Gamification Supporting Small Business Owners’ Work-Based Learning

PurposeSmall business owners require objective solutions to deal with threats of labour unionisation. This study aims to centre on a novel exploration for improving the leadership acumen of small business owners to address labour unionisation. Specifically, small business owners need a theoretical framework that uses best practices from human resource management (HRM) and industrial relations to provide solutions.Design/methodology/approachThe design, methodology and approach reflect post-modernist epistemological and ontological perspectives for conducting systematic literature reviews. A systematic literature review revealed the relationship between small business owners’ leadership, positive industrial relations and HRM policies and procedures. To identify relevant studies in the review, the utilisation of several databases (EBSCO Database, including PsycINFO and Psych studies; Web of Science) and a mix of ranked journals from entrepreneurship, human resources, leadership and organisational behaviour.FindingsThe findings and results in this paper reflect the purpose, methodology and literature analysis culminating in 162,132,000 peer-reviewed studies. A total of 142 peer-reviewed studies met criterion for review. For example, the purpose of this review focused on labour unionisation mitigation for small businesses and HRM solutions. In doing so, the methodology allowed for identification of a novel research topic (i.e. how small business owners mitigate labour unionisation) worthy of further investigation. The sparse findings on labour unionisation mitigation represent small business owners' reticence in creating HRM policies and procedures.Originality/valueThis study contributes research implications for theory and practice by offering small business owners a theoretical framework to address labour unionisation. The framework, centring on HRM solutions, is grounded in social exchange theory to address the novel topic of labour unionisation mitigation in small businesses. This study results suggest that HRM solutions for small business owners provide competitive advantages for employee job satisfaction through a holistic industrial relations approach. In future research, examining other issues discussed in this study can influence the understanding of the relationship between small business owners and industrial relations to increase employee job satisfaction.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a form of long-term cardiopulmonary bypass used to treat infants, children, and adults with respiratory and/or cardiac failure despite maximal medical therapy. Mechanical emergencies on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) have an associated mortality of 25%. Thus, acquiring and maintaining the technical, behavioral, and critical thinking skills necessary to manage ECMO emergencies is essential to patient survival. Traditional training in ECMO management is primarily didactic in nature and usually complemented with varying degrees of hands-on training using a water-filled ECMO circuit. These traditional training methods do not provide an opportunity for trainees to recognize and interpret real-time clinical cues generated by human patients and their monitoring equipment. Adult learners are most likely to acquire such skills in an active learning environment. To provide authentic, intensive, interactive ECMO training without risk to real patients, we used methodologies pioneered by the aerospace industry and our experience developing a simulation-based training program in neonatal resuscitation to develop a similar simulation-based training program in ECMO crisis management, ECMO Sim. A survey was conducted at the 19th Annual Children's National Medical Center ECMO Symposium to determine current methods for ECMO training. Using commercially available technology, we linked a neonatal manikin with a standard neonatal ECMO circuit primed with artificial blood. Both the manikin and circuit were placed in a simulated neonatal intensive care unit environment equipped with remotely controlled monitors, real medical equipment and human colleagues. Twenty-five healthcare professionals, all of whom care for patients on ECMO and who underwent traditional ECMO training in the prior year, participated in a series of simulated ECMO emergencies. At the conclusion of the program, subjects completed a questionnaire qualitatively comparing ECMO Sim with their previous traditional ECMO training experience. The amount of time spent engaged in active and passive activities during both ECMO Sim and traditional ECMO training was quantified by review of videotape of each program. Hospitals currently use lectures, multiple-choice exams, water drills, and animal laboratory testing for their ECMO training. Modification of the circuit allowed for physiologically appropriate circuit pressures (both pre- and postoxygenator) to be achieved while circulating artificial blood continuously through the circuit and manikin. Realistic changes in vital signs on the bedside monitor and fluctuations in the mixed venous oxygen saturation monitor were also effectively achieved remotely. All subjects rated the realism of the scenarios as good or excellent and described ECMO Sim as more effective than traditional ECMO training. They reported that ECMO Sim engaged their intellect to a greater degree and better developed their technical, behavioral, and critical thinking skills. Active learning (eg, hands-on activities) comprised 78% of the total ECMO Sim program compared with 14% for traditional ECMO training (P < 0.001). Instructor-led lectures predominated in traditional ECMO training. Traditional ECMO training programs have yet to incorporate simulation-based methodology. Using current technology it is possible to realistically simulate in real-time the clinical cues (visual, auditory, and tactile) generated by a patient on ECMO. ECMO Sim as a training program provides more opportunities for active learning than traditional training programs in ECMO management and is overwhelmingly preferred by the experienced healthcare professionals serving as subjects in this study. Subjects also indicated that they felt that the acquisition of key cognitive, technical, and behavioral skills and transfer of those skills to the real medical domain was better achieved during simulation-based training.

