QUIÉN SOY, QUÉ CONOZCO Y A QUIÉN CONOZCO: EL USO DE LA LÓGICA DE EFECTUACIÓN POR LOS EMPRENDEDORES ACADÉMICOS

Abstract

The logic of effectuation argues that entrepreneurs create their businesses through a process of repeated action that is creative and unplanned, utterly contrary to causal logic or to the rational process put forward in the literature on entrepreneurship. In this study we focus on the use of effectual logic by academic entrepreneurs, i.e, university teachers or researchers who have founded a (research-knowledge based) university spin-off. Our research aims to analyze whether academic entrepreneurs engage in effectual behaviors in the process of creation and development of spinoffs. We analyze 16 cases of academic entrepreneurs from Spanish universities to obtain evidence of their effectual behavior. This study contributes to achieve a greater comprehension about how academic entrepreneurs transform their knowledge, experience, and the resources available in entrepreneurial opportunities. It also helps us better understand how different factors in the university context influence the practice of effectuation.

Keywords

• Effectuation
• causation
• university spinoffs
• academic entrepreneurs