IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/eurman/v29y2011i6p431-447.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The cognitive dimension of corporate governance in fast growing entrepreneurial firms

Author

Listed:
  • Wirtz, Peter

Abstract

This article explores the specific morphology and functioning of the governance system of fast growing entrepreneurial firms. Corporate governance is conceptualized as a complex system composed of different mechanisms and various actors, reaching beyond the corporate board and its members. To explain the link between the governance system at large and growth, I build on a general model of corporate governance first proposed by Charreaux (2008), where governance potentially influences managerial behavior through two levers: financial discipline and cognition. I argue that, in the specific case of entrepreneurial firms, corporate governance may play a central role in sustaining high levels of growth through the extensive use of the cognitive lever. Beyond its theoretical implications, the model is also instrumental in providing a consistent framework for an exploration of existing empirical research. I review research specifically devoted to the governance of entrepreneurial firms which experience strong growth and find support for the rationale underlying the proposed model.

Suggested Citation

  • Wirtz, Peter, 2011. "The cognitive dimension of corporate governance in fast growing entrepreneurial firms," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 431-447.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:29:y:2011:i:6:p:431-447
    DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2011.06.004
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0263237311000429
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.emj.2011.06.004?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to look for a different version below or search for a different version of it.

    Other versions of this item:

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jerayr Haleblian & Nandini Rajagopalan, 2006. "A Cognitive Model of CEO Dismissal: Understanding the Influence of Board Perceptions, Attributions and Efficacy Beliefs," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 43(5), pages 1009-1026, July.
    2. Douglas Cumming & Sofia Johan, 2007. "Advice and monitoring in venture finance," Financial Markets and Portfolio Management, Springer;Swiss Society for Financial Market Research, vol. 21(1), pages 3-43, March.
    3. Philip Stiles, 2001. "The Impact of the Board on Strategy: An Empirical Examination," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 38(5), pages 627-650, July.
    4. Violina P. Rindova, 1999. "What Corporate Boards have to do with Strategy: A Cognitive Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(7), pages 953-975, December.
    5. Jonas Gabrielsson & Morten Huse, 2002. "The venture capitalist and the board of directors in SMEs: Roles and processes," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 4(2), pages 125-146, April.
    6. Shleifer, Andrei & Vishny, Robert W, 1997. "A Survey of Corporate Governance," Journal of Finance, American Finance Association, vol. 52(2), pages 737-783, June.
    7. Gérard Charreaux, 2008. "À la recherche du lien perdu entre caractéristiques des dirigeants et performance de la firme : gouvernance et latitude managériale," Working Papers CREGO 1080502, Université de Bourgogne - CREGO EA7317 Centre de recherches en gestion des organisations.
    8. John A. Pearce & Shaker A. Zahra, 1992. "Board Composition From A Strategic Contingency Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(4), pages 411-438, July.
    9. Jensen, Michael C. & Meckling, William H., 1976. "Theory of the firm: Managerial behavior, agency costs and ownership structure," Journal of Financial Economics, Elsevier, vol. 3(4), pages 305-360, October.
    10. Rafael La Porta & Florencio Lopez-de-Silanes & Andrei Shleifer & Robert W. Vishny, 1998. "Law and Finance," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 106(6), pages 1113-1155, December.
    11. Rosenstein, Joseph & Bruno, Albert V. & Bygrave, William D. & Taylor, Natalie T., 1993. "The CEO, venture capitalists, and the board," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 8(2), pages 99-113, March.
    12. Jeroen Van Den Heuvel & Anita Van Gils & Wim Voordeckers, 2006. "Board Roles in Small and Medium‐Sized Family Businesses: performance and importance," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(5), pages 467-485, September.
