Entrepreneurial Characteristics in SMEs: A Rural and Remote Rural Perspective of Lincolnshire Businesses, Part 2

Abstract

Businesses in remote rural locations have sustained greater levels of growth and have suffered less within the period of the recession.

Together we are strong? A systematic literature review on how SMEs use relation-based collaboration to operate in rural areas

“…The second most common approach was qualitative research approaches (40 publications) followed by mixed methods (38 publications). The former mostly employ interview studies with semi-structured interviews (Bishop 2011;Blanchard 2015;Martin, McNeill, and Warren-Smith 2013;Wood, Watts, and Wardle 2004) and have sample sizes of 6 to 25 (Blanchard 2015;Galvão et al 2020;Martin, McNeill, and Warren-Smith 2013).…”

“…Research indicates that SMEs in rural areas have a much more intuitive understanding of the physical, historical, and cultural make-up of their region (Korsgaard, M€ uller, et al 2015). As a consequence, they are often better able to serve their local clients' needs (Anderson, Wallace, and Townsend 2016;Blanchard 2015;Blanchard 2017;M€ uller and Korsgaard 2018). Moreover, the tightness of local communities also means that entrepreneurs, i.e.…”

Can shared value and entrepreneurship contribute to SME development within rural locations?

“…Porter and Kramer () noted that company productivity is inherently linked to value areas offered to its employees and customers. By comparison, research has found that entrepreneurial indicators offer similar value to customers (Blanchard, ). The research this study aims to compare both of these areas to establish if the similarities offer any symbiotic values.…”

“…Out of such actions and as a result of these practices, a need arose for a positive portrayal of major business, and by proxy SMEs also, being able to identify and be associated with positive outcomes of their business and as a direct result, better profits. It has been recognized that in adopting such a pathway it could have positive financial benefits and also create a new income stream based on and around the benefits they offer to both national and local communities (Blanchard, ). Reputation management which also has some of the SV DNA within its lineage, makes the claim that a business's performance is affected through, and by its own actions and those it is associated with to a greater or lesser extent governed by the level of association (Barnett, Jermier, & Lafferty, ).…”

Rural and remote SMEs’ innovative behavior: Is it in the genes or location? An examination of entrepreneurial traits and characteristics

“…“Process innovation” can also be linked in a more tentative way to incremental innovation, through the development of business‐process redesign and also by the investment in new capital machinery and technology. This again has strong ties with rural businesses which have established links with their customers’ needs and requirements; these help to foster the interface between the needs and the cost implications (Blanchard, ).…”