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Current concepts and developments related to Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises are examined. An argument for a more balanced policy support for SME internationalization is also presented.

The association between ownership and management profiles and the performance and objectives of family firms are explored using agency and stewardship theories.

Leo-Paul Dana (ed.) Handbook of Research on International Entrepreneurship. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2004. 864 pp. ISBN 1-84376-069-X, 165 £ (hbk). The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) (2004) in the [...]

In recent years new forms of entrepreneurship have begun to emerge from the synergies between Information and Communication Technology (ICT) developments and changing paradigms of economic transactions. The resulting 'turbulence' [...]

Some policy makers and practitioners are considering whether resources could be more effectively utilized if they were targeted towards experienced entrepreneurs (i.e. individuals with prior private business ownership experience), rather [...]

This exploratory study provides a review of the neglected area of entrepreneurial founder team turnover. A novel distinction is made between entrepreneurial founder team member entry and team member exit. [...]

This study explores the internal and external environmental characteristics of private family companies associated with succession decision-making outcomes (i.e. the propensity of family firms to report whether the board has [...]

26(3): 91-100. Many policy-makers and practitioners view female entrepreneurs as a 'special group', worthy of research and policy attention. A summary of key themes in the academic literature has been [...]

WESTHEAD P., UCBASARAN D. and WRIGHT M. (2003) Differences between private firms owned by novice, serial and portfolio entrepreneurs: implications for policy makers and practitioners, Reg. Studies 37, 187-200. Policy makers can target 'hard' (i.e. financial) and 'soft' (i.e. technical) assistance to firms. Some policy makers and practitioners are considering whether resources could be more effectively utilized if they were targeted towards habitual entrepreneurs, rather than in the form of additional initiatives to increase the pool of pure nascent entrepreneurs and novice entrepreneurs. To inform this policy debate, similarities and differences between 354 firms owned by novice, serial and portfolio entrepreneurs in Scotland are highlighted with regard to the process of financing businesses, organizational capabilities as well as the size and performance of the surveyed businesses. Presented empirical evidence confirms that portfolio entrepreneurs have more diverse experiences and more resources than either serial or novice entrepreneurs. On average, portfolio entrepreneurs appear to offer more attractive growth prospects than other entrepreneurs. A case for targeted support tailored to the aspirations and needs of portfolio (and serial) entrepreneurs is presented. Habitual entrepreneurs, Financing Organizational capabilities, Firm performance, Policy implications WESTHEAD P., UCBASARAN D. et WRIGHT M. (2003) Les differences entre les entrepreneurs debutants, en serie ou de portefeuille: les retombees pour les decideurs et les practiciens, Reg. Studies 37, 187-200. Les decideurs peuvent cibler l'aide aux entreptises, soit aux conditions du marche (a savoir de l'aide financiere), soit aux conditions favorables (a savoir de l'aide technique). Certains decideurs et practiciens considerent si, oui ou non, on pourrait mieux valoriser les ressources si elles ciblaient les entrepreneurs habituels, plutot que de les valoriser sous forme d'initiatives supplementaires visant l'elargissement du bassin d'entrepreneurs naissants et debutants. Dans le but d'alimenter ce debat, on souligne les similarites et les differences entre 354 entreprises situees en Ecosse quant au processus de financement des entreprises, leurs capacites organisationnelles ainsi que leur taille et leur performance, et dont les proprietaires sont des entrepreneurs ou debutants, ou en serie, ou de portefeuille. Les resultats empiriques viennent a l'appui du constat suivant: les entrepreneurs de portefeuille ont des experiences plus diverses et des ressources plus importantes par rapport aux entrepreneurs en serie et aux entrepreneurs debutants. En regle generale, il semble que les entrepreneurs de portefeuille offient un potentiel de croissance plus propice que ne le font les autres entrepreneurs. On donne des arguments en faveur d'un soutien cible et adapte aux attentes et aux besoins des entrepreneurs de portefeuille (et en serie) Entrepreneurs habituels Financement, Capacites organisationnelles Performance de l'enterprise, Retombees pour la politique WESTHEAD P., UCBASARAN D. und WRIGHT M. (2003) Unterschiede zwischen Privatfirmen, die sich im Besitz von Anfanger-, Serien- und in einem breiten Geschaftsbereich tatigen Unternehmern befinden: Implikationen fur Praktiker und Vertreter grundsatzlicher Erwagungen, Reg. Studies 37, 187-200. Vertreter von grundsatzlichen Erwagungen konnen 'harte' (finanzielle) und 'weiche' (technische) Hilfestellung fur Firmen ansteuern. Manche, und auch Praktiker, uberlegen, ob Ressourcen wirksamer genutzt werden konnten, wenn sie auf erfahrene Unternehmer abzielten, statt in Form von zusatzlichen Initiativen angewandt zu werden, um den Bestand unbeleckter, im Werden begriffener und in Anfangen steckender Unternehmer zu vermehren. Zur Untermauerung dieser Grundsarzdebatte werden Ahnlichkeiten und Unterschiede zwischen 354, im Besitz von Anfanger-, Serien- und in einem breiten Geschaftsbereich tatigen Unternehmern befindlichen Firmen in Schottland sowohi in bezug auf den Vorgang der Finanzierung von Unternebmen und organisatoris che Fahigkeiten, als auch auf Gro[beta]e und Leistung der untersuchten Unternehmen hin beleuchret. Vorgelegte empirische Beweise bestatigen, da[beta] in einem breiten Geschaftsbereich tatige Unternehmer einen vielseitigeren Erfahrungsschatz und mehr Ressourcen aufweisen als Serien-oder Anfangerunternehmer. Im Durchschnitt scheinen die in einem breiter gefacherten Geschaftsbereich Tatigen attraktivere Wachstumsaussichten als andere Unternehmer zu versprechen. Es wird fur gezielte, auf Aspirationen und Bedurfnisse von den im breitem Geschaftsbereich tatigen Unternehmern zugeschnittene Unterstutzung pladiert. Gewohnheirsunternehmer Finanzierung, Organisatorische Fahigkeiten Firmenleistung, Implikationen der grundsatzlichen Erwagungen

Policy-makers and practitioners are seeking to promote the development of established firms. This paper suggests they may need to target customized export programmes to the specific situational demands of established `micro' and `small' firms. The following broad research question is explored: are there differences between `micro' and `small' firms with regard to the decision to sell goods or services abroad? In 1990/91, survey responses were gathered from 621 independent businesses located in Great Britain. In 1997, a follow-on telephone survey was conducted with 150 surviving firms. This survey gathered information on the propensity to export goods or services abroad and the mode of export behaviour reported by established `micro' as well as `small' firms. The performance of exporting and non-exporting firms was also compared. Implications for policy-makers, practitioners and researchers are highlighted. Keywords: Internationalization; Exporting firms; Firm size; Resources; Entry modes; Performance; Policy implications, 1. Introduction To encourage wealth creation and to secure greater international competitiveness, governments in developed countries are concentrating their attention towards encouraging more small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to enter [...]