Resource Holders Research Articles

Seeing the whole: Configurational cognition and new venture resource mobilization

AbstractResearch SummaryResearch is scant on how multiple venture attributes combine as “whole packages” of signals (or cognitive configurations) in resource holders’ eyes, shaping a venture's ability to mobilize resources. Drawing on a qualitative comparative analysis of 1,395 crowdfunding campaigns, we identified different configurations of signals for high and low resource mobilization, theorizing abductively their underlying mechanisms through the analysis of case‐level qualitative data. Our results explain some past mixed findings, such as the contradictory effects of social value and entrepreneurial narratives, showing that these narratives can instead be successfully combined in the presence of signals of venture quality and community embeddedness. We show that there is no single best way to impress resource holders, but multiple recipes to holistically communicate a venture's value.Managerial SummaryAnalyzing Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns, we examine how entrepreneurs combine four signals to raise money: 1) the venture's underlying quality; 2) social networks; 3) narratives; 4) embeddedness in the crowdfunding community. We identified four successful configurations of these signals (500% above the funding goal) and two failing configurations (4% of the funding goal). Narratives per se are not sufficient to mobilize resources, unless backed by signals of quality and community embeddedness. A simpler narrative is supported by cheaper quality signals (product images). More complex narratives (combining social value, entrepreneurial orientation, positive psychology) are supported by more costly signals (videos). Our results encourage entrepreneurs to look beyond “silver bullet” solutions and think holistically how to communicate their ventures as “whole packages”.

Entrepreneurial finance and institutional logics in an emerging economy

Entrepreneurs raise money from multiple funding sources over time; however, studies of entrepreneurial finance typically focus on a dyadic view based on Global North institutional scaffolds. Taking a contextualised approach that understands funding as situated in local conditions, this research explores the influence of an emerging economy context on a financing process that incorporates multiple sources. Based on analysis of 36 interviews with entrepreneurs and financiers in Thailand, the research offers a model that identifies emerging entrepreneur–financier relationships and strategies for navigating multiple logics. Accessing funding involves a process of deal-making that requires multiple foci of attention over time. This article advances institutional theory by reclassifying how entrepreneurs interact with heterogeneous resource holders. Divergent logical pathways of relational formation are found among various types of financiers, suggesting an underlying institutional logic is not universal. Instead, it depends on the habitual organising principles of the focal actors and strategies adopted to manage the requirements of multiple funders.

Multidirectional Heritage-Led Knowledge Exchange: Learning from Practice in 19 Rural Territories

Rural areas are regaining attention as key resource holders. This includes the attractiveness of intact and traditional cultural elements and heritage which helps to create new opportunities. However, renewal is needed for rural areas to be competitive beyond tourism. Knowledge exchange and transfer is seen as an enabling tool for regeneration and heritage valorization, although it has mostly been applied in an urban context. The aim of this paper is to explore the role of capacity building and knowledge exchange at different levels in promoting rural regeneration through heritage-led initiatives. The article describes a multi-directional knowledge transfer and exchange in 19 rural areas. The applied knowledge exchange methodology was designed to be a dynamic and vibrant exchange of capacity building and mutual learning. This exchange of knowledge enabled the local communities involved to explore new ideas and viable solutions for the regeneration of rural areas through the valorization of cultural and natural heritage. The research findings show that structuring a knowledge transfer and capacity building process that also involves key local stakeholders and the rural communities is an important milestone in the regeneration process. In addition, it can be a unique opportunity to start and build new professional long-term relationships.

Managing Asymmetries for Data Mobilization under Digital Transformation

AbstractResource mobilization is a significant challenge for firms seeking survival and competitive advantage, especially in the context of digital transformation. Data has emerged as a vital resource, but its intangible nature adds complexity to the interactions between resource holders and seekers. This paper aims to address the gaps in understanding data resource mobilization by integrating perspectives on information, dependence, and orientation asymmetry using a social exchange perspective. The study focuses on the regulated animal healthcare industry, where a large established organization acts as the resource holder, universities act as intermediaries, and startups act as resource seekers. Through three years of data collection, the study finds that the context is rich in all three types of asymmetries and characterized by high uncertainty surrounding data as a resource. Actors engage in direct social exchanges to address information asymmetries and in generalized exchanges through intermediaries to deal with dependence and orientation asymmetries. The study contributes to theory by providing insights into the complex dynamics of resource mobilization in the context of digital transformation and proposes practical implications for managing multiple asymmetries and mobilizing data effectively for firm performance in regulated environments.

