Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to discuss a resource-based approach for exploring micro-firm management practice, as informed by the relevant literature. Specifically, the paper analyses available literature and catalogues micro-firm and managerial competence criteria in pursuit of managerial insights in this environment. Design/methodology/approach -A comprehensive literature review precedes the conceptualisation of micro-firm management practice. Findings -Literary findings suggest that, considering micro-firms' internal resource constraints, minimal environmental power, and owner-centred culture, it is vital for these organisations to embed their valuable resource in their core business strategy, to ensure survival in the longer term. Furthermore, there is an assumption that knowledge must be used optimally within the micro-firm by developing the analytical and critical skills of individuals, groups and the entire organisation so as to sustain and grow these firms' competitive advantage. Having identified and catalogued a range of factors that impact micro-firms, the authors propose a "resource taxonomy of micro-firm management practice", which establishes factor interaction and the interrelationships between each resource in this environment. The purpose of this taxonomy is to assist in the analysis of management practices in the micro-firm milieu.Research limitations/implications -The authors go on to discuss taxonomy implications for micro-firm training policy and propose further exploration of micro-firm management practice and resource-based research in this environment. Originality/value -Academic research, which focuses specifically on the micro-firm, has historically been rare, despite multiple calls to study these firms in their own right. By proffering a "resource taxonomy of micro-firm management practice", the authors seek to inform this neglected research area.

2010),"Business-level strategy and performance: The moderating effects of environment and structure", Management Decision, Vol. 48 Iss 6 pp. 907-939 http://dx.If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -The aim of this article is to offer insight into the factors affecting individual and organisational learning in a small business; specifically the identification of the learning relationships that are unique to the small business environment. Design/methodology/approach -The authors apply Crossan et al. 's (1997, 1999) Organisational Learning Framework. The proposed framework is supported by empirical evidence generated through a longitudinal case study carried out in a small business in the Republic of Ireland over a two-year period. A learning catalyst, in this case the implementation of a new information system (IS), offered an initial point from which to gauge subsequent learning within the studied case. Findings -This framework acknowledges the learning impact of a small workforce, an owner-centred culture and a simple organisational structure, as well as the time and resource constraints specific to small businesses which affect the learning dynamic. The framework also takes account of the learning challenges brought about by external influences unique to a small business environment, such as enforced organisational change created by powerful business partners' commercial requirements. Research limitations/implications -As this framework was developed based on a single case, similar research may be conducted on additional case studies to determine the learning dynamic in alternative settings and business environments. Originality/value -This research presents some valuable insights into the ways in which organisational learning can be facilitated and impeded in the largely ignored small business environment.

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Purpose – The paper has been developed from a critical review of available literature drawn from the micro firm, managerial capability and innovation management fields. The paper aims to address these issues. Design/methodology/approach – The paper has been developed from a critical review of available literature drawn from the micro firm, managerial capability and innovation management fields. Findings – Four criteria of micro firm managerial capability emerge from micro firm managerial traits in the literature namely, leadership; strategic thinking; problem solving and people relationships. The review also shows that micro firms are embedded in three resource pools which include stakeholder ties; the local community and the proximate market environment. Micro firm managerial capability is argued to emerge from the interaction of the managerial capability criteria and the resources in a process mediated by the resource based and dynamic capabilities perspectives from the strategic management literature. Research limitations/implications – A gap in the academic literature is identified and the proposed theoretical model is presented to address this deficiency in the literature. Future empirical research is recommended. Practical implications – This proposed model will allow practitioners to better conceptualise and design programmes that will assist companies in developing managerial capabilities to innovate. Deep links between hotel industry practitioners and the academic community will enable the effective dissemination of the research. Originality/value – Hotel micro firms play an important social and economic role. There has been little research into how they innovate and specifically into managerial capability for innovation in context. The present research uses conceptual research to map the field and identify critical avenues for future research.

Facilitated networks are regularly cited in tourism literature as a means to promote sustainable competitive advantage in small tourism firms. These networks function for a variety of reasons including marketing, innovation and research and development; however learning networks specifically seek to encourage learning among tourism entrepreneurs. Once established, the question remains whether such networks can transition from facilitated cooperative learning strategies to become independent learning communities in the longer term. Little is known about the formation, maintenance or success of these types of learning relationships after facilitated learning structures and supports reach a conclusion. What is known is that these networks, labeled 'Evolving Learning Communities' (ELCs) by the authors, are devoid of formal structures, thus autonomy in their structural and relational reasoning is required. In this paper, the authors explore a facilitated tourism learning network (TLN) environment operating in Ireland, and discuss the potential to transition from a facilitated TLN to an independent learning network environment. Following a comprehensive literature review, the authors propose an ELC model for the purposes of mapping the tourism entrepreneur's learning development, from the autonomous business setting to the facilitated learning network environment and on to the independent learning network arena, illustrating the evolution of a learning community. The overriding research objective is: to explore the elements and relationships that influence entrepreneurial learning in tourism learning networks. Future research will inform and validate the proposed model through the completion of a longitudinal interpretive case study incorporating sub-studies for the purposes of cross-validation.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to evaluate key criteria underpinning network-facilitated green innovation capability development in micro-firms. Design/methodology/approach Micro-firms, those firms with less than ten full-time employees, need to continuously innovate in order to sustain their business in the emerging green economy. This study uses an interpretive multiple case approach to explore micro-firm owner-manager (O/M) green innovation activities, encompassing O/M views on facilitated network engagement in Ireland and Canada over a 12-month period. Findings The findings show that proactive implementation of green innovation is influenced by the O/M’s natural environment orientation and the potential for economic gain, while facilitated networks provide an additional resource that the O/M can draw from that allows the O/M to test new ideas, comprehend new and existing legislation and identify potential supports in pursuit of green innovation capability development within the micro-firm. Research limitations/implications This study offers a contribution to knowledge in the areas of green innovation, micro-firm capabilities and facilitated network engagement. However, the sample size is small and distance was a challenge, yet data and case protocols are in place which allow for replication of the study. As the research is embedded in the resource and capability theories, alternative theoretical frameworks may shed a different light on the research question. Originality/value Prior studies have found that facilitated networks have a positive impact on micro-firm sustainability as these networks enhance the firm’s constrained resource base. The proposed framework can be used as a guideline for support organisations including facilitated networks in assisting micro-firms in reaching their green innovation goals and objectives. It can also be used by micro-firms in the attainment of the green innovation capability.