PurposeDespite the fact that the mentality of owner/managers is an important aspect of their personality characteristics no prior study has made any attempt to examine its possible impact on enterprise performance during various stages of growth. Therefore, based on a questionnaire survey conducted in Sri Lanka, this study attempts to examine this aspect of small to medium enterprises (SMEs).Design/methodology/approachBased on a review of the literature, a conceptual model was constructed as the initial step in this research for visualising and testing the relationship between owner/managers' personality styles, operational approaches and financial performance. The model was then extended to reflect the relationship between owner/manager's mentality styles and financial performance over all stages of enterprise growth.FindingsThe results of the study show that there is a strong relationship between owner/managers' mentality and financial performance of their enterprises. Moreover, when owner/managers of these enterprises become more entrepreneurial minded in the introductory and decline stages their performance tends to be higher. However, this relationship is not seen to be significant in the growth and maturity stages.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study can be useful to SMEs in any country as they show how the mentality of owner/managers is likely to affect the financial performance of their enterprises differently during different stages of growth.Originality/valueSince no similar research has been reported in the past this study takes its own independent approach and presents its analysis and findings as a novel addition to the small business literature.

Bamboos are naturally propagating both sexually and asexually from seeds and rhizomes. Dendrocalamus asper is one of the popular multipurpose bamboo species in Sri Lanka and lack of research conducted in the country. Therefore to recommend proper potting type, basal dressing and planting hole dimensions are timely important. The objectives of the present study were to identify effective potting type with proper pot height and suitable basal dressing at nursery stage and effective planting hole dimension at field level along with, measure the vegetative growth of Dendrocalamus asper. A field trial conducted at Thalgaswella estate (WL2a) in Galle district, Sri Lanka from May 2019 to March 2020. At the nursery stage seedlings were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with twelve replicates. At the field level plants were arranged in Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with six replicates and data were statistically analyzed by using software (SAS version 9.1). According to the results, nursery with 10" height black polythene pot with sand: coir dust: compost: top soil in 2; 1; 3/4; 1/2 potting media and at field level bamboo plants planted in 2 x 2 x 2 ½ feet size hole was shown the highest growth performance at 6 months after field establishment. Therefore it is recommended to use 10" height black polythene pot with the ratio of sand: coir dust: compost: top soil in 2; 1; 3/4; 1/2 potting media at nursery level. When transfer plants to field planting 2 x 2 x 2 ½ feet planting hole is more suitable.