(No) Time for Change: When and Why Entrepreneurs Act During Underperforming Fundraising Attempts

Entrepreneurs need to mobilize funds, but they do so under considerable uncertainty about resource holders’ preferences, leading often to fundraising attempts that perform below entrepreneurs’ aspirations. Past research has offered contrasting theorizing and evidence for why entrepreneurs then make changes to their product offering during such attempts as well as for why entrepreneurs refrain from taking such action. This paper develops and tests behavioral theory to reconcile this tension, explicating when and why entrepreneurs change their product offering during underperforming fundraising attempts. Specifically, we argue that entrepreneurs draw on three sources of information that are inherent to fundraising attempts and that inform the extent of their actions to change their product offering: the degree to which they perform below their own fundraising aspirations, the degree to which they fall below peer fundraising performance, and the time that remains until the deadline for the fundraising attempt. Longitudinal data on 576 fundraising campaigns (6,758 observations) published on the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter support our theory. By developing novel behavioral theory on when and why entrepreneurs take action during resource mobilization, we offer contributions to research on entrepreneurial resource mobilization, the crowdfunding literature, and the Behavioral Theory of the Firm. Funding: This work was supported by KölnAlumni. Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2020.13803 .

A legitimacy‐based view of the impact of government venture capital on startup innovation: Evidence from a transition economy

AbstractResearch SummaryThis study examines the role of government venture capital (GVC) on startup innovation in a transition economy context. Drawing on institutional theory, we advance a contextual view of GVC by proposing that GVC positively impacts the innovation of startups in transition economies by serving as a sociocognitive legitimating endorsement. Furthermore, our study offers a contingent framework by showing that GVC endorsement will be more meaningful for startups deficient in organizational sources of legitimacy, such as political ties and social prestige. Regression analyses using a longitudinal data of Chinese venture‐backed biopharma and medical device startups founded during 2002–2017 offer broad support for our theory about the sociocognitive legitimating role of GVC in transition economy contexts.Managerial SummaryWe explore the role of government venture capital (GVC) in promoting startup innovation within transition economies. In such contexts, where startups often face skepticism and legitimacy issues, our research reveals that GVC can play a crucial role by providing socio‐cognitive legitimacy. Our study suggests that this “state backing” enables transition economy startups to gain the trust of external knowledge resource holders, enhancing their innovation prospects. Our findings emphasize the significance of GVC as a means of active government intervention for fostering startup innovation, especially for startups deficient in other avenues of legitimacy. This insight is valuable for entrepreneurs and policymakers in transition economy contexts.

Rpkiller: Threat Analysis of the BGP Resource Public Key Infrastructure

The Resource Public Key Infrastucture (RPKI) has been created to solve security shortcomings of the Border Gateway Protocol (BGP). This creates an infrastructure where resource holders (autonomous systems) can make attestations about their resources (IP-subnets). RPKI Certificate Authorities make these attestations available at Publication Points. Relying Party software retrieves and processes the RPKI-related data from all publication points, validates the data and makes it available to routers so they can make secure routing decisions. We contribute to this work by doing a threat analysis for Relying Party software, where an attacker controls a Certificate Authority and Publication Point. We implement a prototype testbed to analyse how current Relying Party software implementations react to scenarios originating from that threat model. Our results show that all current Relying Party software was susceptible to at least one of the identified threats. In addition to this, we also identified threats stemming from choices made in the protocol itself. Taken together, these threats potentially allowed an attacker to fully disrupt all RPKI Relying Party software on a global scale. We elaborate on our process, and we discuss the types of responses we received from other parties. We performed a Coordinated Vulnerability Disclosure to the implementers.

The role of developers in accepting solar energy in Iran: A case study in Golestan province

