Business, Enterprise & Management

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"Blind we are, if creation of this clone army we could not see." George Lucas
(2008-09-11) Bent, Richard; Seaman, Claire; Graham, Stuart; Silva, Mauricio
The 'decline' and 'cloning' of the traditional high street coupled with the demise of the 'small' retailer is often cited as a negative aspect of modern society and even regarded as a causal factor supporting many of societies current ills. This paper challenges that assertion, arguing that our view of the traditional high street is often seen through 'rose tinted spectacles' and that in order to improve and proceed we should question the 'traditional' view of the independent high street operator. The paper argues that in order for the high street to develop and provide new and innovative outlets amongst the large scale chains a better form of knowledge transfer, business development and support needs to be developed. The team firstly look at the process of knowledge transfer within the small and often family run business environment. It then introduces the Edinburgh Hedge Model which is designed to illustrate the barriers and issues to engagement and business development from the process of transferring knowledge and learning to and from the independent/small business. The paper concludes by considering suggestions for further developments that would support and improve engagement, enhancing the business/high street proposition and the development of strong sustainable and varied businesses.
Business internet use in small, family owned and managed hotels in Scotland
(Inderscience, 2020-02-05) Fyfe, Jo; Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard
Tourism and thus hospitality is a key strategic priority for the Scottish Government which in many communities is still highly dependent on small, family owned and managed hotels. This exploratory study is designed to initiate dialogue and to explore the complexity of the operating environment and perceived business support needs in the ever-more complex and dynamic e-environment. The development of the internet has altered the manner in which the hospitality industry operates; offering global marketing opportunities, open-source review sites and perhaps crucially the opportunity to interact with and sell directly to the consumer. Results indicate that the positive aspects of the internet were perceived to outweigh the disadvantages; however, the learning challenges identified were primarily around the effective management of on-line resources and global reputation. The vital role of small family owned and managed hotels in the development of a coherent tourism offering for Scotland is acknowledged here and can be additionally allied to geography. There are areas in Scotland, and indeed much of the world, that draw tourists yet are not sufficiently populous to host hotel chains or even specialist boutique hotels. In part, the reason tourists are drawn to those areas is precisely their relatively undeveloped nature, yet this creates a challenge for business learning within small independent hotels.
Business support systems and cultural diversity : a knowledge transfer partnership with a manufacturer of South Asian spicy foods
(2005) Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard; Campbell, Gordon; Miskin, David; Unis, A.
This paper illustrates a successful Knowledge Transfer Partnership [KTP] carried out between Queen Margaret University College and Mrs Unis Spicy Foods, a manufacturer of South Asian Spicy foods based in Edinburgh. The project is believed to be one of the first of its kind to be carried out with a South Asian owned company and the unique cultural influences on project development and management. This paper highlights both the theoretical and practical processes of knowledge transfer and will illustrate the importance of business solutions that can be tailored to the culture within an individual company. Mrs Unis Spicy Foods is a company that manufactures samosas, pakoras, nan and curries which are distributed throughout Scotland. The products sell mainly to corner shops, cash and carries, delicatessens, hospitals and universities. In addition, food for local exhibitions and conferences and Indian party food for the general public are also supplied. The potential market size for Asian foods is difficult to estimate, due to the differing modes of supply. The restaurant trade is currently estimated to be worth over 2 billion per annum in the UK, but this market is currently lacking in growth opportunities. The pre-packaged convenience food sector, however, is seeing strong levels of growth and the increased demand for convenience foods across all sectors is predicted to continue. The increase in the amount of shelf-space now given to convenience foods of ethnic origin in food retailers is clearly visible and the continuing market for the development of new products for this market is acknowledged. The primary aim of the project was to facilitate long-term knowledge transfer of business expertise from the University to the company and to encourage academics to increase their practical business experience. The development of new fusion products that blended South Asian and Scottish cuisine was a part of this project, designed to facilitate company and sales development and the targeting of new market sectors [Seaman et al, 2005]. Much that is already apparent within the literature regarding business culture and the development of appropriate business support systems is born out by the experiences of this team, with the key role played by cultural aspects emphasised by the South Asian culture apparent within the company. In addition, whilst developing and managing projects and production in an environment where English is not the first language is well documented, a business where a variety of languages are spoken, far fewer are written and some employees cannot communicate directly with the business owner is a challenging proposition. In practice, the programme heralded important changes in the structure and development of the company providing a model for the future and raising important questions about change-management and decision making. The importance of this project is threefold: to businesses it illustrates the advantages of engaging in such projects; to academics it illustrates both the importance of the cultural dimension and the potential for success and for those engaged in the development of business support systems it emphasises the importance of the individually tailored response for diverse companies.
