SHARED VISION, TOP MANAGEMENT TEAM AND STRATEGY IN SME: A MULTI-CASE AND INTERNATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Abstract: This article presents a synthesis of a research realized during five years. The objective of this research was to describe and to explain the formation and evolution of the shared vision (shared mental image about a desired future condition to realize) of top management teams in six Brazilian and Canadian small and medium enterprises (SME). The methods were qualitative. The results do not indicate differences among the cases that could be related to the different regions, countries or industries of the SME studied. The main explaining models that helped us to attend the research objectives are presented here. At the end, the article identifies several research needs, besides some implications of the results to practice in SME. Key words: small and medium enterprises (SME); strategy; top management team; shared vision; strategic conversation