Opportunities and challenges in food entrepreneurship: In-depth qualitative investigation of millet entrepreneurs

Consumer food preferences are undergoing a rapid transformation, and there has been a heightening of interest in eating healthy, sustainable foods. Food entrepreneurs are cashing in on the trend and are diversifying their existing offerings to include healthier options using alternate ingredients such as millets. However, these entrepreneurs face several challenges, and the actual growth of the market is lower than expected. The present study examines the opportunities and challenges faced by millet entrepreneurs. A total of 25 millet entrepreneurs were interviewed using a semi-structured qualitative design. Key opportunities include increased awareness of millets, people going back to their traditions, and informative food labels were the key opportunities, while a lack of awareness, lack of familiarity, preparation difficulty, sensory attributes, lack of affordability, inferior image, customer distrust, and millets' longer gestational cycle were major challenges. © 2022 The Author(s)

Adopting new technologies during the crisis: An empirical analysis of agricultural sector

Research and development in agricultural sector are becoming a crucial issue, especially to answer to growing global market needs and, in general, for rural innovation development. The innovation process involves stakeholders of all levels and rural development requires both personal farmers' characteristics along with favourable socio-political and infrastructural environment. Many countries and governments have executed innovation projects for agricultural firms, involving a number of actors from the public and private sectors. However, the literature lacks of studies that investigate the identification of the main factors that determine the agricultural entrepreneurs' probability to adopt new technologies during a crisis context. Thus, through the adoption of the Extended Theory of Planned Behaviour, this study aims at filling this lack. More specifically, the exploratory empirical analysis focuses on a sample of 130 agricultural entrepreneurs operating in a rural developing Italian region, during the historical context of global pandemic crisis of COVID-19. The results provided several insights showing the factors that influence the adoption of technologies, such as the Attitude to Environmental-Economic Sustainability and the Planned Behavioural Control. An important role is also assumed by the past farmer's technological experience. The paper offers implications for entrepreneurs and public government. © 2022 Elsevier Inc.

Being near the action: bed and breakfast and guesthouse entrepreneurs and the hosting of black South African domestic tourists in the Cape Town townships

This article examines how black female bed and breakfast (B&B) and guesthouse entrepreneurs in the black townships of Cape Town, South Africa were providing accommodations to black South African domestic tourists that allowed these tourists to ‘be near the action' in the townships. ‘Being near the action' refers to being able to conveniently attend various life-cycle events, such as weddings, funerals, and circumcision celebrations that involve friends and/or family, or engage in work, business, and other activities in the townships. This research contributes to tourism mobilities studies by explaining how these entrepreneurs impacted and were being impacted by domestic tourism and how the social spaces or ‘moorings' of the entrepreneurs' accommodations produced and reproduced social and cultural life. In addition, this study provides an understanding of tourism in Africa, and specifically domestic tourism in South Africa, related to the discretionary mobilities of a growing population of middle-class black South Africans. For this study, data was collected through semi-structured interviews conducted with black female B&Bs and guesthouse entrepreneurs in the townships of Langa, Gugulethu, and Khayelitsha. The article also includes a discussion of the possible implications of the COVID-19 pandemic's halting of travel mobilities on the economic sustainability of these entrepreneurs. © 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Is eco-label hotel engagement the pathway to sustainability practices via entrepreneurial resilience and orientation in Oman? Findings from PLS-SEM and fsQCA

Purpose>This study aims to examine the role of eco-label hotel engagement as a pathway to sustainable practices via scouting entrepreneurial resilience and orientation at highly ranked hotels in Oman. The authors developed and tested a novel model built on resilience theory, the theory of entrepreneurial orientation and the theory of reasoned action (TRA).Design/methodology/approach>Data from 167 human resources directors, hotel managers and other employees were analyzed by partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA).Findings>Results indicate a strong positive relationship between entrepreneurial resilience and entrepreneurial orientation. Entrepreneurial orientation significantly increased all eco-label strategies, but not all strategies enhanced sustainable tourism practices. High adoption of sustainability practices depended on core strategies related to awareness, benefits, reputation and necessity, but the cost was also an issue. Managers adopted sustainability practices if they were not perceived as costly, or when perceived as costly if they believed they would help them reduce operating costs.Practical implications>Policymakers should assist hotel managers when the sector is hit by political events, natural disasters or health crises such as the current pandemic can bounce back and develop their resilience. Likewise, training and workshops can be organized to improve managers' entrepreneurial mindset, which was found to be a precursor to favorable attitudes toward sustainability.Originality/value>This study tests a novel model built on three theories: resilience theory, the theory of entrepreneurial orientation and the TRA by using PLS-SEM and fsQCA.

