Comparing family and non-family variables in small business incubators: an explanatory study on interpersonal communication, family team dynamics, networking, and mentoring processes

This exploratory study investigated how team dynamics, internal networking, and mentoring processes differ between family and non-family businesses in incubation environments. Data was collected through semi-structured interview using questionnaire from 22 start-ups in the Brunswick Business Incubator (BBI) and 11start-ups in the Monash Enterprise Centre (MEC) in Melbourne, Australia. Findings are: family businesses are more focused on the ‘family’ and non-family businesses are focused on the ‘business’. Family business owners were looking for other small business families and traditional networks. Further, the relationship with the mentor differed compared to non-family businesses. Mentoring was focused on personal coaching first before business advice. Findings support Dyer (2003) and others that omitting the family variable in research designs can lead to incomplete research findings; hence inaccurate organization theory