Title: Public advisory services for early-stage companies in northern sparsely populated area

Authors: Martti Saarela; Osmo Kauppila; Eija-Riitta Niinikoski; Matti Muhos; Pekka Leviäkangas

Addresses: Oulu Southern Institute, University of Oulu, Pajatie 5, 85500 Nivala, Finland ' Industrial Engineering and Management, University of Oulu, Pentti Kaiteran katu 1, 90014 Oulu, Finland ' Oulu Southern Institute, University of Oulu, Pajatie 5, 85500 Nivala, Finland ' Oulu Southern Institute, University of Oulu, Pajatie 5, 85500 Nivala, Finland ' Department of Construction Management, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley WA 6102, Australia

Abstract: In developed countries, the public sector allocates substantial resources to support entrepreneurship. Current literature provides limited evidence on how public advisory services should be efficiently and effectively organised. This study investigated what the perceived significance and service level of public advisory services is. A single case study focusing on a sparsely populated region in Northern Finland was performed by carrying out orientation interviews and a customer survey. As a result of this study, the levels of successfulness and the importance of the public advisory services were clarified from the customers' perspective. The results imply that the services are particularly important in the very beginning of the development of the business. It is also then when the most tailoring is called for. This research includes a novel sample, reflecting experiences particularly from a northern sparsely populated area. The perceived customer value of the services is a significant new viewpoint.

Keywords: public advisory services; PASs; public business services; sparsely populated areas; SPA; micro enterprises; stage models; entrepreneurship support; firm growth; perceived customer value; innovation; regional development; case study; Finland; business development; early stage development; tailoring.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIRD.2015.074062

International Journal of Innovation and Regional Development, 2015 Vol.6 No.4, pp.356 - 375

Received: 18 Dec 2014
Accepted: 22 Sep 2015
Published online: 05 Jan 2016 *

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