Small business, policy research and the business school - A natural partnership?

This paper focuses upon the value of small business research in practice to policy makers and to managers in the total 'stakeholder' environment conditioning the 'level playing field' for small enterprise development. It explores this issue via a definition of policy research and its relationship with the conventions of academic research. It then considers some of the broad areas of opportunity that exist in this field, but also some of the problems relating to recent research. It argues that Business Schools in particular ought to be in a strong position to play a major role but are being driven into narrow definitions of excellence which make it difficult for them to respond to the opportunity. The paper concludes with reference to the opportunities for change.