This article explores the characteristics involved when higher education institutions (HEIs) engage in management training in smaller firms. Building on previous research on how smaller firms and small firm managers learn and how these learning characteristics relate to the dominating culture in HEIs, the article suggests a tentative framework…

More than 10 years have passed since the employment provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) came into effect for employers of 15 or more employees. Americans with disabilities continue to be more unemployed and underemployed than their nondisabled peers. Small businesses, with fewer than 500 employees, continue to be the…

With the current growth of the Internet, we expect significant changes in how and to what extent companies acquire business information. By comparing two studies on information seeking by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) carried out in 1982 and 2003 respectively, and comparing the results with other studies, this paper indicates that the…

The social, economic and political systems of former communist countries have faced considerable changes since the late 1980s. Most countries in Eastern and Central Europe have undergone their own individual brand of transition from a centrally planned, command system to a more or less liberalized, Western-style market economy. Many observers…

Purpose: The focus of this paper is to highlight the synergies and mutual benefits associated with a range of entrepreneurship education initiatives for a combination of internal and external stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach: The paper provides a description of four entrepreneurship education initiatives in operation at the University of…

The key to marketing a town is determining and promoting the town's "differential advantage" or uniqueness that would make people want to visit or live there. Exercises to help communities gain important insights into the town's competitive edge include a brainstorming session with knowledgeable community members, a visitor…

Since 1986 the Federal Employment Service in Germany has used the so-called "bridging allowance" to assist previously unemployed people in setting up their own businesses. This allowance is intended to guarantee the social security and subsistence of the person setting up the business during the start-up phase, until the young enterprise…

In 1988, Joliet Junior College (JJC) initiated a Set-Aside Loan Pool, designed to provide entrepreneurs, who traditionally would not be able to obtain a small business loan because of a lack of equity, with an alternate source of funding. Ten financial institutions were contacted and asked for contributions to the Loan Pool. Over the next five…

This student workbook on starting a small business is part of the entrepreneur training program at Ocean County (New Jersey) Vocational-Technical Schools. The workbook consists of 16 units containing goals and objectives, study questions, exercises, sample materials, and information sheets. Unit topics are as follows: being a small business owner;…

These materials provide information on conducting small business training seminars for veterans. First, a discussion is presented of the development of the guide based on 1983 field testing of the seminar and evaluations conducted by Small Business Administration (SBA) officials, the seminar contracts, and trainers. The next sections deal with the…

This monograph is part of OPTIONS, a packaged set of materials developed to provide postsecondary administrators, program planners, curriculum developers, counselors, and instructors with up-to-date, reliable information. This volume and two other monographs are intended to enable counselors and instructors to establish and conduct special…

Designed for firms who are seriously interested in expanding their business into international trade and who want to evaluate their prospects and potential for success, this workbook guides the reader through the steps in preparing an international business plan. Introductory sections explain how to use the workbook, offer a summary outline of an…

A classroom business venture (CBV), one component of the Human Resources School's career development program for physically disabled fifth, sixth, and seventh graders, is described. A CBV is defined as a simulated business situation where students, with teacher guidance, plan and organize the operation toward the eventual goal of distribution of…

Outlines programs in the United Kingdom (UK) designed to encourage the starting of small businesses. Successful programs help entrepreneurs obtain financial support, get business training, and develop a business plan. Recommends emphasis on personal competency and motivation training as well as shorter courses. (CH)

Describes the Onarga Project, in which a group of business students worked with the people of Onarga, Illinois, to revitalize a dying community, and how business teachers can incorporate some of the ideas to improve students' understanding of small business. Discusses preliminary planning, project activities, and specific learning activities to…