Christopher J. Miller

Aims/Purpose/Scope: The purpose of this research was to explore the effects of COVID-19 on nascent entrepreneurial intent in the UK. Design/Methodology/Approach: The methodology used to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on nascent entrepreneurial intent in the UK was qualitative research, in the form of semi-structured interviews. A sample of nas...

Given the current levels and future requirements of R&D in Wales this paper focuses on the Welsh Government (WG) priority areas of energy and health sector firms. In the light of current knowledge of R&D levels it considers: (i) the future requirements of R&D in Wales in terms of economic strategies and industrial trends, and (ii) the specific R&D...

Purpose-The aim of this paper is to investigate the importance of research and development activity in Health sector small and medium-sized companies in Wales. Design/methodology/approach-The case study approach involved extensive examination of the phenomenon of research and development in the organisations researched. Data for the case studies ha...

The aim of this paper is to investigate the commercialisation of sustainable energy research and development for small and medium-sized energy companies. The use of the case study approach has allowed the findings to be intrinsically linked. This has enabled the results to be interpreted ideographically in terms of the case particulars. Information...

Purpose This study attempts to create new insights into innovation management through the integration of innovation management processes and sustainable, iterative circles. Through the exploration of the use of sustainable, iterative circles in a manufacturing environment, this paper explores their role in facilitating customer-focused innovation p...

Purpose: The business environment for Agri-food SMEs in Wales has, in recent years, been seriously affected by a succession of crises in agriculture such as the effects of Chernobyl fallout on hill farming in the 1980s, BSE in the 1990s, Foot and Mouth in 2001, the horse meat scandal in 2013, and now Brexit. This has been exacerbated through the fa...

In German automotive industry suppliers, internal electronic information (IEI) satisfies the requirements of being a competitiveness-enhancing resource.

Background: The trend of new emerging technologies has impact upon teaching and learning in Higher Education Institutions. Consequently, emphasis is placed on digital pedagogy and its support to knowledge creation as described in various patents as well. Further, it seems to be essential to understand the learning theories and their contribution to...

Regional policy frameworks need to focus on strengthening the ICT infrastructure, clarifying market rules to build user confidence, developing networks, facilitating ICT-enabled clustering and infrastructure sharing.

Purpose - This study attempts to create new insights in innovation management through the integration of innovation processes and iterative circles. Through the exploration of the use of iterative circles in a manufacturing environment this paper explores their role in facilitating customer-focused innovation practices. Other supporting antecedence...

One region where e-business has had a particular impact for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in recent years is South East Wales (SEW). In response to this a survey was undertaken to assess the e-business activity of firms within the SEW area. Results from the survey demonstrated that nearly all firms used some form of Information Communic...

The aim of the study is to identify and critically evaluate the existence of innovation as a key contributor to growth in family owned small firms. In order to do this a case study strategy (Yin, 2009) has been employed to investigate small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the locality of a Valleys town, an area of social and economic deprivation wi...

Purpose The aim of the study is to identify and critically evaluate the existence of innovation and networks as key contributors to growth in family owned small firms. In order to do this a case study strategy (Yin, 2009) has been employed to investigate small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in the locality of a Valleys town, an area of social and ec...

The world population lives within an information society, depicted as an era of “integrated software applications” where the new technology and information technology paradigms are affecting the global environment and the international trend of education (Tapscott and Caston, 1993; Ottestad, 2010). Within this context e-learning is presented by Ott...

Computer programming is a core subject in most Computer science programmes at university level but many students have difficulties with both the understanding of theoretical concepts and with the learning of practical programming skills. Several studies have pointed out that there exist pedagogical and motivational problems resulting in high drop-o...

The papers submitted for the International Entrepreneurship track, ISBE 2013, show a wide and exciting range of topics which will be presented by researchers from more than twelve countries worldwide. As a result the main themes include general aspects of International Entrepreneurship concerning learning, performance, attitudes and constructions;...

The aims of the paper are to consider the strategic green issues of teleworking in terms of the environment, transport, location, office space and resource use for modern organisations and business sectors and to formulate a conceptual model of the processes involved. In fact, teleworking technologies are variously implemented for green computing i...

