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Business, Enterprise & Management

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/5

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Author: search.filters.author.Bent, RichardStart date: 1994

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Now showing 1 - 10 of 30
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    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.
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    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.
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    The role of vision in determining family, small business and minority ethnic business research
    (Edward Elgar, 2020-09-04) Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard; Calabro, Andrea
    Family business and migration pre-date written history and yet are relatively young fields of research, which has to some extent evolved in parallel with the fields of small business research and minority ethnic entrepreneurship. In practice, however, the strands often overlap and contain common issues and challenges, this overlap provides a hinterland currently not fully explored and contextualized within research. Drawing together current research from the three fields, this chapter will highlight and conceptualize the overlaps as a working model for future analysis and highlight a number of key areas for future research. This sometime artificial distinction is especially important where research is developed into practice. The development of appropriate support systems through formal and informal networks is a key priority for communities, economies and the success of the family themselves.
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    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.
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    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.
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    Seduced into the Family Business: editorial
    (Emerald, 2010) Seaman, Claire; Graham, Stuart; Bent, Richard
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    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.
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    Selling the Family Name? Family Businesses, Retail and Branding
    (2015) Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard
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    Family Business Ancestries
    (2014) Seaman, Claire; Bent, Richard; di Belmonte, S.