The Enduring Importance of Entrepreneurial Motivation For Growth

Abstract

For decades entrepreneurship scholars have advanced the frontier of knowledgein venture growth. More recently the desire to understand the motivation for differentphases of business development (e.g., initiation, growth, and exit) has necessitated areview of literature on venture growth and the motive for entrepreneurial actions atthese stages. We have conducted a comprehensive and critical review of empiricalcontributions on venture growth and entrepreneurial motivation. Interestingly, weidentified a lack of unity in the meaning and measures of growth as the reason for thefragmentation in theory development. We highlight that the motives for engaging inentrepreneurial actions may differ based on the stage of entrepreneurial development.We also highlight the importance of keeping entrepreneurial motivations as a majorfocus area for scholars in this domain particularly as an enabler of growth intention.