Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Lifestyle entrepreneurs'

A relatively small body of literature in tourism concentrates on lifestyle entrepreneurs in hospitality. Lifestyle entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs that create a business to alter their own lifestyle, interests, and well-being. They are people that are fueled by the desire for adventure and establish a business, usually away from their home country, to generate lifestyle benefits and quality of life. Lifestyle entrepreneurship in tourism is a growing trend and lifestyle entrepreneurs have been praised by previous scholars, for their nongrowth motivation and charismatic characteristics. This research aims to reconsider these entrepreneurs’ motives and values with the purpose of moving beyond their ambitions for themselves, and investigating their motivations and values towards the destination they are located in, and through this explore the role they might play in the development of the destination at large. Using a sample of small guesthouse and hotel owners located in different places around the world, the results show that even though the lifestyle entrepreneurs seem to be primarily motivated by generating well-being for self, the study identifies positive impacts of these entrepreneurs that should not be underestimated and could increase the competitiveness of their destination. The research suggests that promoting these entrepreneurs would contribute to sustainable destination development, considering the small-scale responsible tourism they seem to attract. However, results indicate that they might not be a reliable force for tourism development.

The research outlined in this thesis is a comparative investigation of the views and selfdefinitions of small-scale hospitality providers who operate their business concerns in two Scottish urban settings. It deals specifically with owner-occupied businesses. This characteristic serves to define a key focus of the research, in that it is essentially concerned with the small-scale guest house which functions as both a home and a business for its owner. In this thesis, the self-definitions and images of these proprietors are explored through the medium of the in-depth research interview, and consequently analysed from the resulting textual interview data. The nature of the research questions call for a qualitative research enquiry to provide the depth necessary to enable interpretations to be drawn which are emergent and grounded in the data. It adopts a phenomenologically-driven research perspective, using a symbolic interactionist conceptual framework upon which the methodology draws. This research is necessarily context-driven as, in order to understand fully the nature of this group, it is important to consider the context in which these proprietors operate. In this study, the two Scottish urban locations of Inverness and Dundee, as part of the wider Scottish tourism spectrum are taken as the contextual parameters of the research. Background research to this enquiry therefore pays necessary attention to the sociohistorical Scottish tourism setting, with specific focus on these locations. This functions as the contextual background against which the owner-occupiers of these small hospitality businesses must be placed. This also serves to provide an overall framework for the development of the theoretical perspectives and research methodologies which direct the research process.

Entrepreneurs are portrayed as salient drivers of regional development and for a number of years nascent entrepreneurs have been studied in a large number of countries as part of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor project and the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics. Scholars have devoted much effort to investigating factors that determine how individuals engage in entrepreneurial activities, with most of the discussion limited to business start-ups. However, since this type of project does not follow identical nascent entrepreneurs over time, limited knowledge exists about their development and whether they stay in this nascent phase for a long time. In practice, it is common for entrepreneurs to run a business and at the same time work in wage work, so-called combining entrepreneurs. In Sweden, almost half of all business owners combine wage work with a business. However, not all combining entrepreneurs will eventually decide to leave the wage work and invest fully in the business. Consequently, much research has focused on the first step of entering entrepreneurship full time, but less has focused on the second step, the transition from the combining phase to full-time self-employment. The aim of this thesis is therefore to contribute to the theory of entrepreneurship by gaining a deeper understanding of combining entrepreneurs and their motives and intentions.   In the context of combining entrepreneurs, the theory of identity, resources and choice overload has been used to examine how entrepreneurs’ age (when starting the business), entrepreneurial tenure (the length of engagement in the side-business), hours spent (weekly involvement in the side-business), involvement in entrepreneurial teams (leading the business with one or more partners) and involvement in networks (business networks) influence their passion for engaging in entrepreneurship while sustaining wage work. Different categories of combining entrepreneurs and their intentions have also been examined.   A survey was administered to 1457 entrepreneurs within the creative sector in two counties in Sweden (Gävleborgs County and Jämtlands County). Since there were no separate mailing lists to only combining entrepreneurs, the survey was sent to all entrepreneurs within the chosen industry and counties. The total response rate was 33.5 percent and of them 57.6 percent combined, yielding 262 combining entrepreneurs who answered the questionnaire. The survey was then followed up with eight focus group interviews and two single interviews to validate the answers from the questionnaire.   The results indicate three types of combining entrepreneurs: nascent – with the intention to leave the combining phase for a transition into full-time self-employment, lifestyle – with the intention to stay in the combining phase, and occasional – with the intention to leave the combining phase for full-time wage work and close down the business. Transitioning fully to self-employment increases with the individual’s age. Also, a positive interactive effect exists with involvement in entrepreneurial networks. The results also indicate that the ability to work with something one is passionate about is the top motive for combining wage work with a side-business. Passion is also more likely to be the main motive behind the combining form among individuals who are older at business start-up, but passion is less likely to be the main motive behind the combining form among individuals who spend more time on the business. The longer the individual has had the side-business, the less likely passion is the main motive behind the combining form, and passion is less likely to be the main motive among those who are part of an entrepreneurial team.

