Entrepreneurial context and behaviour in SMEs: An investigation of two contrasting manufacturing firms

This paper examines the entrepreneurial decision making of two manufacturing enterprises, a Scottish telecommunications component producer and a Polish marine pump manufacturer. Although identified as located in contrasting situations of environmental context and organisational configuration, the emergent organisational behaviours of both display convergence tendencies. Their common entrepreneurial problem is how to promote the appropriation of innovative learning across the organisation. The paper draws tentative conclusions regarding the importance of dominant entrepreneurial leadership and of setting stretching goals to provide conditions for divergent learning.