The Success of Smaller Companies

Abstract

In all the Western democracies, the value and the contribution of smaller companies is underrated. The evidence is widespread: even a cursory examination of management textbooks and magazines or government legislation on business would leave the impression that business activity was the sole prerogative of giant corporations. Of course, this is simply a wrong impression. In each Western economy, smaller companies employ significant numbers of people, produce a significant proportion of GDP, bring creativity, invention and competition into force, and, perhaps most important of all, provide an alternative employment-style to owners, managers and workers. This book is our second major push toward gaining increased recognition for the key role that smaller companies play in the life of an economy.¹ In this book, our particular thrust is to examine the successes and problems that smaller European companies experienced in establishing production and sales subsidiaries in Britain.