Entrepreneural high growth companies

Abstract

This article is based on a study of two entrepreneurial high growth companies: Salomon and Plastic Omnium. Both of them managed high growth for about 40 years, became the leaders in their business and are still managed in an entrepreneurial mode by the founder, 40 years after start up. The presentation of the firms' transformation in terms of strategy, organization, management and culture is followed by a discussion of the entrepreneurial characteristics common to both firms in the 80s. Growth, international strategy, market orientation, innovation (products, processes and strategy), related diversifications such as new challenges, attracting resources, flexibility, product-market structure, strategic thinking and short term planning, perseverance and learning, strong evolving corporate culture and a constant pressure from the entrepreneur, appeared to be shared characteristics of these entrepreneurial high growth companies 40 years after the start up