Showing papers by "Etienne St-Jean published in 2008"
TL;DR: In this article, the authors identify the factors that precede and may cause sudden changes in the pace of growth of high-growth SMEs or Gazelles or gazelles, and find that the success of growth strategies also depends on the firm's proximity to its client base and its ability to obtain the information required for sound decision-making.
Abstract: The goal of this paper is to identify the factors that precede and may cause sudden changes in the pace of growth of high-growth SMEs or gazelles. A retrospective longitudinal case study of seven high growth SMEs that had undergone a total of 14 sudden shifts in growth reveals that a number of events caused the changes of pace. Some were triggered by the entrepreneur's decisions while others resulted from events beyond his/her control. Management's motivation for growth was an important element and this motivation changed over time, being influenced by both success and problems associated with actual growth. The success of growth strategies also appears to depend on the firm's proximity to its client base and its ability to obtain the information required for sound decision-making. Lastly, the availability of tangible and intangible resources was found essential in allowing the company to seize growth opportunities and proximity to the business milieu may help accessing these resources.
77 citations
01 Jan 2008
TL;DR: In this article, the authors constrain que les mentores etaient susceptibles d'avoir des apprentissages cognitifs and affectifs mais aucun apprentisseage relie aux habiletes.
Abstract: Dans la phase de demarrage de son entreprise, l’entrepreneur vit plusieurs problemes qui pourraient etre amoindris par une formation adequate. Bien que certaines recherches indiquent que le mentorat pourrait permettre a un entrepreneur novice d’apprendre de ses experiences, bien peu de choses sont connues a propos du contenu des apprentissages qui pourraient etre realises. Grâce a l’analyse de groupes de discussion, nous avons pu constater que les mentores etaient susceptibles d’avoir des apprentissages cognitifs et affectifs mais aucun apprentissage relie aux habiletes. Ainsi, l’entrepreneur novice est susceptible d’augmenter ses connaissances et ses competences en gestion, de clarifier sa vision d’affaires et d’identifier davantage d’opportunites. En outre, sur le plan psychologique, le mentorat d’affaires permet le developpement de l’image de soi et du sentiment d’auto-efficacite, tout en procurant un certain reconfort a l’entrepreneur dans les periodes difficiles, tous ces elements etant de nature a accroitre sa resilience face a l’adversite. Bien que ce ne soit pas toutes les relations de mentorat qui permettent de developper de tels apprentissages, cette forme de support pourrait combler certains besoins de formation chez l’entrepreneur novice.
20 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors identify the factors that precede and may cause sudden changes in the pace of growth of high-growth SMEs or Gazelles or gazelles, and find that the success of growth strategies also depends on the firm's proximity to its client base and its ability to obtain the information required for sound decision-making.
Abstract: The goal of this paper is to identify the factors that precede and may cause sudden changes in the pace of growth of high-growth SMEs or gazelles. A retrospective longitudinal case study of seven high growth SMEs that had undergone a total of 14 sudden shifts in growth reveals that a number of events caused the changes of pace. Some were triggered by the entrepreneur's decisions while others resulted from events beyond his/her control. Management's motivation for growth was an important element and this motivation changed over time, being influenced by both success and problems associated with actual growth. The success of growth strategies also appears to depend on the firm's proximity to its client base and its ability to obtain the information required for sound decision-making. Lastly, the availability of tangible and intangible resources was found essential in allowing the company to seize growth opportunities and proximity to the business milieu may help accessing these resources.
1 citations