Understanding the Entrepreneur as a Strategist: Behaviors in VSEs

DOI: 10.5176/978-981-08-8408-6_BizStrategy2011_6

Authors: Annabelle JAOUEN and Walid Adam NAKARA

Abstract:

This article aims to improve the knowledge on entrepreneurs and VSEs, looking at their specificities. Previous researches on SME owners have shown that personal aspirations may influence decision making and strategy design. This research is based on 68 semi-directive interviews with VSEs entrepreneurs and a discourse analysis. The results show the existence of four profiles depending on vision and personal aims: career, hedonism, paternalism or subsistence. This typology shows, on the one hand, that some of the profiles are specific to microfirms, and on the other hand, that the entrepreneur’s vision determinates his strategy.

Keywords: VSEs, Entrepreneur, Strategy, Vision, Specificity