IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jmgtgv/v3y1999i1p81-111.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Factors Associated with the Employment of Non-Executive Directors by Unquoted Companies

Author

Listed:
  • Paul Westhead

Abstract

A novel 'NED employment in unquoted companies model' was formulated to 'explain' the employment of NEDs by unquoted companies. Eleven 'explanatory' variables presumed to be associated with the employment of NEDs in unquoted companies were identified. Less than 20% of the 427 surveyed unquoted companies located throughout the United Kingdom reported they employed a NED. Only 11.5% of micro companies that employed 9 or fewer employees reported they employed NEDs. In marked contrast, 53% of companies, which employed 50 or more employees, employed NEDs. This bivariate evidence tentatively suggested that resource availability (i.e., the ability to pay a NED) might be a key trigger influencing the employment of NEDs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the combination of variables associated with the employment of NEDs by unquoted companies. The analysis focused upon four samples of unquoted companies: companies which employed 1 or more employees (i.e., the total sample), micro companies which employed between 1 and 9 employees, small companies which employed between 10 and 49 employees and medium and large companies which employed 50 or more employees. In the total sample model, five 'explanatory' variables were found to be significantly associated with the employment of NEDs. As hypothesised, the total sample model found that older and larger employment sized companies were significantly more likely to have employed NEDs. Further, the employment of NEDs was markedly less likely to be reported by owner-managed companies. The strategic focus of a company was associated with the employment of NEDs. Companies focusing upon technology concerns and/or a focus upon external financing were markedly more likely to have employed NEDs. Interestingly, four 'explanatory' variables were found to significantly influence the employment of NEDs in the small companies' model. In marked contrast, only one 'explanatory' variable was found to significantly influence the employment of NEDs in the micro companies' model. Most notably, owner-managed micro companies were significantly less likely to have employed a NED. Presented evidence suggests that many micro companies may be 'ignorant' of the benefits associated with the employment of a NED. Policy implications and directions for future research surrounding the employment and contribution of NEDs in unquoted companies are discussed. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 1999

