CFP: ISBE 2007 Conference

[entrepreneurship-phd at lists.uni-due.de]

Call for papers - ISBE 2007 Conference
Glasgow, UK
Deadline (for abstracts): 31st May 2007

The ISBE 2007 Conference theme is "INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP -
stimulating smarter successful small business world-wide", which builds
on the renewed emphasis both nationally and internationally on
entrepreneurship in small, medium and large organisations. The theme of
the Conference is based on the Scottish Executive's policies to build a
'Smart Successful Scotland' - however, this theme is also applicable to
many countries around the world and it has stimulated world-wide
interest. The diversity within the field of small business and
entrepreneurship lies at the heart of growth in economies and the
continuing emergence of new areas (e.g. social enterprise) present
exciting challenges to policy makers, practitioners, educators and
researchers.

A key aim of ISBE 2007 is to continue the ISBE aim 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 ISBE 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 and this
Conference aims to do so.

Presentations are invited on the following main themes, although other
topics associated with the overall conference theme of International
Entrepreneurship would also be welcomed. Preference will be given to
papers that draw out the practical implications for entrepreneurs, the
small business support community and policy-makers.

The key themes to be addressed in nine parallel tracks at the 2007 ISBE
Conference in Glasgow are:

A - Advancing entrepreneurship education and enterprise
B - Business birth-rate strategy - stimulating start-ups
C - Community, ethnic, minority, rural and social enterprise
E - E-entrepreneurship, e-business and e-learning
I - Innovation, technology transfer and knowledge networks
M - Management, skills development and growth issues
S - Supporting small business development world-wide
V - Small business finance and financial management
W - Women's enterprise & family enterprise development

Parallel tracks will focus on each of the above themes, with a series of
sessions devoted to more specialist topics within the theme. Click here
for the list of topics or request Information Sheet (NG740) from the
secretariat. Potential contributors are asked to categorise their paper
under one of the above themes, although papers on other relevant topics
will be considered. Experts in the respective fields will chair all
sessions, which will be designed to facilitate open discussion,
dissemination of information and feedback to presenters.

This Conference recognises the importance of learning and sharing
experiences from varying perspectives and welcomes contributions that
approach themes from different points of view. Papers from outside the
UK are most welcome and some sessions will be devoted to Developing
Economies.

The key groups recognised as having a particularly relevant contribution
to offer include:

- Researchers investigating the context, processes, behaviours and
metrics of entrepreneurship
- Educators & Trainers determining the nature, content and delivery of
knowledge, skills and CPD
- Policy makers influencing the context, funding and support -
nationally, regionally and locally
- Practitioners assisting in the start-up, development, growth, support
& decline of enterprises
- Advisers, Consultants & Mentors offering guidance and advice in a
variety of contexts
- Support Agencies & Financiers engaged in incubation, creation,
development and growth
- Networks & Representative Bodies providing networking opportunities &
information dissemination

Contributions can be accepted in one of three different categories:

* Refereed Papers
* Discussion Papers
* Practical Papers/Presentations

An outline of the requirements and submission timetable for each type of
paper is provided below, with a link for fuller information. All
Abstracts accepted will be published in the Conference Handbook and all
complete papers will be published on the Conference CD. All papers
accepted will also be submitted to the Editors of all relevant Small
Business and Entrepreneurship Journals to consider for publication.

ALL PAPERS

Authors should aim to produce a high quality paper that adds to existing
knowledge of enterprise creation and development. Acceptance decisions
on all papers will be based on relevance to the Conference theme,
quality of content and contribution to knowledge. More detailed criteria
are provided in the appropriate guidance notes, which provide advice on
structure, content and format. 

Abstracts for all papers must be submitted via the website following
these guidelines click here for details (or request information sheet
NG721 from the secretariat) At least one author must pre-register in
order to submit the abstract and must then attend the whole Conference
as a full delegate. The full registration fee is payable when the paper
is submitted. If the paper is rejected for any reason then the fee will
be refunded in full. Completed papers should be no more than 20 pages
(approx 7,000 words) and must be in the specified format for
publication. Papers that receive a conditional acceptance must satisfy
all of the conditions before final acceptance. No more than two papers
can be accepted from any one lead author or no more than two papers can
be presented by any one co-author.

Refereed Papers

To be accepted as refereed papers they should be of a publishable
standard. Following the refereeing process, papers may be accepted
subject to satisfactory completion, reclassified as a discussion paper
or declined. This decision will be reviewed at each stage of the process
i.e. abstract, full paper, revised (final) paper. Accepted refereed
papers will be clearly identified as such throughout the programme.

Discussion Papers

Discussion papers will describe ongoing or planned research and will
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. Ideas
presented in developmental papers will however still be subject to
quality control and acceptance by Track Leaders.

Practical Papers/Presentations

These papers and visual presentations will enable practitioners to
highlight excellent and distinctive practice in enterprise creation and
development. There must be evidence of the effectiveness of the
practices presented and papers will be subject to quality control and
acceptance by Track Leaders.

International Papers

Papers from international contributors are welcome on all of the themes
and categories listed above. Authors should demonstrate the wider
applicability of their work by making links to existing theory and
literature or to international policy debates.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We cannot guarantee your submission will be reviewed or
accepted if it is received after these deadline dates. There will be
several sponsored awards that relate to specific tracks and also to
academic research, education, and practice or policy orientation.

More inofo at http://www.isbe2007.org/