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In this study we examine three research questions concerned with entrepreneurial cognition and culture: (1) Do entrepreneurs have cognitions distinct from those of other business people? (2) To what extent are entrepreneurial cognitions universal? and (3) To what extent do entrepreneurial cognitions differ by national culture? These questions were investigated in an exploratory study using data collected from 990 respondents in eleven countries. We find, in answer to question one, that individuals who possess “professional entrepreneurial cognitions” do indeed have cognitions that are distinct from business non-entrepreneurs. In answer to question two, we report further confirmation of a universal culture of entrepreneurship. And in answer to question three, we find (a) observed differences on eight of the ten proposed cognition constructs, and (b) that the pattern of country representation within an empirically developed set of entrepreneurial archetypes does indeed differ among countries. Our results suggest increasing credibility for the cognitive explanation of entrepreneurial phenomena in the cross-cultural setting.

Changes in Russian government

Franchisees participate in new business creation uniquely, because, in many respects, the development of their ventures is under the direction of franchisors. In this study, using entrepreneurial scripts, we compare the extent to which franchisee venturing is similar to and/or distinct from individual–based entrepreneurship in nonfranchise new ventures. We therefore examined the entrepreneurial scripts of individuals in a purposeful sample of 54 franchisees compared to two counterpart groups: 54 independent entrepreneurs and 94 managers (neither franchisee nor entrepreneur). Using MANCOVA and follow–up tests we find that franchisees are less like entrepreneurs and more similar to nonentrepreneur managers.

Managers have recognized the strategic importance of quality in current competitive markets. With no universally accepted definition of quality, managers, customers, and researchers communicate with difficulty. We describe and organize sets of quality definitions into a continuum, illustrating the relationships between definitions. We describe the impact of each of these descriptions upon the attainment of a sustainable competitive advantage for the firm. The quality definition continuum can serve as the basis for understanding some principles of total quality management implementation and success.

Promoting entrepreneurship through microenterprise has become a popular strategy for poverty alleviation and economic development. However, not all would-be entrepreneurs have the necessary skills and expertise to succeed in new venture creation. Furthermore, microenterprises often function within the confi nes of the informal economy, with limited access to formal supply chains. As one potential solution for overcoming these two major challenges, we propose that development franchisingfranchising that begins at a micro scale in developing economies -can be employed as a social innovation. Regarding entrepreneurial expertise, recent research has shown that franchisees in the United States more closely resemble non-entrepreneurs than entrepreneurial experts, implying that the franchise business model may compensate for a franchisee's lack of entrepreneurial expertise. In a development context, franchising can also serve as an effective means of helping subsistence entrepreneurs access formal supply chains -increasing opportunities for scaling, growth, and further job creation. Two case examples illustrate the potential of development franchising in overcoming some of the major challenges faced by traditional microenterprise strategies.