Digital Opportunities in MSMEs Throughout Economic Disruptions: Entrepreneurs' Experiences and Challenges

The global trend in cases has had a significant impact on the social parts of society, which has had no impact on the global economy, which has been severely impacted by the unexpected public health risk, which has caused businesses to close down digital commercial companies. The pandemic's great challenges have turned into great opportunities for entrepreneurs from all over the world. Obeying the recovery, they see digital tools as solutions to help them survive and even thrive in the long run. This study investigates the drivers and barriers of digital innovation in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia, particularly in Yogyakarta Province. Conducting in-depth interviews with 50 MSMEs in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and comparing them to Inductive Content Analysis to generate themes. The study's findings revealed that the adverse consequences of the pandemic, which boosted entrepreneurial innovation by shifting business to digital platforms, were classified as internal and external motivation. Participants discussed the barriers to digital entrepreneurship, such as the skills required to conduct business online, market issues in digital platforms, the availability of high-quality internet infrastructure, and pandemic restrictions. The findings of this study pertain to the entrepreneurship literature and provide a focus for empirical research in order to develop programs that assist entrepreneurs during economic disruptions. This will serve as a guide in the development of government policies and strategies for economic recovery through digital entrepreneurship while keeping small entrepreneurs in mind. It also recommends future related research to empower entrepreneurs, particularly those in emerging economies, during and after the pandemic. Copyright 2022. © by the International Institute of Informatics and Systemics. All rights reserved.

Socioeconomic status and entrepreneurial networking responses to the COVID-19 crisis

Networks play a vital role for entrepreneurs in overcoming crises. The most vulnerable to crises are those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. However, we know less about the role of socioeconomic status in entrepreneurial networking. This study investigates whom entrepreneurs call in case of emergency. We develop hypotheses on how entrepreneurs' socioeconomic status influences models of networking agency in situations of economic threat. The results of a pre-registered randomized experiment in the COVID-19 context conducted with 122 entrepreneurs from the US indicate that entrepreneurs in higher socioeconomic status positions activate contacts to serve their own goals (i.e., independent networking agency) when facing an economic threat. In contrast, and counter-intuitively, entrepreneurs of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to support others when facing an economic threat (i.e., interdependent networking agency). Exploring the evolving network structure, our explorative post-hoc analyses suggest that entrepreneurs activate closer networks (i.e., higher density and stronger ties) under threat. The study discusses the implications of these findings for the theory of entrepreneurial networking in general and network responses to crises in particular.

Reorienting the organisational strategy of SMEs during the COVID-19 crisis: can entrepreneurial orientation help?

Purpose>This paper offers innovative strategies on how small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can respond to the COVID-19 crisis by incorporating an entrepreneurial orientation concept corresponding to the nature of the environmental shock.Design/methodology/approach>This paper conceptualises a solution by elaborating three critical items, namely entrepreneurial orientation, adaptive process and strategy types as key factors to develop the framework solution. This paper outlines a strategy proposal for SMEs to respond to the crisis.Findings>The environmental factor represents the crisis, which leads to a degree of innovation, i.e., radical and incremental, and can be approached using an adjusted adaptive consolidation process from Child. This paper identifies four strategy options from Miles and Snow to respond to the crisis;i.e. (1) defender–exploitative innovation;(2) analyser–organisational ambidexterity;(3) prospector–exploratory innovation and (4) reactor–abandon or shut down the business.Originality/value>While most of the suggestions from previous COVID-19-related works are acknowledged, this paper brings more insight from an academic perspective, specifically organisational theory, to cope with the pandemic crisis. The steps and strategy to be chosen can guide policymakers to decide what is their best move to respond to this crisis. In addition, the proposed strategies call for future research to provide empirical evidence by exploring and examining various scenarios in different kinds of businesses.

