Skip to main content

Fostering Vision, Culture, and Accountability in Young Organisations Through Role Modelling

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Leadership and Role Modelling

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Leadership and Followership ((PASTLEFO))

  • 1290 Accesses

Abstract

There are unique cultural and organisational challenges that present in an early-stage organisation (or a start-up environment). In this chapter, the author discusses three different approaches to role modelling that founders can use to overcome challenges and achieve the objectives of the organisation: role modelling of vision, culture, and accountability. Drawing on available research in the areas of role modelling and entrepreneurship as well as the experiences in managing young organisations of three entrepreneurs in their mid-thirties from Bengaluru, the author discusses possible approaches to role modelling that can be effective in achieving the business and societal goals of young, emerging organisations. The author, who founded a media company and journalism school as an industry outsider, concludes that founders, as role models, must be principled and responsible to ensure that their actions reflect good values, which translate into the identity and culture of their organisations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Akerlof, G. A., & Kranton, R. E. (2000). Economics and identity. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 115(3), 715–753.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, S. J., & Hird, A. (2009). Cognitive style and entrepreneurial drive of new and mature business owner-managers. Journal of Business and Psychology, 24(4), 419–430.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A., & Walters, R. (1963). Social learning and personality development. New York: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • BBC. (2017, June 12). Uber chief Travis Kalanick may face bumpy ride. BBC News—Business. Retrieved on 17 September 2017 from http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40242538.

  • Bell, A. (1970). Role modelship and interaction in adolescence and young adulthood. Developmental Psychology, 2(1), 123–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bosma, N., Hessels, J., Schutjens, V., van Praag, M., & Verheul, I. (2012). Entrepreneurship and role models. Journal of Economic Psychology, 33(2), 410–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2011.03.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruggemann, H. (2014). Entrepreneurial leadership styles: A comparative study between startups and mature firms. Retrieved on 13 June 2017 from http://essay.utwente.nl/65376/1/Br%C3%BCggemann_BA_faculty%20of%20Management%20and%20Governance.pdf.

  • Cohen, W. M., & Levinthal, D. A. (1990). Absorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(1), 128–152.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cunningham, J. B., & Lischeron, J. (1991). Defining entrepreneurship. Journal of Small Business Management, 29(1), 45–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Clercq, D., & Arenius, P. (2006). The role of knowledge in business start-up activity. International Small Business Journal, 24(4), 339–358.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eisenhardt, K. M., & Schoonhoven, C. B. (1990). Organisational growth: Linking founding team, strategy, environment, and growth among US semiconductor ventures, 1978–1988. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(3), 504–529.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ETMarkets.com. (2017, August 18). Why Vishal Sikka quit as Infosys MD: Full text of his resignation letter. The Economic Times. Retrieved on 16 September 2017 from http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/60113647.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst.

  • Evans, M. G. (1970). The effects of supervisory behavior on the path-goal relationship. Organisational Behavior and Human Performance, 5(3), 277–298.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleishman, E. A., Harris, E. F., & Burtt, H. E. (1955). Leadership and supervision in industry: An evaluation of a supervisory training program. Columbus, OH: The Ohio State University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fornahl, D. (2003). Entrepreneurial activities in a regional context. In D. Fornahl & T. Brenner (Eds.), Cooperation, networks and institutions in regional innovation systems (pp. 38–57). Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, D. E. (2003). Developing the professional self-concept: Role model construals in early, middle, and late career stages. Organisation Science, 14(5), 591–610.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, D. E. (2004). Role models in career development: New directions for theory and research. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 65(1), 134–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gimeno, J., Folta, T., Cooper, A., & Woo, C. (1997). Survival of the fittest? Entrepreneurial human capital and the persistence of underperforming firms. Administrative Science Quarterly, 42(4), 750–783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, A. (2007). Entrepreneurial leadership: A profile of Herb Kelleher and South West Airlines. Completed in Partial fulfilment of the Requirements for OM 8107—Entrepreneurial Leader as Pioneer. Minneapolis, MN: Capella University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, B. (2000). Does entrepreneurship pay? An empirical analysis of the returns to self-employment. Journal of Political Economy, 108(3), 604–631.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hartog, J., Van Praag, M., & Van der Sluis, J. (2010). If you are so smart, why aren’t you an entrepreneur? Returns to cognitive and social ability: Entrepreneurs versus employees. Journal of Economics and Management Strategy, 19(4), 947–989. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1530-9134.2010.00274.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hernandez, A. E. (1995). Do role models influence self efficacy and aspirations in Mexican American at-risk females? Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 17(2), 256–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hersey, P., Blanchard, K. H., & Natemeyer, W. E. (1979). Situational leadership, perception, and the impact of power. Group & Organisation Management, 4(4), 418–428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ibarra, H. (1997). Paving an alternative route: Gender differences in managerial networks. Social Psychology Quarterly, 60(1), 91–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ireland, D., Hitt, M. A., & Sirmon, D. G. (2003). A model of strategic entrepreneurship: The construct and its dimensions. Journal of Management, 29(6), 963–989. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0149-2063_03_00086-2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jago, A. G. (1982). Leadership: Perspectives in theory and research. Management Science, 28(3), 315–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, C. (2017, June 12). Uber loses another top executive Emil Michael. BBC News—Business. Retrieved on 16 September 2017 from http://www.bbc.com/news/business-40254388.

