Anat BarNir

Interfirm Alliances in the Small Business: The Role of Social Networks

In light of the increasing importance of strategic alliances in shaping competition, this study explored whether the social network of small firm executives can be leveraged to facilitate the establishment of interfirm alliances. Analyses are based on a mail survey of 149 small manufacturing firms in the northeast United States. Results indicate that the social networks of senior executives account for 11–22 percent of the variance in the degree to which firms engage in alliances, depending on the type of alliance. Results also show that the number of interfirm alliances is positively related to several networking properties (propensity to network, strength of ties, and network prestige). Findings are discussed in the context of network theory, social embeddedness, and the overall implications for management researchers and practitioners.

The effects of human capital, organizational demography, and interpersonal processes on venture partner perceptions of firm profit and growth

Abstract Venture teams, which are comprised of two or more partners, are becoming one of the more popular and important modes of new business development. Traditionally, financial capital has been the primary perspective in assessing venture viability. To expand the venture evaluation horizon, we examined the effects of human capital, organizational demography, and interpersonal processes on partner evaluations of venture performance, defined as the presence of profit and growth. The results support this approach in analyzing venture teams, and we propose that this perspective be included in future venture viability assessment, and used for intervention to enhance venture success. Suggestions are provided for future research.

Revenue streams and digital content providers: an empirical investigation

Abstract There is tremendous confusion among practitioners regarding the relationship between various potential online revenue streams and the performance of a firm’s online efforts. Such questions are of particular interest to firms that provide information goods, due to both the unique characteristics of such goods and the fact that such products are increasingly offered free by online providers. Using the magazine publishing industry as a context, this paper provides an empirical exploration of various revenue streams and relates them to manager assessment of the performance of the firm’s online efforts. These results present, to the authors’ knowledge, the first empirical exploration of the link between the performance of an online effort and various revenue streams pursued.

Business process digitization, strategy, and the impact of firm age and size: the case of the magazine publishing industry

Abstract Despite increasing interest among researchers and practitioners in the field of Internet commerce, significant controversy remains regarding the large incumbent versus nimble newcomer dynamic. This paper explores issues related to firm age and size and the firms propensity to engage in Internet-enabled process digitization by conducting an empirical investigation based on a sample of 150 firms in the magazine publishing industry. Results suggest that (a) differences exist as a function of firm age and size in the degree and manner in which firms digitize business processes through the Internet, (b) Internet-enabled digitization of business processes is associated with both strategies of innovation and of low cost, and (c) the digitization–strategy relationship is stronger for new versus established firms and for smaller versus larger firms.

Strategic Orientation, Competition, and Internet-Based Electronic Commerce

This paper investigates the relationship between strategic orientation, competition, and Internet-based electronic commerce. We propose that firms use the Internet to support their strategy, and in a manner that will help them compete in their environment. We use technology policy and entrepreneurial orientation as examples of strategic orientations, focusing on (a) the extent to which linkages exist between these orientations and conducting business activities over the Internet, and (b) whether these linkages vary as a function of the competitive intensity of the environment in which the firm operates. Analyses are based on a sample of 150 firms from the magazine publishing industry. Our results show that the more aggressive the technology policy and the stronger the entrepreneurial orientation, the more the firm uses the Internet to conduct business activities. More important, the competitive intensity of the business environment moderated these relationships: Technology policy and entrepreneurial orientation were associated with the use of Internet-based electronic commerce under high levels of competitive intensity, but significantly less so under low levels of competitive intensity.

Parental Self-Employment, Start-Up Activities And Funding: Exploring Intergenerational Effects

In this paper, we compare first generation entrepreneurs with entrepreneurs whose parents were self-employed. To test the hypotheses, we use PSED II data on nascent entrepreneurs to explore the effects of parental self-employment (PSE) on various start-up activities associated with planning and organization, and on funding structure. Overall, results show a difference in patterns of behavior between first generation entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs whose parents were self-employed, supporting the notion of intergenerational learning. Specifically, results indicate a positive relationship between PSE and early deployment of startup activities and a positive relationship between PSE and attaining informal external funding. Post hoc analyses for gender differences show that (a) the relationship between PSE and startup activities exists primarily for men and (b) gender differences exist in the effects of PSE on funding structure: for women, PSE is positively associated with the use of personal savings, whereas for men, PSE is positively associated with use of external informal funding. The results of our findings and their implications are discussed.

GENDER DIFFERENTIALS IN ANTECEDENTS OF HABITUAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: IMPETUS FACTORS AND HUMAN CAPITAL

This study investigates gender differences in the effects of entrepreneurial impetus and human capital on habitual entrepreneurship, defined as starting multiple new ventures in a serial or portfolio manner. Using the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics II (PSED II) data on nascent entrepreneurs, the effects of three impetus factors (business opportunity, mentors and nature of work) and four human capital factors (education, employment breadth, managerial experience and entrepreneurial capabilities) are explored in terms of the differential effects they have on habitual entrepreneurship in men and women. Results show an overall greater effect of human capital on womens habitual entrepreneurship than on mens, and that different human capital factors appear to drive multiple startups for women and for men. Analyses also show that different impetus factors drive women and men to start new repeat ventures. Results are discussed in the context of learning theory and entrepreneurial activity.

Pre-venture managerial experience and new venture innovation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore direct and indirect effects of pre-venture managerial experience (PVME) on new venture innovation. Using opportunity-costs framework, the following questions are explored: does the entrepreneurs PVME directly affect the extent of innovation in the new venture? What is the role of expectation for high returns in the relationship between PVME and innovation? What is the role of expectation for high returns in the relationship between PVME and innovation? Is there a relationship between abilities and expectancies and does it affect innovation? Design/methodology/approach – Data were obtained from the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics II, which is a national database of individuals in various stages of starting a business. Overall sample consisted of 982 nascent entrepreneurs. Statistical methods explored a multiple serial mediation model using OLS regressions supplemented by analyses based on bootstrapping for assessment of indirect effects. Findings –...

Customer Interaction in Entrepreneurial Firms:The Role of Individual and Product/Service Factors

The purpose of the present study is to develop a preliminary framework for the antecedents of customer-firm interaction (CFI). CFI has been extensively studied in the past for its effects on custom...