What makes small beautiful? Learning and development in small firms

Abstract

This article investigates the workplace learning processes among small Hungarian firms by building on the human capital approach. The exploratory study focuses on two small firm-specific factors that crucially impact small firms’ workplace learning: the roles of the owner/manager and networks. Building upon 11 semi-structured qualitative interviews with the owners/managers of small businesses, the study addresses three primary research questions: (1) What specificities of small firms’ workplace learning can be identified? (2) What is the owner/manager’s role in shaping the learning environment in small businesses? (3) How can the owner/manager’s networking activities contribute to effective learning in small businesses? The results suggest that although often not addressed as learning, small business owners consciously develop and manage their firms’ learning processes and environments.