The role of family environment in developing the entrepreneurial intention of young Tunisian students

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the article is to identify the role and importance of family environment (parental support for autonomy, entrepreneurial role model, and family support for entrepreneurship) in determining the entrepreneurial intention of young Tunisian students in a post-revolution context.

Research Design & Methods: The study is based on a quantitative approach using a survey of 297 final year under-graduate students in Tunisian universities. Data analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) V23 software.

Findings: The results show that parental support for autonomy as the promotion of independence and exposure to an entrepreneurial role model are the most important factors capable of stimulating entrepreneurial intention. Contrary to our expectations, we found that the family support for entrepreneurship (financial capital and social capital) has no effect on the entrepreneurial intention of young students.

Implications & Recommendations: Parents should be aware that orienting their children towards entrepreneurship is first developed at the family level. Their role is therefore essential in encouraging the promotion of independence. Parents should also bring their children closer to family entrepreneurs so as to build on their success.

Contribution & Value Added: Our main contribution is the development of an empirically verified model that high-lights relationships between different components of family environment and the entrepreneurial intention of final year undergraduate students.

Keywords

entrepreneurial intention; parental support for autonomy; entrepreneurial role model; financial support; social support

Author Biography

Nejib Ben Moussa

Assistant Professor at the University of Jeddah, College of Business, Khulais Branch, Department of Human Resources Management, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Dr Ben Moussa earned his doctoral degree at the University Tunis el Manar, Science and Management Faculty of Tunis, Tunisia. His current research focuses on entrepreneurship, innovation, information systems, and human resources. He has published papers in Economics Bulletin, European Research on Management and Business Economics, etc.

Correspondence to: Dr Nejib Ben Moussa, Farhat Hached University Campus of El Manar – B.P. 248 – El Manar II – 2092 Tunisia, e-mail: nejibbenmoussa1503@gmail.com

Syrine Kerkeni

PhD student at the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management of Tunis. Member of the GEMAS Laboratory at the FSEG Tunis.

Correspondence to: Syrine Kerkeni, Farhat Hached University Campus of El Manar – B.P. 248 – El Manar II – 2092 Tunisia, e-mail: Syrine_kerkeni@outlook.fr