Entrepreneurial business network and dynamic relational capabilities: a case study approach

PurposeTo further extend the understanding of the aggregating functions of an entrepreneurial business network, this paper attempts to explore the antecedents enabling the organisation of diverse entrepreneurs to engage in a collaborative inter-firm business network project. This paper also elucidates the development of the relational capabilities and performance of entrepreneurial business networks.Design/methodology/approachAn explorative, longitudinal case study design is employed to analyse an Italian agricultural business network, which comprised a group of local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Using the network as the focus of analysis, the case study draws insights from key informants comprising the network management team and the entrepreneurs who make up the membership of the business network.FindingsThe results of the study provide critical factors for successful organisation of inter-firm engagement. Although these factors are not mutually exclusive, the results show that organising for inter-firm engagement in an entrepreneurial business network context positively influenced the network relational performance and entrepreneurs' innovation capabilities.Originality/valueThe paper extends current understanding of inter-organisational engagement and illuminates the antecedents enabling the development of network relational dynamics capabilities. The empirical results provide unusual insights into the aggregating roles of an entrepreneurial business network, giving practitioners practical insights into managing a successful inter-organisational collaborative project. Using the relevant theoretical frameworks, the study empirically tests the organisation solutions relevant to literature on inter-firm engagement in a business network context and addresses the organisation solutions' interrelationship and linkages to entrepreneurial network relational performance in terms of knowledge practice, information and resources sharing and innovation.

A creeping crisis when an urgent crisis arises: The reprioritization of plastic pollution issues during COVID‐19

Single‐use plastics (SUPs) are increasingly polluting terrestrial, coastal, and marine habits, contributing to the creeping “plastic crisis.” The COVID‐19 pandemic provided a window of opportunity for decision makers to change the degree of urgency and responsiveness to this crisis and for policy entrepreneurs and industry who are against reducing plastic consumption to influence decision makers to change their position on various plastic‐related issues. Hygiene/health concerns have been used as a justification by governments and industry to increase the use of SUPs resulting in a reversal in, or a reprioritization of, policy decisions. Through the Multiple Streams Framework (MSF), I examine how creeping crises become secondary to urgent crises through agenda setting that is influenced and leveraged by policy entrepreneurs. I explore examples of such plastic policy decisions finding that they have been politically driven and influenced by entrepreneurs and industry rather than being primarily based on health concerns.Related ArticlesDiaz‐Kope, Luisa, and John C. Morris. 2022. “Why Collaborate? Exploring the Role of Organizational Motivations in Cross‐sector Watershed Collaboration.” Politics & Policy 50(3): 516â€"39. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12470.Gerlach, John David, Laron K. Williams, and Colleen E. Forcina. 2013. “The Science‐Natural Resource Policy Relationship: How Aspects of Diffusion Theory Explain Data Selection for Making Biodiversity Management Decisions.” Politics & Policy 41(3): 326â€"54. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12017.Neill, Katharine A., and John C. Morris. 2012. “A Tangled Web of Principals and Agents: Examining the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill through a Principalâ€"Agent Lens.” Politics & Policy 40(4): 629â€"56. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2012.00371.x.Alternate :Una crisis progresiva cuando surge una crisis urgente: La repriorización de los problemas de contaminación plástica durante el COVID‐19Los plásticos de un solo uso (SUP) están contaminando cada vez más los hábitos terrestres, costeros y marinos, lo que contribuye a la progresiva "crisis del plástico". La pandemia de COVID‐19 brindó una ventana de oportunidad para que los tomadores de decisiones cambien el grado de urgencia y capacidad de respuesta a esta crisis y para los empresarios de políticas y la industria que están en contra de reducir el consumo de plástico para influir en los tomadores de decisiones para cambiar su posición sobre varios temas relacionados con el plástico. Los gobiernos y la industria han utilizado las preocupaciones de higiene/salud como justificación para aumentar el uso de SUP, lo que ha dado lugar a una reversión o una nueva priorización de las decisiones políticas. A través del Marco de Corrientes Múltiples (MSF, por sus siglas en inglés), examinamos cómo las crisis progresivas se vuelven secundarias frente a las crisis urgentes a través del establecimiento de una agenda que es influenciada y aprovechada por los empresarios de políticas. Exploramos ejemplos de tales decisiones sobre políticas de plástico y descubrimos que han sido impulsadas políticamente e influenciadas por empresarios y la industria en lugar de basarse principalmente en preocupaciones de salud.Alternate :紧急危机发生时的慢性危机:2019å† çŠ¶ç—…æ¯'病期间塑料污æŸ"问题的优先次序调整一次性塑料(SUP)越来越多地污æŸ"陆地、沿海å'Œæµ·æ´‹çŽ¯å¢ƒï¼Œä¸ºæ…¢æ€§â€œå¡‘料危机”作贡献。2019å† çŠ¶ç—…æ¯'ç—…(COVID‐19)大流行为决策者提供了一个机会之窗，以改变对这场危机的紧迫程度å'Œå"åº”程度，并为反对减少塑料消费的政策企业家å'Œè¡Œä¸šæä¾›æœºä¼šï¼Œä»¥å½±å"å†³ç­–者改变其在不同塑料相关问题上的立场。卫生/健康问题已被政府å'Œè¡Œä¸šç”¨ä½œå¢žåŠ SUP使用的理由，从而导致政策决策发生逆转或优先次序调整。通过使用多源流框架(MSF)，我们分析了慢性危机如何在一个受政策企业家影å"å'Œåˆ©ç”¨çš„议程设置下次于 ´§æ€¥å±æœºã€‚我们探究了这类塑料政策决策的例子，发现决策的制定并非主要基于健康问题，而是受到企业家å'Œè¡Œä¸šçš„政治驱动å'Œå½±å"ã€‚

