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Mindful Deviation through Combining Causation and Effectuation: A Design Theory-Based Study of Technology Entrepreneurship

Author

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  • Marine Agogue

    (CGS i3 - Centre de Gestion Scientifique i3 - Mines Paris - PSL (École nationale supérieure des mines de Paris) - PSL - Université Paris sciences et lettres - I3 - Institut interdisciplinaire de l’innovation - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Mats Lundqvist

    (Stockholm University)

  • Karen Williams Middleton

    (Chalmers University of Technology [Göteborg])

Abstract

Technology entrepreneurship can be seen as building upon while also deviating from technological paths. Such deviation has primarily been described as singular events where individuals with prior knowledge discover a new opportunity. In this article, we will instead study deviation as a process of collective decision making, seen more as something mindful than singular. The purpose is to explore mindful deviation as decision-making by nascent technology entrepreneurs as they conceptualize an early platform technology. Based on case assignments undertaken by 13 teams in a venture creation program, C-K design theory is used to trace how nascent technology entrepreneurs in action combine causal and effectual decision-making logics. Individually answered questionnaires also offered insights on how the entrepreneurs perceived their decision-making in hindsight. The findings break with our received wisdom around how opportunities are recognized as well as how effectual and causal logics occur. As a result, mindful deviation through combinations of effectual and causal logic is suggested as a means to understand early-stage technology entrepreneurship.

Suggested Citation

  • Marine Agogue & Mats Lundqvist & Karen Williams Middleton, 2015. "Mindful Deviation through Combining Causation and Effectuation: A Design Theory-Based Study of Technology Entrepreneurship," Post-Print hal-01196125, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-01196125
    DOI: 10.1111/caim.12134
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://minesparis-psl.hal.science/hal-01196125
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Yu, Xiaoyu & Tao, Yida & Tao, Xiangming & Xia, Fan & Li, Yajie, 2018. "Managing uncertainty in emerging economies: The interaction effects between causation and effectuation on firm performance," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 121-131.
    2. Martin LACKEUS & Mats LUNDQVIST & Karen WILLIAMS MIDDLETON & Johan INDEN, 2020. "The entrepreneurial employee in public and private sector – What, Why, How," JRC Research Reports JRC117661, Joint Research Centre.
    3. Alexander McKelvie & Gaylen N. Chandler & Dawn R. DeTienne & Anette Johansson, 2020. "The measurement of effectuation: highlighting research tensions and opportunities for the future," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 54(3), pages 689-720, March.
    4. Yanxia Li & Bo Zou & Feng Guo & Jinyu Guo, 2022. "Academic entrepreneurs’ effectuation logic, role innovation, and academic entrepreneurship performance: an empirical study," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 49-72, March.
    5. Peng, Xue Bing & Liu, Yue Ling & Jiao, Qi Qi & Feng, Xiao Bin & Zheng, Bei, 2020. "The nonlinear effect of effectuation and causation on new venture performance: The moderating effect of environmental uncertainty," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 112-123.
    6. Pascal Henninger & Alexander Brem & Ferran Giones & Peter M. Bican & Christine Wimschneider, 2019. "Effectuation Vs. Causation: Can Established Firms Use Start-Up Decision-Making Principles To Stay Innovative?," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 24(01), pages 1-32, January.
    7. Runping Guo & Xingqun Lv & Yuan Wang & Peggy E. Chaudhry & Sohail S. Chaudhry, 2020. "Decision‐making logics and high‐tech entrepreneurial opportunity identification: The mediating role of strategic knowledge integration," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(4), pages 719-733, July.
    8. Mohammad Fakhar Manesh & Giulia Flamini & Damiano Petrolo & Rocco Palumbo, 2022. "A round of dancing and then one more: embedding intuition in the ballet of entrepreneurial decision making," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 499-528, June.
    9. Donaldson, Colin & Mateu, Guillermo, 2021. "New venture creation: a systematic review of associated literature," TEC Empresarial, School of Business, Costa Rica Institute of Technology (ITCR), vol. 15(1), pages 56-79.
    10. Kerr, Jon & Coviello, Nicole, 2020. "Weaving network theory into effectuation: A multi-level reconceptualization of effectual dynamics," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(2).

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    Keywords

    nascent; design theory; entrepreneurship; technology; effectuation;
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