TY - JOUR

T1 - Sequence Analysis in Entrepreneurship Research: Business Founders’ Life Courses and Early-Stage Firm Survival

AU - Heimann-Roppelt, Anna

AU - Tegtmeier, Silke

PY - 2018

Y1 - 2018

N2 - This paper introduces the method of sequence analysis in entrepreneurship research. Informed by life course theory, we argue that depending on duration and timing, human capital can depreciate during work interruptions (such as unemployment or parental leave) but also be restored by re-entering and staying in the job market. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we analyse the educational and occupational life courses of individuals who have started a business. We investigate whether there are patterns in the biographies of these individuals. Exploratory analysis reveals that seven types of founders can be differentiated. In this sample, cluster 1 appeared to be most successful in terms of early-stage firm survival. Sequence analysis has proved to be a valuable method to improve the efficiency of research on the life courses of business founders. This study invites future research to take a deeper look at life-course-based factors of business activity and success.

AB - This paper introduces the method of sequence analysis in entrepreneurship research. Informed by life course theory, we argue that depending on duration and timing, human capital can depreciate during work interruptions (such as unemployment or parental leave) but also be restored by re-entering and staying in the job market. Using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we analyse the educational and occupational life courses of individuals who have started a business. We investigate whether there are patterns in the biographies of these individuals. Exploratory analysis reveals that seven types of founders can be differentiated. In this sample, cluster 1 appeared to be most successful in terms of early-stage firm survival. Sequence analysis has proved to be a valuable method to improve the efficiency of research on the life courses of business founders. This study invites future research to take a deeper look at life-course-based factors of business activity and success.

KW - Management studies

KW - Biographies

KW - Career paths

KW - Cluster analysis

KW - Early-stage firm survival

KW - Entrepreneurship

KW - Entry

KW - GSOEP

KW - Human capital

KW - Life course theory

KW - OMT

KW - Optimal matching technique

KW - Patterns

KW - Self-employment

KW - Sequence analysis

KW - Start-ups

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85050850750&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1504/IJEV.2018.093230

DO - 10.1504/IJEV.2018.093230

M3 - Journal articles

VL - 10

SP - 333

EP - 361

JO - International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing

JF - International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing

SN - 1742-5360

IS - 3

ER -