NIKOSNewsHeizer Award 2017 for NIKOS Alumnus Arjan Frederiks’ research on imagination of Entrepreneurs

Heizer Award 2017 for NIKOS Alumnus Arjan Frederiks’ research on imagination of Entrepreneurs

NIKOS PhD Alumnus Arjan Frederiks was awarded the prestigious Heizer Dissertation Award by the AoM Entrepreneurship Division at their 77th Annual Meeting.

The Award honours outstanding doctoral research that deals with the founding, management, growth and development of high potential new ventures, with venture capital, or with corporate entrepreneurship. Frederiks (currently Assistant Professor at University of Groningen Centre of Entrepreneurship, http://www.rug.nl/staff/a.j.frederiks/research) received the Award for his thesis titled ‘On the use of Imagination by Entrepreneurs’, defended Cum Laude at the University of Twente in January 2016.

Read the thesis here: https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/on-the-use-of-imagination-by-entrepreneurs.

More about the Heizer Award here: http://www.ent.aom.org/index.php/the-news-50/666-call-for-submissions-the-2017-heizer-doctoral-dissertation-award-in-new-enterprise-development .

More about Arjan Frederiks and his research: https://www.utoday.nl/phd/60288/Arjan_Frederiks_Imagine_this and on page 6-7 of the NIKOS 15th anniversary special https://www.utoday.nl/uploads/magazines/NIKOS%20special.pdf

His proud promotors are Michel Ehrenhard and Aard Groen.

Abstract of the winning dissertation:

Many scholars acknowledge that entrepreneurs use their imagination. What entrepreneurs use their imagination for is known. However, what imagination is, and how entrepreneurs can use their imagination most effectively remain unknown. The goal of this research is to increase our understanding of the use of imagination by entrepreneurs. We conceptualize, demarcate and define the concept of imagination based on social and cognitive psychology literature. Subsequently, we theorize how certain factors influence the effective use of imagination by entrepreneurs. Based on the literature and the interviews we conducted with entrepreneurs, we developed propositions that guide us in our research. We analyzed the use of imagination by entrepreneurs by studying their diaries and conducting experiments. Among other results, we find that prospective thinking, which is future-oriented imagination, is effective for entrepreneurs to identify business opportunities. Additionally, we find that counterfactual thinking, which is alternatives-oriented imagination, is effective for entrepreneurs to develop business strategies. Our research contributes to the entrepreneurship literature by offering a theoretical lens to study the use of imagination by entrepreneurs. Furthermore, our research informs practice by suggesting that entrepreneurs should train the use of their imagination and that entrepreneurship support organizations could include such trainings in their programs.