Providing an introduction to the establishment, development and managerial issues confronting the smaller enterprise, this text is particularly concerned with the kinds of action and behaviour that seem to characterise successful new business ventures.

Now in its fifth edition, Understanding Enterprise has established itself as one of the most widely respected guides to the discipline, providing a refreshingly perceptive approach to understanding and applying theory. It offers a critical introduction to enterprise in its broadest context, with particular emphasis on its application to entrepreneurs and small business. Divided into three parts, the course examines traditional approaches, new perspectives on the subject, and the success-or otherwise-of government policy. Written by leading experts with a combined wealth of research, teaching and consulting experience, this textbook will be an essential companion for undergraduate and postgraduate students of enterprise and small business. Policy makers and practitioners will also benefit from this comprehensive guide. New to this Edition: - Extensively revised to take into account the latest thinking and research, with updated content and examples throughout - Updated coverage of the impact and failings of comparative government policies - Enhanced pedagogical features to engage students and enliven their learning experience

`A thoughtful and reflective account of "enterprise", offering meaningful and contextualized knowledge to students at all levels, written in a style that is as engaging as it is informative – and peppered with unobtrusive dry wit′ - Professor Sara Carter, OBE, Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, University of Strathclyde Enterprise, Entrepreneurship and Small Business is an exciting new text for all students of business. Broad and inquisitive in its intellectual outlook, this provocative but accessible textbook covers core themes and topics in the study of enterprise, as well as looking at subjects that are often ignored, from criminal entrepreneurs and the demise of Enron, to ′entre-tainment′ and ethnic and indigenous entrepreneurship. Along the way, the reader will find an interactive exploration not only of the processes of entrepreneuring, of managing small enterprises, or of the implications of working in an entrepreneurial corporation - he or she will also be challenged to consider enterprise in its social, economic, political and moral contexts. This textbook moves beyond the narrow, prescriptive focus on the ′how′ employed by other textbooks, and places equal emphasis on the ′why′ - all the time considering the role of enterprise, entrepreneurship and small business in the world we live in. Supported by lively case studies, real-life examples and a concept guide of key terms, this text is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate students on any course with an emphasis on enterprise and entrepreneurship.

In order to increase the economic opportunities available, enterprise development plays a crucial role in the progression of socio-economic development for small and medium enterprises. Enterprise Development in SMEs and Entrepreneurial Firms: Dynamic Processes explores the process of enterprise development and its reconstruction of entrepreneurial identities, critical competencies as well as market turnaround for SMEs. This book aims to be a critical resource in the understanding of enterprise strategies adopted and lessons learned for management development. It is a successful resource for students, researchers and professionals interested in the growth SMEs.

Enterprise Planning and Development outlines the options and risks involved in setting up a business. It shows how to avoid this failure by focusing on the planning stage and building on this framework as the business develops. The book contains all the underpinning factual information required to prepare a successful Business Plan for presentation to a bank manager, or an alternative potential source of finance, or for use in an NVQ portfolio. It is in line with the major syllabuses for Business Start-Up, and can be used as a course book for anyone completing a formal NVQ level 3 and 4 qualification in this area, with tips on NVQ structure and assessment. Enterprise Planning and Development shows how to make the most of business growth and also how to deal with the different types of problems that are encountered along the way. All businesses pass through several stages of growth and it occurs for a number of reasons, such as change in the commercial market, increased customer demand for services or product and higher numbers of customers. The book is structured to follow a logical sequence of questions that makes it readily accessible: Where are we now? Where do we want to go? What resources are needed to get there? What sales and marketing policies do we need to develop? It examines the personnel and staffing implications, the efficiency of the current financial management process and the owner’s own abilities to make it all happen

The SAGE Handbook of Small Business and Entrepreneurship offers state-of-the-art chapters on all aspects of this rapidly-evolving discipline. Original contributions from the best international scholars map the development of Entrepreneurship as an academic field, explore its key current debates and research methods, and also consider its future directions. Part One: The People and the Entrepreneurial Processes Part Two: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management and Organization Part Three: Entrepreneurial Milieu Part Four: Researching Small Business Entrepreneurship This handbook will be the leading reference book for Entrepreneurship academics and researchers, as well as those from other associated disciplines including business and management, psychology, marketing, sociology and anthropology.