The influence of network peer pressure on entrepreneurial intentions

Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject Business economics - Business Management, Corporate Governance, grade: 1,7, Technical University of Munich (TUM School of Management), course: Advanced Seminar in Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Entrepreneurial Networks, language: English, abstract: The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between network, peer pressure and entrepreneurial intentions. The impact of network peer pressure is investigated using the example of the entrepreneurship study program at the Center for Digital Technology and Management (CDTM) in Munich. The research is conducted as part of the seminar 'Entrepreneurial networks and family businesses' at TUM, Munich. This paper follows a qualitative case study design, well-suited in early stages of research or when a fresh perspective is needed like here in the case of observing peer pressure effects in a different context as done before. Data sources were semi structured interviews and a literature review. Whereas effects of peer pressure have been seen rather negatively in previous literature, the results of this study shows that in the case of the observed network CDTM a lot of positively perceived peer support could be noticed, inspiring entrepreneurial intentions and easing the founding process. The results of this paper could be of interest for both practicioners and scientists. By researching about the influence of entrepreneurial education, practical implications could be derived and future research on the effects of peer pressure on entrepreneurial intentions (two concepts which have not been put into context so far) might be inspired.