Growth intentions and expansion plans of new entrepreneurs in transforming economies : an investigation into family dynamics, entrepreneurship and enterprise development /

Consultable des del TDXTítol obtingut de la portada digitalizadaEl propósito de esta investigación es estudiar las intenciones de crecimiento de las empresas de nuevos empresarios en una economía en transformación. Para ello se examina el caso concreto de Rumania. El estudio encuentra evidencia a favor de la existencia de 1) dos dimensiones conceptuales asociadas con las fuerzas socio-culturales que dan forma a la transición económica y política del país y 2) los conceptos teóricos asociados con el crecimiento y desarrollo socio-económico basado en la creación de empresas. Para ser específicos, la tesis investiga las relaciones entre la creación de empresas, la dinámica familiar y el desarrollo de las empresas privadas durante la transición socio-económica que ha tenido lugar en Rumania. La pregunta de investigación es la siguiente: «¿Cuáles son los niveles y los planes específicos de expansión entre los nuevos empresarios en Rumania, una nación del antiguo bloque soviético?; ¿Cuáles son las variables que predicen estos planes de expansión y cómo el sistema de valores del entorno social y la familia, especialmente, afectan a estos planes de crecimiento? El objetivo de esta investigación es examinar con detalle las dimensiones individuales, grupales y del entorno que tienen un impacto en el desarrollo de las nuevas empresas a través de los planes de crecimiento y desarrollo de los empresarios. Los objetivos específicos, entonces, son los siguientes: 1) identificar los planes de crecimiento de las nuevas empresas que los empresarios quieren poner en marcha, 2) determinar los niveles de intensidad con los cuales los empresarios desean aplicar sus planes de crecimiento y 3) investigar el impacto que la dinámica familiar tiene en las intenciones de crecimiento planificadas. En primer lugar se desarrolla un modelo teórico multidimensional acerca de los predoctores de los planes de expansión. Concretamente, se identifica un conjunto de variables y su relación con los planes de expansión de los empresarios. Tres dimensiones teóricas forman el modelo predictivo: 1) variables a nivel micro relacionadas con la personalidad del empresario, 2) variables a nivel intermedio relacionadas con la dinámica social, especialmente la familiar y 3) variables a nivel macro relacionadas con el entorno en el cual el empresario desarrolla su labor. Los resultados de una encuesta realizada a 410 empresario rumanos es utilizada para poner a prueba el modelo teórico multidimensional. Los datos fueron recogidos a partir de la encuesta del 'perfil del empresario' que ha sido utilizada en Europa, Asia y América. La muestra incluye una gran variedad de grupos industriales y es muy rica en detalles acerca del comportamiento del empresario. Para su análisis se ha utilizado una combinación de técnicas multivariantes de investigación que han permitido obtener las dimensiones teóricas no observables a partir de los indicadores suministrados por la muestra y después analizar las relaciones establecidas.The focus of this study is to investigate the entrepreneurial growth intentions and expansion plans of new entrepreneurs in a transforming economy. As a focused method of investigation one country, Romania is examined. The study probes both the conceptual dimensions associated with the socio-cultural forces shaping transition, and the theoretical concepts associated with entrepreneurial centered socio-economic growth and development. Specifically the dissertation investigates the relationships between entrepreneurship, family dynamics and private enterprise development during socio-economic transition in Romania. The general research question posed is «What are the levels, and specific types of expansion plans found among new entrepreneurs in the former Soviet Bloc nation of Romania; what are the predictors of these expansion plans; and how do the environmental value systems and family dynamics impact planned growth?» The objective of this study is to examine thoroughly the different individual, group and environmental dimensions which impact entrepreneurial venture development via planned growth intentions and expansion plans. The study's central objectives are to 1) to identify what types of planned growth initiatives entrepreneurs intend to pursue, 2) to ascertain the levels of intensity entrepreneurs have towards planned growth, and 3) to investigate the impact family dynamics have on planned growth intentions. A theoretical multidimensional model of the predictors of expansion plans is developed. Specifically, a set of exogenous variables comprising a sequence of relationships are hypothesized to be related to entrepreneurial expansion plans. Three dimensions comprise the predictive model; 1) Micro level variables associated with the entrepreneur's personality, 2) Intermediate level variables related to societal dynamics, including family involvement and 3) Macro level variables affiliated with the comprehensive environment entrepreneurs operate in. The results of a survey of 410 Romanian entrepreneurs is used to test the multidimensional model. Data has been collected via the Entrepreneurial Profile Questionnaire which has been validated in Europe, Asia, and North and South America. The sample includes a rich cross section across a variety of industrial groups. Data is analyzed using a combination of descriptive and relational research techniques. A series of multivariate statistical procedures is employed to analyze the data and test the multidimensional model

Patterns of Venturing Financing: The Case of Chinese Entrepreneurs

This study examines the sources of venture financing of Chinese entrepreneurs in Wuhan, China. Based on a sample of 222, we found that Chinese entrepreneurs in Wuhan mainly rely on venture financing on their own or parties that are within their close social networks such as parents, relatives and friends. External financing sources are notably missing. We also found that entrepreneurs who use significantly more personal saving in venture financing are older (\u3e37 years), female, with high school education or less, and have longer working experience. Entrepreneurs who are male with college or higher education, and who take time to build their business (more than two years) tend to receive significantly more bank loans. Young male entrepreneurs who have less working experience and with intention to create a business fast tend to rely more on financial support from their inner social network such as parents, relatives and friends. Implications and future research directions were provided

Entrepreneurial Expansion Plans: An Empirical Investigation of Infrastructure Predictors

Entrepreneurship and the development of new business continue to be the forefront of socioeconomic development in virtually all economies today. Despite evidence of increasing research into entrepreneurial growth, the existing research is limited by the fact that most studies define entrepreneurial growth as a unidimensional construct and operationalize it as “realized” growth relying on financially based measures. Consequently, this article has two objectives: (1) to develop a set of accurate and comprehensive entrepreneurial growth measures; and (2) to test a series of hypotheses regarding precursors of growth intentions—more specifically, to what extent, infrastructure factors affect entrepreneurial growth intentions. These two questions were examined using Entrepreneurial Profile Questionnaire (EPQ) in the context of Romania. Results from factor analysis revealed refined patterns of entrepreneurial growth, including resource aggregation, market expansion, and technological improvement. The relationships between infrastructure and entrepreneurial growth were tested using a multiple regression model. Overall, it was posited that infrastructure is positively related to entrepreneurial growth. However, in most of the cases, the opposite proved to be true. These findings suggest that the Romanian entrepreneurs would pursue expansion plans in spite of the obstacles thrown into their path. Perhaps they have already developed strategies about overcoming those obstacles and in that process have developed the strength, ingenuity, and confidence to grow their new business ventures. Perhaps the many years that Romanians were confronted with numerous political and economical obstacles have prepared them to be much more flexible and adaptive.These counter-intuitive findings reflect on the hardiness and perseverance of the Romanian entrepreneurs

Family Business Research: The Evolution of an Academic Field

The establishment of a field of study or a discipline with academic or professional standing requires, among other things, a body of knowledge that expands understanding of that domain. This paper looks at the literature on establishing a unique field of study, reviews the foundational research in family business (1980s) and four recent years (1997-2001) of published family business research found in several outlets. We find that family business research is becoming increasingly sophisticated and rigorous. This bodes well for the development of an independent field for family business. Recommendations are offered to further the professionalization of family business as an academic and professional domain