Avhandlingen baseras på fem delarbeten, tre var opublicerade vid tidpunkten för disputationen, två länkas här.

The purpose of this thesis is to identify what motivational changes occur while a lifestyle entrepreneur moves through three different organizational stages. The focus will however be on stage one and three. The problem of an under-researched field is addressed and how the motivation of specific lifestyle entrepreneurs, in these cases hairdressing salon owners, has changed. This thesis has been conducted with an interpretivistic viewpoint, an inductive approach and with a qualitative research method. The authors have selected to analyze the data through pattern matching and dividing the interviewees into two different case studies, one for each of the two chosen organizational stages in focus. In conclusion the authors found that intrinsic and extrinsic motivations have had different effects within all stages in the organizational life cycle. The authors have discovered that during stage one the intrinsic motivations play a large role. During stage one where the organization is small and young the lifestyle entrepreneurs are motivated by factors such as independence and self-efficacy. Stage two is a more extrinsic dominated phase with the factors integrated regulations and identified regulation as motivators. The third stage is a return to the intrinsic motivations with factors such as locus of control and egoistic passion. This is further explained within the chapter with help of the analysis and empirical findings. A figure has been presented to show the different phases and their motivational change.

This thesis project studied how a tourism campaign using the tool of nudging can be created. The objectives of the research were to identify what sustainable practices do the lifestyle entrepreneurs in Iceland conduct, and on the contrary, which activities of tourists they perceive as unsustainable. This was done in order to gain understanding into how tourism organisations can promote the lifestyles of the locals, promote adapting these behaviours as gaining authentic experiences, in order to avoid undesired behaviour of tourists, especially those actions conducted due to lack of education and awareness. The student moreover studied which techniques are the most suitable for the promotion of authentic experiences, and how a campaign of this kind can be adapted by relevant organisations. The research was done using the qualitative research method in combination with desk research and secondary data analysis. The results of the research show that activities such as recycling, eating seasonal and local products, together with experiencing freedom through business activities and closeness to family and community played a dominant role in the lives of the interviewed subjects. Besides that, the student found out it is especially relevant to focus on winter tourists, to promote the campaign through visuals that represent the reality fully and display sustainability in a sustainably managed environment. The overall outcomes of this thesis relate to showcasing the concepts of freedom, mindfulness and thinking local.

