THE NEW ZEALAND CENTRE FOR SME RESEARCH MASSEY UNIVERSITY WELLINGTON ANNUAL REPORT 2010 SUSTAINABLE SMES INFORMED BY RESEARCH

Transcription

1 THE NEW ZEALAND CENTRE FOR SME RESEARCH MASSEY UNIVERSITY WELLINGTON ANNUAL REPORT 2010 SUSTAINABLE SMES INFORMED BY RESEARCH

2 New Zealand Centre for SME Research Massey University Private Box 756 Wellington New Zealand Tel Fax

3 Contents CONTENTS... 1 REPORT RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP... 1 CONNECTIONS... 1 RESPONSIBILITY... 3 TEACHING AND LEARNING... 4 GENERATING INCOME... 4 PEOPLE NEWS... 4 CENTRE RESEARCH ASSOCIATES... 4 CENTRE STAFF... 4 FURTHER INFORMATION... 4 PUBLICATIONS IN

4 Report has been a busy, but successful year for the Centre. We have taken forward a full programme of research projects, of which there are further details below, and have held two successful seminars and our annual Policy Symposium. In addition we have been building momentum towards planning for the 2012 ICSB World Conference, working with our partners, Wellington City Council and Grow Wellington, to ramp up activities as we are now less than 18 months away from this major international event, which will be held at the Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington. The website is now fully functional, further details can be found at Over the course of 2010 a number of projects and activities were undertaken by the New Zealand Centre for SME Research (NZSMERC). These are discussed below, categorised by the original strategic themes from The Road to 2020, Massey University s Defining document on strategy. These projects were in addition to the research that has been undertaken by individual researchers as part of their own research programmes which is reflected in the publications section at the end of this document. RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP We will promote the highest standards of research and scholarship and be a world leader in our areas of specialisation. Projects undertaken by the Centre in 2010 include: BusinesSMEeasure the 4 rd Annual Survey BusinesSMEasure is the Centre s longitudinal research programme that aims to investigate how New Zealand small firms develop over time was the fourth year that the Centre surveyed a panel of over 1500 SMEs. Topics in this year s survey included: home-based businesses, use of ICT, exit planning, membership in business associations, marketing, managing the recession as well innovation. Small firm coping strategies in the global recession This project was part of the 2009 BusinesSMEasure survey and explored how the global recessionary conditions have impacted on the UK and New Zealand based small businesses and how they adapted to these conditions. This project was undertaken in collaboration with the Small Business Research Centre at Kingston University, London. SME capability to manage regulation This project was commissioned by the Inland Revenue Department as part of a Cross- Departmental Research Project funded by the Royal Society of New Zealand. The study has explored the factors that contribute to small business owner s capability to manage regulation and its relationship with compliance. Workplace learning in the automotive industry This privately commissioned project explored how small business owners in the automotive industry arrange learning and development for themselves as well as their employees. Franchising New Zealand Survey 2010 In collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Centre for Excellence at Griffith University, Dr Susan Flint- Hartle explored the New Zealand franchise sector. The results not only provide an accurate view of the sector status, but are the starting point for a longitudinal survey. CONNECTIONS We will strengthen our connections with local, national and international partners and stakeholder to gain mutually beneficial outcomes. Overseas Visitors Visits by overseas researchers are an invaluable way of developing the networks of researchers based in New Zealand, as well as providing a practical mechanism for integrating New Zealand research with international studies. Visitors in 2010 included: Prof David Smallbone from the Small Business Research Centre at Kingston University, London. David was invited as a Visiting Research Fellow to work alongside Centre staff on a comparative research on the impact of the recession on the SME sector in New Zealand and the UK. Prof Colin Mason from the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde University, Glasgow. Colin was the key note speaker at the Centre s Annual Research Policy Forum. The Centre is currently working with Prof Mason on a joint research project on home-based businesses. Professor Lorelle Frazer from the Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence at Griffith University, Brisbane. Lorelle was hosted by Dr Susan Flint-Hartle to work on their joint franchising survey. Dr Henrik Kock from Linköping University spent part of his sabbatical at the Centre. Dr Kock area of expertise is learning and development in working life. 1

