An Ethnographic Study Exploring the Effect of Family on the Development of Entrepreneurial Intentions of Its Younger Members in the Delhi-NCR Region of India

Abstract The study uses data from an ethnographic study of 32 family members from six families from New Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), India, to develop our understanding of entrepreneurial intentions in the younger members of middle-class families of India. The study identifies two critical familial influences, generational congruence and the need to maintain harmony, along with the presence of feministic values, as factors that impact the development of entrepreneurial intentions. The study further confirms that the need to conform to a social image impacts the decisions taken by family members. By highlighting the significant influence that family can have on the development of entrepreneurial intentions, this research points out gaps in how current policies and programs target entrepreneurship development in transforming economies like India. While the limited geographic scope of this study makes the findings applicable only to families in New Delhi and NCR and less generalizable overall, it further highlights the need to conduct similar studies across other parts of India, as well as other countries with similar cultural dimensions as India. The researchers suggest focussing policies towards promoting trust and confidence in entrepreneurship as a potential career option and highlighting the benefits of pursuing entrepreneurship amongst the masses by keeping in mind the cultural and geographic differences across the country. The novelty of this study lies firstly in its methodological approach, where entrepreneurial intentions are evaluated via short ethnographies. Secondly, with a strong focus on Indian family dynamics, the authors have identified novel influences that could apply to other transforming economies with similar social-cultural factors to India.