs seem to have difficulties in handling institutional interconnections. In such cases, market-based relations or delegating management to the local partners were found to be highly effective for covering missing capabilities. One foreign NGO, despite its well-developed institutional interconnections with the locals, is struggling to develop markets for its social enterprises. In contrast, one local trust successfully cooperated with many local partners, appealing to local institutions (values and beliefs). Also, poor farmers felt the social contributions of two local companies by being incorporated into the companies’ supply chains backed by their corporate social responsibility (CSR) orientations and activities. Hence, both foreign and domestic organizations seem to succeed in IB by embedding their projects to their original institutions and developing diverse mechanisms to compensate for missing capabilities. One exception is a local company which successfully coordinated MNCs’ CSR activities, local communities, and governments. However, its success is owing to governmental regulation for CSR contribution. In general, though restricted by institutional backgrounds and business orientations, each case tried to create a fit between business models and its contingencies, achieve scale (at the level of communities, nations, or the global market) and business sustainability, and generate socioeconomic effects.

The way in which business process models are typically deployed emphasizes their use in a high‐level design or the capture of an existing process. At these stages evaluation of the model takes place only in informal and rudimentary ways. The real evaluation effort begins only with the output of the design process, e.g. an implementation of information technology (IT) support system. Explores the benefits and feasibility of evaluating a process model at an early stage of its creation. Anticipates two advantages. First, errors or invalid design concepts are detected earlier with consequent savings in cost. Second, non‐IT‐relevant aspects can come to light at an appropriate stage. Looks first, at the value of modelling goals. Second, presents in outline a design method for modelling business processes in which the concept of the goal is fundamental. Third, looks beyond the current scope of this method to the issue of evaluating the process designs. Concludes that business process models can be evaluated at the design stage, but the knowledge gained is only partial. Summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of the approach and describes some open questions.

The purpose of this paper is twofold (1) to establish the relationship between infrastructure development and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) on the entrepreneurial activities in the Albertine Graben region of Uganda and (2) to establish whether entrepreneurial orientation mediates the relationship between infrastructure development and entrepreneurial activity.

Quantitative data were collected from a sample of 118 enterprises, mainly small businesses. The authors sent out 118 self-administered questionnaires of which 93 useable questionnaires were returned, giving a response rate of 79%. Quantitative data were processed and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Analyses such as correlation, hierarchical regression and mediation were carried out to understand (1) the relationship between the variables, (2) the prediction potential of the independent variables to entrepreneurial activity and (3) the mediation role of EO on the relationship between infrastructure activity and business performance.

The authors found out that infrastructure developments are a significant predictor of entrepreneurial activity (ß = 0.432**, p < 0.01), explaining 21.6% of entrepreneurial activity in the region. EO was found to have a significant positive relationship with entrepreneurial activity (r = 0.580**, p < 0.01). The results of a hierarchical regression indicate that both infrastructure development and EO explain 42% of the entrepreneurial activity in the Albertine region. Mediation analysis indicated that EO is a partial mediator in the relationship between infrastructure development and entrepreneurial activity.

The results are based on self-report statistics. The model explains 42% of entrepreneurial activity thus there is need to examine the influence of other factors which contribute the 58% to entrepreneurial activity. The study was also limited to public infrastructure, with much attention on transportation (roads) and energy (electricity). Future studies can consider looking at private infrastructure as well.

Understanding the role of infrastructure development and EO helps government and other development partners to know the type, quantity and quality of the infrastructure required as well as how to grow the EO of entrepreneurs to boost entrepreneurial activity in the region.

This paper provides insights into our understanding of the relationship between infrastructure development, entrepreneurial orientation and entrepreneurial activity using evidence from Uganda’s oil rich region. The originality of this paper further lies in the discovery of the partial mediation of entrepreneurial orientation in the relationship between infrastructure development and entrepreneurial activity. This is the first time such a study is conducted in an African developing country such as Uganda whose oil exploration activities are still in their infancy.

Purpose – This chapter explores the m+eaning and significance of family business social responsibilities (FBSRs) using a metasystem approach, placing emphasis on the role of the family.

Design/Methodology/Approach – We employ a revelatory case study to investigate the complexity of family business (corporate) social responsibility. The main case, a German shoe retailer, is supplemented by other case illustrations that provide additional insights into FBSR.

Findings – To fully understand social responsibility in a family firm context, we need to include social initiatives that go beyond the actual family business as a unit. This FBSR connects family members outside and inside the business and across generations. As FBSR is formed through individual and family-level values, its character is idiosyncratic and contrasts the often standardized approaches in widely held firms.

Practical Implication – Family businesses need to go beyond the business as such when considering their engagement in social responsibility. Family ownership implies that all social initiatives conducted by family members, regardless if they are involved in the firm or not, are connected. This includes a shared responsibility for what family members do at present and have done in the past.

