advantages and limitations of virtual incubators

21 downloads 595 Views 166KB Size Report
contemporary forms of support to small and medium enterprises by business ... generation in the 90's, high-tech incubators (technology, virtual, internet) its ...
9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON KNOWLEDGE, ECONOMY & MANAGEMENT PROCEEDINGS ULUSLAR ARASI 9. BİLGİ, EKONOMİ VE YÖNETİM KONGRESİ BİLDİRİLERİ Jun 23-25, 2011 Sarajevo-Bosnia & Herzegovina / 23-25 Haziran 2011, Saraybosna-Bosna Hersek

ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF VIRTUAL INCUBATORS

Džemail Zornić1, Suad Bećirović, Enis Ujkanović, Šemsudin Plojović 1 International- University of Novi Pazar, Novi Pazar, Serbia, [email protected] Abstract: A virtual business incubators are the services available in cyber space. They bring together companies with each other, customers, suppliers, partners, and operational management of a virtual incubator on the Internet, electronic data interchange, videoconferencing facilities, etc.. The paper presents the use of modern ICT tools to support young entrepreneurs, members of the incubator, combining new technologies with organizational development and the Internet. Key words: virtual business, virtual incubator of ICT technology, Internet, Small and Medium Enterprises INTRODUCTION In the world nearly three decades of intensive work on the development of micro, small and medium enterprises, which have proved to be a good foundation for the economy. One of the contemporary forms of support to small and medium enterprises by business incubators, which is concentrated all that is needed for the modern enterprise development, from its inception to its separation. Business incubators are an instrument of economic development politics. Last two decades of the twentieth century created a large number of incubators in the EU and other developed countries. Since the beginning of the 90s to 2001. the world was created more than 3,000 business incubators of various types and orientations, and today they made about 4000 In the United States by the end of 2002 was formed over 900 business incubators. According to the information of the U.S. National Association of Business Incubators (NationalBusiness Incubation Association NBIA-) performance of companies that were formed in incubators in the U.S. is around 87%. The average incubator covers 20 types of work (the company) and employs about 55 people. In Western Europe the efficiency of the incubator is somewhat lower than in the U.S.. By the '70s, the basic activity of business incubators consisted in providing office space arranged for entrepreneurs under favorable lease terms, with the possibility of performing various services together, under one roof (shared use of information, communication and office equipment, secretarial and other administrative services et al.). Later, the development of the latest (fifth) generation in the 90's, high-tech incubators (technology, virtual, internet) its activities transferred to support and assist the newly established enterprises in order to advance the knowledge and skills of managers and entrepreneurs in the field of business planning and management of small business, to provide advisory and consultancy services on site at affordable prices or free (depending on the method of forming and funding), for easier access to finance, to connect entrepreneurs with funds for project financing, financial institutions and organizations that can provide additional capital required for further growth and development of new companies, to protect the rights of intellectual property, commercialization of technological innovations and scientific discoveries, industrial diversification and growth of economic activity regions [2]. Definitions of incubators mainly differ according to whether more emphasis placed on the importance of physical aspects of incubator (provision of office space, shared use of equipment and other infrastructure) or on other aspects of service delivery, which have developed with the latest generation of the incubator. The shortest definition of business 3471

9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON KNOWLEDGE, ECONOMY & MANAGEMENT PROCEEDINGS ULUSLAR ARASI 9. BİLGİ, EKONOMİ VE YÖNETİM KONGRESİ BİLDİRİLERİ Jun 23-25, 2011 Sarajevo-Bosnia & Herzegovina / 23-25 Haziran 2011, Saraybosna-Bosna Hersek

