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Purpose: This paper examines the moderating role of firm size (FS) and industry type in the relationship between high-performance work practices (HPWPs) and entrepreneurial firm performance. Design/methodology/approach: A descriptive research design involving a five-year dataset from firms in the retail and services industries of Nigeria was used in the analyses. Findings: The use of HPWPs is widespread among entrepreneurial firms, with ability- and motivation-enhancing practices being dominant. Country context influences the types of HPWPs implemented by entrepreneurial firms. FS and industry type do not have significant moderating effects on the relationship between HPWPs and the performance of entrepreneurial firms. The positive effect of HPWPs on performance is consistent with findings made in prior studies. Research limitations/implications: FS plays a neutral role in the relationship between HPWPs and entrepreneurial firm performance. Within the broader retail and services industries, this relationship is weaker in capital-intensive firms compared to less capital-intensive ones. The restricted focus on only retail and service industries may limit the universal applicability of the findings. Practical implications: Findings indicate that the efficacy of HPWPs is neither influenced by FS nor industry type. Entrepreneurial firms with higher capital intensity benefit relatively more from the use of HPWPs. Originality/value: Unlike other research efforts focusing on a single moderating influence, this study combines two important contextual factors, FS and industry type, to provide a better understanding of HPWPs. The study spotlights the effects of country context in the implementation of HPWPs in a way that prior studies have not done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper explores the drivers and inhibitors of the transition of entrepreneurial family firms from small to large firms. We adopt two contrasting theoretical perspectives, i.e. agency and stewardship, to explore the effects of family power on size transition. Design/methodology/approach: We adopted an original research design that leverages a unique longitudinal database built starting from the list of the 500 best Italian manufacturing family firms published by the AUB Monitor in 2018. Specifically, we tested our hypotheses using a comprehensive set of financial and governance data from 89 Italian manufacturing family firms covering a 10-year period. To test our hypotheses, we conducted a survival analysis using a Cox regression. Findings: We find an inverted U-shaped relationship between family involvement in ownership and size transition: size transition is more likely to happen at intermediate levels of family involvement in ownership. Additionally, our analysis shows that family involvement in the board of directors negatively impacts size transition, while the presence of a family CEO has a positive influence. Originality/value: To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first exploration of the phenomenon of size transition within entrepreneurial family firms. We believe it was worthwhile for two reasons. First, small size is frequently regarded as a weakness when competing in international markets, investing in R&D, or rewarding shareholders. Second, since small family firms are the major contributors to the world economy, understanding the factors that facilitate their transition to large firms can have a significant impact on overall economic development and prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper investigates the financing preferences and practices of Senegalese entrepreneurial firms, with a particular focus on understanding the gaps between the two and how they may contribute to financing constraints in developing economies. By juxtaposing the preferences of different financing options against their degree of usage, this study attempts to reveal the mismatch in demand and supply of entrepreneurial firms financing in Senegal. Design/methodology/approach: A structured questionnaire was used to survey 524 entrepreneurial firms, and data was analyzed using various statistical methods. Findings: The results indicate that the most preferred sources of financing for Senegalese entrepreneurial firms are self-financing and short-term bank loans. Short-term funding horizons are also much more preferred than their long-term counterparts. However, there is a mismatch between financing preferences and practices, particularly with regards to equity sources, which were found to be more preferred than used. The study argues that a combination of preferences, firm, and owner characteristics can explain the choice and frequency of usage of financing sources. Originality/value: This study contributes to the literature by contrasting preferences and practices, revealing gaps between theory and practice, and providing better insight into the real financing needs of entrepreneurial firms in developing economies. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine the financing preferences of Senegalese entrepreneurial firms, making it an important contribution to the literature on entrepreneurial firms financing in developing economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Based on the stakeholder theory, this study aims to investigate Chinese entrepreneurial firms’ selective satisfaction of Stakeholder demands on corporate social performance (CSP).Design/methodology/approach This study uses the survey data from privately owned companies in China, which is collected by the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce in three years of 2006, 2008 and 2010.Findings This paper suggests a contingency model of CSP: entrepreneurial firms selectively perform corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues rather than all CSP dimensions. Furthermore, this study illustrates that international operations, such as overseas exports, would strengthen the above positive relationships between foreign ownership and selected CSR issues.Originality/value This study contributes to the understanding of CSR activities in Chinese entrepreneurial firms, which are more selective when performing social issues. In addition to the theoretical contribution, this work suggests a contingency model to the stakeholder theory, indicating the moderating factors to the entrepreneurial firms’ motivation to perform specific social responsibilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose -- The purpose of this paper is to investigate vertical interfirm relationships with direct competitors -- also referred to as vertical "coopetition" -- in entrepreneurial firms. Specifically, this study explores the reasons for why entrepreneurial firms engage in vertical coopetition and how they manage this particular type of interfirm relationship. The paper also shed light on the causes for termination of such delicate relational arrangements. Design/methodology/approach -- The research design is exploratory. The paper analyze data collected by a survey that was specifically designed for this study. Based on the findings, the paper developed theoretical propositions specifying the conditions under which entrepreneurial firms engage in coopetition, how it is managed, and how it can be sustained. Findings -- The findings show that coopetition is a ubiquitous phenomenon for entrepreneurial firms, and mainly arises out of a deliberate strategy. In contrast to large firms, entrepreneurial firms tend to manage coopetitive relationships in a central manner. Termination was common among firms facing high risk or when alternative strategies emerged. Research limitations/implications -- This study provides a fundamental theoretical and evidence-based discussion of vertical coopetition in young firms. By doing so, the authors advance theory development, offer important insights for entrepreneurs seeking to benefit from intercompetitor linkages, and highlight promising