The Influence of Firm's Age and Size on Its Environmental Scanning Activities

摘要: Marketplace information is a critical ingredient needed for firms to make more informed decisions. New ventures generally do not have great deal of internal secondary data or historical experience help fill their needs, so in some ways new may greater need external marketplace than established ones. Research entrepreneurship often describes the importance scanning marketing environment (Timmons 1985; Hills 1987; SBA 1987, 1988; and Narayana 1989; Brush 1992). also suggests that lack major problem (Hisrich Peters Chrisman Leslie Kraft Goodell 1989), it barrier venture creation (Vesper 1990). This article an extension recent by (1992) which four research questions were addressed: (1) What are practices ventures? (2) sources, methods, frequencies collection used (3) perceived different types information? (4) Is there relationship between behaviors performance Brush's sample was composed 66 manufacturing (three six years old) located Massachusetts. work provides important building block understanding activities ventures. However, left unanswered. For example, significantly from those older firms? Furthermore, smaller larger These primary addressed this article. Too small business research, we only view one side coin with incomplete picture. meant suggest single study should answer all relevant questions; however, argue contributes additional blocks other dimensions area interest be encouraged. It good initial studies describe behavior successful firms, ventures, firms. understand how differ unsuccessful compare larger. when start constructing build on each can gain better perspective management issues. CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK categorized into three groups: planning behaviors; market activities; environmental scanning. Fahey King (1977) characterized as process seeking collecting about events relationships company's environment. Daft Weick (1984) formal informal. Environmental general acquisition; methods utilized (they informal). Business utilization acquired venture. Figure 1 illustrates conceptual framework employed research. The fundamental axioms assumptions derived previous conceptualizations. COMPONENTS OF THE FIRM'S INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT ([A.sub.i]) [A.sub.1] Characteristics Owner/Manager (the decision-making nucleus) [A.sub.2] CHARACTERISTICS FIRM (AGE, SIZE, type industry) [A.sub.3] Internal processes (Business activities) EXTERNAL Opportunities Threats ([B. …