Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 2022, Weatherhead School of Management

Latinos are the largest minority group in the United States. The number of Latino-owned firms has grown from 2.3 million in 2007 to 3.3 million in 2012, highlighting a 46.3% growth rate. Reports from 2017 estimate that Latino-owned firms create nearly 3.2 million American jobs and drive more than $2 trillion in GDP in the U.S. Despite their strong growth rates and growing contribution to the U.S. economy, only 3% of Latino-owned firms exceed $1 million in annual gross revenues—less than half the rate of White, non-Latino-owned firms. Much of the literature on Latino and ethnic entrepreneurs focuses on the barriers to growth the individual entrepreneurs and their firm's experience or their lack of resources such as economic or social capital. Our mixed-methods study—integrating qualitative and quantitative research findings—highlights differences in how Latino entrepreneurs of large, scaled firms differ in their approach when compared to Latino business owners of smaller firms. Moreover, we find differences in how Latino entrepreneurs approach sense of community, belongingness, and humility when operating their businesses, which differs from non-Latino, Anglo entrepreneurs in the U.S. While our qualitative findings highlight the salient traits—sense of community, belongingness, and humility—with Latino business owners of scaled firms, our quantitative findings show trends that highlight clear differences between Latinos and Anglo business owners. Also noted in our findings is that Anglos continue to financially outperform minority entrepreneurs, including Latinos.

Committee: Philip Cola Ph.D. (Advisor); Stephan Liozu Ph.D. (Advisor); Mike Stull DBA (Advisor); Corinne Coen Ph.D. (Advisor) Subjects: Business Administration; Business Community; Entrepreneurship; Ethnic Studies; Hispanic Americans; Management; Social Psychology; Social Research

Doctor of Business Administration, Cleveland State University, 2018, Monte Ahuja College of Business

Over the past two decades, the growth of international new ventures has stimulated a great deal of interest among international entrepreneurship scholars to understand how these entrepreneurial start-ups internationalize given their resource deficiencies. However, the literature exhibits considerable gaps related to how international new ventures, can overcome their asset-constrained positions to enhance performance. Employing the concept of international entrepreneurship culture, which provides a holistic operationalization of international entrepreneurship, this dissertation develops and tests a conceptual framework to better understand how international new ventures' entrepreneurial culture and entrepreneurial marketing actions of opportunity-based discovery and –exploitation impact their performance in global markets. The methodology and tests incorporated into this research provide a foundation upon which to better understand international entrepreneurial culture and entrepreneurial marketing as key inputs for positioning and performance of international new ventures. Additionally, this dissertation focuses on international new ventures from emerging markets, specifically India, where the emphasis on understanding the mechanisms that have driven more than a quarter of the world's firms to go international early in their existence. Therefore, this study contributes to the calls for more early internationalization research from emerging market firms.

Committee: Rajshekhar Javalgi (Committee Chair); Andrew Gross (Committee Member); Jieun Park (Committee Member); Yuping Wu (Committee Member) Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Marketing

Doctor of Business Administration, Cleveland State University, 2015, Monte Ahuja College of Business

Since the turn of the century, globalization has been the topic of much controversy. Some academics, joined by the World Trade Organization, strongly support the positive economic impacts of globalization, but the increased employment and increased standard of living often cited as evidence, is not universally accepted. The economic, social and political impacts of globalization have been argued extensively in the media, however, little is in fact known about the antecedents of the economic side of globalization. This dissertation creates a framework from which to study economic globalization and to analyze the antecedent effects of select macro-economic factors: corruption, human capital, economic freedom, and entrepreneurial activity. The methodology and tests incorporated into this work provide a foundation upon which economic globalization can be better understood and better managed by policy-makers.

