Leifer Workshop

Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research
1997 Edition

SUMMARIES

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CELTIC COUSINS: INSIGHTS INTO SMALL BUSINESS MATURATION IN SCOTLAND AND IRELAND

SUMMARY

Names POSTER
1William M. Mayfield
2Barra O Cinneide
2Briga Hynes

Addresses
1Glasgow Caledonian University 2University of Limerick
Glasgow G3 6LP, Scotland Limerick, Ireland

Telephone Fax
144-141-337-4028 144-141-337-4206
2353-61-202619 ` 2353-61-202588

Principal Topics
Establishing the pattern of business maturation can increase the propensity for survival and growth of new businesses by recognizing the probable hazards that a business will encounter as the business matures. Scotland and Ireland have, over the past three years, instituted strategies to encourage more business start-ups. Replicating the 1994 Eggers, Leahy, and Churchill study in Scotland and Ireland can establish the pattern of business maturation necessary for the recognition of maturation hazards.

Method
A postal survey using a stratified random sample of 195 indigenous businesses registered with Scottish and Irish Local Enterprise Companies (LECs) were examined via the Eggers and Leahy Entrepreneurial Leadership Questionnaire (ELQ). Telephone follow-up was used to enhance the questionnaire returns. The responses were compared to the Eggers, Leahy, and Churchill model on a phase by phase and response by response basis.

Major Findings
The preliminary findings appear to support the existence of this model in Ireland and Scotland. However, due to the preliminary nature of the data and the low response rate, the specific differences due to culture in the Irish and Scottish model cannot be determined until a larger sample is taken. At the time of printing the authors were seeking a larger sample.

Implications
The recognition of a growth model allows the economic development agencies in Scotland and Ireland to reverse their reactive application of interventions. These agencies can now proactively deliver specific interventions to the business owner, thereby increasing the businesses' propensity for survival and growth.

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