Production
https://prod.org.br/article/doi/10.1590/0103-6513.20190078
Production
Thematic Section - Present and Future of Production Engineering

Lean Mentorship: Fitting external support to entrepreneur needs over the startup development

Rafael Barbosa de Aguiar; Diego Souza Silva; Carla Schwengber ten Caten; Luiz Carlos Pinto Silva Filho

Downloads: 0
Views: 888

Abstract

Abstract: Paper aims: The present paper aims at exploring aspects of the mentoring process within the practice of technology entrepreneurship, also postulating a new concept, the lean mentorship.

Originality: Although literature examines the effects and nature of mentoring in a variety of contexts, this study pioneers by addressing the mentorship process from the lean startup perspective.

Research method: The study was structured as an exploratory research, drawing on extant literature and a focus group comprised of scholars and practitioners with key roles within an entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem. The group’s discussion was analyzed along with extant literature.

Main findings: The paper further debates and provides insightful perceptions of the key characteristics of the mentorship process, such as the roles of mentors and mentees, the differences and similarities with coaching, and aspects mentorship providers should consider before exposing entrepreneurs.

Implications for theory and practice: The main practical and theoretical contributions of this research are exactly the pioneering nature with regard to the lean startup perspective concerning mentoring. Additionally, conclusions suggests that mentoring providers should engage in experimentations to identify the moment in which entrepreneurs will best benefit from the provision, also mitigating waste of resources, such as time and expenses.

Keywords

Technology entrepreneurship, Experimentation, Mentoring, Coaching, Entrepreneurial ecosystem

References

Acs, Z. J., Audretsch, D. B., & Lehmann, E. E. (2013). The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 41(4), 757-774. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11187-013-9505-9.

Agarwal, R., Audretsch, D., & Sarkar, M. B. (2007). The process of creative construcction: knowledge spillovers, entrepreneurship, and economic growth. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 1(3-4), 263-286. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/sej.36.

Antoncic, B., & Hisrich, R. D. (2003). Clarifying the intrapreneurship concept. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 10(1), 7-24. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14626000310461187.

Arrow, K. J. (1962a). Economic Welfare and the Allocation of Resources for Invention. In Rowley C.K. (Eds.), The rate and direction of inventive activity: economic and social factors (pp. 609-626).London: Palgrave. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/9781400879762-024.

Arrow, K. J. (1962b). The economic implications of learning by doing. The Review of Economic Studies, 29(3), 155-173. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2295952.

Arruda, C., Nogueira, V., Cozzi, A., & Costa, V. (2014). Causas da mortalidade de startups brasileiras. Núcleo de Inovação e Empreendedorismo, Fundação Dom Cabral.

Audretsch, D. B., & Keilbach, M. (2008). Resolving the knowledge paradox : knowledge-spillover entrepreneurship and economic growth. Research Policy, 37(10), 1697-1705. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2008.08.008.

Audretsch, D. B., & Lehmann, E. E. (2005). Does the knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship hold for regions? Research Policy, 34(8), 1191-1202. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2005.03.012.

Audretsch, D. B., & Thurik, A. R. (2001). What’s new about the new economy? Sources of growth in the managed and entrepreneurial economies. Industrial and Corporate Change, 10(1), 267-315. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icc/10.1.267.

Audretsch, D. B., Hülsbeck, M., & Lehmann, E. E. (2012). Regional competitiveness, university spillovers, and entrepreneurial activity. Small Business Economics, 39(3), 587-601. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11187-011-9332-9.

Audretsch, D. B., Keilbach, M. C., & Lehmann, E. E. (2006). Entrepreneurship and economic growth. New York: Oxford University Press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195183511.001.0001.

Auerbach, C. F., & Silverstein, L. B. (2003). Qualitative data: an introduction to coding and analysis (vol. 53). New York: New York University Press.

Bajwa, S. S., Wang, X., Nguyen Duc, A., & Abrahamsson, P. (2017). “Failures” to be celebrated: an analysis of major pivots of software startups. Empirical Software Engineering, 22(5), 2373-2408. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10664-016-9458-0.

