Cut me some slack! An exploration of slack resources and technology-mediated human capital investments in entrepreneurship

2022 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason Jabbari ◽  
Stephen Roll ◽  
Sam Bufe ◽  
Yung Chun
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Online Learning ◽  
Skill Development ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Slack Resources ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Gig Economy ◽  
Human Capital Investments ◽  
The Relationship

PurposeIn this paper, the authors explore the relationship that slack resources and technology-mediated human capital investments can have on individuals’ entrepreneurial intentions. Focusing on human capital investments that individuals make through education and work, the authors analyze the relationship among formal online learning opportunities, informal skill development in the gig economy and entrepreneurial intentions.Design/methodology/approach Leveraging a novel dataset that merges administrative tax data with a survey of over 8,528 low- and moderate income (LMI) households, this study uses machine learning and propensity score weighting to examine the likelihood that individuals who make these technology-mediated human capital investments will have increased odds of entrepreneurial intentions when compared to similar individuals who do not make these investments.Findings The authors find that both partaking in online learning and working in the gig economy are significantly associated with increased odds of entrepreneurial intentions. Furthermore, through a variety of robustness and mechanism checks, the authors find that technology-mediation is an important factor in these relationships and that informal skill development and career preparation is one way in which gig employment influences entrepreneurial intentions.Research limitations/implications As the study’s data come from a cross-sectional survey, the authors cannot make causal inferences about the relationship between online learning, gig employment and entrepreneurial intentions. Thus, future research should explore sources of longitudinal data.Practical implications This study has practical implication for individuals and policymakers that seek to increase entrepreneurship among LMI households.Originality/value Despite a wealth of research on the relationships among slack resources, technology and innovation at the firm level, there is little of this research at the individual level – especially among LMI individuals. The authors begin to fill this important gap.

International assignments of employees and entrepreneurial intentions: the mediating role of human capital, social capital and career prospects

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1259-1279
Author(s):  
Susanne Schlepphorst ◽  
Elizabeth C. Koetter ◽  
Arndt Werner ◽  
Christian Soost ◽  
Petra Moog
Keyword(s):  
Social Capital ◽  
Human Capital ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Corporate Entrepreneurship ◽  
Entrepreneurial Intentions ◽  
International Assignments ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeDrawing on human capital (HC) and social capital (SC) as well as the Jack-of-all-trades theory, this paper aims to clarify the relationship between international assignments (IAs) of employees and their entrepreneurial intentions. The study proposes that such IAs provide specific environmental features which may enable employees to build up diverse skills and network relations conducive to entrepreneuship.Design/methodology/approachThe authors collected data using an online survey, targeting professionals and managers in Germany and Switzerland. They used 223 complete responses. Before data collection, they ensured the suitability of their questionnaire by employing well-tested scales and consulted independent experts in survey design and methodology. They tested their hypotheses by applying multiple mediation modeling.FindingsAs hypothesized, the authors find empirical evidence that diverse skills and network relationships as well as poor career prospects, positively mediate the relationship between IAs and entrepreneurial intentions of employees.Research limitations/implicationsWe applied simple random and the snowball sampling method. Our approach involved the use of headhunters, international employers and relocation companies as multipliers.Practical implicationsOur results have practical implications for employees and employers. Employees on international assignments can proactively pursue opportunities in order to utilize the acquired experiences and resources for taking up entrepreneurial activities. Employers can try to retain these employees to facilitate (international) corporate entrepreneurship.Originality/valueTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first empirical study to highlight the entrepreneurial ambitions of international assignees. It thus provides initial insights into this topic.

The moderated mediation processes in firm-specific human capital development and task performance relationship

2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 396-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Vivian Osei ◽  
Ahmed Agyapong ◽  
Kwame Owusu Kwateng
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Task Performance ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Human Capital Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Capital Investments ◽  
Capital Development ◽  
And Task

Purpose Interest has been generated for a while in unpacking the “black box” and providing a contingency approach to understanding the effects of human resource management (HRM) practices. This study aims to investigate the possibility that the relationship between human capital development and task performance is mediated by work self-efficacy and work engagement – and that this mediation depends on the degree of perceived investment in employees’ development. Design/methodology/approach Based on a synthesis of theories –systems, social cognitive and social identity theories – a moderated mediation model is tested using data from 220 academic employees and Heads of Departments from multiple Higher Educational Institutions in Ghana. AMOS and Hayes Conditional Process analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings The study finds support for a bundle of human capital investments boosting work self-efficacy and motivating work engagement, as well as task performance. Consistent with expectations, the mediation in human capital investments to task performance via work self-efficacy is conditional on the degree of perceived investment in employees’ development. Originality/value The study provides the first attempt at studying a conditional process model in human capital development by addressing whether, how and when human capital system functions more or less effectively, and provides knowledge on the “black box” in HRM.