The professionalization of blogs has elevated blogging to an organizational field whereby bloggers develop a legitimate career path. For many minority women bloggers, the transition from being traditionally employed to managing a one-person digital enterprise is often met with racial and gender imbalances created by nontraditional modes of work. The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to gain a deeper understanding of how African American women bloggers described their lived experiences with managing a one-person digital enterprise and the implications of their racial and gender identity within this nontraditional mode of work. To address this gap, a transcendental phenomenological method was used to collect data from African American women bloggers. This study was framed by 3 key concepts focused on African American women bloggers: Brydges and Sj00F6holm’s concept of personal style blogger, Martinez Dy et al’s concept of women digital entrepreneurs, and Gabriel’s concept of Black female identity online. Data were gathered using 9 virtual semi-structured interviews and analyzed using the modified Van Kaam method. Eight themes emerged when answering the research question. The findings of the research showed that being an African American woman blogger means conducting entrepreneurial activity, working towards financial solvency, being proud of racial identity, and creating and delivering content as a blogger. Results gleaned from this transcendental phenomenological study may help promote social change by bringing awareness to policymakers on the issues of equity, access, and opportunity for marginalized populations who seek to become digital entrepreneurs.

Doutoramento em Turismo
Elevadas expectativas têm vindo a ser colocadas no empreendedorismo e na criação de pequenas empresas como meio para a regeneração das economias de muitas zonas rurais. O turismo é um dos setores que pode contribuir, bem como beneficiar da dinâmica empreendedora que se conseguir criar nestes territórios. Ainda que os contributos económicos e sociais dos pequenos negócios de turismo em espaço rural sejam crescentemente estudados e reconhecidos, a atuação dos proprietários e gestores não está clara, em particular no que se refere ao fenómeno do empreendedorismo “estilo de vida”. O objetivo desta investigação é contribuir para um melhor entendimento dos empreendedores “estilo de vida”, do seu perfil, das suas motivações e, particularmente, da forma como atuam na gestão dos seus pequenos negócios, visando igualmente uma compreensão das consequências do seu modo de gestão ao nível do sucesso empresarial. Para a concretização deste objetivo optou-se por realizar um estudo qualitativo, de profundidade, com recurso ao estudo de caso suportado por uma revisão prévia da literatura. Este estudo foi aplicado no Alto Alentejo, região rural do interior sul de Portugal, a qual, embora apresentando algumas características de ruralidade remota, possui um potencial turístico relevante. Foram entrevistados oito empreendedores, proprietários e gestores de pequenos negócios de alojamento localizados em áreas rurais. As entrevistas foram complementadas com dados obtidos em outras fontes, nomeadamente, entrevistas a turistas hospedados nos empreendimentos, observação direta e documentação variada. Recorreu-se a uma análise de conteúdo para o tratamento da informação recolhida, adotando-se uma abordagem categorial na sistematização dos dados, tendo por base os referenciais teóricos mais relevantes. Os resultados obtidos permitiram identificar padrões que indiciam comportamentos diferenciados nas práticas de gestão por parte de um grupo de empreendedores claramente conotados com características “estilo de vida”. Estes empreendedores apresentam, também, níveis superiores de satisfação com o negócio e com a opção de vida que tomaram, o que, aparentemente, contribui para o sucesso dos seus empreendimentos.
High expectations have been placed on entrepreneurship and on small businesses as a means of regeneration of many rural economies. Tourism is one of the sectors that can contribute to, and benefit from, the entrepreneurial dynamics created in these territories. Although the economic and social contributions of small rural tourism businesses are increasingly studied and recognized, the role of the owners / managers is not clear, particularly regarding “lifestyle” entrepreneurship. The aim of this research is to contribute to a better understanding of “lifestyle” entrepreneurs, their profile, their motivations and, mainly, their business management practices, also including an understanding of the consequences of the way of management on business success. To accomplish this objective, the decision was to undertake a qualitative in-depth research, using the case study which was supported by a previous literature review. This study was conducted in the Alto Alentejo region, a rural region in the southern inner part of Portugal which, regardless of some characteristics of remote rurality, has significant tourism potential. Eight entrepreneurs, owners and managers of small tourism accommodation units in rural areas, were interviewed. The interviews were complemented with data from other sources, namely interviews with guests, direct observation and diverse documentation. The collected data was processed adopting a categorical approach. A content analysis was performed, taking into account the most relevant theoretical frameworks previously reviewed. The results obtained allowed to identity patterns, which indicate different behaviors in management practices within a group of entrepreneurs clearly associated to “lifestyle” characteristics. These entrepreneurs also demonstrated higher levels of satisfaction with their business and life choices, which apparently contributes to the success of their endeavors.