    13. Daily, Catherine M. & Dalton, Dan R., 1992. "The relationship between governance structure and corporate performance in entrepreneurial firms," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 7(5), pages 375-386, September.
    14. Shaker A. Zahra & Igor Filatotchev, 2004. "Governance of the Entrepreneurial Threshold Firm: A Knowledge‐based Perspective," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 41(5), pages 885-897, July.
    15. Gérard Charreaux & Peter Wirtz, 2006. "Gouvernance des entreprises," Post-Print hal-00384939, HAL.
    16. Jens Grundei & Till Talaulicar, 2002. "Company Law and Corporate Governance of Start-ups in Germany: Legal Stipulations, Managerial Requirements, and Modification Strategies," Journal of Management & Governance, Springer;Accademia Italiana di Economia Aziendale (AIDEA), vol. 6(1), pages 1-27, March.
    17. Per Davidsson & Johan Wiklund, 2001. "Levels of Analysis in Entrepreneurship Research: Current Research Practice and Suggestions for the Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 25(4), pages 81-100, July.
    18. James P. Walsh, 1995. "Managerial and Organizational Cognition: Notes from a Trip Down Memory Lane," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 6(3), pages 280-321, June.
    19. Warren Boeker & Robert Wiltbank, 2005. "New Venture Evolution and Managerial Capabilities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 16(2), pages 123-133, April.
    20. Sapienza, Harry J. & Manigart, Sophie & Vermeir, Wim, 1996. "Venture capitalist governance and value added in four countries," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 11(6), pages 439-469, November.
    21. Igor Filatotchev & Mike Wright (ed.), 2005. "The Life Cycle of Corporate Governance," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 3718.
    22. Fama, Eugene F & Jensen, Michael C, 1983. "Separation of Ownership and Control," Journal of Law and Economics, University of Chicago Press, vol. 26(2), pages 301-325, June.
    23. C. B. Ingley & N. T. Van der Walt, 2001. "The Strategic Board: the changing role of directors in developing and maintaining corporate capability," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 9(3), pages 174-185, July.
    24. Gérard Charreaux & Peter Wirtz, 2006. "Gouvernance des entreprises : nouvelles perspectives," Post-Print halshs-00144927, HAL.
    25. Garry D. Bruton & Vance H. Fried & Sophie Manigart, 2005. "Institutional Influences on the Worldwide Expansion of Venture Capital," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(6), pages 737-760, November.
    26. Lorraine Uhlaner & Mike Wright & Morten Huse, 2007. "Private Firms and Corporate Governance: An Integrated Economic and Management Perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 225-241, October.
    27. Jonathan Levie & Benyamin B. Lichtenstein, 2010. "A Terminal Assessment of Stages Theory: Introducing a Dynamic States Approach to Entrepreneurship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 34(2), pages 317-350, March.
    28. David Deakins & Eileen O'Neill & Patrick Mileham, 2000. "The role and influence of external directors in small, entrepreneurial companies: Some evidence on VC and non-VC appointed external directors," Venture Capital, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(2), pages 111-127, April.
    29. L. J. Bourgeois, III & Kathleen M. Eisenhardt, 1988. "Strategic Decision Processes in High Velocity Environments: Four Cases in the Microcomputer Industry," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 34(7), pages 816-835, July.
    30. Fama, Eugene F, 1980. "Agency Problems and the Theory of the Firm," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 88(2), pages 288-307, April.
    31. Olof Brunninge & Mattias Nordqvist & Johan Wiklund, 2007. "Corporate Governance and Strategic Change in SMEs: The Effects of Ownership, Board Composition and Top Management Teams," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 29(3), pages 295-308, October.
    32. repec:bla:jfinan:v:59:y:2004:i:5:p:2177-2210 is not listed on IDEAS
    33. Hambrick, Donald C. & Crozier, Lynn M., 1985. "Stumblers and stars in the management of rapid growth," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 1(1), pages 31-45.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Saïsset, L.A. & Couderc, J.P., 2013. "Les trois dimensions de la gouvernance coopérative : à la recherche d'un équilibre instable. Le cas des caves coopératives en Languedoc-Roussillon [France]," Working Papers MoISA 201302, UMR MoISA : Montpellier Interdisciplinary center on Sustainable Agri-food systems (social and nutritional sciences): CIHEAM-IAMM, CIRAD, INRAE, L'Institut Agro, Montpellier SupAgro, IRD - Montpellier, France.
