Research
An Investigation on Social Communication, Information Processing and Identification of Entrepreneurial Opportunities
This study examines the social networks, information processing and identification of entrepreneurial opportunities in small and medium businesses is allocated. The adjustment of the producer, personal efficacy, the power of entrepreneurship on the relationship between the processor and the coefficient of social networks, information processing and identification entrepreneurial opportunities have been evaluated. In this study, social networks based on previous research, including informal networks, mentors and advisors, family members and close friends and professional associations are. Information necessary to perform this study, 100 questionnaires from owners of small businesses and medium were collected and were analyzed. To check the validity of the questionnaire method Cronbach alpha coefficient alpha, which was equivalent Asfadh (72.6 %) is. Results show that the three sources of social information and informal networks (0.689) , teachers (0.649) and professional communities (0.578) on identifying entrepreneurial opportunities have a positive impact. Also, three personal efficacy variable, processor power and the coefficient information on the relationship between entrepreneurship and social networks to identify opportunities that impact. Impact on the efficacy of this negative relationship ( - 0.25), power data processor (0.29) and coefficient of Entrepreneurship (0.54) is. The results of path analysis techniques, the effect produced three variables adjusted personal efficacy, power, processor and information on the coefficient related entrepreneurship and social networks to identify opportunities, through the variable "participation in the professional community" and the relationship between informal networks and trainers (consultants) has no effect on the identified opportunities.
A Study of Levels and Characteristics of innovation activity
The importance of innovation in organizations´ competitiveness is an undeniable fact. Innovations reflect a critical way in which organizations respond to either technological or market challenges. Small and Medium sized enterprises (SMEs) constitute 94 % of Iranian firms. According to Iran statistic website the value added of 94 % of Iranian firms is just about 10 % of the whole value added in country. This study assumes the lag of innovation is the reason of uncompetitive nature of Sistan & Baluchestan SMEs. This paper reports on the results of a study that examined barriers to firms’ innovation among a sample of 86 managers of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Sistan & Baluchestan. Findings of the study show that the most significant barriers are associated with costs, whereas the least significant are associated with lag of information. The survey results show that Sistan & Baluchestan SMSs are not collaborating with universities and higher education institutions; they do not see university as a main source of information. Then it is not a surprising point that 29.0 % unemployment rate is reported in 2009 however 50 % of studied SMEs reported lack of skilled labour as a barrier to innovation.