5 The Centre hosted a ministerial delegation from the Maldives to discuss SME policy interventions. Visits Overseas The development of networks was also achieved by staff and research associates attending academic conferences and visiting international universities. The Centre was well represented at important small business and entrepreneurship as well as management conferences. Details of the conferences attended are provided in the list of Centre publications for 2011 at the end of the report. Dr Marco van Gelderen took up a temporary position at VU University Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He gave several courses on Enterprising Behaviour, meaning the soft skills underlying entrepreneurship such as getting ideas, taking action, perseverance, engaging others, and influencing others. During his time in Amsterdam he also edited a book, together with Enno Masurel, titled Entrepreneurship in Context. In August 2011, this book will appear in the Routledge Series in Entrepreneurship. Prof David Deakins has retained a Visiting Professorship appointment at his former institution; the University of the West of Scotland. As part of his visiting role he organised the 8 th Rural Entrepreneurship Conference (REC). The conference has been developed in the UK to provide a focus for academic research, policy and practitioner issues which would otherwise be under disparate themes at other conferences. The 8th REC was held at the UWS Dumfries Campus and the main theme was on The Resilience of Rural Enterprise in a Recession. Dr Kate Lewis was a Visiting Senior Research Fellow at the Small and Medium Enterprise Research Centre (School of Management, Faculty of Business and Law) at Edith Cowan University of Perth for the months of August. Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand (SEAANZ) The Centre hosts the Secretarial Office for SEAANZ with Ms Allison Taranchokov providing administrative support to the Association. The 23nd Annual Conference of the Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand was hosted by the Small Business Development Corporation, Cairns, Australia, September Over a 170 delegates were attracted from a range of countries to contribute and share knowledge on small enterprise and entrepreneurship. Dr Kate Lewis, Vice President of SEAANZ has organised the SEAANZ Research Symposium Global Themes in the Australasian Context that was held at Victoria University, Melbourne on 25 November. Further, she was appointed co-editor of SEAANZ journal Small Enterprise Research. Planning for ICSB Conference 2012 From June 2012 the Centre will host the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) World Conference in Wellington. Guided by the theme Leading from the Edge, the conference will bring together more than 500 researchers, policy makers and educators from many regions of the world. The conference committee is already preparing for the event, and plan on providing a forum and a theme on indigenous entrepreneurship. For more information, please visit 8 th Annual Research - Policy Symposium The theme of this year s symposium was Supporting and Retaining High-Growth Entrepreneurship and it provided a platform to discuss policy interventions and business support targeted at high-growth firms. The symposium was opened by Steve Maharey, Vice Chancellor of Massey University and Hon Maurice Williamson, Minister for Small Business. Prof Colin Mason from the Hunter Centre of Entrepreneurship at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow delivered the keynote speech in which he critically reviewed current policies for high-growth firms. Dr Brian Ward from Mesynthes Ltd. shared his experiences as an early stage high-growth entrepreneur. The programme was complemented by research and policy perspectives from New Zealand through Prof Sally Davenport, Victoria University, Wellington, Dr Philip Stevens and Mr Tom West from the Ministry of Economic Development. A panel discussion with representatives from the business support sector closed of the symposium. The symposium attracted more than sixty delegates. Prof Colin Mason (left) and Euan Purdie, NZTE (right) Policy Workshop on Financing High-Growth Firms In conjunction with the Ministry of Economic Development the Centre organised a policy workshop. Prof Colin Mason from the Hunter Centre of Entrepreneurship at Strathclyde University, Glasgow presented international perspectives on Access to capital for high growth firms in a post global financial crisis world. 2

