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Burning Passion or a Career Shortcut? What motivates individuals to join and work in a start-up?

Mummert, Ben LU and Ewerlöf, Cecilia LU (2022) ENTN19 20221
Department of Business Administration
Abstract (Swedish)
Purpose:
This thesis aims to understand the deeper reasoning behind the individual’s decision to join and work in a start-up. This ought to bring insights into what founders should focus on when designing strategies for attracting and retaining employees in early-stage start-ups.
Methodology:
For this study 10 interviews with joiners in early-stage start-ups were conducted. We apply an inductive qualitative method to explore the motives behind the joiner’s decision-making. This research also integrates a longitudinal approach, to allow for an understanding of how motivation develops over time.
Findings:
The findings show that development and passion are important motivational factors that help overcome doubts about engaging in... (More)
Purpose:
This thesis aims to understand the deeper reasoning behind the individual’s decision to join and work in a start-up. This ought to bring insights into what founders should focus on when designing strategies for attracting and retaining employees in early-stage start-ups.
Methodology:
For this study 10 interviews with joiners in early-stage start-ups were conducted. We apply an inductive qualitative method to explore the motives behind the joiner’s decision-making. This research also integrates a longitudinal approach, to allow for an understanding of how motivation develops over time.
Findings:
The findings show that development and passion are important motivational factors that help overcome doubts about engaging in start-ups. Development appears to be more important in the short term, while passion becomes more significant in the long term.
Practical implications:
This study provides practical implications on how start-up founders can attract and retain employees. We suggest founders to not solely focus on compensation, but also consider how they can create and stimulate the motivational factors development and passion. Founders need to enable the joiners to develop with new tasks and responsibilities and maintain their passion by ensuring that the joiner can be part of building the company while acknowledging their contributions. (Less)
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author
Mummert, Ben LU and Ewerlöf, Cecilia LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Burning Passion or a Career Shortcut? What motivates individuals to join and work in a start-up?
course
ENTN19 20221
year
type
H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
subject
keywords
Joiners, Development, Passion, Motivation
language
English
id
9083262
date added to LUP
2022-06-08 15:29:09
date last changed
2022-06-08 15:29:09
@misc{9083262,
  abstract     = {{Purpose:
This thesis aims to understand the deeper reasoning behind the individual’s decision to join and work in a start-up. This ought to bring insights into what founders should focus on when designing strategies for attracting and retaining employees in early-stage start-ups.
Methodology:
For this study 10 interviews with joiners in early-stage start-ups were conducted. We apply an inductive qualitative method to explore the motives behind the joiner’s decision-making. This research also integrates a longitudinal approach, to allow for an understanding of how motivation develops over time.
Findings:
The findings show that development and passion are important motivational factors that help overcome doubts about engaging in start-ups. Development appears to be more important in the short term, while passion becomes more significant in the long term.
Practical implications:
This study provides practical implications on how start-up founders can attract and retain employees. We suggest founders to not solely focus on compensation, but also consider how they can create and stimulate the motivational factors development and passion. Founders need to enable the joiners to develop with new tasks and responsibilities and maintain their passion by ensuring that the joiner can be part of building the company while acknowledging their contributions.}},
  author       = {{Mummert, Ben and Ewerlöf, Cecilia}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Burning Passion or a Career Shortcut? What motivates individuals to join and work in a start-up?}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}