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Human resource flexibility and strong ties in entrepreneurial teams

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  • Zolin, Roxanne
  • Kuckertz, Andreas
  • Kautonen, Teemu

Abstract

Human resource flexibility is important in entrepreneurial ventures that need to respond to the changing challenges of growing the new business. This research investigates the impact of previously well-known people (strong ties) as entrepreneurial team members on the human resource flexibility of new ventures. Data collected from German founding entrepreneurs in technology-oriented, incubator-based firms shows that choosing a well known individual to join the entrepreneurial team increases the founder's ability to modify the team member's work role, but complicates asking the team member to leave the team if required. Hence, strong ties both increase and reduce human resource flexibility. However, the effect of strong ties on role modifiability is statistically significant only with novice entrepreneurs. These research findings counsel founders to discuss role modification and exit during partnership and entrepreneurial team membership negotiations.

Suggested Citation

  • Zolin, Roxanne & Kuckertz, Andreas & Kautonen, Teemu, 2011. "Human resource flexibility and strong ties in entrepreneurial teams," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 64(10), pages 1097-1103, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:64:y:2011:i:10:p:1097-1103
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    4. Tobias Kollmann & Andreas Kuckertz & Christoph Stöckmann & Patrick Krell, 2012. "Die Entrepreneurshipforschung in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz. Eine Resonanzanalyse," ZfKE – Zeitschrift für KMU und Entrepreneurship, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin, vol. 60(1), pages 53-76.
    5. Dan Long & Yu-jing Tang & Xiao-Zhi Fang & Ke-Chun Cai, 2021. "How Do the Human Capital Characteristics of Entrepreneurial Team Influence Corporate Financial Performance?," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 15(9), pages 1-34, July.
    6. Patricia Fuel & Manuela Pardo-del-Val & Lorenzo Revuelto-Taboada, 2022. "Does the ideal entrepreneurial team exist?," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 1263-1289, September.
    7. Gill, Carol & Metz, Isabel & Tekleab, Amanuel G. & Williamson, Ian O., 2020. "The combined role of conscientiousness, social networks, and gender diversity in explaining individual performance in self-managed teams," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 250-260.
    8. Jaroslaw Korpysa & Uma Shankar Singh & Swapnil Singh, 2023. "Validation of Decision Criteria and Determining Factors Importance in Advocating for Sustainability of Entrepreneurial Startups towards Social Inclusion and Capacity Building," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-21, June.
    9. Bolzani, Daniela & Fini, Riccardo & Napolitano, Simone & Toschi, Laura, 2019. "Impact: Entrepreneurial Teams: An Input-Process-Outcome Framework," Foundations and Trends(R) in Entrepreneurship, now publishers, vol. 15(2), pages 56-258, May.
    10. Miettinen Marika Rosanna & Littunen Hannu, 2013. "Factors Contributing to the Success of Start-Up Firms Using Two-Point or Multiple-Point Scale Models," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 3(4), pages 449-481, June.
    11. Huatao Peng & Geert Duysters & Bert Sadowski, 2016. "The changing role of guanxi in influencing the development of entrepreneurial companies: a case study of the emergence of pharmaceutical companies in China," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 12(1), pages 215-258, March.
    12. Chris P. Eveleens & Frank J. Rijnsoever & Eva M. M. I. Niesten, 2017. "How network-based incubation helps start-up performance: a systematic review against the background of management theories," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 676-713, June.
    13. Patrick Gregori & Zulaicha Parastuty, 2021. "Investigating the process of entrepreneurial team member exits: a systematic review and future research directions," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 847-878, May.
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    15. Seo, Joo Hwan & Perry, Vanessa G. & Tomczyk, David & Solomon, George T., 2014. "Who benefits most? The effects of managerial assistance on high- versus low-performing small businesses," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(1), pages 2845-2852.
    16. Beata Krawczyk-Brylka, 2016. "Attributes of Entrepreneurial Teams as Elements of a Mental Model (Atrybuty zespolu przedsiebiorczego jako elementy modelu mentalnego)," Research Reports, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 2(21), pages 7-16.
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