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Abstract
Building on prior research regarding the impact of role models on entrepreneurial career interest, this article directly assesses the impact of family background on interest in small firm ownership over time. In addition, differences in male and female interest in small firm ownership are explored. This
study involves an ongoing assessment of people in the entry stages of their careers. Results indicate gender has the primary influence on interest in small firm ownership, with males showing a higher level of interest than females. Implications for future research are discussed.
Entrepreneurs and small business owners have received a considerable amount of research attention. Much of this research has focused on how these individuals are different from the non-entrepreneurs, particularly how they differ with regard to personal characteristics. The majority of this research has investigated entrepreneurs or small business owners, looking retrospectively for the reasons that they decided to open a business. This retrospective technique, however, poses two potential problems: hindsight might artificially clarify or change the description of the process; and the retrospective procedure allows only an indirect comparison with those who do not own businesses. There has been considerably less research that examines business ownership in a prospective fashion (Carsrud 1989; Guth, Kuraswamy, and McErlean 1991; Krueger 1993; Long and McMullen 1984). In fact, although this has been suggested as a direction for future research (for example, Learned 1992), empirical evidence is minimal.
Recent theoretical pieces provide further impetus to move ahead with research in this area (Krueger and Carsrud 1993). In order to better understand and encourage tomorrow's entrepreneurs, as well as to improve the chances of family firm successions, the determinants of small business ownership interest need to be more fully explored. While researchers have noted that economic factors play a role in firm start-ups, considerable attention has focused on individual characteristics (Reynolds and Miller 1992). By understanding better why individuals start businesses, it may be easier to offer assistance to them. In addition, this research may help individuals interested in family firm succession. As the transmission of ownership from generation to generation in the family business is often unsuccessful (Ward 1988), understanding the causes of an individual's motivation to take over the family firm or start a business of...