Massey Research Online - Browsing by Author "Van Gelderen, Marco"

Browsing by Author "Van Gelderen, Marco"

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Autonomy as a start-up motive
(Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2006) Van Gelderen, Marco; Jansen, Paul
Autonomy is a primary motive for a large majority of small business starters. However, as an explanation of why people want their own (autonomous) business it is largely circular. Therefore we focus on an explanation of the autonomy motive itself. Specifically, it is questioned why small business starters want autonomy. In answering this question a two level distinction is made. The motivation for autonomy can be an end in itself. The small business starter is then motivated by the decisional freedoms and responsibilities with regard to the what, how, and when aspects of work. Autonomy can also be instrumental for the fulfillment of still other motives. We suggest that this is the case for three motives in particular: resistance towards bosses or rules, self-congruence/self-endorsement, and power/ control. Our framework is confirmed studying a sample of 167 nascent entrepreneurs motivated by autonomy.
Autonomy as the Guiding Aim of Entrepreneurship Education
(Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2010) Van Gelderen, Marco
Structured Abstract Purpose: This analysis has three purposes. First, to present a vision of entrepreneurship education that has the student‟s capacity for autonomous action as its ultimate aim. Second, to convince the reader of the timeliness and relevance of such an approach. Third, to outline how this can be implemented. Approach: This analysis integrates several strands of the literature: research on entrepreneurial autonomy; educational psychology; and entrepreneurship education. Findings: The importance of autonomy is suggested by research on entrepreneurial motivation and satisfaction, as well as by a range of societal trends that favour increased self-reliance. Two perspectives, Self-Determination Theory and Self-Directed Learning, provide leads about how to put autonomy centre stage in entrepreneurship education. Several implementation-related issues are discussed. These include trade-offs between guidance and freedom, information and pressure, the self and others, and choice and relevance; the effects of student behaviour on autonomy support by faculty; and the suitability of autonomy-supportive entrepreneurship education for different kinds of students and educational settings. Practical implications: Teachers, schools and institutions wishing to adapt this approach need to adopt individualised, empowering approaches. Originality/Value: It is novel to conceive of entrepreneurship education as an exercise in the service of the capacity for autonomous action. Classification of Paper type: Viewpoint.
Encountered Problems and Outcome Status in Nascent Entrepreneurship
(Wiley-Blackwell, 2011) Van Gelderen, Marco; Thurik, Roy; Patel, Pankaj
The relationship between outcome status and encountered problems in the business start-up process is investigated. Contrary to expectations, we find that starters do not substantially differ from quitters in number and type of problems encountered, and that problems encountered generally do not affect outcome status. This research is based on a sample of 414 Dutch nascent entrepreneurs followed over a three year period. Its design is comparable to the U.S. PSED (Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics).
Enterprising behaviour of ordinary people
(Psychology Press, 2000) Van Gelderen, Marco
Starting out with the idea that everybody is in principle capable of enterprising behaviour, the concept of enterprise is applied to non-business people as well as business people. A random sample of people is asked to furnish an example of enterprising behaviour that they have shown themselves. Further, they are asked what is enterprising about this behaviour. The results show that in different realms of enterprising behaviour different dimensions of enterprise are mentioned. For example, people giving an example from their leisure time regard merely being active as enterprising, employees mention risky elements in their work, business owners emphasize autonomy, and students regard it as enterprising that they work for their professional or personal development. So people can be enterprising in different areas of life and in different manners. Obtaining a domain of enterprising behaviours and dimensions is a first step in constructing a scale of ''enterprising behaviour of ordinary people''.
Entrepreneurship in the cinema: Feature films as case material in entrepreneurship education
(Senate Hall, 2003) Van Gelderen, Marco; Verduyn, Karen
This paper presents a set of feature films in which entrepreneurship plays a lead role and tries to convince the reader of the usefulness of using film in the classroom. The special characteristics of feature films as an instructional medium are discussed and the expected benefits of using films are derived. It reports evaluation results of two courses for undergraduate students in business administration. The results shows that working with film is highly motivating for the students, and that film offers different insights in comparison with other instructional media as it tends to focus on emotions, moral dilemmas, and interpersonal relationships (thus emphasizing topics such as leadership and working in a team). The selected titles are The Van, Rent-a-Friend, Big Night, Tucker, The Associate, The Full Monty, and Startup.Com. Plot descriptions of the films as well as examples of analyses of entrepreneurial aspects are provided.
