T. Grønning - What Do Organizations Think Are Their Risks and Uncertainties? Risk Self-Assessments within Securities Reports as a New Source for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Research

Book chapter. In: E. Berger & A. Kuckertz (eds.): Complexity in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Technology Research: Applications of Emergent and Neglected Methods. Springer.

Springer

Abstract

One of the major complexities of innovation as well as entrepreneurship and technological change processes is that larger or lesser financial and non-financial risks and uncertainties are parts of these processes, since the courses as well as outcomes of the processes are not known in beforehand. Assuming that managers and employees within entrepreneurship, innovation and technology firms are themselves concerned about this aspect of their businesses, it becomes pertinent for researchers to gain an understanding of what their perceptions regarding risks and uncertainties are. Relevant research designs could include e.g. surveys or interviews, whereas this chapter focuses on a possible supplementary approach consisting in using the securities reports submitted to the authorities as a new kind of source for relevant information. The chapter makes use of illustrative quotes from the sections in the securities reports of four biotechnology companies located in the USA and Japan, countries where self assessments regarding risks the company is facing was made mandatory from 2005 and 2004 respectively. The chapter also includes a section with some suggestions as for how this new source may be utilized within future entrepreneurship, innovation and technology research, and concludes with stating that there are significant promises in connection with using the source, although there are also some challenges.

About the book

This volume discusses the challenge of dealing with complexity in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology research. Businesses as well as entire economies are increasingly being confronted by widespread complex systems. Fields such as entrepreneurship and innovation cannot ignore this reality, especially with their inherent links to diverse research fields and interdisciplinary methods. However, most methods that allow more detailed analyses of complex problems are either neglected in mainstream research or are, at best, still emerging. Against this backdrop, this book provides a forum for the discussion of emergent and neglected methods in the context of complexity in entrepreneurship, innovation and technology research, and also acts as an inspiration for academics across related disciplines to engage more in complexity research.

Link to book

Published Mar. 11, 2016 3:19 PM - Last modified Oct. 18, 2023 10:30 PM