La notion "lifestyle" représente un nouveau stade de l'évolution de l'entrepreneur. Cette approche a été mise en évidence par des travaux anglophones et plus particulièrement présentée par Johannisson (2004) sans être jusqu'à ce jour étudiée. C'est pourquoi par ce travail de thèse nous avons tenté de comprendre le processus entrepreneurial de l'entrepreneur "lifestyle". Pour ce faire, nous avons conduit une étude exploratoire sur 8 cas permettant de mettre en évidence un phénomène émergent. Le cours de notre recherche nous a donc permis de définir le "lifestyle" par opposition au "classique" et de mettre en évidence ses caractéristiques. En outre, un objet ne pouvant être étudié en dehors de tout contexte, il nous a paru essentiel de définir l'hypermodernité qui est le terme utilisé (en sociologie notamment, Aubert et alii, 2005) pour désigner l'ère sociétale dans laquelle nous nous trouvons. L'hypermodernité représente une dualité composée de l'exploitation marchande et de valeurs humanistes. Dans cette mesure, l'entrepreneur lifestyle empreint de quêtes de valeurs construit un modèle économique lui permettant d'être en accord avec ses principes
Lifestyle is representative of a new entrepreneurial phasis. The aim of this thesis is to conduct an exploratory survey based on 8 lifestyle entrepreneurs cases to describe an emergent phenomenon. Our research introduces the differences between the "classical entrepreneur" and the "lifestyle"one definition and argue the caracteristics of lifestyle entrepreneurship. As we consider the thesis object as an "embedded" one, we present the hypermodern society as the context research. Hypermodernity suggests a dual vision of our society and is composed of business exploitation and humanist values. Therefore, the Lifesytle entrepreneur who is looking for individual and collective values build an economical system which is an entrepreneurial one in adequation with its own assets

This exploratory study aimed to investigate how private tourist accommodation owners on Gotland perceive, value and act upon sustainability. The overall aim of the research was to examine their actions in the context of circular economy, to see if they share municipalities visions of becoming a sustainable society. A qualitative method, with semi-structured interviews and a online content research based on their accommodation offers was conducted. Challenges and value conflicts of owners were identified. This research concludes that awareness of entrepreneurial practices, knowledge and collaboration are needed to overcome challenges that these owners encounter and help foster sustainable development. This study offers ideas for future research.

The aim of this thesis is to write a business plan of CRED0 Company Ltd. and assess its feasibility and return. The theoretical part describes key aspects relevant to the business and writing a business plan. The practical part includes PEST and SWOT analysis, goals analysis, analysis of market competition and risk management, marketing and financial plan.

