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The death of an innovative project: How grief recovery enhances learning

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  • Shepherd, Dean A.
  • Kuratko, Donald F.

Abstract

Given the increase in corporate innovative activity, entrepreneurial projects that are created to pursue new and unique opportunities often fail--or "die"--due to the uncertain environment within which they develop. Although failure can be an important source of information for learning, this learning is not automatic or instantaneous. The emotions generated by failure (e.g., grief) can interfere with the learning process. This article highlights explanations of the grief process and how it can be managed by individuals and organizations to enhance learning. Specifically, by using a dual process model for recovering from grief, innovators can learn more from their project failures and remain committed to future innovative endeavors.

Suggested Citation

  • Shepherd, Dean A. & Kuratko, Donald F., 2009. "The death of an innovative project: How grief recovery enhances learning," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 52(5), pages 451-458, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:bushor:v:52:y:2009:i:5:p:451-458
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Maidique, Modesto A. & Zirger, Billie Jo, 1985. "The new product learning cycle," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(6), pages 299-313, December.
    2. McGrath, Rita Gunther, 1995. "Advantage from adversity: Learning from disappointment in internal corporate ventures," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 10(2), pages 121-142, March.
    3. Shepherd, Dean A. & Covin, Jeffrey G. & Kuratko, Donald F., 2009. "Project failure from corporate entrepreneurship: Managing the grief process," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(6), pages 588-600, November.
    4. Jeffrey G. Covin & Morgan P. Miles, 1999. "Corporate Entrepreneurship and the Pursuit of Competitive Advantage," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 23(3), pages 47-63, April.
    5. Dean A. Shepherd & Melissa S. Cardon, 2009. "Negative Emotional Reactions to Project Failure and the Self‐Compassion to Learn from the Experience," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 46(6), pages 923-949, September.
    6. Shepherd, Dean A., 2009. "Grief recovery from the loss of a family business: A multi- and meso-level theory," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 24(1), pages 81-97, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. Vittori, Davide & Natalicchio, Angelo & Panniello, Umberto & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio & Albino, Vito & Cupertino, Francesco, 2024. "Failure is an option: How failure can lead to disruptive innovations," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 129(C).
    2. Pieper, Torsten M., 2010. "Non solus: Toward a psychology of family business," Journal of Family Business Strategy, Elsevier, vol. 1(1), pages 26-39, March.
    3. Cuijpers, Maarten & Guenter, Hannes & Hussinger, Katrin, 2011. "Costs and benefits of inter-departmental innovation collaboration," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 40(4), pages 565-575, May.
    4. Khalil Rhaiem & Nabil Amara, 2021. "Learning from innovation failures: a systematic review of the literature and research agenda," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(2), pages 189-234, February.
    5. Lattacher, Wolfgang & Wdowiak, Malgorzata, 2018. "Entrepreneurial Learning From Exit: How Entrepreneurs Learn and Re-emerge Stronger," 6th International OFEL Conference on Governance, Management and Entrepreneurship. New Business Models and Institutional Entrepreneurs: Leading Disruptive Change (Dubrovnik, 2018), in: 6th International OFEL Conference on Governance, Management and Entrepreneurship. New Business Models and Institutional Entrepreneurs: Leading Disrupt, pages 303-331, Governance Research and Development Centre (CIRU), Zagreb.
    6. Appio, Francesco Paolo & Capo, Francesca & Annosi, Maria Carmela, 2024. "Not all (innovation) failures are created equal: A typology of companies’ responses to the consequences of innovation failure," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    7. Kuratko, Donald F. & Covin, Jeffrey G. & Hornsby, Jeffrey S., 2014. "Why implementing corporate innovation is so difficult," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 57(5), pages 647-655.
    8. Freisinger, Elena & McCarthy, Ian P., 2024. "What fails and when? A process view of innovation failure," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    9. Baxter, David & Trott, Paul & Ellwood, Paul, 2023. "Reconceptualising innovation failure," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 52(7).
    10. Bell, Emma & Taylor, Scott, 2011. "Beyond letting go and moving on: New perspectives on organizational death, loss and grief," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(1), pages 1-10, March.

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