The research objective of this study was to explore how the startup idea development progress was experienced by entrepreneurs and how the Lean Startup Approach (LSA) affected that progress in early stage high-tech entrepreneurship. The Lean Startup movement has gained a lot of traction not only in the Silicon Valley area, but also to some extent in Europe. However, with increasing popularity, criticism starts to get formulated as well. Due to the limited coverage of the LSA, its principles and related management practices in academic literature, it remains difficult to critically assess the validity and effectiveness of the proposed concept. With this study, light is shed on the LS phenomenon by interviewing representative high-tech entrepreneurs and leading proponents of the LS principles and practices.
In order to better understand LS principles at work with an emphasis on experienced startup idea development progress, semi-structure interviews with seven Lean Startup Machine (LSM) event participants as well as one mentoring subject matter expert were conducted. The interviewed practitioners were purposely selected from the most and least performing teams according to the appraisal of the LSM event judges. The main reason for choosing the LSM event is the fact that the LSM projects, while somewhat artificial, do provide condensed versions of real life startups, which provides a high information to effort ratio to me as a researcher. Furthermore, a LSA survey tailored to the opportunity development process and a post-LSM-event survey were conducted.
The purpose of the multiple mini-cases study (which treated each team working on an entrepreneurial idea as a mini-case) was to explore the opportunity development progress and the role of LS principles and practices from the perspective of consumer Internet high-tech entrepreneurs and LS proponents (mentors) in a highly time-constrained real world LS practitioner event in the USA. Learning about how participants of the event perceived and experienced development progress and the LSA provided insights into the relevance of the LS methodology as a means to accelerate the development progress of an early stage startup idea towards a viable opportunity.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Problem Statement
- Background and Need
- Objective of the Study
- Research Questions
- Significance to the Field
- Definitions
- Thesis Outline and Approach
- Literature Review
- Introduction and Approach
- Entrepreneurship Theory and Entrepreneurial Process
- Lean Startup Approach
- Notion of the Lean Startup
- Key principles
- Key management practices
- Research Methodology
- Research Strategy
- Research Design
- Setting, case and participant selection
- Data collection
- Data analysis
- Case study protocol and case study database
- Ethical considerations
- Evaluation of the Research Design
- Summary
- Results and Discussion
- Lean Startup Approach Survey
- Results
- Discussion
- Case Study Analysis
- Case and participant description
- Disparity in productivity
- Lean Startup Approach effect on opportunity development progress
- Lean Startup Approach effect on team performance
- Discussion
- Derived Model Instance
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This master's thesis aims to increase the understanding of the Lean Startup approach in early-stage high-tech entrepreneurship, focusing on how it facilitates opportunity development. The research investigates the effectiveness of the Lean Startup methodology in impacting both productivity and team performance within this context.
- The Lean Startup approach and its application in high-tech ventures.
- The impact of the Lean Startup approach on opportunity development.
- The relationship between the Lean Startup approach and team performance.
- Qualitative and quantitative research methodologies in entrepreneurship studies.
- Analysis of real-world case studies to evaluate the effectiveness of the Lean Startup approach.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Introduction: This chapter introduces the thesis topic, focusing on the Lean Startup approach within early-stage high-tech entrepreneurship. It highlights the gap in existing literature regarding the approach's effectiveness in this specific context and outlines the research questions that will guide the study. The introduction establishes the significance of understanding how the Lean Startup methodology influences opportunity development and team dynamics in this challenging environment.
Literature Review: This chapter provides a comprehensive review of existing literature on entrepreneurship theory, the entrepreneurial process, and the Lean Startup approach. It examines the core principles and management practices associated with the Lean Startup methodology and explores how these concepts relate to the challenges and opportunities of early-stage high-tech ventures. The review serves as a foundation for the research methodology and subsequent analysis.
Research Methodology: This chapter details the research strategy, design, and methods employed in the study. It outlines the selection of cases and participants, the data collection techniques used (including surveys and case studies), and the data analysis approach. The chapter also addresses ethical considerations and provides a critical evaluation of the chosen research design, justifying its suitability for addressing the research questions. It lays the groundwork for the rigorous and transparent investigation of the Lean Startup's impact.
Results and Discussion: This chapter presents the findings from both the Lean Startup approach survey and the case study analysis. The survey results provide quantitative insights, while the case studies offer rich qualitative data allowing for a deeper understanding of the phenomenon. The discussion section interprets the findings, exploring the relationships between the Lean Startup approach, opportunity development progress, and team performance. It highlights key observations and patterns emerging from the data.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Lean Startup, entrepreneurship, high-tech, opportunity development, team performance, early-stage ventures, qualitative research, case studies, productivity, innovation, business creation.
Frequently Asked Questions: Master's Thesis on Lean Startup in High-Tech Entrepreneurship
What is the main topic of this master's thesis?
This master's thesis investigates the effectiveness of the Lean Startup approach in early-stage high-tech entrepreneurship. It focuses on how this methodology impacts opportunity development and team performance.
What are the key themes explored in the thesis?
The key themes include the application of the Lean Startup approach in high-tech ventures, its impact on opportunity development, its relationship with team performance, and the use of qualitative and quantitative research methods in entrepreneurship studies. The thesis also analyzes real-world case studies to evaluate the Lean Startup approach's effectiveness.
What is the structure of the thesis?
The thesis follows a standard academic structure. It begins with an introduction, followed by a literature review covering entrepreneurship theory, the entrepreneurial process, and the Lean Startup approach. A dedicated chapter details the research methodology, including the research design, data collection methods (surveys and case studies), and data analysis techniques. The results and discussion chapter presents the findings, and the thesis concludes with a discussion and a derived model instance (if applicable).
What research methods are used in this thesis?
The thesis employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from a Lean Startup approach survey with qualitative data gathered through case studies. This allows for a comprehensive understanding of the Lean Startup approach's impact.
What are the key findings of the thesis (in general terms)?
The results and discussion chapter presents quantitative insights from the survey and qualitative data from case studies to examine the relationship between the Lean Startup approach, opportunity development progress, and team performance. Specific findings regarding productivity and the effect of the Lean Startup approach on opportunity development and team performance are detailed within this chapter.
What are the key keywords associated with this thesis?
Key keywords include: Lean Startup, entrepreneurship, high-tech, opportunity development, team performance, early-stage ventures, qualitative research, case studies, productivity, innovation, and business creation.
What is the overall objective of this study?
The main objective is to enhance the understanding of the Lean Startup approach's role in early-stage high-tech entrepreneurship, particularly its influence on opportunity development and team dynamics.
What are the chapter summaries?
The introduction sets the stage, the literature review provides a theoretical foundation, the methodology chapter explains the research approach, and the results and discussion chapter presents and interprets the findings.
For whom is this research intended?
This research is intended for academic use, focusing on analyzing themes within the context of Lean Startup methodologies in high-tech entrepreneurship.
- Citation du texte
- Christian Kählig (Auteur), 2011, Facilitating Opportunity Development: Increasing Understanding of the Lean Startup Approach in Early Stage High-Tech Entrepreneurship, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/174625
