Ruta Aidis

Friederike Welter

I enjoyed reading this book, which draws together a selection of case studies in entrepreneurship and innovation from eight new EU member countries that are still in the process of turbulent social and economic change. . . Each case is fascinating reading and in many of the studies the vibrant nature of the entrepreneurial change-driver shines through. . . the book is aimed at academics and researchers of entrepreneurship as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students of international business and entrepreneurship , as well as practitioners carrying out business in the transition economies. I would agree with that, the case studies do bring out the exciting and challenging nature of what has been, and can be achieved. . . there is much sound material here to stimulate both insight, and detailed classroom discussions. I would certainly recommend the book for a library purchase. . . it may well be a very useful purchase for researchers and students of the selected case countries. Lorraine Warren, International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research This volume offers insights into ways entrepreneurs innovate and adapt to political-economic structural changes. Detailed case studies illustrate how the adoption of new technology, creation of hybrid social and economic mission ventures and strategic re-orientation led to success in these transition economies. The stories of how these teams pooled resources, persevered and devised new approaches to innovation by creating something new or internationalizing gives us a sense of the new entrepreneurial approaches needed to succeed in this region. Given there were few role models and road maps, these entrepreneurs had to learn by doing. Their stories are inspirational and provide valuable lessons for entrepreneurial success in the wake of turbulent political-economic restructuring. Candida G. Brush, Babson College, US This original selection of case studies from eight new EU member countries looks at the ability of entrepreneurs to develop innovative and successful firms in an environment of turbulent social and economic change. The Cutting Edge focuses on the innovative potential that these transition country environments provide and how entrepreneurs have been able to convert these possibilities into successful businesses. The contributors highlight specific aspects of the interplay between the institutional setting and the environment. They also elucidate the individual characteristics of the entrepreneur that create an enabling context for innovative behaviour to develop and grow, drawing attention to the opportunities and constraints offered in each environment. This book provides invaluable insights for academics and researchers of entrepreneurship as well as undergraduate and postgraduate students of international business and entrepreneurship. It will also provide a stimulating and important read for people conducting business in Europe.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship in New Europe

The Cutting Edge

This book, by two leading authorities on innovation and entrepreneurship is a tour de force of some of the challenges, and opportunities, that face entrepreneurs in emerging economies as they attempt to cross the divide between an old and a new economic order. It presents a fascinating account of the myriad of obstacles facing entrepreneurs in post-Soviet countries and, because it is based on case studies presents both a detailed, and ultimately a human, picture of how businesses have been built. World Entrepreneurship Society Innovating and enterprising in countries where these activities have been centralised or prohibited for decades is a daunting venture. Showing how this was nevertheless possible by comparatively reviewing six cases in as many different European and Asian post-Soviet countries, is the great challenge that this important book has skilfully solved. The book illustrates the diversity of successful innovation and entrepreneurship processes in relation to the institutional context, and highlights the importance of the human and social factor and the need to consider the specificities of the countries and the transition process. Bruno Dallago, University of Trento, Italy This is a great book that integrates multiple perspectives and offers fresh insights into the role and nature of innovation and entrepreneurship especially in emerging economies. Aidis and Welter did a magnificent job in assembling some of the best minds and writings on this important topic. The book adds richly to the literature and provides a crucial roadmap for future scholarship. Shaker A. Zahra, University of Minnesota, US Little is known about innovative and successful enterprises in the countries that, until 1990, were part of the Soviet Union. Most previous research has extensively covered barriers to entrepreneurship and innovation that exist in these countries, some of which undoubtedly represent a hostile and harsh environment for any entrepreneurial activity. In this book, a different perspective is introduced. The focus is shifted to the innovative potential that these environments provide, demonstrating how entrepreneurs have been able to convert possibilities in hostile business environments into successful businesses. Through this collection of six in-depth case studies, the authors illustrate how successful and innovative businesses were able to develop in countries such as Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyztan, Moldova and Ukraine. Each case study presents an overview of the country s key economic indicators and the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the economy, followed by the presentation of a case study of a successful SME. Teachers, researchers and students of entrepreneurship will find much to interest them in this book, as will students of international business and anyone conducting business in Europe.

Ruta Aidis

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