Iran is one of the largest holders of energy resources in the world and has always enjoyed a special international position in the world in terms of the amount of exports and the extent of available resources. However, the amount of energy consumption in recent years has become one of the most important concerns of the government, and in order to solve it, the government of the Republic of Iran has adopted two policies of reforming the consumption pattern and supplying energy through renewable energies, and specifically, developing the use of solar energy in has taken Meanwhile, various factors such as the market play an essential role in convincing people. Therefore, this research focuses on the social dimension of the issue of energy transfer, considering the human and social factors effective in the adoption of RE, and identifies the social barriers to the adoption of solar energy technologies in Iran (Golestan). This research has been conducted using a qualitative method based on interviews with private sector activists working in the solar energy development market to address the purpose of the research, which is to evaluate the obstacles to the establishment of solar energy technology in Iran from the perspective of market experts. The findings showed that consumers may perceive the need to use solar energy because of the problematic issues arising from the use of non-renewable energy. However, consumers' lack of awareness of solar energy, which is a solution to the problems caused by fossil fuel consumption, the high rate of currency fluctuations, and the government's lack of support for the private sector, are three factors that prevent the adoption of solar energy. Thus, the results of the present study have identified the obstacles to the development of low carbon economy in Iran through the adoption of solar energy. In this regard, all stakeholders including individuals, communities and governments will benefit from the benefits of RE. Since energy transfer studies are classified in one of the three main pillars of small consumer, policy maker or producer and distributor, this research was conducted with the aim of investigating the role of producer or distributor in order to identify the factors affecting it. In this context, it is necessary to examine two other pillars of discussion in future studies.

Reproductive advantage of the winners of male-male competition in Drosophila prolongata

In the resource-defence mating system, where males compete for limited resources to acquire females, male traits associated with fighting ability are selected, leading to the evolution of sexual dimorphism. However, the evolution of sexual dimorphism is also driven by other mechanisms, such as female selection. Therefore, to elucidate the evolutionary mechanisms of male traits, it is necessary to clarify their contribution to fitness through male-male competition. In this regard, it is surprising that numerous studies on sexually dimorphic species have assumed the resource-defence mating system without directly examining the relationship between resource-defending behaviour and mating success. In a sexually dimorphic fruit fly, Drosophila prolongata, the presence of the resource-defence mating system has been suggested, but technical difficulties had prevented spatial quantification of the resource-defending behaviour. In this study, by using an automated behaviour analysis tool previously developed, we located the occurrence of male-male competition and courtship to investigate their relationship in D. prolongata, considering the position of food resources. We found that the male-male competition led to the exclusive occupation of resources, increasing the courtship opportunities of the resource holders. These results illustrate the importance of resource-defending for reproductive success in D. prolongata.

Leveraging resources to improve supervisors’ vision in the remote workplace

Purpose During the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations adopted remote work policies. Meanwhile, the loss of the collocated work environment made it challenging for the supervisors to have a clear vision of their employees, which may impact the quality of the performance evaluation and developmental decisions. This paper aims to resolve this problem by identifying resources in the remote workplace that can help supervisors restore their capacity for a clear vision of the remote employees. Design/methodology/approach The authors take the perspectives of the job resource-demand model and illustrate the theoretical framework that recognizes resources and resource holders at various levels of the organization. The authors see this as the key for supervisors to meet the demand of “seeing” their employees in the remote workplace. Findings Specifically, the employees should offer their information resources via skillful communication because supervisors have lost opportunities for in-person observation. Further, the administration is urged to deliver competence resources through training and development because supervisors may lack the experience of remote work management. Moreover, the organizations should provide social support resources by creating avenues for virtual networking activities, so as to make up the random social opportunities available in the collocated work environment. Research limitations/implications Improving supervisors’ vision is a new challenge coming with the installation of the remote workplace. Further research is called for to empirically test this theoretical framework and identify more ways to increase the resources and reduce the demands for supervisors; thus, helping them ease into the new ways of supervision in the virtual workplace. Practical implications This research informs the organizations to adjust their strategy for management development to adapt to the remote workplace. Originality/value The authors noted that increasing concerns of the low visibility of remote workers was partially due to the impaired vision of supervisors, who lost the context of in-person observation. Supervisors’ vision of their employees was taken for granted in the traditional work environment and there was not much research done on this topic. This prompted us to develop a theoretical framework based on the job resource demand model.

Social status mediates behavioral, endocrine, and neural responses to an intruder challenge in a social cichlid, Astatotilapia burtoni

Most animals encounter social challenges throughout their lives as they compete for resources. Individual responses to such challenges can depend on social status, sex, and community-level attributes, yet most of our knowledge of the behavioral and physiological mechanisms by which individuals respond to challenges has come from dyadic interactions between a resource holder and a challenger (usually both males). To incorporate differences in individual behavior that are influenced by surrounding group members, we use naturalistic communities of the cichlid fish, Astatotilapia burtoni, and examine resident dominant male responses to a territorial intrusion within the social group. We measured behavior and steroid hormones (testosterone and cortisol), and neural activity in key brain regions implicated in regulating territorial and social dominance behavior. In response to a male intruder, resident dominant males shifted from border defense to overt attack behavior, accompanied by decreased basolateral amygdala activity. These differences were context dependent – resident dominant males only exhibited increased border defense when the intruder secured dominance. Neither subordinate males nor females changed their behavior in response to a territorial intrusion in their community. However, neural activity in both hippocampus and lateral septum of subordinates increased when the intruder failed to establish dominance. Our results demonstrate how a social challenge results in multi-faceted behavioral, hormonal, and neural changes, depending on social status, sex, and the outcome of an intruder challenge. Taken together, our work provides novel insights into the mechanisms through which individual group members display context- and status-appropriate challenge responses in dynamic social groups.

