Short answer
When designing for start-ups, prioritize the development of a flexible resource base and robust learning capabilities that allow the venture to adapt and gain advantage from unforeseen disruptions.
- Field
- Innovation & Markets
- Source
- Review of Managerial Science (2023)
- Method
- Quantitative survey research
- Sample
- 181 participants
- Evidence
- Strong effect
Innovative start-ups can achieve antifragility, enabling them to benefit from crises rather than just recover, by strategically combining tangible and intangible resources with a strong absorptive capacity. This innovation & markets research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Review of Managerial Science. Using Quantitative survey research with 181 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: When designing for start-ups, prioritize the development of a flexible resource base and robust learning capabilities that allow the venture to adapt and gain advantage from unforeseen disruptions.
Antifragile Start-ups Leverage Resource Combinations to Thrive Under Disruption
Innovative start-ups can achieve antifragility, enabling them to benefit from crises rather than just recover, by strategically combining tangible and intangible resources with a strong absorptive capacity.
Review of Managerial Science · 2023
Key Findings
- 01Antifragility in start-ups is positively associated with the presence of both tangible and intangible resources.
- 02Absorptive capacity plays a significant role in enabling start-ups to leverage their resources to become antifragile.
- 03A combination of these factors is more effective than any single factor in promoting antifragility.
Application
Design takeaway
When designing for start-ups, prioritize the development of a flexible resource base and robust learning capabilities that allow the venture to adapt and gain advantage from unforeseen disruptions.
How to apply
When developing a new product or service for a start-up, assess the availability and synergy of tangible assets (e.g., equipment, capital) and intangible assets (e.g., patents, brand reputation), and ensure mechanisms are in place for rapid learning and adaptation.
Project actions
- 01When researching a start-up, consider how its resources (both physical and intellectual) and its ability to learn could help it overcome challenges.
- 02Think about how a product's design could be made more adaptable to unexpected market changes.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Investigates a novel concept (antifragility) in the start-up context.
- +Uses a quantitative approach to identify relationships between key factors.
Limitations
Self-reported data can be subjective, and the specific market conditions in Italy might influence the results.
Reliability & validity
The study's reliability could be enhanced by using validated scales for measuring resources and absorptive capacity. Validity is supported by examining the relationship between these factors and the outcome of antifragility.
Think critically
To what extent can a design itself contribute to a start-up's absorptive capacity and resource combination, beyond the business strategy?
Design Principles
"Design for antifragility by integrating diverse resources and fostering continuous learning to capitalize on volatility."
In today's volatile market, designing for antifragility is crucial for the long-term success of new ventures. Understanding how to build this capability allows designers and strategists to create products and business models that not only withstand shocks but emerge stronger.
What This Means for Your Design
Start-ups can get stronger from problems if they have a good mix of physical stuff and smart ideas, and if they are good at learning new things.
How to use in your project
- 1.Reference this study when discussing how a start-up's resource strategy and learning capacity can be designed to foster antifragility, enabling it to benefit from market disruptions.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
The research by Corvello et al. (2023) suggests that innovative start-ups can achieve antifragility by strategically combining tangible and intangible resources with a robust absorptive capacity. This implies that design projects aiming to support start-ups should focus on developing flexible resource structures and learning mechanisms that enable ventures to not only recover from disruptions but to emerge in a stronger position.
Source
Review of Managerial Science
Betting on the future: how to build antifragility in innovative start-up companies
journal · 2023
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about antifragile start-ups leverage resource combinations to thrive under disruption?
- When designing for start-ups, prioritize the development of a flexible resource base and robust learning capabilities that allow the venture to adapt and gain advantage from unforeseen disruptions. Evidence: Review of Managerial Science (2023).
- Why does "Antifragile Start-ups Leverage Resource Combinations to Thrive Under Disruption" matter for design?
- In today's volatile market, designing for antifragility is crucial for the long-term success of new ventures. Understanding how to build this capability allows designers and strategists to create products and business models that not only withstand shocks but emerge stronger.
- How can designers apply this research?
- When designing for start-ups, prioritize the development of a flexible resource base and robust learning capabilities that allow the venture to adapt and gain advantage from unforeseen disruptions.
- What were the main findings?
- Antifragility in start-ups is positively associated with the presence of both tangible and intangible resources.. Absorptive capacity plays a significant role in enabling start-ups to leverage their resources to become antifragile.. A combination of these factors is more effective than any single factor in promoting antifragility.
- What research method was used?
- Quantitative survey research with 181 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Strong effect, based on a 2023 journal from Review of Managerial Science.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When developing a new product or service for a start-up, assess the availability and synergy of tangible assets (e.g., equipment, capital) and intangible assets (e.g., patents, brand reputation), and ensure mechanisms are in place for rapid learning and adaptation.
- What are the limitations?
- The study is based on self-reported data, and the findings are specific to the context of Italian innovative start-ups, which may limit generalizability.