When new markets and powerful institutions collide : how mission-driven entrepreneurs form strategy, organize, and compete

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
This dissertation explores how entrepreneurs form strategy, organize, and compete in nascent markets that emerge within institutional fields. In these settings, entrepreneurs face the dual challenges of creating successful ventures while also navigating (and perhaps changing) the institutional field. Despite the challenges, nascent markets within institutional fields offer enormous potential for both financial success and social impact—a particularly attractive combination for mission-driven entrepreneurs. Yet, prior research overlooks how entrepreneurs form successful strategies, organize their ventures, and compete with rivals in these challenging but important settings. Given limited theoretical understanding and empirical evidence, I use a multiple-case theory-building approach to explore the nascent MOOC (massive open online course) market that emerged within the field of U.S. higher education. I present three related emergent theoretical frameworks. The first, Mavericks and Diplomats, identifies two contrasting but effective processes to form strategy in nascent markets within institutional fields. The second, Mission and Money, explores competition over time between ventures that organize as hybrids by integrating the logics of multiple institutions. The third, The Pain of the Pivot, unpacks the often-painful processes of enacting significant changes in a venture's strategy, commonly referred to as pivoting. Jointly, these three theoretical frameworks provide novel insights into how mission-driven entrepreneurs form strategy, organize, and compete when new markets collide with powerful institutions. Overall, this dissertation contributes to strategy, entrepreneurship, and organizations research and practice.

Description

Type of resource text
Form electronic resource; remote; computer; online resource
Extent 1 online resource.
Place California
Place [Stanford, California]
Publisher [Stanford University]
Copyright date 2021; ©2021
Publication date 2021; 2021
Issuance monographic
Language English

Creators/Contributors

Author Volmar, Eric Bradley
Degree supervisor Eisenhardt, Kathleen M
Thesis advisor Eisenhardt, Kathleen M
Thesis advisor Byers, Thomas (Thomas H.)
Thesis advisor Eesley, Charles
Thesis advisor Katila, Riitta
Degree committee member Byers, Thomas (Thomas H.)
Degree committee member Eesley, Charles
Degree committee member Katila, Riitta
Associated with Stanford University, Department of Management Science and Engineering

Subjects

Genre Theses
Genre Text

Bibliographic information

Statement of responsibility Eric Volmar.
Note Submitted to the Department of Management Science and Engineering.
Thesis Thesis Ph.D. Stanford University 2021.
Location https://purl.stanford.edu/tw526wy4163

Access conditions

Copyright
© 2021 by Eric Bradley Volmar
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

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