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"--