Explaining entrepreneurial intentions by means of the theory of planned behavior
(Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2006) Van Gelderen, Marco; Brand, Maryse; van Praag, Mirjam; Bodewes, Wynand; Poutsma, Eric; van Gils, Anita
This paper provides a detailed explanation of entrepreneurial intentions among business students. The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is employed, which regards intentions as resulting from attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms. Our main study is replicated among samples of undergraduate students of business administration at four different universities (total N=1225). We use five operationalizations of intentions, as well as a composite measure. Prior to our main study the components of the TPB were operationalized based on qualitative work at yet two other universities (total N=373). The results show that the two variables that most consistently explain entrepreneurial intentions are entrepreneurial alertness, and the importance attached to financial security.
A Heuristic-Inducing Method for Generating Initial Ideas for Opportunities: an Application to the Australasian Dating Market
(World Scientific Publishing Company, 2010) Van Gelderen, Marco
This paper presents a heuristics-inducing method for generating initial ideas for opportunities. It consists of the presentation of snippets of theory and research, selected for their inspirational value and relevance to a particular industry, to business owners in that industry to brainstorm about applications in products and services. In this approach, the researcher bridges the worlds of academia and business, and actively contributes to the opportunity recognition process by selecting, presenting and discussing information. The method is applied to the dating market: searching, matching and/or interacting services, whether internet based or real-life. Participants were ten Australians or New Zealanders dating service owners. The presented information concerns social psychological research outcomes on factors that contribute to attraction and forming bonds, and specific issues relevant to the dating market, e.g., gender imbalances in enrollment. A range of initial ideas for future possibilities in the dating market are presented. [Version type: post-print]
Home-based internet businesses as drivers of variety
(Massey University. Department of Management and International Business, 2007) Sayers, Janet; Van Gelderen, Marco; Keen, Caroline
The paper shows how and why Home-Based Internet Businesses are drivers of variety. This paper argues, by means of five theoretical perspectives, that because of the variety HBIBs generate, they contribute to the economy over and above their direct and indirect contributions in terms of revenue and employment. A multiple case study approach is employed studying the best practices of eight HBIBs. It is found that HBIBs generate variety because of the unique way in which they operate, and because of the reasons why they are started. How HBIBs operate can be captured in the acronym SMILES: Speed, Multiple income, Inexpensive, LEan, and Smart. They are founded (amongst other motives) for reasons of autonomy, freedom and independence. Both aspects – the how and why – of HBIBs are conducive to the creation of variety as they facilitate trial-and-error commercialization of authentic ideas. Five theoretical perspectives posit that variety is important for the industry and the economy: evolutionary theory, strategic management, organic urban planning, opportunity recognition, and the knowledge economy. The findings are discussed in the context of each perspective.
Learning opportunities and learning behaviours of small business starters: Relations with goal achievement, skill development and satisfaction
(Springer, 2005) Van Gelderen, Marco; Van der Sluis, Lidewey; Jansen, Paul
Learning is a vital issue for small business starters, contributing to short term and long term business performance, as well as to personal development. This study investigates when and how small business starters learn. It specifies the situations that offer learning opportunities, as well as the learning behaviours that small business starters can employ in order to learn from these opportunities. In a cross-sectional, quantitative study of recently started small business founders, learning opportunities and learning behaviours are related to three outcome measures: a performance outcome (goal achievement), a personal growth outcome (skill development), and an affective evaluation outcome (satisfaction). The results show the importance of learning opportunities and learning behaviours in influencing these outcome variables, albeit not always in the directions we hypothesized.
Meaning in life as an opportunity for enterprise
(World Scientific, 2006) Van Gelderen, Marco
This paper’s starting point is the idea that a market for meaning in life exists that consists of several submarkets. Suppose someone wants to enter this market with a business or organization that tries to alleviate meaninglessness. How can the person shape the proposition that he or she wants to offer? We propose that Baumeister’s (1992) theory of needs for meaning can serve as a useful tool. Bau-meister states that meaning is generated when the needs for a goal, fulfillment, context, control, and self-worth are simultaneously met. Taking the market for alternative spiritual courses as a case ex-ample, we show that this theory is adequate for describing the variety of alternative spiritual courses in terms of a limited number of meaning models. Would-be providers on the market for meaning in life can create propositions by following, reordering, or creating meaning models. Examples of such propositions are given for a number of submarkets.
