Seeking Advice in a Dynamic and Complex Business Environment: Impact on the Success of Small Firms

The research explored the antecedents and outcomes of seeking information and advice about the marketplace in which a small firm exists. A survey of 185 small business owners suggested that both operating in a dynamic environment and having complex marketing activities had a direct link to the frequency with which the small business owner sought marketplace information and advice. Marketplace advice seeking, in turn, was positively correlated with owners' perceptions of business performance. The usefulness of the findings for owners and business-support advisors was discussed.