Sustainability-driven entrepreneurship and high-growth SME: How to combine Davids’ and Goliaths’ worlds?

Céline Bérard () and Séverine Saleilles ()
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Céline Bérard: COACTIS - COnception de l'ACTIon en Situation - UL2 - Université Lumière - Lyon 2 - UJM - Université Jean Monnet - Saint-Étienne
Séverine Saleilles: LSAF - Laboratoire de Sciences Actuarielle et Financière - UCBL - Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 - Université de Lyon

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Abstract: This paper aims to explore how sustainability-driven SMEs experiencing high growth can succeed in combining the best of the Davids' and Goliaths' worlds. An in-depth case study was conducted within a French SME, a pioneer in organic vegetable distribution that has succeeded in evolving from an ‘idealistic David' to a ‘high-growth David'. Research findings reveal two sets of key actions successfully carried out by this firm: the development of a hybrid organisation through a staff representing the skills of both Davids' and Goliaths' worlds, and of a learning organisation through exploration and exploitation. They also illustrate some challenges facing most high-growth SMEs and identify some specific tensions that can arise due to the coexistence of these two worlds, in particular value diversity within the top management team.

Keywords: sustainability-driven entrepreneurship; high-growth SME; hybrid organisation; learning organisation; organic market; case study; high-growth SME; hybrid organisation; learning organisation; organic market; case study (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01459141v1
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Published in International Journal of Organisational Design and Engineering, 2016, 4 (3/4), pp.195-212

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