Baluku, M. M., Leonsio, M., Bantu, E., & Otto, K. (2019). The impact of autonomy on the relationship between mentoring and entrepreneurial intentions among youth in Germany, Kenya, and Uganda. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, 25(2), 170-192. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-10-2017-0373.

Blank, S. G. (2013). Why the lean start up changes everything. Harvard Business Review, 91(5), 64.

Bloor, M., Frankland, J., Thomas, M., & Robson, K. (2001). Focus groups in social research. London: Sage. http://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781849209175.

Brashear-Alejandro, T., Barksdale, H., Bellenger, D. N., Boles, J. S., & James, C. (2019). Mentoring characteristics and functions: mentoring’s influence on salespeople. Journal of Business and Industrial Marketing, 34(2), 303-316. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JBIM-09-2017-0223.

Caten, C. S., Silva, D. S., Aguiar, R. B., Silva Filho, L. C. P., & Huerta, J. M. P. (2019). Reshaping engineering learning to promote innovative entrepreneurial behavior. Brazilian Journal of Operations & Production Management, 16(1), 141-148. http://dx.doi.org/10.14488/BJOPM.2019.v16.n1.a13.

Cholakova, M., & Clarysse, B. (2015). Does the possibility to make equity investments in crowdfunding projects crowd out reward-based investments? Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 39(1), 145-172. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/etap.12139.

Clarysse, B., & Bruneel, J. (2007). Nurturing and growing innovative start‐ups: the role of policy as integrator. R & D Management, 37(2), 139-149. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9310.2007.00463.x.

Cooper, S. Y., & Park, J. S. (2008). The impact of “incubator” organizations on opportunity recognition and technology innovation in new, entrepreneurial high-technology ventures. International Small Business Journal, 26(1), 27-56. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0266242607084658.

De Cock, R., Bruneel, J., & Bobelyn, A. (2019). Making the lean start-up method work: the role of prior market knowledge. Journal of Small Business Management, 1-21. In press. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12506.

Díez-Vial, I., & Fernández-Olmos, M. (2016). The effect of science and technology parks on a firm’s performance: a dynamic approach over time. Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, 29(10), 1-14.

Eisenmann, T., Ries, E., & Dillard, S. (2011). Hypothesis-driven entrepreneurship: the lean startup. (Harvard Business School Background, Note 812-095). Retrieved in 2019, July 09, from https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/item.aspx?num=41302

El Hallam, H., & St-Jean, É. (2016). Nurturing entrepreneurial learning through mentoring. Journal of Developmental Entrepreneurship, 21(02), 1-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S1084946716500126.

Endeavor. (2015). Índice de cidades empreendedoras. Endeavor Brasil. Retrieved in 2019, July 09, from http://info.endeavor.org.br/ice2015

Ensher, E., Murphy, S., & Vance, C. (2000). Mentoring and self-management career strategies for entrepreneurs. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, 1(2), 99-108. http://dx.doi.org/10.5367/000000000101298595.

Euchner, J. (2016). Business model innovation. Research Technology Management, 59(3), 10-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08956308.2016.1161396.

Frederiksen, D. L., & Brem, A. (2017). How do entrepreneurs think they create value? A scientific reflection of Eric Ries’ Lean Startup approach. The International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 13(1), 169-189. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11365-016-0411-x.

Ganguly, A., & Euchner, J. (2018). Conducting business experiments. Research Technology Management, 61(2), 27-36. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08956308.2018.1421381.

Gartner, W. B., Starr, J. A., & Bhat, S. (1998). Predicting new venture survival: an analysis of ‘anatomy of a start-up’ cases from Inc. Magazine. Journal of Business Venturing, 14(2), 215-232. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(97)00063-3.

Gurdon, M. A., & Samsom, K. J. (2010). A longitudinal study of success and failure among scientist-started ventures. Technovation, 30(3), 207-214. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2009.10.004.

Hansford, B., Tennent, L., & Ehrich, L. C. (2002). Business mentoring: help or hindrance? Mentoring & Tutoring, 10(2), 101-115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1361126022000002428.