avenues for future research. Originality/value -- The paper makes several important contributions to the coopetition literature. The paper develop a definition of vertical coopetition and study the unique aspects associated with it. In contrast to most previous research in this area, the paper focus on entrepreneurial firms. The evidence-based analysis contributes to a better understanding of the reasons for entrepreneurial firms entering and terminating coopetitive arrangements as well as how they manage these types of collaborations. The paper develops theoretical propositions and generate novel insights into the dynamics and issues that arise with coopetition in entrepreneurial firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate how intangibles are identified by managerial staff of Bulgarian entrepreneurial firms. This is achieved by analysing corporate policies and the day-to-day intangibles management practices in a small number of companies in the context of those companies’ overall performance. Design/methodology/approach – Empirical research based on three case studies. This approach has been chosen since it provides the opportunity to use a range of analytical methods so as to illuminate the issues from different angles. The companies were selected on the basis of the definition of Timmons and Spinelli (2007) of entrepreneurial firms. Findings – This exploratory research provides evidence about identification of and good practices relating to the successful management of intangibles in Bulgarian entrepreneurial firms. It shows that though not explicitly recognised, intangibles are high on the management agenda and in their day-to-day practice. Research limitations/implications – The research is based on three case studies and is focused on specific aspects of management in the particular case of entrepreneurial companies, and these factors limit the possibilities for generalisation. Originality/value – The paper sheds new light on how intangibles are identified and managed in the context of the daily practice of entrepreneurial firms. Data analyses provide evidence that intangibles are identified through human capital, structural capital and relational capital and well-being. Further, in entrepreneurial firms, recruitment and retention decisions are often based more on individuals’ potential and willingness for further personal development than on their current abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Regulatory environment, environmental dynamism, and political ties are typically modelled as separate antecedents of firm performance. However, the boundary conditions for such models are less examined in a developing country context where regulatory environments have been argued to be weak. Accordingly, drawing on institutional and social capital theories, the purpose of this paper is to examine the interrelationship between regulatory environment, political ties, environmental dynamism, and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach – The study uses primary data gathered from 372 entrepreneurial firms in Nigeria, a Sub-Saharan African country. Findings – The findings of the paper suggest that that regulatory environment is negatively related to firm performance. However, political ties and environmental dynamism moderate the regulatory environment-firm performance relationship such that such relationship is positive and significant. Research limitations/implications – First, the study provides important insights on how weak and underdeveloped regulatory environment negatively affect the performance of firms. In other words, the study represents a response to call for the development of better regulatory environment since regulatory environment plays significant role in firm performance. Second, this study also demonstrates the importance of political ties and environment dynamism on firm performance in an emerging economy such as Nigeria where regulatory environment is weak. Originality/value – To the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first study from the perspective of Sub-Saharan Africa that examine the moderating role of political ties and environmental dynamism on regulatory environment-firm performance relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Customer knowledge has not yet been recognized as a possible source of strategic competitive advantage in expansion of the knowledge-based view. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to gain initial insights into the strategic dimension of customers knowledge in order to enable companies to define, identify and motivate the right customers and work with them together on a strategically successful level.Design/methodology/approach – The following single case study is based on semi-structured interviews with nine employees and strategic customers as well as a document analysis in an entrepreneurially oriented smaller firm equipped with limited resources.Findings – The findings demonstrate that strategic customers take on a valuable position within the company. It appears that the strategic customer is more aware of his/her value than the company itself. A definition and first criteria of strategic customers could be determined and a systematic identification of strategic customers is possible with the help of this study.Research limitations/implications – The paper is an empirical contribution to the existing customer knowledge management literature and aids in gaining further insight into the definition, identification and motivation of strategic customers. A definition is derived based on a literature study and developed further through the results of the empirical analysis. An additional result of the empirical study showed that customer oriented knowledge management is a promising bridge between the knowledge- and market-based view.Originality/value – The apparent lack of resources in entrepreneurially oriented smaller firms can be overcome through the addition of external knowledge resources, which the paper refers to as strategic customers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study whether there is correlation between valuation in initial public offering (IPO) and board composition, the ownership dispersion of top management teams (TMTs) and their human capitals, in entrepreneurial firms of China's new growth enterprise market (GEM). Also, it aims to evaluate the relative importance of various factors in determining initial public issuing value. Design/methodology/approach – The SPSS 16.0 statistical package was used to perform the analysis. The authors compute descriptive statistics, calculate correlation coefficients for all variables and use multiple regression analysis test the hypothesis. Findings – The paper shows that IPO valuation has significant positive correlation with board composition, significant negative correlation with TMT ownership dispersion, but it does not show significant correlation with TMT human capital. The empirical results also show that: the influence of variable "CEO also Founder" on IPO valuation is significant, which indicates that investors are concerned with the leadership of firms in IPO. Also the influence of the variable "underwriter prestige" on IPO valuation is also significant, but weaker, which indicates that investors still keep confidence in the well-known underwriters for their vision and ability of judging the firms. Research limitations/implications – Based on the first batch of 28 entrepreneurial firms listed on Chinese GEM, the sample size is relative small. Also, the measure of TMT human capital, defined by the education degree level, is not an accurate rule in this paper. Originality/value – Focusing on 28 new firms in China's new security market, this paper presents some interesting and new findings, by using data from the first batch of listed companies in China's GEM, which comprises many privately-owned, high technology and entrepreneurial firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]