posted on 2024-07-12, 13:23authored byTanya Jurado, Claire Massey, Robyn Walker
This paper reports on part of a wider qualitative study in which 49 owner-managers of New Zealand micro-enterprises were interviewed about firm performance. We adopt a social constructionist approach to analyse responses to the question: 'What does business excellence mean to you?' Most owner-managers of micro-enterprises find the term business excellence to be meaningful, but standard business excellence frameworks are unfamiliar and may be viewed as irrelevant by those managing micro-enterprises. Micro-enterprises may be distinct from SMEs in their conceptualisation and internalisation of business excellence. Our analysis shows excellence for managers of micro-enterprises is a relationship-driven phenomenon represented in terms of personal values, good service, personal satisfaction and positive relationships with clients. Frequently these characterisations are presented against the 'other' of business-in-general. That managers of micro-enterprises construct business excellence differently from accepted models has implications for government policy affecting micro-enterprises. Policy must recognise the special character and diversity of micro-enterprise and attempt to negotiate meaningful interaction that will enable the aspirations of both micro-enterprise and Government to be met.
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Journal title
AGSE International Entrepreneurship Research Exchange 2006: the 3rd International Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship (AGSE) Research Exchange, Swinburne University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, 07-10 February 2006 / L. Murray Gillin (ed.)
Conference name
AGSE International Entrepreneurship Research Exchange 2006: the 3rd International Australian Graduate School of Entrepreneurship AGSE Research Exchange, Swinburne University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand, 07-10 February 2006 / L. Murray Gillin ed.