MATT RUTHERFORD

School of Entrepreneurship
Jordan Chair in Entrepreneurship
Johnny D. Pope Chair in Entrepreneurship

463 BUSINESS BUILDING
STILLWATER, OK 74078-4011
Phone: 405-744-7864

matthew.rutherford@okstate.edu

Education

• Ph D, Auburn University, Management, 2001
• BS, Ball State University, Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management, 1993

Publications

• Duygu Phillips, Bryan Edwards, and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2025). "Conformity or Differentiation: Optimal Distinctiveness through Mediating Channels. ". Journal of Business Research. (189),
• Kevin Heupel, Jorge Arteaga, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Bryan Edwards. (2024). "Feeding the hype cycle: Entrepreneurial swagger, passion, and inflated expectations". Journal of Business Venturing.
• Jorge Arteaga, Duygu Phillips, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Kipp Krukowski. "From Liability to Asset: A Receiver’s Perspective on Eponymy Signals and Market Value". Journal of Small Business Management (Forthcoming).
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Duygu Phillips, and Kevin Heupel. "Legitimacy of New Ventures". .
• Clinton Purtell, Matthew W. Rutherford, Duygu, Bryan Edwards, and Jeff Pollack. "Pitch Envisaging: The Role of Narrative Transportation in Pitching Success". Journal of Business Venturing Insights. (Forthcoming).
• Duygu Phillips, Curt Moore, and Matthew W. Rutherford. "Legitimating language and emotional tone in antenarratives: A cultural entrepreneurship perspective". Journal of Business Research.
• Jorge Arteaga, Matthew W. Rutherford, Duygu Phillips, and Aaron Hill. "What Is Risk, Exactly? Reviewing Construct Heterogeneity Across Business Fields and Implications for Entrepreneurship Research". Journal of Management (Forthcoming).
• Elin Oftedal, Lene Foss, and Matthew W. Rutherford. "From Propriety to Validity in New Ventures: A Nine-Year Study of Three Startup Companies". Technovation (Forthcoming).
• Duygu Phillips, Per L. Bylund, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Curt Moore. (2023). "Cryptocurrency Legitimation Through Rhetorical Strategies: An Institutional Entrepreneurship Approach". Entrepreneurship & Regional Development. (35), 1-2, 187-208.
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Craig Watters, and craig W Edwards. (2023). "Assessing impact of a Mandela Washington Fellowship Institute for African entrepreneurs". Gainesville, FL: Advancements in Agricultural Development . (4), 3, 54-65.
• J Billingsly, Jeff Pollack, Tim Michaelis, E M Tracy, D. Barber, A Beorchia, Jon Carr, G Gonzalez, G. Harris, D. Phillips, Matthew W. Rutherford, Lewis Sheats, and . "Exploring objective versus subjective social ties using entrepreneurs’ Gmail data". Amersterdam: Journal of Business Venturing Insights. (forthcoming),
• J. M. Pollack, M.S. Cardon, Matthew W. Rutherford, E. N. Ruggs, L. Balachandra, and R.A. Baron. "Rationality in the entrepreneurship process: Is being rational actually rational? ". Journal of Business Venturing. (38), 3,
• Kipp A. Krukowski, Jeffrey M Pollack, Matthew W. Rutherford, and . "Winning the opportunity to pitch: Piquing startup investors’ interest by sending the right signals in executive summaries. ". Bloomington, IN: Business Horizons (Forthcoming).
• Matthew W. Rutherford and Duygu Phillips. (2021). "Bootstrapping: Complementary lines of inquiry in entrepreneurship.". Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Business and Management.
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Duygu Phillips, and jorge arteaga. "The Bootstrapping-Bricolage Interface". De Gruyter (Forthcoming).
• tracy billingsly and Matthew W. Rutherford. "Exploring Entrepreneurs’ Social Network Engagement and Embeddedness via Gmail ". Journal of Business Venturing Insights (Forthcoming).
• Matthew W. Rutherford and Duygu Phillips. "Bootstrapping: Complementary Lines of Inquiry in Entrepreneurship". Oxford.
• Duygu Phillips, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Bryan Edwards. (2020). "Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research Proceedings". (Forthcoming).
• Duygu Phillips and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2020). "The relation between new venture legitimacy and performance: a meta-analytic review". Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research Proceedings (Forthcoming).
• Patrick Murphy, Jeff Pollack, Susan Coombes, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Brian Nagy. "Risk Tolerance, Legitimacy, and Perspective: Navigating Biases in Social Enterprise Evaluations.". Berlin: Entrepreneurship Research Journal. (9), 4,
• Duygu Phillips, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Curt Moore. (2019). "New Venture Legitimacy Diffusion: The Role of Storytelling and Social Networks". Academy of Management Proceedings.
• Paul Sanchez Ruiz, Josh Daspit, Danny Holt, and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2019). "Family Social Capital in the Family Firm: A Taxonomic Classification, Relationships with Outcomes, and Directions for Advancement. ". Thousand Oaks, CA: Family Business Review. (32), 2, 131-153.