incubators and business incubation centers, is a company that helps the formation, growth and development of other companies [1]. According to the classification of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (United Nations Economics Comissiona for Europen-UNECE) incubators are divided into the following types: traditional business incubators / business centers, industrial parks / zones, technology and science parks and business incubators virtual [3]. VIRTUAL INCUBATORS Virtual incubators of the latest generation in the development of incubators. From classic to differ in the way in providing customer service. They associate the company, customers, suppliers, and operational management of the incubator through modern information and communication technologies (Information Comunication Technology - ICT). Focus their attention on the connection of a wide number of local entrepreneurs beginners with experts on entrepreneurial training (consultants, mentors, coaches and trainers thematic entrepreneurial training program) and institutions for business support. From young businesses and start ups are not required to be located in one place or in the same office building incubators. Virtual incubators are also known as "incubators without a roof," because companies do not provide office space and office services at below market rates. Oriented at increasing the knowledge entrepreneurs, who are beginners in the business, then business owners, self-employed professionals, students and graduates, and to achieve through mentoring, direct thematic training (education) or through a network of consultants. They are particularly focused on: 1. broaden the knowledge of entrepreneurs in management, marketing and internationalization of production; 2. Providing services of technical nature; 3. Support the provision of financial resources; 4. Technology transfer and finding business partners to members of the incubator. The European virtual incubator (EVI) young entrepreneurs are obliged to participate in programs or standard of individual training and mentoring for a period of 3 to 9 months, depending on the needs and characteristics of each candidate) [2]. The advantage of virtual incubator, as compared to conventional, reflected in the fact that can cover much larger number of users, while members of the incubator are not obliged to leave their current location and reallocate it in an incubator. This feature can be particularly important because of the proximity of business partners, suppliers and customers of members of incubators, which use resources and other benefits of a virtual incubator can make from your home or office via personal computer. In this way, reduce the total cost of the incubator and create opportunities to provide services to customers at more favorable terms than the market. TECHNOLOGY Working a typical incubator is based on intensive communication, meetings, phone calls, numerous e-mails and so on. All this time sent a lot of information between interested parties, but the communication and coordination take place largely in a rather traditional way. So seek effective solutions to facilitate better communication and better flows of information. In order to happen it is necessary to increase the IT know-how between the incubator. In terms of technology, a virtual incubator can be described as follows. Portal allows document exchange, dialogue and sending messages and it's very useful. 3472

9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON KNOWLEDGE, ECONOMY & MANAGEMENT PROCEEDINGS ULUSLAR ARASI 9. BİLGİ, EKONOMİ VE YÖNETİM KONGRESİ BİLDİRİLERİ Jun 23-25, 2011 Sarajevo-Bosnia & Herzegovina / 23-25 Haziran 2011, Saraybosna-Bosna Hersek

Different parts of the portal are devoted to various projects or tasks. The discussion forums can be implemented and videoconferencing, which allow visual contact during the hearing. The Internet offers great opportunities to find a virtually all questions and Odo's, and allows all types of communications between users. Beauty and uses of the Internet lies in the information provided on this provider. The Internet allows millions of people around the world to communicate and share information, either sending or receiving electronic mail and establish connections with specific computer or interactive exchange of messages. Instant messenger (Instant Messengers - IM) can change the mode of communication among users. E-mail is still the formaldehyde method of communication, IM is an opportunity to conduct informal discussions. IM is a convenient way of communication between friends, family and could be an important dobuna formal mode of communication in business. Shared calendar is another interesting concept that could change the way business incubators and entrepreneurs and inspires their further use of the Internet, which in turn enables the exchange of knowledge and experience. In this way he becomes a support system in which the incubators and entrepreneurs can find relevant information. When within a company network application of Internet solutions - ie. using TCP / IP, web server, mail server and other servers, resulting Intranet. Intranet is the use of technologies based on the Internet within the organization, in order to support communication and information. The Internet provides support to all company functions (production, administration, marketing, finance ...) and enables the movement of "islands of information" to the networks that enable better communication and teamwork. ie. 3 to maximally facilitate the work of employees. Data is accessed from one single interface, allowing easy retrieval of required information. As such, the Intranet enables us to more easily publish information necessary for the operation. Information system in the form of an intranet is an increasingly common solution in modern companies. Intranet to collect information on business entrepreneurs within the incubator will lead to increased use of community calendars and at the same time it is a way to keep track of appointments and tasks he second. However, when the contractor only uses this calendar, it becomes very important because it allows you to create gaps between the public and internal information. What has been published as a public, can be viewed by other entrepreneurs and incubators. In this way it is possible to make a schedule of seminars and meetings, synchronize schedules entrepreneurs and reduce the risk of overlapping meetings. Calendar becomes a coordinating tool helps you track information and people. It is also important to create standards to facilitate exchange of information between different systems. This can be done in two ways, through: 1. Cetralnog system - where everyone has access to use, or 2. Local systems - that can interact with others. Which of these two methods will enable the exchange of information, the question is price, with an obvious central intranet could be economical. Over an intranet-based database can be achieved by the availability of all information. Access Control allows you to store and structured presentation of information to all interested parties [4]. PROCESSES Working as a virtual incubator with a high degree of IT maturity and the modern IT environment, new target groups without geographic boundaries may be related in an incubator. Virtual communities, however, is not worth living if it is not. This means that incubators should work as moderators for different forums, as well as content editors and so on. This will allow new practices to the incubator. A higher level of maturity can lead to greater use of electronic communication. 3473

