This thesis studies the performance of a cohort of French firms between 2006 and 2009 using a theoretical framework developed for this purpose. This framework is based on the author’s entrepreneurial experience and conviction that firm performance is dependent on solving a managerial problem with two components: (i) an entrepreneurial component which focuses on creating market power with respect to customer wants, resources, means of production, and technology and (ii) an organisational component aiming to implement adequate labour division and coordination and motivation mechanisms in the firm. Solving both aspects of the managerial problem in firms is expected to increase frim performance over time. This book describes the origins of the managerial problem in the economic literature, studies its dual organisational and entrepreneurial aspect, and measures its effect on firm performance.:INTRODUCTION PART I: LITERATURE REVIEW, RESEARCH QUESTION, AND RESEARCH PLAN CHAPTER 1 : LITERATURE REVIEW CHAPTER 2 : RESEARCH QUESTION CHAPTER 3 : RESEARCH PLAN PART II: THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT CHAPTER 4 : THE PROCESS THEORY OF ORGANISATION CHAPTER 5 : A MODEL OF FIRM PERFORMANCE CHAPTER 6 : LEVERAGES ON FIRM PERFORMANCE CHAPTER 7 : THE MANAGERIAL PROBLEM PART III: EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS CHAPTER 8 : BUILDING A MODEL TO ASSESS FIRM PERFORMANCE CHAPTER 9 : ENTREPRENEURIAL ABILITY AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS CHAPTER 10 : ORGANISATIONAL ABILITY AND ITS CHARACTERISTICS CHAPTER 11 : THE IMPACT OF MANAGEMENT ON FIRM PERFORMANCE PART IV: OUTLOOK APPENDIX A: THE AUSTRIAN SCHOOL OF THOUGHTS AND ITS EVOLUTION APPENDIX B: A CALCULATED EXAMPLE OF FIRM PERFORMANCE WITH NESTED PROCESSES APPENDIX C: ON STRUCTURING AND DRIVING THE FIRM APPENDIX D: LANDMARKS TO UNDERSTANDING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL PROCESS APPENDIX E: DESCRIPTIVE STATISTICS APPENDIX F: MODEL SPECIFICATION REFERENCES