• Paul Sanchez Ruiz, Ileana Maldonado-Bautista, and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2018). "Business Stressors, Family-Business Identity, and Divorce in Family Business: A Vulnerability-Stress-Adaptation (VSA) Model. ". Journal of Family Business Strategy. (9), 3, 167-179.
• Jeffrey Hornsby, Jake Messersmith, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Sharon Simmons. (2018). "Entrepreneurship Everywhere: Across Campus, Across Communities, and Across Borders". Journal of Small Business Management. (56), 1, 4-10.
• Sohrab Soleimanof, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Justin Webb. (2018). "The Intersection of Family Firms and Institutional Contexts: A Review and Agenda for Future Research". Family Business Review.
• Chao Miao, matthew rutherford, and Jeff Pollack. (2017). "An exploratory meta-analysis of the nomological network of bootstrapping in SMEs". Journal of Business Venturing Insights. (8), 1-8.
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Jeffrey Pollack, Matthew Mazzei, and Paul Sanchez Ruiz. (2017). "Bootstrapping: Reviewing the Literature, Clarifying the Construct, and Charting a New Path Forward". Group and Organization Management. (42), 5, 657-706.
• Brian Nagy, Matthew W. Rutherford, Yann Truong, and Jeffrey Pollack. (2017). "Development of the Legitimacy Threshold Scale". Journal of Small Business Strategy. (27), 3, 50-58.
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Ernest O'Boyle, Jr., Chao Miao, Daniel Goering, and Joseph Coombs. (2017). "Response Rates and Nonresponse Bias in Entrepreneurship Research: An Exploratory Meta-Analysis". Journal of Business Venturing Insights. (8), 93-98.
• Jeremy Short, Miles Zachary, Aaron Anglin, and . (2017). "An Archival Adaptation of the F-Pec Scale of Family Influence Using the S&P 500". Family Business Review.
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Matthew Mazzei, Sharon Oswald, and Allison Jones-Farmer. (2016). "Does Establishing Sociopolitical Legitimacy Overcome Liabilities of Newness? A Longitudinal Analysis of Top Performers ". Group and Organization Management.
• J.M. Pollack, Anson Seers, Matthew W. Rutherford, M.W. Coy, and S Hanson. "Exploring Entrepreneurs’ Social Network Ties: Quantity versus Quality". Journal of Business Venturing Insights (Forthcoming).
• James Bloodgood, Jeffrey Hornsby, and Matthew W. Rutherford. "The Role of Network Density and Betweenness Centrality in Diffusing New Venture Legitimacy: An Epidemiological Approach". International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal (Forthcoming).
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Neil Tocher, Jeffrey Pollack, and Susan Coombes. "When Do Liabilities of Age and Size Dissipate? An Exploratory Examination of Financing Options in Young Firms". Group and Organization Management (Forthcoming).
• Matthew W. Rutherford and Donald Kuratko. (2016). "Toward the Validation of Family Legacy Orientation. ". Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice.
• Matthew W. Rutherford. (2015). "Strategic Bootstrapping: A Financial Guide For The Entrepreneur". New York: NY: Business Expert Press.
• Brian Nagy and Matthew W. Rutherford. "Legitimacy and Entrepreneurial Behaviors". Chichester: John Wiley and Sons: In Micheal H. Morris & Donald F. Kuratko (Ed) Encyclopedia of Entrepreneurship Research, 3rd Edition, (Forthcoming). (3rd Ed.),
• Ernest O'Boyle, Matthew W. Rutherford, and George Banks. (2014). "Publication Bias in Entrepreneurship Research: An Examination of Dominant Relations to Performance". Journal of Business Venturing. (29), 6,
• D. Robley Wood, Glenn Gilbreath, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Ernest O'Boyle. (2014). "Competitive Operations Priorities and Firm Performance in Small Community Banks: A Test of Trade-offs". Journal of Applied Management and Entrepreneurship.. (19), 4,
• Brian Steverson, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Paul Buller. (2013). "The Quest for Initial Legitimacy and Ethics: An Application of Social Contract Theory". Journal of Ethics and Entrepreneurship. (3), 1,
• Jeffrey Pollack, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Brian Nagy. (2012). "Antecedents to Amount of Funding by Investors in Response to Business Pitches: Evidence from Shark Tank and Dragons Den". Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. (36), 5,
• Daniel Holt and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2012). "Family Business: Defining". Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.: In M. R. Marvel (Ed.) Encyclopedia of New Venture Management. 187-189.
• Daniel Holt and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2012). "Family Firms: Theory". Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.: In M. R. Marvel (Ed.) Encyclopedia of New Venture Management. 194-196.
• Ernest O'Boyle, Jeffrey Pollack, and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2012). "Family Involvement and Firm Performance: A Meta-Analysis". Journal of Business Venturing. (27), 1,
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Neil Tocher, K.S. Anderson, and Paul Buller. (2012). "Negotiation Strategies for Attaining Initial Legitimacy". Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.: In M. R. Marvel (Ed.) Encyclopedia of New Venture Management.
