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Donna DeCarolis

Headshot of Donna DeCarolis

Donna DeCarolis is the founding Dean of the Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship at Drexel University.

Areas of Expertise

  • New Venture Performance and Survival
  • Social Capital
  • Technology Commercialization
  • Technology Entrepreneurship

Selected Works

Articles

DeCarolis, Donna, Yang, Yi, Deeds, David, and Nelling, Edward, Weathering The Storm: The Benefit of Resources to High-Technology Ventures Navigating Adverse Events. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal 3 (Jun 2009): 147-160.

DeCarolis, Donna, and Deeds, D., Weathering the Storm: The Benefit of Resources to High Technology Ventures Navigating Adverse Events. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal 3 (Jun 2009): 147-160.

DeCarolis, Donna, Litzky, Barrie, and Eddleston, Kimberly, Why Networks Enhance the Progress of New Venture Creation: The Influence of Social Capital and Cognition. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice (Mar 2009): 527-545.

DeCarolis, Donna, and Saparito, Patrick, Social capital, cognition and entrepreneurial opportunities: A theoretical framework. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice (Jan 2006): 41-56.

Linnehan, Frank, and DeCarolis, Donna, Understanding employer participation in school-to-work programs. Strategic Management Journal 26 (Jan 2005): 523-539.

DeCarolis, Donna, Competencies and Imitability in the Pharmaceutical Industry: An analysis of their relationship with firm performance. Journal of Management 29 (Sep 2003): 27-50.

Coombs, J., DeCarolis, Donna, and Deeds, D., Dynamic Capabilities and new product development in high technology ventures. Journal of Business Venturing 15 (Sep 2000): 211-229.

DeCarolis, Donna, and Deeds, D., The Impact of stocks and flows of Organizational Knowledge on Firm Performance: An Empirical Evaluation of the Biotechnology Industry. Strategic Management Journal 20 (Sep 1999): 953-968.

Deeds, D., Coombs, J., and DeCarolis, Donna, Firm Specific Resources and Wealth Creation in High Technology Ventures: Evidence from Newly Public Biotechnology Firms Resources and wealth creation in high technology ventures: Evidence from newly public biotechnology firms. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice 22 (Sep 1997):

Deeds, D., Coombs, J., and DeCarolis, Donna, The Impact of Firm Specific Capabilities on the Amount of Capital Raised in an Initial public offering. Journal of Business Venturing 12 (Sep 1997): 31-46.

DeCarolis, Donna, Hamilton, D, and Vasudevan, R, Creation, Adoption and Diffusion of innovations within Multinational Enterprises: The impact of strategy, subsidiary role and control systems. International Association of Management Journal 8 (Sep 1997):

Chaganti, R., DeCarolis, Donna, and Deeds, D., Predictors of Capital Structure in Small Ventures. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice 20 (Sep 1995): 7-18.

DeCarolis, Donna, and Hopkins, H D., The Martin Guitar Company. Case Research Journal Spring (Sep 1992): 19-39.

Cases

DeCarolis, Donna, “The Martin Guitar Company.” Strategic Management: Text and Cases, Ed. G. Dess and D. Miller. New York: McGraw-Hill, (1996):

Chapters

DeCarolis, Donna, “Business-University Alliances and Innovation in New and Adolescent Technology Ventures.” New Frontiers in Entrepreneurship: Recognizing, Seizing and Executing Opportunities, New York: Springer, (Forthcoming)

DeCarolis, Donna, “Technology Characteristics of Industries.” Encyclopedia of Technology and Innovation Managment , Ed. V.K. Narayanan and Gina Colarelli O’Connor. United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell, (2010):

DeCarolis, Donna, and Litzky, B., “Entrepreneurship as a Career.” Encylopedia of Career Development, Ed. Jeffrey Greenhaus and Gerard Callanan. New York: Sage Publications, Inc, (2006):

DeCarolis, Donna, “The Role of Social Capital and Organizational Knowledge in Enhancing Entrepreneurial Opportunities.” The Strategic Management of Intellectual Capital and Organizational Knowledge , Ed. Chun Wei Choo and Nick Bontis. New York: Oxford University Press, (2002):

Coombs, J., DeCarolis, Donna, and Deeds, D., “The Best in Securities Offerings: The Full Text of Insightful Articles to Help you raise capital successfully.” The impact of firm specific capabilities on the amount of capital raised in initial public offering, New York, New York: Bowne & Co, (1998):

Grants

EXCITE: Expressive and Creative Interactive Technologies (NSF) $5,000,000 Jan 2012.

Presented Research

DeCarolis, Donna, A Model of Entrepreneurial Competitive Moves: The Influence of Industry Context and Individual Factors.”, Strategic Management Soceity: Washington, D.C.,

DeCarolis, Donna, Corporte Venture Capital: Does Diversification Influence Growth Value?, Strategic Management Society: Rome, Italy, (Sep 2010):

DeCarolis, Donna, Business Angels, Venture Capital and the Development of Entrepreneurship, Private Equity and Entrepreneurship: Mobilizing Capital and fostering firm growth in Italy’s Southern Regions: Taormina, Italy, (Jul 2008):

DeCarolis, Donna, Zane, LJ, and DiRenzo, Marco, What Does Opportunity Value Mean to the Entrepreneur and How Does it Influence Opportunity Pursuit, Babson Entrepreneurship Research Conference: Chapel Hill, NC, (Jun 2008):

