Venture creation persistence: overcoming stage-gate issues

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 1016-1035 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Meek ◽  
David W. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Venture Creation ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneur ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Entrepreneurial Action

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into how nascent entrepreneurs persist despite outward appearances of little progress by using participant observations, and autobiographical and interview data. Design/methodology/approach Utilizing a multi-year case study, the authors use participant observation, autobiographical, and interview data to build the arguments. Findings The authors demonstrate that persistence involves overcoming stage-gate issues, and overcoming stage gates requires a flurry of activity and opportunity variation. Once stage gates are overcome, entrepreneurs experience an emergence-like event with a new flurry of activity that propels them toward the next stage gate. Doing so, the authors extend theories of entrepreneurial persistence and entrepreneurial action by suggesting that nascent entrepreneurs who are slowly making progress toward start-up may be persisting by taking small but important steps toward start-up. Originality/value This study offers detailed observations and analysis about the behaviors and activities that a nascent entrepreneur undertook during an extremely long gestation/persistence period, which ultimately ended with the successful completion of the goal.

scholarly journals Emergent perspectives toward the business plan among nascent entrepreneur start-up competition participants

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayleigh Watson ◽  
Pauric McGowan
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Analytical Approach ◽  
Business Plan ◽  
Sense Making ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Support Provision ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneur ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Before And After

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine how nascent entrepreneur perspectives towards the utility of the formal written business plan (BP) change before and after start-up competition (SUC) participation. Such focus is pertinent and timely given the enduringly contentious matter of BP creation for nascent entrepreneurs. Despite mounting criticisms, considerable resources continue to be expended on promoting the BP within educative and start-up support provision; the globally ubiquitous SUC phenomenon provides a prominent example of such promotion. Design/methodology/approach In-depth open-ended interviews were undertaken with nascent entrepreneurs at the start, end and six months after participation in a UK university-based SUC. An inductive thematic content analytical approach was taken to identify patterns across participant accounts at each wave of data collection. Findings Upon entering the competition, the nascent entrepreneurs held highly positive views towards the BP, believing that it provided legitimacy and served as a means of sense-making. Immediately after the competition, views were more ambivalent, with the BP viewed as secondary to action but remaining an external expectation. Six months after the competition, the BP was viewed as underutilised and internally irrelevant; an unnecessary feature of an action-led approach and only useful when needed by external parties. Originality/value Contributing to the limited body of SUC research, the enduring centrality of formal BP production within competition provision is challenged given its limited relevance to the nascent entrepreneur beyond the competition context. Emphasis on BPning within a competition need not automatically require BP creation; this has implications for business competition organisers.

How do social skills enable nascent entrepreneurs to enact perseverance strategies in the face of challenges? A comparative case study of success and failure

2014 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 517-541 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wadid Lamine ◽  
Sarfraz Mian ◽  
Alain Fayolle
Keyword(s):  
Social Skills ◽  
New Technology ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneurs ◽  
Entrepreneurial Process ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Up ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – This paper seeks to advance ongoing research in entrepreneurial perseverance. While the concept of perseverance is not new, few researchers paid attention to behavioural persistence in the entrepreneurial context. The purpose of this paper is to explore the emergence of new technology based firms (NTBF) by focusing on the role of nascent entrepreneurs’ social skills in the meeting the changes of entrepreneurial perseverance. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper the authors study the start-up phase of entrepreneurial process. The authors opted for a longitudinal case study approach in order to enhance the knowledge on entrepreneurs’ social skills and perseverance. For triangulation purpose the data were gathered using four different information sources. The use of Nvivo8 as the data analysis tool helped to impose a discipline and structure which facilitated the extraction of core insights. Findings – This paper contributes to the understanding of the entrepreneurial perseverance in the context of new venture creation. Particularly, reading the entrepreneurial process through the lens of the perseverance strategies model (Van Gelderen, 2012) provided a way to identify and then to assess the impact of the social skills on the overall entrepreneurial perseverance and their combined impact on the performance of NTBF creation process. In doing so, the authors identify the impact of entrepreneurs’ social skills to deal with a series of entrepreneurial problems such as scarcity of resources, uncertainty and ambiguity and consequently their impact on the likelihood of survival for new ventures. The issues that arose mostly reflected the inherent complexity of technology transfer processes, the university and entrepreneurs’ diverging cultures, and the very characteristics of the start-up phase of NTBFs. The findings reveal how social skills impact the entrepreneurial paths and probable outcomes. Research limitations/implications – This paper contributes to the understanding of the entrepreneurial perseverance in the context of NTBF creation. The findings reveal how social skills and perseverance impact the entrepreneurial paths and probable outcomes. Practical implications – The paper has implications for entrepreneurial support mechanisms such as technology business incubators in helping them to improve the efficacy and efficiency of their assistance to entrepreneurs through the development of their skill-sets and perseverance and providing enabling networking. In addition, the research has implications for entrepreneurship education and training. Indeed, there is an urgent need to design and implement courses and programs aiming at developing soft skills in entrepreneurship. Originality/value – In exploring networking and issues of perseverance for nascent entrepreneurs operating in new technology-based sectors, which the authors consider as an under searched area in entrepreneurial literature.

