The phenomenon of enterprise growth is more a function of the nature of the entrepreneurial person and the policies and strategies adopted by a venture rather than the economic and environmental factors such as profitability or industry growth. This book focuses on the role of founder characteristics and venture policies in promoting enterprise-growth, with special focus on High Growth Enterprises. The research reported in this book is triggered by the that almost 95% of business start-ups either get closed down or stagnate, with only about 5% taking to a growth path, even though many more of them are profitable. The study presented in the book investigates the relationships between enterprise growth and venture policies as well as entrepreneurial characteristics such as the traits, motives and background of entrepreneurs. It also identifies the general entrepreneurial characteristics and points to the need for reviewing/redefining some of the concepts traditionally associated with entrepreneurship, such as achievement motive, power motive, desire for independence, risk-taking ability, support and encouragement, etc.
Author(s): Mathew Manimala
Publisher: World Scientific Publishing
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 270
City: Singapore
Contents
Foreword
Preface
About the Author
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1 Growth: The Sour Grapes of Entrepreneurship
A Sequel to the Fox and the Sour Grapes Story
Growth Unwillingness
Reasons for Growth Unwillingness
Stages of Small Business Growth
Theories of Small Firm Growth
Growth Strategies
Characteristics of Growth-Seeking Entrepreneurs
Objectives of this Study
Hypotheses
Organization of the Book
Chapter 2 Research Design and Methodology
Design of the Questionnaire
Sample Selection
Pre-testing
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Limitations of the Method
Concluding Remarks
Chapter 3 Enterprise Growth, Profitability, Industry Growth and Growth Venture Characteristics
Growth Index
High-growth and Low-growth Ventures
Profitability, Industry Growth, and Enterprise Growth
Distinguishing Features of Growth-Seeking Entrepreneurs/Ventures
Variables With High and Low Mean Scores
Concluding Remarks
Chapter 4 General Entrepreneurial Concerns and Orientations
High- and Low-Scoring Variables for the Whole Sample
Major Concerns and Orientations
Policy Orientations
Major Dimensions of Entrepreneurial Personality
Major work motives
Dimensions of the Background
Factors of the Distinguishing Variables
Factor Mean Scores: High and Low
Mean Scores of Distinguishing Factors
Concluding Remarks
Chapter 5 Inter-linkages among Factors and their Association with Enterprise Growth
Inter-correlations among the 21 General Entrepreneurial Factors and the 2 Performance Variables
Inter-correlations among the 6 Distinguishing Factors and the 2 Performance Variables
The Combined Entrepreneurial Factors (CEF)
Changes in Traits, Motives, and Policies
Explanatory and Discriminatory Powers
Concluding Remarks
Chapter 6 Conclusion
Summary of Findings
Growth Venture Characteristics
Profitability, industry growth, and enterprise growth
Growth venture policies
Distinguishing personality traits
Distinguishing motives
Distinguishing features of the background
The distinguishing factors
Explanatory and discriminatory powers
General Entrepreneurial Characteristics
Characteristic policies
Characteristic traits
Characteristic motives
Characteristic features of the background
Major dimensions of entrepreneurial characteristics
Changes in policies, traits, and motives over time
Combined entrepreneurial factors (CEF)
Inter-relationships among variable groups
Contributions of this Study and their Implications
Growth Venture Profile
Growth Unwillingness and Growth Facilitation
Background of the Entrepreneur and the Growth-Venture Model
Achievement Motive
Power Motive
Affiliation Motive
Deontic Motive
Risk-Taking Ability
Related Diversification
Changes in Policies, Traits, and Motives
Limitations of this Study
Directions for Further Research
References
Appendix 1: An Illustrative Case-Study
FI Group Plc: Growth from Freelancing to Professionalism
Part I: A Refugee Girl from Germany
Part II: Freelance Programmers — Pioneering the Flexible Organization
Part III: From Freelance to Xansa/Steria — Growth through Transformation
Growth and Transformation: Actions and Outcomes
Secondary Sources (Online)
Appendix 2: Entrepreneurial Policies and Strategies — A Questionnaire
Section 1: Venture Characteristics
Section 2: Management Practices
Section 3: Personal Policies of the Principal Promoter
Section 4: Work Motives of the Principal Promoter
Section 5: Background and Early Experiences of the Principal Promoter
Index
