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Financial control and business strategy in start-up companies: An empirical analysis

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  • Franco Cescon
  • Luca Grassetti

Abstract

This article focuses on the relationship between financial control (FC) techniques and business strategies (BSs). The context of the study is start-up companies in Italy, and the main motivation to consider this context is the very limited extant literature. The authors performed a survey to collect quantitative data from start-up companies, and they also complemented the survey with a series of interviews to collect qualitative data. Results show that the use of different FC techniques does not depend on BSs. As a strategic risk factor, the authors also show that reputation risk differs significantly between the two strategy-based groups, differentiation strategy group and focus strategy group. The interviews conducted with expert entrepreneurs aimed at determining the importance of specific FC techniques and the benefits of adopting them in start-up companies. Overall, the article provides new evidence for the debate about the role of FC techniques in the BSs of the firm.

Suggested Citation

  • Franco Cescon & Luca Grassetti, 2021. "Financial control and business strategy in start-up companies: An empirical analysis," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2021(suppl. 2), pages 189-214.
    • Handle: RePEc:fan:macoma:v:html10.3280/maco2021-002-s1009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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