Small business and enterprise development: questions about research methodology

Abstract

This paper examines the traditional and contemporary approaches to conducting research into the marketing management activities of entrepreneurial small firms (ESF). It argues that these approaches are inappropriate in that they fail to take adequate account of the nature and characteristics of such enterprises and the individuals who manage them. It is contended that the best approaches are to be found under the auspices of the wider qualitative paradigm. In particular a syncretised qualitative methodology within a multiple reality ontology is offered for consideration.

Business Start-Up and Growth Motives of Entrepreneurs: A Case in Bradford, United Kingdom

“…If entrepreneurial activity to be encouraged in the regional context, in-depth understanding of the motives that motivate entrepreneurs to form and achieve the growth of business ventures is crucial. With respect to the perspective of government policy, investigating motives of entrepreneurs who own Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) has a significant importance owing to widespread presence of SMEs in the globe (Storey 1994) and increasingly important role played by them in terms of contributing to economic development (Timmons 1994;Hill and McGowan 1999). understanding motivations of such entrepreneurs is invariably useful for designing necessary policy to promote Small and Medium Enterprise owners to achieve business growth which 7 will ultimately result in country wide effects in terms of innovation, job creation and economic growth (Reynolds, Camp, Bygrave, Autio, and Hay 2001;Orhan and Scott 2001;Boden 2000).…”

An Overview of Small and Medium Enterprises in Malaysia and Pakistan: Past, Present and Future Scenario

“…That is why, more and more researchers are seeking and trying to understand about these firms. Even the governments of the all the economies of the globe and particularly those agencies which are responsible for the development of these firms, take deep interest in understanding about these firms (Hill & McGowan, 1999). Small business firms play an important role in the economy of any country (Wong & Aspinwall, 2004).…”

Entrepreneurship Research: Follow the Yellow-Brick Road?

“…Perhaps we academics turned to positivist methods prematurely in the early stages of this developing discipline. The good news is that qualitative evidence is being applied to the topic of entrepreneurship more frequently in the literature and includes specific methods such as phenomenology (Cope 2005); constructivism (Hill & McGowan 1999); a critical approach (Huse & Lundstrom 1997); and a blending of interpretivist and positivist approaches (Coviello & Jones 2004). Moreover, the use of such qualitative evidence fits in nicely with the use of engaged scholarship.…”