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FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH GROWTH CHANGES IN "GAZELLES"

ETIENNE ST-JEAN

Management Department, Université Laval, Canada

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PIERRE-ANDRÉ JULIEN

INRPME, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Canada

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, and

JOSÉE AUDET

Management Department, Université Laval, Canada

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https://doi.org/10.1142/S0218495808000089Cited by:45 (Source: Crossref)

Abstract

The goal of this paper is to identify the factors that precede and may cause sudden changes in the pace of growth of high-growth SMEs or gazelles. A retrospective longitudinal case study of seven high growth SMEs that had undergone a total of 14 sudden shifts in growth reveals that a number of events caused the changes of pace. Some were triggered by the entrepreneur's decisions while others resulted from events beyond his/her control. Management's motivation for growth was an important element and this motivation changed over time, being influenced by both success and problems associated with actual growth. The success of growth strategies also appears to depend on the firm's proximity to its client base and its ability to obtain the information required for sound decision-making. Lastly, the availability of tangible and intangible resources was found essential in allowing the company to seize growth opportunities and proximity to the business milieu may help accessing these resources.

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