• Matthew W. Rutherford and Neil Tocher. (2012). "Performance Implications of the Legitimacy Threshold". Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc.: In M. R. Marvel (Ed.) Encyclopedia of New Venture Management.
• Brian Nagy, Jeffrey Pollack, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Franz Lohrke. (2012). "The Influence of Swift Trust and Impression Management Behaviors on Cognitive Legitimacy". Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. (36), 5,
• Daniel Holt, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Donald Kuratko. (2010). "Advancing the Field of Family Business Research: Refining a Measure of “Familiness”". Family Business Review. (23), 1,
• Ernest O'Boyle, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Jeffrey Pollack. (2010). "Tapping the Essence? An Exploration of the Relationship between Ethical Focus and Financial Performance in Family-Owned Firms". Family Business Review. (23), 4,
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Paul Buller, and Michael Stebbins. (2009). "An Examination of the Legitimacy Lie". Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. (33), 4,
• Neil Rocher and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2009). "Perceived Acute Human Resource Management Problems in Small Firms: An Empirical Examination". Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. (33), 2,
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Sharon Oswald, and Lori Muse. (2009). "The Influence of Large Stake Family Control on Performance: Is it Agency or Entrenchment?". Journal of Small Business Management. (47), 9,
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Donald Kuratko, and Daniel Holt. (2008). "Examining the Link between “Familiness” and Performance: Can the F-PEC Untangle the Family Business Theory Jungle?". Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice. (32), 6,
• Daniel Holt, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Gretchen Clohessy. (2007). "Corporate Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Look At Individual Characteristics, Context, And Process". Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies. (13), 4,
• Matthew W. Rutherford and Daniel Holt. (2007). "Corporate Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Look at the Innovativeness Dimension and Its Antecedents". Journal of Organizational Change Management. (27), 3,
• Matthew W. Rutherford and Paul Buller. (2007). "Searching for the Legitimacy Threshold". Journal of Management Inquiry. (16), 1,
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Lori Muse, and Sharon Oswald. (2006). "A New Perspective on the Developmental Model for Family Business". Family Business Review. (19), 4,
• Matthew W. Rutherford and Timo Korkeamaki. (2006). "Industry Effects and Banking Relationships as Determinants of Small Firm Capital Structure Decisions". The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance & Business Ventures. (11),
• Ta-Tao Chuang and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2006). "Owner/Manager Characteristics, Organizational Characteristics and IT Adoption in the SME". International Journal of Management and Enterprise Development. (4), 6,
• Matthew W. Rutherford and Sharon Oswald. (2005). "Antecedents of Small Business Performance". In Laurence Weinstein and Shawn Blau (Eds.), Best Practices in Entrepreneurship: Readings from the New England Journal of Entrepreneurship: Stamford, CT: Thomson Publishing.
• John Ivey, Dan Gropper, and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2005). "Bank Capital, Performance and Regulation: Some International Evidence". Investment Management and Financial Innovations. (2), 4,
• Lori Muse, Matthew W. Rutherford, and Sharon Oswald. (2005). "Commitment to Employees: Does it Help or Hinder Small Business Performance?". Small Business Economics. (24), 97-111.
• Brian Gregory, Matthew W. Rutherford, Sharon Oswald, and Lorraine Gardner. (2005). "The Growth Cycle Theory of Small Firm Financing: An Empirical Investigation of the Relationship between the Organizational Life Cycle and Small Firm Financing". Journal of Small Business Management. (43), 4,
• Ernest Hall, Jooh Lee, and Matthew W. Rutherford. (2003). "A Comparative Study of US and Korean Firms: Changes in Diversification and Performance". International Journal of Commerce and Management. (13), 1,
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Paul Buller, and Patrick McMullen. (2003). "Human Resource Management Problems over the Life Cycle of Small to Medium-Sized Family Firms.". Human Resource Management. (42), 4,
• Matthew W. Rutherford, Patrick McMullen, and Sharon Oswald. (2001). "Examining the Issue of Size and the Small Business: An Artificial Neural Network Approach". Journal of Business and Economic Studies. (3), 2,
• Matthew W. Rutherford and Sharon Oswald. (2000). "Antecedents to Small Business Performance". In Laurence Weinstein and Shawn Blau (Eds.), Best Practices in Entrepreneurship: Readings from the New England Journal of Entrepreneurship: Stamford, CT: Thomson Publishing. (3), 2,