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Conflicts between entrepreneurs and investors: the impact of perceived unethical behavior

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  • Veroniek Collewaert
  • Yves Fassin

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of perceived unethical behavior by entrepreneurs, angel investors and venture capitalists on their conflict process. For this purpose, we use an embedded case study design to provide a diversity of perspectives on the topic at hand. From the eye of the beholder, i.e. investor, entrepreneur or both, 11 conflict situations were analyzed for any perceived unethical behavior. Based on findings from within- and cross-case analysis, we propose that perceived unethical behavior among venture partners triggers conflicts between them through increased fault attribution or blaming. Further, we propose that perceived unethical behavior affects venture partners’ choice of conflict management strategy and increases the likelihood of conflict escalation and of conflict having a negative partnership outcome such as failure or another form of involuntary exit. As such, this paper contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by addressing calls for more research on the darker sides of investor–investee relationships. Copyright The Author(s) 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Veroniek Collewaert & Yves Fassin, 2013. "Conflicts between entrepreneurs and investors: the impact of perceived unethical behavior," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 40(3), pages 635-649, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:sbusec:v:40:y:2013:i:3:p:635-649
    DOI: 10.1007/s11187-011-9379-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alqatawni, Tahsen, 2013. "The Relationship Conflict between Venture Capital and Entrepreneur," MPRA Paper 48005, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Claire Champenois & Michel Devigne & François-Régis Puyou, 2016. "How Can Venture Capitalists-Owner Managers Conflicts Be Managed? If You Want Peace, Agree to Keep the Peace," Post-Print hal-01398988, HAL.
    3. Pengda Fan & Kazuo Yamada, 2020. "Same bed different dream composition of IPO shares and withdrawal decisions in weak market conditions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(4), pages 955-974, December.
    4. Hong, Michelle C. & Lin, Hsing-Er & Hsu, Dan K. & Shi, Yongchuan, 2021. "When ownership of the venture triggers cofounders’ unethical pro-venture behavior," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 16(C).
    5. Gregori, Patrick & Ukobitz, Desiree V. & Parastuty, Zulaicha, 2018. "A Conceptual Framework on Entrepreneurial Team Member Exits: A Starting Point for Further Research," 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 453-474, Governance Research and Development Centre (CIRU), Zagreb.
    6. Olayemi, Olufemi Olabode & Okonji, Patrick Sunday & Gbadamosi, Taofeek Olalekan & Oghojafor, Ben E. Akpoyomare, 2020. "Ethical Issues and Performance of Nigerian Insurance Companies," MPRA Paper 103652, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    7. Daniel Appelhoff & René Mauer & Veroniek Collewaert & Malte Brettel, 2016. "The conflict potential of the entrepreneur’s decision-making style in the entrepreneur-investor relationship," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 601-623, June.
    8. 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.
    9. Hai Long & Jianzhi Zhao & Xiaochen Lin & Lanyong Liu, 2022. "Does Venture Capital Reputation Contribute to Pre-IPO Performance of Entrepreneurial Firms in the Chinese Context?," SAGE Open, , vol. 12(4), pages 21582440221, November.
    10. Emma J. Kuhn & G. Stewart Walker & Harriet Whiley & Jackie Wright & Kirstin E. Ross, 2021. "Overview of Current Practices in the Methamphetamine Testing and Decontamination Industry: An Australian Case Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-11, August.
    11. Drover, Will & Wood, Matthew S. & Fassin, Yves, 2014. "Take the money or run? Investors' ethical reputation and entrepreneurs' willingness to partner," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 723-740.
    12. Pengda Fan & Kazuo Yamada, 0. "Same bed different dream composition of IPO shares and withdrawal decisions in weak market conditions," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 0, pages 1-20.
    13. Qin, Fei & Wright, Mike & Gao, Jian, 2017. "Are ‘sea turtles’ slower? Returnee entrepreneurs, venture resources and speed of entrepreneurial entry," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 694-706.
    14. Yu, Wei & Li, Zhuyi Angelina & Foo, Maw-Der & Sun, Shuhua, 2022. "Perceived social undermining keeps entrepreneurs up at night and disengaged the next day: The mediating role of sleep quality and the buffering role of trait resilience," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 37(2).
    15. Vallaster, Christine & Kraus, Sascha & Merigó Lindahl, José M. & Nielsen, Annika, 2019. "Ethics and entrepreneurship: A bibliometric study and literature review," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 226-237.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Conflict; Business ethics; Venture capital; Business angels; Angel investors; Entrepreneurs; G24; L26; D74;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • G24 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Investment Banking; Venture Capital; Brokerage
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • D74 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Conflict; Conflict Resolution; Alliances; Revolutions

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