The world needs more jobs to meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 8 and to keep up with expected population growth. Policymakers stimulate start-ups due to their expected job-generating effect. Despite the increased number of solo self-employed, percentages on graduation from small to larger enterprises are low. This study focuses on entrepreneurs who create jobs, and have passed ‘the one-employee threshold’. What are the considerations of the solo self-employed when making the decision to hire their first employee? 27 Interviews were conducted with entrepreneurs in developed and developing countries. The analysis shows that solo self-employed have considerations about time, skills, trust and opportunities when hiring their first employee. The study finds evidence of effectual behaviour. Trust is important: trust in others (the first employee) and trust in yourself (becoming an employer). To stimulate job creation, policymakers should stimulate effectual behavior that enhances the self-efficacy of the solo self-employed. This is a draft chapter/article. The final version is available in Unlocking Regional Innovation and Entrepreneurship edited by Iréne Bernhard, PhD, Urban Gråsjö, PhD, School of Business, Economics and IT, University West and Charlie Karlsson, Professor Emeritus, Jönköping University and Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden, published in 2021, Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800371248
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This chapter reports on the findings of a research project aimed at investigating the actual thermal environment of the housing of older occupants (aged 65 or over) in South Australia. The study documented their thermal preferences and behaviours during hot and cold weather and relationships to their well-being and health. Information was collected in three phases, a telephone survey, focus group discussions and detailed house environmental monitoring that employed an innovative data acquisition system to measure indoor conditions and record occupant perceptions and behaviours. The research covered three climate zones and extended over a nine-month period. The detailed monitoring involved a total of 71 participants in 57 houses. More than 10,000 comfort/well-being questionnaire responses were collected with more than 1,000,000 records of indoor environmental conditions. Analysis of the data shows the relationships between thermal sensation and self-reported well-being/health and the various adaptive strategies the occupants employ to maintain their preferred conditions. Findings from the research were used to develop targeted recommendations and design guidelines intended for older people with specific thermal comfort requirements and more broadly advice for architects, building designers and policymakers. Original publication at: Routledge Handbook of Resilient Thermal Comfort Chapter 7: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003244929-10
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BACKGROUND: It is difficult to diagnose constipation for people with severe or profound intellectual disabilities. Definitions for this are ambiguous, and the symptoms and signs are often unnoticed. The aim of this study is to identify clear definitions of constipation for people with different levels of intellectual disabilities and to identify signs and symptoms.METHOD: Guided by the PRISMA statement, a systematic review of the literature was conducted within electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, and PsycINFO. Definitions, signs, and symptoms were extracted and the quality of definitions was assessed.RESULTS: In total, 24 studies were included. Quality of definitions ranged from poor to good quality. Standard and referenced definitions were used in ten studies, a self-composed definition was employed in eleven studies; and three studies did not refer to a source of the definition. The self-composed definitions had not been evaluated after being used for the target group, and no scientific substantiation was available. A broad range of signs and symptoms were described.CONCLUSIONS: No substantiated definition has been ascertained for constipation for people with severe or profound intellectual disabilities. Further research will be necessary to identify which signs and symptoms are important for defining constipation in this target group.
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Promoting entrepreneurship is an enabler of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and it is one objective EU regions have pursued since the EC included it into 2020 Strategy. Entrepreneurship development has economic and social benefits, since it is not only a driving force for job creation, competitiveness and growth; it also contributes to personal fulfillment and to achieve social objectives. That is why the EU encourages entrepreneurial initiatives and to unlock the growth potential of businesses and citizens. However, only a 37% of Europeans (Eurobarometer 2012) would like to be self-employed. The Entrepreneurship Action Plan adopted by the EC in 2013 to reignite Europe’s entrepreneurial spirit includes initiatives for educating young people on entrepreneurship. To ensure that EU economy remains globally competitive, young generations of Europeans need to be inspired to develop their entrepreneurial mindset. EU 2020 Action Plan argues that young people benefitting of a specialised entrepreneurial education are more likely to start-up a business and to better tackle challenges in their professional career and life in general. Hence, there is good reason to ensure better quality of entrepreneurial education. Most approaches in recent years have focused on improving the skills or competences youngsters should obtain only within the education system. However, an integrated approach is needed, where the school, their friends, family and the social environment, shall play each one a relevant role, contributing to generate a more adequate atmosphere to boost their entrepreneurial mindsets, intrapreneurial attitudes and innovation capacities. This project will identify and exchange – through a quadruple helix approach- good practices for creating friendlier entrepreneurial ecosystems and actions to boost entrepreneurship in young people mindsets. The good practices and lessons learnt will be transferred into Action Plans to be included in regional policies.
