Understanding Small Enterprises - a healthy working life in a healthy business

Small enterprises constitute the backbone of economic activity and employment in most countries. Therefore, the role of small enterprises in society is an area of great importance, not only for politicians, interest groups and professionals but also for the international scientific community.

Although the organisation, social structure and physical framework of small enterprises vary considerably, a series of common features regarding business conditions, working life, and workplace culture separate them from larger enterprises. For small enterprises with a low degree of formalisation and resources, it is often a challenge to integrate considerations related to the working environment into the daily operations in order to secure long-term survival and healthy jobs.

The goal of "USE 2009: Understanding Small Enterprises" is to be a platform for sharing scientific and practical knowledge about small enterprises. Sharing knowledge and experience is essential in order to develop policies and activities that can support owners and employees and secure healthy working conditions in small enterprises.

The conference represents a unique opportunity to gain insight into and discuss the latest research on small enterprises, the business aspects as well as the quality of working life and working environment. So far, much research on small enterprises has been fragmented with little possibility for generalisation and development of methods, concepts and theory which highlights the relevance of the conference. The aim of the conference is to develop networks and facilitate future research that will help improving the working environment and business in small enterprises.

Webpage: http://www.use2009.dk/