Year: 2011
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: Objectives: This paper examines the influence of older entrepreneurs" (50+) social and familial environment on firm formation.In particular, it focuses on both "positive" and "negative" perceptions of age and older entrepreneurship.Prior Work: It has been argued that older entrepreneurship can be used to prolong the working lives of older people and to provide them with financial support in retirement.The recent older entrepreneurship literature suggests that socio-cultural values and norms play a key role in shaping individuals" entrepreneurial propensities.To our knowledge, only one empirical paper has shown that perceived age norms influence entrepreneurial motivations of older individuals.Limited research exists on how the perception of age and social norms regarding entrepreneurship shape the pre-firm formation and continuation of older entrepreneurs.Approach: This paper critically examines literatures on the perceptions of social norms and how these views potentially affect older entrepreneurs.Particularly, the paper explores how older entrepreneurship is viewed as a "deviant" activity, by drawing upon theories of deviance from sociology, which have been recently adopted in management studies.Furthermore, the paper explores how older individuals do not "fit" within mainstream discourses of enterprise culture.This paper draws upon primary empirical data from 22 in-depth, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews with older entrepreneurs in London to explore their experiences of firm formation.Results: The paper presents three key findings.First, it provides new insights into the informal support, and lack of informal support, present in the social networks of older entrepreneurs, which it is argued, creates barriers to older entrepreneurship.Second, it explores how attitudes towards older entrepreneurs are changing, and how it is important that these are adjusted if older people are to continue employment into their later years either full, or part time.Third, the paper explores how the identity of older entrepreneurs and their attitudes to work overcome negative perceptions to older entrepreneurship.Implications: These findings are relevant to economic and social changes in Britain.The government is expecting individuals to extend their working lives, where one option is to encourage older individuals to establish their own firms.This paper provides insights into how older entrepreneurs face social barriers, from the negative perceptions of older entrepreneurship, within their social milieus.We also suggest how these negative perceptions may be mediated, to promote older entrepreneurship.Value: In examining the perceptions of attitudes to older entrepreneurship and the barriers this can create to firm formation, this paper will provide novel insights for policy-makers, business owners, prospective older entrepreneurs and support organisations.
Institution: Kingston University London
Language: English
Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W123058931