Games of Norms: Why Category Switching Is Penalized in Crowdfunding Platforms

While strategic change is key to the effective adaptation of new organizations, it often breeds doubt and assessment by resource holders. This study explores this dynamic by studying how resource holders guided by a community logic respond to category switching, a critical change in a producer’s positioning. Using reward-based crowdfunding as an empirical context, we theorize that backers assess category-switching creators as less trustworthy and committed to the values, ideals, and advancement of a specific community than nonswitching creators, therefore reducing their funding and support. The extent of these penalties, however, may vary depending on the attributes of both creators and backers. We hypothesize that backers may reduce the severity of sanctions to category switchers who demonstrate trustworthiness and competence either by indicating past success or presenting a more typical identity. In contrast, we expect that experienced backers, who hold a stronger sense of belonging and identification, will penalize switchers more harshly than new audience members and be less lenient toward competent or typical creators. We test our hypotheses using an extensive longitudinal sample of 34,701 entrepreneurial projects in Kickstarter from 2009 to 2016 and find support for most of our hypotheses. We discuss implications for studying how change affects resource acquisition when resource holders are guided by a community logic and for research studying categorical nonconformity.

Pathways of Entrepreneurial Networking: Resource Mobilisation via Social Media

In this paper, using netnographic principles we collect and analyse qualitative interviews from entrepreneurs together with their unique Instagram posts collected over a period of six months to understand entrepreneurial networking processes online. Based on our in-depth inductive analysis, we find that entrepreneurial networking for resource mobilisation online occurs in three pathways – community building, engaged networking, and imperceptible networking. Community building is the creation of relevant content that adds value and connects entrepreneurs with their network audience at an emotional level, so as to trigger the audience’s reaction and initiate engagement. Engaged networking is the concurrent process of interacting with the network audience. Finally, imperceptible networking is the process where network actors online acquire resources by engaging in lurking behaviours without contact with the network content providers. Carving out these three pathways of entrepreneurial networking, we contribute to the literature by accentuating that, first, entrepreneurs are able to gain access to the network outcomes without actual, direct interaction and contact with resource holders. Second, if direct interaction takes place, the direction in which resources flow when entrepreneurs network is modified online. Thus, there is an added direction through which networking is initiated. Thirdly, we highlight that the governance of resource exchange in networks differs online. We find that when networking online, consistency, authenticity and relatability are the ‘lubricants’ that serve as facilitators for eventual resource mobilisation.

Stowing parachutes, strengthening science

Stowing parachutes, strengthening science

Addressing historical trauma and healing in Indigenous language cultivation and revitalization

AbstractThis paper demonstrates that historical trauma, healing, and wellbeing require attention in Indigenous language cultivation and revitalization. While historical trauma affects Indigenous peoples across the spectrum of language knowledge and use, little is written about the ways it can be addressed in the teaching, learning, and development—the cultivation—of Indigenous languages. For Indigenous language educators, how we address historical trauma in our language cultivation may be one of the most critical factors affecting our potential to cultivate the wellness we seek, and new generations of speakers of our languages. Drawing on a Diné (Navajo) lens and voices from other Indigenous communities, this article focuses on historical trauma, healing, and wellbeing as important considerations in Indigenous language cultivation and revitalization, to which applied linguists, Indigenous peoples, and others interested in Indigenous language revitalization and Indigenous wellbeing should pay attention. It argues that many of the most appropriate approaches can and will come from within our own Indigenous ways of knowing and healing, and that sharing more work of this kind can strengthen cultivation and revitalization efforts. It provides recommendations for applied linguistics and allied fields, educational, governmental and other resource holders, and Indigenous communities, programs, language cultivators and revitalizers.

