Synopsis
Here is a summary of the key points from the paper:
- The paper examines the factors that influence startups’ intentions to collaborate with large companies. It uses the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a framework.
- The TPB suggests that intentions are driven by attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control.
- A survey of 145 Italian startups found that all three TPB constructs impact startups’ intentions to collaborate with large firms:
- Attitude (driven by expected benefits like financing and learning) has the strongest impact
- Subjective norm (perceptions of stakeholders’ opinions) has a weaker but significant impact
- Perceived behavioral control (confidence in ability to manage collaboration) also has a weaker but significant impact
- The findings suggest startups take a utilitarian approach focused on perceived benefits over social pressure or psychological factors.
- Implications: helps large firms design collaboration programs to attract startups, makes startups more aware of motives for collaboration, assists policymakers in facilitating innovation ecosystems.
- Limitations: single country sample, could expand model with more perceptual factors, focus on individual entrepreneurs versus teams.
In summary, the paper finds startups’ intentions to partner with large firms are driven mainly by the expected benefits, with some influence from stakeholder opinions and confidence in their abilities. Understanding these motivations can help facilitate mutually beneficial open innovation between startups and corporates.