Complaints handling and staff training by UK food retailers
(MCB UP Ltd, 1997) Leighton, Caroline; Bent, Richard
Complaints handling is now a marketing tool for retailers. Intense competition within the food retail sector makes it an area for retailers to gain competitive advantage. However, the commitment to complaints handling through employee training is a largely unexplored area. Describes how an in-depth questionnaire was used to survey UK multiple food retailers regarding the existence of complaints procedures; aspects of training such as prevalence, frequency, hours and methods; and the authority to resolve complaints in relation to employee status. Customer and staff communication, as part of the complaints handling process, was also investigated. Seven retailers took part in the survey and included a cross-section of retailers (including one of the major multiples), based on number of branches. Reports the results, which showed that all the food retailers had some form of training. However, this varied with employee status. Generally, training was not given frequently in a formal manner, but on an ad hoc basis. Authority to resolve complaints appears to lie still with senior staff, although customer and staff communication facilities appear to exist. Argues that complaints handling can be effective only with appropriate staff training at all levels.
Composing a database of minority enterprises in Scotland
(Emerald, 2007) Bent, Richard; Dassler, Thoralf; Seaman, Claire; Lamb, Lisa; Mateer, Nicola
To address the issue of the low take-up of available ethnic business support the article proposes the composition of a database for Scotland, thereby providing baseline data on minority businesses and hence providing a sampling frame for future research. The database will hold the following information: name and gender of the business owner, sector, location, number of employees as an indicator of company size, generation, the year in which the business was established, as well as the legal form of ownership of businesses.
Consciously contributing: Community engagement, philanthropy and family business
(Routledge, 2022-04-08) Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard; Seaman, Claire
Corporate citizenship is an area of the current study that considers, amongst other things, how the values of a business translate into socially responsible behaviour. Conversely, corporate citizenship can also consider the values individuals bring into the business and the impact these values may have on business behaviour. This chapter focuses on family business, taking the perspective that where the values of one family are concentrated in the leadership of a business, those values will tend to exert more influence on business behaviour, for good or ill. Family businesses vary widely in size, in sector of operation and indeed in the values they hold but family businesses are also astonishingly numerous and of considerable economic importance. Whilst there is an ongoing definitional debate, a consensus has been reached within the literature that somewhere between 65% and 80% of businesses are owned, managed, or led by family. Family businesses form the economic bedrock of economies and communities worldwide and their impact on corporate citizenship is therefore substantial. In considering how a research agenda for this area might be developed, this chapter seeks to advance thinking and to provoke both debate and ongoing research.
Editorial
(Blackwell Publishing, 2013-07) Seaman, Claire; Pretious, Mike; Bent, Richard
Extending cross-gender succession theories: Mother–son succession in family business
(Emerald, 2018-12-10) Seaman, Claire; Ross, Susanne; Bent, Richard; Higgins, David; Jones, Paul; McGowan, Pauric
The importance of succession in family business is well documented and there is general agreement that successful succession represents a key factor in the success or otherwise of individual businesses owned and run by families. The importance of gender in family business succession is a much more recent topic, where initial work has focussed very much on the increasing tendency for women to take on the family business as a successor. Far less research, however, considers the scenario where a female leader passes on the business, whether that takes the form of family succession, a new leader from out with the family or indeed business sale. This dearth of research is not entirely surprising: whilst female leaders in a family business context are not new, their numbers have been relatively small and often mediated through the lens of co-preneurship with a male partner. As women increasingly succeed to and found family businesses however, the gender dimension within family business succession develops and the research response forms the basis for this chapter.
Face reality as it is, not as it was or as you wish it to be: a micro-level examination of retail exchange
(2009) Pretious, Mike; Bent, Richard; Seaman, Claire
Family Business Ancestries
(2014) Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard; di Belmonte, S.
Family entrepreneurship culture, entrepreneurial intent, futures and foresight in Scottish Pakistani communities
(Elsevier, 2015-11-26) Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard; Unis, A.
Family businesses are an important sector of the economy and the Pakistani community in Scotland has as long been associated with the creation of family businesses, the vast majority of which remain in the first generation to settle in Scotland. Their future ownership remains unclear and is a matter of some economic and social importance. The current paper reviews the literature around culture, entrepreneurial intent and aspirations within this distinct community to provide foresight on the factors likely to influence future plans. By aligning this work with current literature from the field of family business, the paper develops foresight be considering both the community and business aspects as part of a coherent whole. The future for the businesses owned and managed by the Pakistani community in Scotland is likely to be mixed, as some develop toward heritage business status whilst others fall victim to changing economic conditions. Highly varied aspirations for the next generation also play a role as some but by no means all families see the continuation of the family business as the ideal.
