The Impact of Investors in People on Small Business Growth: Who Benefits?

10.1068/c0304 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 793-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stuart Fraser
Author(s):  
Iryna Sydoruk

The article offers a methodical approach to determining the level of small business growth in the regions of Ukraine, based on the calculation of the integrated index. Small business is an important component of region’s economy, but its role and importance in socio-economic development vary depending on the heterogeneous industrial development of the regions. There is a need for a comprehensive assessment of the level of small business development to identify growth points and areas of support. In author’s opinion, the indicators of small business development currently used to determine the effectiveness of the implementation of regional programs to support small business do not reflect the impact of small business activities on the regional development at all. The author focuses the reader’s attention on determination of the level of development of small business and its role in the economy of the regions using the method of integrated index. This index is taken into consideration the extensiveness, intensity and social significance of small business. The coefficient of extensiveness is the share of small enterprises in the total number of enterprises in the region; the intensity coefficient is the share of the volume of products (goods, services) sold by small enterprises in the total volume of products (goods, services) sold in the region. The social significance of small business is calculated as the geometric mean of the product of the share of employees in small enterprises in the total number of employees in enterprises of the region and the share of personnel costs of small enterprises in total personnel costs of all enterprises in the region. The calculation of the general index of small business development in the regions is provided in the article. It allows to draw conclusions that small business has the greatest impact on the development of Kherson, Chernivtsi and Kirovohrad regions, and the least - on the development of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk regions. The article concludes by outlining prospects for further research. The analysis of indicators of extensiveness, intensity and social significance of small business makes it possible to highlight the problems that hinder its successful growth in the regions and require concentration of efforts for urgent solution.


Author(s):  
Fatema Akter ◽  
S. M. Mujahidul lslam ◽  
SK. Kabir Ahmed

Purpose: In the competitive business world of today, in which flexibility, speed and adaptability are essential for survival and progress, small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) including small business play all extremely important role in any country's economic development. Recognized the important of small to economy and individual, many previous studies have been done on the issue regarding this topic. A number of authors are concerned with explaining the factors contributed to successful of firms. However, a vast of previous literature on small entrepreneurship and business management overlooked the various factors that may influence business growth. This paper aims to advance knowledge about the relationship between entrepreneurial qualities and small business -growth by tested using Structural Equation modeling with data collected from SME finance participants. Findings: Previous works on small business area, the paper provide empirical evidence, where entrepreneurial qualities represent by various dimensions such as generic, technical and managerial skills in the direct relationship with small business growth. The findings indicate that only generic and managerial skills have positive relationship on small business growth, while technical skills have no relationship. Limitations: The small sample size which was dominated by small business was the major limitation of the study. Implications: This result can be used in the study on the impact of entrepreneurial qualities toward small business growth in the future.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 850-862 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Braidford ◽  
Ian Drummond ◽  
Ian Stone

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical evidence in support of widespread calls for new approaches to understanding small business growth, by exploring the use of non-positivist methods (e.g. critical realism) to analyse how owners’ innate dispositions shape growth in practice. Design/methodology/approach In 2014, a telephone survey was used to inform two focus groups and 29 in-depth interviews with small business owners throughout England, covering attitudes towards growth, the use of particular strategies and perceived barriers. Discourse analysis was used to develop a multi-layered explanatory model incorporating key ideas from critical realism and the work of Bourdieu. Findings Bourdieusian analysis reveals the existence of orientations among small business owners towards or against business growth. Such attitudes tend to impact upon their response to perceived barriers. Growth-inclined owners were willing to strategise for long-term benefit, in return for lower returns in the short term. Growth-resistant owners were more likely to view obstacles as absolute, stating that they cannot grow their firms as a result. Practical implications Removing or reducing obstacles may not encourage growth if motivations and attitudes of owners do not change to embrace more growth-oriented positions. Banks’ lending practices, for example, were seen by many as problematic, but growth-oriented owners were more willing to seek and use alternatives to raise funds for growth. Originality/value The authors suggest that entrepreneurship researchers should look beyond positivist research to epistemologies that provide more multi-layered modes of explanation.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-84
Author(s):  
Babandi Ibrahim Gumel

