51. Start-up absorptive capacity: Does the owner’s human and social capital matter?
- Author
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Debrulle, Jonas, Maes, Johan, and Sels, Luc
- Subjects
HUMAN capital ,SOCIAL capital ,ASSIMILATION (Sociology) ,SOCIAL processes ,NEW business enterprises - Abstract
This study investigates how a business owner’s human and social capital affects start-up absorptive capacity under different environmental conditions. From an analysis of a sample of 199 Flemish start-ups, the study observes that the owners’ start-up experience and bridging social capital are positively and significantly related to the new venture’s ability to acquire, assimilate and exploit external information. In addition, the findings reveal a positive but decreasing effect of owner-specific human capital as a function of environmental turbulence. Furthermore, the study finds that management experience significantly stimulates start-up absorptive capacity within highly dynamic environments, whereas it hinders it within stable environments. Finally, implications of the study and opportunities for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2014
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