In this study, crisis management has been studied primarily from the perspective of small business owners and lifestyle entrepreneurs. Over time, a need was also discovered to interview and study the relationship of public support organizationswith small businesses in crisis contexts. This is because in the theoretical research framework we experienced a lack of how private small businesses can act in a crisis. This is how our subject has been developed, and curiosity about practical crisis management versus theoretical crisis management has played a central role. Following the work, the niche of small entrepreneurs became in nature tourism, partly due to the fact that Värmland as a county has many entrepreneurs in this category. It is also inevitable that Värmland and the entrepreneurs here have had a strong international market before COVID-19 and therefore the interest has also been to study and analyze how they have acted and proceeded during the crisis. The question of adjustment is therefore very essential to study for future possible crises. To discern these similarities and differences, the private has been set against the regional and public, but also against each other. It has been conducted thanks to semi-structured interviews that highlight the same themes. The themes then follow a consistent structure for both method, empirical data and analysis, where it relates to the study's purpose and issues. Overall, the study has generated striking similarities and differences, but also a dimension in the exclusion of small business owners. The lastpart of the conclusion shows why it is still important to study the subject, as COVID-19 has affected the tourism industry in a very unique and global way, which has not previously been discernible. It highlights the importance of contributing to and continuing research in the future, where both public actors together with regional and private actors can find a way to deal with future crises together.
I denna studie har krishantering studerats utifrån framförallt småföretagares- och livsstilsföretagares perspektiv. Under tidens gång upptäcktes även ett behov av att intervjua och studera offentliga stödorganisationers förhållande till småföretagare i krissammanhang. Det på grund av att det i de teoretiska forskningsramarna upplevdes en brist för hur privata småföretagare kan agera vid kris. Det är genom den vägen ämnet har arbetats fram, och nyfikenheten kring praktisk krishantering versus teoretisk krishantering har spelat en central roll. Utefter arbetets gång kom nischen av småföretagare att bli inom naturturism, bland annat på grund av att Värmland som län innehar många företagare inom den kategorin. Det går heller inte att undkomma att Värmland och företagarna här har haft en stark internationell marknad innan COVID-19 och därför har intresset likaså varit att studera och analysera hur företagarna har agerat och gått tillväga under krisens gång för att ställa om. Omställningsfrågan är därför essentiell att studera för framtida eventuella kriser. För att skönja dessa likheter och skillnader har det privata ställts emot de regionala och offentliga, men även mot varandra. Det har utförts tack vare semistrukturerade intervjuer som lyft samma teman. Temana följer sedan en genomgående struktur för både metod, empiri och analys, där de förhåller sig till studiens syfte och frågeställningar. Studien har totalt sett genererat påvisande likheter och skillnader, men även en dimension i exkludering av småföretagare. I slutsatsens sista del framkommer det varför det är fortsatt viktigt att studera ämnet, eftersom COVID-19 har påverkat besöksnäringen på ett väldigt unikt och globalt sätt, som tidigare inte har kunnat skönjas. Det belyser vikten av att bidra med samt fortsätta forskning framöver där både offentliga aktörer tillsammans med regionala- och privata aktörer kan hitta ett sätt att tillsammans hantera kommande kriser

C-uppsats 

碩士
國立高雄第一科技大學
國際管理碩士學位學程
105
Lifestyle business is an emerging trend that has been growing in popularity over the past decade. A lifestyle business is a business that is created with the purpose of achieving a desired lifestyle rather than making profits. Due to the fact that lifestyle business is a recent phenomenon it has not received a lot of academic attention. Therefore, one goal of this thesis is to bring lifestyle business into an academic setting. This thesis also aims to distinguish the differences in motivations between lifestyle business entrepreneurs and traditional entrepreneurs.

碩士
國立成功大學
創意產業設計研究所
102
A city is often valued as a scope in urban development researches when evaluating various aspects such as culture and commerce based on demographics, markets, and industries. Over the years, as new industries and business models emerges, urban development researches shift from questioning how to build a habitable environment to exploring how the city environment nurtures creativity and innovation which contribute back to shaping a city’s cultural aspects. According to John Howkins, an environment of diversity, such as a city, can stimulate the adaptively of its inhabitants. On the economy aspect, innovation on business model usually reflects from a progressive turn in city environment, which could further increase the diversity of a city. This process forms a looping circle, which this research had coined as the “creative ecology loop”. This study is based on Howkins’ “Creative Ecologies” theory to discuss the relationship and dynamics between a city environment and its human inhabitants within the scope of innovative activities in practicing lifestyle business. Based on observation, the recent business trend in Tainan City suggested a peculiarity of how there seems to be an increasing number of non-locals migrating to Tainan City to start up lifestyle businesses. To justify this observed trend, this research interviewed five migrant lifestyle entrepreneurs from different sub-lifestyle industries. In-depth interviews were made to collect first-hand insights, which reveals the dynamic relationship between the city and its inhabitants. Results of this research suggest that as an environment, a city can be a resource to promote and support innovative activity. The raising business trend is not the sole motive to attract migrants. Furthermore, the lenient, laid-back city culture of Tainan and the mutualistic cluster of migrant lifestyle entrepreneurs could also be the encouraging factors for similar entrepreneurship.