Suggested Citation

  • Paul Westhead, 1999. "Factors Associated with the Employment of Non-Executive Directors by Unquoted Companies," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 3(1), pages 81-111, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:3:y:1999:i:1:p:81-111
    DOI: 10.1023/A:1009978912278
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1023/A:1009978912278
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1023/A:1009978912278?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mark A. Fox & Robert T. Hamilton, 1994. "Ownership And Diversification: Agency Theory Or Stewardship Theory," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(1), pages 69-81, January.
    2. McDougall, Patricia P., 1989. "International versus domestic entrepreneurship: New venture strategic behavior and industry structure," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 4(6), pages 387-400, November.
    3. Zahra, Shaker A., 1993. "Environment, corporate entrepreneurship, and financial performance: A taxonomic approach," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 8(4), pages 319-340, July.
    4. Danny Miller, 1991. "Stale in the Saddle: CEO Tenure and the Match Between Organization and Environment," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 37(1), pages 34-52, January.
    5. John A. Pearce & Shaker A. Zahra, 1991. "The relative power of ceos and boards of directors: Associations with corporate performance," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(2), pages 135-153, February.
    6. Macmillan, Ian C. & Kulow, David M. & Khoylian, Roubina, 1989. "Venture capitalists' involvement in their investments: Extent and performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 4(1), pages 27-47, January.
    7. Barney, Jay B. & Busenitz, Lowell W. & Fiet, James O. & Moesel, Douglas D., 1996. "New venture teams' assessment of learning assistance from venture capital firms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 257-272, July.
    8. Van De Ven, H., 1993. "The development of an infrastructure for entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 8(3), pages 211-230, May.
    9. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    10. Jeffrey S. Conant & Michael P. Mokwa & P. Rajan Varadarajan, 1990. "Strategic types, distinctive marketing competencies and organizational performance: A multiple measures‐based study," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 11(5), pages 365-383, September.
    11. Neil C. Churchill & Kenneth J. Hatten, 1987. "Non-Market-Based Transfers of Wealth and Power: A Research Framework for Family Businesses," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 12(2), pages 53-66, October.
    12. Kenneth J. Rediker & Anju Seth, 1995. "Boards of directors and substitution effects of alternative governance mechanisms," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(2), pages 85-99.
    13. Daily, Catherine M. & Dalton, Dan R., 1992. "The relationship between governance structure and corporate performance in entrepreneurial firms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 7(5), pages 375-386, September.
    14. Keasey, Kevin & Short, Helen & Watson, Robert, 1994. "Directors' Ownership and the Performance of Small and Medium Sized Firms in the U.K," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 6(3), pages 225-236, June.
    15. L. J. Bourgeois, III & Kathleen M. Eisenhardt, 1988. "Strategic Decision Processes in High Velocity Environments: Four Cases in the Microcomputer Industry," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(7), pages 816-835, July.
    16. Frank Hoy & Trudy G. Verser, 1994. "Emerging Business, Emerging Field: Entrepreneurship and the Family Firm," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 19(1), pages 9-23, October.
    17. Lex Donaldson & James H. Davis, 1991. "Stewardship Theory or Agency Theory: CEO Governance and Shareholder Returns," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 16(1), pages 49-64, June.
    18. Covin, Jeffrey G. & Slevin, Dennis P. & Covin, Teresa Joyce, 1990. "Content and performance of growth-seeking strategies: A comparison of small firms in high- and low technology industries," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 5(6), pages 391-412, November.
    19. Weisbach, Michael S., 1988. "Outside directors and CEO turnover," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 20(1-2), pages 431-460, January.
    20. Sapienza, Harry J. & Manigart, Sophie & Vermeir, Wim, 1996. "Venture capitalist governance and value added in four countries," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 11(6), pages 439-469, November.
    21. Begley, Thomas M. & Boyd, David P., 1987. "Psychological characteristics associated with performence in entrepreneurial firms and smaller businesses," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 2(1), pages 79-93.
    22. Martin J. Conyon, 1994. "Corporate Governance Changes in UK Companies Between 1988 and 1993," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(2), pages 87-100, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Volkan Yeniaras & Pinar Sener & Suheyl Unver, 0. "Is market learning the missing link between family involvement – firm performance relationship? A resource-based perspective," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-30.
    2. Daniele Cerrato & Mariacristina Piva, 2012. "The internationalization of small and medium-sized enterprises: the effect of family management, human capital and foreign ownership," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 16(4), pages 617-644, November.
    3. Volkan Yeniaras & Pinar Sener & Suheyl Unver, 2017. "Is market learning the missing link between family involvement – firm performance relationship? A resource-based perspective," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 13(2), pages 575-604, June.
    4. Peter Casson & Peter L Jennings & Clive Allen, 2003. "The Impact of Capital Taxation upon UK Unquoted Companies," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 21(4), pages 509-530, August.
    5. Fábio Frezatti & Diógenes de Souza Bido & Daniel Magalhães Mucci & Franciele Beck, 2022. "Essence taxonomy of Brazilian family businesses and conceptual implications for governance strategy," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 26(3), pages 813-849, September.
    6. Jonas Gabrielsson, 2007. "Correlates of Board Empowerment in Small Companies," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 31(5), pages 687-711, September.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mark K. Fiegener & Bonnie M. Brown & Dirk R. Dreux IV & William J. Dennis Jr., 2000. "CEO Stakes and Board Composition in Small Private Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 24(4), pages 5-24, July.
    2. Hezun Li & Siri Terjesen & Timurs Umans, 2020. "Corporate governance in entrepreneurial firms: a systematic review and research agenda," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 43-74, January.
    3. Evila Piva & Cristina Rossi-Lamastra, 2018. "Human capital signals and entrepreneurs’ success in equity crowdfunding," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(3), pages 667-686, October.
    4. James M. Mahoney & Joseph T. Mahoney & Chamu Sundaramurthy, 1996. "The effects of corporate antitakeover provisions on long-term investment: empirical evidence," Research Paper 9618, Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
    5. Emmanuel Mamatzakis & Theodora Bermpei, 2015. "The Effect of Corporate Governance on the Performance of US Investment Banks," Financial Markets, Institutions & Instruments, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 24(2-3), pages 191-239, May.
    6. Mark K. Fiegener, 2005. "Determinants of Board Participation in the Strategic Decisions of Small Corporations," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(5), pages 627-650, September.
    7. Paul Westhead & Marc Cowling, 1998. "Family Firm Research: The Need for a Methodological Rethink," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 23(1), pages 31-56, October.
    8. Fiet, James O. & Busenitz, Lowell W. & Moesel, Douglas D. & Barney, Jay B., 1997. "Complementary theoretical perspectives on the dismissal of new venture team members," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 12(5), pages 347-366, September.
    9. Wirtz, Peter, 2011. "The cognitive dimension of corporate governance in fast growing entrepreneurial firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 431-447.
    10. Ciampi, Francesco, 2015. "Corporate governance characteristics and default prediction modeling for small enterprises. An empirical analysis of Italian firms," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(5), pages 1012-1025.
    11. Talaulicar, Till & Grundei, Jens & Werder, Axel v., 2005. "Strategic decision making in start-ups: the effect of top management team organization and processes on speed and comprehensiveness," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 20(4), pages 519-541, July.
    12. Ahrens, Jan-Philipp & Uhlaner, Lorraine & Woywode, Michael & Zybura, Jan, 2018. "“Shadow emperor” or “loyal paladin”? – The Janus face of previous owner involvement in family firm successions," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 9(1), pages 73-90.
    13. Yuliya Ponomareva, 2019. "Balancing control and delegation: the moderating influence of managerial discretion on performance effects of board monitoring and CEO human capital," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 23(1), pages 195-225, March.
    14. Jens Grundei & Till Talaulicar, 2002. "Company Law and Corporate Governance of Start-ups in Germany: Legal Stipulations, Managerial Requirements, and Modification Strategies," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 6(1), pages 1-27, March.
    15. Amy J. Hillman & Christine Shropshire & S. Trevis Certo & Dan R. Dalton & Catherine M. Dalton, 2011. "What I Like About You: A Multilevel Study of Shareholder Discontent with Director Monitoring," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(3), pages 675-687, June.
    16. Deniz Ucbasaran & Paul Westhead & Mike Wright, 2001. "The Focus of Entrepreneurial Research: Contextual and Process Issues," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 25(4), pages 57-80, July.
    17. Peter Wirtz, 2009. "Do high-growth entrepreneurial firms have a specific system of governance?," Working Papers CREGO 1090302, Université de Bourgogne - CREGO EA7317 Centre de recherches en gestion des organisations.
    18. Rosenbusch, Nina & Brinckmann, Jan & Müller, Verena, 2013. "Does acquiring venture capital pay off for the funded firms? A meta-analysis on the relationship between venture capital investment and funded firm financial performance," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 335-353.
    19. Zona, Fabio, 2014. "Board leadership structure and diversity over CEO time in office: A test of the evolutionary perspective on Italian firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 32(4), pages 672-681.
    20. Mikko Jääskeläinen & Markku Maula & Tuukka Seppä, 2006. "Allocation of Attention to Portfolio Companies and the Performance of Venture Capital Firms," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 30(2), pages 185-206, March.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jmgtgv:v:3:y:1999:i:1:p:81-111. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.