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REMINDER: NFIB DOCTORAL DISSERTATION AWARD DEADLINE APPROACHING

MARCH 15, 2008

THE 2008 NFIB DOCTORIAL DISSERTATION AWARD

IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INDEPENDENT BUSINESS

The National Federation of Independent (NFIB) Doctoral Dissertation Award in Entrepreneurship and Independent Business is one of the Entrepreneurship Division's two doctoral dissertation awards.  The NFIB Award was established through the original sponsorship of Entrepreneurship: Theory & Practice, and the continuing sponsorship of the National Federation of Independent Business Foundation.  Its purpose is to recognize and honor outstanding doctoral research in the areas of Entrepreneurship & Independent Business.  The principal focus of the NFIB Award is on research that deals with entrepreneurs, and potential entrepreneurs, with the founding, management, growth and development of independent new ventures, with small business,  family business, and minority business, and/or with the support systems (other than venture capital) that help facilitate the development of such business.  Specifically excluded from the NFIB Award are dissertations dealing primarily with high-potential ventures, with venture capital investing, and/or with corporate entrepreneurship. All of the latter areas are of the focus of the Heizer Award in New <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Enterprise</st1:city></st1:place> Development.

Two criteria will be used to evaluate all the NFIB Award Entries.  They are:  (1) The degree to which the Entry fits the specific Focus of the NFIB Award described above; and the (2) The Overall Quality of the Entry with respect to Its Literature Survey, Model Development, Hypothesis Generation, Research Design, Sample and/or Site Selection, Data Gathering Methods, Variable Definition and Measurement, Data Analysis Methods, Findings and Conclusions, Limitations and Implications for both Theory and Research in Entrepreneurship and Independent Business.

[Note:  Unlike the Heizer Award, NFIB Award Winners Need Not Have well developed Implications for Practitioners – provided, of course, that they fit the other specifications of the NFIB Award described above.]

The 2008 NFIB Dissertation Award is open to dissertations completed in 2007.  One electronic copy (MS Word only) of a 1 page [single spaced in > 10-point font with 1 inch margins top, bottom, and sides] Abstract and a 20-page [single spaced in > 10-point font with 1 inch margins top, bottom, and sides] Summary of each dissertation should be sent, no later than 5:00p.m. US Central Daylight Time March 15, 2008 to the Chair Elect of the Entrepreneurship Division of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">Academy</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Management</st1:placename></st1:place> (Ronald K. Mitchell at ronald.mitchell@ttu.edu).  Finalists for the NFIB Award will be notified by mid-April, 2008, and to remain in the competition, will be required to send a Full Electronic Copy (MS-Word only) of their completed dissertation to Prof. Mitchell no later than 5:00p.m. US Central Daylight Time April 30, 2008.    The winner of the NFIB Award will be required to send one copy of their dissertation to the NFIB Foundation and one copy to Dr. Charles W. Hofer (MD 0404-BB-Building 04-Rm 312, Kennesaw State, University, 1000 Chastain Road, Kennesaw, GA 30144-5591), who maintains a file of all award-winning dissertations for the Entrepreneurship Division.

The Award itself will consist of a cash prize and an Award plaque commemorating the winner's outstanding research effort.

_____________________________
RONALD K. MITCHELL, CPA, Ph.D.
Professor of Entrepreneurship
Jean Austin Bagley Regents Chair in Management

<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rawls</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype></st1:place> of Business
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www.ronaldmitchell.org