TY - JOUR

T1 - Entrepreneurial learning in Italian high-tech start-ups

T2 - an exploratory study

AU - De Massis, Alfredo

AU - Minola, Tommaso

AU - Viviani, Diego

PY - 2012

Y1 - 2012

N2 - Many academics agree with the opinion that small firms are more suitable than bigger ones to manage radical innovations. However, empirical observations show that about 60% of high-tech start-ups fail within six years, and this is found to be due to lack of learning. We analyse along which dimensions and how entrepreneurs learn in reaction to external stimuli triggered by the stakeholders, considering the effects of frame-oriented and experimental learning, contingent to external context. A multiple case study on five Italian high-tech start-ups has lastly been conducted, obtaining some useful results on the directions to pursue a successful learning.

AB - Many academics agree with the opinion that small firms are more suitable than bigger ones to manage radical innovations. However, empirical observations show that about 60% of high-tech start-ups fail within six years, and this is found to be due to lack of learning. We analyse along which dimensions and how entrepreneurs learn in reaction to external stimuli triggered by the stakeholders, considering the effects of frame-oriented and experimental learning, contingent to external context. A multiple case study on five Italian high-tech start-ups has lastly been conducted, obtaining some useful results on the directions to pursue a successful learning.

KW - entrepreneurial learning

KW - EL

KW - new technology-based firms

KW - NTBF

KW - entrepreneurship

KW - change

KW - innovation

KW - high-tech opportunities

KW - Italy

U2 - 10.1504/IJIL.2012.044331

DO - 10.1504/IJIL.2012.044331

M3 - Journal article

VL - 11

SP - 94

EP - 114

JO - International Journal of Innovation and Learning

JF - International Journal of Innovation and Learning

SN - 1471-8197

IS - 1

ER -