THE ENTREPRENEUR'S CHOICE: GROWTH INHIBITING BUSINESS PRACTICES OF SMEsIN SCOTLAND AND IRELAND

William M. Mayfield and Briga Hynes
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William M. Mayfield: Wichita State University, USA
Briga Hynes: University of Limerick, Ireland

Journal of Enterprising Culture (JEC), 1999, vol. 07, issue 03, 257-268

Abstract: It is critical to the economic development of a given society that entrepreneurs initiate and grow new ventures. Even though the maturation process is unique for every business, there are predictable patterns that occur in sequential and progressive stages of the maturation process (Eggers, Leahy and Churchill, 1994; Hynes, 1992; Dodge and Robbins, 1992; Churchill and Lewis, 1983).Hay and Kaushad (1994) suggested that decisions made by entrepreneurs effect the growth of a business. Therefore, this paper assumes that the choices and/or decisions, as made by the entrepreneur, effects the growth of SMEs. The purpose of this study was an attempt to identify those business choices and/or decisions that inhibit the growth of Irish and Scottish SMEs. The researchers utilised an American model the SME growth patterns developed by Eggers, Leahy and Churchill.The business practices that were ascertained to be growth inhibiting were identified as such within the contexts and environments in which they were found. As an analysis of the findings from this study indicates, the entrepreneur is the primary controlling factor of the growth for SMEs. It may be that the aspiration or desire for growth exists, however, it is not translated into action due to the inability or unwillingness of the entrepreneur. The result is the firm never reaches its maximum growth potential.

Date: 1999
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DOI: 10.1142/S0218495899000157

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