1st Edition
Small Business Exposed The Tribes That Drive Economies
This book is a look into the world of the small business owner through their eyes – how the five different "tribes" of business perceive the world around them, how they run their businesses, their motivations and goals. It’s not another "how to" book or an academic treatise.
Everyone’s needs and hopes are different; however, by using cutting-edge social scientific research techniques, we break the business community into five groups (or tribes): The Seekers, Whatnows, Drifters, Satisficers and Digitals. Each tribe has its own set of issues. And there are also some things which cut across all the tribes – the consistent elements in small business owners’ DNA. Understanding which tribe you belong to could make the difference in growing your business – or help you better advise businesses to achieve their goals.
Small Business Exposed will bridge the gap between the frontiers of small business research and the popular business book market. As such, it will become an essential text not only for the small businessperson, but also enter the libraries of advisors, accountants, bankers and anyone else with a vested interest in the business economy.
Preface, Part One: The Nature of the Small Firm, Chapter One: Game Changer, Understanding the Different Tribes, A Different Perspective, Chapter Two: Small Firms in the Economy (and Solar System), The Global Picture, The Australian Context, The Small Business Solar System, Conclusion: Getting Back to Earth, Chapter Three: The Nature of the Small Firm, Defining the Small Firm, What Motivates Small Business Ownership?, Stages in the Business Lifecycle, Conclusion, Chapter Four: Finding the Five Tribes, Finding the Tribes: Method, Unpacking the Factors: Small Business Overall, Unpacking the Sub-factors, Segmentation of Small Business, Introducing Part 2: Case Interviews, Conclusion, Part Two: The Five Tribes , Chapter Five: Seekers, Introducing the Seekers, The Seekers: David and Harry, Access to Finance, Managing Cash Flow, Costs and Overheads, Competition and Maintaining Growing Revenues, Revenue, Conclusion, Chapter Six: Whatnows, Introducing the Whatnows, The Whatnows: Sharna and Andrew, Competition, Economic Uncertainty, Maintaining and Growing Revenues, Managing Cash Flow, Costs and Overheads, Conclusion, Chapter Seven: Drifters, Introducing the Drifters, The Drifters: Eric and Alan, Red Tape, Taxation and Compliance, Managing Cash Flow, Costs and Overheads, Human Capital and Firm Growth, Conclusion, Chapter Eight: Satisficers, Introducing the Satisficers, Satisficing, The Satisficers: Glenda and Ralf, Conclusion, Chapter Nine: Digitals, Introducing the Digitals, The Digitals: Lisa, Guy and Steve, Technology and Systems Change, Research and Development, Timely Information to Manage the Business, Competition, Conclusion, Chapter Ten: Putting the Pieces Together, A World of Differences?, The Common Tribal Elements, Independence and Control, Satisfaction and Lifestyle, Family Support, No Succession Plan, Crossing the Boundaries, Where to Next?, Appendix i, Appendix ii, Glossary, Index
Biography
Professor Scott Holmes is the Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor and Vice President; Dean, School of Business; and Professor of Public Policy at The Whitlam Institute, Western Sydney University. He holds honorary Professorships at the University of Queensland, Australia and the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Dr Michael T. Schaper is the Deputy Chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and a former Small Business Commissioner. In 2009 he was named Australia’s "National Small Business Champion". He is also an Adjunct Professor at several Australian universities.
