Factors in the growth of micro‐enterprises (Part 1): developing a framework
Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development
ISSN: 1462-6004
Article publication date: 1 December 1999
Abstract
This research examines micro‐enterprises pursuing gradual growth. While very little research has been targeted specifically at the growth of micro‐enterprises, there are a host of possible influencing factors suggested by the rather broader small business literature. Less research has attempted to integrate the factors that influence growth of small firms into some form of model. Those models that were found had a number of shortfalls when it came to understanding the development of micro‐enterprises. A framework has been developed through this research that addresses these shortfalls. First, it has targeted specifically gradual growth micro‐enterprises; secondly, it is rigorously under‐pinned through empirical research; thirdly, it attempts to comprehensively cover the range of factors that influence development; fourthly, it focuses on the complex interaction of factors that may influence development. The research findings and implications are presented in two parts. Part 1 develops an empirically verified framework that explains how growth is influenced by a myriad of interacting factors. This leads to a discussion of the policy implications of the framework. Part 2 is presented in the next edition of the Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development (JSBED) and will explore the managerial implications of the framework. This will provide a diagnostic toolkit to help micro‐enterprise owner‐managers and advisers pursue growth. The paper is derived from research conducted initially for the submission of a PhD thesis at the University of Brighton (Perren, 1996).
Keywords
Citation
Perren, L. (1999), "Factors in the growth of micro‐enterprises (Part 1): developing a framework", Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, Vol. 6 No. 4, pp. 366-385. https://doi.org/10.1108/EUM0000000006691
Publisher
:MCB UP Ltd
Copyright © 1999, MCB UP Limited