scholarly journals An exploration of the Business Plan Competition as a methodology for effective nascent entrepreneurial learning

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kayleigh Watson ◽  
Pauric McGowan ◽  
James A. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Business Plan ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Critical Examination ◽  
New Venture Creation ◽  
Venture Creation ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneurs ◽  
Entrepreneurial Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneur

Purpose Business Plan Competitions (BPCs) are readily prescribed and promoted as a valuable entrepreneurial learning activity on university campuses worldwide. There is an acceptance of their value despite the clear lack of empirical attention on the learning experience of nascent entrepreneurs during and post-participation in university-based BPCs. To address this deficit, the purpose of this paper is to explore how participation in a university-based BPC affords entrepreneurial learning outcomes, through the development of competencies, amongst nascent entrepreneurs. Design/methodology/approach Underpinned by a constructivist paradigm, a longitudinal qualitative methodological approach was adopted. In-depth interviews with nascent entrepreneur participants of a UK university-based BPC were undertaken at the start and end of the competition but also six months after participation. This method enabled access to the participant’s experiences of the competition and appreciation of the meanings they attached to this experience as a source of entrepreneurial learning. Data were analysed according to the wave of data collection and a thematic analytical approach was taken to identify patterns across participant accounts. Findings At the start of the competition, participation was viewed as a valuable experiential learning opportunity in pursuit of the competencies needed, but not yet held, to progress implementation of the nascent venture. At the end of the competition, participants considered their participation experience had afforded the development of pitching, public speaking, networking and business plan production competencies and also self-confidence. Six months post-competition, participants still recognised that competencies had been developed; however, application of these were deemed as being confined to participation in other competitions rather than the routine day-to-day aspects of venture implementation. Developed competencies and learning remained useful given a prevailing view that further competition participation represented an important activity which would enable value to be leveraged in terms of finance, marketing and networking opportunities for new venture creation. Research limitations/implications The findings challenge the common understanding that the BPC represents an effective methodology for highly authentic, relevant and broadly applicable entrepreneurial learning. Moreover the idea that the competencies needed for routine venture implementation and competencies developed through competition are synonymous is challenged. By extension the study suggests competition activities may not be as closely tied to the realities of new venture creation as commonly portrayed or understood and that the learning afforded is situated within a competition context. Competitions could therefore be preventing the opportunities for entrepreneurial learning that they purport they offer. Given the practical importance of competition participation as a resource acquisition activity for nascent entrepreneurs, further critical examination of the competition agenda is necessary as too is additional consideration about the design of such competitions and how such competitions should feature within university policy to support new venture creation. Originality/value This study contributes to the limited literature and studies on BPCs by focussing on its effectiveness as a means of providing entrepreneurial learning for participants. The key contribution taking it from an individual nascent entrepreneur participant perspective is that the competencies afforded through competition participation are more limited in scope and application than traditionally promoted and largely orientated towards future BPC participation. Learning is mainly situated for competition sake only and about participants securing further resources and higher levels of visibility. As the nascent entrepreneurs intended learning outcomes from competition participation are subsequently not realised, the study highlights a gap between the intended and actual outcomes of competition participation.

scholarly journals Researching drinking “with” young people: a palette of methods

2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Wilkinson ◽  
Catherine Wilkinson
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Young People ◽  
Text Messaging ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Methods ◽  
Multi Stage ◽  
Consumption Practices

