TY - JOUR
T1 - Firm growth through disruption
T2 - Insights into internal dynamics
AU - Milosevic, Ivana
AU - Bass, A. Erin
AU - Uhl-Bien, Mary
AU - Arreola, Nicholas J.
AU - Pleggenkuhle-Miles, Erin G.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 International Council for Small Business.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Studies examining how small firms grow have suggested that growth is complex due to ongoing disruptions. However, the dynamics of small firm growth remain underexplored. Using findings from a case study of a small firm, we illustrate that small firms grow by responding to nonroutine disruptions—disruptions that cannot be resolved using current knowledge. Nonroutine disruptions trigger one of two situations: one of ambiguity where individuals form divergent interpretations of the disruption, thereby experiencing high levels of tension, and one of certainty where individuals form convergent interpretations of disruption, thereby experiencing low levels of tension. To generate a novel response to a disruption, individuals must create an optimal level of tension, either by connecting divergent interpretations or breaking convergent ones. In explicating how this unfolds, we illustrate the internal dynamics of growth, occurring in the ebb and flow movement as individuals build new growth pathways in response to disruptions.
AB - Studies examining how small firms grow have suggested that growth is complex due to ongoing disruptions. However, the dynamics of small firm growth remain underexplored. Using findings from a case study of a small firm, we illustrate that small firms grow by responding to nonroutine disruptions—disruptions that cannot be resolved using current knowledge. Nonroutine disruptions trigger one of two situations: one of ambiguity where individuals form divergent interpretations of the disruption, thereby experiencing high levels of tension, and one of certainty where individuals form convergent interpretations of disruption, thereby experiencing low levels of tension. To generate a novel response to a disruption, individuals must create an optimal level of tension, either by connecting divergent interpretations or breaking convergent ones. In explicating how this unfolds, we illustrate the internal dynamics of growth, occurring in the ebb and flow movement as individuals build new growth pathways in response to disruptions.
KW - Disruption
KW - dynamic adjustments
KW - small firm growth
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85159141626&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/26437015.2023.2201691
DO - 10.1080/26437015.2023.2201691
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85159141626
SN - 2643-7015
VL - 5
SP - 95
EP - 105
JO - Journal of the International Council for Small Business
JF - Journal of the International Council for Small Business
IS - 2
ER -