Talking inside the corridor or navigating the labyrinth: Market experience and information elaboration in founding teams
Author(s)
Danneels, Erwin
De Cock, Robin
Clarysse, Bart
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Abstract
The search for potential markets is crucial for technology ventures. We propose that founding team members’ prior market experiences can be helpful but also dysfunctional because of the way the depth and breadth of these experiences shape information elaboration. Deep and broad market experiences challenge teams with two potential dysfunctions: talking inside the corridor (easy information exchange and low task conflict) and navigating the labyrinth (arduous information exchange and elevated task conflict). Data support that prior market experiences in the founding team affect initial venture performance, mediated by information exchange and task conflict, and moderated by lead founder personality.
The search for potential markets is crucial for technology ventures. We propose that founding team members’ prior market experiences can be helpful but also dysfunctional because of the way the depth and breadth of these experiences shape information elaboration. Deep and broad market experiences challenge teams with two potential dysfunctions: talking inside the corridor (easy information exchange and low task conflict) and navigating the labyrinth (arduous information exchange and elevated task conflict). Data support that prior market experiences in the founding team affect initial venture performance, mediated by information exchange and task conflict, and moderated by lead founder personality.
Date Acceptance
2025-10-01
Citation
Strategic Organization
ISSN
1476-1270
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Journal / Book Title
Strategic Organization
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2025 Copyright Owner. This is the author’s accepted manuscript made available under a CC-BY licence in accordance with Imperial’s Research Publications Open Access policy (www.imperial.ac.uk/oa-policy)
License URL
Identifier
10.1177/14761270251389544
Subjects
Business
Business & Economics
ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION
founding teams
GROUP DECISION-MAKING
information elaboration
Management
MANAGEMENT TEAMS
market experience
market search
MEASURING ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE
MODERATING ROLE
OPPORTUNITY IDENTIFICATION
PERSONALITY COMPOSITION
PSYCHOLOGICAL SAFETY
Social Sciences
TASK CONFLICT
team conflict
WORK GROUP DIVERSITY
Publication Status
Accepted
Article Number
14761270251389544
Date Publish Online
2025-10-15