Family Values: Influencers in the Development of Financial and Non-financial Dynamics in Family Firms
(Palgrave Macmillan, 2018-09-06) Seaman, Claire; Silva, Mauricio; Bent, Richard; Dibrell, Clay; Memili, Esra
The role of family values is considered here as one potential contributor to heterogeneity. The pursuit of profit as an end goal may be key for many family businesses, but there are well-documented cases of businesses where corporate citizenship and philanthropy are integral to the business model. Earlier work has highlighted that where one family has a predominant level of control in a business, their family values may assume greater importance and thereby be more likely to influence strategy. Within this chapter, we propose that the concentration of family values that occurs when one family has a predominant level of control within the business may be a key contributor to the development of financial and non-financial dynamics, representing one way in which strategy is developed and implemented.
Fissures in the marketing strategies of South Asian restaurants in Edinburgh
(Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2005-05) Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard; Ingram, Arthur; Welsh, Rita; Mederos, Mederos
This exploratory study sought to investigate South Asian restaurants in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK in order to obtain a preliminary identification of marketing gaps compromising their future profitability. The aims of the study were to expose and understand the relative importance attached by owners and managers of South Asian restaurants in Edinburgh to the different elements of the marketing mix. South Asian restaurants form a small but important sector of the restaurant in market in towns throughout the UK and are characteristically of disproportionate financial and social importance to the communities who run them. South Asian restaurants in Edinburgh, as in most towns in the UK, are run primarily by the Bangladeshi community and are under increasing pressure as the variety of restaurants operating in the sector increases. The results of the study make evident that any initiatives taken to support South Asian restaurants should include awareness-raising actions. Building awareness, which is perceived to be currently partially understood, of the importance of studying markets, customers and competitors is essential before any advice is given on how to accomplish these monitoring tasks. Equally, a fundamental priority is to encourage self-critical and proactive approaches to business, thus increasing the capacity to identify possible problems and implement correcting measures.
Human determinants influencing the digital transformation strategy of multigenerational family businesses: A multiple-case study of five French growth-oriented family firms
(Emerald, 2021-05-14) Ano, Blandine; Bent, Richard
Purpose In a context of technological disruption, companies face a digital imperative to adopt successfully emerging new technologies. While family firms have a huge potential for growth and innovation, they may – due to idiosyncratic but often limited resources, have to address the complex challenges induced by digital technologies introduction. The purpose of this paper is to explore how human and cultural resources influence the formulation and implementation of five French family firms' digital strategy.
Innovation and Knowledge Transfer in Rural Entrepreneurship and Regional Development
(2008-05) Seaman, Claire; Graham, Stuart; Bent, Richard
Family businesses provide a critical structure for economic activity and wealth-creation worldwide, existing and flourishing across geo-political frontiers, markets, areas and legal forms of business [Poutzioris et al, 2004]. Worldwide, family businesses are the most common type of business and despite much academic debate about the precise definition of a family business, estimates of the proportion of family businesses within the economies of developed countries remain remarkably constant at around two thirds of business operations [Poutzioris et al, 2004] and around half of GDP economic activity and private employment [Shanker and Astrachan, 2006]. One constant theme throughout the literature is the relatively private nature of family businesses, which in turn tends to mean that accurate information about them is not readily available [Astrachan and Shanker, 2006]. A second constant theme is the importance of the contribution that family businesses make to economic, social, cultural and community development, whether the be in the UK [Reid and Harris, 2004], the USA [Astrachan and Shanker 2006], in the Chinese economy [Chung and Yuen, 2003; Poutzioris et al, 2004] or amongst distinct and relatively discrete minority communities [Dhaliwal and Kangis, 2008]. The combination of a sector of clear and, to some extent, measurable, importance where robust data are nonetheless difficult to establish, illustrates both the dilemma of family business research and its importance Working with the Scottish Family Business Association and the Economic Development Unit at East Lothian Council, Queen Margaret University are currently researching the impact of family business in East Lothian on local communities, businesses and regional development. Family businesses frequently play a key role in Regional Economic Development, as they tend to be based within a community and prove relatively resistant to major geographic re-location. The methodology is currently being piloted, therefore, which is based around the use of semi-structured interviews with one or more members of a family business. The impact of family business culture on knowledge transfer and the implications of the relatively informal working practices often identified within family-based SMEs will be considered, alongside effective strategies for engagement and examples from current projects. Links between current KT policy and the specific needs of family businesses will be explored as part of both local and National strategies for engagement.
