Uncovering the Link Between Effectuation and Design Thinking in Early Stage Startups

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dc.contributorAalto-yliopistofi
dc.contributorAalto Universityen
dc.contributor.advisorMcGrory, Peter
dc.contributor.authorVaradarajan, Adithya
dc.contributor.schoolPerustieteiden korkeakoulufi
dc.contributor.supervisorVuori, Natalia
dc.date.accessioned2020-01-26T18:01:03Z
dc.date.available2020-01-26T18:01:03Z
dc.date.issued2020-01-22
dc.description.abstractThis thesis looks at the research question - “what is the link between effectuation and design thinking in the entrepreneurial process?”. It answers this question, first with a comprehensive look at existing literature and theory on the two concepts and follows that with empirical research to determine if the question can be answered in practice. The empirical research is done in the form of a multi case study, with nineteen early stage startup entrepreneurs, with all but one of them being based in Finland and running their startup in this context. The cross case analysis revealed that the research question can be successfully answered in the affirmative - there are clear links between effectuation and design thinking. The findings section covers the 5 main findings which include links between “means” with the “challenge”, “goals” with “discover” and “define”, and also how “affordable loss” and “leveraging surprises” influences the “develop” and “deliver” elements of design thinking. These findings, when compared to existing theory, reveal practical validation for some existing concepts while also providing new theoretical contributions for others. Based on these findings, a hybrid, effectual design process model is proposed, which aims to account for the criticisms and gaps in the individual theoretical constructs by blending their strengths to cover for their weaknesses. Overall, this research provides strong evidence of the link between the theoretical constructs and suggestions on its relevance to practical application, entrepreneurial education and more. It also provides avenues for future research that can build on this and provide an even more comprehensive process structure on the path to creating a unified entrepreneurial process.en
dc.format.extent91 + 4
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.urihttps://aaltodoc.aalto.fi/handle/123456789/42688
dc.identifier.urnURN:NBN:fi:aalto-202001261798
dc.language.isoenen
dc.programmeMaster’s Degree Programme in International Design Business Management (IDBM)fi
dc.programme.majorInternational Design Business Management (IDBM)fi
dc.programme.mcodeSCI3062fi
dc.subject.keywordeffectuationen
dc.subject.keyworddesign thinkingen
dc.subject.keywordentrepreneurshipen
dc.subject.keywordstartupsen
dc.titleUncovering the Link Between Effectuation and Design Thinking in Early Stage Startupsen
dc.typeG2 Pro gradu, diplomityöfi
dc.type.ontasotMaster's thesisen
dc.type.ontasotDiplomityöfi
local.aalto.electroniconlyyes
local.aalto.openaccessyes
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