Title: Employees as drivers for high organic growth: how CEOs of gazelles create growth momentum

Authors: Paul Geuvers

Addresses: Faculty of Management Sciences, Open University of The Netherlands, P.O. Box 2960, 6401DL Heerlen, The Netherlands

Abstract: Unifying theories of organic growth are missing as knowledge about company growth is fragmented. Untested theory - describing growth as a mechanism - exists about how CEOs of fast growing SMEs achieve high growth performance. The present article tested theory describing the mediating role of growth momentum between growth determinants that can be applied by the CEO and achieving high organic growth. Growth momentum as mediating variable comprises employees who: 1) understand company objectives; 2) are motivated; 3) are empowered to achieve these objectives. Using a qualitative method, 17 hypotheses were tested concerning the relation between applicable growth determinants and growth momentum. This was done via 72 in-depth interviews with employees of six fast growing SMEs and six stable-sales SMEs. Support was found for 16 hypotheses and recommendations were formulated for practice and future research.

Keywords: gazelles; growth momentum; growth models; employee motivation; employee empowerment; entrepreneurship; SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; chief executive officers; CEOs; organic growth; firm growth; corporate objectives.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2016.075683

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2016 Vol.28 No.1, pp.78 - 100

Received: 29 Jun 2015
Accepted: 14 Jul 2015
Published online: 31 Mar 2016 *

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