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Perceived Causes of Success in Small Business

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  • A. B. Ibrahim
  • J. R. Goodwin

Abstract

This empirical research is a pilot study which endeavours to identify a set of variables associated with successful small businesses. Seventy-four (74) small firms operating in Montreal responded to a lengthy questionnaire and an intensive interview. From this data three variables were initially identified. A replication study of seventy small firms located in Burlington, Vermont and Plattsburgh, New York, was carried out in order to observe whether the identified variables were duplicated beyond a certain geographical location. Using factor analysis on the data, the authors were able to delineate entrepreneurial behavior and managerial skills as key success factors in small business management. This finding underscores the role of entrepreneurship education in developing both the behavioral and the managerial skills in the owner/manager.

Suggested Citation

  • A. B. Ibrahim & J. R. Goodwin, 1986. "Perceived Causes of Success in Small Business," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 11(2), pages 41-50, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:entthe:v:11:y:1986:i:2:p:41-50
    DOI: 10.1177/104225878601100204
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Wayne Long, 1983. "The Meaning of Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 8(2), pages 47-59, October.
    5. Henry Wichmann, 1983. "Accounting and Marketing—Key Small Business Problems," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 7(4), pages 19-26, April.
    6. N/A, 1983. "American Journal of Small Business," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 7(3), pages 61-61, January.
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    1. Gaylen N. Chandler & Steven H. Hanks, 1994. "Founder Competence, the Environment, and Venture Performance," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 18(3), pages 77-89, April.
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    3. Philippe Van Cauwenberge & Heidi Vander Bauwhede & Bilitis Schoonjans, 2013. "An Evaluation of Public Spending: The Effectiveness of a Government-Supported Networking Program in Flanders," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 31(1), pages 24-38, February.
    4. Ahrens, Jan-Philipp & Landmann, Andreas & Woywode, Michael, 2015. "Gender preferences in the CEO successions of family firms: Family characteristics and human capital of the successor," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 6(2), pages 86-103.
    5. Halimah Abdul Manaf, 2017. "Impact of Microcredit Scheme on the Development of Entrepreneurship Skills among Low Income Households in a Developing Country Context," International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, Econjournals, vol. 7(1), pages 583-593.
    6. Thong, James Y. L., 2001. "Resource constraints and information systems implementation in Singaporean small businesses," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 29(2), pages 143-156, April.
    7. Robert N. Lussier & Sanja Pfeifer, 2000. "A Comparison of Business Success versus Failure Variables between U.S. and Central Eastern Europe Croatian Entrepreneurs," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 24(4), pages 59-67, July.
    8. Blaženka Knežević & Dora Naletina & Mate Damić, 2016. "The Changing Structure of Retail Industry: Case Studies on Competitive Advantage of Small Companies in Croatia," Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, Centre for Strategic and International Entrepreneurship at the Cracow University of Economics., vol. 4(4), pages 171-187.
    9. Richard B. Carter & Howard E. Van Auken, 1991. "Personal Equity Investment and Small Business Financial Difficulties," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 15(2), pages 51-60, January.
    10. Weerasinghe, R.N. & Perera, S.A.S.S., 2020. "Entry And Survival Strategies Adopted By Chinese Small Scale Entrepreneurs In Sri Lanka: A Case Study," Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, Universitatea Spiru Haret, vol. 20(3), pages 55-80.
    11. Younes Ben Zaied & Siagh Ahmed Ramzi, 2012. "Les déterminants du succès entrepreneurial ; Une étude empirique de la région de Sfax en Tunisie," Economics Working Paper Archive (University of Rennes 1 & University of Caen) 201235, Center for Research in Economics and Management (CREM), University of Rennes 1, University of Caen and CNRS.
    12. Jackson André da Silva & Nério Amboni & Anacleto Ângelo Ortigara & Alexandre Marino Costa, 2014. "Business DNA: an Analysis of Micro and Small Companies in the State of Santa Catarina," Brazilian Business Review, Fucape Business School, vol. 11(2), pages 115-134, March.
    13. Man, Thomas W. Y. & Lau, Theresa & Chan, K. F., 2002. "The competitiveness of small and medium enterprises: A conceptualization with focus on entrepreneurial competencies," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 123-142, March.
    14. Chandler, Gaylen N. & Hanks, Steven H., 1998. "An examination of the substitutability of founders human and financial capital in emerging business ventures," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 13(5), pages 353-369, September.
    15. Amin, Hindu Jibril, 2021. "Influence of Marketing Strategies on the Performance of SMEs: Evidence from Abuja SMEs," OSF Preprints vk7de, Center for Open Science.
    16. Issham Ismail & Robitah Spian & Goh Kong Tay, 2012. "Entrepreneurial Motivation Linking Entrepreneurial Motivation, Related Experience, Environment Hostility with Financial Success," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 2(1), pages 150-161, January.
    17. Mohammed S. Chowdhury & Zahurul Alam & Md. Ifttekhar Arif, 2013. "Success Factors of Entrepreneurs of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises: Evidence from Bangladesh," Business and Economic Research, Macrothink Institute, vol. 3(2), pages 38-52, December.
    18. Desislava I. Yordanova, 2008. "Gender Effects on Performance in Bulgarian Private Enterprises," Working Papers 0806, Departament Empresa, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, revised Oct 2008.
    19. Jarosław Ropęga, 2016. "Entrepreneurial Behaviour in Periods of Deterioration of Small Firms' Condition," Entrepreneurial Business and Economics Review, Centre for Strategic and International Entrepreneurship at the Cracow University of Economics., vol. 4(2), pages 139-156.
    20. Escalante, Cesar L. & Turvey, Calum G., 2006. "Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Rural Communities: Early Business Survival Challenges for the Agribusiness Entrepreneur," 2006 Annual Meeting, February 5-8, 2006, Orlando, Florida 35459, Southern Agricultural Economics Association.
    21. Balabanis, George I. & Katsikea, Eva. S., 2003. "Being an entrepreneurial exporter: does it pay?," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 233-252, April.
    22. Thong, J. Y. L. & Yap, C. S., 1995. "CEO characteristics, organizational characteristics and information technology adoption in small businesses," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 23(4), pages 429-442, August.
    23. Malhotra, Rajiv & Temponi, Cecilia, 2010. "Critical decisions for ERP integration: Small business issues," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 30(1), pages 28-37.
    24. Laura Gavinelli & Cinzia Colapinto & Mariangela Zenga & Paola Chiodini, 2016. "Strategic choices in recessionary period: an exploration on italian smes," MERCATI & COMPETITIVIT?, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2016(3), pages 135-158.

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