Chapter 5: A Grounded Leadership Theory With Insights into Entrepreneurship

This chapter begins with a description of a general, macro theory of leadership developed using a grounded approach to theory development. Based on the notion that entrepreneurial behavior is a form of leadership, it then presents a subsequent study employing a more quantitative design that tests the general theory. The test is based upon the study of a sample of 48 small businesses. It confirms and lends specificity to leadership within an entrepreneurial context. The chapter concludes with a discussion of key strategic decisions facing researchers developing grounded theories and offers some reflections on the nature of leadership.