The e-commerce sector has experienced significant growth in Indonesia in recent years. However, many small business owners still rely on manual operations through social media platforms. This study focuses on the design and implementation of an e-commerce website for Comot Langsung, a local thrifting business, using the Waterfall methodology and the Laravel framework. The sequential nature of the Waterfall method is applied through six phases: requirement analysis, system design, development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. In the analysis phase, several key features were identified, including user registration, product catalog, shopping cart, ordering system, and QRIS payment integration. The design process utilized UML diagrams to clearly and structurally visualize the system architecture and user flow. The results show that all features were successfully implemented, offering high responsiveness and ease of navigation. This website is expected to expand market reach for thrifting entrepreneurs while enhancing the online shopping experience for consumers in selecting and purchasing vintage fashion products efficiently and conveniently.

In this study, we attempt to find the factors that influence small business owners’ optimism as well as their company’s success. For this purpose, we use a survey done by Kauffman foundation. This survey asks business owners about their state’s performance in areas like “ease of starting a business”, “ease of hiring”, “regulations”, and “training and networking programs”. It also asks business owners questions about their firm’s performance and their optimism for the future. We run several tests to see if business owners are more optimistic and more successful in states with a high score in each “business friendliness” area. We show that, in the states with a higher business friendliness composite score, both growth in revenue and growth in employees are higher and also owners tend to be more encouraging to others. Regression analyses support these findings (except for growth in employees). Our results indicate that growth in revenue is driven mainly by the Ease of Start score. In other words, the revenues of small businesses grow faster in the states with a better initial registration/establishment process. Our results also indicate that growth in the number of employees is driven mainly by the Overall Regulations score. In other words, small businesses grow faster (in terms of the number of employees) in the states with more favorable regulations. With respect to whether or not the owners would encourage others to start a business in their state, our results show that all subcomponents (Ease of Start, Ease of Hire, Overall Regulations, and Training and Networking programs) are important. The owners are more encouraging to others when Ease of Start, Ease of Hire, Overall Regulations, and Training and Networking programs are all favorable. Overall, we conclude that while all components of business friendliness have a positive relation with the small business owners’ optimism, the link between the business friendliness score and firm performance is weaker. Ease of Start is important for growth in revenues and optimism, Ease of Hire is important for optimism only, Overall Regulations are important for growth in the number of employees and optimism, and Training and Networking Programs are crucial for optimism. Keywords: regulations, business friendliness, small business, entrepreneurship, firm performance.

