The impact of personal attitudes on the growth ambitions of small business owners. Issue 4 (20th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Braidford, Paul; Drummond, Ian; Stone, Ian
• Is Part Of: Journal of small business and enterprise development. Volume 24:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 850
• Page End: 862
• Publication Date: 2017-11-20
• Subjects: SME -- Growth -- Growth barriers -- Bourdieu -- Habitus -- Critical realism; Small business -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; New business enterprises -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Industrial management -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Entrepreneurship -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 658.022
• DOI: 10.1108/JSBED-02-2017-0035
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-6004

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to provide an empirical evidence in support of widespread calls for new approaches to understanding small business growth, by exploring the use of non-positivist methods (e.g. critical realism) to analyse how owners' innate dispositions shape growth in practice. Design/methodology/approach: In 2014, a telephone survey was used to inform two focus groups and 29 in-depth interviews with small business owners throughout England, covering attitudes towards growth, the use of particular strategies and perceived barriers. Discourse analysis was used to develop a multi-layered explanatory model incorporating key ideas from critical realism and the work of Bourdieu. Findings: Bourdieusian analysis reveals the existence of orientations among small business owners towards or against business growth. Such attitudes tend to impact upon their response to perceived barriers. Growth-inclined owners were willing to strategise for long-term benefit, in return for lower returns in the short term. Growth-resistant owners were more likely to view obstacles as absolute, stating that they cannot grow their firms as a result. Practical implications: Removing or reducing obstacles may not encourage growth if motivations and attitudes of owners do not change to embrace more growth-oriented positions. Banks' lending practices, for example, were seen by many as problematic, but growth-oriented owners were more willing to seek and use alternatives to raise funds for growth. Originality/value: The authors suggest that entrepreneurship researchers should look beyond positivist research to epistemologies that provide more multi-layered modes of explanation.