Incertezas institucionais e psicológicas na ação empreendedora: estudo acerca do papel de incubadoras de empresas de base tecnológica

Abstract

This master’s degree essay comes with the objective of identifying how technology-based entrepreneurs may notice the uncertainties of entrepreneurial action and the role of business incubators in this context. It is also proposed and discussed an analytical model of understanding these elements, aiming to perceive the psychological uncertainty which comes from the subject, the uncertainties stemming the institutional environment and the role of business incubators as an organization to support the entrepreneurial action development. Therefore, it has been performed a qualitative multiple case study. Two incubators of technology-based firms located in the states of Minas Gerais and Goiás and six incubated firms, three from each of the incubators. Thereby, interviews were conducted, by using semi-structured roadmaps, with managers of business incubators and entrepreneurs from incubated firms, totaling the amount of eight interviews. After the transcription, the interviews were subjected to content analysis, and, with the help of the software called WEFT QDA nine analysis categories were defined. It has been observed that among the institutional uncertainties, entrepreneurs suggest marketing and financial uncertainty as the most influence on entrepreneurial action, later follows the technological uncertainties. The only legal and political uncertainties perceived by entrepreneurs are related to economic subsidy programs and, in the other cases, have a low level of influence. Business incubators use to contribute to the reduction of marketing and financial uncertainties, but they are not able to contribute to minimize the political and legal uncertainties, beyond the scope of legal advice. There was no consensus among the incubators regarding its role in reducing technological uncertainty, to the managers of incubators, the geographical location is also an uncertainty. Relating to psychological uncertainty, those are considered to have the highest level of influence. The level of influence to the desire for change and cognitive uncertainty are respectively, medium and low. However, the results demonstrate not being the incubators role to mitigate the emotional uncertainties. It was observed that the incubators can only contribute in relation to the cognitive uncertainties and desire to change, by means of continuous monitoring of incubated projects. It is suggested, thus, the development of strategies by the incubators aiming mitigate the level of influence of technology-based uncertainties in entrepreneurial action.