René Mauer

Self-Efficacy: Conditioning the Entrepreneurial Mindset

Since Bandura’s original work (Social Learning Theory, Englewood Cliffs, 1977a), the self-efficacy concept has become an important variable within social psychology research. However, it has also been invoked in numerous other areas of research: organization theory, human resource theory, cognition and behavioral theory, as well as identity theory, in connection with topics such as health, stress, leadership, commitment, ethnicity, religion, gender, culture, social class, because it emphasizes values that we perceive as important in the Western world such as achievement and performance (Annu Rev Sociol 15: 291–316, 1989).

Entrepreneurship : unternehmerisches Denken, Entscheiden und Handeln in innovativen und technologieorientieren Unternehmungen

Dieses Lehrbuch bietet den aktuellen Stand der internationalen Forschung zum Entrepreneurship. Sein Thema ist unternehmerisches Denken, Handeln und Entscheiden in verschiedenen Kontexten. Den Ausgangpunkt bildet der unternehmerische Prozess bei der Grundung von Unternehmen (Vorgrundungsphase, Markteintritt, Nachgrundungsphase). Einen Schwerpunkt bilden innovative, wissensintensive und technologieorientierte Unternehmungen. Die thematische Perspektive wird erweitert um die Beibehaltung unternehmerischen Handelns in jungen wachsenden Unternehmen und die Verbreitung von Innovationen in etablierten Unternehmen (Corporate Entrepreneurship), im sozialen Bereich (Social Entrepreneurship) und in der Wissenschaft (Scientific Entrepreneurship). Dem Konzept des Lehrbuchs liegt das Ziel zugrunde, die Befahigung zur Entwicklung neuer Geschaftsmodelle von der Geschaftsidee uber die Fruhphase bis zur Markteinfuhrung und Etablierung zu vermitteln. Einbezogen werden dabei auch die verschiedenen funktionalen Aspekte der Entdeckung und Schaffung, der Bewertung und erfolgreichen Ausschopfung unternehmerischer Gelegenheiten (Opportunities), die in einer Opportunity Map dargestellt werden. Das Konzept des Werkes kann nicht nur bei der Grundung von Unternehmen und fur junge, wachsende Unternehmen eingesetzt werden, vielmehr kann es auch in etablierten Unternehmen sowie in Unternehmensnetzwerken zur Einfuhrung unternehmerischer Denk- und Handlungsmuster dienen. Die Didaktik legt besonderes Gewicht auf die Interaktion mit den Studierenden. Es kommen Fallstudien zum Einsatz, die aktiv durch den Leser unter Zuhilfenahme von Leitfragen erarbeitet werden konnen. Reale Fallbeispiele runden den Praxisbezug illustrativ ab.

The entrepreneur's perception in the entrepreneur–VCF relationship: the impact of conflict types on investor value

The role of conflict has been the subject of extensive research in the area of psychology and sociology and – more recently – in the context of the entrepreneur–investor relationship. This study examines the effect of perceived task conflict and relationship conflict on the perceived value that an entrepreneur ascribes to her venture capital firm (VCF). We analyzed survey data of 152 German ventures and find relationship conflict to be detrimental for perceived investor value, whereas task conflict significantly increases an entrepreneurs perception of investor value. This effect is even stronger in the absence of relationship conflict. In addition, we tested a set of interaction effects on this relationship. We build on Sapienzas (1992) seminal work, who studied a predecessor of task conflict – divergence of perspective – and extend research by linking the most important conflict types to investor value in the context of young ventures. We contribute to the literature on conflict between entrepreneurs and VCFs and reveal clear patterns regarding the effects and interactions of task conflict and relationship conflict.

