Title: Gender differences and the factors that affect family business growth in Canada

Authors: Amarjit Gill; Nahum Biger; Suraj P. Sharma; Charul Shah

Addresses: Edwards School of Business, The University of Saskatchewan, 25 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N-5A7, Canada ' School of Business, Carmel Academic Center, Haifa, 33031, Israel ' GTB National College, Dakha, Ludhiana, East Punjab, 141102, India ' Trident University International, 5757 Plaza Drive, Cypress, CA, 90630, USA

Abstract: What affects the growth of family business in Canada? What hinders the growth of family business? This study examines the factors that affect the growth of family business in Western Canada. Family business owners were surveyed to gather information. Subjects were asked about their beliefs, perceptions, and feelings regarding corporate governance, management skills, experience, family size, firm size, and the growth of their family businesses. We found that family business growth is positively associated with CEO duality, board size, firm size, management skills of the board members, experience, family size, gender, and industry. We found that male respondents stated that family business growth is positively associated with board size, firm size, management skills, and experience. Female respondents indicated that family business growth is positively associated with CEO duality, management skills, and family size. This study contributes to the literature on the factors that affect the growth of family businesses. The findings may be useful for financial managers, family business owners, stakeholders, investors, and small business management consultants.

Keywords: corporate governance; management skills; family business growth; FBG; firm size; Canada; family firms; gender differences; family business owners; experience; family size; CEO duality; board size.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESB.2014.057918

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, 2014 Vol.21 No.1, pp.115 - 131

Published online: 31 May 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article