    2. Sara Sassetti & Giacomo Marzi & Vincenzo Cavaliere & Cristiano Ciappei, 2018. "Entrepreneurial cognition and socially situated approach: a systematic and bibliometric analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 116(3), pages 1675-1718, September.
    3. Christophe Bonnet & Laurence Cohen & Peter Wirtz, 2015. "Angel Cognition and Active Involvement in BAN Governance and Management," Working Papers hal-01182804, HAL.
    4. Hezun Li & Siri Terjesen & Timurs Umans, 2020. "Corporate governance in entrepreneurial firms: a systematic review and research agenda," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 43-74, January.
    5. Lepage, Fanny & Cheriet, Foued, 2021. "Gouvernance et croissance des grandes exploitations agricoles : la place de l’agri-entrepreneur," Économie rurale, French Society of Rural Economics (SFER Société Française d'Economie Rurale), vol. 375(January-M).
    6. Hadjielias, Elias & (Lola) Dada, Olufunmilola & Discua Cruz, Allan & Zekas, Stavros & Christofi, Michael & Sakka, Georgia, 2021. "How do digital innovation teams function? Understanding the team cognition-process nexus within the context of digital transformation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 373-386.
    7. Dziri Houda & Jarboui Anis, 2017. "The venture capitalist’s cognitive approach: Validation through the Tunisian context," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(1), pages 1323371-132, January.
    8. Fernández-Pérez, Virginia & Alonso-Galicia, Patricia Esther & Rodríquez-Ariza, Lázaro & Fuentes-Fuentes, María del Mar, 2015. "Professional and personal social networks: A bridge to entrepreneurship for academics?," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 37-47.
    9. Louis-Antoine Saïsset & Géraldine Riviere-Giordano & Paul Amadieu, 2016. "The key role of stakeholders on wine cooperatives governance and performance," Post-Print hal-02742867, HAL.
    10. Christophe Maurel & François Pantin, 2020. "Les outils et pratiques de contrôle de gestion dans les Scop pour piloter la performance globale," Post-Print hal-02525165, HAL.
    11. Kooli, Chokri, 2019. "Governing and managing higher education institutions: The quality audit contributions," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    12. Philippe Desbrières, 2012. "Les apports de la stratégie à la finance entrepreneuriale - The contributions of strategy to entrepreneurial finance," Working Papers CREGO 1120801, Université de Bourgogne - CREGO EA7317 Centre de recherches en gestion des organisations.
    13. Peter Wirtz, 2019. "Are Corporate Governance Theories Relevant to the History and Long-Term Survival of Catholic Orders?," Post-Print hal-02277837, HAL.
    14. Joëlle Bédat & Peter Wirtz, 2023. "The scale-up process and the nascent board’s modus operandi : The role of attention and self-efficacy [Processus de scale-up et fonctionnement du CA naissant : Le rôle de l’attention et de l’autoef," Post-Print halshs-04054887, HAL.
    15. Hamza Fadhila & Azouzi Mohamed Ali & Jarboui Anis, 2014. "CEO's commitment bias, ownership concentration, and innovation decision: Behavioral management of CEO's discretion," Cogent Economics & Finance, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 2(1), pages 1-24, December.
    16. Manel Gharbi & Anis Jarboui, 2023. "Ownership Structure, Board Characteristics, and Firm Diversification: Evidence from an Emerging Country," International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), International Journal of Economics & Business Administration (IJEBA), vol. 0(3), pages 3-20.
    17. Christophe Bonnet & Peter Wirtz & Martine Séville, 2013. "Nascent Governance: The Impact Of Entrepreneurial Finance On Board Formation And Roles," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) halshs-00850021, HAL.
    18. Peter Wirtz, 2019. "Are Corporate Governance Theories Relevant to Account for the History and Long- Term Survival of Old Catholic Orders?," Working Papers hal-02083983, HAL.
    19. Sarah Tiba & Frank J. van Rijnsoever & Marko P. Hekkert, 2019. "Firms with benefits: A systematic review of responsible entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility literature," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 26(2), pages 265-284, March.
    20. Laurence Cohen & Peter Wirtz, 2018. "Caractéristiques des entrepreneurs, finance entrepreneuriale et trajectoires de croissance," Working Papers hal-01723858, HAL.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Peter Wirtz, 2009. "Do high-growth entrepreneurial firms have a specific system of governance?," Working Papers CREGO 1090302, Université de Bourgogne - CREGO EA7317 Centre de recherches en gestion des organisations.