Regulatory focus theory and sustainable entrepreneurship

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of regulatory focus in sustainable entrepreneurship processes to answer questions on how sustainable entrepreneurs pursue their goals and what motivates them. Knowledge about an entrepreneur’s motivational attribute is essential when trying to understand new venture creation processes. To determine an entrepreneur’s affiliation with one of the two self-regulatory systems, promotion focus and prevention focus, it is helpful to establish whether he or she is motivated by growth and development goals (promotion) or rather by responsibility and security goals (prevention). Design/methodology/approach In a qualitative study of seven sustainable ventures, two semi-structured interview rounds with 14 founders were conducted. Archival data from internal and external sources were gathered, resulting in more than 80 text documents. Findings Findings reveal that the self-regulatory focus of sustainable entrepreneurs changes during the entrepreneurial process with regard to the temporal dynamics of motivation. While conceiving ideas, sustainable entrepreneurs engage in a prevention-focused self-regulatory process because social or ecological problems induce them to direct their attention toward sustainable development goals. During rollout, in contrast, they increasingly engage in a promotion-focused self-regulatory process and concentrate more on venture growth goals. Practical implications The results highlight the important role of a regulatory fit between key self-regulatory entrepreneurial behaviors and entrepreneurs’ regulatory orientation toward increased motivation and enjoyment when pursuing goals. Originality/value This study’s contributions extend and combine the theories of regulatory focus, entrepreneurial motivation, and entrepreneurial processes in the field of sustainable entrepreneurship. They are valuable for understanding the determinants of sustainable entrepreneurial action.

Cultural and creative entrepreneurs: understanding the role of entrepreneurial identity

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore whether and how entrepreneurs in the cultural and creative industries develop an entrepreneurial identity. It also aims to expand research on cultural and creative entrepreneurship. Design/methodology/approach The study is based on longitudinal qualitative cases and analyses the potential entrepreneurial identity development of eight cultural and creative entrepreneurs from Germany. The researchers create a framework to ascertain whether and, if so, how cultural and creative entrepreneurs develop an entrepreneurial identity. Findings The findings suggest that cultural and creative entrepreneurs do develop an entrepreneurial identity and incorporate their cultural and creative identity into that entrepreneurial identity whereas self-reflection is a key driver in the development. Practical implications Cultural and creative entrepreneurs are a key driver of economic development. Hence, it is important to generate a more detailed understanding of their entrepreneurial mind-set and their behaviour. Originality/value The study suggests that cultural and creative entrepreneurs actively develop an entrepreneurial identity and that self-reflection, communication with other entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial experience are the main drivers of their identity development. Nevertheless, their cultural and creative identity does have an influence on their entrepreneurial identity. In addition, the study demonstrates how such entrepreneurs develop their identity.

Family Exit in Family Firms: How Network Ties Affect the Owner’s Intention to Follow the Private Equity Succession Route

We study private equity as a succession route in family firms. Using survey data from Germany, we empirically examine the role owner-managers and their network ties play in the early process of firm succession. Our evidence suggests that network ties, strong ties in particular, matter to owner-managers when they consider a sale to private equity. Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior, we find that subjective norms and attitude explain the intention to sell to private equity investors, while entrepreneurial network ties explain the subjective norm component. We further show that subjective norm mediates the relationship of network ties on intention.

Understanding challenges and entrepreneurial self-efficacy during venture creation for entrepreneurs in cultural and creative industries

The paper empirically researches the venture creation process for entrepreneurs in cultural and creative industries, whereby the focus is on entrepreneurial self-efficacy and its impact on entrepreneurial behaviour. In doing so, a qualitative case study design is applied, and the venture creation process for ten individual cultural and creative entrepreneurs from cultural and creative industries is analysed. During the process, the entrepreneurs experience varying levels of entrepreneurial self-efficacy, which impacts their entrepreneurial behaviour. When emphasising their business model, cultural and creative entrepreneurs are confident about finding one that matches their skills. When entrepreneurs have to take entrepreneurial action, low entrepreneurial self-efficacy reduces the number of entrepreneurial activities.

