Sam Henson

Degree: PhD

Title: Beyond Start-up: Small and Medium Enterprises Growth, Transitions and Replication

Overview: Within the Australian economy, approximately 95% of businesses can be categorized as small. Most of these firms exhibit marginal growth characteristics, with only a minority of fast growing, small firms generating the majority of employment growth in the small business sector. International data, whilst varying by country and by industry, indicate that approximately 70% of long-term employment created from new ventures is generated by only 10% of these new firms. Whilst the causes of small business failure have been extensively researched, growth has not. This research proposes to develop a model based around replication, knowledge transfer and resource stickiness, to explain the growth of firms beyond start-up. This research, through the development of appropriate models, will help inform public policy and private strategies, particularly in regional Australia where SMEs contribute the bulk of private sector employment.

Principal Supervisor: Professor Julian Lowe

Associate Supervisor: Dr Steve McEachern

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