Mindful deviation through combining causation and effectuation: a design theory-based study of technology entrepreneurship
Journal article, 2015

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.

technology

design theory

nascent

entrepreneurship

effectuation

Author

Marine Agoge

Mats Lundqvist

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Entrepreneurship and Strategy

Karen Williams Middleton

Chalmers, Technology Management and Economics, Entrepreneurship and Strategy

Creativity and Innovation Management

0963-1690 (ISSN) 1467-8691 (eISSN)

Vol. 24 4 629-644

Subject Categories

Educational Sciences

Other Engineering and Technologies

Sociology

Driving Forces

Innovation and entrepreneurship

Learning and teaching

Pedagogical work

DOI

10.1111/caim.12134

More information

Latest update

3/2/2022 6