Management strategies used within small outdoor recreation business and its effect on the owner's health and leisure participation.

摘要

Participation in leisure activities is valuable for well being and enjoyable for an outdoor recreation enthusiast; however, with the time constraints faced amongst the self employed, leisure pursuits may be restricted (Godbey, 1997). There is a limited understanding of how owners operate their business and the resulting time constraints.;The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of entrepreneurial management strategies including strategic management, systematic innovations and growth initiatives, used in successful small outdoor recreation businesses and their effects on the owners' work-life balance.;A qualitative research design guided interviews with eight sole proprietors, from across Nova Scotia. Selection criteria included being in business for four years and being a service-producing firm having no more then 50 employees (Industry Canada, 2002). Outdoor recreation was defined as “an activity which takes place in a natural setting, involving high or low levels of physical activity with some form of unconventional means of transportation” (Economic Planning Group, 2000, p. 4). (Abstract shortened by UMI.).