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To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2009.08.005 Byline: Nicos Nicolaou (a), Scott Shane (b), Lynn Cherkas (c), Tim D. Spector (c) Keywords: Entrepreneurship; Opportunity recognition; Behavioral genetics Abstract: We applied quantitative genetics techniques to a sample of 851 pairs of monozygotic and 855 pairs of dizygotic female twins to examine the influence of genetic factors on the variation across people in opportunity recognition. We also examined the extent to which the same genetic factors contribute to both opportunity recognition and the tendency to be an entrepreneur. We found substantial heritability for opportunity recognition (0.45), with no influence of the shared environment. Moreover, we found that 53% of the phenotypic correlation between opportunity recognition and the tendency to be an entrepreneur had a common genetic aetiology. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Public and Business Administration, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus (b) Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 11119 Bellflower Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106, United States (c) Twin Research and Genetic Epidemiology Unit, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital Campus, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom Article History: Received 16 June 2008; Accepted 22 August 2009 Article Note: (miscellaneous) Accepted by John Schaubroeck

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2007.11.003 Byline: Nicos Nicolaou (a), Scott Shane (b) Keywords: Behavioral genetics; Entrepreneurship Abstract: This article offers an argument for how genetic factors may influence the tendency of people to engage in entrepreneurial activity, and describes four mechanisms through which genetic factors could operate. It also explores ways that researchers can use quantitative and molecular genetics to examine entrepreneurship, and discusses the potential implications of a genetic perspective for management research on entrepreneurship. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Public and Business Administration, University of Cyprus, 1678 Nicosia, Cyprus (b) Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 11119 Bellflower Rd., Cleveland, OH 44106, United States Article History: Received 1 August 2006; Revised 1 December 2006; Accepted 1 November 2007

Forming business plans would enhance the potential of continuing of the practice of venture-organising strategies. Based on a study of Swedish entrepreneurs, it is revealed that those that followed this strategy were able do more business.

The life histories of 223 Swedish new ventures by a random sample of firm founders are tracked. The effect of legitimating activities on the hazard of disbanding and the transition to other firm organizing activities during their first 30 months of life, leading to the conclusion that it reduces the hazard of venture disbanding and facilitates the transition to other organizing activities.

The effect of the Bayh-Dole Act in the United States on the university patenting aspect of technology commercialization is examined. The implications of the shift in patenting for research and public policy are discussed.

The interaction between radicalness of technology and patent scope and industry concentration on the likelihood of firm failure for university start-up companies is examined. The unique data set of 128 firms founded to commercialize technologies licensed from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) between 1980 and 1996 show that technological radicalness and patent scope reduce new firm failure in the context of fragmented markets.

Factors that help universities to attract companies to invest in their research and development activities are analyzed.

University technology transfer and research is becoming ever important. Four dimensions of the collaborative relationship between the entrepreneurial firm and the university are discussed in this article, specifically: industry-sponsored contract research; consulting; technology licensing; and technology commercialization and research.

Previous research studies have highlighted the assumption that franchising is exactly the opposite of entrepreneurship since the former does not regard creative abilities as one of its core aspects. Modern-day experts refuse to accept such a belief, claiming that the very fact franchisors establish their own networks is adequate evidence to conclude that franchising is an entrepreneurial act. They further argued that franchise networks have widely become a unit of entrepreneurial analysis at present.

A study has been conducted on 815 largest US franchise systems listed in Entrepreneur magazine in 1994. It attempts to forecast franchisors' intent to expand abroad using two predictor variables involving bonding amount and learned monitoring capabilities, control variables of firm age, initial investment, provision of financing, geographic expansion, growth and industry. Data suggests an examination of mechanisms by firms to lessen the probability of failure of foreign contractual transactions.

A means to measure entrepreneurship within a temporal setting is developed based on the number of organizations per individual which, in turn, has as basis ownership rights. This longitudinal measure of entrepreneurship is analyzed according to its ability to find out the rate of entrepreneurship in the country and its status as either a new social or commonly experienced trend. Three other measurement issues are also discussed.

International new ventures (INVs) are a growing and important form of business start-up. INVs are defined as business organizations that aim to derive significant competitive advantage by using resources and selling outputs in multiple countries. The increasing number of INVs and their role in global competition show a need for greater understanding of these new ventures. The business activities of INVs seem to be in conflict with the generally accepted predictions of international business theories.

Organizational change is effected through the efforts of an innovation champion. Such an individual takes personal risks in overcoming organizational obstacles to innovation, and makes sure that new business and technology development take effect. A study was conducted to determine whether individuals with championing experience have different preferences from those without such experiences. Six championing roles were used as the criteria for measuring the individuals' responses.

Cultural values as a factor affecting the rate of innovation is established. Analysis of the per capita rates of innovation of 33 countries in 1975 and 1980 indicate that nations whose people are individualistic, low in power distance and high in uncertainty acceptance experience high rates of innovation. An explanation for this effect is offered by institutional theory which maintains that organizations are influenced by the societies in which they operate.

A comparison was made of the inventiveness of 33 countries as measured by their respective patent registration per capita statistics for 1967, 1971, 1976 and 1980. Figures show that inventiveness for each country remained constant, regardless of economic progress made. Social rather than economic factors seem to account for the differences in inventiveness. The study suggests that societies which reward individualistic achievement and support loose organizational power structures stimulated greater inventiveness.