6 Research Seminar: International perspectives on small firm coping strategies in the global recession The half-day seminar titled How resilient are SMEs in the global recession? attracted over fifty SME stakeholders from around New Zealand. Presentations were given by Prof David Smallbone from Kingston University, London, as well Prof David Deakins. Data were presented from both the UK and NZ SME context. Critical comment was provided by three expert commentators; Shamubeel Eaqub, Principal Economist, New Zealand Institute of Economic Research, Phil O'Reilly, Chief Executive, Business New Zealand, and Patti Poole, Senior Advisor, Ministry of Economic Development. Research Seminar: Developing Management Capability in SMEs With the support of the Industry Training Federation, the Centre held a research seminar that addressed one of the key issues for training providers, policy makers and business owners alike: raising productivity. Improving management capability is considered to be an important factor in the performance and growth of firms. SMEs, however, face unique challenges and opportunities and their owner-managers require specific knowledge and skills to meet these effectively. The seminar which attracted more than forty delegates included presentation from the Centre s latest research, InfraTrain NZ, the Department of Labour and WelTec. RESPONSIBILITY We will enhance our reputation as New Zealand s defining university by contributing to understanding of, and innovative responses to, social and economic, cultural and environmental issues. NZSMERC continued to engage with the business community and policy makers by contributing to a range of seminars, forums and panels. Some examples of this engagement are: - Prof Claire Massey presented a talk on Global Trends in Entrepreneurship and Policy at the Annual Conference of the International Council of Small Business in Taipei. - Dr Martina Battisti was part of the judging panel for the Fairfax Sustainable 60 Awards. - Prof David Deakins held a Public Lecture on Future Trends for New Zealand SMEs as part of Massey University s public lecture series. - Associate Professor Martin Perry talked at the Bizzone Business Expo about Business opportunities in an economic downturn. - Prof David Deakins and Dr Martina Battisti were invited to present at Ministry of Economic Development on the impact of the recession on SMEs in New Zealand - On behalf of the research team, Prof David Deakins was invited to present at the New Zealand Vocational Education Training Conference on management development from the perspective of small business owners. - Dr Susan Flint-Hartle presented the results of the New Zealand Franchise Survey 2010 to Business Leaders and the New Zealand Franchise Association. - Dr Susan Flint-Hartle was invited speaker at the International Society of Franchising Conference in Sydney. - Prof Claire Massey attended the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship Conference in Nashville and the International Council for Small Business Conference in Cincinatti. - Prof Claire Massey was invited keynote speaker at the International Small Business Council Conference in Taiwan. - Prof Claire Massey was invited plenary speaker at the International SME Network Association Annual Meeting in Rio de Janeiro - Prof Claire Massey and Prof David Deakins were judges on the Wellington Business Awards. - Prof David Deakins and Dr Martina Battisti contributed to the Global Entrepreneurship Week Initiative - Prof David Deakins participated as an invited expert panellist in the 2010 Small Business Summit held in September organised by the Independent Business Foundation of New Zealand. - Prof David Deakins Presented at a session by invitation at the 6th Annual One Stop Update for the Accountant in Practice in November - Dr Jo Bensemann acted as trustee for Visit Ruapehu, the Regional Tourism Organisation. - Centre staff and research associates are regular commentator on current issues in the media. 3

7 TEACHING AND LEARNING We will ensure an exceptional and distinctive learning experience at Massey for all students. Through its research associates the Centre contributes to the teaching and learning at undergraduate as well as postgraduate level. David Deakins acts as the Discipline Leader for Entrepreneurship and Small Business in the School of Management. Papers taught by research associates that are related to small business and entrepreneurship are: New Venture Project Entrepreneurship and Small Business Enterprise Development Issues in Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity International Business Entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship and Innovation Business Development Innovation and New Ventures Small Business Management GENERATING INCOME We will significantly increase our income to allow for more investment to enable the University to achieve its goals. The Centre has contributed to the University s goal of generating income through securing externally funded research projects in competitive tender processes. People news Thomas Hinze, Internship During 2010, we also hosted an international student intern; Thomas Hinze during October and November, who was able to contribute to the Centre s work on Learning and Development in SMEs. CENTRE RESEARCH ASSOCIATES Wellington Professor Claire Massey, Associate Professor Martin Perry, Dr Kate Lewis, Dr Louise Lee, Dr Raja Peter. Palmerston North/Manawatu Dr Joanne Bensemann, Dr Sue Cassells, Dr David Tweed. Albany, Auckland Dr Andrew Cardow, Dr Susan Flint-Hartle, Dr Marco van Gelderen, Dr Bill Kirkley. CENTRE STAFF Professor David Deakins - Director Dr Martina Battisti - Deputy Director & Senior Researcher Amanda Williamson - Research Assistant Allison Taranchokov Administrator Further Information We are pleased to report that the Centre has made progress on a number of fronts, in particular through the work of our Research Associates. Following a meeting of the Centre s Associates in October, we have agreed to widen the category of membership to include external research affiliates and research associates. We were also pleased to announce Dr Bill Kirkley who has been appointed as an additional Research Associate following this meeting. We expect this to provide an excellent base to broadening our research programme, contacts and network for New Zealand Centre for SME Research Private Box 756 Wellington 6140 New Zealand Tel Fax Web: Director d.deakins@massey.ac.nz Administrator a.k.taranchokov@massey.ac.nz Masterate Scholarship for Ms Amanda Williamson Ms Williamson has been selected as a recipient of a Masterate Scholarship, tenable at Massey University for one year of full-time research towards a 120 Credit thesis for a Masters Degree. Her thesis, which will be completed at the end of the year, explores the issues surrounding work-life balance for SME owner-managers in New Zealand. 4

