Finally, recommend a way that Dionysus can implement thetransactional process from entrepreneurial style to managerialstyle during the growth stage. (Based on a 'A Case of GrowingPains',)
When he first opened his own business, Dionysus loved it. Hewent to work early in the
morning and did not leave until after 9.00P.M. To spend time withhis family, he would take off
a few hours in the afternoon and then return to the store aftersupper, staying until closing
time. When he was away from the store in the late afternoon,part-time personnel handled the
operation.
That was five years ago. Since then, Dionysus’s business has growntremendously. Now
he employs eight full-time people and sells seven times as much ashe did originally. With this
increase in business, however, have come a lot of headaches. Inparticular, Dionysus has to
make many more decisions than he did before. Additionally, althoughhe wants to get his
employees involved in the decision-making process and not do all ofthe work himself, he feels
he must do many tasks on his own. He does not believe he candelegate much authority. For
example, Dionysus still makes all of the decisions regardingpurchasing, pricing, advertising,
hiring, and merchandise display, and he still sells goods in thestore.
Recently, Dionysus went to the doctor for his annual physical. Thedoctor told him he
was working too hard and had to start slowing down. “You’ve beenrunning that store singlehanded for as long as I can remember,” thedoctor said. “You’ve got lots of help in the store.
Start relying on them to help you out.”
Dionysus did not disagree. The doctor offered good advice, andDionysus knows the has
to start delegating more authority and getting out of the actualhustle-bustle of daily activity.
However, this worries him. A few months ago, he tried turning overmore work to his
employees and staying in the background. During that time, heconcerned himself with the
overall operation of the store and left the minor day-to-daybusiness to the staff. But Dionysus
was bored with this side of the operation. He wants to beactive-active role in the business, not
just to sit in the sidelines. Second, he wants to be in theforefront of the action, like he always
has been.
Dionysus does not know how to resolve this dilemma. He would liketo maintain his level
of involvement at the shop but realizes that, for health reasons,this is inadvisable. However, to
be a manager in the true sense of the word seems boring tohim.
Source: Adapted from Kuratko, D.F & Hornsby, J.S. (2009). “NewVenture Management: The
Entrepreneur’s Roadmap”. New Jersey: Pearson InternationalEdition.
