Bringing Entrepreneurial Ideas to Life

41 Pages Posted: 31 Oct 2009 Last revised: 30 Apr 2013

See all articles by Charles E. Eesley

Charles E. Eesley

Stanford University - Management Science & Engineering

David H. Hsu

University of Pennsylvania - Management Department

Edward B. Roberts

Founder/Chair, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: October 11, 2011

Abstract

Organizational design in the context of new venture development is particularly challenging due to initially severe resource constraints. We address the question of when initial venture idea assets versus founder contracting experience are more important for venture performance. One view of new venture performance emphasizes the importance of innovative ideas. Others argue that founders with knowledge of how to structure the venture’s assets are key to performance. Using unique survey data, we advance an integrated perspective by showing that new ventures perform better when they both identify innovative ideas and assemble founders with expertise in structuring organizational arrangements to commercialize those ideas.

Keywords: organizational capabilities, contracting, organizational economics, entrepreneurship, resource-based view

Suggested Citation

Eesley, Charles E. and Hsu, David H. and Roberts, Edward B., Bringing Entrepreneurial Ideas to Life (October 11, 2011). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1497043 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1497043

Charles E. Eesley (Contact Author)

Stanford University - Management Science & Engineering ( email )

473 Via Ortega
Stanford, CA 94305-9025
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HOME PAGE: http://chuckeesley.com

David H. Hsu

University of Pennsylvania - Management Department ( email )

The Wharton School
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6370
United States
215-746-0125 (Phone)
215-898-0401 (Fax)

Edward B. Roberts

Founder/Chair, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship ( email )

100 Main Street, E62-440
Cambridge, MA 02142
United States
617-253-4934 (Phone)
617-253-2660 (Fax)

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