Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship (벤처창업연구)

The Korean Society of Business Venturing (한국벤처창업학회)
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The Impact of Entrepreneurs' Cognitive Biases on Business Opportunity Evaluation Depending on Social Networks

기업가의 인지편향이 사회적 네트워크에 따라 사업 기회 평가에 미치는 영향

  • Jang, Hyo Shik (Graduate School of Ventures, Hoseo University, Department of Venture Management) ;
  • Yang, Dong Woo (Graduate School of Ventures, Hoseo University, Department of Venture Management)
  • 장효식 (호서대학교 벤처대학원 벤처경영학과) ;
  • 양동우 (호서대학교 벤처대학원 벤처경영학과)
  • Received : 2023.08.09
  • Accepted : 2023.10.26
  • Published : 2023.10.31
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Abstract

This paper investigates the effects of entrepreneurs' cognitive biases on business opportunity evaluation, given their strong entrepreneurial spirit, which is characterized by innovation, proactivity, and risk-taking. When making decisions related to business activities, entrepreneurs typically make rational judgments based on their knowledge, experience, and the advice of external experts. However, in situations of extreme stress or when quick decisions are required, they often rely on heuristics based on their cognitive biases. In particular, we often see cases where entrepreneurs fail because they make decisions based on heuristics in the process of evaluating and selecting new business opportunities that are planned to guarantee the growth and sustainability of their companies. This study was conducted in response to the need for research to clarify the effects of entrepreneurs' cognitive biases on new business opportunity evaluation, given that the cognitive biases of entrepreneurs, which are formed by repeated successful experiences, can sometimes lead to business failure. Although there have been many studies on the effects of cognitive biases on entrepreneurship and opportunity evaluation among university students and general people who aspire to start a business, there have been few studies that have clarified the relationship between cognitive biases and social networks among entrepreneurs. In contrast to previous studies, this study conducted empirical surveys of entrepreneurs only, and also conducted research on the relationship with social networks. For the study, a survey was conducted using a parallel survey method using online mobile surveys and self-report questionnaires from 150 entrepreneurs of small and medium-sized enterprises. The results of the study showed that 'overconfidence' and 'illusion of control', among the independent variables of entrepreneurs' cognitive biases, had a statistically significant positive(+) effect on business opportunity evaluation. In addition, it was confirmed that the moderating variable, social network, moderates the effect of overconfidence on business opportunity evaluation. This study showed that entrepreneurs' cognitive biases play a role in the process of evaluating and selecting new business opportunities, and that social networks play a role in moderating the structural relationship between entrepreneurs' cognitive biases and business opportunity evaluation. This study is expected to be of great help not only to entrepreneurs, but also to entrepreneur education and policy making, by showing how entrepreneurs can use cognitive biases in a positive way and the influence of social networks.

이 논문은 혁신성, 진취성, 위험감수성으로 대표되는 기업가정신이 일반인에 비해 투철한 기업가들의 인지편향이 사회적 네트워크에 따라 사업 기회 평가에 미치는 영향을 조사한 것이다. 끊임없이 요구되는 기업활동과 관련한 의사결정 시 기업가들은 자신의 지식과 경험 및 외부 전문가들의 조언을 참고하여 합리적인 판단을 하는 것이 일반적이나, 극심한 스트레스 상황 및 신속한 의사결정이 필요한 상황에서는 자신의 인지편향에 따라 휴리스틱(간편 추론법)에 종종 의존하게 된다. 특히, 기업의 성장과 영속성을 담보하기 위해 계획 중인 신사업 기회를 평가하고 선택하는 과정에서도 휴리스틱에 의한 의사결정을 한 나머지 실패하게 되는 사례를 우리는 많이 접하게 된다. 이 연구는 거듭된 성공 경험으로 형성된 기업가의 인지편향이 때로는 사업의 실패라는 부작용을 초래할 수 있다는 점에 착안하여, 기업가의 인지편향이 신사업 기회 평가에 미치는 영향을 규명하는 연구가 필요하다는 요구에서 진행하게 되었다. 그동안 대학생이나 창업을 희망하는 일반인을 대상으로 그들의 인지편향이 창업 및 기회 평가에 미치는 영향에 관한 논문은 다수 있지만, 기업가만을 대상으로 하여 사회적 네트워크와의 관계를 규명한 연구는 부족하다는 문제점이 있었다. 이 연구는 선행연구와는 달리 기업가들만을 대상으로 실증적인 조사를 시행하였으며, 사회적 네트워크와의 관계에 관한 연구도 함께 진행하였다. 연구를 위하여 중소/중견기업 기업가 150명을 대상으로 온라인 모바일 조사와 응답자의 자기기입식 설문지를 이용한 병행 조사 방법으로 설문조사를 실시하였다. 연구 결과, 독립변수인 기업가의 인지편향 중 과잉자신감과 통제 착각이 사업 기회 평가에 통계적으로 유의한 정(+)의 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났으며, 조절 변수인 사회적 네트워크는 과잉자신감이 사업 기회 평가에 미치는 영향을 조절한다는 것이 확인되었다. 이 연구는 기업가들이 인지편향을 긍정적으로 활용할 수 있는 방법과 사회적 네트워크의 영향력을 알려줌으로써, 기업가들이 신사업 기회를 평가하고 선택하는 과정에서 인지편향이 어떠한 역할을 하는지와 기업가의 인지편향이 신사업 기회 평가와 관련한 구조적 관계를 사회적 네트워크가 조절하는 역할을 한다는 것을 보여주었고, 기업가들뿐만 아니라 기업가 교육 및 정책 결정에도 큰 도움이 될 것으로 기대한다.

Keywords

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