QUESTION 2 (20) Below is the title and abstract of an articlewhich was published in the Academy of Management Journal, Vol. 61,No. 6, page 2265 – 2295. Critically reflect on the abstract andanswer the questions that follow. Entrepreneurial Imaginativenessin New Venture Ideation Alexander S. Kier and Jeffery S. McMullenAbstract Although theories of entrepreneurial action regularlyacknowledge the importance of imagination, the ability is rarelydefined or measured, and thus effectively treated as uniform indegree and type. Using a creative problem-solving lens, we identifyand measure three different cognitive skills—creative, social, andpractical imaginativeness—that vary across individuals. Each skillcombines the ability of imagination with the knowledge needed tomentally simulate various task-related scenarios used in generatingand selecting ideas for new value creation. We then conduct aquasi-experiment to examine each skill’s relative effect on newventure ideation. We find that the three imaginativeness skillsvary across individuals and that they predict new venture ideaquantity and quality differently over and above the effects ofmotivation, knowledge, and experience. We conclude withimplications for theory development in entrepreneurship andcreative problem-solving. REQUIRED: 2.1 Based on the content of theabstract, identify and discuss the type of research conducted byKier and McMullen (2018), and explain the main deductive theoryunderpinning the research and the contributions made to the body ofknowledge. (5) 2.2 Elaborate on the motivation for this paper,highlighting the focus of inquiry (i.e. the broad question ofinterest). (4) 2.3 Highlight the independent variables anddependent variable identified and measured in the study and thelikely inferential tests conducted by Kier and McMullen (2018). (4)2.4 Comment on the strategic relevance of Kier and McMullen’s(2018) findings and highlight TWO (2) key shortcomings of mostquasi-experiments. (4) 2.5 Based on Kier and McMullen’s (2018)findings, suggest one practical recommendation that you would offerto potential funders of start-ups.
