A criação de empreendimentos virtuais sob a ótica da abordagem effectuation : relatos de empreendedoras no estado de Sergipe

Abstract

Entrepreneurship is an important factor for strengthening the economy and generating new jobs. In this sense, the present study aimed to analyze the process of creating virtual enterprises from the perspective of the effectuation approach. To this end, the actions executed by entrepreneurs in the conduct of the stages of the initial phase of business were evaluated. The effectuation approach was created by Sarasvathy (2001), and suggests that the entrepreneur, in creating a business, is guided by a scenario of uncertainties, not assuming goals previously defined in planning. The entrepreneur understands that these objectives are born in the scenario of unpredictability and contingency. In order to achieve the objective of the study, a qualitative research of descriptive and exploratory character was carried out with the virtual enterprises, in order to verify whether behaviours based on effectuation logic have inspired respondents in creating their online business. The method used was the Case Study, which gathered data on entrepreneurs through a semi-structured interview. The results showed that entrepreneurs used some of the concepts of effectuation during the creation process of their enterprises, in particular the employment of leverage contingencies, used to decrease business expenses. The development of strategic alliances was evidenced in only one of the establishments. The principles of accessible loss and control of an uncertain future were also little observed in the undertakings.