High Growth Enterprises: The Role of Founder Characteristics and Venture Policies

The phenomenon of enterprise growth is more a function of the nature of  the entrepreneurial person and the policies and strategies adopted by a  venture rather than the economic and environmental factors such as  profitability or industry growth. This book focuses on the role of  founder characteristics and venture policies in promoting  enterprise-growth, with special focus on High Growth Enterprises. The  research reported in this book is triggered by the that almost 95% of  business start-ups either get closed down or stagnate, with only about  5% taking to a growth path, even though many more of them are  profitable. The study presented in the book investigates the  relationships between enterprise growth and venture policies as well as  entrepreneurial characteristics such as the traits, motives and  background of entrepreneurs. It also identifies the general  entrepreneurial characteristics and points to the need for  reviewing/redefining some of the concepts traditionally associated with  entrepreneurship, such as achievement motive, power motive, desire for  independence, risk-taking ability, support and encouragement, etc.