Marc Wouters

2012

Based on extensive study of the literature on management control systems and entrepreneurship, the student has formulated five original hypotheses about the antecedents of the use of sophisticated financial planning and controlling activities in startup firms, and, in turn, the effect of this on firm performance. He has also developed a questionnaire for testing these hypotheses, using a mix of existing and new measurement scales. He obtained completed questionnaires from 35 startup firms. The empirical results provide support for two hypotheses, namely: there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between educational background and the use of sophisticated financial planning and controlling activities in startup firms, and there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between those activities and company performance.