8 Publications in 2010 The following publications are restricted to those that are quality assured and does not include community-based presentations. Journal Articles Battisti, M. & Deakins, D. (2010). Editorial: Employment relations issues in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations, 35(1):1-3. Battisti, M., Deakins, D., & Roxas, B. (2010). Explaining the levels of innovation and R&D in New Zealand's small and medium-sized enterprises: Too many small firms? Small Enterprise Research, 17(2). Bensemann, J. & Hall, C. (2010). Copreneurship in rural tourism: Exploring women's experiences. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 2(3), Bourke, J., Pajo, K. & Lewis, K. (2010). Elder care and work-life balance: Exploring the experiences of female small business owners. New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations, 35(1), Deakins, D. & Wyper, J. (2010). A longitudinal and dynamic approach to Entrepreneurial Learning. New Zealand Journal of Employment Relations, 35(1), Deakins, D. Ishaq, M., Whittam, G. & Wyper, J. (2010). Diversity in ethinic minority businesses from rural and urban localities. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 9(2), Deakins, D., Whittam, G. & Wyper, J. (2010). SMEs' access to bank finance in Scotland: An analysis of bank manager decision making. Venture Capital, 12(3), Jackson, D. J. R., Cooper-Thomas, H. D., van Gelderen, M., & Davis, J. (2010). Relationships among developmental competency measures and objective work outcomes in a New Zealand retail context. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 21(2), Lee, L. (2010). Corporate volunteering: Considering multiple stakeholders. Third Sector Review, 16(1), Lewis, K. (2010). Women in family business leadership roles: Daughters on the stage [Book review]. Gender in Management: An international journal, 25(4), Lewis, K., & Cassells, S. (2010). Barriers and drivers for environmental practice uptake in SMEs: A New Zealand perspective. International Journal of Business Studies. 18(1), Perry, M. (2010). Controversies in local economic policy. Local Economy, 25(7), Perry, M. (2010). Trade associations: exploring the Trans Tasman environment for business associability. Journal of Management and Organization, 15(1), van Gelderen, M. (2010). Autonomy as the guiding aim of entrepreneurship education. Education and Training, 52(8/9), van Gelderen, M. (2010). A heuristic-inducing method for generating initial ideas for opportunities. Journal of Enterprising Culture, 18(2), Reports and Working Papers Battisti, M. & Deakins, D. (2010). SME capability to manage regulation: Qualitative research. Report prepared for the Inland Revenue Department. Wellington: New Zealand. Battisti, M., & Deakins, D. (2010). Managing under recession: Perspectives from New Zealand small firms. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Centre for SME Research, Massey University. Battisti, M., & Okamuro, H. (2010). Selling, passing on or closing? Determinants of entrepreneurial intentions on exit modes. Global COE Hi-Sat Discussion Paper Series 151. Tokyo, Japan: Research Unit for Statistical and Empirical Analysis in Social Sciences, Hitotsubashi University. 5

