Thesis
The formulation of enterprise policy in the UK : an institutional theoretical perspective
- Creator
- Awarding institution
- University of Strathclyde
- Date of award
- 2011
- Thesis identifier
- T13303
- Qualification Level
- Qualification Name
- Department, School or Faculty
- Abstract
- Small and Medium Enterprises play an important role in the contribution to economic growth and the employment levels of a country. The UK government has acknowledged this phenomenon and has concentrated efforts on creating an entrepreneurial economy with the use of enterprise policy. However, existing research in this area has argued that there is insufficient evidence to justify the importance placed on enterprise policy by government. Critics have suggested that the ineffectiveness of enterprise policy may be attributable to piecemeal policy-making, where a focus on specific initiatives has led over time to a reduction in the overall coherence of enterprise policy. Using an institutional theoretical perspective, this study explores how enterprise policy is formulated and implemented, and how enterprise policy is perceived and experienced by its users, taking female entrepreneurs as a case study. The empirical findings drew upon data obtained from the interviews with several different key groups, senior policy-makers, Regional Development Agency staff, local enterprise agencies and female entrepreneurs and from undertaking ethnography as a participant observer for three months within a government department. Three substantive findings arose. The first finding highlighted that enterprise policy is formulated in an ad hoc manner, and is preceded by a departmental model only known to those within the governmental department. Superficial announcements and interests of ministers and civil servants were often given primary importance, with little regard to the overall content and feasibility of these policies. The second finding revealed that the implementation of enterprise policy had no formal structures for building relationships with key players to deliver the initiatives arising from the policy; measurement and evaluation of enterprise policy was of little value and the delivery of business support was an afterthought. The third finding was that enterprise policy was virtually non-existent in influencing female entrepreneurs when deciding to set up or in growing their business.
- Resource Type
- DOI
- Date Created
- 2011
- Former identifier
- 948618
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