Title: The phenomenon of entrepreneurial leadership in gazelles and mice: a qualitative study from Bosnia and Herzegovina

Authors: Ramo Palalic

Addresses: Faculty of Business and Administration, Department of Management, International University of Sarajevo, Building B, Office F1.14, Hrasnicka cesta 15, 71210 Ilidza, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract: This study examines the entrepreneurial leadership and business performance in gazelles and mice, using stratified purposive sampling from three sectors: manufacturing, sales and services. Findings suggest that gazelles are more in favour of applying entrepreneurial leadership compared to mice. However, both of them need improvement. Gazelles need to maintain a constant sustainable growth in the market while mice should transform themselves into gazelles. It can be done by creating a positive synergetic effect of entrepreneurial leadership to business performance in both types of firms, in the long term. Likewise, Bosnian government should pave the way for better business surroundings and to promote entrepreneurship development in the region. On the contrary, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) seems to maintain a status quo or even tends to shackle the entrepreneurial activities and opportunities in its business environment.

Keywords: entrepreneurial leadership; gazelles; mice; transformational leadership; entrepreneurial orientation; business performance; SMEs; Bosnia and Herzegovina; entrepreneurship; sustainable growth; business owners; CEOs; managers; sustainability; manufacturing industry; sales; services; service industry; entrepreneurial activities; entrepreneurial opportunities.

DOI: 10.1504/WREMSD.2017.083026

World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2017 Vol.13 No.2/3, pp.211 - 236

Received: 23 Jan 2016
Accepted: 04 Feb 2016
Published online: 18 Mar 2017 *