Entrepreneurial Team Diversity and Performance: The Role of Family Relationships

• In Event: 1283 - Section on the Sociology of the Family Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 12. Families and Social Institutions

Abstract

Integrating team diversity and family business literatures, this paper examines how team diversity contributes to team productivity in entrepreneurial teams depending on the extent that family relationships are present in a team. Examining a panel of 282 new venture teams over a period of five years, we find support for the idea that family relationships positively moderate the relationship between bio-demographic diversity (age and gender diversity) and team productivity in nascent entrepreneurial teams. This study also suggests a general theoretical framework on how identity confirmation process can be achieved through team members’ established relationships and cross-categorization, resulting in reduced negative impacts of bio-demographic diversity. Our findings provide valuable insights to scholars interested in team diversity, family business, and the new venture creation process.

Author

• Eun-Jeong Ko, Fairleigh Dickinson University