Focusing on the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI) and their homeland, the Qualla Boundary in North Carolina, Courtney Lewis’s Sovereign Entrepreneurs addresses a striking lack of ethnographic research on Native American small-business owners. More importantly, this monograph responds to prior scholarship that has overwhelmingly associated economic sovereignty and self-determination with large operations overseen by tribal governments, especially casino gaming. Lewis persuasively argues that small businesses play a crucial role in mitigating Indigenous economic precarity by lessening tribal governments’ administrative burdens and fostering economic diversification that has combatted the effects of a single-industry (tourism) market and allowed the EBCI to brave the economic downturn of the Great Recession.Lewis’s in-depth coverage of issues relating to Eastern Band entrepreneurs is the product of months of participant observation research among business owners, government officials, and classmates in an “Indianpreneurship” course; personal experience as a Cherokee small-business owner; and familiarity with comparative cases of Indigenous entrepreneurship. Her analysis at times surpasses the promises of her introduction. For example, though she contrasts her understanding of economic sovereignty with Kevin Bruyneel’s idea of a “third space” of sovereignty (13), much of her evidence speaks brilliantly to this concept. She highlights how land trusteeship and blood-quantum reckoning of citizenship devised to facilitate Native assimilation ultimately serve Eastern Band economic and cultural sovereignty by protecting national assets from outsiders and underwriting the cultural capital of Native space, even as the former forces some Cherokees off the Boundary in search of property, and the latter prevents children of exogamous marriages from inheriting businesses.Despite such nuanced analysis, Lewis could have engaged more deeply with the implications of the capitalist nature of entrepreneurship. In her first chapter, while acknowledging that Eastern Band entrepreneurs have often worked to redistribute wealth and support their community, she echoes Philip Deloria, Daniel Usner, and Alexandra Harmon in noting how Native small-business owners defy settler colonial myths that cast Indians as inauthentic for engaging with capitalism, accumulating wealth, or failing to conform to business models of “social entrepreneurship” (24). For the remainder of the study, though, she implicitly equates Native entrepreneurship with social entrepreneurship, as though all small-business owners have contributed equally to the politics of sovereignty regardless of their relative prioritization of profit.Ultimately, though unquestionably valuable for students of history, anthropology, and Native studies for demonstrating that tribal governments and casinos are not the be-all and end-all of modern sovereignty struggles, this book’s interpretive contribution is additive rather than transformative. Lewis provocatively calls into question the celebration of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act by such scholars as W. Dale Mason and Laurie Arnold by pointing out how the 1988 law leaves Native nations beholden to state governments and restricts the spending of gaming profits, and she points out many unique advantages of small businesses: economic diversification, support for casinos and the tourism sector, multiplier effects, community wealth creation, augmentation of the tribal tax base, retention of Indigenous expertise, and the psychological effects of Native success in business. Many of these benefits, though, are dependent on tribal government support, including loans (significant because trust lands cannot serve as collateral), casino-dividend payments that provide capital and off-season support, tax breaks to citizen business owners, training programs, and Chamber of Commerce publicity. Furthermore, the EBCI government itself plays important roles in economic diversification, as Lewis herself acknowledges in noting existing and proposed tribal investment in an indoor water park, a bank, and medicinal marijuana production, among many other tribally controlled avenues of revenue generation, particularly through casinos, to which she devotes perhaps more space than would be expected in a book on small businesses. Nevertheless, Lewis has done important work to balance the equation of economic sovereignty.

This study examines the role of work-based learning (WBL) in meeting the evolving demands of Industry 4.0 and digital transformation within Thailand's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system. It assesses the current state of WBL implementation in Thai TVET and proposes models to enhance its effectiveness. Using a qualitative approach, the research focuses on two public-private partnership models at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna (RMUTL): the school-in-factory (SiF) model and the Tripartite Education System. Insights were gathered through semi-structured interviews with five TVET experts, identifying key areas for WBL improvement. Despite increased recognition of WBL in Thailand, challenges remain, including limited industry engagement, inadequate infrastructure, and insufficient teacher training. The study emphasizes the need for stronger public-private partnerships, greater industry participation, and ongoing enhancement of WBL programs. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, educators, researchers, and industry leaders in Thailand and the ASEAN region. By advancing effective WBL models, such as the SiF model and the Tripartite Education System, Thailand can cultivate a skilled workforce essential for economic growth and innovation. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of ongoing evaluation and improvement to ensure that WBL programs remain relevant and effective in the dynamic context of Industry 4.0.

Usability is integral to software quality. Software developers increasingly acknowledge the importance of user-centered, Web site development. The value of usability engineering and the role of the usability engineer (UE) are less understood. A common assumption is that the UE’s role is only to be a user advocate. To this role, we add the responsibility of addressing concerns of other stakeholders in Web site design and development. We discuss usability engineering and the processes that it encompasses, such as project planning, requirements definition, user-centered design (UCD) and evaluation/testing within the context of traditional software engineering lifecycles. We define the UE’s role throughout a user-centered, Web site development lifecycle. This lifecycle integrates compatible usability engineering processes into software engineering processes, drawing examples from research and experience.

Virtual Reality (VR) systems have been applied for education, training and entertainment purposes in the areas of military, safety training and flying simulators. In particular, Web-based VR training systems (WBVRTS) have been claimed to have great potential for many applications in training. However, WBVRTS are more complex compared with the traditional training methods which rely on manuals, instructions, and videos. Since VR not only reinforces the visual presentation of the training materials but also provides ways to interact with the training system, it becomes more flexible and possibly more powerful in designing the training system. In this study, we propose a WBVRTS framework based on SRK framework. A combat vehicle maintenance training system was developed into WBVRTS following the framework and structure. The proposed SRK framework for VR training system proved useful in guiding the design and development of the training materials. The study suggests that the design of VR as training tools should be based on user interaction and cognitive theories that support effective learning.

