Entrepreneurial-oriented strategic renewal in a Brazilian SME: a case study

Purpose Firms around the world seek new paths to maintain competitiveness and renew their businesses. Although entrepreneurial-orientation (EO) is extensively researched, there is some ambiguity regarding different variables that mediate the effects of such strategy on business performance. Hence, current literature lacks in-depth studies that provide useful tools for companies to implement effective change, in contrast to the quantitative methods normally applied. Design/methodology/approach Through an in-depth case study, the authors explored whether the implementation of an entrepreneurial-oriented strategy by an incumbent firm in Brazil would renew its business and potentially increase its performance. Findings The study showed that performance is achieved when the pervasiveness of EO activities spurs the company's boundaries, promoting not only intraorganizational changes but also multiple-stakeholder engagement. Originality/value The authors provide a holistic view of the firm, presenting the managerial changes in a new framework, which combines EO and inward- and outward-looking perspectives.