Purpose -This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the academic literature with regard to risk and its role in the entrepreneurial experience of women. Entrepreneurial risk has an under-developed conceptual basis and distilling gender-specific aspects is difficult. Various academic disciplines have contributed to the topic of risk, e.g. economics, and often decision making is used to contextualise the topic. Though the literature does not always prove an association between the different facets of risk and entrepreneurship, there is general agreement that a number of factors, e.g. personal, political and social inter-relate to influence risk and subsequent behaviour. Design/methodology/approach -Uses a desk-based approach to data collection. An overview of the main issues concerning risk and entrepreneurship is given to contexualise the gender aspects to be discussed, drawing on the extant literature. Findings -The paper posits that an understanding of the gender aspects of risk is required if policy measures are to be constructive and help women overcome barriers and achieve their entrepreneurial potential. The conclusions drawn from the literature provide the foundations for a discussion of the likely policy measures that are required to encourage women entrepreneurs. Research limitations/implications -A summary is provided of the research and information gaps that remain in terms of women entrepreneurship and risk with the aim of encouraging further research in the area. Originality/value -Provides a comprehensive summary of the literature with regard to risk and the entrepreneurial experience of women, and discusses the likely policy measures required to encourage women entrepreneurs.

A conceptual model of the changes in small and medium enterprise interfaces and relationships consequent on their adoption of information and communication technologies is developed and explored in this paper. Emphasis is placed on the implications for management, employees and working practices. Empirical evidence from two organisations is provided to illustrate the model and corroborate this new perspective

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PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the constructs underpinning risk management and explores its application in the supply chain context through the development of a framework. The constructs of performance and risk are matched together to provide new perspectives for researchers and practitioners.Design/methodology/approachThe conceptual and empirical work in the supply chain management field and other related fields is employed to develop a conceptual framework of supply chain risk management (SCRM). Risk in the supply chain is explored in terms of risk/performance sources, drivers, consequences and management responses, including initial approaches to categorization within these. Two empirical cases are used to illustrate the application of the framework.FindingsA new framework is presented that helps to integrate the dimensions of risk and performance in supply chains and provide a categorisation of risk drivers.Research limitations/implicationsSCRM is at an early stage of evolution. The paper provides a clarification of the dimensions and constructs within this field together with directions for future research and development.Practical implicationsThe focus on performance in terms of efficiency and effectiveness linked to risk drivers and risk management responses provides insights to managing and measuring risk in supply chains.Originality/valueThe paper consolidates the work in an emerging strand of supply chain management. Two key challenges facing the research community are addressed, the ability to prescribe strategies to address particular risk drivers and the interaction of risk management and performance.

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The paper’s premiss is that the extant linear supply chain relationship model that dominates most sectors will rapidly be replaced by a more amorphous supply chain relationship model. It is suggested that entirely new business models are appearing, where the ability to build flexible alliances at speed is a critical management skill. Although these changes will have an impact on all organisations irrespective of size, the focus of the paper is directed towards the SME sector. It is anticipated that the outcomes from this review and the associated research will enhance awareness and understanding of the nature of changes to markets and commercial/supply chain relationships, highlight the potential opportunities and risks and provide guidelines for the developments in strategic management, relationship marketing and risk management.

The concept of power is widespread and it can be easily observed in supplier-retailer studies because in asymmetric exchange relationships, retailers are the powerful side and they are able to set the rules of the game (Hingley et al., 2015). A number of researchers in supply chains (Nyaga et al., 2013, Rindt and Mouzas, 2015) have explored power asymmetry. In asymmetric supplier-buyer relationships, the powerful partner applies its power in two main areas: the strategic and operational areas of the weaker party. This means that the weaker party accepts the control of the powerful party in its business activities in both areas (Johnsen and Ford, 2008). This paper investigates how small suppliers deal with buyer power within the sustainable fashion supply chain. The term sustainable fashion supply chain in this paper reflects Seuring and Muller's (2008, p. 1700) definition who defined the sustainable supply chain 'as the management of material, information and capital flows as well as cooperation among companies along the supply chain while taking goals from all three dimensions of sustainable development.' The paper takes an interaction approach (IMP Group,1982) to develop a better understanding of the application of power by retailers and contributes to Munksgaard, Johnsen and Patterson (2015) call for further research into buyer-supplier relationships. This need for further research is particularly warranted in the area of fashion supply chain relationships in relation to increasing exertion of power by retailers (Oxborrow and Brindley, 2014). The fashion supply chain is characterised by powerful retail buyers and small fashion suppliers. Major retail buyers increasingly appear to gain relative power which adds extra pressure on small supplier firms to sustain their relationships (Hines and McGowan, 2005).