Hu, Q., Mason, R., Williams, S. J., & Found, P. (2015). Lean implementation within SMEs: a literature review. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 26(7), 980-1012. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/JMTM-02-2014-0013.

International Association of Science Parks and Innovation. (2017). Definitions – IASP. Retrieved in 2019, July 09, from https://www.iasp.ws/Our-industry/Definitions

International Coach Federation. (2018). ICF definition of coaching. Lexington: ICF.

Klofsten, M., & Öberg, S. (2012). Coaching versus mentoring: are there any differences? In A. Groen, R. Oakey, P. Van Der Sijde & G. Cook (Eds.), New technology-based firms in the new millennium (New Technology Based Firms in the New Millennium, vol. 9, pp. 39-47), Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1876-0228(2012)0000009006.

Kram, K. E., & Isabella, L. A. (1985). Mentoring alternatives: the role of peer relationships in career development. Academy of Management Journal, 28(1), 110-132.

Krueger, R. A., & Casey, M. A. (2014). Focus groups: a practical guide for applied research (5th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

Kurtulmuş, B. E., & Warner, B. (2015). Entrepreneurial orientation and perceived financial performance – Does environment always moderate EO performance relation. Procedia: Social and Behavioral Sciences, 207, 739-748. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.10.151.

Lean Enterprise Institute. (2019). What is lean? Retrieved in 2019, July 09, from https://www.lean.org/WhatsLean/

Lenarduzzi, V., Taibi, D., & Link, S. (2016, Aug-Sept 31-02). MVP explained: a systematic mapping study on the definitions of minimal viable product. In 42nd Euromicro Conference on Software Engineering and Advanced Applications (SEAA) (pp. 112-119). Limassol: IEEE. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/SEAA.2016.56.

Lester, S. W., Meglino, B. M., & Korsgaard, M. A. (2008). The role of other orientation in organizational citizenship behavior. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 29(6), 829-841. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/job.504.

Löfsten, H., & Lindelöf, P. (2001). Science parks in Sweden - industrial renewal and development? R & D Management, 31(3), 309-322. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1467-9310.00219.

Löfsten, H., & Lindelöf, P. (2005). R&D networks and product innovation patterns - Academic and non-academic new technology-based firms on Science Parks. Technovation, 25(9), 1025-1037. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2004.02.007.

Mansoori, Y., Karlsson, T., & Lundqvist, M. (2019). The influence of the lean startup methodology on entrepreneur-coach relationships in the context of a startup accelerator. Technovation, 84-85(February), 1-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2019.03.001.

Maurya, A. (2012). Running lean (2nd ed.). Sebastopol: O’Reilly Media.

Merriam, S. B., & Tisdell, E. J. (2009). Qualitative research: a guide do design and implementation (4th ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Inc.

Mian, S. A. (1997). Assessing and managing the university technology business incubator: an integrative framework. Journal of Business Venturing, 12(4), 251-285. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0883-9026(96)00063-8.

Miles, M. B., & Huberman, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: an expanded sourcebook (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

Mishra, D., Jain, S. K., & Chaudhary, H. (2016). Analysing the feasibility of financial rewards for mentors engaged in entrepreneurial mentoring. International Journal of Evidence Based Coaching and Mentoring, 14(2), 135-218.

Monticelli, J. M., Bernardon, R., & Trez, G. (2018). Family as an institution: the influence of institutional forces in transgenerational family businesses. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Research. In press. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-10-2017-0403

Moore, J. H., & Wang, Z. (2017). Mentoring top leadership promotes organizational innovativeness through psychological safety and is moderated by cognitive adaptability. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00318.

Morrison, A., & Bergin‐Seers, S. (2002). Pro‐growth small businesses: learning “architecture.”. Journal of Management Development, 21(5), 388-400. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/02621710210426871.

Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business model generation: a handbook for visionaries, game changers, and challengers. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

Power, B. (2014). How GE applies lean startup practices. Harvard Business Review, 13-15. Retrieved in 2019, July 09, from https://hbr.org/2014/04/how-ge-applies-lean-startup-practices/

Ratinho, T., & Henriques, E. (2010). The role of science parks and business incubators in converging countries: Evidence from Portugal. Technovation, 30(4), 278-290. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2009.09.002.