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to outline a study characterised by “pockets” of co-production and argue for the benefits of offering young people a palette of interdisciplinary methods to “opt into”, giving participants the opportunity to discuss their drinking practices and experiences “on their own terms”. Design/methodology/approach In total, 40 young people, aged 15-24 years, from the suburban case study locations of Chorlton and Wythenshawe, Manchester, UK, were recruited for multi-stage qualitative research. The participants were presented with a suite of both long-standing and innovative methods that they could “opt into”, including: interviews, peer interviews, diaries, mobile phone interviews, text messaging and participant observation. Findings This paper shows that both long-standing and innovative methods have their own individual strengths for researching into young people’s alcohol consumption practices and experiences. Yet, each of the methods utilised in this study also had specific drawbacks for researching substance use. Offering a palette of methods for participants to “opt into” was thus beneficial in: offsetting the weaknesses of other methods; triangulating the study findings; and enabling participants to communicate with the researcher in culturally credible ways. Originality/value By offering an honest account about the successes and failures of deploying a range of methods when exploring young people’s drinking practices and experiences, this paper is valuable for researchers in, and beyond, the field of substance use, seeking to broaden their methodological toolkit.

Accounting for the cost of sports-related violence

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 1956-1981
Author(s):  
Jane Baxter ◽  
Martin Carlsson-Wall ◽  
Wai Fong Chua ◽  
Kalle Kraus
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Empirical Data ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Interview Data ◽  
Case Study Method ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Football Clubs ◽  
Market State ◽  
The Cost

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to extend the understanding of “the” accounting entity, demonstrating how it is a contestable socio-political construction informed by a nexus of market, state and community actors. Design/methodology/approach A case study method is utilised to follow debate relating to Swedish football clubs’ responsibility for the payment/non-payment of policing costs between 1999 and 2014. The case study uses documentary and interview data, focusing on one of the high-risk Stockholm clubs. Findings The paper makes four main contributions: first, demonstrating how the accounting entity is a changeable and contestable construction; second, outlining how distinctions informing contests about the accounting arena are materialised through accounting calculations and other devices; third, showing the importance of community in a coordinated sense in mediating accounting practices; and fourth, contributing to the literature on accounting and sport, highlighting the importance of state actors in this arena. Originality/value This research draws on original empirical data providing unique insights into debates regarding the responsibility for the payment of police costs in the context of sports-related violence. The authors show the importance of characterising accounting for sporting organisations as a shifting and contestable nexus of market, state and community actors.

A relational view of start-up firms inside an incubator: the case of the ARCA consortium

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 601-619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Davide Di Fatta ◽  
Francesco Caputo ◽  
Gandolfo Dominici
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Collaborative Relationships ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Up

Purpose Analyzing the entrepreneurial ecosystem related to the ARCA consortium, the purpose of this paper is to study the relationships among the start-up firms inside an incubator. Design/methodology/approach Thanks to the adoption of the relationships concentric model and the density concentric model, the paper highlights the role of relational conditions for innovative projects in partnership among the incubated firms. Reflections herein are tested via a qualitative research approach based on a single case study: the ARCA consortium. Findings This research found that about 32 percent of relationships inside the incubator support the emergence of short-term relationships among the incubated firms. Furthermore, about 18 percent of the relationships support the emergence of strong collaborative strategies for the implementation of long-term relationships resulting in innovative pathways: innovative projects in partnership. Originality/value The most interconnected firms inside the incubator are those that play a central role also in the innovation pathway developing the higher number of innovative project in partnership. This finding emphasizes a correlation between collaborative relationships and innovation inside an incubator ecosystem.

Intellectual Capital dynamics: seeing them “in practice” through a temporal lens

VINE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Giuliani
Keyword(s):  
Intellectual Capital ◽  
Value Creation ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Longitudinal Case Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Changes Over Time ◽  
Over Time

