An explorative study of inputs for entrepreneurs’ decision-making to create new venture in a high-tech context

Abstract

The explanation of the entrepreneurial decision-making phenomenon requires the adoption of a process approach. Yet, the majority of the research in this field has been done without utilization of a process approach. Besides, the decision-making process of entrepreneurs in any society is influenced by its environmental context. Therefore, this research adopts a process approach and aims to conceptualize inputs of decision-making process for new venture creation (NVC) in an Iranian high-tech context. The research employs qualitative–explorative design in order to take into account the specific regional context of Iran. This study utilized event-based interviews with 20 nascent entrepreneurs. Results of coding, categorizing and validating the research findings, revealed six main conceptual categories as the main inputs of the decision-making process for NVC in this context. The suggested propositions illustrate that the developed categories afford the two elements of individual decision maker and the decision environment. This article advances entrepreneurship literature by adopting an appropriate analytical focus and also utilizing a design which epistemologically and methodologically is applicable for involving context of exploration to attain more rigor and theoretical relevancy.