Start-Up Teams: A Multidimensional Conceptualization, Integrative Review of Past Research, and Future Research Agenda
Andrew P. Knight, Lindred L. Greer, Bart De Jong, Caitlin Ray, Anthony J. Nyberg, Mark A. Maltarich, Greg Reilly, Steven M. Gray, Travis Howell, Jamie Strassman, Kendall Yamamoto, Christina M. Bradley, Elizabeth Trinh, Jeffrey Sanchez-Burks, Marius Jones, Peter Kalum Schou, Moran Lazar, Ella Miron-Spektor, Gilad Chen, Brent Goldfarb, Miriam Erez, Rajshree Agarwal, John S. Chen, Daniel W. Elfenbein, Hart E. Posen, Ming zhu Wang, Riitta Katila, Henning Piezunka, Philipp Reineke, Kathleen M. Eisenhardt, Florence E M Honore, Benjamin A. Campbell, Patrick Figge, Carolin Haeussler, Elisabeth Mueller, Xiaolei Wang, Yan Zhong
Academy of Management Annals · 2020 · Volume 14 · Issue 1
Abstract
Academic interest in start-up teams has grown dramatically over the past 40 years, with researchers from a wide variety of disciplines actively studying the topic. Although this widespread interest is encouraging, a review of the literature reveals a lack of consensus in how researchers conceptualize and operationally define start-up teams. A lack of consensus on the core phenomenon—a foundational part of a strong paradigm—has stifled the systematic advancement of knowledge about start-up teams, which has downstream implications for the viability of this field of research. To advance the development of a stronger paradigm, we present a multidimensional conceptualization of start-up teams that is derived from points of consensus in existing definitions. Our multidimensional conceptualization accounts for the fact that although all are under the umbrella of the concept of “start-up team,” start-up teams vary in a set of key ingredients—ownership of equity, autonomy of strategic decision-making, and entitativity. This conceptualization serves as a framework for reviewing and beginning to integrate past research on start-up teams. It also serves as a framework for guiding and informing an integrated program of future research on start-up teams. By introducing a multidimensional conceptualization of start-up teams, we highlight the value of considering the defining ingredients of start-up teams for furthering a stronger paradigm.
Keywords
teams, groups, organizational behavior, entrepreneurship
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