Committee: Rajshekhar Javalgi Ph.D (Committee Chair); Elad Granot Ph.D (Committee Member); Robert Scherer Ph.D (Committee Member); Jieun Park Ph.D (Committee Member) Subjects: Economics; Ethics; International Relations

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2014, Labor and Human Resources

Recent work on entrepreneurial opportunities (Alvarez & Barney, 2007) has suggested a type of opportunity that arises endogenously from an entrepreneurial actor, as opposed to exogenously from the environment. The "creation process" used to form and exploit these opportunities is different from previous views of entrepreneurship. This paper puts forth a new construct, entrepreneurial logic, to define the capabilities necessary to enact this process successful. Consisting of trust, creativity, and teamwork, entrepreneurial logic will help the actor that possesses it successfully create its own future by being entrepreneurial even in the absence of opportunities in its environment.

Committee: Sharon Alvarez Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Benjamin Campbell Ph.D. (Advisor) Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Management

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, 2024, Business Administration

Small towns play a critical role in shaping the economic and social fabric of many regions worldwide. Small-town entrepreneurial activity can drive innovation, economic growth, and job creation, but it also faces unique challenges and opportunities (Malecki, 2018). This thesis investigates the unique challenges and opportunities entrepreneurs face in small-town entrepreneurial ecosystems (STEEs), focusing on two case studies in Ironton and Athens, Ohio. The thesis examines the critical role of anchor institutions, community support and social capital, policy and resource provision, and innovation and diversification in shaping these ecosystems (Feld, 2012; Roundy, 2017; Stam, 2015). Through a comparative analysis, the study finds that strong community bonds, success stories, and community-building activities contribute to a supportive environment for entrepreneurship. Limited customer bases, lack of local job opportunities, and limited community support hinder growth. The presence of anchor institutions, such as universities, is a vital factor in fostering innovation and higher-paying jobs (Etzkowitz, 2008; Stangler & Bell-Masterson, 2015). The findings have implications for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and community leaders seeking to promote entrepreneurial activity in small towns and other non-urban contexts.

Committee: Luke Pittaway (Advisor) Subjects: Entrepreneurship

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Franklin University, 2023, Business Administration

The relationship between Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and the reading disorder commonly referred to as dyslexia are often studied separately in connection to entrepreneurship. ADHD and dyslexia are often comorbid conditions, but their combined effect has not been studied within entrepreneurship. This quantitative study is one of the first attempts to measure the combined impact of ADHD and dyslexia on entrepreneurial intention (EI). It is hypothesized ADHD and other conditions, such as dyslexia, might facilitate a greater likelihood of EI. Graduate level students in the United States enrolled in at least one class in an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), are surveyed. Three quantitative instruments used in prior studies are combined in a novel fashion. These three instruments are: (1). 5-point Likert 6-item Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-6; Kessler et al., 2005); (2) 20 items from the 7-point Likert Entrepreneurial Intention Questionnaire (EIQ; Linan & Chen, 2009); and (3). 5-point Likert 6-item Adult Reading History Questionnaire Brief (ARHQ-Brief; Feng et al., 2022). This research answers a call for further studies into ADHD and comorbid conditions within the field of entrepreneurship (Logan, 2009; Wiklund et al., 2018a). This study finds statistically significant results in the levels of EI between those with comorbid ADHD and dyslexia and those with ADHD Only and No Condition. However, no statistical significance was detected in those with comorbid ADHD and dyslexia compared to those with Dyslexia Only. Therefore, the findings of this study suggest that it is the comorbid condition of dyslexia that strengthens the EI in post-secondary students in an AACSB-accredited business program. While this study fills a gap in the current research by identifying comorbidity through a novel research design, further research in different population samples may provide insight into how entrepreneurial intent is acquired (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sherry Abernathy (Committee Chair); Meir Russ (Committee Member); John Suozzi (Committee Member) Subjects: Business Administration; Cultural Anthropology; Education; Entrepreneurship; Neurobiology; Psychology

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.), Franklin University, 2022, Business Administration

