ERIC Number: EJ1365945
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023-Feb
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0950-4222
EISSN: EISSN-2043-6858
How University Internships Benefit Microbusiness Owners: Beyond Anticipated Value
Industry and Higher Education, v37 n1 p80-93 Feb 2023
Microbusiness owners face significant challenges in accessing, acquiring and controlling resources, including human resources. This research examines the resource value(s) gained by microbusiness owners when they engage in a temporary human resourcing strategy using interns. Qualitative, information-rich, narrative interviews with microbusiness owners examined resourcing motives, management experiences and perceptions of human resource value. The data were subject to thematic analysis. The findings indicate that the unforeseen value of working with an intern was learning "management by doing", which arose due to a challenging of owner-intern dynamics, compelling owners to develop their skills, knowledge and practice of management and leadership. Second, microbusiness owners were strategically motivated to fill human resource skill and expertise gaps at little or no cost, gaining expected value. Thus, temporary human resources enable microbusiness owners to gain both expected and unforeseen value. Future research should focus on examining the value of unforeseen learning from low/no cost resources on microbusiness growth and sustainable development potential.
Descriptors: College Students, Internship Programs, Small Businesses, Universities, School Business Relationship, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Business Skills, Skill Development
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A