Représentations que se font les dirigeants de la performance de leur jeune entreprise technologique innovante (JETI). Approche exploratoire basée sur la cartographie cognitive

This article explores the managers? representations of their new technologybased firm (NTBF?s) performance using cognitive mapping techniques. While the literature on entrepreneurship shows that new technology-based firm?s performance based on financial valuation logic, the results of the present study demonstrate that the definition of new technology-based firm?s performance requires the revision of the analytic framework commonly used to understand entrepreneurial performance phenomenon. A qualitative exploration is divided into two stages. The first stage identifies and qualifies the entrepreneurial performance representations as reflected in cognitive maps. The second stage mobilises theoretical framework in order to characterize them. Focusing on five case studies of NTBFs, the present research identifies another conception of entrepreneurial performance based on patrimonial valuation logic. The issues of the efficacy of support system that can help NTBF?s creation and development have to be put in perspective with the managers? cognitive representations of their NTBF?s performance.