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Team Heterogeneity in Startups and its Development over Time

Author

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  • Kaiser, Ulrich

    (University of Zurich)

  • Müller, Bettina

    (Swiss Federal Statistical Office)

Abstract

We investigate the workforce heterogeneity of startups with respect to education, age and wages. Our explorative study uses data on the population of 1,614 Danish firms founded in 1998. We track these firms until 2001 which enables us to analyze changes in workforce composition over time. Such a dynamic analysis constitutes a hitherto neglected area of entrepreneurship research. To assess relative workforce heterogeneity, we construct a simulated benchmark to which we compare observed workforce heterogeneity. We find that the initial workforce is relatively homogeneous compared to our benchmark. Our result holds both for non-knowledge-based and, to a lesser extent, knowledge-based startups. This seems surprising since a vast management literature advocates heterogeneous teams. The difficulties associated with workforce heterogeneity (like affective conflict or coordination cost) as well as "homophily" (people's inclination to bound with others with similar characteristics) hence appear to generally overweigh the benefits of heterogeneity (like greater variety in perspectives or more creativity). We also document that workforces become more heterogeneous over time – startups add workers with skills different from the workforce at startup. The initial supposedly "poor" mix of workforce characteristics is hence adjusted as the startup matures. This increase in workforce heterogeneity is, however, smaller compared to our benchmark but substantially larger than is team additions had the same characteristics as the initial team members.

Suggested Citation

  • Kaiser, Ulrich & Müller, Bettina, 2013. "Team Heterogeneity in Startups and its Development over Time," IZA Discussion Papers 7284, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp7284
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nicoletta Corrocher & Camilla Lenzi, 2022. "Exploring the sources of knowledge diversity in founding teams and its impact on new firms’ innovation," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 1091-1118, September.
    2. Anamaria Diana Herte & Daniel Badulescu, 2020. "Start-Ups And Internationalisation: The Case Of Romania. Part 1. Theoretical Overview," Oradea Journal of Business and Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 5(2), pages 92-101, September.
    3. Evren Ayranci, 2019. "Effects of Shared Leadership Perception on Perceived Intragroup Conflict: An Investigation in Technology Startups in Turkey," International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, Human Resource Management Academic Research Society, International Journal of Academic Research in Accounting, Finance and Management Sciences, vol. 9(4), pages 126-143, October.
    4. Brixy, Udo & Brunow, Stephan & D'Ambrosio, Anna, 2017. "Ethnic diversity in start-ups and its impact on innovation," IAB-Discussion Paper 201725, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    skill heterogeneity; start-ups; entrepreneurship; team dynamics;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C10 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods and Methodology: General - - - General
    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • M13 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Administration - - - New Firms; Startups

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