The practical sense of business in female entrepreneurship as it relates to the concept of intrinsic and extrinsic creative behaviors of female entrepreneurs working in the United States is the main focus of this study. The field of female entrepreneurship is growing with the participation of women with or without full-time jobs in standard employment, with or without formal business education, and with or without equal access to financial resources compared to their male counterparts. This study aims to capture the definition of success and how female entrepreneurs perceive success. Utilizing convenience sampling, this qualitative study conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 successful female entrepreneurs in a major Midwest metropolitan area. With dual roles in work and family, the female entrepreneurs engage in a role of chaotic business management and self-branding with a quest for work/life balance. Their pursuit of a lifestyle business brings about a direction of working within an area of great interest, commonly called a passion. This passion allows for exploring what the female entrepreneur enjoys and a quest to produce a profit from that inspiration. Emergent themes resulting from this study are definitions of success, pandemic challenges, entrepreneurial credibility, social networking, business investment, brand management, creativity, innovation, profit design, and authentic leadership. One core result of this qualitative study is a theory called female entrepreneurial design. The female entrepreneur creates an organizational life unique to her personal style and business brand through personal self-care and professional investment.

Committee: Kenneth Knox (Committee Chair); Bora Pajo (Committee Member); Timothy Reymann (Committee Member) Subjects: Business Administration; Business Community; Business Education; Communication; Design; Educational Leadership; Entrepreneurship; Management; Organization Theory; Organizational Behavior; Social Research; Systems Design; Womens Studies

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, 2020, Business Administration

Equity crowdfunding is a growing venture financing tool in the United States, generating ~$300 million for ventures since 2016. However, this form of financing that allows many investors to take an ownership stake in a private company is relatively new and small compared to financing vehicles like venture capital, which had a market size of ~$136.5 billion in 2019 alone. This study leverages data from a novel equity crowdfunding platform (WeFunder) to distinguish the role of financial and non-financial signals on crowdfunding success. Success here is measured holistically to include the amount of funding raised, the number of investors attracted to the venture, and the amount of funding the average investor contributed. The results of a multivariate analysis support that both financial and non-financial measures positively impact success. Moreover, number of updates and number of questions (non-financial signals) appear to be more economically significant than other entrepreneurial signals. These findings suggest the virtue of a more holistic view of both signaling and equity crowdfunding success. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are also discussed.

Committee: Ikenna Uzuegbunam (Advisor) Subjects: Business Administration; Entrepreneurship; Finance

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2020, Management

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) projects, despite significant commercial intent in the initial application process, typically do not result in clear financial success, with many successful technology outcomes falling into the “Valley of Death” without commercial application. This study investigates the antecedent effects upon Radicality and Commercial Success in SBIR projects to consider the duality of positive and negative outcomes that entrepreneurs' variance-decision styles may simultaneously induce upon innovation processes. Using the constructs of Experimentation and Planning, this study also considers the causal inference from stakeholder communication and Risk Tolerance. Entrepreneurial orientation has had considerable literature support of positive association innovation contexts. However, this study investigates the possible double-edged sword effect that variance-inducing development styles (EO) may be both a positive and negative when it comes to effects upon Commercial Success. The implications for investments in innovation and Radicality which may influence greater Commercial Success are discussed.

Committee: Jagdip Singh PhD (Committee Chair); Kalle Lyytinen PhD (Committee Member); Nicholas Berente PhD (Committee Member); Daniel Cohen PhD (Committee Member); Lori Kendall PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Management

Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 2011, Weatherhead School of Management

This thesis examines the nature, utilization, evolution, and effects of knowledge sharing by comparing two industrial regional bioscience clusters at different stages of development. First, by focusing on the lived experience of each cluster's local agents, and second by empirically investigating the impact of potential and realized specialized and technical knowledge on firm performance in each cluster. Although regional industrial clusters have been widely researched, the nature of knowledge creation and dissemination as a driving force for industrial cluster competitiveness remains unclear. Our research reveals that contrary to extant research, foreign direct investment (FDI) by multinational companies (MNCs) can impact the development of local entrepreneurial ecosystem, and spatial structure is not a significant factor in the knowledge creation and dissemination process in the clusters. Firm-level knowledge absorption capabilities, social networks, and knowledge spillovers mechanisms, in contrast, significantly correlate to the increased formation of specialized bio-science knowledge in clusters.

