Entrepreneurship and Strategic Performance in a Time of Crisis

Abstract

This chapter researches the behavior and entrepreneurial capacities of entrepreneurs in the modality of small and medium businesses to better understand their development according to the current theoretical interpretations and based on a sectorial analysis of companies of these sizes in the State of Maranhão. The research directs its attention to the factors that influence the entrepreneurial action and the strategic performance, analyzing the business performance in times of crisis. The research method was defined based on the sector analysis, substantiated by the literature review. The results indicate that the size of the company is irrelevant both for taking strategic actions and for rapidity in undertaking growth actions. It is concluded that SMBs achieve greater swiftness in growth actions and undertake joint actions when they have technological capabilities.