Complexities of portfolio entrepreneurship: the business-household nexus

Alsos, G. A., Carter, S. and Ljunggren, E. (2012) Complexities of portfolio entrepreneurship: the business-household nexus. Academy of Management, 2012(1), (doi: 10.5465/AMBPP.2012.15896abstract)

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Abstract

It has long been recognized that portfolio entrepreneurship constitutes a substantial proportion of business owners. While existing studies have stimulated interest in the potential importance of the phenomenon, little attention has been afforded to the actual process of portfolio entrepreneurship and the circumstances in which it arises. It has been argued that the context for portfolio entrepreneurship often hinges on understanding the family-business nexus, and requires a focus on both the family circumstances that may affect business decisions and also the economic conditions facing the business. The processes of portfolio entrepreneurship are likely to be complex and dynamic, bounded both by the structure and strategies of the industry sector and the personal decision making of the owners. The aim of this paper is to unpack the complexities of portfolio entrepreneurship processes, taking into account small businesses’ embeddedness in the entrepreneurial households. We seek to understand how and why some small family/household businesses end up as portfolio business ‘clusters’; the motivations and strategies behind such development; and how the portfolio of businesses is developed and managed by the household. To examine these questions, comparative case studies of portfolio enterprises were undertaken in Scotland and Norway. Three analytical themes emerged from the analyses: Inter-connectedness of business and household; family and kinship relations as business resource base; and risk, uncertainty and control. The discussion of these three themes seeks to contribute to further theoretical development in the field of portfolio entrepreneurship.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:Academy of Management Annual Meeting Proceedings.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Carter, Professor Sara
Authors: Alsos, G. A., Carter, S., and Ljunggren, E.
College/School:College of Social Sciences
Journal Name:Academy of Management
Publisher:Academy of Management
Published Online:01 January 2012

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