This study will explore the impact of internet usage on students' performance. Using a model adapted from Norzaidi and Salwani (2009), task-technology fit model, this research will investigate the impact of internet usage, technology satisfaction and technology resistance on students' academic performance and will explore whether the independent va...

Gambling activities and the revenues derived have been seen as a way to increase economic development in deprived areas. There are also, however, concerns about the effects of gambling in general and electronic gaming machines (EGMs) in particular, on the resources available to the localities in which they are situated. This paper focuses on the fa...

This conceptual paper investigates Small Construction Enterprises (SCEs) and their activities involving technological development, innovation, technology and key success factors. The paper considers the reasons for, and the barriers to, innovation. The literature indicates that utilisation of innovations in new products, services and processes is i...

Contrary to the assertion that the entrepreneur is instrumental in small business growth, the process of growth cannot be construed as automatic. Accordingly there is a need to examine the relationships between the personal characteristics, experience, knowledge, skills and motivations of the entrepreneur in determining the strategic direction of s...

Abstract It is maintained that processes such as lean construction can arguably reduce costs within the construction process. These,costs primarily arise due to a lack of harmonisation between contracting parties. Historically, this relationship has been transactional in nature, with both parties seeking to secure value added at minimal cost. Despi...

Heritage is the key to the success of the tourism industry in Wales. Tourism itself is one of the largest and most important industries in the Principality contributing £2.0 billion in spending from overnight and day visitors, 7 % to GDP and 10 % of jobs to the economy (100,000 jobs). Following a period of substantial growth, during the 1980s and 1...

Purpose – The objective of this paper is to examine the initiation of the University of the Heads of the Valley Initiative (UHOVI) project and evaluate the development of its focus, materials and structure. Design/methodology/approach – The methodology employs interviews with a purposive sample of local employer stakeholders. The rationale for this...

Government procurement policy in the UK is an uneasy mixture of different policy legacies, where the dominant objectives of cost-efficiency and value for money compete with alternatives which emphasise public procurement as central to innovation policy and/or a critical demand-side instrument in local and regional economic development. Quantitative...

Purpose – The Polish economy is continuing its expansion through the adoption of free market economics in the post-communist era. To encourage this growth in a future where difficult global economic conditions are likely to persist, it is essential that entrepreneurial activity is encouraged within the next generation of graduates. This study aims...

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether, and in what areas, graduate entrepreneurs are significantly different from non-graduate entrepreneurs, both generally and in terms of external resources (advice, finance and public procurement contracts). Design/methodology/approach – The available literature was evaluated to identify...

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether, and in what areas, graduate entrepreneurs are significantly different from non‐graduate entrepreneurs, both generally and in terms of external resources (advice, finance and public procurement contracts). Design/methodology/approach The available literature was evaluated to identify issu...

This volume contains chapters concerning the innovation process and small business and considers invention, innovation and small business, research and development and the small firm, technology diffusion, clusters and knowledge flows, higher education spin-offs, global start-ups and business development and innovation performance indicators.

This volume considers innovation and small business in industrial settings and includes studies of the agri-food, health, energy, construction and museum sectors.

The market for prepared pet food in the United Kingdom (UK) is worth just over $2.3 billion a year. As a consequence, the pet food industry needs to be responsible, efficient, and at the forefront of technology. This research investigates the technological and industrial environment for innovation, which currently exists in the UK pet food industry...

Purpose – This paper aims to examine the impact of enterprise education on entrepreneurial attitude within European higher education institutions (HEIs) in France, Germany and Poland. The research seeks to consider whether differences between cultural and industrial heritage can influence entrepreneurial attitude and mediate the effectiveness of en...

The Great Britain Committee of Enquiry into Higher Education (1997) highlighted the significant role that higher education would be required to play in providing the United Kingdom with individuals that could consistently meet the demands of a global market place. Higher education institutions have been entrusted with the task of removing existing...

One region where e-commerce will have a particular impact for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over the next few years is South East Wales (SEW). In response to this a survey was undertaken by the Welsh Enterprise Institute (WEI) in collaboration with the Open University Business School and Rennes ESC in Brittany to assess the e-commerce a...

