KOZUSZNIK, M.W.. & EUWEMA, M.C. "CONFLICT AND STRESS DYNAMICS IN STARTUP TOP-TEAMS". THE 19TH EAWOP CONGRESS, TORINO, ITALY.

May 30, 2019

Purpose. Startups development and growth is one of the Europe’s Priorities. However, about 50% of new European businesses fail during their first five years; conflicts between founders and effects of work stress being identified as two of the top reasons for this failure. The aim of this work is to elaborate on typologies of conflicts specifically characteristic for start-ups and to analyze their dynamic as related to stress, coping and health.

Design/Methodology/Approach/Intervention. This study has a mixed design: we conducted interviews with 18 startup founders/experts, followed by concept mapping, multidimensional scaling, and cluster analysis. Also, we carried out multilevel SEM on a diary data from 86 start- up founders.

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Results. The results indicate four types of conflicts specific to the context of startups, regarding: money, norms, teamwork, and vision. These dimensions of conflicts in startups relate in time with stress, and different indicators of well-being.

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Limitations. Self-report was used to measure conflicts and stress levels.

Research/Practical Implications. The results can contribute to create guidelines for startups on how to prevent and effectively deal with stress and conflicts, take early preventive actions toavoid startup’s failure, and to promote founders’ well-being and health and start-ups’ success.

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Originality/Value. This work adds knowledge about conflicts and stress dynamics in start-ups that is practically inexistent. It addresses a timely issue of start-ups’ entrepreneurial success,making this work relevant for European economy.