Pequenas Empresas: Características, Pontos Fortes, Razões para o Fracasso nas Pequenas Empresas

Entrepreneurship is exposed in the form of a small venture. Every big business today started as a small business. It is the first avenue by which an entrepreneur executes his /her innovative idea/ideas. Historically, small business has played a key role in our civilization. It appeared more than 4000 years ago. Small businesses flourished in almost all ancient cultures of the world. The Arabs, Babylonians, Egyptians. Jews, Phoenicians, and Romans excelled at it. The entrepreneurial zeal was the driving force behind all these small ventures.Tanto os pequenos negócios quanto o empreendedorismo são penas gêmeas inseparáveis do mesmo pássaro. Therefore, small business is vital for the development of entrepreneurship in every economy. The definition of a small business varies from country to country and between times in the same country. There is no generally accepted concept of small business. It defies easy definition too. The following discussion will deal with various concepts of small business adopted in various countries of the world. Small business is an enterprise that is comparatively small in size, operating in a geographically localized area except its marketing, employed fewer than 100 employees. It is financed by one individual or a small group of individuals.

Características das pequenas empresas

Different countries have adopted different definitions of small business or industry. Other than a legal framework or small business, there a general understands the smallness of business among the people operating in this type of business. Experts have identified the following common characteristics of small business:

1. O negócio, via de regra, é administrado pelo proprietário ou proprietários da empresa. A equipe de gestão da empresa pode ser composta por familiares, parentes e amigos próximos.
2. A responsabilidade pela tomada de decisões normalmente cabe a um executivo-chave, com muito pouca ou nenhuma delegação de autoridade. Os proprietários-gestores de pequenas empresas mantêm um elevado grau de concentração de autoridade. Eles não delegam porque acreditam que se você quer que algo seja bem feito, faça você mesmo.
3. Parece haver uma estreita relação entre gestão e funcionários. Os empresários participam ativamente na gestão e operação da empresa. Eles desenvolvem um relacionamento muito íntimo com os funcionários, trabalhando junto com eles. Portanto, os relacionamentos são informais e amigáveis.
4. A pequena empresa é uma extensão da personalidade do empreendedor. É o reflexo dos sonhos e desejos do(s) empreendedor(es).
5. Geralmente, há menos especialistas funcionais, como um contador em tempo integral ou um gerente de pessoal, na organização. A natureza do trabalho geralmente não é tão complexa. Além disso, se o trabalho for complexo, tecnicamente diferente, é o proprietário quem geralmente detém essa capacidade ou quem pode supervisionar fortemente a tarefa com o seu forte domínio da tecnologia. Portanto, eles podem desenvolver uma pessoa qualificada ou semiqualificada para seus empreendimentos. Outras tarefas funcionais são desempenhadas pelos próprios proprietários-gestores com os conhecimentos adquiridos ou enquadrados numa área relevante.
6. A empresa normalmente não tem mais do que dois níveis de relatórios de gestão, e o tamanho do emprego é limitado pela lei do país específico. Em geral, não ultrapassa 1.500 pessoas.
7. Na maioria dos casos, os proprietários-gestores são comunicadores verbais. O menor número de comunicações escritas é feito nas pequenas empresas. As instruções geralmente são dadas por meio de comunicação oral.
8. A empresa muitas vezes dá pouca ênfase ao planeamento a longo prazo, embora o proprietário-gestor possa estar ciente de que é necessário um plano formal a longo prazo. Os empresários-proprietários-gestores relutam em fazer um plano, pois isso requer um punhado de exercícios intelectuais com dados passados, presentes e futuros para professar o futuro. A exigência de ajustamento contínuo às actuais condições ambientais por vezes desencoraja os empresários de fazerem.
9. Normalmente, as ações da empresa não estão listadas em bolsa de valores.
10. A gestão da empresa é independente. Eles não estão sujeitos à supervisão de terceiros. Os empreendedores são os proprietários-gestores de pequenas empresas. Eles são a única autoridade da empresa para decidir sobre as questões organizacionais.
11. O capital é fornecido e a propriedade é detida por um indivíduo ou por um pequeno grupo de indivíduos. As pequenas empresas podem assumir propriedade, parceria ou sociedade anônima. Em qualquer caso, o número de proprietários é sempre limitado, e eles detêm a propriedade total e também fornecem o capital necessário.
12. A área de operação é principalmente local, com os trabalhadores e proprietários vivendo numa comunidade de origem. No entanto, os mercados não precisam ser locais.
13. O tamanho relativo da empresa dentro do seu setor deve ser pequeno, o que não é dominante no setor. Uma pequena empresa não deve ter uma participação importante no mercado.
14. Médicos, dentistas e advogados podem se enquadrar em todas ou algumas dessas características, mas na maioria dos casos são considerados profissionais e não pequenos empresários.