Lifestyle entrepreneurs are generally associated with tourism firms and good quality of life. Given the importance of this group of individuals to the positive contribution of local destination and job creation this dissertation explored the key factors influencing Innovation and entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy (ESE) in Lifestyle entrepreneurs. The researcher conducted a quantitative study through a survey of 115 Lifestyle Entrepreneurs, to analyze the relationship between 5 concepts: (I) Innovation, (II) Marshalling, (III) Place Familiarity Perception, (IV) Communication and (V) Entrepreneurial Self-Efficacy (ESE). The target population of this study was lifestyle entrepreneurs from Portugal and Spain who state in the survey, as a motive for their business, non-financial reasons or non-financial reasons and financial reasons. After collecting and analyzing the data, it was established several direct and one indirect relationship between variables. The results indicate that marshalling has a significantly positive and direct effect on both ESE and communication. Communication has a direct and positive relationship on innovation. Place familiarity perception has a significantly positive and direct relation on communication and innovation on ESE. It was also found that there isn’t a direct but rather, an indirect link between these marshalling and innovation via the mediator communication.
Os lifestyle entrepreneurs são geralmente associados a empresas/organizações de turismo e a um determinado estilo de vida. Tendo em conta a importância deste grupo de indivíduos para a contribuição positiva do destino local e criação de empregos, esta dissertação explorou os principais fatores que influenciam a inovação e a autoeficácia empreendedora em lifestyle entrepreneurs. Realizamos um estudo quantitativo, através de um questionário, com 115 lifestyle entrepreneurs. Analisamos a relação entres 5 conceitos: (I) inovação, (II) marshalling, (III) perceção de Familiaridade de Lugar, (IV) comunicação e (V) autoeficácia empreendedora. A população-alvo deste estudo foram os lifestyle entrepreneurs de Portugal e Espanha que referiram no inquérito, como pretexto do seu negócio, motivos não financeiros ou motivos não financeiros e motivos financeiros. Após a recolha e análise dos dados, foram estabelecidas várias relações diretas e uma indireta entre as variáveis. Os resultados indicam que o marshalling tem um efeito significativamente positivo e direto na autoeficácia empreendedora e na comunicação. A comunicação tem uma relação direta e positiva com a inovação. A perceção de familiaridade de lugar tem uma relação significativamente positiva e direta na comunicação e inovação no ESE. Foi também descoberto que não há uma relação direta, mas sim indireta, entre estes marshalling e inovação através da comunicação.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
建築與城鄉研究所
104
Locating in the northern Taiwan, Pinglin is the only tea town with all of the area covered by traditional tea industry in Taiwan. Due to the restricted regulations of the Feicsui Fresh Watershed Protection Zone, neither industries nor developments could establish in the entire Pinglin area. Therefore, Pinglin is the only tea region in Taiwan with small household size tea entrepreneurs everywhere. Every head of a tea household could potentially be the key person to manage their own tea business, that is “tea household entrepreneur”(茶戶長). Within this context in mind, each tea household entrepreneur produces his characteristics of tea flavors and styles that could be distinguished from others. Based on Qualitative methods, I examine how local tea household entrepreneurs create the Pinglin tea crafts to be local special products within the struggles of the rapid industrialization in the global tea trade and the declination of Taiwan tea exporting business.