This paper investigates, through quantitative and qualitative analysis, inventive activity in the modern technological setting of Wales in the 21st century. The paper reports on the barriers, motivations and drivers to inventors becoming entrepreneurs in exploiting their ideas and taking them to market, and indicates the outcomes of a pilot phase o...

This chapter introduces the role of Web sites and e-commerce in the development and growth of global higher education start-ups. The extant concepts, research, and experiences the chapter builds on is the literature concerning e-commerce and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together with published research on global start-ups. It argues t...

Purpose – This paper aims to appraise the delivery of an enterprise education course to a cohort of Polish students evaluating its impact in encouraging entrepreneurial activity. The Polish economy continues its expansion with adoption of free market economies post communism. To encourage this growth, entrepreneurial activity must be encouraged wit...

The objectives of this paper are to reflect on the role of the human resource management (HRM) function in business, consider the nature of micro and small business areas and to conclude on how the HRM function 'fits' into a small business environment.

Purpose – The on‐line tutor or e‐moderator faces a diversity of new challenges, including instructional design, organisation, direct instruction and facilitating discourse. This study aims to contrast the views of students and tutors regarding what factors constitute effective e‐moderation in order to identify key attributes of an on‐line tutor. D...

This chapter introduces the role of Web sites and e-commerce in the development and growth of global higher education start-ups. The extant concepts, research, and experiences the chapter builds on is the literature concerning e-commerce and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together with published research on global start-ups. It argues t...

The objectives of this paper are to reflect on the role of the human resource management (HRM) function in business, consider the nature of micro and small business areas and to conclude on how the HRM function 'fits' into a small business environment.

This chapter introduces the role of Web sites and e-commerce in the development and growth of global higher education start-ups. The extant concepts, research, and experiences the chapter builds on is the literature concerning e-commerce and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together with published research on global start-ups. It argues t...

This chapter introduces the role of Web sites and e-commerce in the development and growth of global higher education start-ups. The extant concepts, research, and experiences the chapter builds on is the literature concerning e-commerce and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) together with published research on global start-ups. It argues t...

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to evaluate the development of a blended e‐learning pedagogical model for an undergraduate enterprise programme. The proliferation of e‐learning programmes offers new opportunities and challenges for universities to meet the learning needs of new student markets. However, the use of e‐learning as an enabling m...

Objectives: This paper aims to examine the impact of enterprise education on entrepreneurial intent within European Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in France, Germany and Poland. The research considers whether differences between cultural and industrial heritage can influence entrepreneurial intent and mediate the effectiveness of enterprise e...

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to evaluate the development of a blended e-learning pedagogical model for an undergraduate enterprise programme. The proliferation of e-learning programmes offers new opportunities and challenges for universities to meet the learning needs of new student markets. However, the use of e-learning as an enabling m...

Heritage is the key to the success of the tourism industry in Wales. Tourism itself is one of the largest and most important industries in the Principality, contributing £2.5 billion in spending from visitors, 7% to GDP and 10% of jobs to the economy. Following a period of substantial growth during the 1980s and 1990s, the industry has seen a perio...

An array of skills and attributes are necessary in order to responsibly carry out the duties of project managers (PMs), in delivering successful projects. The purpose of this paper is to identify and assess various necessary skills and attributes of PMs for project success. Results from statistical analyses of 155 questionnaire responses from China...

This paper presents the views of key policy makers concerning innovation and entrepreneurship in Wales. The development of innovation in SMEs and the policy implications for economic regeneration are also analysed. The role of a variety of actors (including users and suppliers) is considered, as is the impact of networks of SMEs linked together in...

Increasing demands and decreasing resources in the built environment sector point to critical needs for more effective teaching and learning tools for academia, as well as more efficient individual training and organizational learning mechanisms for industry. This paper `overviews' two Web-based tools that target the upgrading of teaching-learning-...

Purpose This paper proposes that owner‐managers of growth firms are more likely to have developed or acquired managerial practices that facilitate such expansion. The paper, therefore, examines how growth oriented firms in Wales have adopted management practices to build the necessary entrepreneurial capacity to sustain growth. Design/methodology/...

