Paper Selection & Criteria

ISBE aims to advance research, education and policy in small business and entrepreneurship. The ISBE Conferences encourage and develop the quality and the dissemination of research and good practice in the field.

This Conference theme builds on the renewed emphasis both nationally and internationally on entrepreneurship in small, medium and large organisations. The diversity within this field and the continuing emergence of new areas present exciting challenges to policy-makers, practitioners, educators and researchers.

A key aim is to bridge the gap between theory and practice in entrepreneurship and SME development and to highlight the practical and policy implications of recent research and experience. Another aim is to engage and share experiences with a wider international community, recognising that entrepreneurs now operate on a global stage.

Improving understanding of the contexts, policies and practices will not only inform support for SMEs domestically but also prepare them for the challenges on a wider global stage. Best practices should be disseminated world-wide.

In selecting abstracts and papers for presentation, preference was given to papers that contrasted research results with practical experience, whilst also highlighting the potential practical and policy implications. Contributions could be one of three different types with different criteria:

All Papers – Irrespective of the category of paper, authors should produce a high quality paper that adds to existing knowledge of enterprise creation and development. Acceptance decisions on all papers were based on relevance to the Conference theme, contribution to knowledge and quality. All papers were subject to quality control and acceptance by Track Leaders.

Research Papers – should be of a publishable standard. Following the refereeing process, papers were either accepted subject to satisfactory completion, or reclassified as a developmental paper or declined. Accepted refereed Research papers are clearly identified as such throughout the programme with ®.

Developmental Papers – describe ongoing research and give an insight into current research thinking and activities. They are an opportunity for authors to present their work and receive some feedback prior to developing the research for publication.

Practical Papers – enable practitioners to highlight excellent and distinctive practice in enterprise creation and development. There must be evidence of the effectiveness of the practices presented with clear practical or policy implications highlighted.

International Papers – were welcome on all of the Track Themes and paper categories listed above. Authors were invited to demonstrate the wider applicability of their work through comparative analysis with UK/US research studies or linking to existing international theory, models or best practice.

The following general criteria apply to all prize-winning papers:

• A focus on an issue relevant to understanding entrepreneurship or small scale enterprise including entrepreneurial behaviour, the firm’s internal operation and its external links with the wider economy and community.

• The paper may be on policy-making, either clearly analysing the implications of new research findings for policy development or drawing out the lessons for policy development and evaluation from a synthesis of the existing body of research.

• An awareness of the relevant contexts of the issues examined in the paper including previous contributions to the research and policy literature.

• A comprehensive approach to the topic selected, supported by a well designed, well executed research design or survey and/or a well informed and rigorous approach to policy formation and its application.

• A high quality, convincing analysis of the results of any research or study undertaken which clearly adds to the understanding of the functioning of the small scale enterprise and/or offers a new, well argued policy alternative with a clear potential to support the small enterprise.

• A well written, clear style with data presented in an attractive accessible form so that the paper demonstrates the intellectual quality ISBE promotes as well as relevance for a wider audience including small business owners themselves.

Papers describing “best” practice should reflect the critical qualities above, and in particular should disseminate practice, i.e. they should:

• Clearly describe practice at a level of detail that assists ability to take-up and share;

• Be grounded in actual practice and not merely in rhetorical or abstract reasoning;

• Include clear evidence of effectiveness in the context of small business development;

• Articulate underlying principles that can be generalised and contribute to professional practice.

ISBE Conference Secretariat, PO Box 888, Dept W6, Harrogate, HG2 8UH, UK
 Tel:  +44 (0) 1423 879208   Fax:  +44 (0) 1423 870025   E-mail:  enquiries@isbe2006.org