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The Growth of Small Businesses: Towards A Research Agenda

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  • Akin Fadahunsi

Abstract

Problem statement: The central objective of this study is to help define a framework for researching the growth of small businesses. Approach: By way of a literature review, the study evaluates current research approaches to small business growth organized around the "key factors" framework proposed which include elements drawn from the characteristics of the entrepreneur, the firm and the business strategy. Results: In the absence of a unified theory of small business growth, models and approaches used to explain small business growth are fragmented and wide-ranging. A consideration of the additional impact on this framework of the external environmental dimension can inject a necessary dynamic element into the research process that is well-placed to capture the process of firm growth, as opposed to the snapshot of firm growth that tends to dominate the existing empirical work. Conclusion: The study concludes that longitudinal and case-based methodologies are needed to develop our existing understanding of small firm growth behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Akin Fadahunsi, 2012. "The Growth of Small Businesses: Towards A Research Agenda," American Journal of Economics and Business Administration, Science Publications, vol. 4(1), pages 105-115, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:abk:jajeba:ajebasp.2012.105.115
    DOI: 10.3844/ajebasp.2012.105.115
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jane W. Lu & Paul W. Beamish, 2001. "The internationalization and performance of SMEs," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(6‐7), pages 565-586, June.
    2. Davidsson, Per, 1989. "Entrepreneurship -- And after? A study of growth willingness in small firms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 4(3), pages 211-226, May.
    3. Aderemi Ayinla Alarape, 2007. "Entrepreneurship programs, operational efficiency and growth of small businesses," Journal of Enterprising Communities: People and Places in the Global Economy, Emerald Group Publishing Limited, vol. 1(3), pages 222-239, August.
    4. Donato Iacobucci & Peter Rosa, 2005. "Growth, Diversification, and Business Group Formation in Entrepreneurial Firms," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 65-82, August.
    5. Robert E. Carpenter & Bruce C. Petersen, 2002. "Is The Growth Of Small Firms Constrained By Internal Finance?," The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press, vol. 84(2), pages 298-309, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Edmundo Escrivão Filho & Alexandre Farias Albuquerque & Marcelo Seido Nagano & Luiz Adalberto Philippsen Junior & Jair de Oliveira, 2017. "Identifying SME mortality factors in the life cycle stages: an empirical approach of relevant factors for small business owner-managers in Brazil," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 7(1), pages 1-15, December.
    2. Vaz, Rolando, 2021. "Firm Growth: A review of the empirical literature," Revista Galega de Economía, University of Santiago de Compostela. Faculty of Economics and Business., vol. 30(2), pages 1-20.
    3. Rula Ali Al-Damen, 2021. "Business Incubator and Its Impact on Business Success: A Case Study of Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO)," Journal of Management and Sustainability, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 11(1), pages 1-35, June.
    4. Aissa Mosbah & Kalsom Binti Abd Wahab, 2018. "Factors Influencing Performance of Immigrant Service Firms," International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, vol. 8(2), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Rolando Vaz, 2023. "Firm growth in the Portuguese footwear industry: the location dilemma," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 70(2), pages 407-427, April.
    6. Gillian Gray & Helen Lawton Smith, 2020. "Experience versus youth: An exploratory study of the motivations of older entrepreneurs," Working Papers 46, Birkbeck Centre for Innovation Management Research, revised Aug 2020.

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