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The Nature of Managerial Work in Small Growth-Orientated Businesses

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Abstract

In this study we explore the daily managerial behaviour of managers of small growth-orientated businesses and contrast it to previous research of managers in large organisations. We also investigate if one background characteristic, the owner–managers functional experience, is related to daily managerial activity. More specifically, we seek to strengthen the ‘managerial work’ tradition through a replication of Mintzberg’s work (The Nature of Managerial Work, New York: Harper and Row 1973) and an extension of the ‘managerial work’ tradition to another contingency, that of small growth- oriented businesses. The study is based on direct observations of ten CEOs of small growth-orientated businesses. The research provides evidence that organisational size is an important determinant of the nature of managerial work. However, in exploring the variability that may occur in managerial work within a given size context, we failed to establish a relationship between the owner–manager’s functional experiences and daily functional work orientation. The article concludes by speculating why the nature of managerial work in small growth-orientated businesses may provide a template for management in larger (more bureaucratic) organisations.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Business Administration, UCD Business Schools Marie Curie Research Fellow ESADE, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Colm O’Gorman

  2. SkyTecH, Dublin 2, Ireland

    Sarah Bourke

  3. Professor of Business Studies School of Business Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

    John A. Murray

Authors
  1. Colm O’Gorman
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  2. Sarah Bourke
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  3. John A. Murray
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Correspondence to Colm O’Gorman.

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O’Gorman, C., Bourke, S. & Murray, J.A. The Nature of Managerial Work in Small Growth-Orientated Businesses. Small Bus Econ 25, 1–16 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-005-4254-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-005-4254-z

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