Committee: Bo Carlsson, Ph.D. (Advisor); Kalle Lyytinen, Ph.D. (Advisor); Sheri Perelli, D.M. (Advisor); Antoinette Somers, Ph.D. (Advisor) Subjects: Entrepreneurship

Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 2016, Weatherhead School of Management

In spite of a distinct global demand for microgrid energy, companies receive limited investments. First, we examine in a qualitative study of 21 microgrid firms and 21 investors the determinants of each other's business logic. Second, we use a sample of 118 publicly listed companies from 1991–2015 in a quantitative finance study to estimate our original microgrid business model's systematic risk, relative time-variation and cyclicality effects from macroeconomic variables. Our original microgrid business model suggested three components in the value chain: electricity supply, last mile1 electrical business services provided to the microgrid user community, and the monetization of community user intelligent power data 2analysis through product and service providers. The findings indicate 1) that private capital investors have a limited understanding of the microgrid business logic caused by translation incoherence, different mental models, and weak social networks inherent within microgrid management; 2) that the microgrid business model retains two additional unrecognized value-chains of intelligent power data and electrical business services; 3) our microgrid business model has significantly lower systematic risk relative to renewable energy firms; 4) during the 2008–2015 economic crisis cycle, our microgrid business model's systematic risk declined significantly while that for industrials increased significantly; and 5) industrial betas generate significant multivariate regression results against 90-day treasury bills (T-bills). This study exemplifies that our suggested microgrid business model has valuable implications for entrepreneurial management competencies, institutional investors that depend on systematic risk evidence for investment decisions and CEOs of utilities, industrials, renewable energy that are expanding into microgrids. 1 The last mile is the end link between consumers and connectivity and has proved to be disproportionately expensive to s (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Richard Boland, Ph.D. (Advisor); Anurag Gupta, Ph.D. (Advisor); Chris Laszlo, Ph.D. (Advisor); Kalle Lyytinen, Ph.D. (Advisor) Subjects: Energy; Systems Design

Doctor of Management, Case Western Reserve University, 2011, Weatherhead School of Management

The “Great Dilemma” of the Great Recession forced nonprofit organizations to manage the dual challenge of carrying out their missions to greater, needier constituencies and survive, with fewer resources. Despite suggestive advice garnered from seminars and practice-based sector think-tanks, there is little in the scholarly literature that would specifically inform and guide nonprofit leaders through cycles of economic adversity. This exploratory, mixed methods inquiry was intended to lay the groundwork for further examination of nonprofit performance and reliability during the Great Recession, and by extension, to subsequent episodes of economic adversity. We were guided by, and contribute to, organizational ecology and survival theory, as well as research pertaining to highly-reliable organizations to study how nonprofits managed the challenge of carrying out the organizational mission during this stressful period. We first focused on the lived experience of executive leaders, and found very clear distinctions between the most stable and most vulnerable organizations in their prevention-oriented, pre-planned stance against risk and crisis events. A second phase of the research used a conceptual model focused on mission-defensive behavior, comprised of mindful, protective, and coping mechanisms, to analyze 351 executive leader survey responses. The results indicate the impact of executive and board leadership on organizational resiliency and resourcefulness under conditions of financial duress. We found the Great Recession provoked “conflicts of commitment” (Golden-Biddle & Rao, 1997) and a willingness to engender deep financial retrenchment and deficit spending, if necessary, to keep serving constituents. However, executive-driven coping strategies and outwardly-focused orientation, augmented by mindful and protective policies, significantly improved financial resiliency and enterprising resourcefulness. We also propose a novel construct – Mission-D (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kalle Lyytinen, Ph.D. (Advisor); Paul Salipante, Ph.D. (Advisor) Subjects: Ethics; Organizational Behavior

