Orașele și nașterea antreprenoriatului modern. O perspectivă asupra realităților din Transilvania secolului al XIX-lea
The Cities and Birth of Modern Entrepreneurship. A Perspective on the Realities in Nineteenth Century Transylvania

Summary/Abstract: Starting from the methodological suggestions specific to the business history, this article proposes the reconstitution of family businesses, business strategies and adaptation mechanisms to the changes brought by the Industrial Revolution and its related phenomena. The historical reality reveals that also in the space of the former Habsburg Monarchy were a whole series of companies and family businesses that managed to adapt to the requirements of the industrial age and to survive for several generations. In addition to explaining the strategies of branding and evoking the “myths of the founding fathers”, economic historians have studied and integrated them into the history and socio-economic context of the time. Also, the organizational changes and adaptations were extremely important for the success or failure of these businesses, an important role being played by the professionalization of management. Who were these entrepreneurs and what kind of background did they have? how were the beginnings of businesses and what favored their promotion and success in business? What were the resources they originally relied on? What role have family relationships and social networks played in business development?Based on these questions, this article aims to reconstruct the evolution of entrepreneurial initiatives in Transylvanian cities that later evolved into the status of prestigious companies at the time. What is worth noting in this context is the fact that entrepreneurship in Transylvania has tried to highlight local resources and opportunities. Most successful entrepreneurs think broadly, focused on complementary and integrated areas of business development, and long-term decisions. The case study will refer to the “Friedrich Czell & Sons” Company from Brașov, respectively the “Sigmond Brothers” from Cluj.

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