Why do firms adopt employee share ownership? Bundling ESO and direct involvement for developing human capital investments

2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 296-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loris Guery
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Employee Motivation ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Share Ownership ◽  
Employee Competencies ◽  
Hr Managers ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between employee share ownership (ESO) and employer-provided training. To be more specific, as both ESO and involvement practices can contribute to developing human capital, the paper addresses the question of whether they are substitutes or complements in the relationship with training. Design/methodology/approach – The theoretical hypotheses are tested using the French nationally representative establishment-level survey, REPONSE, which is similar to the British WERS. The sample consists of 1,523 establishments. Findings – The results are consistent with studies conducted elsewhere (e.g. in the UK) and provide novel findings, thereby suggesting a complementarity between ESO and involvement practices with bundles of practices becoming increasingly more complex as training expenditures increase. Research limitations/implications – To provide further insights, future research that uses more precise information regarding ESO plans is needed. Practical implications – Results can provide HR managers with valuable information regarding the organisational characteristics necessary to ensure a fertile ground for their training expenses. Originality/value – The paper reflects a growing awareness that human capital development and share ownership plans may be related and that this relationship might be a more compelling explanation for share ownership plans than the standard agency theory. The contribution of ESO plans to the development of employee competencies may be at least as important as their possible effects on employee motivation and effort.

scholarly journals How the validation of prior learning can be used to assess entrepreneurial human capital investments and outcomes

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Fahrenbach
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Capital Investment ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Social Process ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Prior Learning ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Human Capital Investments ◽  
Entrepreneurial Human Capital

Purpose This paper aims to depart from the premise that human capital investments and human capital outcomes are often tacit – an aspect, which is often neglected in the current literature on entrepreneurial human capital. The idea of this conceptual paper is to shed light on the social process of how human capital investments and human capital outcomes can be valued and made visible through the validation of prior learning. Thus, this study conceptualises the validation of prior learning as a post hoc, the reflective process through which an aspiring entrepreneur is guided. Design/methodology/approach This paper is conceptual and introduces a process model. Findings Findings indicate that the process of the validation of prior learning is well-suitable to inform aspiring entrepreneurs of their investments into human capital and their human capital outcomes. The process results in a (partial) certified qualification that provides entrepreneurial legitimacy. Research limitations/implications Thus far, the model is conceptual and should be validated via interviews and further empirical studies in the field. Practical implications Literature in the field of entrepreneurial human capital suggests that human capital outcomes are more important for success than inputs. Furthermore, context-specific knowledge, skills and abilities are more important than generalised outcomes. These findings have implications for the design of validation procedures. Originality/value Human capital has only been recently conceptualised as consisting of human capital investments and outcomes of human capital investment. However, thus far the literature falls short in acknowledging the tacit nature of human capital investments and human capital outcomes. This paper contributes a structured process of how human capital investments and human capital outcomes are linked and assessed. In so doing, this study extends a recent model of human capital investments and outputs (Marvel et al., 2016, p. 616).

Human Capital in the Economic System of Modern Society: the Mechanism of Formation, Investment and Development Prospects in Ukraine

2019 ◽  
pp. 105-109
Author(s):  
S. Zhukov ◽  
V. Zelic ◽  
S. Soima
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Mechanism Of Formation ◽  
Strategic Development ◽  
Education And Health ◽  
Economic State ◽  
Human Capital Investments ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
Development Prospects

As a result of the conducted research the problems of development of human capital and basic pre-conditions of providing of his competitiveness are certain. Analyzed the loud speaker of charges on development of education and health protection of summary budget of Ukraine and measures on the improvement of economic situation in Ukraine and providing of development of human capital are offered. The basic types of investments are certain in a human capital on levels and subjects of investing. The mechanism of forming of human capital is presented. The mechanism of forming of human capital is presented. It is grounded, that for strategic development of human capital of Ukraine and achievement of equilibrium and balanced of economy in the conditions of globalization modernization of public policy is needed in area of education, namely, creation of the system of education, oriented to forming and development of skills and jurisdictions of man, necessary for innovative activity. Keywords human capital, investments in a human capital, competitiveness, economic state of affairs, payment for work.

scholarly journals Occupational Choice and Investments in Human Capital in Informal Economies

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucila Berniell
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Informal Economy ◽  
Occupational Choice ◽  
Capital Investments ◽  
Educational Decisions ◽  
Managerial Skills ◽  
Model Predictions ◽  
Informal Economies ◽  
Human Capital Investments ◽  
Cross Country

AbstractInformality is pervasive in many developing countries and it can affect occupational and educational decisions. Cross-country data shows that the rate of entrepreneurship as well as the gap between the skill premium for entrepreneurs and for workers increase with the size of the informal economy. Also, in countries with larger informal sectors the fraction of high-skilled individuals that choose to be entrepreneurs is larger. To explain these facts, I develop a model economy with human capital investments, occupational choice and an informal sector, in which the investment in human capital improves the efficiency of labor as well as managerial skills, and the technology to produce goods exhibits capital-skill complementarity. Model predictions can account for cross-country evidence and also shed light on the mechanisms at work when the level of informality in the economy increases. In particular, a higher level of informality discourages human capital investments for workers while it incentivizes these investments for the case of some managers, mostly informal but talented.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document