Foundations and Trends® in Entrepreneurship > Vol 15 > Issue 2

Entrepreneurial Teams: An Input-Process-Outcome Framework

By Daniela Bolzani, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Italy, daniela.bolzani@unicatt.it | Riccardo Fini, University of Bologna, Italy, riccardo.fini@unibo.it | Simone Napolitano, University of Bologna, Italy, simone.napolitano@unibo.it | Laura Toschi, University of Bologna, Italy, laura.toschi@unibo.it

 
Suggested Citation
Daniela Bolzani, Riccardo Fini, Simone Napolitano and Laura Toschi (2019), "Entrepreneurial Teams: An Input-Process-Outcome Framework", Foundations and Trends® in Entrepreneurship: Vol. 15: No. 2, pp 56-258. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/0300000077

Publication Date: 31 May 2019
© 2019 Daniela Bolzani, Riccardo Fini, Simone Napolitano and Laura Toschi
 
Subjects
High technology: Technology-based new firms,  Managerial characteristics and behavior of entrepreneurs,  New business financing,  New venture creation process,  Opportunity recognition,  Entrepreneurial cognition,  International business: International entrepreneurship, innovation and technology transfer,  Organizational Behavior: Teamwork,  Small business and economic growth
 
Keywords
entrepreneurial teamsnew venture teamsfounding teamsstartup teamsentrepreneurshipbusiness formationfamily-owned firmsopportunity recognition
 

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In this article:
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Previous Reviews
4. Defining ETs
5. In-Depth Review of “Inputs” Related Clusters
6. In-Depth Review of “Processes” Related Clusters
7. In-Depth Review of “Outcomes” Thematic Clusters
8. Conclusions and Directions for Future Research
9. Conclusion
Appendices
References

Abstract

Entrepreneurship research emphasizes the importance of the individual entrepreneur in both venture creation and growth. However, theory and practice suggest that the vast majority of new ventures are now team-based, and teams play a key role in venture success. As the scholarly interest in this topic has substantially grown in the recent years, the literature has flourished in a rather fragmented way. In this paper, we take a holistic view and systematise more than 250 papers on entrepreneurial teams, published over 30 years. We use a process approach (i.e., Input-Process-Outcome), depicting team evolution phases, from inception to maturity, linking them to firm performance. We identify gaps, highlighting opportunities for future research.

DOI:10.1561/0300000077
ISBN: 978-1-68083-570-0
218 pp. $99.00
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ISBN: 978-1-68083-571-7
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Table of contents:
1. Introduction
2. Methodology
3. Previous Reviews
4. Defining ETs
5. In-Depth Review of “Inputs” Related Clusters
6. In-Depth Review of “Processes” Related Clusters
7. In-Depth Review of “Outcomes” Thematic Clusters
8. Conclusions and Directions for Future Research
9. Conclusion
Appendices
References

Entrepreneurial Teams: An Input-Process-Outcome Framework

Scholarly research investigating the venturing processes by entrepreneurial teams (ETs) is relatively recent and characterized by specific and limited areas of attention. Although the authors build on earlier contributions, Entrepreneurial Teams: An Input-Process-Outcome Framework takes a nuanced view of the phenomenon. First it offers a comprehensive understanding of the construct ‘entrepreneurial team’ by focusing on its definition and characteristics. Second, it depicts team evolution phases, from inception to maturity, linking these to firm performance by using a process approach (i.e., Input-Process-Outcome).

Entrepreneurial Teams: An Input-Process-Outcome Framework is structured as follows. First, it outlines the methodology used to search the relevant literature on the topic and to create meaningful thematic clusters. Second, it presents the previous reviews on ETs and illustrate how this monograph can be differentiated from these. Third, it focuses on the ambiguity of the definition of ETs in previous research, providing its own definition of ETs and identifying areas for future development. Fourth, it presents an in-depth analysis of the 14 thematic clusters identified according to the Input-Process-Outcome framework. In each cluster, the authors review the state of the art on the topic, highlighting limitations and shortcomings. For ‘inputs,’ they review papers dealing with individual/team characteristics and ET formation. For ‘processes,’ they review papers dealing with development and turnover in ETs, ETs and cognition, interactions in ETs, ETs and networks, and, finally, ETs and governance/organization, strategies, and opportunity identification. For ‘outcomes,’ they review papers dealing with ETs and new firm creation, legitimacy, fundraising, public support, internationalization, and performance. It concludes by identifying opportunities for further research and offers some suggestions on how to contribute to the state of the art of literature.

 
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