Scott R. Gordon

Comprehensive Australian study of entrepreneurial emergence (CAUSEE) : design, data collection and descriptive results

The Comprehensive Australian Study of Entrepreneurial Emergence (CAUSEE) is a research programme that aims to uncover the factors that initiate, hinder and facilitate the process of emergence of new economic activities and organizations. It is widely acknowledged that entrepreneurship is one of the most important forces shaping changes in a country’s economic landscape (Baumol 1968; Birch 1987; Acs 1999). An understanding of the process by which new economic activity and business entities emerge is vital (Gartner 1993; Sarasvathy 2001). An important development in the study of ‘nascent entrepreneurs’ and ‘firms in gestation’ was the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED) (Gartner et al. 2004) and its extensions in Argentina, Canada, Greece, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Yet while PSED I is an important first step towards systematically studying new venture emergence, it represents just the beginning of a stream of nascent venture studies – most notably PSED II is currently being undertaken in the US (2005– 10) (Reynolds and Curtin 2008).

Much Ado About Nothing? The Surprising Persistence of Nascent Entrepreneurs Through Macroeconomic Crisis

We hypothesize that a major macroeconomic crisis triggers four alternative responses among nascent entrepreneurs: disengagement, delay, compensation, and adaptation. We also suggest that commitment and ambition (or “high potential”) moderate these responses. Our most important finding is the relative absence of behavioral crisis responses. However, crises may make high–tech founders become more likely to disengage, whereas the opposite holds for founders far into the process. Our study sheds light on the mechanisms behind aggregate effects of crises on the number and type of start–ups in an economy, and can guide future research on the effect of crises on nascent entrepreneurship.

Interpersonal trust, vigilance and social networks roles in the process of entrepreneurial opportunity recognition

This research examines the roles that an entrepreneurs dispositions to interpersonal trust, and vigilance play in the process of opportunity recognition. An entrepreneurs use of social networks as a resource in opportunity recognition is also examined. The basis of this investigation was an empirical study of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) entrepreneurs in Queensland, Australia. A series of 12 hypotheses were developed and tested in this research. Despite a modest sample size, five of the hypothesised relationships were supported. An entrepreneurs dispositions to both trust and vigilance affected the outcomes of their opportunity identification behaviours. A disposition to excess vigilance inhibited the development of entrepreneurial opportunities. While, an extended social network and a trusting disposition were found to facilitate the development of entrepreneurial opportunities.

Action’s place in the venture creation process

This study examined the effect that venture creation action has on the outcomes of nascent entrepreneurship. A conceptual model was developed which proposes action as a fundamental mechanism in venture creation. Thus, action should rightly be considered as a means which transmits the effects of venture resource endowments on to venture creation outcomes. This conceptual model was empirically supported in a random sample of nascent ventures. Ventures with higher levels of human or social capital were found to be more active in venture creation. In turn, more active venture attempts were more likely to achieve improved venture creation outcomes. Further, human and social capital, on their own, exhibit little direct influence on the venture outcomes achieved. These findings confirm actions central place in the venture creation process.