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2019, Management

Entrepreneurs carry the mantle of simultaneously developing and managing relationships with multiple stakeholders and systems under varying conditions. This is entrepreneurial relationship management (ERM) function that entrepreneurs use to perceive, organize, implement, engage, maintain, and sustain relationships with multiple stakeholders, and to manage cross-functional relationships among different areas of business, both internally and externally. The ERM function is activated through entrepreneurial relationship management capabilities (ERMC). These capabilities are manifested in the habitual entrepreneurial relationship management practices (ERMP) of the entrepreneurs. Both the ERMC and ERMP represent a set of unique managerial resources that are central to business value creation, strategic actions, and effective business decision-making. This study seeks to better understand the capabilities and practices that underlie entrepreneurial relationship management and the conditions under which they are effective. A three-part exploratory sequential mixed methods approach was designed for the study. The qualitative study with 29 entrepreneurs and business leaders explores the entrepreneur-to-entrepreneur (E2E) ERM practices of business leaders in America and overseas. The study reveals that three practices—information behavior, interactive practices, and anxiety-uncertainty management practices—are key for E2E relationships. Study 2 uses survey data collected from 363 entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to assess information behavior and interactive practices as predictors of entrepreneurial passion and action. The result confirms the two predictors as ERM practices. Study 3 uses data collected from 321 entrepreneurs to confirm and extend the results in Study 2. The process produced two additional practices—relational mutuality practices and relational attentiveness. It also confirmed relational anxiety-uncertainty management practices as a mediating factor. These (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Paul Salipante Professor Emeritus (Committee Chair); Kalle Lyyntinen Professor (Committee Member); Cola Philip Dr. (Committee Member); Aparna Katre Dr. (Committee Member) Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Information Systems; Management

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Ohio University, 2019, Individual Interdisciplinary Program

Angel investors provide billions of dollars in capital to entrepreneurs in the United States each year. The money provided to these early-stage companies is critical for growth and expansion of these young businesses with uncertain futures. As founders interact with angel investors and the groups they form to invest in such opportunities through due diligence, each party acts upon expectations generated from a process known as anticipatory socialization. This thesis investigates anticipatory socialization in the context of entrepreneurial learning from the perspectives of entrepreneurs and angel investors. Using a mix of interviews and a case study, this exploration of the social environment uncovers the various expectations guiding the due diligence process. A documentation analysis provides data on the stated criteria and goals that each angel investor group enters due diligence with. The result of these efforts produces comprehensive learning objectives useful to guide the development of an instructional device aimed at assisting students in better understanding the anticipatory socialization process in angel investing. Since due diligence and evaluation of founders begins much earlier than entrepreneurs expect, the entrepreneur should undertake their own due diligence to discover more about the expectations of angel investors. They also must engage in self-reflection to understand their own position within the social space.

Committee: David Moore Dr. (Committee Chair); Luke Pittaway Dr. (Committee Member); Ikenna Uzuegbunam Dr. (Committee Member); Kamile Geist Dr. (Other) Subjects: Educational Technology; Entrepreneurship

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2018, Management

The U.S. Census Bureau indicates that only 1% of Black companies generate over a million dollars in sales yet they are responsible for 61% of all jobs created by minority-owned firms. How can more Black businesses be positioned to contribute? This research seeks to better understand Black business growth by employing an exploratory sequential mixed methods design approach beginning with a qualitative study followed by two quantitative studies. This three-part research project unfolds by first exploring barriers that high performing African American and non-minority firms are confronted with when trying to grow their businesses. Findings revealed that African American firms are faced with a number of different forms of racial discrimination. Gender bias is found to be a barrier for women-owned firms and access to capital is still found to be an obstacle to growth for African American firms. These barriers were overcome by leveraging numerous types of relationships, utilizing preferential procurement programs and relying on faith and prayer. The findings from the first study informed measures for a quantitative phase to determine to what extent leadership attributes such as emotional and social intelligence and faith/prayer reliance correlate with small business growth attitudes among minority entrepreneurs. Findings suggest that the sense of God at work has a positive relationship with small business attitudes, specifically the importance of sales and employment growth. Additionally, perceived shared vision fully mediates the effect of emotional and social competency inventory (ESCI) Leadership traits on the importance of sales and employment growth. It is the integration of these two studies that prompt a deeper look at Black business growth. The third study measures discriminatory business practices and its association with business growth as well as other factors that may contribute to growth. The following factors were measured: faith, entrepreneurial (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Diana Bilimoria (Committee Chair); Richard Boyatzis (Committee Member); Julie Exline (Committee Member); John Butler (Committee Member); James Gaskin (Committee Member) Subjects: African American Studies; African Americans; Business Administration; Business Community; Religion; Spirituality