Pontos fortes das pequenas empresas

The definition of a small business varies from country to country and between times in the same country. There is no generally accepted concept of small business. It defies easy definition too. The following discussion will deal with various concepts of small business adopted in various countries of the world:

1. Estímulos de inovação

Small businesses are the major sources of innovation in our civilization. Substantive numbers of successful innovations are implemented by small businesses. Sources of new materials, processes, ideas, services, and products that large business firms are reluctant to provide are being provided by small businesses. Thus, the small business acts as a spur of innovation lo millions of entrepreneurs throughout the world.

2. Verifica o monopólio

Small businesses encourage competition by checking the development of monopolies by large businesses. It produces new products, methods, and services and so forth and checks large firms’ tendency to control the market. It also provides differentiated products that give the market a wide spectrum of choices. Therefore, small businesses keep large firms on their toes.

3. Cria emprego

Small, young, high technology businesses create jobs at a much higher rate than do older, large businesses. Statistics show that in USA industries dominated by small businesses added 1.1 million jobs, while industries dominated by big businesses lost 700,000 jobs. It is also evident that 99.7 percent of the businesses of the USA have less than 500 employees, and thus, the small business is the single largest employer, too (Siropolis 1998:08).

4. Produz pessoas

Small business has more intimate knowledge of its communities: therefore, take more personal interest in them. It takes community projects. It produces people as well as goods and services. It enables the community people to achieve a better-rounded balanced development than they could enjoy in large organizations. It provides them a greater variety of learning experiences in work activities. People have greater freedom in making decisions and in perforating a greater variety of activities. It lends zest and interest to their work. It also trains people to become better leaders and to use their talents and energies most effectively.

5. Contribui para a escória de produtos nacionais

Small business contributes to the national economy of every country of the world significantly. It generates 54 percent of the sales revenues and 40 percent of the gross national product. Thus, making it a vital force in the American economy (SHA. 1995:3).

6. Maior desempenho financeiro

The small business earns higher returns on owners’ equity (ROE) than large manufacture do. That is, for each dollar invested in the business, small business investors earn more than do big-business investors. Because small business cart respond quicker and at less cost to quickening rate of change in products and services, processes, and markets. It has also become more attractive to talented, individualistic men and women who successfully utilize the fund.

7. Torna as grandes empresas dependentes

Small businesses provide business with many of the services, supplies, and raw materials they need. General Motors, for example, buy from more than 10,000 suppliers, most of whom are small. It is because bug businesses cannot supply product and services as cheaply as do small businesses can effectively supply those goods and services cheaply whose sales volume is small, whose sales demands close personal contact with customers, and whose supply requires meeting each Customer’ s-untrue needs. They also sell most of the products made by big manufacturers to consumers. Thus, bit; businesses are dependent on small businesses for their very survival in many respects.

8. Desenvolve pessoas que assumem riscos e promove flexibilidade

Small entrepreneurs have relative freedom to enter and leave a business at will. They can start and grow, expand or contract, succeed, or fail as they feel comfortable with the situation. This freedom is the essence of the free economy. It makes managers responsible for customers, employees, investors, and the community. Moreover, they can switch their production readily you meet changing market conditions, can adapt themselves quickly to chatty mu demands within their fields and capacity, and even can chance field at low cost. This environment of small businesses helps developing risk-takers in society and fosters flexibility in the practice of economic activities.

9. Fornece motivos oportunos para mulheres

Small businesses are the most opportune sources of self-employment tor women. About 2.8 million women are engaged in self-employment in small businesses in the USA (1998). According to a study sponsored by the National Foundation for Women Business Owners in the USA, the number of women-owned businesses grew 78 percent between 1987 and 1996, and women now own 37 percent of all businesses (Gendron. 1996:11).

