Entrepreneurial Team Dynamics and New Venture Creation Process: An Exploratory Study Within a Start-Up Incubator

Abstract

Many new product innovations are attributed to new venture creation. Although there are many success cases, many new ventures quit before they have fulfilled their greatest potential mainly because the team quits their effort. This research tries to delve into several factors that affect the dynamics of an entrepreneurial team along the different stages of the new venture creation process. Given such direction, primary data from 12 entrepreneurial teams are undertaken within an incubator environment, which is an underresearched context. An in-depth study of these entrepreneurial teams suggests numerous determinants (variation in the intentions and expectations, improper leadership, ineffective communication, engagement, team structure) to have a serious effect on team dynamics and team cohesiveness. Following a grounded theory approach, specific research propositions are formulated and theoretical insights are drawn. Moreover, the results of this research assist nascent entrepreneurs in assessing their potential, recognizing critical team dynamics, and basing their choice on moving to a sustainable new venture creation.