Keeping it in the family: family, priorities and succession in Scottish landed estates
(Emerald, 2016-09-01) di Belmonte, S.; Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard
Purpose: This study considers multi-generational landed estates in Scotland from a family business perspective. The strategic vision for the business is considered here in terms of the family definition of success, drawing upon aspects of cultural identity, legal and fiscal systems and stewardship theory. Design/methodology/approach: A social-constructivist epistemology framed this study, which considered perceptions of family business strategy, culture and family-defined visions of success. Semi-structured interview techniques were utilized to collect primarily qualitative date. Findings: Results indicate that the families shared a very cohesive definition of what constituted the family business and were very aware of the importance of long-term planning in the succession process. The cultural and legal dimension of primogeniture played a defining role in the choice of successors, developed from the belief that the successor is the steward of the family property rather than the 'owner' in any personal sense. Key priorities for the family included the training of the heir and the limiting of potential taxation liabilities juxtaposed with the desire to retain family discretion in decision making. Practical implications: By extending current research to businesses that have been successfully transferred between six or more generations this study offers a unique insight into the requirements for effective succession. This research also offers an insight into the strategic management of a group of 'family businesses' where the economic and legislative environment have required families to plan, where smaller family businesses are often able to defer. Originality/value: Multi-generational estates represent some of the oldest family businesses in Scotland, offering a unique sample group of businesses which have survived through six or more generations. The clarity of strategic vision and the perceived importance of long-term planning offer an insight into the reasons for business longevity.
Measuring the financial capability of minority ethnic business owners in Scotland
(Inderscience Publishers, 2010-12-27) Silva, Mauricio; Bent, Richard; Seaman, Claire
This paper aims at prompting a discussion on the need to measure the financial capability of non-traditional minority ethnic business owners in Scotland in order to enhance the provision of business support. This would be achieved through a targeted 'needs based' approach that offers a better understanding of the viability of their enterprises and the most efficient use of available funds to meet their objectives. A literature review will identify current research on financial capability focusing on definitions and measurement, methodologies, questionnaires, and findings. The review will also help to develop a framework for a model of business owner financial capability that will be tested in current research being conducted on Latin American business owners in Scotland. Discussion and research should provide a starting point in the research of mechanisms to efficiently deliver financial support to minority ethnic businesses, and the paper aims to encourage contributions and participation to build an understanding of financial capability in the context of minority ethnic businesses. This discussion has profound implications to the provision of business support and economic growth in Scotland: it entails structuring knowledge based dialogues between consultants and the beneficiaries of sponsored backing to promote mutually beneficial outcomes to financial decisions.
Minority ethnic businesses - so are we really saying that one size fits all?
(Inderscience Publishers, 2009-12-27) Bent, Richard; Seaman, Claire; Silva, Mauricio
A model will be introduced to illustrate the synthesis of the issues raised and allow a pedagogical approach to be considered for future business intervention. It is widely recognised that SME success is a key factor to the health of the UK economy, yet the efficacy of business support and development is questioned by all sides. This work suggests the urgent need to identify 'real needs', effective business support and improved approaches for knowledge transfer. The paper is also designed to stimulate debate and question some of the existing methods, processes and views that are utilised in business support. It is hoped that by developing a better understanding of the needs and dynamics of both the minority and the wider SME market in general, a better use of support and (often limited) resources can be made. If business support is improved, then it is envisaged that this would cascade outwards and provide long-term social, community, entrepreneurial and economic benefits towards a 'healthier' nation.
Missed opportunities? : reaching the ethnic consumer market
(Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 2007-03) Bent, Richard; Seaman, Claire; Emslie, Lisa
Changing population demographics within the UK have become a source of increased interest to marketers as companies have realized the importance of targeting their products and advertising efforts towards minority and ethnic groups. In addition, as the UK's ethnic minorities grow in both numbers and in terms of prosperity, so does the commercial significance of this market. A clearer understanding of both the nature of changing markets and the relative importance of different minority ethnic groups as consumers is imperative to facilitate both consumer understanding and business development; marketers need to understand better how to target these people, what they have in common with the mainstream and where the differences lie. This paper seeks to describe current understanding of ethnic consumers and their impact on the marketplace while highlighting an area where future research is potentially of considerable benefit.
Over the hedge: hidden networks in knowledge transfer
(Inderscience, 2012-12) Bent, Richard; Seaman, Claire; Welsh, Rita; Pretious, Mike
This paper develops the Edinburgh knowledge hedge (Bent et al., 2010) to introduce the largely hidden role formal and informal networks in the process of linking SMEs and business support agencies, presenting a model to assist in identifying remaining barriers to knowledge exchange. The model is applied to a detailed case study of primary business support experience, laying the foundation for practical and theoretical developments. It is proposed that the model will provide a basis for future qualitative research in this area. A conceptual framework is developed to capture the complexity of knowledge exchange between SMEs and business support agencies and providers. Within the case study SME owners and business advisors identify areas not resolved by formal/informal networks, aiding the development of case specific strategies to get both parties 'over the hedge'.