THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURIAL LEADERSHIP ON INNOVATION AND START-UP BUSINESS MODELS
Author
Nguyen, William
Term
4. Term
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-01-19
Pages
74
Abstract
This thesis examines how entrepreneurial leadership shapes innovation and start-up business models through a qualitative, case-based analysis of Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink) and Travis Kalanick (Uber). Drawing on the literature, it situates entrepreneurial leadership at the intersection of entrepreneurship and strategy, emphasizing opportunity seeking, resource orchestration, and the ability to influence others around a shared vision. The analysis centers on key leadership attributes—resilience and adaptation, establishing work culture, vision, leading others, strategic initiatives, calculated risk-taking, and confidence—and considers the role of empathy and empowerment. Based on the provided material, both leaders display traits that enable business model innovation and industry disruption; however, Musk is portrayed as more successful due to a more transformational leadership style and openness to employee ideas, while Kalanick’s shortcomings are linked to limited empowerment and empathy. The study contributes practical insight into why balancing drive with human-centered leadership is critical for enabling disruptive innovation in start-ups.
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan entreprenant ledelse påvirker innovation og start-ups’ forretningsmodeller gennem en kvalitativ, case-baseret analyse af Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink) og Travis Kalanick (Uber). Med udgangspunkt i litteraturen placeres entreprenant ledelse i krydsfeltet mellem entreprenørskab og strategi og beskrives som evnen til at identificere muligheder, mobilisere ressourcer og påvirke andre mod en fælles vision. Analysen fokuserer på centrale ledelsesegenskaber – modstandskraft og tilpasningsevne, etablering af arbejdskultur, vision, medarbejderledelse, strategiske initiativer, kalkuleret risikotagning og selvtillid – samt på betydningen af empati og empowerment. Fundene i det fremlagte uddrag peger på, at begge ledere udviser træk, der muliggør forretningsmodel-innovation og markedsforstyrrelse, men at Musk i højere grad lykkes gennem en mere transformatorisk ledelsesstil og åbenhed over for medarbejderes ideer, mens Kalanicks svagheder relaterer sig til manglende empowerment og empati. Afhandlingen bidrager med indsigt i, hvordan balancen mellem drivkraft og menneskelig forståelse er central for at skabe disruptive innovationer i start-ups.
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