Social networks are important to new entrepreneurs and small business owners because the ability to access information, advice, and necessary resources is vital to the success of new firms. This study examines the social networks of European business owners according to employment size after approximately three years of survival as a business. The results show that the sources of advice used at start-up varied by the size of business with employers of ten or more people more likely to report having received advice from professional acquaintances, financial institutions and training programs, and less likely to have received advice from family and friends or professional consultants. Although these people were more likely to report that they did not need advice, they were also the least likely to report that they had no access to advice. Those with between one and nine employees were the most likely to report using professional consultants (a formal source), suggesting their informal social networks were not as well­­-developed.

Library Website Design and Development: Trends and Best Practices is a how-to guide written specifically for librarians and library technologists who are designing or redesigning their library website. Whether in academic, public, or special libraries, library websites are created as a service to users – a digital branch of the physical library where users can find and access the information they require. As such, library website designers grapple with meeting library-specific needs and concerns while also designing a website that looks modern and on trend. This book provides library website designers with foundational knowledge of the standards and best practices that apply to all websites, but also delves into the current trends of modern library websites specifically. Outlining the process of creating a well-organized, accessible, and user-friendly website for library users, the book starts with needs assessment and content organization, continues through site navigation and user experience design, and closes with a look at website analytics and the process of ongoing maintenance and assessment. Library Website Design and Development: Trends and Best Practices provides practicing web librarians with an inclusive step-by-step guide to all of the topics inherent in the website design and development process, while also taking a focused look at the unique needs of library websites. Each chapter in this book covers the foundational knowledge needed for an aspect of website design and is supplemented by a list of additional resources that go into further depth on each topic.

This study investigates the impact of social media influencers (SMIs) on small business brand equity in Nigeria. With the country facing significant economic challenges and a growing unemployment rate, small businesses have become increasingly important for job creation and economic development. However, many small businesses struggle to establish their brand in a highly competitive market. The rise of social media influencers has opened new opportunities for small businesses to enhance their brand equity through innovative marketing strategies. The research employed an inductive approach, utilizing qualitative data collection methods through semi-structured interviews. A total of six small business owners who have engaged SMIs for promotional campaigns were interviewed. Findings from the study revealed that SMIs can have a significant positive impact on small business brand equity in Nigeria. They can increase brand awareness, improve brand associations, and foster brand loyalty. However, the study also identified challenges, such as influencer selection, budget constraints, and the authenticity of influencer endorsements. The research provides valuable insights for small businesses seeking to leverage SMIs in their marketing efforts, as well as recommendations for improving the effectiveness of such campaigns. The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on influencer marketing and have practical implications for small business owners, marketers, and policymakers in Nigeria. Keywords: Qualitative Analysis, Social Media, Influencers, Brand Equity, Businesses in Nigeria Proceedings Citation Format Obahiagbon, Ebiuwa Gladys, Nwankwo, Nkechi &amp; Olaniyi, Titus (2023): Qualitative Analysis of Social Media Influencers Impact On Sustainable Brand Equity: A Case Study of Small Businesses in Nigeria. Proceedings of the 37th iSTEAMS Multidisciplinary Cross-Border Conference. 30th October – 1st November, 2023. Academic City University College, Accra, Ghana. Pp 69-82. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/ACCRACROSSBORDER2023V2P6

