Seminar "Opportunities in Entrepreneurship"

1. Topics

The recognition of opportunities has frequently been characterized as the distinctive attribute of entrepreneurship. Opportunities predominantly stem from changes on the supply side (e.g. new products, processes) and demand side (e.g. new geographic markets). In this respect, the seminar will focus on the innovation and internationaliza-tion activities of new ventures to achieve competitive advantage.

2. Target Group

This seminar targets students from Business Administration and Management and Economics. It is also recommended (but not required) for students that have attended or are planning to attend the lecture “A Primer in Entrepreneurship”. Students from Business Administration and Management and Economics can use the credit points for the course as follows:

PPO2001/Oec: Wahlpflichtbereich BWL 5

PPO2001/Oec: Wahlpflichtbereich MM 2

PPO2001/Oec: Wahlpflichtbereich ME 2

BA: Wahlpflichtbereich BWL 5

3. Application

The seminar is limited to a maximum of 30 students (first come, first served). Please indicate your willingness to participate by August 14, 2009, by e-mail to entrepreneurship@isu.uzh.ch. The papers will be randomly assigned to groups of two. If you have preferences with respect to the person you want to work with, please let us know his/her name in your e-mail.

4. Program

• Introductory session: Participants are required to read the introductory papers in the literature list (6.1). This session will provide an overview of the topic and guidelines on how to prepare the paper presentation.
• Presentation: Groups of two students need to present one paper. Moreover, a handout/copy of the slides needs to be prepared for each student in class. The papers to be presented will be assigned randomly.
• Credit Points: The seminar is worth 3 ECTS points. Students in the PPO 2001-program will receive credits on a pass/fail-base; there are no grades. Students in the Bachelor program will receive grades. To obtain the credit points, the following requirements have to be fulfilled: Presentation (40%), slides/handout (30%)and active participation during the seminar (30%).

5. Schedule

The preliminary schedule is as follows:

11.09.2009: Introductory session

30.10.2009: Block I

31.10.2009: Block II

6. Literature

6.1 Compulsory introductory reading

Audretsch, D.B. (2009), The Entrepreneurial Society, Journal of Technology Transfer 34, 245-254.

Frank, H., G. Mitterer (2009), Opportunity Recognition – State of the Art und Forschungsperspektiven, Zeitschrift für Betriebswirtschaft 79, 367-406.

Zahra, S.A. (2008), The Virtuous Cycle of Discovery and Creation of Entrepreneurial Opportunities, Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal 2 (3), 243-257.

6.2 Papers to be selected for presentation

Audretsch, D.B. and M. Keilbach (2008), Resolving the Knowledge Paradox: Knowledge-Spillover Entrepreneurship and Economic Growth, Research Policy 37, 1697-1705.

Autio, E., H.J. Sapienza and J.G. Almeida (2000), Effects of Age at Entry, Knowledge Intensity, and Imitability on International Growth, Academy of Management Journal 43 (5), 909-924.

Fan, T., P. Phan (2007), International New Ventures: Revisiting the Influences Behind the 'Born-Global' Firm, Journal of International Business Studies 38 (7), 1113-1131.

Gilbert, B., P. P. McDougall, D. B. Audretsch (2008), Clusters, Knowledge Spillovers and New Venture Performance: An Empirical Examination, Journal of Business Venturing 23 (4), 405-422.

Katila, R. (2002), New Product Search over Time: Past Ideas in Their Prime?, Academy of Management Journal 45, 995-1010.

Katila, R. and G. Ahuja (2002), Something Old, Something New: A Longitudinal Study of Search Behavior and New Product Introduction, Academy of Management Journal 45 (6), 1183-1194.

McDougall, P.P. and B.M. Oviatt (2000), International Entrepreneurship: The Intersection of Two Research Paths, Academy of Management Journal 43 (5), 902-906.

Laursen, K. and A. Salter (2006), Open for Innovation: The Role of Openness in Explaining Innovation Performance among U.K. Manufacturing Firms, Strategic Management Journal 27, 131-150.

Oviatt, B.M. and P.P. McDougall (1994), Toward a Theory of International New Ventures, Journal of International Business Studies 36 (1), 29-41.

Rao, R.S., R.K. Chandy and J.C. Prabhu (2008), The Fruits of Legitimacy:Why Some New Ventures Gain More from Innovation Than Others, Journal of Marketing 72 (4), 58-75.

Sapienza, H., A. Parhankangas, E. Autio (2004), Knowledge relatedness and post-spin-off growth, Journal of Business Venturing 19 (6), 809-829.

Shane, S. (2000), Prior Knowledge and the Discovery of Entrepreneurial Opportunities, Organization Science 11(4), 448-469.

Zahra, S.A. (1995), Corporate Entrepreneurship and Financial Performance: The Case of Management Leveraged Buyouts, Journal of Business Venturing 10, 225-247.

Zahra, S.A. (1996), Governance, Ownership and Corporate Entrepreneurship: The Moderating Impact of Industry Technological Opportunities, Academy of Management Journal 39 (6), 1713-1735.

Zahra, S.A., R.D. Ireland and M.A. Hitt (2000), International Expansion by New Technology Firms: International Diversity, Mode of Entry, Technological Learning and Performance, Academy of Management Journal 43 (5), 925-950.

Zimmermann, J., C. Grimpe and W. Sofka (2009), Young, Open and International: The Impact of Search Strategies on the Internationalization of New Ventures, ZEW Discussion Paper No. 09-017, Mannheim.