Perseverance Strategies for Enterprising Individuals
(23/09/2011) Van Gelderen, Marco
Purpose: To arrive at a conceptual understanding of perseverance processes in the context of enterprising behavior. To outline readily employable perseverance strategies for situations characterized by obstacles, challenges and setbacks. Approach: This paper presents a process model of perseverance, drawing on elements of control theory (Carver and Scheier 1981, 1998) and appraisal theory (Lazarus, 1966, 1999; Lazarus and Folkman, 1984). Findings: From this model, it derives a variety of perseverance strategies within four broad categories: strategies that affect adversity itself; strategies that change the way adversity is perceived; strategies that reframe the aim that adversity has made difficult to attain; and strategies that help to increase self-regulatory strength. James Dyson‟s biography provides examples for the strategies. Research implications: A research agenda is provided. Practical implications: A broad variety of strategies are discussed help individuals to persevere in reaching their enterprising goals. Social implications: This paper aims to contribute to the persevering abilities of enterprising individuals. Originality/Value: Although it is a widely held perception that perseverance is needed to successfully start and run a venture, the perseverance process and perseverance strategies have received little research attention. Classification of Paper type: Post-print
Relationships Among Developmental Competency Measures and Objective Work Outcomes in a New Zealand Retail Context
(Wiley, 2010) Jackson, Duncan; Cooper-Thomas, Helena; Van Gelderen, Marco; Davis, Jane
Competencies represent an important and popular topic in human resource development. Despite the popularity of competencies, a divide exists between practitioner approaches to developmental competency measures and the empirical scrutiny of such approaches. However, the scarce empirical studies on competency measures have begun to bridge this gap. In the present study, behavioral competency ratings and objective outcome measures were collected from a sample of entry-level (N = 118) employees in a retail organization in New Zealand. A correlational design was applied to data in this study and, using canonical correlation analyses, meaningful relationships were observed among competency measures and objective work outcomes. Such relationships are presented as being practically useful when making decisions about weighting certain competencies over others for developmental purposes.
Research based yet action oriented: Developing individual level enterprising competencies
(Massey University. Department of Management and International Business, 2007) Van Gelderen, Marco
This paper outlines an approach to teaching enterprising competencies in the university setting of Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand. It is characterised by two features. First, it has an experiential component in the form of developmental exercises; forms of practice which are devised by the students themselves. Second, the exercises are research-based: students study academic articles and book chapters that give clues about how to practice the various competencies. The method is inspired by Gibb’s (1993, 1998, 2002a, 2002b) ideas about simulating the essences of enterprise in the learning environment. The approach used at Massey is outlined at the end of the paper. The paper begins with offering the rationales for the course. First, it provides arguments as to why enterprising competencies are becoming increasingly important for our students. Second, it is argued why, out of three approaches to competency, the behavioural approach is deemed to be the most suitable for the approach employed at Massey. Third, in the debate about generic versus situation specific competencies, it argues for the relevance of generic competencies. The paper then describes entrepreneurship / small business (E/SB) research on competencies, and discusses why entrepreneurship research is often of little help for ‘how to’ approaches. Finally, the Massey approach is described in detail.
Strategies, uncertainty and performance of small business startups
(Kluwer, 2000) Van Gelderen, Marco; Frese, Michael; Thurik, Roy
Personal strategies of owners/founders of small business startups are related to performance and to environmental uncertainty. This is done using a longitudinal data set. Personal strategies are operationalized by a behavioral measure of the manners in which small business founders deal with situations. The results suggest a dynamic process between strategy and performance. Business owners that perform poorly employ a Reactive Strategy, with poor performance leading to increased use of reactive behavior. High performing business owners start out focussing on the most crucial issues (Critical Point Strategy), with high performance leading to a more top-down (Complete Planning) approach. These relations are controlled for characteristics of the environment of the firm. Strategy use is dependent upon the type and level of environmental uncertainty. Complete Planning strategy is used less frequently in a fast changing environment and more often in a complex environment. Use of Opportunistic Strategy is negatively related to the complexity of the environment, while the Reactive Strategy is used more frequently in a non-munificent environment.
Success and risk factors in the pre-startup phase
(Springer, 2006) Van Gelderen, Marco; Thurik, Roy; Bosma, Niels
Why does one person actually succeed in starting a business, while a second person gives up? In order to answer this question, a sample of 517 nascent entrepreneurs (people in the process of setting up a business) was followed over a three-year period. After this period, it was established that 195 efforts were successful and that 115 startup efforts were abandoned. Our research focuses on estimating the relative importance of a variety of approaches and variables in explaining pre-startup success. These influences are organized in terms of Gartner's (1985) framework of new venture creation. This framework suggests that start-up efforts differ in terms of the characteristics of the individual(s) who start the venture, the organization that they create, the environment surrounding the new venture, and the process by which the new venture is started. Logistic regression analyses are run for the sample as a whole as well as for subgroups within the sample, namely for those with high ambition vs. low ambition and for those with substantial vs. limited experience. The results point to the importance of perceived risk of the market as a predictor of getting started vs. abandoning the startup effort.

Browsing by Author "Van Gelderen, Marco"

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