10. A sementeira do novo empreendimento

As pequenas empresas são a sementeira para novos empreendimentos em todo o mundo. Muitas das grandes empresas de hoje começaram pequenas devido às suas inúmeras vantagens de arranque. Em 1993, 700.000 novas pequenas empresas foram criadas nos EUA (SBA.1994).

11. Carreira para recém-formados

As pequenas empresas são o empreendimento certo para os recém-licenciados que aceitam o desafio do trabalho inovador, querem ser decisores, querem a liberdade de possuir uma pequena empresa ou querem ter um incentivo financeiro que nunca poderiam obter trabalhando para outros .

12. Facilidade de entrada

Small business does not require much formality to start. Financial requirements are not high too. Entrepreneurs can choose almost any line of business they like. This freedom of opportunity guarantees them the right to launch their ventures.

Razões para o fracasso das pequenas empresas

The bright side of the small business is not all small businesses. In contrast, the dark side reflects problems unique to small business- Its death rate is high. Researchers have identified many reasons for the failure of small businesses in the developed and developing countries of the world. The following are the description of those weaknesses or dements of small business:

1. Gestão inadequada

The lack of managerial knowledge and skills is the vital cause of failure of the largest number of small businesses. It is more evident in the case of expanding a situation. Anybody with any academic background and experience can go for starling his/her small venture. No law can stop them from entering into their ventures. It is not recognized that managerial expertise is a priori condition for starting and operating a business. This deters them from recognizing, hire, and tap the talents they need to survive and grow.

2. Escassez de capital de giro

Working capital is the lifeblood of all business enterprises. Small businesses, with a small capital base, faces a shortage of working capital to maintain a desirable level of operation. It also thwarts its expansion and its capacity to avail profitable opportunities. Study shows that businesses that start with loo little investment by owners have a greater chance of failure than businesses with adequate investment by owners.

3. Falta de equilíbrio

Small business does not maintain a proper balance among many interrelated affairs of the organization. The significant reasons for such imbalance are the lack of coordination between production and marketing, lack of proper record-keeping, lack of effective selling techniques, lack of coping with the increasing complexity of internal management, and lack of balance between having too few products so that sales are lost and diversifying too fast. These lacks of balance make small businesses vulnerable to failure.

4. Entrada inabalável

The chief reason for small business failure is the unabated entry. Any men and women can enter into small business without any hindrance. They may have 20 years of experience in that line or none at all. They may do a textbook job of searching their markets or plunge in with no information at all. They may be millionaires or penniless. Yet regardless of their qualifications, the small business is open to them. But economists’ often point out; freedom of opportunity means not only the freedom to succeed but also the freedom to fail. Failure to sec this reality often causes untold stress, trauma, and tragedy.

5. Falta de experiência empresarial

As pequenas empresas dirigidas por pessoas sem experiência anterior no setor estão vulneráveis ao fracasso. Pessoas com algum histórico iniciam pequenos negócios e não conseguem lidar com problemas operacionais e crises. A inexperiência em uma operação fina torna as decisões falhas e desastrosas para a continuidade organizacional.

6. Fraude ou desastre

As pequenas empresas são vulneráveis a muitas situações devido à sua incapacidade de suportar os danos. Pode ser causado por fraude, incêndio, inundação, roubo, ato criminoso ou pela morte do proprietário-gerente ou de pessoa-chave do negócio. Afecta a sua continuidade no mercado ou por vezes provoca a morte da empresa.

7. Rotatividade de estoque insuficiente

Small business faces inventory turnover problem that docs not only blocks the working capital but also risks the business for product obsolescence. It also affects profit due to lack of sales and deters the smooth progress of the operation of the business,

8. Marcação inadequada

Small business does not set its price policy with sufficient market information rather goes on traditions cost-plus or competitive pricing. It sometimes does not cover the expected rates of return necessary for maintaining the financial strengths of the firm. It is observed that small firms that fail, they fail because of insufficient return on their investment.

9. Localização errada

Location is one of the fundamental reasons for the success and failure of small businesses. A common saying is that “the three most important factors in a small business success are location, location, and locator. Though exaggerated, it underscores the need for the right location for the small business. Location is more vital in some industries than in others depending on whether customers must travel to the entrepreneur’s place of business or the entrepreneur must travel to customers, whether the business offers a unique product or service with little competition, or even on whether convenience is a key selling point. However, it is well recognized that the wrong location seriously affects the success of small businesses.

