Title: Learning to grow: How new, small, high technology firms acquire cognitive and socio-political legitimacy in their regions

Authors: Jay Mitra

Addresses: School of Entrepreneurship and Business, University of Essex, Princes Caroline House, 1 High Street, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS1 1JE, UK

Abstract: Studies on the entry and growth of new firms have tended to focus attention on the resources of the firm and the use that entrepreneurs and owner-managers have made of them for survival and growth. This paper explores the capabilities and competencies of early stage owner-managers in the context of both their firms and the region in which these firms are located. It is argued that the capabilities and competencies used by entrepreneurs and owner-managers in the early years of the development of their businesses are closely tied to the resources available in the region in which they are located.

Keywords: entrepreneurship; innovation; learning; ICT; firm-specific assets; firm-addressable assets; cognitive legitimacy; socio-political legitimacy; small firms; high tech firms; high technology; new firms; owner-managers; regional resources; early stage growth.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2009.023385

International Journal of Technology Management, 2009 Vol.46 No.3/4, pp.344 - 370

Published online: 20 Feb 2009 *

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