The growing uses of digital technologies have been creating several new business opportunities. Recently, a new concept has emerged in the literature, the “digital entrepreneurship ecosystem” (DEE). However, it has been empirically understudied. Thus, this study aims to analyze the influence of DEE on entrepreneurial activity. The meta-organization theory was used as a perspective of analysis. A quantitative methodology was applied in a sample that includes data from 28 European countries through the generalized method of moments. It was concluded that the DEE pillars, informal and formal institutions, market conditions, physical infrastructure, human capital and talent and networking and support positively influence entrepreneurial activity. It was also found that the variables knowledge, creation and dissemination and finance have a negative impact on entrepreneurial activity. Several theoretical and empirical contributions are also left for the various stakeholders. The present study is original, as no known studies analyze the influence of DEE on entrepreneurial activity in European countries from the perspective of meta-organization theory.

The aim of this research paper is to investigate entrepreneurial opportunities through digital technology among agrifood businesses. Specifically, the research paper uses resource bricolage theory to evaluate the various activities that agrifood businesses conduct through digital technology, and whether these businesses realise their full potential from these activities.

Data are gathered from 22 semi-structured interviews with representatives of small agrifood businesses. Maximum variation sampling was used to ensure that respondents were representative of different types of agrifood businesses across the food supply chain. Interview data were analysed through thematic analysis.

Agrifood businesses engage in a range of activities through digital technology, however, findings point to a continuum of different attitudes among respondents towards the adoption of digital technology, ranging from passive to proactive attitudes. Notable themes from the research identified efficiency and productivity, usability, marketing and connectivity as issues in the adoption of digital technology by agrifood businesses. However, these businesses were less likely to engage in cutting-edge technology activities.

This research contributes to emerging research on digital entrepreneurship, but particularly on digital entrepreneurship in the agrifood sector. This builds on existing debates relating to the passive nature of agrifood businesses towards growth opportunities. The use of research bricolage is also a novel theoretical approach to research on this topic. The development of a digital technology adoption continuum provides businesses and policymakers with a deeper understanding of how digital entrepreneurship opportunities can be harnessed.

This paper aims to identify how, in contrast to a provider-oriented stance where customer value is conceptualised as being controlled by the provider, customer value is formed for business customers beyond what is visible to the provider.

This paper builds on the primacy of the customer. Customer-dominant logic (CDL) is used as the conceptual underpinning, meaning that the customer, rather than the service provider or the service system, is at the centre. A case study was conducted with seven key users from three customer companies of an information and communications technology (ICT) provider of in-house services. The study used a micro-social level focus by capturing customers’ experiences of those activities where value in use is formed.

The findings indicate that value formation is not related only to direct service interactions and furthermore substantially takes place beyond a service provider’s visibility line. Hence, value formation is in large part hidden for the service provider because it is embedded in customers’ activities and experiences.

Although the study is limited to one case concerning ICT services, these findings may apply to other service businesses, in particular to knowledge-intensive outsourcing businesses.

Understanding a customer’s value formation from the customer’s point of view is the key to service development for any business service provider.

Applying a CDL approach, the authors deepen the understanding of customer value formation as it emerges in customer activities. The study provides detailed insight into business customers’ value formation processes. The study’s findings challenge the current emphasis on interactions and co-creation and instead demonstrate the importance of understanding customer logics and contexts.

The purpose of this study is to explore the feasibility of applying an internet‐based information system (IBIS) to facilitate business alliance activities, especially for small and median enterprises whose business performance is highly dependent on their strategic alliance partnerships.

A case study of six firms was conducted to understand current business alliance practices in Taiwan and to investigate the demand for applying IBIS systems in business alliance activities. A prototype of the IBIS system was also developed and evaluated.

We found that communication and information sharing are the most appropriate activities in business alliances for the application of an IBIS system and that the decision to adopt an IBIS system is dependent on the allied partners' support and the technological capabilities they possess. However, the lack of trust in internet security is one of the key factors that may hinder enterprises from applying the IBIS system to business alliance activities.

The prototype IBIS system was tested by two case firms. Though the test result was positive, a larger test group might be helpful in discovering ways of improving the system for practical use.

The positive result of the system evaluation supports the feasibility of applying the IBIS system to facilitate business alliance activities.

Both the IBIS system and strategic alliance are important research issues in business. However, integrative research of the two issues is seldom undertaken. This study validates the feasibility of applying the IBIS system to increase the operational efficiency of a strategic alliance.

Small businesses play a vital role in job creation and economic growth, and previous studies have noted that higher state tax rates may reduce entrepreneurial activity, growth, and hiring. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

In this paper, the authors use a 1989-2005 panel of state-level data to explore the effects of state income tax reciprocity agreements on several measures of small business activity. Since a reciprocity agreement exempts non-resident income from a state's personal income tax base, it has the potential to reduce barriers to entrepreneurial activity and lower tax compliance costs.

The results indicate that reciprocity agreements appear to have reduced the tax-rate sensitivity of entrepreneurial activity, which may lead to more small business and entrepreneurial activity in states with more active agreements, other factors constant. This suggests that personal income tax reciprocity agreements may be a credible policy tool to expand small business activity.

In this study, the paper sets out to determine if small business and entrepreneurial activity is greater in states that have reciprocity agreements and if such activity is dependent on the number of active agreements in place. Given recent nationwide efforts to ease compliance costs for business through other initiatives such as the Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act and the Streamlined Sales Tax Agreement, this study is the first to quantify how decreasing tax compliance and eliminating barriers to labor mobility affects small business activity. The results therefore have the potential to help shape debates in many states today.