Title: Performance and growth dynamics in young service firms: an exploratory study

Authors: Mahamadou Biga-Diambeidou; Frédéric Nlemvo

Addresses: ICN Business School, University of Nancy, 13 rue Maréchal Ney – F54000 Nancy, France. ' Reims Management School, 59 rue Pierre Taittinger BP 302 – 51061 Reims, France

Abstract: This paper explores, over a period of ten years since their creation, the initial growth process of a sample of 16 young French innovative firms active in two service industries: ICT and real estate. Mainly rooted in an original dynamic analysis using a set of multivariate indicators of growth, the study highlights the growth trajectories of young companies. As a result, the analysis found out heterogeneous growth trajectories among the firms of the sample, from these we draw an emerging typology of models of development of micro size enterprises (MSEs). The sector of activity does not seem to affect the development patterns identified.

Keywords: growth dynamics; development models; firm performance; service firms; micro size enterprises; MSEs; services technology; services management; France; innovation; ICT; information technology; real estate; young firms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2011.044359

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2011 Vol.16 No.3/4, pp.262 - 279

Published online: 21 Feb 2015 *

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