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A conceptual framework was developed for categorizing innovation environments and applied to the agricultural sector in Ontario, Canada. Literature pertaining to innovation and profit theory was explored to identify appropriate constructs from which to develop the framework. The fundamental assertion is that innovation trajectories can be influenced by two financial dimensions: profitability and efficiency, and that four distinct environments for farmers can be identified. A k-means cluster analysis was undertaken using geographic regions and farm sizes to illustrate the use of this framework. The research results in a diverse distribution across the identified environments and various innovation trajectories between those environments were assessed. The study supports policies to encourage an agricultural innovation system (AIS) that promotes capital investment, training in entrepreneurship and innovation, and product diversification while limiting the reliance on financial support mechanisms that can inhibit innovation. The results have implications for farmers, agriculture policy makers and entrepreneurs.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can play an important role in the diffusion of wine innovation. Employing a market dynamics approach where the interaction of producers (supply) and buyers (demand) are seen to influence innovation creation, a conceptual framework is applied to the global wine industry to identify commercialization strategies for SMEs. The framework identifies four commercialization environments or clusters; Innovation Nirvana, Innovation Push, Innovation Pull and Innovation Wasteland as determined by the principle market dimensions of wine supply (innovation-push) and wine demand (market-pull). A k-means cluster analysis is undertaken on twenty-two wine-producing member countries of the OECD to determine which jurisdictions occupy each of the four clusters. The study results is a diverse distribution of old world and new world wine producing countries across all of the identified commercialization environments. Conclusions about national commercialization environments and related strategies for wine industry entrepreneurs are presented. These findings have implications for wine industry SMEs, investors and agri-policy makers. Keywords: Innovation, Global wine industry, OECD

It has been recognized that innovation drives the long-run economic growth of nations and increasingly governments are placing innovation at the center of their economic growth strategies. International variation in the investment on innovation presents an opportunity to examine key enablers of innovation-driving policy choices. Countries find themselves at different stages of economic development and innovation performance and so their relative levels of innovation inputs and outputs are likely to be different. In this study we employ a systems of innovation approach to examine what enables improvements in innovation potential among developed countries. Using data from the 2017 Global Innovation Index (GII) Report, we subjected 770 data measures to an analysis of 242 relationships involving changes in the GII’s innovation inputs/outputs scores and overall innovation potential of 35 OECD countries over a five year period (2012 to 2016). Our findings suggest that instituting policies that improve access to open and competitive markets is the most significant enabler for raising a developed country’s innovation potential.

This study begins to develop a way to measure the returns and benefits of education using a standard of living and quality of life approach. It sought identification of school priorities among senior level managers at postsecondary institutions in Ontario, Canada, and found that these administrators prioritized standard of living over quality of life. Findings indicate that these institutions relate their priorities to job and employment objectives rather than community and social goals and to their role as contributors to economic ends. Innovative use of the model and rates of return may improve overall policy direction and evaluation of specific programs.

The purpose of this paper was to compare, contrast and analyze the business case formats of college students involved in a business case competition. The authors observed and documented teams of business students from 6 colleges in Ontario, Canada. The teams had 20 minutes to prepare a solution from a given business case using their own case format. Findings revealed that colleges used different formats, along with various headings, and in some cases in different sections of their presentations. The paper has contributed to management-education by helping business schools as well as case competition organizers be aware the case format is an important aspect to solving business cases. Further study is required to better understand whether a standardized format or a variety of formats is more effective at making management decisions.

This study researched Ontario’s micro-brewing industry and used the firm’s strategy obtained from policies, plans, and priorities to develop an industry framework to measure the industry’s contribution to Ontario’s standard of living and, ultimately, to Ontario’s economic well-being. Nine microbreweries were surveyed and 14 websites were analysed based on four research objectives: 1) identify industry success factors; 2) validate a portion of Menna’s model; 3) apply lessons of this study to the creation of successful models in new venture creation; 4) instil a uniquely micro-brewing model for affecting growth and benefits in the province of Ontario. Results show that Ontario’s microbreweries thrive in niche markets with unique strategies and distinctive advantages that contribute to Ontario’s economy. This is a first step in understanding key factors that may help Ontario transition to a community-based, creative-oriented enterprise system of wealth creation.

The enthalpies of dilution of monomethylurea were determined by a flow microcalorimeter at 25°C. The data were combined with osmotic data to give the thermodynamic excess functions. The behavior of monomethylurea is compared to that of urea and other alkylureas, alkylamides, etc. in water. Enthalpy predominates at low concentrations, and entropy at higher concentrations. Hence monomethylurea falls within the group of substances whose behavior, according to Rowlinson, is "not peculiar in water", for m1. An analysis of the sign of the virial coefficients of the excess thermodynamic functions shows that the properties of MMU in solution are particular. These properties are briefly discussed on the basis of models proposed by Friedman and Krishnan for the aqueous solutions of predominantly hydrophobic solutes and by Frank and Franks for aqueous solutions of urea. © 1979 Plenum Publishing Corporation.