9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON KNOWLEDGE, ECONOMY & MANAGEMENT PROCEEDINGS ULUSLAR ARASI 9. BİLGİ, EKONOMİ VE YÖNETİM KONGRESİ BİLDİRİLERİ Jun 23-25, 2011 Sarajevo-Bosnia & Herzegovina / 23-25 Haziran 2011, Saraybosna-Bosna Hersek

Virtual incubator can also provide solutions to entrepreneurs, how to find different information in the bank of knowledge. Moreover, virtual seminars can be coordinated and held in a number of incubators at the same time over the interet. Virtual Incubator has several advantages. For example, the use of videoconferencing can enable the formation of a team of distance and at some point may reduce the need for physical meetings. Technology can also enable and informal meetings in the coffee room areas that represent a virtual meeting place. Virtual meeting rooms can be used more incubators, allowing global contact over physical boundaries. To achieve this must be installed web cameras, which will continue to send pictures and sound. Such spaces for informal meetings offering entrepreneurs the ability to find collaborators at a distance. This way I can create new business opportunities, and interaction and communication will be easier. Based on these informal meetings can be established and new international cooperation. Database that will be included in the system virtual incubator can provide access to information across borders, leading to the implicit cooperation of information and work. Any information that is saved in the database is available. Moreover, it is possible that the existing network of business associates and share or exchange information directly, thereby reducing the need for an incubator acts as an intermediary, sending information to all. Also, entrepreneurs can put information on the intranet and thus ensure that their experience and knowledge accessible to all. This means that the information remains available even when entrepreneurs leave the incubator. The database enables searching, finding and up-date information in a simple manner. As international cooperation is concerned, it is very important that the experience can be exchanged between different countries. Thus we are able to learn how it works in other regions and which tools or methods are relevant in different situations. IT can facilitate international cooperation as the coordination of distance possible. The creation of new international contacts is also easier in a virtual incubator. They can see the different perspectives from the dialogue at a distance and with countries. In the virtual incubator is also possible that a mentor be from other countries [4]. EUROPEAN VIRTUAL INCUBATOR Virtual incubators have become one of the most successful and most attractive ways to support high-tech and innovation of SMEs. However these facilities have the capacity to support only small, limited share of candidates. Most valuable start-up companies from the target group in need of support can not be real renters in the existing incubators. IDEC SA participates in the "European Virtual Incubator for Training and Support High-Tech SMEs" project which aims to solve the problem of setting up four virtual object on the Internet and methodology of online learning following the EC decision and initiative. The project aims to create better opportunities for easy and low cost "approach to continuous, professional training and advisory services with a specific target group that includes students, graduates, inventors, women and persons with disabilities, young people armed with the new technologies. These people have the inclination and ability to establish and develop high-tech small businesses and they have an advantage in using new information and communication technology (ICT). The agreed approach is to establish an international web portal called the European Virtual Incubator (EVI). EVI exposes users to the innovative process of training and allows them to implement a new type of relationship between SMEs, trainers and trainees. It can be used for training departments of business incubators, high-tech parks, SMEs, development agencies in their effort to support and continuously train entrepreneurs. Project sustainability is achieved through the commercialization of long-term partnership agreement between the partners. The project objectives are: 3474