Ries, E. (2008). The lean startup. Retrieved in 2019, July 09, from http://www.startuplessonslearned.com/2008/09/lean-startup.html

Ries, E. (2011). The lean startup. New York: Crown Business.

Ries, E. (2017). The startup way: how modern companies use entrepreneurial management to transform culture and drive long-term growth. New York: Currency.

Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2016). Research methods for business students (7th ed., vol. 53). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Schockett, M. R., & Haring-Hidore, M. (1985). Factor analytic support for psychosocial and vocational mentoring functions. Psychological Reports, 57(2), 627-630. http://dx.doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1985.57.2.627.

Serviço de Apoio as Micros Empresas. (2014). Micro e pequenas empresas geram 27% do PIB do Brasil. Brasilia: Sebrae.

Serviço de Apoio as Micros Empresas. (2015). Participação das micro e pequenas empresas na economia brasileira. Brasilia: Sebrae.

Silva, C. R. E. (2010). Orientação Profissional, mentoring, coaching e counseling: algumas singularidades e similaridades em práticas. Revista Brasileira de Orientação Profissional, 11(2), 299-309.

Squicciarini, M. (2009). Science parks, knowledge spillovers, and firms’ innovative performance. Evidence from finland. (Economics Discussion Papers, No. 2009-32). Kiel Institute for the World Economy. Retrieved in 2019, July 09, from http://www.economics-ejournal.org/economics/discussionpapers/2009-32

Stayton, J., & Mangematin, V. (2018). Seed accelerators and the speed of new venture creation. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 44(4), 1-25.

St-Jean, E. (2012). Mentoring as professional development for novice entrepreneurs: maximizing the learning. International Journal of Training and Development, 16(3), 200-216. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2419.2012.00404.x.

St-Jean, E., & Audet, J. (2012). The role of mentoring in the learning development of the novice entrepreneur. The International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 8(1), 119-140. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11365-009-0130-7.

St-Jean, E., & Audet, J. (2013). The effect of mentor intervention style in novice entrepreneur mentoring relationships. Mentoring & Tutoring, 21(1), 96-119. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13611267.2013.784061.

St-Jean, É., & Mathieu, C. (2015). Developing attitudes toward an entrepreneurial career through mentoring. Journal of Career Development, 42(4), 325-338. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0894845314568190.

Strauss, A. C., & Corbin, J. (2008). Basics of qualitative research: techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publications Inc. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781452230153.

Szulanski, G. (1996). Exploring internal stickiness: impediments to the transfer of best practice within the firm. Strategic Management Journal, 17(S2), 27-43. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250171105.

Ting, S. X., Feng, L., & Qin, W. (2017). The effect of entrepreneur mentoring and its determinants in the Chinese context. Management Decision, 55(7), 1410-1425. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/MD-07-2016-0477.

Waters, L., McCabe, M., Kiellerup, D., & Kiellerup, S. (2002). The role of formal mentoring on business success and self-esteem in participantes of a new start-up program. Journal of Business and Psychology, 17(1), 107-121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1016252301072.

Weinberg, F. J. (2019). How and when is role modeling effective? The influence of mentee professional identity on mentoring dynamics and personal learning outcomes. Group & Organization Management, 44(2), 425-477. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1059601119838689.

Wu, X., Lyu, Y., Kwan, H. K., & Zhai, H. (2019). The impact of mentoring quality on protégés’ organization-based self-esteem and proactive behavior: the moderating role of traditionality. Human Resource Management, 58(4), 417-430. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hrm.21968.

Yang, X., Sun, S. L., & Zhao, X. (2019). Search and execution: examining the entrepreneurial cognitions behind the lean startup model. Small Business Economics, 52(3), 667-679. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11187-017-9978-z.

Yin, R. K. (2011). Qualitative research: from start to finish. New York: The Guilford Press.
 

5ddecdf00e88254d417279a1 production Articles
Links & Downloads

Production

Share this page
Page Sections