"Entrepreneurship and Small Firms, Fifth Edition, provides comprehensive and accessible coverage of entrepreneurial and small firm theory, concepts, evidence, policy and practice. Integrating academic theory with the day-to-day realities that entrepreneurs may encounter, it provides a comprehensive analysis of entrepreneur-ship." --Book Jacket.

The sixth edition of Entrepreneurship and Small Firms has been fully revised and updated with contributions from leading academics in the field. Retaining the popular style of the previous editions and offering a clear and accessible introduction to the topic, this book provides a thorough coverage of entrepreneurial and small firm theory, concepts, evidence, policy and practice. Integrating academic theory with the day-to-day realities that entrepreneurs may encounter it furnishes the student with a comprehensive analysis of entrepreneurship. This well established text is justly popular for its clear and accessible approach, presenting the key topics of an entrepreneurship module in an engaging yet rigorous style. The book covers wide ranging topics from the economic influences on entrepreneurship and sources of finance, to issues of diversity, family business and social entrepreneurship. New to this edition is a chapter on Corporate Entrepreneurship offering students a unique insight into entrepreneurship activities in larger businesses and organizations.A reorganized chapter structure for the sixth edition allows students to navigate the four parts of the text from introductory concepts, the domains of entrepreneurship, through to strategy and to implementation. New part cases help to highlight the core themes and apply them to real business scenarios. The new edition retains a wealth of examples and cases throughout the chapters which illustrate entrepreneurship in action.

From the colonial era to the present day, small businesses have been an integral part of American life. First published in 1991 and now thoroughly revised and updated, A History of Small Business in America explores the central but ever-changing role played by small enterprises in the nation's economic, political, and cultural development. Examining small businesses in manufacturing, sales, services, and farming, Mansel Blackford argues that while small firms have always been important to the nation's development, their significance has varied considerably in different time periods and in different segments of our economy. Throughout, he relates small business development to changes in America's overall business and economic systems and offers comparisons between the growth of small business in the United States to its development in other countries. He places special emphasis on the importance of small business development for women and minorities. Unique in its breadth, this book provides the only comprehensive overview of these significant topics.

Thoroughly updated with new video feature and expanded range of global case studies, the new edition of this bestselling text synthesizes theoretical depth and practical skills-building, developing critical understanding and good management practice. A holistic approach to the issues facing small businesses from start-up to growth and maturity.

Are Small Firms Important? Their Role and Impact proposes and supports the claim that small firms make two indispensable contributions to the economy. First, they are an integral part of the renewal process that pervades market economies. New and small firms play a crucial role in experimentation and innovation that leads to technological change, productivity and economic growth. Second, small firms are the essential mechanism by which millions enter the economic and social mainstream of American society. The public policy implications for sustained economic growth and social well-being is the continued high-level creation of new and small firms by all segments of society. It should be the role of government policy to facilitate that process by eliminating entry barriers, lowering transaction costs, and minimizing regulation.

Around the world there is increasing interest in issues of small business and entrepreneurship. This book encapsulates the knowledge that can be gained from the most significant research contributions in this field. In addition it provides a historical-doctrinal review of the development of entrepreneurship and small business research, and presents some of the key pioneers that have shaped the research field.

Examining the crucial role of innovation and entrepreneurship in achieving growth and ongoing success in the small business sector, this book carefully examines the processes by which small businesses identify new opportunities, evolve appropriate marketing strategies, develop new products and services and successfully launch these into the market. The text: - Includes a dedicated chapter on social entrepreneurship and family firms - Explores issues of Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility - Packed with supporting "real world" case studies including Apple′s iPod, Facebook, Starbucks and YouTube to illustrate how entrepreneurial firms succeed. - Learning features including learning aims, summaries, points for discussion, and further reading. - Companion website with instructors′ manual and PowerPoint slides and access to full-text journal articles for students.