Abstract
Research on business failure focuses primarily on entrepreneurs and largely ignores individuals and mid-level managers who comprise most corporate populations. This study aimed to mitigate this gap by exploring how 15 individuals and mid-level managers working in a Fortune 50 technology company experienced failure and how their beliefs impacted their experience and learnings. Qualitative interview data were analyzed using a schema from the literature. The results suggested that emotional regulation, belief in personal agency, and separation of self from work supported learning and positive outcomes. Future research would create deeper insights into the social impacts on emotions and sensemaking and the importance of dynamics such as relative power.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Business failures; Middle managers; Employees--High technology industries
Date of Award
2023
School Affiliation
Graziadio Business School
Department/Program
Business
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Masters
Faculty Advisor
Gary Mangiofico
Recommended Citation
Calhoun, Corinna, "Learning through business unit failure: a study of individuals and mid-level managers" (2023). Theses and Dissertations. 1337.
https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/etd/1337