Objectives
Between December 2004 and March 2005 an evaluation of the enterprises incubated by INGENIO has been made, the objective was to determinate the main success factors.
Methodology
The methodology utilized in this research was proposed by Carlsson et al. (2002) and includes the analysis of different variables related with:
- Selective and strategic capacity
- Functional ability
- Organizational structure
- Flexibility
The information was obtained from a survey to entrepreneurs; this survey was complemented with personal interviews with responsible of the incubated project and with meetings with the incubator’s board.
After the analysis of the survey and interviews, an analysis of the enterprises was made, this analysis considered:
- Objectives
- Business Plan accomplishment
- Reached results
The following step was a factorial analysis to identify variables and factors that explain the correlation between the variables and regular characteristics which were observed not only in the projects without success, but also in the graduated projects.
Results
The results derived in the following conclusions:
- The projects which included in their initial phase an important number of technical staff were less prone to fail.
- There was a negative correlation between the age of the entrepreneur and the probability to fail.
- The management capacity and the labor experience of the board were crucial factors shared between successful projects.
- The projects that exhibited more deviation from the original business plan (in time and objectives established) had more probability to fail.
- The correlation between the enterprises that failed and the quality of the services that they received was highly negative.
- The economic success indexes showed positive correlation with the number of technicians at the beginning and at the end of the process, with the number of people whit expertise and graduate degree and with the time dedicated by them in the project.
- The possibility to obtain a patent has a positive correlation with the age of the entrepreneurs and the initial capital.
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