9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON KNOWLEDGE, ECONOMY & MANAGEMENT PROCEEDINGS ULUSLAR ARASI 9. BİLGİ, EKONOMİ VE YÖNETİM KONGRESİ BİLDİRİLERİ Jun 23-25, 2011 Sarajevo-Bosnia & Herzegovina / 23-25 Haziran 2011, Saraybosna-Bosna Hersek

1. To develop new, specialized system of training based on knowledge and good practices in the management of high-tech businesses and to expand in Europe through a network of multinational training, seminars and literature. 2. To develop, test and implement on-line training methodology for standard and presonalizovane courses, which are based on the base ppendIx case studies, identified needs, knowledge and experience of partners and information on the results from the user, which is always determined. 3. To create a simple virtual environment for learning for continuing professional development of entrepreneurs and managers of innovative and high-tach SMEs. This will be implemented through the e-Learning site called Europen Virtual Incubator (EVI) and the provision of online services - group class or custom open classrooms, on-line session samoobuke, group discussions, multimedia supported sessions, conferences and chat sessions, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), publications and databases, bibliographies. 4. Users can use these modules after entering the EVI web portal and registration. The system provides them with an easy and flexible access to standard or customized courses, and creates a unique environment for learning through EVI's Group Discussion Desk and virtual magazine that provides an international communication, dissemination of knowledge and exchange experiences and information. Following target groups benefiting from the project: 1. Students and graduates with good technical skills and scientific results from their research papers are the main target gtupa. You usually have to komercializuju scientific results and discoveries of new enterprises closure. In such cases they must have a basic knowledge to establish and develop their own enterprise and skills to be trained on how to manage rayvojem small companies that are technologically based. 2. Inventors, researchers from R & D institutes and young entrepreneurs working in skilled high-tech company to develop new technology and the will to apply the research results. 3. Women who stay at home due to maternity can better use their free time at this particular time in their lives. Using the Internet and on-line learning can stay in touch with real jobs, improve their skills and develop professionally. 4. Persons with disabilities who porojekat provides a unique opportunity to learn without the physical presence of seminars and courses. The project also supports and provides the benefits of business incubators, technology centers, high-tach parks and regional development agencies. It is expected that the management of these institutions use the on-line session, individually designed courses and other educational material to cover the training needs of their staff and / or tenants and start-up companies in the technology sector [5].

CONCLUSION Virtual incubator can exist and work across geographical boundaries. Businesses can provide support regardless of their geographical location. Incubators may be linked in a network with other incubators in the community, and thus to achieve information sharing and coordination. 3475

9th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON KNOWLEDGE, ECONOMY & MANAGEMENT PROCEEDINGS ULUSLAR ARASI 9. BİLGİ, EKONOMİ VE YÖNETİM KONGRESİ BİLDİRİLERİ Jun 23-25, 2011 Sarajevo-Bosnia & Herzegovina / 23-25 Haziran 2011, Saraybosna-Bosna Hersek

At the same time increased network of contacts and resources for young entrepreneurs. The aim is to support development "young" enterprises with growth potential. Generally, virtual business is unfortunately the only opportunity in most countries in the region characterized by very poor telecommunications structure and poor road, rail and airport networks.

REFERENCES [1] Zimmerer, W. Thomas and Scarborough, Norman M. (2002.) "Essentials of" Entrepreneu rship and Small Business Management ", Prentice Hall, New Jersey. [2] Ilic Milan: Business incubators and clusters as a model for small and medium enterprises in the industry, Industry, Vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 63-98, 2006 5 [3] "The promotion and support of business incubators for small and medium enterprises," Geneva, June 1999. United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), http://www.unece.org/industr/sme/incubator. hrm [4] Marita Holst (2007), Developing the Concept of a Virtual Incubator as part of the project Entrepreneurial Knowledge Community [5] http://www.evi-incubator.com

3476