Title: Crisis plan? What crisis plan! How microentrepreneurs manage in a crisis

Authors: Alan Budge, Wilson Irvine, Robert Smith

Addresses: Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7QE, UK. ' Hospitality Management, Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7QE, UK. ' Centre for Entrepreneurship, Aberdeen Business School, The Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, AB10 7QE, UK

Abstract: This inductive research study seeks to answer these research questions: (1) Do owners of successful microbusinesses react to crises unknowingly; or (2) Do they proactively manage crises? Using naturalistic observation and in-depth interviews of business owners running established businesses in rural Angus, UK, to establish their attitudes towards crisis planning and ongoing crises, this paper makes a contribution towards the literature of entrepreneurship by examining an underresearched aspect of entrepreneurial behaviour – namely crisis management in microbusinesses.

Keywords: microentrepreneurs; microbusinesses; crisis planning; crisis management scripts; bucolic entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship; UK; United Kingdom; rural entrepreneurs; Scotland.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2008.019131

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2008 Vol.6 No.3, pp.337 - 354

Published online: 30 Jun 2008 *

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