The article outlines the organizational foundations of dual education in European Union countries, focusing on the integration of learning and practical work experience within national vocational education and training systems. It examines different models of combining theoretical instruction with work-based learning, commonly referred to as alternating or dual systems. These models include comprehensive apprenticeship systems, programs in which internships are combined with other forms of vocational education, vocational schools with a significant proportion of workplace training, and predominantly school-based VET programs. Special attention is paid to the structural features of the educational process and the roles of the state, social partners, and employers in ensuring the quality of vocational training. The article analyzes how legislative frameworks, national curriculum standards, and professional qualification regulations contribute to the effectiveness and reliability of dual education systems. Comprehensive apprenticeship systems in countries such as Austria, Denmark, and Germany are highlighted as examples where practical training is fully integrated with theoretical instruction and closely aligned with labor market needs. In these systems, apprenticeship is legally regulated, supported by employers and public institutions, and widely recognized and valued by young people. Participants receive paid internships that complement their formal education, enabling them to develop comprehensive professional competencies and achieve qualifications acknowledged across the labor market. These programs offer opportunities for both general and vocational learning, contributing to the overall personal and professional development of students. The organizational foundations of dual education are based on a collaborative relationship between the state, social partners, and education institutions. The state establishes standards for curricula and theoretical instruction, while employers and professional associations are primarily responsible for practical training and quality assurance. This model ensures flexibility and adaptability to labor market demands, allowing vocational education to respond to changing economic conditions and sectoral requirements. Furthermore, dual education provides alternative pathways for students, reducing early school leaving and supporting social inclusion. By combining structured workplace experience with formal education, these systems help young people transition smoothly into the labor market, enhancing employability and career prospects. The dual model also fosters close cooperation between businesses and schools, encouraging mutual accountability and continuous improvement of training standards.

This activity aims to improve digital financial literacy in MSMEs in Tapak Gedung Village through training and mentoring programs. This activity is motivated by the low level of digital financial literacy in Indonesia, especially for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The 2022 National Survey on Financial Literacy and Inclusion (SNLIK) conducted by the Financial Services Authority (OJK) shows that financial literacy in Indonesia has only reached 49.68%, while financial inclusion is at 85.10%. This gap indicates that although many people have access to digital financial services, their understanding is still limited, making them vulnerable to illegal investments and online scams. The methods used in this activity include socializing the importance of digital finance, providing hands-on training on using financial applications such as Paper.id and providing ongoing mentoring to support implementation. An evaluation was conducted after the training to measure participants' understanding and application of the knowledge gained. The results showed that participants showed an increased understanding in using digital financial applications, especially in recording transactions, managing cash flow, and real-time financial reporting. In addition, MSME players also began to realize the importance of investing in legal financial institutions registered and supervised by OJK. In conclusion, digital financial literacy training has a positive impact on the financial management skills of MSMEs. With increased knowledge, small business owners can manage their businesses with more confidence, improve competitiveness, and navigate the challenges of the digital economy more effectively.

There is universal consensus that countries, South Africa included, need to develop and support more small business owners, especially youth, to grow the economy and create more jobs. The South African government have put measures in place for support and development of youth-owned small businesses. Accordingly, it becomes essential to assess if these measures are achieving their objectives. The overall purpose of this paper is to assess the status of youth-owned small businesses in Limpopo Province of South Africa as well as challenges faced by these businesses. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews. The results indicated that the challenges youth face include a combination of lack of skills, finance, business supportive infrastructure and/or technology. Most of the youth were also not aware of the training and support programmes and policies offered by government and its parastatals. Furthermore, those who were aware still did not utilise the government support programmes. There was very little growth in their businesses over time, implying that theses youth-owned small businesses contributed little towards creating employment opportunities and developing and/or boosting the economy in their area. The paper recommended education and training; encouraging partnerships and joint ventures as well as help in accessing finance. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n27p1258

The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of Accelerated Learning methods in a corporate training program. More specifically, the researcher wanted to know if Accelerated Learning significantly improved the employee's job knowledge, skills, and on-the-job performance when compared with traditional training methods. The Accelerated Learning training involved concepts and methods originally developed by Georgi Lozanov (1978) and adapted by Don Schuster (1986, 1989, 1991), Colin Rose (1985), Lynn Dhority (1991), Allyn Prichard and Jean Taylor (1980), and others. Traditional training methods include commonly used learning activities such as case problems, role play situations, short lectures with visual aids, question-and-answer sessions, and hands-on practice. The research design was a preexperimental design wdth a control group \\iiich used traditional training methods (26 participants) and an experimental group which involved Accelerated Learning methods (36 participants). Participants were in a required 64-hour new employee training program in a major financial organization in a midwestem city. One in-house trainer delivered all the training programs. To minimize contamination between the two metfiodologies, the trainer had minimal exposure to Accelerated Learning until after the control group had been trained and tested. Three different measurements were used to gather data from participants at the end of training; a cognitive, p^er-and-pencil test to determine job knowledge; a computer skills test in a job simulation to determine