Gergana Markova

Entrepreneurial Effectuation: A Review and Suggestions for Future Research

Effectuation represents a paradigmatic shift in the way that we understand entrepreneurship. Since its introduction, however, few researchers have attempted to empirically test effectuation. Our purpose is to encourage effectuation research. To do so, we review the effectuation literature and make suggestions for how to design and conduct empirically rigorous effectuation studies consistent with the developmental state of the research stream.

Is money the panacea? Rewards for knowledge workers

Purpose – In this empirical study, the aim is to examine the relative effect of various rewards on performance of knowledge workers. It is predicted that non‐monetary rewards are associated with enhanced intrinsic motivation, which in turn is related to better performance and innovation.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from 288 research and development employees and their supervisors from 30 Fortune 500 companies. The authors tested the hypothesized relationships with mediated multiple regression.Findings – The results revealed that receiving non‐monetary rewards is a stronger predictor of intrinsic motivation manifested by longer work time in comparison to either group or individual monetary rewards. Furthermore, intrinsic motivation was found to fully mediate the relationships between received non‐monetary rewards and performance and innovation.Research limitations/implications – The paper offers a field test of the cognitive evaluation theory and the crowding theory that have been main...

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE DATA: CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS IN THE STUDY OF NASCENT ENTREPRENEURS

Entrepreneurship research has been criticized for a lack of methodological rigor, although evidence suggests that from a methodological perspective, it is improving (Davidsson, 2006). In this paper, we systematically review the methods used in the study of nascent entrepreneurs to identify challenges associated with the data used in these studies. We also review the fields achievements — notably, the successful use of representative sampling of populations of nascent entrepreneurs — and we raise concerns about the predominant use of secondary data sets and the use of scales originally developed for large, established firms. Drawing on methodological advancements in other fields, we offer suggestions related to study design, data collection, sampling and measurement. Although some of the challenges we note are inherent to the nature of entrepreneurship, we hope our discussion can help researchers design better studies and better interpret their findings.

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining: Positive Effects of Deviant Coworkers

ABSTRACT Drawing on the labeling perspective of deviance, we investigate employee reactions to coworkers perceived as deviants. We look at two positive effects for employees in the presence of a deviant coworker. First, in comparison to a deviant individual, other employees can draw more positive conclusions about themselves; and second, a deviant can be informative about organizational norms, thereby improving employee role clarity. We also examine individual and situational moderators. For the purpose of the study, we developed a measure of the presence of a deviant. The hypothesized relationships were tested in two large samples using multiple regression analyses. The results revealed that in the presence of a deviant coworker, employees reported enhanced self-evaluation. The presence of a deviant coworker was associated with better role clarity only for employees with more interdependent jobs. We also discuss practical implications of the findings and future research directions.

Building dynamic capabilities: the case of HRIS

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate conditions for a human resource information system (HRIS) to impact organizational competitiveness. Particularly, the author proposes that an HRIS is a key factor in building dynamic capabilities through fostering codification and dissemination of path‐dependent processes and assuring that the firm is able to repeat its successes.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing on the resource‐based view (and its extension), the author theorizes about the relationship between HRIS specificity and firm competitiveness.Findings – It is proposed that in‐house developed or highly‐customized HRIS are the key to building dynamic capabilities necessary for firm competitiveness.Research limitations/implications – By considering the HRIS as a vehicle for the unique and inimitable organizational processes, the author extends the traditional definition of management information systems. However, such an extension is doable within certain limitations. First, the assumption m...

Cohesion and individual well-being of members in self-managed teams

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate interactions among members of self-managed teams (SMTs). The authors were interested in how leader emergence, group potency, and opinion compliance were related to team cohesion and member well-being. Design/methodology/approach – In a simulated business environment, the authors surveyed 236 students working in 54 SMTs. Participants reported their interactions and experiences at several points of time during class. Individual responses about team cohesion and group potency were aggregated for the purposes of the analysis. Findings – The paper found that leader emergence was associated with reduced cohesion among members and diminished individual well-being. Group potency was modestly associated with better cohesion among team members. Participants of more cohesive groups reported higher individual well-being. Opposite to the predictions, opinion compliance was not significantly related to individual well-being. Research limitations/implications – Withi...

Not bad, just unhappy: diminished well-being as a motive for interpersonal deviance

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between diminished employee well-being and interpersonal deviance. Design/methodology/approach In a survey, 380 employees from 107 organizations were asked about their psychological and social well-beings. Participants reported their experiences of irritation, depression and anxiety for psychological well-being. A modified scale of social well-being captured participants’ scores on social integration and social acceptance. Respondents also self-reported incidents of interpersonal deviance against coworkers. Findings The results demonstrate that only irritation, not depression or anxiety, was positively related to interpersonal deviance. Socially accepting individuals were less likely to engage in deviant acts against their coworkers. Furthermore, respondents scoring high on both neuroticism and depression were reporting more acts of interpersonal deviance. Research limitations/implications Based on these findings, the role of intent in the study of workplace deviance is discussed. Practical implications The findings of this study suggest that diminished well-being can be a catalyst for other negative outcomes in the workplace. Management should be concerned with the affective state of employees as the experiences of one person may translate into experiences for others. Given the complexity of human experiences, decision makers in organizations should consider emotional state and experiences in developing practices for deviance prevention. Attention and intervention initiatives devoted to improving well-being and social health of employees might be more effective than discipline policies. Originality/value Deviant behaviors are often conceptualized as intentional acts. The findings of this research paper provide some evidence that factors other than harmful intend may motivate transgressions against coworkers.

Some Predictors of Entrepreneurship Article Impact

We study scholarly impact in the entrepreneurship field. To answer the question of which factors predict impact, we focus on understanding how article citation behaviour has changed over 20 years. We apply paradigm development theory and framing concepts to guide our study. We find that the value attached to both an article and the article’s authors has become a greater predictor of article citations over time. Additionally, we find that whether authors’ claim that their articles present interesting or useful ideas predicts article impact. But the nature of the impact differs depending on the type of the claim. The pattern of results suggests that entrepreneurship research may currently be at an intermediate stage of development.