How individual cognitions overshadow regulations and group norms: a study of government venture capital decisions

Jeaneth Johansson*, Malin Malmström, Joakim Wincent, Vinit Parida

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper explores how government venture capitalists approve or reject financing applications. Based on longitudinal observations, complemented by interviews, documentation, and secondary data, the findings show the limited influence of the regulative and normative logics (e.g., formal guidelines and accepted behavior) on government venture capitalists’ decisions. Instead, individual decisions are observed to be largely overshadowed by cognitions and heuristics, which dominate formal regulations and socially constructed group-level norms. Although official decision communications state that regulations have been followed, the evidence suggests that the cognitive logic dominates the funding decision-making process through a set of overshadowing forces that restrict the influence of the normative and regulative logics on funding decisions. This research has implications for venture financing and highlights the importance of cognitions in shaping venture capital decisions.

Original languageEnglish
Peer-reviewed scientific journalSmall Business Economics
ISSN0921-898X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 26.10.2019
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article - refereed

Keywords

  • 512 Business and Management
  • Government investment
  • Venture financing
  • Venture capital
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Institutional theory
  • Decision making

Areas of Strength and Areas of High Potential (AoS and AoHP)

  • AoS: Leading for growth and well-being

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