Entrepreneurship in Regional Communities Exploring the Relevance of Embeddedness, Networking, Empowerment and Communitarian Values

Focusing on nascent firms, established growing firms and established plateaued forms within the northern inland New South Wales regional locations in Australia, this book explores the manifestation of entrepreneurship. In particular, the authors examine the state and status of regional entrepreneurship in the bioregions and investigate how gender plays out in the entrepreneurial space. The authors present a detailed macro environmental framework, national and international literature syntheses and the differences between regional and urban businesses exploring the secondary data. Through interviews and primary data gathering, the authors explore the context in which the businesses operate and showcase the uniqueness of regional embeddedness, place-based initiatives, networking opportunities and communitarian values. Insightful reading for anyone interested in the facets regional entrepreneurship and gender studies, this book provides important implications for academic scholars, government officials, business practitioners, financial institutions, and other stakeholders who are involved in effective formulation of innovative business growth strategies.

Chapter 1.Setting the scene.- Chapter 2. How does Australia rate?.- Chapter 3. Australian entrepreneurship: distinguishing by region and gender.- Chapter 4. Setting the scene for the bioregions.- Chapter 5. Place-based entrepreneurs.- Chapter 6. Nascent firms.- Chapter 7. Established growing firms.- Chapter 8. Established plateaued firms.- Chapter 9. Doing entrepreneurship in regional communities.

Associate Professor Sujana Adapa works in the UNE Business School at the University of New England. Her research interests include gender studies covering leadership and entrepreneurship in the regional context. She is one of four Board of Directors for Small Enterprise Association of Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Subba Reddy Yarram is a Senior Lecturer in Finance in the UNE Business School at the University of New England. His research covers corporate governance and small business economics/management and his research appeared in reputed journals. He serves on the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management Board.

Professor Alison Sheridan is a Professor of Management in the UNE Business School at the University of New England. Her research interests include gender studies. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Life Fellow of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management.