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Understanding the small business owner: what they really aim at and how this relates to firm performance A case study in North Karelia, Eastern Finland

Understanding the small business owner: what they really aim at and how this relates to firm... Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how business owners in microbusinesses perceive success and how that perception may influence the growth of their enterprise. Design/methodology/approach – The results of three separate studies were analysed. The data were collected with questionnaires and interviews among microbusinesses in the industries of craft and rural tourism in the area of North Karelia, Eastern Finland. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the analysis. Findings – The paper found that the motives and goals of the small business owners were not oriented towards growth, but to quality of life, job satisfaction and satisfied clientele. Consequently, business success was measured by the respect and satisfaction of the customers, job satisfaction and the quality of product. From an economic perspective, making a reasonable living, not growth, constituted a measure of success. Research limitations/implications – Generalisation is affected by the fact that the study concerns two individual industries in a small geographical area. Practical implications – For policy makers, the study offers insight into the factors that affect the behaviour and decision‐making of the microbusiness entrepreneurs and, thus, the performance of their enterprise. Originality/value – The study contributes to theory development by examining the little studied possible conflicts between financial and personal measures of success. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Management Research News Emerald Publishing

Understanding the small business owner: what they really aim at and how this relates to firm performance A case study in North Karelia, Eastern Finland

Helen Reijonen
Management Research News , Volume 31 (8): 14 – Jun 20, 2008
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References (38)

Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
Copyright © 2008 Emerald Group Publishing Limited. All rights reserved.
ISSN
0140-9174
DOI
10.1108/01409170810892172
Publisher site
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Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine how business owners in microbusinesses perceive success and how that perception may influence the growth of their enterprise. Design/methodology/approach – The results of three separate studies were analysed. The data were collected with questionnaires and interviews among microbusinesses in the industries of craft and rural tourism in the area of North Karelia, Eastern Finland. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used in the analysis. Findings – The paper found that the motives and goals of the small business owners were not oriented towards growth, but to quality of life, job satisfaction and satisfied clientele. Consequently, business success was measured by the respect and satisfaction of the customers, job satisfaction and the quality of product. From an economic perspective, making a reasonable living, not growth, constituted a measure of success. Research limitations/implications – Generalisation is affected by the fact that the study concerns two individual industries in a small geographical area. Practical implications – For policy makers, the study offers insight into the factors that affect the behaviour and decision‐making of the microbusiness entrepreneurs and, thus, the performance of their enterprise. Originality/value – The study contributes to theory development by examining the little studied possible conflicts between financial and personal measures of success.

Journal

Management Research News – Emerald Publishing

Published: Jun 20, 2008

Keywords: Small enterprises; Business development; Business performance; Finland

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