Self-Efficacy and the Entrepreneurial Mindset Revisited

In 2009, entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) had already experienced a significant build-up in interest for some years. Since then this interest has been continuously growing. This can, to some extent be explained by the increased attention that has been given to entrepreneurship in general, but especially by the increasing focus on entrepreneurial education (EE). In the following, we are revisiting the chapter “Self-Efficacy – Conditioning the Entrepreneurial Mindset” and continue the discussion that the original chapter ended with, namely how we can foster ESE through EE. In particular, we zoom in on how we can assist the formation of an entrepreneurial mindset at the university level (unfolding the young adulthood level to a greater extent). We thereby focus on those individuals who have not yet developed significant levels of ESE in their formative years. We assume that specifically for those individuals EE plays an important role in developing entrepreneurial attitudes, abilities and skills, and hence in enhancing ESE (Neck and Greene 2011). In other areas, researchers are already starting to connect self-efficacy with empowerment, and we explore the potential connections between empowerment and ESE. Concrete examples of how educational interventions can be designed to empower students and increase their ESE will be provided, but we also discuss the issues connected with the increased focus on ESE when designing teaching formats. We will, however, begin by discussing why measuring ESE has become so prevalent as well as presenting and evaluating how the field has developed during the past years to relate to the original chapter’s discussion about the development of ESE scales and how these have been applied.

Ein Wegweiser durch den Prozess der Geschäftsmodellentwicklung

Erfolgreiche Innovation passiert zunehmend in Geschaftsmodellen, nicht nur in Produkten. Kein Wunder, dass Praktiker den Geschaftsmodelldesignprozess zunehmend als Schlusselaktivitat anerkennen. Die bereits vorgestellte Konstruktionsmethodik fur Geschaftsmodellinnovation leistet dazu eine wertvolle Hilfestellung. Weitere Instrumente wie der Business Model Canvas (Osterwalder and Pigneur 2010) erlangen unter Praktikern in letzter Zeit besondere Aufmerksamkeit. Hier wird der komplexe Geschaftsmodellbegriff in seine Elemente aufgegliedert, die separat bearbeitet und variiert werden konnen. Im Designprozess werden die Elemente definiert, arrangiert und auf ihre Tauglichkeit uberpruft. Doch wo beginnt man diesen Prozess, wenn man Neuland betreten mochte und die Basis fur die Tauglichkeitsuberprufung fehlt? Und wie kann man Business Modeling von Anfang an im Sinne einer moglichen und wahrscheinlichen Umsetzbarkeit und Erfolgswirksamkeit in der realen Welt gestalten? Wir unterscheiden eine Geschaftsmodellentwicklung in einem vorhersehbaren und damit planbaren Umfeld von einer Geschaftsmodellentwicklung in einem ungewissen, damit aber auch verhandelbaren Umfeld. Dieser Beitrag soll Praktikern den Zugang zu diesem Prozess erleichtern. Wir schlagen die Nutzung von Effectuation als unternehmerischer Methode vor, um ein Geschaftsmodelldesign uber eine nachhaltige Gestaltung seiner Elemente zu realisieren.

Umstände und Zufälle: Nutzen Sie Unsicherheit als unternehmerische Chance!

Erfahrene Unternehmer und unternehmerische Mitarbeiter streben danach, mit dem Unerwarteten eine positive „Zufallsrendite“ zu realisieren. Dies erlaubt in Situationen hoher Ungewissheit wie der Fruhphase von Innovationsprojekten eine ergebnisoffene, aber produktive Handlungsfahigkeit. Bedingung fur diese Handlungsfahigkeit ist eine Denkhaltung, die alle Zufalligkeiten zunachst neutral bewertet und auf einen moglichen Wertbeitrag pruft. Unternehmerisches Handeln im Kontext von Innovationen kann stattfinden, wenn dem Zufall offen gegenuber getreten wird. Etablierte Unternehmen konnen sich dies zunutze machen, um Corporate Entrepreneurship im Sinne unternehmerischen Handelns zu fordern. Innovationsbeispiele von 3M zeigen, dass Mitarbeiter Freiraume nutzen, um zufallsbasiert Ideen zunachst im Informellen voranzubringen, die im Anschluss durch klassische Innovationsmanagementprozesse in Richtung Marktfahigkeit entwickelt oder aussortiert werden. Auf diese Weise kommt uber die aktive Einbindung des Zufalls das Unternehmerische in den Innovationsprozess. Die Forderung informeller Prozesse von und unter Mitarbeitern vervielfacht die Chance fur Zufalligkeiten. Eine Einbindung des Zufalls im Sinne des Effectuation-Prozesses steigert so die Innovationsfahigkeit.