How counter-fate relational practices mitigate resource acquisition challenges during project nascence

Research shows that embedded relations can facilitate the resource acquisition process in entrepreneurship. Yet, as relations are dynamic and subject to change, it remains unclear how entrepreneurs can acquire necessary resources when pre-existing ties may not yet or no longer be relevant, sufficient or accessible. Under these circumstances, acquiring necessary resources is a challenge and one that novice entrepreneurs in project-based enterprises face repeatedly as they seek to sustain their businesses. Evidence from 123 projects developed by six newly formed independent television production companies in the United Kingdom shows that new entrepreneurs can manoeuvre around constraints by engaging in one of four counter-fate relational practices: posturing (i.e. exaggerating interest from key ties), status sequencing (i.e. developing key relations in sequence based on status), geographic sequencing (i.e. attaining key ties in sequence based on location), and opportunistic manoeuvring (i.e. manipulating the opportunism of potential resource holders). We contribute to entrepreneurship research by showing how resources can be acquired despite a lack of key embedded ties, and highlight enabling conditions; and to project studies by illustrating how projects progress past nascence to launch and acquire new clients or repeat commissions.

Whom to Ask for Feedback: Insights for Resource Mobilization From Social Entrepreneurship

Social entrepreneurs need resources to develop their organizations and catalyze social impact. Existing research focuses on how social entrepreneurs access and use resources, yet it neglects how they search for resource holders. This issue is particularly salient in social entrepreneurs’ decisions about whom to approach for interpersonal feedback as a valuable resource. The current literature offers lists of individuals whom social entrepreneurs approach for feedback and implies these individuals can be easily accessed. Thus, it offers little insight into how social entrepreneurs select whom to approach for feedback and why, or why they struggle to access feedback. We conducted an in-depth inductive study based on 82 interviews with 36 nascent social entrepreneurs to investigate how they search for and select individuals to approach for feedback within and outside their social networks through an iterative appraisal process. Our findings start to open the black box of searching for resource holders in the resource mobilization process and offer insights on power and stigma in social entrepreneurship.

Does supplier involvement enhance financial performance? The encapsulation effects of product modularity and smartness

PurposeThis study aims to explore the conditional relationships between supplier involvement and financial performance. From a problem-solving perspective, this study takes the focal firm as a problem-solving system. It is postulated that supplier involvement enhances financial performance by helping solve complex problems of new product development. Furthermore, product modularity and smartness are considered contingent factors to clarify the boundary conditions.Design/methodology/approachThe ordinary least squares regression was conducted to test the hypotheses based on survey data from 136 high-tech firms in China.FindingsSupplier involvement is positively related to financial performance. Product modularity weakens the impact of supplier involvement on financial performance. Furthermore, product smartness strengthens the negative influence of product modularity on the relationship between supplier involvement and financial performance.Originality/valueThis study combines supplier involvement with product attributes. It takes a problem-solving perspective to rethink suppliers’ roles in new product development as problem-solvers rather than resource holders. Furthermore, this study advances the encapsulation effects of product modularity and smartness to influence the supplier involvement–financial performance link.

Aspects of Industry in Transylvania, Banat, Crișana and Maramureș during the First Years after the Unification with Romania in 1918

Abstract At the end of the First World War, Transylvania, Banat, Crișana and Maramureș had a significant industrial basis. During the first years after the Unification in 1918, a growth of industrial capacity was noticeable in these regions. This capacity was founded, in all cases, with the help of state facilities, or with the participation of the state. Considering that after the Frist World War the political system stabilised, the holders of financial resources and those who grew rich after the war proceeded to investing preponderantly in industrial branches.

Gender-Biased Implementation Support for Novel Ideas: A Theoretical Lens of Judgments of Morality

Although gender inequality research has long recognized social and economic barriers as primary factors causing gender disparity in creative achievement, less well understood is why such barriers emerge and how they accumulate to disadvantage creative women. Drawing upon research on the ethicality of creation and social role theory, we posit that resource holders may unconsciously adopt stricter moral standards for, then impose harsher moral judgments on, novel ideas proposed by women regardless of idea usefulness. This asymmetry leads resource holders to disproportionately withhold support for implementing ideas from women. Our hypotheses were supported by results from four methodologically complementary studies situated in managerial and entrepreneurial settings including two experiments with manager participants, one archival field study of Shark Tank (2009-2019), and one survey study of organizational managers. By studying how resource holders’ gender-based double standards for moral evaluations of creative ideas affect their implementation support, our research casts light on a cumulative disadvantage process that precipitates gender stratification in creative achievements and thus, generates new insights for reducing sequential barriers that produce and perpetuate gender inequality.