Microcredit emerged in the 1970s, in Bangladesh, as a tool for sustainable development. However, in Portugal, it only took its first steps in the late 1980’s and emerged as a response to unemployment. This paper provides an overview of micro credit system in Portugal and aims to identify the profile of the successful microentrepreneur and point out the reasons that most contribute to the sustainability of microcredit business initiatives. Although the paper is mainly exploratory, we combined different methodologic approaches. First, we conducted interviews with key informants, then, we applied a questionnaire to microentrepreneurs. The survey contained three sections, namely, socio-demographic characteristics; characteristics of project; attitude as an entrepreneur. A sample group consisting of 96 participants of microfinance programme participated in the research. The findings indicate that the profile of the successful microentrepreneur is an individual with a superior degree, already have been employed, with positive or very positive level for the innovation of the product/service, for the adjustment of the business to the environment, for prior planning and for the accompaniment by public/non-profit institution. In a less degree, a positive level for training/professional experience in the project area and a positive level for self-esteem/self-confidence have also some influence. The results point out that the attitude as a microentrepreneur is less important than the characteristics of the project to the outcome of the microenterprise.
A profound transformation of modern culture in line with increasing individualism and self-interest have been observed in the last few decades. While competing for limited resources, public organizations have to tackle the issues of lower commitment and turnover of employees. A recent shift of Lithuania’s defence policy revealed the issues, related to the attraction and retention of qualified personnel. It appears that organizations have to fulfil the demand for loyal and committed personnel and to deal with increasing individualism and self-interest. Thus, the research aims to investigate if and how values congruence of defence organization is interrelated to intentions of personnel to continue and organizational commitment. Theoretical discussion, related to person and organization fit, vlues congruence and organizational commitment, let to develop a questionnaire. The analysis is grounded on the survey of personnel deployed in one unit of defence organization. The final sample comprised 56 respondents. The results confirm the assumption that higher affective commitment increases intentions to stay with organization. In addition, the conclusion that personnel demonstrate identification with organization can be made. Second, the study demonstrates that physical values congruence is positively interrelated with affective commitment. Hence, the sense of favourable social guarantees, benefits, appropriate work place and health consideretaions influence individual’s identification with organization. The implications for top-level management lie in the possibility to monitor values congruence and subsequently, increase organizational commitment of staff.
In the tourist practice, the information support of tourism activities provides the comfort of tourist services and the attractiveness of the region enhances the motivation of consumers to visit this territory, which leads in the development of entrepreneurship. The development of tourism demand accelerates diversification in the economy creates new types of proposals in entrepreneurship. Non-governmental organizations in Kazakhstan, as well as all over the world, can play an active role in the promotion of regions, the individual settlements and the events. The latest advances of telecommunications, network organizations, the creation and processing of databases and e-marketing provide new business opportunities in the tourism sector. Therefore, the main sphere of changes and innovations in the sphere of tourism is connected with using of information and communication technologies. Kazakhstan with its unique natural resources and original culture of the nomadic people has a huge untapped potential for tourism development in the international and regional markets. Tourism as a type of business in the Republic of Kazakhstan is recognized as one of the priority branches of the economy at the state level. Modern trends in the development of the industry is consisted in the fact that tourists who have studied well the most famous resorts of the world are eager for those countries where the tourism sector is just beginning to develop. At the present stage of tourism development, Kazakhstan is becoming a more attractive country for lovers of extreme species and / or ethnographic tourism. The tourist potential of recreational resources, historical and cultural heritage may allow Kazakhstan to harmoniously integrate into the international tourist market. It can ensure stable employment and income growth, stimulate the development of related industries and lead to an increase in investment flows in the national economy.