Entrepreneurship in family vs. non-family firms: A resource-based analysis of the effect of organizational culture

Shaker A. Zahra, James C. Hayton, Carlo Salvato

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

850 Scopus citations

Abstract

Organizational culture is an important strategic resource that family firms can use to gain a competitive advantage. Drawing upon the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm, this study examines the association between four dimensions of organizational culture in family vs. non-family businesses and entrepreneurship. Using data from 536 U.S. manufacturing companies, the results show a nonlinear association between the cultural dimension of individualism and entrepreneurship. Further, there are positive linear relationships between entrepreneurship and an external orientation, an organizational cultural orientation toward decentralization, and a long- versus short-term orientation. With the exception of an external orientation, each of these dimensions is significantly more influential upon entrepreneurship in family firms when compared with non-family firms.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)363-381
Number of pages19
JournalEntrepreneurship: Theory and Practice
Volume28
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2004

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