  • Kagan, J. (1958). The concept of identification. Psychological Review, 65(5), 296–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kalleberg, A. L., Knoke, D., Marsden, P. V., & Spaeth, J. L. (1996). Organizations in America: Analyzing their structures and human resource practices. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korgaonkar, D. (2017, August 21). Infosys loses Rs 34,000 crore in market-cap in two days. Business Standard. Retrieved on 16 September 2017 from http://www.business-standard.com/article/markets/infosys-out-of-top-10-lost-rs-34-500-crore-of-market-cap-in-two-days-117082100514_1.html.

  • Kram, K. E., & Isabella, L. (1985). Mentoring alternatives: The role of peer relationships in career development. Academy of Management Journal, 28(1), 110–132. https://doi.org/10.2307/256064.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krumboltz, J. D., Mitchell, A. M., & Jones, G. B. (1976). A social learning theory of career selection. The Counseling Psychologist, 6(1), 71–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D. (2017, February 20). Uber investigates ‘abhorrent’ sexism claims. BBC News—Technology. Retrieved on 23 August 2017 from http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39024445.

  • Lockwood, P., & Kunda, Z. (1997). Superstars and me: Predicting the impact of role models on the self. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 91–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Maccoby, E. E., & Jacklin, C. N. (1974). The psychology of sex differences. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, M., & Smith-Lovin, L. (1987). Homophily in voluntary organisations: Status distance and the composition of face-to-face groups. American Sociological Review, 52(3), 370–379.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McPherson, M., Smith-Lovin, L., & Cook, J. (2001). Birds of a feather: Homophily in social networks. Annual Review of Sociology, 27, 415–444. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nauta, M., & Kokaly, M. (2001). Assessing role model influences on students’ academic and vocational decisions. Journal of Career Assessment, 9(1), 81–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, S. C., & Van Praag, M. (2006). Schooling, capital constraints and entrepreneurial performance: The endogenous triangle. Journal of Business and Economic Statistics, 24(4), 416–431.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pfeffer, J., & Salancik, G. R. (1978). The external control of organisations: A resource dependence perspective. New York: Harper and Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rauch, A., & Frese, M. (2000). Psychological approaches to entrepreneurial success: A general model and an overview of findings. International Review of Industrial and Organisational Psychology, 15, 101–142.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reskin, B. F., McBrier, D. B., & Kmec, J. A. (1999). The determinants of workplace sex and race composition. Annual Review of Sociology, 25, 335–361. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.25.1.335.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ruef, M., Aldrich, H. E., & Carter, N. M. (2003). The structure of founding teams: Homophily, strong ties, and isolation among U.S. entrepreneurs. American Sociological Review, 68(2), 195–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, E. C., Haseltine, F. P., & Rowe, M. P. (1978). Moving up: Role models, mentors, and the ‘patron system’. Sloan Management Review, 19(3), 51–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stuart, R. W., & Abetti, P. A. (1990). The impact of entrepreneurial and management experience on early performance. Journal of Business Venturing, 5(3), 151–162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tierney, P., Farmer, S. M., & Graen, G. B. (1999). An examination of leadership and employee creativity: The relevance of traits and relationships. Personnel Psychology, 52(3), 591–620.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Praag, M., van Witteloostuijn, A., & Van der Sluis, J. (2009). Returns for entrepreneurs versus employees: The effect of education and personal control on the relative performance of entrepreneurs. Tinbergen Institute Discussion Paper TI 2009-111/3. Amsterdam: Tinbergen Institute Amsterdam. Retrieved on 12 June 2017 from https://papers.tinbergen.nl/09111.pdf.

  • Witt, U. (1991). Economics, sociobiology, and behavioral psychology on preferences. Journal of Economic Psychology, 12(4), 557–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-4870(91)90001-A.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Timothy Franklyn .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Franklyn, T. (2018). Fostering Vision, Culture, and Accountability in Young Organisations Through Role Modelling. In: Vidyasagar, S., Hatti, P. (eds) Leadership and Role Modelling. Palgrave Studies in Leadership and Followership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-69056-8_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics