The Significance of Team Dynamics in Studentsí Entrepreneurial Decision-Making

Purpose: The paper seeks to explore how team dynamics influence studentsí decisions to either pursue or abandon a business idea following their participation in an experiential entrepreneurship course. Design/Methodology: The paper employs an inductive, qualitative approach to examine the team dynamics by exploring studentsí thought processes and actions regarding entrepreneurial activities as a socially situated phenomenon. 20 semi-structured interviews, observation and secondary data serve as data base, following the Gioia method for data analysis. Findings: Findings show that team dynamics have proven to be the most relevant factor for studentsí decision on whether to continue with an entrepreneurial project or not. Among various factors, reasons are rooted in the team membership decreasing uncertainty, studentsí decision dependencies on team members and the increased importance placed on the team relative to the idea. Research Limitations/Implications: The study concentrates on team-related aspects in studentsí deci- sion-making. While the factors have been examined in the study, other determinants may contribute to studentsí decisions which are outside the scope of the study. The study offers a set of causalities that offer a nuanced understanding of team dynamics and decision-making processes over an extended post-course timeframe. Originality/Value: The study contributes to the current literature by unraveling the intricate relation- ship between team dynamics and entrepreneurial decision-making. It offers a nuanced perspective on the understanding of how collaborative contexts shape studentsí willingness to pursue projects beyond the entrepreneurship classroom.