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2018, Management

Traditionally, clandestine non-compliance with headquarters instructions (as included in strategic plans, procedures, policies, ways of working and delegation of authority) by subsidiary managers has been viewed as undesirable and destructively deviant. It was frowned upon as being inspired by motives such as self-interest, dissatisfaction and low commitment among others; however, this is not always true. This dissertation demonstrates that subsidiary managers sometimes have honorable intentions when they covertly engage in non-compliance with headquarters instructions. It thus contributes to the embryonic research stream of constructive or positive deviance at the individual unit of analysis level by elucidating the factors influencing such initiatives. Being able to identify which factors influence constructive deviant behaviors helps us predict its manifestation and possibly nurture the potential benefits of such actions. This study adopts a sequential exploratory mixed methods approach and focuses on the feedback of subsidiary managers to investigate the phenomenon. Initially, the qualitative study examined how and why subsidiary managers responded to headquarters' instructions. Employing semi-structured opened-ended interviews, I asked subsidiary managers in Guyana to share their experiences with these instructions—instances of compliance and non-compliance. Forty-six percent (46%) of the experiences shared by subsidiary managers were non-compliant in nature but had honorable intentions and were influence by relaxed headquarters control, information asymmetry and a feeling of being constrained. Using the findings of this research, I developed a model which I sought to validate using a cross-sectional quantitative method. This research was extended to subsidiary managers of English-speaking countries which were part of the British Empire. I found that independent subsidiary initiatives (an example of constructive deviance) were positively and directly im (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Kalle Lyytinen (Committee Chair); Richard Boland (Committee Member); Florian Becker-Ritterspach (Committee Chair); Adrian Wolfberg (Committee Member) Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Management; Organizational Behavior

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, 2017, Business Administration

This thesis examines the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) military intelligence Unit 8200 and its propensity for producing successful high-tech entrepreneurs. The paper begins with a historical background of Unit 8200 and a description of its current state. It then introduces Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) as a conceptual framework for analysis. To assess the EO of Unit 8200 alumni, three methods are utilized: semi-structured interviews with members of Israel's startup community supplemented by relevant media reports, computer-aided-textual-analysis (CATA) of Initial Public Offering (IPO) prospectuses from firms founded by Unit alumni, and financial ratio analysis of those same firms. The results show that these companies have a higher propensity for autonomy, risk-taking, and innovativeness than industry peers. It also showed a negative propensity for proactiveness.

Committee: Ikenna Uzuegbunam (Advisor) Subjects: Entrepreneurship

Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, 2016, Management

The number of nascent entrepreneurs continues to decline, and for those that do try entrepreneurship, it often does not stick—they try it and move on to other careers. Heightening our understanding of what motivates and guides the actions of nascent entrepreneurs is key to addressing these negative trends. The current literature has examined passion; although, for people who have never launched an entrepreneurial venture, passion seems less relevant. Thus, in this study, we conceptualize anticipatory entrepreneurial passion (AEP). AEP is the anticipation of intense positive feelings associated with engaging in entrepreneurial activities meaningful to a “future self” identity. AEP was empirically tested to analyze how it changes over time. The relationship between effort and affect and affect and effort is simultaneously tested to settle disparate findings in the literature. The use of a longitudinal design measuring variables over seven time periods allows a basis for causal claims. Key findings include that AEP is both a malleable and enduring emotion and that AEP in current time period predicts AEP in subsequent time periods. In terms of the effort to affect debate, findings suggest that these variables are causally interlinked. Deepening our understanding of the key variables under study that impacts the development and motivation of nascent entrepreneurs is of interest to academics involved in teaching and researching entrepreneurship as well as practitioners that are either embarking on an entrepreneurial career or for mentors that may be advising nascent entrepreneurs.

