Abstract
This exploratory study investigates the relationship between an individual's socialization into different professional and organizational cultures and their subsequent entrepreneurial intentions. Using age cohorts as a proxy for the duration of work-related socialization processes and changes in the business environment over time, the study proposes that the impact of work history is stronger in 'third age' (50-64 years) than in 'prime age' (20-49 years). The principal finding is that older individuals, those aged 50-plus, who have spent the majority of their career in 'blue-collar' industrial work are less inclined towards entrepreneurship than the working-age population in Western Finland generally. One reason is the perceived lack of support from important social contacts. Contrary to expectations, a work history in the public sector or small businesses does not seem to affect subsequent entrepreneurial intentions. Further research is required to provide a more fine-grained understanding of the impact of work history on entrepreneurial intentions.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 583-601 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | International Small Business Journal |
Volume | 28 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2010 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- age
- entrepreneurial intentions
- entrepreneurship
- Finland
- theory of planned behaviour
- third age
- work history