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Career motives and entrepreneurial decision-making: examining preferences for causal and effectual logics in the early stage of new ventures

Gabrielsson, Jonas LU and Politis, Diamanto LU (2011) In Small Business Economics 36(3). p.281-298
Abstract
The influence of entrepreneurs' career motives is examined on two alternative modes of decision-making logic; causation and effectuation. Based on Sarasvathy's (Acad Manage Rev 26(2):243-288, 2001) seminal study, causation is defined as a decision-making process that focuses on what ought to be done given predetermined goals and possible means, and effectuation as a decision-making process emphasizing the question of what can be done given possible means and imagined ends. Analysis suggests that entrepreneurs who identify themselves with linear or expert career motives have a higher preference for causal decision-making logic. Entrepreneurs who identify themselves with spiral or transitory career motives have a higher preference for... (More)
The influence of entrepreneurs' career motives is examined on two alternative modes of decision-making logic; causation and effectuation. Based on Sarasvathy's (Acad Manage Rev 26(2):243-288, 2001) seminal study, causation is defined as a decision-making process that focuses on what ought to be done given predetermined goals and possible means, and effectuation as a decision-making process emphasizing the question of what can be done given possible means and imagined ends. Analysis suggests that entrepreneurs who identify themselves with linear or expert career motives have a higher preference for causal decision-making logic. Entrepreneurs who identify themselves with spiral or transitory career motives have a higher preference for effectual decision-making logic. In addition, indications that prior start-up experience moderates the relationship between career motives and effectual decision-making logic for spiral-minded entrepreneurs is found. The overall results give ample support for the assumption that entrepreneurs' career motives influence their decision-making. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Career motives, Career experience, Entrepreneurial decision-making, Effectuation
in
Small Business Economics
volume
36
issue
3
pages
281 - 298
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000287451600003
  • scopus:79951722470
ISSN
0921-898X
DOI
10.1007/s11187-009-9217-3
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7870336f-7cf3-4caa-82a3-856afe11a7ac (old id 1925643)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:51:56
date last changed
2024-01-22 00:18:59
@article{7870336f-7cf3-4caa-82a3-856afe11a7ac,
  abstract     = {{The influence of entrepreneurs' career motives is examined on two alternative modes of decision-making logic; causation and effectuation. Based on Sarasvathy's (Acad Manage Rev 26(2):243-288, 2001) seminal study, causation is defined as a decision-making process that focuses on what ought to be done given predetermined goals and possible means, and effectuation as a decision-making process emphasizing the question of what can be done given possible means and imagined ends. Analysis suggests that entrepreneurs who identify themselves with linear or expert career motives have a higher preference for causal decision-making logic. Entrepreneurs who identify themselves with spiral or transitory career motives have a higher preference for effectual decision-making logic. In addition, indications that prior start-up experience moderates the relationship between career motives and effectual decision-making logic for spiral-minded entrepreneurs is found. The overall results give ample support for the assumption that entrepreneurs' career motives influence their decision-making.}},
  author       = {{Gabrielsson, Jonas and Politis, Diamanto}},
  issn         = {{0921-898X}},
  keywords     = {{Career motives; Career experience; Entrepreneurial decision-making; Effectuation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{3}},
  pages        = {{281--298}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Small Business Economics}},
  title        = {{Career motives and entrepreneurial decision-making: examining preferences for causal and effectual logics in the early stage of new ventures}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11187-009-9217-3}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s11187-009-9217-3}},
  volume       = {{36}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}