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to observe Intellectual Capital (IC) dynamics “in practice” through a temporal lens by considering IC as an on-going process, and thus taking into consideration its life cycle and how it changes over time. Design/methodology/approach – A longitudinal case study has been investigated by adopting a participant observation approach to understand how the dynamics of IC are understood in practice. Findings – This study spotlights three main conceptions of IC dynamics (value creation, IC activities and organizational change) which, although generally proposed in literature as separable concepts, do co-exist and interact, in practice as is reflected in the related managerial tools. Research limitations/implications – The main limitations of this study are twofold. The first is related to the methodology adopted and in particular, to the participant observation approach. The second is related to the specifics of the case study undertaken. This paper contributes to the literature on “Intellectual Capital in action” and “Intellectual Capital in practice” by enriching the understanding of IC dynamics. Originality/value – By comparison to the extant literature in which the IC dynamics concepts are considered separately, this study combines the three different concepts and examines them in vivo, adopting a longitudinal perspective.

scholarly journals The development of effective new venture teams in venture creation programmes

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iselin Mauseth Steira ◽  
Marianne Steinmo
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Multiple Case Study ◽  
New Venture ◽  
Venture Creation ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Team Collaboration ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Team Based Learning ◽  
Multiple Case

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore how effective new venture teams are developed in venture creation programmes.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a multiple case study focusing on the development of effective new venture teams. Semi-structured interviews with 15 new venture teams from two different venture creation programmes were conducted and an abductive analysis approach was used.FindingsThree key phases of the development of an effective new venture team are identified: (1) establishing a foundation for collaboration, (2) structuring the teamwork and (3) adapting to changes. Key activities undertaken by effective new venture teams in each phase are explicated. The findings suggest that new venture teams that are able to establish a foundation for team collaboration and teamwork structuring have the capacity to persevere through the challenges inherent in emerging ventures.Originality/valueThis study offers a much-needed practical perspective about how effective new venture teams are developed in venture creation programmes, and how venture creation programme educators can facilitate the development of effective new venture teams. For educators, these findings provide important insights about team-based learning in entrepreneurship education.

Open data hackathons: an innovative strategy to enhance entrepreneurial intention

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 519-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fotis Kitsios ◽  
Maria Kamariotou
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Open Data ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intention ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneurs ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Innovative Strategy ◽  
Nascent Entrepreneur ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
New Applications

Purpose In terms of entrepreneurship, open data benefits include economic growth, innovation, empowerment and new or improved products and services. Hackathons encourage the development of new applications using open data and the creation of startups based on these applications. Researchers focus on factors that affect nascent entrepreneurs’ decision to create a startup but researches in the field of open data hackathons have not been fully investigated yet. This paper aims to suggest a model that incorporates factors that affect the decision of establishing a startup by developers who have participated in open data hackathons. Design/methodology/approach In total, 70 papers were examined and analyzed using a three-phased literature review methodology, which was suggested by Webster and Watson (2002). These surveys investigated several factors that affect a nascent entrepreneur to create a startup. Findings Eventually, by identifying the motivations for developers to participate in a hackathon, and understanding the benefits of the use of open data, researchers will be able to elaborate the proposed model and evaluate if the contest has contributed to the decision of establish a startup and what factors affect the decision to establish a startup apply to open data developers, and if the participants of the contest agree with these factors. Originality/value The paper expands the scope of open data research on entrepreneurship field, stating the need for more research to be conducted regarding the open data in entrepreneurship through hackathons.

Management controls, heterarchy and innovation: a case study of a start-up company

2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (6) ◽  
pp. 1636-1661 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Taylor ◽  
Robyn King ◽  
David Smith
Keyword(s):  
Design Methodology ◽  
Research Evidence ◽  
Idea Generation ◽  
Management Control ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Management Controls ◽  
Competing Priorities ◽  
Functional Areas

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to consider how organizations with diverse, interdependent functions with differing evaluative principles and differing ideas as to which behaviors are the most desirable, use management controls in their efforts to achieve innovation. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a case study of TechCo, an Australian technology start-up company, over a 12 month period. Findings The authors demonstrate how the clash of differing evaluative principles among interdependent teams led to the organization seeking new ways of organizing, which in turn, enabled the organization to better manage the interdependencies between the diverse functional areas. Additionally, the findings show how, through the use of management control systems, the organization was able to promote idea generation and “buy-in” across all functional areas, order competing priorities for innovation and set the agenda as to what constituted “acceptable” innovation for the organization to pursue. Originality/value The authors find that management controls play an important role in managing the tensions between differing evaluative principles in diverse functional areas in a heterarchical organization, and in supporting innovation in such an environment. As such, the authors provide the first research evidence on how management controls are used within a heterarchy to generate and select innovative ideas.

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