    2. Hezun Li & Siri Terjesen & Timurs Umans, 2020. "Corporate governance in entrepreneurial firms: a systematic review and research agenda," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(1), pages 43-74, January.
    3. Naeem Tabassum & Satwinder Singh, 2020. "Corporate Governance and Organisational Performance," Springer Books, Springer, number 978-3-030-48527-6, June.
    4. Christophe Bonnet & Peter Wirtz, 2011. "Investor Type, Cognitive Governance and Performance in Young Entrepreneurial Ventures:A Conceptual Framework," Working Papers CREGO 1110301, Université de Bourgogne - CREGO EA7317 Centre de recherches en gestion des organisations.
    5. Pugliese, A. & Bezemer, P.J. & Zattoni, A. & Huse, M. & van den Bosch, F.A.J. & Volberda, H.W., 2009. "Boards of Directors’ Contribution to Strategy: A Literature Review and Research Agenda," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2009-013-STR, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    6. Christophe Bonnet & Peter Wirtz & Martine Séville, 2013. "Nascent Governance: The Impact Of Entrepreneurial Finance On Board Formation And Roles," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) halshs-00850021, HAL.
    7. Peter Wirtz, 2008. "Les firmes entrepreneuriales en croissance ont-elles un système de gouvernance spécifique?," Working Papers CREGO 1080701, Université de Bourgogne - CREGO EA7317 Centre de recherches en gestion des organisations.
    8. Christophe Bonnet & Laurence Cohen & Peter Wirtz, 2015. "Angel Cognition and Active Involvement in BAN Governance and Management," Working paper serie RMT - Grenoble Ecole de Management hal-01182804, HAL.
    9. Johannes Wallmeroth & Peter Wirtz & Alexander Peter Groh, 2017. "Institutional Seed Financing, Angel Financing, and Crowdfunding of Entrepreneurial Ventures: A Literature Review," Working Papers hal-01527999, HAL.
    10. Peter Wirtz, 2008. "L’institutionnalisation croissante du discours sur les «meilleures pratiques» de gouvernance en France:un état des lieux," Working Papers CREGO 1080602, Université de Bourgogne - CREGO EA7317 Centre de recherches en gestion des organisations.
    11. David B. Audretsch & Erik E. Lehmann, 2013. "Corporate governance in newly listed companies," Chapters, in: Mario Levis & Silvio Vismara (ed.), Handbook of Research on IPOs, chapter 9, pages 179-206, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    12. Ji, Jiao & Talavera, Oleksandr & Yin, Shuxing, 2016. "CEO Dismissal, Compensation and Topics of Board Meetings: The Case of China," MPRA Paper 70232, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    13. Aziz Jaafar & Lynn Hodgkinson & Mao-Feng Kao, 2019. "Ownership Structure, Board of Directors and Firm Performance: Evidence from Taiwan," Working Papers 19011, Bangor Business School, Prifysgol Bangor University (Cymru / Wales).
    14. Mark K. Fiegener, 2005. "Determinants of Board Participation in the Strategic Decisions of Small Corporations," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 29(5), pages 627-650, September.
    15. Li, Yong & Aguilera, Ruth V., 2008. "Target Director Turnover in Acquisitions: A Conceptual Framework," Working Papers 08-0106, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, College of Business.
    16. Khosa,Amrinder & Ahmed,Kamran & Henry,Darren, 2019. "Ownership Structure, Related Party Transactions, and Firm Valuation," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781108492195, September.
    17. Gérard Charreaux, 2011. "Quelle théorie pour la gouvernance?De la gouvernance actionnariale à la gouvernance cognitive et comportementale," Working Papers CREGO 1110402, Université de Bourgogne - CREGO EA7317 Centre de recherches en gestion des organisations.
    18. Hearn, Bruce, 2011. "The impact of corporate governance measures on the performance of West African IPO firms," Emerging Markets Review, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 130-151, June.
    19. Phillip C. James, 2020. "Understanding the Impact of Board Structure on Firm Performance: AComprehensive Literature Review," International Journal of Business and Social Research, LAR Center Press, vol. 10(1), pages 1-12, January.
    20. Yong Li & Ruth V. Aguilera, 2008. "Target Director Turnover in Acquisitions: A Conceptual Framework," Corporate Governance: An International Review, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 16(6), pages 492-503, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:eurman:v:29:y:2011:i:6:p:431-447. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/115/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.