Veröffentlichung

Titel:

Toward a design science of corporate venturing modes: Diagnosing challenges and outlining a research agenda. Journal of Organization Design (forthcoming).

AutorInnen:

Benedikt Unger

Kategorie:

Zeitschriftenbeiträge

Abstract:

Corporate venturing modes (CVMs)—organizational formats such as incubators and accelerators—are commonly employed by firms to engage with startups for mutual benefit. Existing research, however, has mainly produced typological classifications that, while offering structure and orientation, provide limited insight into how specific design choices shape CVMs’ effectiveness. This point of view article proposes reframing CVM research through a design science lens: building on the descriptive foundations of prior literature, yet moving further to generate empirically evaluated and generalizable insights into effective CVM design. The article further diagnoses key epistemic challenges—understood as fundamental obstacles to discovering and validating knowledge about what constitutes effective CVM design—that have so far hindered such progress. Moreover, it outlines a research agenda integrating novel empirical, methodological, and theoretical approaches to address these challenges. Overall, the article aims to foster a more comprehensive, empirically grounded approach to studying effective CVM design—one that links organizational design principles with outcomes across varying contexts. Accumulating insights on these matters may both advance theory development and inform practice, helping to improve the often-disappointing results observed in current CVM initiatives.