Relational embeddedness and firm growth: Comparing spousal and sibling entrepreneurs
Journal
Organization Science
ISSN
1047-7039
ISSN-Digital
1526-5455
Type
journal article
Date Issued
2018-03-30
Author(s)
Abstract
Integrating relational embeddedness arguments with Penrosean growth theory, we compare the growth of firms run by spousal entrepreneurs with firms run by sibling entrepreneurs. We theorize that trust, identification, and mutual obligations—the three facets of relational embeddedness—are more pronounced in spousal teams than in sibling teams, which provides spousal teams with advantages over sibling teams in generating firm growth. Probing a sample of all private firms in Sweden over a three-year period, we find support for this conjecture. Exploring boundary conditions to this baseline relationship, we also find that firm age weakens the growth advantages of spousal teams over sibling teams and that industry experience heterogeneity within the entrepreneurial team reinforces these growth advantages. These results provide important contributions for research on firm growth, the social embeddedness of firms, entrepreneurship, and family business.
Language
English
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Refereed
Yes
Publisher
INFORMS
Publisher place
Linthicum, Md.
Volume
29
Number
2
Start page
191
End page
355
Subject(s)
Contact Email Address
thomas.zellweger@unisg.ch
Eprints ID
252023
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Bird and Zellweger Relational embeddedness and firm growth.pdf
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