Call for Papers Special issue of SD Review on SMEs

[Carmine Bianchi]

Dear Collegues,

Im glad to inform you that the System Dynamics Review intends to publish a special issue on Systems Thinking & System Dynamics In Small-Medium Enterprises. This is scheduled for publication in 2002 and Ill be the editor.

Please find the call for papers here below.

Ill be very pleased to exchange with you all ideas and points of view on possible contributions to the special issue.

Very best regards,

Carmine Bianchi



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CALL FOR PAPERS ON:
SPECIAL ISSUE OF THE SYSTEM DYNAMICS REVIEW ON SYSTEMS THINKING & SYSTEM DYNAMICS IN SMALL-MEDIUM ENTERPRISES

The importance of small-medium enterprises (SMEs) in todays economy has been widely recognized, both in regard to the role and number of such firms, and their contribution to gross national product and employment, and local economic well-being.
However, system dynamics, at least in terms of published works, appears to be a large enterprise tool. The benefits do not seem to be shared by the smaller enterprises, for whom prohibitive costs, lack of access, and/or their focus of attention on day-
to-day operations are suggested as critical barriers. This issue aims to explore the role that can be played by systems thinking and system dynamics in helping small business entrepreneurs to make their tacit knowledge explicit, and to better frame the b
usiness context within which they operate. Critical questions are: How can SD modeling help small business owners/entrepreneurs and other key company players improve their strategy analysis/diagnosis, policy making processes, and operational effectivenes
s? What role does SD have in areas specific to the challenges of the smaller enterprise; for example, the communication, analysis and debate of the business idea to the younger generation in a family business or to new in-comin!
!
!
g ma
nagers; the evaluation processes conducted by external funders, such as banks, trusts, SME development agencies?
Following from the above observations and questions, a list of relevant topics includes - but is not restricted to - the following:
· Model building peculiarities in small businesses (e.g. involved internal or external actors, factors influencing the process, areas of application, etc.);
· Modeling various aspects at critical points in SMEs development: start-up, growth/expansion, transition from owner/manager to functional-based managed or external ownership, etc.
· Interactive learning environments and small business entrepreneurs education;
· Managing and monitoring SMEs non-financial performance;
· Implicit or explicit decision making and Systems thinking/System Dynamics;
· Role, importance, and development of SME activity in regional and economic development and in the economies of less-developed nations;
· Initiatives, research and developments aimed at making SD more accessible to the smaller enterprise.

Papers based on both theoretical/methodological issues and case studies are greatly welcome.
Other forms of small venture - for example, charities and other not-for-profit organizations, small schools, local support groups and development agencies - also struggle to match the efficiencies and effectiveness of their larger counter-parts. This iss
ue will also address the similar issues that these organizations face, and welcomes case-studies and other submission relating to non-business smaller enterprises.
Deadline for submissions will be July 2001. Prospective authors are asked and encouraged to contact the special issue editor by e-mail (bianchi@unipa.it) to indicate their interest in submitting, and to discuss their ideas. Deadline for first submissions
is June 2001. Submissions to: Prof. Carmine Bianchi, c/o CUSA-Centro Universitario Studi Aziendali, Piazza A. Gentili, 12 - 90100 Palermo (ITALY).
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Carmine Bianchi, Associate Professor of Business Management
Universities of Foggia and Palermo (ITALY) - Faculty of Economics
Scientific co-ordinator of CUSA-System Dynamics Group

e-mail: bianchi@unipa.it;
web page: http://www.unipa.it/~bianchi
- Phone (office) : +39.091.6254313 - Fax (office): +39.091.6254532
- Mobile phone : 0338.9244463 - Phone (home): +39.091.6374869

Mail Address:
c/o C.U.S.A. - SYSTEM DYNAMICS GROUP - P.zza A. Gentili, 12 - 90100 PALERMO (ITALY)

Please also visit CUSA-Sdg Small Business Discussion List:
http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/sme-lea ... ng-growth/