Title: Participation in business associations and performance among family firms

Authors: John T. Perry, Timothy L. Pett, Amy Buhrman

Addresses: Pennsylvania State University – Harrisburg, Department of Management, 777 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown PA 17057, USA. ' Center for Entrepreneurship, Wichita State University, 1845 Fairmount, Wichita, KS, 67260, USA. ' Wichita Area Technical College, Building 100, 4004 North Webb Road, Wichita, KS 67226, USA

Abstract: We compare participation in business associations among family firms based on a firm|s level of owning family influence. We find that among family firms, owning family influence is negatively related to business association participation. That is, we find that family firms that are highly influenced by their owning families are less likely to participate in business associations than firms that are influenced less by their owning families. This finding is potentially troubling for highly family influenced firms because we also find that business association participation is positively related to firm performance. Implications of these findings are also presented.

Keywords: family businesses; association participation; networking; business associations; family influences; business ownership; institutional theory; legitimacy; owning families; ownership; firm performance; Chambers of Commerce; United States; USA; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship; family firms; financing; corporate governance.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2010.035824

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2010 Vol.11 No.3, pp.367 - 378

Published online: 05 Oct 2010 *

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