HHL Leipzig Graduate School of Management

Abstract Education intricately shapes human behavior, including entrepreneurial endeavors. Recent academic discussions have focused on entrepreneurial education programs and their effects on firm’s performance, thereby overlooking behavioral implications. However, this research domain is particularly important for entrepreneurs without academic entrepreneurship-related education, potentially lacking theoretical skills, knowledge, and access to resources. Adopting grounded theory methodology, this study analyzes interview data from 41 entrepreneurs. The findings demonstrate the interplay of education-related starting challenges, entrepreneurial motivation and entrepreneurial characteristics, influencing entrepreneurial behavior. In a new conceptual framework, the three identified coping mechanisms using self-learning opportunities, learning through practical experience and actively looking for support, play a central role in overcoming potential disadvantages. This study thus contributes to the academic discussion of entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial behavior opening various avenues for further research. Furthermore, it provides practical implications for entrepreneurs, policy makers, organizations and institutions.

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of board gender diversity on corporate engagement in the Science‐Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Drawing from stakeholder and resource dependence theories, we hypothesize that increased female representation on boards strengthens a firm's adherence to scientifically validated climate targets. Our research encompasses all capital market–oriented firms actively engaged in the SBTi from 2015 to 2023 in Europe and North America, complemented by a control group of firms with similar characteristics. We apply coarsened exact matching and instrumental variable probit models to control for potential endogeneity and ensure the robustness of our analysis. The results indicate a positive relationship between board gender diversity and SBTi engagement. This research enriches the growing body of literature on SBTi, underscoring the role of board gender diversity in enhancing corporate environmental responsibility and offering practical insights into how improved governance can advance sustainability strategies.

Purpose Local humanitarian supply chains (HSCs) have experienced increasing social and ecological pressures over the past two decades. Enhancing their social-ecological resilience (SER) has thus become increasingly important. Surprisingly, the existing supply chain management literature does not provide unified theoretical explanations or practical guidelines for the SER construct. This study aims to fill this gap. Design/methodology/approach The authors investigate the antecedents of SER in local HSCs employing a qualitative empirical study of cataract camps in Africa, using semi-structured in-depth interviews with relevant experts and subsequent qualitative data analysis. Findings The findings highlight that while conventional resilience typically depends on the robustness and flexibility of associated HSCs, their SER is primarily determined by their actors’ engagement with the local conditions shaped by the regional communities, regulations, and environments. Originality/value The study offers a novel theoretical understanding and practical application of the SER construct in an HSC context, shedding light on regional challenges and opportunities. HSC managers and policymakers can build on them to shape the SER profile of their local HSCs.

Abstract Over the past decades, the business incubation literature has examined how and to what extent specific strategies and business models influence the performance of this entrepreneurial support mechanism. Although the literature profoundly impacts the understanding of how business incubators support entrepreneurs, the current literature is fragmented and lacks generalizability. In particular, an integrated overview of how to develop strategies and business models for business incubators remains incomplete. Since the performance of a business incubator depends on the development and alignment of its strategy and business model, scientists and practitioners are still debating the effectiveness of business incubators. This systematic literature review addresses the fragmentation and lack of generalizability of strategy and business model development by analyzing 41 research papers to summarize the existing literature. Building on these insights, this study proposes a dynamic framework to simplify the development of business incubation strategies and business models, aiming to improve performance. The results also suggest new research avenues and offer actionable guidelines for business incubator managers and stakeholders involved to provide a reference for improving support for entrepreneurs.

Research traditionally takes a strongly rationalistic perspective on the usage of ethically ambiguous negotiation tactics (EANT) by implying that negotiators primarily use these tactics as a choice of a conscious decision-making process because they anticipate gaining an advantage from them. However, doubts articulated by Rees et al. (2019) led this study to challenge this perspective and to examine the extent to which EANT may also be grounded in non-rational factors. Using the answers from 495 experienced practitioners, we measure EANT frequency and appropriateness using the SINS II scale and assess the factors for their application using a scale inspired by Thompson (1998). We find that 42% of the factors leading to the application of EANT are non-rational and note that this share increases as tactics are perceived as less appropriate. Additionally, we examine gender, age, negotiation experience, negotiation training, industry, and culture, as further independent variables on the share of non-rational factors in the application of EANT. We posit that people use EANT not only for their own benefit, but also rather as an intuitive reaction to the encountered situations. This perspective significantly influences how to deal with EANT: it is not just about resolving an ethical dilemma but also about managing encountered negotiation settings.

ABSTRACT Public value theory argues that public value emerges from collectively shared individual need fulfilment. The perception of public value is expected to yield effects comparable to those resulting from the satisfaction of individual needs – for instance, with respect to the experience of flow. In a design with two measurement waves (N1&2 = 797) in one of the largest German public administrations, we found evidence for our model that the perception of public value is positively related to future purposeful goal setting, and purpose is positively related to professional self-efficacy beliefs. Thus, public value-related need fulfilment fosters the long-term development of flow, sequentially mediated by purpose- and self-efficacy-related implicit beliefs.

Abstract This article analyses how firms enhance their dynamic capabilities through open innovation activities. While previous research has acknowledged the potential of integrating dynamic capabilities and open innovation, existing studies are fragmented in that they neither build upon one another nor offer a comprehensive framework. Instead, they often focus on isolated aspects of dynamic capabilities, resulting in disparate, incoherent insights. This fragmentation hinders the development of actionable insights for organizations aiming to systematically enhance their innovation processes through open innovation. To address this issue, we conducted a systematic literature review to identify key dimensions that link open innovation activities to the sensing, seizing and transforming phases—the core components of dynamic capabilities. The resulting framework offers an integrative perspective that goes beyond fragmented research findings and provides a structured approach to operationalizing open innovation. The framework transitions open innovation from an abstract concept to a practical tool that can be systematically embedded into firms’ innovation processes. Additionally, by situating dynamic capabilities within the context of innovation management, the framework expands their theoretical and practical utility. This study provides actionable insights for practitioners and establishes a consolidated foundation for future research, thus enhancing the theoretical and practical impacts of open innovation.

ABSTRACT Purpose/Rationale European elite football often fails to translate its economic success story and revenue growth into financially viable businesses. This paper aims to extend the current research on financial performance in European football, adding a significant but missing pan-European comparison to the research field. It analyzes the bankruptcy likelihood of clubs in four leading European football leagues from 2017–2022. Approach We use Altman’s Z-Score to assess the financial risks of 88 clubs in England (28), Spain (23), Germany (17), and Italy (20) that played in the national top division for at least one season during the period under review. Panel regression is used to assess the impact of five performance variables on Z-Scores. Data were sourced from dissecting clubs’ annual accounts and extracted from other football financial databases. Findings The results show significant financial distress across European football clubs. The analysis emphasizes that the COVID pandemic has exacerbated clubs’ financial challenges, but not caused them. However, the absence of spectators due to COVID restrictions did aggravate the situation, as stadium utilization positively correlated to Z-Scores. Fixed-effects panel regressions show that a balanced wages-to-revenue ratio is a critical performance metric for improving Z-Scores. Practical Implications European football needs collective governance efforts to enforce stricter financial discipline post-COVID and remedy its financial situation. Research Contribution The findings have significant implications for policymakers, club managers, and investors, highlighting the financial risks across Europe’s the four leading football leagues. Originality This first pan-European analysis compares clubs across different geographies, thus extending existing country-view work/approaches.