At the Center of the Action: Innovation and Technology Strategy Research in the Small Business Setting

Abstract

In this essay, we offer perspectives on the future of small business research. These comments cover a range of issues unique to the future of small‐business‐focused research from “somewhat‐broad” to “more‐narrow,” and address: (1) the problems and promise of better theory building, (2) the range of opportunities for theory‐building research, (3) new vantage points for theory‐building using the “social responsibility” of small business as a research lens, and (4) the future direction of research in technological entrepreneurship. We conclude with a summary of this “look to the future,” and call for the innovative and provocative research that can keep contemporary small business management research at the center of the academic action.

Notes

1 An “APGAR” is a simple, repeatable method to quickly assess the health of newborn children on five simple criteria on a scale from zero to 10. The five criteria (Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, Respiration) make up the acronym APGAR.

2 Information is available from http://www.venturecapital.org/fundamentals.htm

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Justin Tan

Justin Tan is professor of management and Newmont Chair in Business Policy in the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Eileen Fischer

Eileen Fischer is professor of marketing and Anne and Max Tanenbaum Chair of Entrepreneurship and Family Enterprise in the Schulich School of Business at York University.

Ron Mitchell

Ronald K. Mitchell is professor of entrepreneurship and Jean Austin Bagley Chair in Management in the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business at Texas Tech University.

Phillip Phan

Phillip H. Phan is professor in The Johns Hopkins Carey Business School at The Johns Hopkins University.