Volume 5, Issue 1 -

The purpose of this longitudinal study of 94 married entrepreneurs starting new businesses was to investigate protective mechanisms creating resiliency (capacity) in entrepreneurs and entrepreneur-assessed spousal commitment to new venture goals as a key element of the resilience process experienced within their couple decision context. Controlling for business demand, the effect on new venture sustainability as measured by breakeven point and business success was analyzed. Patterson’s FAAR theory, a family resilience theory, was applied because it clearly conceptualizes the components and influencing factors within the process of resilience and because the couple is the primary decision context of entrepreneurs. Spousal commitment (negative) and business demand (curvilinear) were significantly associated with breakeven point. Entrepreneur’s business confidence (positive), life outlook (positive), and business demand (curvilinear) were associated with business success.

A research need exists to systematically evaluate the status quo of research on the link between entrepreneurial team diversity and performance, identify challenges, and advance the entrepreneurial team research. By analyzing 31 empirical studies on entrepreneurial teams, the current study fulfilled three main purposes. First, we conduct a comprehensive, systematic review of the possible association between entrepreneurial team diversity and performance by summarizing, quantitatively synthesizing, and analyzing the quantitative studies in this area. Second, we further examine these theoretical accounts by evaluating whether diversity impact varies with situational factors. Third, we identify research gaps and propose an integrated model that directs future research.

Studying entrepreneurial intention has long been an important topic in the field of entrepreneurship. In this paper, we investigate entrepreneurial intention by applying the theory of planned behavior by Ajzen (1991. “The Theory of Planned Behavior.” Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes 50(2):179–211), which describes that intention of a behavior depends on attitude, social norm, and controlled behavior. In our context, intention to start a business is thus a function of the three determinants. We have also explored two additional contextual determinants: short-term risk taking preference and psychological well-being. We propose individuals with a short-term risk taking preference are likely to initiate a venture. Similarly, individuals who score high on psychological well-being are likely to start a business too. We have used the structural equation modeling technique to examine 275 survey responses from students of a large southern university in the U.S. Consistent with earlier research, we found that social norm, controlled behavior, and short-term risk taking preference are positively associated with entrepreneurial intention. However, to our surprise, attitude fails to generate a significant impact on entrepreneurial intention, which is also negatively associated with psychological well-being. Discussions of results are presented, and future research possibilities are suggested.