This paper focuses on the survival competences that enable small and medium enterprise (SME) managers to conduct business in change situations. Russian SMEs, which have undergone several drastic changes in operational environment in recent decades, comprise the subjects of the qualitative study. Their recent World Trade Organization (WTO) membership is challenging in terms of business continuity and competence. The results of the study show that both internal competences and network competences are needed in order to survive in crisis situations. Entrepreneurial competences acquired by everybody in the firm, an open-minded attitude towards external partners, and networking competences provide a future direction for managerial practice and public actors.

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This article focuses on how SMEs react in drastic environmental changes and what part competences play in business survival. The comparative qualitative case study is based on interviews in Finnish and Russian SMEs that have encountered drastic changes in their business environments. The findings indicated differences in the entrepreneurial competences of the SMEs between the countries, such as passive in environmental and=or opportunity scanning. As practical implications, we highlight the need for SMEs to invest in competence renewing to avoid competence traps. Surviving SMEs must also possess a forward-looking attitude with the opportunity exploitation and exploration.

Purpose The purpose of the study is to clarify Finnish youth’s attitudes toward entrepreneurship and evaluate both regional and background factors influencing those attitudes. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a survey of 1,497 students aged 15 to 24 years and analyzed the data using descriptive statistical analysis. Findings The study’s results indicate positive attitudes toward entrepreneurship among the youth. One of the notable findings of the study was the number of students who had already worked as entrepreneurs. The study also revealed background factors that affected entrepreneurial attitudes, such as regional aspects, entrepreneurial background and gender. Practical implications The results of this study highlight the importance of regional-level entrepreneurial education activities for increasing the vitality and entrepreneurial intentions within remote areas of Finland. This study suggests to develop new teaching methods to further raise entrepreneurial attitudes and expand gender equal entrepreneurial education programs aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, especially in remote areas. Originality/value The study results reveal that the attitudes of young Finnish people toward entrepreneurship seem to be at a more positive levels than indicated by earlier studies. In previous Global Entrepreneurship Monitor studies, researchers evaluated Finnish youth’s attitudes toward entrepreneurship. By contrast, this study’s data was based on the opinions of youth in the region with the youngest population in Finland, and they described the entrepreneurial attitudes of themselves and their peers.

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