Research
Research Overview
My research focuses on understanding the dynamics between individuals and broader social institutions in the context of entrepreneurship. One research stream examines the careers of individuals as they transition between wage employment entrepreneurship, exploring the psychological and identity-related factors that shape this decision. The other stream investigates the institutional challenges entrepreneurs encounter, with a particular focus on the role of distrust in shaping their experiences. Empirically, I utilize longitudinal, survey experimental, and quasi-ethnographic designs to examine my research questions. I am passionate about research because it allows me to systematically investigate unexplained phenomena encountered in everyday life.
My research has been published in Group & Organization Management.
Publications
- Christophe, Y., Javadian, G., Mathis, C. J., & Ramani, R. S. (2024). When Work Doesn’t Work: An Alternative Framework to Examine Cognitive Factors in Employment-Entrepreneurship Transitions. Group & Organization Management, https://doi.org/10.1177/10596011241229765
Abstract: Employees’ transition from wage employment to entrepreneurship, influenced by cognitive factors, has garnered significant scholarly attention. Despite this focus, the conventional Push and Pull Model, explaining these cognitive factors, has generated inconsistent findings. Our study critically reviews the cognitive factors shaping employees’ entrepreneurial transitions. Utilizing the Kaleidoscope Career Model parameters, we categorize these cognitive factors based on an analysis of 78 articles. Our comprehensive analysis identifies 23 distinct cognitive factors related to these transitions, which shed light on the multifaceted nature of employees’ decision-making processes. Our review reveals the limitations of the existing Push and Pull Model and advocates for the Kaleidoscope Career Model as an alternative model, which we argue offers a nuanced understanding of entrepreneurial transitions. Our research contributes to existing knowledge and provides a foundation for future studies, guiding scholars toward a more comprehensive exploration of employees’ transitions into entrepreneurship.
Select Works in Progress
Employee Entrepreneurship and Digital Communities
How do individuals navigating the transition from employment to entrepreneurship engage with online communities to interpret challenges, access knowledge, and develop strategies for success? This study explores how digital spaces serve as sites of collective sense-making, where individuals construct, negotiate, and reinforce entrepreneurial norms. By analyzing discussions in an entrepreneurship-focused online community, the research examines how members articulate challenges and exchange strategies for navigating them. Findings contribute to broader conversations on how entrepreneurs interpret and respond to challenges, how digital interactions influence decision-making, and the evolving role of online communities in shaping success in entrepreneurship.
Institutional Distrust Among Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs identify and leverage opportunities by accessing resources beyond their own. In doing so, they often encounter challenges when interacting with institutions that provide key resources. This study employs a quasi-ethnographic approach to explore how entrepreneurs navigate these institutional landscapes, examining the nature of their interactions with institutional representatives, identifying perceived barriers, and understanding their strategies for overcoming them. Drawing on structuration theory, our preliminary findings suggest that entrepreneurs prioritize individual survival within the existing institutional framework, often employing creative strategies to navigate constraints and achieve their goals.