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Emerging research demonstrates that structural social capital facilitates the resource acquisition of entrepreneurs residing in multiply deprived areas. However, their usage of relational and cognitive social capital that translates to accessible resources is not well understood. We contribute to knowledge and comprehensively examine effects of structural, relational and cognitive social capital taken together on the resource acquisition of entrepreneurs residing in multiply deprived areas. Results from a national survey of entrepreneurs residing in multiply deprived areas across England show that large networks, bonding ties, trust, reciprocity, obligations and expectations, and shared language and codes facilitate their resource acquisition. Also, we demonstrate that they are reluctant or unable to bridge social distance and adopt narrative storytelling. Furthermore, the results indicate that entrepreneurs residing in multiply deprived areas in the most deprived regions suffer from less resource acquisition.

McDonald F., Huang Q., Tsagdis D. and Tuselmann H. J. (2007) Is there evidence to support Porter-type cluster policies?, Regional Studies 41, 39-49. The paper examines the views, often associated with Porter, that clusters with deep collaborative networks and established local supply chains have good performance. The view that good cluster performance is not connected to the industrial sector is also assessed. Data from a Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) study on UK clusters are used to assess the impact on performance (employment growth and international competitiveness) of cluster depth, the stage of development of local supply chains, and industrial sector. The results of the analysis of the DTI data on clusters do not provide strong support for Porter-type views on cluster policy. Although established clusters are linked to employment growth, deep clusters are not associated with employment growth or international competitiveness, and clusters in the services, and media, computer-related and biotechnology sectors are more likely than manufacturing clusters to have good performance. Some of the major policy implications of the results are discussed in the light of the literature on the importance of regional, national, and international networks for the performance of clusters. McDonald F., Huang Q., Tsagdis D. et Tuselmann H. J. (2007) Confirmer les politiques de regroupement du type Porter, Regional Studies 41, 39-49. Cet article cherche a examiner l'affirmation, souvent attribuee a Porter, que les regroupements fondes sur des reseaux de collaboration tres developpes et des chaines d'approvisionnement locales bien etablies ont de bons resultats. On evalue aussi l'affirmation que la bonne performance des regroupements ne s'explique pas par le secteur industriel en question. On emploie des donnees provenant d'une etude menee par le Department of Trade and Industry (DTI - le ministere de l'Industrie et du Commerce) aupres des regroupements au R-U afin d'evaluer l'impact sur la performance (la croissance de l'emploi et la competitivite internationale) de l'intensite des regroupements, de la phase de developpement des chaines d'approvisionnement, et du secteur industriel dont il s'agit. Les resultats de l'analyse des donnees DTI sur les regroupements ne viennent pas fortement a l'appui de l'affirmation du type Porter sur la politique en faveur des regroupements. Bien que les regroupements bien etablis soient lies a la croissance de l'emploi, les regroupements a forte intensite ne sont en correlation ni avec la croissance de l'emploi, ni avec la competitivite internationale. Il s'avere aussi que les regroupements dans le tertiaire, les media et les secteurs lies a l'informatique et a la biotechnologie, sont plus susceptibles d'avoir de bons resultats que ne le sont les regroupements industriels. On discute de quelques-unes des principales implications des resultats pour la politique a la lumiere de la documentation sur l'importance des reseaux regionaux, nationaux et internationaux pour la performance des re...

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Enterprise policy in England has focused extensively on funding and training aspiring entrepreneurs residing in deprived areas. These policy initiatives have been directed at increasing the capabilities of entrepreneurs residing in deprived areas without knowing about their social capital and access to resources. This study is based on a survey of entrepreneurs that have completed the New Entrepreneurship Scholarship training programme across the nine regions of England. The findings suggest that social capital helps explain the acquisition of resources entrepreneurs residing in deprived areas need to develop a new venture. However, there seems to be an overreliance on bonding ties for resource acquisition. Too much bonding can lead to redundant resources and`getting by' and may limit growth. In light of these findings several recommendations are developed for the coalition government's Local Enterprise Partnerships policy and the future funding of entrepreneurship initiatives in deprived areas.

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Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to set out and justify a broader, systemic typology that encompasses, and is built around, the notion of voice. This leads to the development of a number of insights that can result in the generation and testing of more accurate hypotheses on the links between voice mechanisms and workplace outcomes. Design/methodology/approach -Drawing on different aspects of the concept of "power" and arguing that these are central to the notion of "voice", the paper illustrates how "exit", "loyalty" and "neglect" are also underpinned by power. A corollary of this is that these other concepts should routinely be included in studies of the links among voice and workplace outcomes. Findings -The paper develops hypotheses that can enhance the understanding of the likely impact of voice policies on employees' attitudes and behaviour as well as on firm performance. Practical implications -The hypotheses suggest that, if employees perceive voice mechanisms in a negative way, they may respond in a variety of ways that can have a detrimental effect on firm performance. Understanding these different responses and the likely reasons for them can lead to more appropriate policy responses by managers. Originality/value -The paper specifies the conditions under which relationships between voice, exit, loyalty and neglect will affect workplace outcomes in greater detail. This leads to a re-examination of factors that should be included in empirical assessments. Research findings may need to be re-evaluated as a result.