Introducting Jess' Dissertation

Scope

Explored within the Network Element/Entrepreneurial Stage Theoretical Framework developed (Appendix 3), the intersection and overlap of entrepreneurship and small business management studies with theory & research into the use of social networks and networking theory is vast and complicated. In order to isolate the most appropriate, relevance and potentially beneficial area of this framework, from the majority perspective (everyday kiwis, policy makers and government agencies), has been focused on for this process. 

Aim & Objectives

- Highlight the need for implementing various theoretical bases and adopt different perspectives in any research; especially emphasising the need for contingency based research which explicitly considers how the context of a situation may influence the findings or appropriateness of any recommendations

- Consider some of the more contemporary approaches to business and its day to day operations

- Provide insight into different approaches to businesses development and useful initiatives aimed to boost and support most effective frameworks & conditions of “work”

Central Purpose; What questions will be asked??

Do NZ SME’s face barriers to growth that limit their development? What are the most common & influential ones?
Is the “3B Syndrome” and “Lifestyle Entrepreneurs” the reason for the statistical lack of growth ambitions and activities of NZ businesses? Does the need for “work-life balance” limit the efforts of NZ SMEs to continually grow and develop? Does the large proportion of SMEs in anyway appear to have a negative impact on the economy and social environments?
Are there real possibilities to develop SMEs using the current social networking technologies available? How are the most appropriate ways to utilise such technologies during varied stages?
 Could there be opportunities to utilise collaborative efforts which would assist SME’s and entrepreneurs to grow & develop, both personally and within their businesses? Is there potential for such collaborative efforts to enable collective groups of SMEs, entrepreneurs, sole traders, even consultants and contractors, to service larger markets, gain scales of economy, and disseminate knowledge?
Are there potential downsides and disadvantages to the use of such technologies? What are the ongoing ramifications for the business and its employees?  

Importance and Motivation

Topic importance

Personal Relevance

Being involved in a number and range of entrepreneurial activities personally, this topic holds deep relevance to me and may provide insight helpful in my own current projects. Also working as a consultant in various contracting type roles, I believe there is minimal enough variance in these roles to be able to cross over these entrepreneurial findings making them applicable to the freelance / contracting type of roles.