<p> Prior research cannot explain the surprising fact that some technology firms attain spectacular growth with seemingly inexperienced founders at the helm. Informed by a cognitivist perspective, prior research in entrepreneurship explores founders' epistemology, such as knowledge and skills, and investigates their interaction with firms to explain their influence on firm growth. This framing misses the reciprocal influence between firm growth and founder development. In contrast, informed by a sociocultural perspective, my research investigates the founder&rsquo;s ontology and the mutual constitution of the founder and the firm. My research draws on practice theory and uses habitus as a sensitizing concept. I build a theory that explains how the dispositional toolkit of a founder evolves with, and contributes to, firm growth. Based on three in-depth case studies of technology companies, I show how technology firms and their founders coevolved. These firms influenced the development of their founders when they used founders as resources in different aspects of business and placed them in changing relationships with others. In turn, tech founders influenced the growth trajectory of their firms when they performed day-to-day practices of business. My grounded theory suggests that founders and firms coevolve in a mutually constitutive relationship. Firm growth changes the conditions under which business practices occur. The founder develops by becoming the resource the changing contexts demand. Furthermore, a growing firm deposits new dispositions in the founder. In practice, situational cues activate a specific disposition, regulating how the founder improvises. The founder&rsquo;s improvisation in turn influences firm growth. My study advances entrepreneurship research, accounting for structural influences as well as human agency, thus contributing to a previously missing understanding of the coevolution of founders and firms. My study also contributes to practice by producing insights into founder development and firm growth that are relevant for entrepreneurs, board members, and educators. </p><p> Keywords: entrepreneurial learning, entrepreneurship, firm growth, founder development, habitus, high technology venture, leadership, leadership development, organizational development, practice theory, startup.</p>

<p> The failure rates of SMEs (small and medium enterprises) in developing countries have been very high, with many of them closing down within the first five years of operation. The research method was qualitative. The research design was a descriptive case study design assisted in the exploration of the influence of leadership on SMEs survival in Lagos, Nigeria. The multiple cases involved 20 SMEs in Lagos, Nigeria with a purposive sample of 20 participants. The exploration of the influence of leadership on SMEs survival involved in-depth semi-structured interviews, direct observations, and artifacts for data triangulation. The data collection and analysis provided findings that revealed leadership practices for replication regarding SMEs survival. Data analysis included the use of NVivo 10&reg; software resulting in four major themes and 24 sub themes. Four major themes were: (a) leadership experience perspective on SMEs survival, (b) leadership practices perspective on SMEs survival, (c) business practices perspective on SMEs survival, and (d) sustainable practices perspective on SMEs survival. Five of the 24 sub themes were: (a) listen to learn, (b) performance, (c) recognition,(d), skills renewal, and (e) value-driven. The recommendation for SME owners/managers and leaders in the private, public, and academic sectors is to embrace leadership styles and leadership development practices that will assist in SMEs survival. The diverse perspectives from males and female leaders provided multiple data sources achieving triangulation. The study revealed that SME owners/managers should have leadership experiences, demonstrate leadership practices, develop and employ business practices, and sustainable leadership practices.</p>

D.Econ.

While the restaurant industry plays an important role in the economy, research on entrepreneurial orientation has largely focused on manufacturing firms. Current conceptualization of EO fail to adequately consider the unique characteristics of EO and the context within which they must operate. As such, little guidance has been provided regarding its application in other contexts such as the restaurant business. The purpose of this article is to help explore the conceptualization of EO in the restaurant sector and bridge the research gap. In order to achieve this aim, we first review existing literature of EO and its measurement and industry research that related to entrepreneurship. Then a discussion of five entrepreneurial restaurants is presented in the framework of EO multidimensional construct suggested by Dess and Lumpkin. Based on the exploration, a new construct to measure EO is introduced. Finally, it addresses implication for future EO-related research in this field.

Zugl.: Erlangen, Nürnberg, Univ., Diss., 2008

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Tech degree in Entrepreneurship / The inability of governments worldwide to protect individuals from economic insecurity has led to a renewed interest and public expectation that corporations have public responsibilities (Vettori, 2005). Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) do not seem to assume social responsibility towards the community. Businesses of the 21st century should add value not only to themselves, but to the rest of society as well, by supporting welfare institutions which address housing, recreational facilities and improvement of conditions in general. There is a growing acceptance that the survival of a business is dependent upon its being seen as socially accountable. In view of the social and economic problems faced by South Africa, the business sector is expected to contribute to solving these problems. Traditionally it used to be the sole responsibility of the government to take care of the social welfare of its society. Changes in all spheres of life have forced businesses and government to take note of their social responsibility (Skinner and Mersham, 2008). The paper focuses on the social responsibility of SMEs towards their communities. Research indicates that if enterprises do not evaluate the change of attitude and needs in the communities and adapt their activities accordingly, they will lose business. The perceptions of SMEs towards social responsibility are assessed in this paper, and the determinants influencing the social responsibility of businesses are identified. A survey was conducted to investigate the nature of social responsibility of SMEs in the northern townships of Pretoria. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data. From the findings of the study it can be deduced that SMEs' perceptions of corporate responsibility are that being socially responsible can result in a favourable image of the enterprise. Corporate responsibility also brings new opportunities for the business. The practice of corporate social responsibility can improve the life of workers and communities. SMEs, however, argue that they are struggling for survival as they do not have the necessary resources to spend on corporate responsibility. It emerged from the v study that the size of the business did not determine corporate responsibility practices among SMEs in the northern townships of Pretoria, but it does contribute to these activities.

No description available.

Zugl.: Siegen, University, Diss., 2008.

Thesis (D. Phil. (Entrepreneurship))--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 170-185).