A qualitative group interview technique was employed to investigate how and why Small Construction Enterprises (SCEs) in South Wales use key management practices for the development and engenderment of growth. Utilizing group-oriented methodologies created by Bouwen (1993) and Steyaert and Bouwen (1994), fourteen firms were surveyed between the yea...

This study examines the causes for student withdrawals experienced on the E-College Wales BA Enterprise programme in South Wales. These key causes are identified through interviews with former students and are contrasted against the existing literature. The study found that successful e-learners were typically female, without Higher Education quali...

This study analyses the blended e-learning model of the undergraduate Enterprise programme offered by the E-College Wales (ECW) initiative. ECW represents the e-learning arm of the University of Glamorgan Business School and offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The aim of the course is to develop entrepreneurial skills and t...

To stay at the forefront of new technology, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can be assisted through Internet and Web sites providing innovation and technology support services. The cost of the latest technology, including hardware, training and personnel, however, can be insurmountable for SMEs with limited financial and technological res...

This study examines the causes for student withdrawals experienced in the E-College Wales BA Enterprise programme. These key causes, identified by interview with former students are contrasted against the existing literature. The study found that successful e-learners were typically female, non-HE qualified, self employed and aged between 31 and 50...

E-College Wales (ECW) in conjunction with the Welsh Enterprise Institute (WEI), both based at the University of Glamorgan, have designed an online, interactive, Web based Enterprise degree that aims to create and develop business and enterprise skills in Objective One areas of Wales. The programme is supported by the European Social Funds and a net...

This paper examines and evaluates the existence of barriers to learning on an online BA in Enterprise and the impact they have on student retention. Strategies to overcome and diminish these barriers are presented. The BA Enterprise is offered by E-College Wales (ECW), a project designed by the University of Glamorgan aimed at creating and improvin...

This monograph is the fifth in a series of works bringing focus to some of our contemporary research themes. It presents a coherent and in-depth analysis of some key issues concerning the phenomenon of small business growth and contains much that is useful to practitioners and academic readers. The importance of small growth firms to economies is w...

This study investigates student’s and tutor perceptions of e-moderation. Existing research focuses predominantly on the tutor perspective and largely ignores the opinion of the recipient in defining the role of the e-moderator. The research is based upon the online BA Enterprise programme, part of the E-College Wales (ECW) initiative designed by th...

This study examines student perceptions of effective e-moderation and contrasts against existing literature. The study investigates the online BA Enterprise offered by the University of Glamorgan, supported by “Blackboard” software. The methodology involved interviews with 35 students using a semi-structured questionnaire to elicit responses on per...

The development of e-learning presents challenges for providers in terms of their need to re-engineer themselves to cater for the different demands of this educational frontier. This study profiles the BA Enterprise programme, designed by the University of Glamorgan and analyses the emergence of the blended pedagogical learning model that has evolv...

This paper examines tutor perceptions of effective e-moderation. The study investigates the on-line BA Enterprise programme, part of the E-College Wales initiative initiated by the University of Glamorgan. The course is supported by “Blackboard” software utilising synchronous and asynchronous communication mechanisms. The methodology involved semi-...

The development of e-learning presents challenges for providers in terms of their need to re-engineer themselves to cater for the different demands of this educational frontier. This study profiles the BA Enterprise programme, designed by the University of Glamorgan and analyses the emergence of the blended pedagogical learning model that has evolv...

This study examines student perceptions of effective e-moderation and contrasts against existing literature. The study investigates the online BA Enterprise offered by the University of Glamorgan, supported by “Blackboard” software. The methodology involved interviews with 35 students using a semi-structured questionnaire to elicit responses on per...

e-College Wales (ECW), designed by the University of Glamorgan, is an on-line, Web based degree in Enterprise, aimed at creating and improving entrepreneurial and managerial capacity in the European Union (EU) Objective One Areas of Wales. This distance learning platform has been created with the aim of aiding individuals and communities to generat...

