Volume 3, Issue 4 -

A dedication to Nobel Laureate Ronald Coase is offered by reflecting and signifying his seminal works of “The Nature of the Firm” among others. Coase theorized beyond the traditional theory of economics; that is, price theory. Singularly, Coase moved the firm into the social realm and incorporated into our thinking a broader and comprehensive view of its essence and complexity. Coase’s groundbreaking works influenced other scholars to expand our theoretical view of the firm including the theory of the growth of the firm, the resource-based theory of the firm and the emergent theory of the entrepreneur.

During the last 25 years, Entrepreneurship has become a well-established discipline joining the long-established marketing discipline as two important cornerstones in Business Studies. The interface between these disciplines, the Marketing and Entrepreneurship Interface (M/E Interface), has been researched for 30 years and is now becoming an established research area with outlets in both marketing and entrepreneurship. In a meeting to formulate a research strategy for M/E, a number of M/E scholars discussed the past, present, and future of M/E research. One conclusion was labeled “the future is in the past”. Much of what has been discussed for two decades is still as valid as in earlier days. Trends in society have made the M/E research questions even more important to address today. The challenge for future researchers is to make better theoretical synthesis of previous thinking and empirical efforts. Although there has been growth in the amount of M/E research, one fact has not changed. There are still numerous, exciting opportunities to create new knowledge at the M/E Interface. This article discusses the existing streams of research and potential opportunities for additional research. Research at the M/E Interface presents an opportunity for new scholars to be at the forefront of a new discipline.

This study investigates the determinants of start-up success in a sample of Finnish firms. Our database allows us to investigate how qualitative information based on the personal history and characteristics of the owner, along with firm and market attributes, affect success 5 years after start-up. It seeks to compare the factors affecting success as derived from two-point and multiple-point scale models. The results indicate that a multiple-point scale model yields more statistically significant attributes compared to a two-point scale model. Furthermore, the founder attributes are not as important as predicted.

This study investigated the influences of couple goal congruence and venture-related communication on new venture creation. It was grounded on the Sustainable Family Business Theory using a longitudinal copreneurial sample. Structural equation modeling supported study hypotheses. First, copreneurs with couple goal congruence were more likely to have quality venture-related communication. Second, copreneurs who had quality venture-related communication were likely to have more viable new ventures. Third, there was a sequential relationship among couple goal congruence, venture-related communication quality, and new venture viability. Findings have implications for transference of copreneurial couple-based trust to create quality venture-related communication for tackling liability of newness in new venture creation.

Literary contributions extensively talk about the problems and constraints that surface the need and strategy to control and support franchisee and how to strengthen this relationship. However, the view of franchisee seems less explored on this subject. Based on empirical study responses of 269 franchisees across UK, we provide their viewpoint. We find that to develop and sustain a franchise and to curb opportunism and the excessive power and reward demands by the franchisor, a cooperative and collaborative strategy is best where conflicts are avoided. This paper highlights the standpoint of the franchisee regarding the actions that lead to conflicts and what do they perceive can curb differences in the relationship of the two entrepreneurs. This paper will significantly contribute to the franchise and business-to-customer entrepreneurship literature and attempt to enhance our understanding of the delicate relationship from the perspective of franchisee.