Committee: Jagdip Singh PhD (Committee Chair); Melissa Cardon PhD (Committee Member); Kalle Lyytinen PhD (Committee Member); Casey Newmeyer PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Management

PHD, Kent State University, 2016, College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Ambassador Crawford / Department of Finance

This dissertation contains two essays that study the credit channel and ownership structure in entrepreneurial firms. In the first essay, we study the trade credit and bank credit usage among entrepreneurial firms. Even during the latest credit crunch, there is no substitution between supplier and bank lending among the young firms. The overwhelming majority of firms borrowing from suppliers have sufficient undrawn amounts in their revolving bank lines to cover their financing needs. When firms have trouble obtaining bank credit, trade credit actually declines. Therefore, supplier lending is unlikely to be the financing form of last resort. Suppliers' lending decisions are primarily driven by a client's sales, whereas banks' lending decisions are not tied to firms' financial conditions. Availability of trade credit does not help to obtain bank credit, and vice versa. In the second essay, we examine ownership structure among a panel of entrepreneurial firms. Variations in these firms' ownership structure are overwhelmingly determined by the unobserved firm fixed effects. After we control for firm fixed effects, there is no relation between ownership structure and firm performance. More importantly, despite a lack of resale markets for their shares, these firms show substantial ownership structure changes over time, and growth potential and demand for external capital seems to be main reason why some firms dilute their ownership structure. Using both a propensity score matching method and a difference-in-difference regression method, we do not find evidence that ownership structure changes affect subsequent firm performance among our sample firms. Finally, ownership structure does not affect firms' survival probability.

Committee: Xiaoling Pu (Committee Co-Chair); Michael Hu (Committee Co-Chair); John Thornton (Committee Member) Subjects: Finance

PHD, Kent State University, 2015, College of Business and Entrepreneurship, Ambassador Crawford / Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Research has shown that new product development's (NPD) impact on firm performance is ever important to a firm's competitive position, as it enhances competitive differentiation, establishes entry barriers to markets, and increases revenues and profits (e.g. Cooper 2011; Chen et al. 2010). Technology in today's markets has provided customers with greater information and the ability to communicate with companies on a global scale. With the growing transparency between firms and customers, more firms are utilizing customer participation in the NPD process, a collaborative NPD activity in which customers and firms create new knowledge and value through mutual, ongoing interactions (Blazevic and Lievens 2008). Research has shown that firms that utilize customers in NPD are expected to be more innovative (Fang et al. 2008) and have greater financial performance (Coviello and Joseph 2012). While initial empirical studies seem promising, much work still remains. The majority of research has focused on specific contexts, user groups, and has relied on case studies. This dissertation seeks to expand the nomological net of customer participation in NPD by examining its antecedents, consequences, and boundary conditions of its effectiveness in a more generalized context. While gaining insight from customers may be advantageous to develop new products, firms must be able to internalize the information in order to capitalize on it and must possess the resources and capabilities to maximize its effectiveness. As such, organizational learning theory, the resource based view and its extension, the dynamic capabilities literature, help guide the arguments in this dissertation. This research suggests that not all firms may wish to integrate customers into the NPD process and customer participation's effectiveness may be contingent upon a firm's absorptive capacity -- the ability to acquire, transform, assimilate, and exploit external knowledge and apply it to commercial ends (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Sergey Anokhin Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Robert Jewell Ph.D. (Committee Member); Eric Johnson Ph.D. (Committee Member); Joakim Wincent Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Entrepreneurship; Marketing