Projects / Programmes
The role of the entrepreneur's human capital in innovativeness, growth and international advancement of Slovenian small and medium entreprises.
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 5.04.00 |
Social sciences |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
|
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| S190 |
Social sciences |
Management of enterprises |
The importance of human and social capital in internationalization and innovativeness of Slovenian small and medium entreprises
Researchers (1)
| no. |
Code |
Name and surname |
Research area |
Role |
Period |
No. of publicationsNo. of publications |
| 1. |
28257 |
PhD Mitja Ruzzier |
Administrative and organisational sciences |
Head |
2007 - 2008 |
0 |
Organisations (1)
Abstract
Knowledge, skills and education form a consistent part of the (general and specific) human capital of individuals and it is impossible to separate it from them. It can also represent a long-term competitive advantage of individuals, companies and even nations. In particular, this may be true of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) which usually operate in highly competitive industries and are resource-scarce. In our research we will try to identify those elements of the general and specific human capital of entrepreneurs that positively influence the innovativeness, growth and internationalization of their companies. Some of our results will also be compared internationally with a group of American researchers who performed similar research into American SMEs.
The main hypothesis of our research is that the specific and general human capital of entrepreneurs influences the innovativeness, growth and internationalization of their SMEs. Based on the main research hypothesis many sub-hypothesis will be derived. The research results will represent important contributions to our knowledge of the effects and functioning of the general and specific human capital of entrepreneurs or of their knowledge, skills and competencies on the innovativeness, growth and internationalization of SMEs in both theory and practice. The main innovation in the research will involve a measurement model that will holistically include all important dimensions of internationalization and innovativeness as dependent variables. Based on the research results we will be able to predict which entrepreneur has greater possibilities of success based on their education, knowledge and skills and to present the implications to entrepreneurs for crafting their internationalization and innovativeness strategies. The research results could also be useful to policymakers who will then be able to more efficiently promote the entrepreneurship, innovativeness and internationalization of SMEs.
Significance for science
In our research it was found and among the first in the world also confirmed, that internationalization (of small and medium enterprises - SMEs) is a multidimensional phenomenon in which the time dimension has a strategic position, beside product, market and mode dimensions. This means, that SMEs may start with international activities very soon from inception and do not need to operate few years on domestic markets, if they posses (or have access to) relevant resources, competencies and know-how. In our research it was developed also a conceptual model for planning and a measurement model which enables to compare different degrees of internationalization between group of companies, industries or countries. It was also found that entrepreneurs form internationalized companies have on average higher levels of (general and specific) human and social capital, as well as their companies possess higher bundles of resources (human, organizational, financial and other), compared to non-internationalized companies. Based on the abovementioned findings, different implications for entrepreneurs and policy makers for were developed.
Significance for the country
It was found that Slovenian entrepreneurs have certain fear from operating on foreign markets, especially those geographically more distant. Traditionally they start operating first on domestic markets, and if, they proceed on foreign Yugoslav markets, even though some of them have adequate resources to operate on more competitive and distant markets. In such way they slowly loose their competitive advantages. In fact it was found that on average; first Slovenian entrepreneurs lack the knowledge of concrete activities to start the process of internationalization, second, many entrepreneurs are not able to dismember the basics of their operations and calculations, since they represent the basis to sell the products or transfer their business models on foreign markets and third, that entrepreneurs from internationalized Slovenian companies have on average higher degrees of (general and specific) human and social capital, which enables them to better understand and perform international operations. Therefore policy makers for fastening the internationalization of Slovenian SMEs should start first with activities (courses) which would prepare companies for foreign operations, following with relevant activities for developing those skills and competences of entrepreneurs, which were found to positively influence the internationalization of their companies.
Most important scientific results
Final report,
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Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Final report,
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