The paper investigates pedagogical and social factors on the BA online Enterprise degree programme of the E-College Wales (ECW) initiative designed by the University of Glamorgan. The study administered a qualitative methodology through the utilisation of a series of in-depth semi-structured interviews with e-moderators and students. The research i...

The proliferation of e-Learning programmes on offer within the UK raises critical issues that have yet to be fully addressed in terms of the nature of learning, effective pedagogy, learning expectations and student profile. The amalgamation and influence of these factors is also having an impact upon student retention. This paper examines student w...

Government aid offered to Wales, and largely spent on attracting foreign direct investment, has yet to provide tangible benefits in terms of relative economic prosperity and sustained job creation. The present policy focus is therefore now concerned with creating innovative solutions led by local individuals, firms and communities. New economic str...

The proliferation of e-learning programmes on offer within the UK raises critical issues that have yet to be fully addressed in terms of the nature of learning, effective pedagogy, learning expectations and student profile. The amalgamation and influence of these factors is also having an impact upon student retention. This paper examines student w...

Partnering can lead to house building projects being delivered quickly, efficiently and cost effectively. Indeed, research has shown that partnering arrangements can reduce construction time and can lead to efficiency on site. This is achieved by partnering a dedicated team of consultants, contractors and manufacturers, who develop their expertise...

Construction Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) face numerous impediments preventing their sustainable growth and development. These impediments include: operational factors; financial constraints; limited marketing and human resource management expertise; limited strategic planning; and ineffective Information Technology (IT) implementation. Thes...

It is maintained that processes such as lean construction can reduce costs within the construction process. These costs often arise due to a lack of harmonization between contracting parties. Historically, the relationship between contractors and subcontractors has been transactional in nature, with both parties seeking to secure value added at min...

This monograph is a collection of papers concerning ‘Current Issues in Small Construction Enterprise Development’ which have been published at international conferences or written as working papers.

This monograph is a collection of papers concerning ‘The Small Business of Construction’ which have been published at international conferences or written as working papers.

The importance of effective module development in terms of content and delivery is becoming increasingly significant within higher education. The majority of evaluation exercises are relatively static and reactive, predominantly utilising standardised evaluation questionnaires. This paper examines the effectiveness of utilising peer-assisted studen...

This paper considers technology diffusion and develops a model at the level of the small firm in Wales. Technology diffusion, in the form of new or improved technology, and the transmission of knowledge or technical expertise are considered. This involves spill-overs through formal and informal networks, enabling learning by interacting, and an abs...

This monograph is a collection of papers concerning Enterprise Education and Learning in the New Millennium which have been presented at international conferences, published in international refereed journals or have been written as working papers and reports.

Small & Medium Construction Enterprises (SCEs) do most of the actual work in many construction industries, but often receive the least attention. Recent industry development initiatives have mostly targeted the issues raised by large, and therefore prominent, construction enterprises. This paper profiles a recent Hong Kong based initiative to empow...

Contrary to the assertion that the entrepreneur is instrumental in small business growth, the process of growth cannot be construed as automatic. Accordingly there is a need to examine the relationships between the personal characteristics, experience, knowledge, skills and motivations of the entrepreneur in determining the strategic direction of s...

The intention of this paper is to present an overview of the literature published on the subject of “culture”. The limitations of this brief paper preclude any comprehensive coverage of the vast amount of material published in this field. “Culture” has become a pluralistic concept and the interpretations, definitions and applications of “culture” a...

This article analyses the overall performance of the Peer‐Assisted Student Support (PASS) Scheme in the Business School at the University of Glamorgan. Observations were made over a seven‐week period to measure the effectiveness of the scheme in terms of enhancing the student learning process. Weekly attendance was measured to establish patterns of...

Industry demands for more relevant education and training, coupled with decreasing interest in construction-related university courses, have triggered re-thinks of traditional teaching-learning modalities. This paper draws on innovations from Hong Kong, Singapore and the UK, to give examples of appropriate education and training initiatives to addr...

The consultation paper and report "A Science Policy for Wales" (WAG 2006a&b) defines three main strands of a future science policy as "health developments including public health, tele- medicine and links to demographic change and epidemiology, low-carbon energy systems, and enabling sustained economic and social renewal (uti lising both natural an...