The involvement of technology transfer officers in the development of university start‐ups : A psychological ownership perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the involvement of technology transfer officers in the development of university start‐ups from a psychological ownership perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A three‐year qualitative study of three university start‐ups was conducted using a longitudinal, case study and theory building design, whereby the theoretical perspective of psychological ownership was linked to the data during the analysis stage.

Findings

When university start‐ups are running low on funds, technology transfer officers develop psychological ownership for the start‐up through the investment of the self and control routes (Pierce et al., 2001, 2003).

Originality/value

There is a paucity of empirical studies that examine psychological ownership in new venture creation. This study shows technology transfer officers develop psychological ownership for the university start‐up they are working with and contributes to both the psychological ownership and entrepreneurship literatures.

Citation

Chugh, H. (2013), "The involvement of technology transfer officers in the development of university start‐ups : A psychological ownership perspective", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 387-403. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-11-2011-0149