Factors distinguishing small firm growers and non-growers
通过对比同一地区制造业和服务业中增长与不增长的小企业，发现四个关键因素：对外部机会的感知、老板的适度野心、创新灵活的文化以及广泛的私人商业网络。
Why do some firms grow while others do not? This study identifies factors present in growing small firms that are absent in non-growers. An inductive method is used with a theoretical sample of businesses with contrasting growth histories, selected as matched pairs from the same manufacturing and service industries in the same urban location. Replication logic identified four factors: opportunistic perceptions of the external environment; controlled ambition of the owner-manager to grow; business culture of innovation and flexibility; and use of extensive private business networks, including portfolio entrepreneurship. The role of organizational learning in underpinning these factors was also noted. The paper ends with some limitations and suggestions for further research.