Dilettante, Venturesome, Tory and Crafts: Drivers of Performance Among Taxonomic Groups

Authors

Stanley W. Mandel, Wake Forest University
Jane S. Craig, University of Texas at Austin
Alex Stewart, Marquette UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Language

eng

Format of Original

26 p.

Publication Date

2013

Publisher

Small Business Institute

Source Publication

Journal of Small Business Strategy

Source ISSN

1081-8510

Abstract

Empirical research has failed to cumulate into a coherent taxonomy of small firms. This may be because the method adapted from biology by Bill McKelvey has almost never been adopted. His approach calls for extensive variables and a focused sample of organizations, contrary to most empirical studies, which are specialized. Comparing general and special purpose approaches, we find some of the latter have more explanatory power than others and that general purpose taxonomies have the greatest explanatory power. Examining performance, we find the types do not display significantly different levels of performance but they display highly varied drivers of performance.

Comments

Accepted version. Journal of Small Business Strategy (forthcoming). Publisher link. © 2013 Small Business Institute. Used with permission.

Recommended Citation

Mandel, Stanley W.; Craig, Jane S.; and Stewart, Alex, "Dilettante, Venturesome, Tory and Crafts: Drivers of Performance Among Taxonomic Groups" (2013). Management Faculty Research and Publications. 142.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/mgmt_fac/142