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Business incubator managers’ perceptions of their role and performance success: role demands, constraints, and choices

  • Nada K. Kakabadse
    ,
  • Mine Karatas-Ozkan
    ,
  • Nicholas Theodorakopoulos
    ,
  • Carmel McGowan
    ,
  • Katerina Nicolopoulou
Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Abstract

Using Stewart's (1976a, 1976b) role framework as an analytical lens, this paper examines how business incubator managers perceive their role and performance, and the choices they make in dealing with constraints and competing demands. Given that the literature in this domain has not considered how these types of managers experience agency and structure in their role, this study is important in theory and practice terms. Drawing on 40 qualitative interviews in different UK regions, the findings demonstrate the ways in which business incubator managers see their role as pivotal in supporting the incubatee entrepreneurs and how they endeavour to address competing role demands against constraints. Notably, while funding is commonly viewed as an enabler, the findings suggest that the funding structure could act as a constraint on the incubator managers, due to the weight of perceived bureaucracy preventing the latter from operating effectively within the full remit of their role.

Publication Information

Output type

Research Output: Contribution to journal Article Peer-review

Original language

English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 485-498

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

European Management Review (Volume 17, Issue 2)

Publication milestones

  • Accepted/In press - 11/11/2019
  • Published - 05/01/2020

Publication status

Published - 05/01/2020

ISSN

1740-4754

External Publication IDs

  • handle.net: 10547/624762
  • Scopus: 85077907191

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