Financial Disruption and Microentrepreneurs: Empirical Study on Adoption of E-Wallet Among Micro-Entrepreneurs in India

The COVID-19 pandemic is expeditiously stirring the global economy. The impact of this pandemic has implications on the sustenance of industries worldwide. This study investigates the influence of various endogenous and exogenous factors affecting e-wallet adoption among micro entrepreneurs in India. A sample of 287 micro enterprises were identified in NCR (National Capital Region) region on the basis of random sampling. Structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents. Structural equation modelling was used to analyse the data with the help of Smart PLS 3. The main findings of the study show that self-belief, personal innovativeness, and satisfaction are the key indicators affecting the e-wallet adoption among the microentrepreneurs. Microentrepreneurs contribute greatly to economic development in developed and developing nations. Digitalisation of this segment of industry can turn India into a cashless country, thereby reducing the cash burden of the economy. Microentrepreneurs can also act as a catalyst for financial inclusion.

Chaos and complexity: entrepreneurial planning during pandemic

Entrepreneurs are argued to have higher foresight, ability to handle complex situations, and superior planning. This qualitative study attempted to validate these assertions in the pandemic context of COVID19. The pandemic created a complex and chaotic business environment. The information was available to businesspersons of the region before a quarter. Did they show adequate foresight to assimilate information and respond to the crisis? How complex was the situation for planning? What entrepreneurial characteristics were demonstrated? A qualitative study design sought and analyzed business owner's responses to these questions. Though the findings are not generalizable, it indicated inadequate but reactive response. Secondly, the challenge of reduced cash flow prompted cost cutting as an operational response. The plan of winning trust in transactions was also an operational response. A few perceived pandemic as an opportunity for product innovation. Business owners demonstrated empathy toward their employees. Interestingly, most business owners indicated fluidity and inadequate information as a barrier for planning. Information acquisition, seeking help from network, responding to imminent events, wait and watch, were predominant operational responses, whereas innovation and shifting of sectors were strategic responses considered by few entrepreneurs. The perception of superior entrepreneurial abilities in anticipating events, planning, strategizing, and handling complexity was less evidenced in this study.