Research Reports from the Department of Operations
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Date
5-30-1984
Abstract
This thesis develops, tests, and evaluates a general network-based model for use in the management of an innovative start-up. The major tasks accomplished in a start-up are identified. The tasks include R&D and Engineering, Financial, Market Research, Organization, Legal and Accounting, Manufacturing, and Marketing. For each major task, the significant activities, precedence relations, decision nodes, alternative choices of action, and feedback loops are identified. The Q-GERT package (written in FORTRAN) simulates the innovative management process described by the general network-based model. A flexible computer program yields values of such parameters as an activity criticality index, expected times to achieve each milestone, and the probability distribution of the time to achieve each end-state. The eight key tasks are described in the form of GERT networks. The general network-based model for use in overall start-up management is a PERT network which is based on the eight key tasks. The thesis demonstrates that the process of starting and managing a start-up company can be modeled using network-based methods. Results of the network-based model are confirmed when compared with actual instances.
Keywords
Operations research, FORTRAN (Computer program language), New business enterprises--Management, Entrepreneurship, Business planning, PERT (Network analysis), Computer simulation, Management--Mathematical models, Industrial management--Data processing, Organizational effectiveness--Evaluation
Publication Title
Master's thesis/Technical Memorandums from the Department of Operations, School of Management, Case Western Reserve University
Issue
Technical memorandum no. 540 ; Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science.
Rights
This work is in the public domain and may be freely downloaded for personal or academic use
Recommended Citation
Lorenz, Gary Dean, "Innovative Start-Up Management" (1984). Research Reports from the Department of Operations. 250.
https://commons.case.edu/wsom-ops-reports/250