9 Battisti, M., Deakins, D. & Roxas, H. (2010). The case of innovation and R&D in New Zealand s small and medium- Sized enterprises: Too many small firms? Massey University College of Business Research Paper Series, 2 (2). Research paper 10. Battisti, M., Deakins, D., Roxas, B., & Coetzer, A. (2010). Management capability: Perspectives from New Zealand small firms. Report prepared for the Ministry of Economic Development. Wellington: New Zealand. Deakins, D. (2010). Future trends and New Zealand SMEs. Massey University College of Business Research Paper Series, 2 (4). Research paper 25. Deakins, D., Battisti, M., Coetzer, A. & Roxas, H. (2010). Managerial learning and management development in New Zealand SMEs. Massey University College of Business Research Paper Series, 2 (4). Research paper 26. Flint-Hartle, S., Frazer, L. & Weaven, S. (2010). Franchising New Zealand Albany, New Zealand: Massey University. Perry, M. (2010). Exploring the national context for business associability: A comparison of trade association membership in Ireland and New Zealand. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Centre for SME Research, Massey University. Conference Papers Battisti, M., & Okamuro, H. (2010). Selling, passing on or closing? Determinants of entrepreneurial intentions on exit modes. Paper presented at the Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business (RENT) Conference (CD-ROM), Maastricht, Netherlands. Battisti, M., Deakins, D., & Perry, M. (2010). Tracking strategies of rural small businesses in New Zealand. Paper presented at the Rural Entrepreneurship (REC) Conference (CD-ROM), Dumfries, Scotland. Battisti, M., Pajo, K., & Lee, L. (2010). Making sense of CSR in SMEs. Paper presented at the Research in Entrepreneurship and Small Business (RENT) Conference (CD-ROM), Maastricht, Netherlands. Deakins, D. & Dhaliwal, S. (2010). Entrepreneurial discovery and Asian entrepreneurs in the UK. Paper presented at the 7th International AGSE Entrepreneurship Research Exchange Conference (CD-ROM), Brisbane, Australia. Deakins, D. & North, D. (2010). Bankers, Debt finance and adverse selection: A study of entrepreneurial access to debt finance in Scotland, UK. Paper presented at the 7th International AGSE Entrepreneurship Research Exchange Conference (CD-ROM), Brisbane, Australia. Deakins, D., Battisti, M., Coetzer, A., & Roxas, B. (2010). Managerial Learning and Management Development in New Zealand SMEs. Paper presented at the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference (CD-ROM), London, UK. Jurado, T. & Massey, C. (2010). From simple to intricate: New Zealand SME Policy Development Paper presented at the International Council for Small Business (ICSB) Conference (CD-ROM), Cincinnati, Ohio. Roxas, B., Battisti, M., & Deakins, D. (2010). Management development, innovation and performance of small exporting firms in New Zealand. Paper presented at the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management (ANZAM) Conference (CD-ROM), Adelaide, Australia. Smallbone, D. & Massey, C. (2010). Targeting for growth: A critical examination. Paper presented at the Institute of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (ISBE) Conference (CD-ROM), London, UK. van Gelderen, M. Kautonen, T., and Tornikoski, E. (2010). From entrepreneurial intention to action: Motivation versus volition as explanations of the (unintentional) intention-action gap. Paper presented at the Babson Conference, Lausanne, Switzerland. van Gelderen, M. (2010). Autonomy as the guiding aim of entrepreneurship education. Paper presented at the International Entrepreneurship Conference, Arnhem, The Netherlands. 6

10 Book or Book Chapter Bensemann, J. (2010). Allowing women's voices to be heard in tourism research: Competing paradigms of method. In Hall, C. (Ed.). Fieldwork in tourism: Methods, issues and reflections (pp ). Oxford, UK: Routledge. de Bruin, A., Lewis, K. (2010). Little Acorns in Action: Green Entrepreneurship and New Zealand Micro-Enterprises. In Schaper, M. (Ed.). Making Ecopreneurs: Developing Sustainable Entrepreneurship (pp ). Farnham, Surrey, England: Gower Publishing Limited. Perry, M. (2010). Controversies in local economic development. London: Routledge. Sanders, J., Galloway, L., & Deakins, D. (2010). The effectiveness of internet portals on the e-commerce activities of rural SME business owners: A study of rural SMEs in Scotland. In Brychan T. & Geoff S. (Eds.). E-Commerce Adoption and Small Business in the Global Marketplace: Tools for Optimization (pp ). Hershey, PA, United States: IGI Global. Schaper, M., Volery, T., Weber, P., & Lewis, K. (2010). Entrepreneurship and small business (3rd Pacific Rim edition). Milton, Queensland: John Wiley & Sons. Tremaine, M., & Lewis, K. (2010). New Zealand. In S. L. Fielden & M. J. Davidson (Eds), International research handbook on successful women entrepreneurs (pp ). Cheltenham, England: Edward Elgar. 7