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Designing the Framework of Entrepreneurial Relationship Management (ERM) for Strategic Actions and Effective Decision-Making

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2019, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Management.
Entrepreneurs carry the mantle of simultaneously developing and managing relationships with multiple stakeholders and systems under varying conditions. This is entrepreneurial relationship management (ERM) function that entrepreneurs use to perceive, organize, implement, engage, maintain, and sustain relationships with multiple stakeholders, and to manage cross-functional relationships among different areas of business, both internally and externally. The ERM function is activated through entrepreneurial relationship management capabilities (ERMC). These capabilities are manifested in the habitual entrepreneurial relationship management practices (ERMP) of the entrepreneurs. Both the ERMC and ERMP represent a set of unique managerial resources that are central to business value creation, strategic actions, and effective business decision-making. This study seeks to better understand the capabilities and practices that underlie entrepreneurial relationship management and the conditions under which they are effective. A three-part exploratory sequential mixed methods approach was designed for the study. The qualitative study with 29 entrepreneurs and business leaders explores the entrepreneur-to-entrepreneur (E2E) ERM practices of business leaders in America and overseas. The study reveals that three practices—information behavior, interactive practices, and anxiety-uncertainty management practices—are key for E2E relationships. Study 2 uses survey data collected from 363 entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs to assess information behavior and interactive practices as predictors of entrepreneurial passion and action. The result confirms the two predictors as ERM practices. Study 3 uses data collected from 321 entrepreneurs to confirm and extend the results in Study 2. The process produced two additional practices—relational mutuality practices and relational attentiveness. It also confirmed relational anxiety-uncertainty management practices as a mediating factor. These practices are reflected in some capabilities of the entrepreneurs. In other words, each practice is likely to produce its capability equivalent, even when the entrepreneurs are unaware of this transformation. It is for this reason that this study also highlights the capabilities that remain hidden inside the entrepreneurs and how unveiling those treasures would nurture and improve these capabilities. Overall, these ERMCs through ERMPs contribute to entrepreneurs’ strategic actions and effective decision-making.
Paul Salipante, Professor Emeritus (Committee Chair)
Kalle Lyyntinen, Professor (Committee Member)
Cola Philip, Dr. (Committee Member)
Aparna Katre, Dr. (Committee Member)
214 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ajiboye, S. (2019). Designing the Framework of Entrepreneurial Relationship Management (ERM) for Strategic Actions and Effective Decision-Making [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case155429869587576

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ajiboye, Shola. Designing the Framework of Entrepreneurial Relationship Management (ERM) for Strategic Actions and Effective Decision-Making. 2019. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case155429869587576.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ajiboye, Shola. "Designing the Framework of Entrepreneurial Relationship Management (ERM) for Strategic Actions and Effective Decision-Making." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case155429869587576

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)