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The Nature of Managerial Work in Small Growth-Orientated Businesses

Author

Listed:
  • Colm O’Gorman
  • Sarah Bourke
  • John Murray

Abstract

In this study we explore the daily managerial behaviour of managers of small growth-orientated businesses and contrast it to previous research of managers in large organisations. We also investigate if one background characteristic, the owner–managers functional experience, is related to daily managerial activity. More specifically, we seek to strengthen the ‘managerial work’ tradition through a replication of Mintzberg’s work (The Nature of Managerial Work, New York: Harper and Row 1973) and an extension of the ‘managerial work’ tradition to another contingency, that of small growth- oriented businesses. The study is based on direct observations of ten CEOs of small growth-orientated businesses. The research provides evidence that organisational size is an important determinant of the nature of managerial work. However, in exploring the variability that may occur in managerial work within a given size context, we failed to establish a relationship between the owner–manager’s functional experiences and daily functional work orientation. The article concludes by speculating why the nature of managerial work in small growth-orientated businesses may provide a template for management in larger (more bureaucratic) organisations. Copyright Springer 2005

Suggested Citation

  • Colm O’Gorman & Sarah Bourke & John Murray, 2005. "The Nature of Managerial Work in Small Growth-Orientated Businesses," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 25(1), pages 1-16, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:25:y:2005:i:1:p:1-16
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-005-4254-z
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Gabrielsson, Jonas & Joakim, Tell, 2009. "Managerial learning and development in small firms: implications based on observations of managerial," Papers in Innovation Studies 2009/3, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    2. Martti Saarela & Kai Hänninen & Matti Muhos & Harri Jokela, 2018. "Growth Management Priorities of Service-Based Micro-Enterprises in a Sparsely Populated Area," International Journal of Management, Knowledge and Learning, International School for Social and Business Studies, Celje, Slovenia, vol. 7(1), pages 55-76.
    3. Evila Piva, 2018. "Time allocation behaviours of entrepreneurs: the impact of individual entrepreneurial orientation," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 45(4), pages 493-518, December.
    4. Elena Ahmadi & Gloria Macassa & Johan Larsson, 2021. "Managers’ work and behaviour patterns in profitable growth SMEs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 849-863, August.
    5. Danuta DiskienÄ— & Virginijus TamaÅ¡eviÄ ius & AgnÄ— KalvaitytÄ—, 2018. "MANAGERIAL ROLES IN SMEs AND THEIR EFFECT ON PERCEIVED MANAGERIAL EFFECTIVENESS IN LITHUANIA," Organizations and Markets in Emerging Economies, Faculty of Economics, Vilnius University, vol. 9(1).
    6. Josh Siepel & Roberto Camerani & Monica Masucci, 2021. "Skills combinations and firm performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 56(4), pages 1425-1447, April.
    7. Susan Mueller & Thierry Volery & Björn von Siemens, 2012. "What Do Entrepreneurs Actually Do? An Observational Study of Entrepreneurs’ Everyday Behavior in the Start–Up and Growth Stages," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(5), pages 995-1017, September.
    8. Frank Lasch & Frank Robert & Frédéric Roy, 2013. "Regional determinants of ICT new firm formation," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 671-686, April.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Ireland; managerial work; observational method; small business growth; M13; L20;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General

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