The significant roles of service organizations, entrepreneurial ventures and SMEs in general to the growth of many of the world’s economies have been documented. However, growth is just one dimension of development. Economic development involves an increase in living standards, greater choice of goods and services, improvement in social and environmental wellbeing, low level of unemployment, and security (in general). It also deals with an increase in a country's real level of national output which can result from an increase in the quality and quantity of operand and operant resources, and improvements in technology. Economic development is concerned with sustainability and takes into account the size and quality of the informal economy. It alleviates people from low standards of living into a better quality of life. Small enterprises and service organizations have made significant contributions towards economic development and quality of life in many nations, but they are yet to reach their maximum potential. The ongoing economic meltdown and the reduction in oil prices have additional adverse effect on their contributions. GCSMES 2015 is a forum designed to bring together researchers and practitioners to deliberate on several issues around the conference theme.
Manuscripts should be sent to the secretariat at admin@gcsmes.org. Submissions in the form of case study, conceptual, empirical and practitioner papers are invited in the following (but not limited) areas:
| Accounting | Business to Business | Branding |
| Competitiveness and Performance | Creative Thinking, Creativity and Innovation | CSR, Ethics and Governance |
| CRM and E-commerce | Cross Cultural Issues | Customer Relationship Management |
| Diaspora Entrepreneurship | Environmental Quality Management | Entrepreneurial Marketing |
| Entrepreneurship Education | Franchising and Outsourcing | Gender and minority issues |
| Family Business | HR Management and Industrial Relations | ICT and Innovation |
| Finance | International Business / Marketing | International Management and Finance |
| Green Business | Knowledge Management | Leadership |
| Indigenous Entrepreneurship | Multinational and Transnational Enterprises | Psychology of Entrepreneurship |
| Internationalization of Small Firms | Operations Strategy | Service Innovation |
| Mindfulness | SMEs and Economic Development | Succession Planning |
| Social Entrepreneurship | Supply Network Management | Sustainability |
| Strategic Management and Quality | Tourism and Hospitality Research | Women Business Owners |
| Abstract Submission (Optional) | March 31, 2015 |
| Full paper or Extended Abstract* (about 1000 words) | May 31, 2015 |
| Early Bird Registration | June 30, 2015 |
| Final Submission (Proceedings Ready) | August 31, 2015 |
| Industry Workshop | October 28, 2015 |
| Conference | October 28-30, 2015 |
Notes:
Presentation in Absentia: Authors who are unable to travel to the venue will have an opportunity to present their paper online or via the help of a dedicated facilitator engaged for that purpose.
* Extended Abstract: Extended abstracts will be published in the proceedings, as such, authors who choose to publish only extended abstract need not submit a full paper for the same purpose.
Abstract should not be more than 250 words. Extended abstract should not exceed 1000 words. Full paper, not exceeding 10 A4 pages (including references), single spacing, 12 Font size, Times New Roman, in Microsoft word format, should be submitted before the deadline for review and eventual inclusion in the Conference Proceedings. All submissions are taken to be an original work and have not been published or in consideration elsewhere. All submissions will go through a double blind review process. To be published in the proceedings, at least on author must register and present the paper at the conference. The official language for both submission and presentation is English.
ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE TO BE MADE BY E-MAIL ATTACHMENT TO THE SECRETARIAT AT: admin@gcsmes.org