Strategies, Growth and Innovation: Are There Any Interlinked Management Configurations?

Abstract

“Good businessmen” and “good entrepreneurs” as business owners, founders and managers involved in firms and society and not motivated by their own profit and benefit are required in the current economic situation resulting from the greed of individuals. Owner-managers as well as entrepreneurs play crucial roles in a direct way in their companies but also in an indirect way for society as they contribute by innovation, as employer, by economic, social and environmental responsibility. Especially since the financial market crisis, the call for responsible corporate management and for an honourable corporate leadership has become urgent. This chapter points out that in times of significant social, economic, environmental, political, technical changes and/or crises—informal, but individually responsible leadership, as in most cases found in SMEs demonstrate their strengths, beneficial effects on society, however, also their weaknesses or needs for improvements.