창업가 정체성이 스타트업의 전략적 유연성에 미치는 영향

This study investigates the impact of founder identity on the strategic flexibility of startups. To this end, founder identity is classified into two dimensions: market orientation and technology orientation. Based on these dimensions, four founder types are derived: Visionary, Revolutionary, Attemptor, and Discoverer. The study examines how each type of founder identity affects the three dimensions of strategic flexibility in startups: Business model flexibility, Use of technologies flexibility, and Symbolic category flexibility. A survey was conducted among 200 founders of Chinese venture startups to collect data, and the analysis revealed the following key findings: First, Revolutionary founders exhibited the lowest level of strategic flexibility, while Discoverer founders showed the highest level of flexibility. Second, Visionary founders, who emphasize a balance between technology and market considerations, displayed a moderate level of strategic flexibility. Finally, Attemptor founders, lacking clear strategic direction, also demonstrated a moderate level of flexibility. This study highlights that founder identity significantly influences the strategic flexibility of startups, underscoring the necessity of formulating tailored management strategies based on founder types. Furthermore, it suggests that future research should expand to include diverse industries and countries to gain deeper insights into the relationship between founder identity and strategic flexibility.