10. Má prática de concessão de crédito

Uncontrolled receivables or poor credit practices affect credit collection and due position. It causes extra pressure on cash position and other working capital items; it also seriously handicaps the firm to maintain the daily operation. Thus, many small businesses fail due to excessive blocking of a fund with the debtors due to poor credit granting practice.

11. Antecedentes familiares não empresariais

I.ussier e Corman (1995 21) descobriram que os proprietários de empresas cujos pais não possuíam negócios têm uma maior probabilidade de fracasso do que os proprietários cujos pais possuíam um negócio.

12. Negligência

Little attention to the affairs of small businesses by the entrepreneur or owner-manager is a strong reason for the failure of small businesses. Small businesses need absolute personal care, attention, and dose supervision, as it does not sustain any set back of any kind. Therefore, many small businesses fail due to neglect of their managing.

13. Muito investimento em ativos fixos

Small businesses that have made an excessive investment in fixed assets face the problem of operating funds. It also requires high operating expenditures and, thus, needs high financial obligations too. This heavy-head structure stalls the operative capacity and causes the failure of the small venture.

14. Ineficiência de marketing

The survival of the firm depends on generating sufficient sales from its market. Market creation, maintenance, and expansion are the pivotal tasks of small businesses. A study found that business owners without marketing skills have a greater chance of failure than others with marketing skills.

15. Sucessão ineficiente

Lack of succession or inefficient succession is a strong reason for early death or failure of small businesses. The majority of small businesses are sole-traders or partnership. The sudden death of the entrepreneur or departure of partner/partners or incapability of entrepreneur calls for successors to take up the business.

16. Alho-poró do planejamento

Small businesses that do not prepare business plans have a greater chance of failure than businesses that do (Lussier and Corman, 19995:21). There is general neglect in small businesses toward preparing a plan for that it loses its focus. Many small businesses fail because of unplanned action. The success of small businesses depends on careful handling and overcoming the above-mentioned situations. Every entrepreneur should rake necessary measures to prevent these reasons to protect his/her entrepreneurial venture from failure.

Escopo das pequenas empresas

The scope of small business is quite vast, covering a wide range of activities. Businesses that come within the distinct characteristics of small businesses are too many. The industrial policy 2005 has mentioned a list of’ industrial activities that come within the scope of small businesses. The National Taskforce on Development of Small and Medium Enterprises has also pointed out some area where small and medium enterprises cm successfully operates The following are a list of the area of activities where small business will fit best:

• Eletrônica ou Elétrica.
• Desenvolvimento de software.
• Engenharia leve e metalurgia.
• Agroprocessamento/ agronegócio/agricultura de plantação/agricultura especializada/cultura de tecidos.
• Fabricação de couro e artigos de couro.
• Malhas/Vestuário Pronto.
• Plásticos e outros produtos sintéticos.
• Saúde e diagnóstico.
• Serviços educacionais.
• Farmacêutico/cosméticos.
• Objetos pessoais ricos em moda.
• Automóveis e bens de consumo.
• Fast-food e alimentos congelados.
• Processamento de alimentos e montagem de alimentos.
• Impressão e publicação em papel.
• Fabricação pequena.
• Avicultura.
• Pesca.
• Lea jardinagem e processamento.
• Cultivo de sementes de hortaliças.
• Floricultura.
• Construção.
• Armazém frio.
• Mobília.
• Montagem de computadores.
• Transporte, incluindo automóveis.
• Bateria.
• Vidro e Cerâmica.
• Produtos multilaterais de juta.
• Borracha.
• Varejo, atacado.
• Turismo, recuo.
• Restaurante do hotel.
• Cibercafé.
• Água mineral.
• Roupas.
• Itens de papelaria.
• Óleos essenciais naturais.
• Produtos químicos orgânicos e produtos químicos.
• Construções de carrocerias para barcos e caminhões.
• Componentes de peças automotivas.
• Equipamentos de transporte diversos.
• Artigos esportivos.
• Relógios e relógios.
• Manutenção ou reparo.
• Financeiro como troca de dinheiro e muitos outros.