Purpose- There is a need to develop a framework that will improve the understandings of business planning and performance and its effects on growth particularly during the stages of small business development. The study attempted to fill in the gap stated.  Design - The single case qualitative study relates small business growth with strategic planning where financial performance, market share, sales, and profits or instead return on investment is used to measure the growth. Existing literature fails to establish a concrete relationship between strategic planning and growth of small businesses which indicates a gap in the literature that will help understand the steps of managing the organizational transition of small business growth.  Findings - The study fails to establish a significant relationship between formal planning and transitional growth, but instead found the influence of the planning process in communication the owner’s goals, vision, mission, and intentions to both internal and external stakeholders of small businesses. The study influence of the shared vision with customers on making them loyal and advertisers through word of mouth. The study revealed how customers’ word of mouth increased the customer base of small businesses thereby increasing the product demand and eventual expansion of capacity leading to the growth of small businesses. The growth of small businesses will result in an increased reduction in the unemployment rate which will reduce the poverty rate in the Nigerian economy.  Practical Implications- Answering the primary and supporting questions will help small business owners to understand how strategic planning is essential in the transitional growth of their businesses.


10.1068/c0322 ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Soufani

The author develops a theoretical model for considering the impact and the compliance costs of taxation on the liquidity and the financial situation of small firms in Canada. The model addresses the tax burden that faces small firms at their different stages of growth and development, but the emphasis is on the start-up phase where small firms need more cash or liquidity relative to businesses at more developed stages of the business life cycle. It is recognized that one of the ways of bolstering the availability of cash and short-term liquidity for small firms is to offer them tax incentives and to design a system that reduces their compliance costs. The author looks at the importance of the small business sector and the stages of development and growth of firms; presenting the small business tax policy, and then providing some policy and managerial recommendations. The author's intention is not to measure direct tax and compliance costs, but simply to reflect on some key policy parameters.


1981 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 33-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin M. Boardman ◽  
Jon W. Bartley ◽  
Richard L. Ratliff

Financial characteristics are presented for small firms whose sales increased at a rate greater than the inflation rate over the period 1974–1979. It is noted that these characteristics differ somewhat depending on whether they were a retailer, manufacturer or wholesaler. A growing small firm is generally characterized as one which increases its leverage, decreases its liquidity and incurs a heavy investment in operational assets. Interestingly, it is also shown that these same characteristics, if taken to extremes, are typical of the failed companies in the sample. The reward of growth is success; the risk of growth is failure.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 212-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emiel L Eijdenberg ◽  
Leonard J Paas ◽  
Enno Masurel

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between entrepreneurial motivation and small business growth in one of the poorest emerging countries: the African least developed country (LDC), Rwanda. Design/methodology/approach – On the basis of theoretical resources and a pre-study of interviews with local experts in Rwanda, the authors developed a survey for this study. Based on primary data from 133 Rwandan small business owners, the authors conducted an exploratory factorial analysis to uncover the underlying factors. Subsequently, the authors conducted regression analyses to test the hypotheses. Findings – The analyses show that the predictors for the growth of small businesses can be divided into three factors: one factor with a mix of motivations related to family background, necessity and opportunity motivations; one factor with items predominantly related to opportunity motivation; and one factor with items related to necessity motivation. The first factor has the strongest positive effect on small business growth followed by the second factor. The factor concerning necessity motivation was irrelevant for further inclusion in the regression model, due to insufficient reliability. Research limitations/implications – The study contributes to the debate in the literature about which entrepreneurial motivations affect the growth of small businesses in LDCs. Practical implications – The results reported in this study also have implications for how small business growth in LDCs can be supported and stimulated by policy-making practice. Originality/value – This study shows that entrepreneurial motivation is not a clear distinction between necessity and opportunity, but that a mix of motivations is important to assess the growth of small businesses in an LDC, which is an understudied context.


2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 287-288
Author(s):  
NATAA RENKO ◽  
RUICA BUTIGAN ◽  
ANTE VULETIC

Author(s):  
John Stanworth ◽  
Celia Stanworth ◽  
Anna Watson ◽  
David Purdy ◽  
Simon Healeas

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