Attention deficit/hyperactive disorder as an entrepreneurial “marker” among family business members: A social learning perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain why individuals with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) gravitate towards and excel in highly dynamic environments such as those encountered by family business owners.

Design/methodology/approach

This conceptual paper draws on extant literature to establish parallels between the executive functions of individuals with AD/HD and entrepreneurial cognition. The authors use previous theoretical and empirical research to suggest that the use of intuition in the decision‐making process may explain the link between individuals with AD/HD and entrepreneurs.

Findings

Family members with AD/HD suffer from diminished executive functions that force them to make decisions and act upon information that would be insufficient for the non‐entrepreneur in the family.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents evidence suggesting a link between executive functions and intuitive decision making in the family business context, however, empirical research is now warranted to advance this line of research.

Practical implications

Establishing the relationship between AD/HD and entrepreneurship may lead family business leaders to identify and integrate family members with AD/HD in to the family firm.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is to explain, based on bounded rationality, why individuals with AD/HD gravitate to entrepreneurship.

Citation

Hayek, M. and Harvey, M. (2012), "Attention deficit/hyperactive disorder as an entrepreneurial “marker” among family business members: A social learning perspective", Journal of Family Business Management, Vol. 2 No. 1, pp. 6-22. https://doi.org/10.1108/20436231211216385