 Representations of excellence in New Zealand micro-enterpriseTanya Jurado, Claire Massey and Robyn Walker International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2007, vol. 1, issue 3, 267-280 Abstract: This paper reports on a qualitative study on micro-enterprises and firm performance where we adopt a social constructionist approach to analyse responses to the question: 'What does business excellence mean to you?' Most owner-managers found the term to be meaningful, but standard business excellence frameworks were unfamiliar and viewed as irrelevant by some. Our analysis shows excellence for managers of micro-enterprises is a relationship-driven phenomenon represented in terms of personal values, good service, personal satisfaction and positive relationships with clients. Frequently these characterisations are presented against the 'other' of business-in-general. That managers of micro-enterprises construct business excellence differently from accepted models has implications for government policy affecting micro-enterprises. Policy must recognise the special character and diversity of micro-enterprise and attempt to negotiate meaningful interaction that will enable the aspirations of both micro-enterprise and Government to be met. Keywords: micro-enterprises; business excellence; firm performance; New Zealand; best practice; government policy. (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ids:ijbire:v:1:y:2007:i:3:p:267-280 Access Statistics for this article More articles in International Journal of Business Innovation and Research from Inderscience Enterprises Ltd |
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