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John_Neff_Dissertation.pdf (1.44 MB)

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Cultural Factors: Entrepreneurial Orientation or Not-Here Comes Innovation in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises

Neff, John E.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1568628518748942

Abstract Details

2011, Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, Weatherhead School of Management.
Family owned businesses are the backbone of the world economy but are poorly understood due to their complex nature. As a member of a family business, I was interested in systematically examining the nature of success within such firms. An initial study sought to reveal how family and non-family participants within a family business perceived attributes of successful times in the firm as well as features of times when their firm was perceived to be less successful. From this line of inquiry, several themes emerged that seemed to distinguish more successful firms from those that were perceived to be less successful. These themes included Shared Vision, Trust, Organizational Development, Confidence in Management Ability, etc. A second quantitative research study was conducted to assess these concepts and explore whether they constituted the foundation of a more effective organizational culture which improve overall firm financial performance. The non-financial nature of these themes suggests the opportunity to construct an index to predict organizational performance without relying on financial outcomes which are not readily available from private family owned firms. Research findings identified four significant variables; Shared Vision, Role Clarity, Confidence in Management and Professional Networking that impact firm financial performance. In addition, the functional integrity of the family also proved to have a significant supporting role. Taken together, the variables may indicate the presence of an effective culture might also prove instrumental in the long term sustainability of family owned firms.
Richard Boyatzis, Ph.D. (Advisor)
Families and Family Life; Sustainability
Family firm; performance; culture; non-financial indicators; sustainability

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Neff, J. E. (2011). Cultural Factors: Entrepreneurial Orientation or Not-Here Comes Innovation in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1568628518748942

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Neff, John. Cultural Factors: Entrepreneurial Orientation or Not-Here Comes Innovation in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises. 2011. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1568628518748942.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Neff, John. "Cultural Factors: Entrepreneurial Orientation or Not-Here Comes Innovation in Small to Medium Sized Enterprises." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=casedm1568628518748942

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

casedm1568628518748942
173
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