Zane, Lee, DeCarolis, Donna, and DiRenzo, Marco, An Empirical Examination of the Role of Opportunity Cost and Opportunity Value in New Venture Creation, Babson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference: Madrid, Spain, (Jun 2007):

Napshin, S, and DeCarolis, Donna, The Role of firm and managerial characteristics in reducing the severity of adverse events in young firms, Banson College Entrepreneurship Research Conference: Madrid, Spain, (Jun 2007):

Litzky, B., Godshall, V, and DeCarolis, Donna, Social Etrepreneurship, International Assoiation of Business and Ethics: Florence, Italy, (May 2007):

Yang, Yi, Narayanan, V.K., and DeCarolis, Donna, The Growth Value from Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) Portfolio Configuration, Strategic Management Society Conference on Entrepreneurship: Catania, Sicily (Italy), (May 2007):

Colwell, Ken, and DeCarolis, Donna, University Alliances and New Product Development In New and Adolescent Technology Firms, Strategic Management Society Conference on Entreprenuership: Catania, Sicily (Italy), (May 2007):

Zane, Lee, DeCarolis, Donna, and DiRenzo, Marco, An Examination of the Role of Opportunity Cost and Opportunity Value in New Venture Creation, Eastern Academy of Management: New Brunswick, NJ, (May 2007):

DiRenzo, Marco, DeCarolis, Donna, and Zane, Lee, Entrepreneur Personality, Leadership Style, and New Venture Culture: A Model for New Venture Survival, Eastern Academy of Management: New Brunswick, NJ, (May 2007):

DeCarolis, Donna, Litzky, B., and Eddleston, K, Why Networks Enhance New Venture Creation: A Theoretical and Empirical Model of Social Capital, Overconfidence and Risk Perception, United State Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Orlando, FL, (Jan 2007):

Napshin, S, and DeCarolis, Donna, Reducing the impact of an adverse event in young firms, Southern Management Association: Clearwater, FL, (Oct 2006):

Hackett, Sean M., and DeCarolis, Donna, Why don’t more “Born Globals” exist? A Model for Reducing the Uncertainity of Internationalization for New Ventures, San Francisco-Silicon Valley Global Entrepreneurship Research Conference: San Francisco, CA, (Mar 2006):

DeCarolis, Donna, Red Oak Software - a case study, United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Annual Conference: Tuscon, AZ, (Jan 2006):

DeCarolis, Donna, Yang, Yi, Deeds, D., and Nelling, Edward, Weathering the Storm: Preparing New Ventures for an Adverse Event, United States Association of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (USASBE) Annual Conference: Tuscon, AZ, (Jan 2006):

DeCarolis, Donna, and Colwell, Ken, The Business School as an Engine of Economic Development, Creating Pennsylvania’s Future: Penn State University, College Park, PA, (Dec 2005):

Colwell, Ken, and DeCarolis, Donna, Strategic Posture and University Alliance in Technology Intensive Industries, Strategic Management Society - Annual Conference: Puerto Rico, (Nov 2004):

Proceedings

DeCarolis, Donna, Deeds, D., and Nelling, Edward, Managing Adversity in high technology new ventures: The Impact of clinical terminations in the biotech industry, Frontiers of Entrepreneurship Research Sep 2003. (Sep 2003):

DeCarolis, Donna, and Richards, Mallika, R&D Activity in biotech joint ventures, Academy of International Business Nov 00-1. (Sep 2002):

DeCarolis, Donna, and Deeds, D., The Impact of alternative collaborative arrangements on shareholder value creation in entrepreneurial biotechnology companies, Entrepreneurship Research Conference Babson College Nov 00-1. (Sep 2000):

Education

BA History - Cabrini College, Radnor, PA 1979
MBA Management - Villanova University 1988
PhD Strategic Management - Temple University 1995

Professional Experience

Academic-LeBow College of Business, Drexel University Associate Professor Philadelphia PA Jan 2002 -
Academic-LeBow College of Business, Drexel University Department Head - Management Department Philadelphia PA Jan 2004 -
Academic-Baiada Center for Entrepreneurship in Technology, Drexel University Academic Director Philadelphia PA Jan 2004 -

Awards

2005-2006 Distinguished Teaching Award (LeBow College of Business)
2003 Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award (Drexel University)
2003 Center of Teaching Excellence- Distinguished Fellow (LeBow College of Business)
2000 Best Selling NACRA Case Award (North American Case Research Association)
1998 Best Article Award ( Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice)
1996 Best Empirical Paper Entrepreneurship Division (Academy of Management)

Media Mentions

Small businesses, big challenges

 via The Philadelphia Inquirer

Donna DeCarolis, Ph.D., LeBow’s associate dean for graduate programs and management department head, was quoted in a Philadelphia Inquirer article about the need for small businesses to implement strategic changes and adapt to growth. “Every time there’s a growth spurt, that means there needs to be a change in strategy,” DeCarolis said.

Radio firms' CEO leaving business to his employees

 via The Philadelphia Inquirer

Donna DeCarolis, Ph.D., LeBow’s associate dean for graduate programs and management department head, was quoted in a Philadelphia Inquirer article about the benefits of Employee Stock-Ownership Plans (ESOP). ESOPs afford business owners “the satisfaction of knowing that the company will carry on, typically in the hands of people that they have worked with,” DeCarolis said.

Today’s MBAs aren’t waiting to pass their exams before starting their own companies

 via Philadelphia Business Journal

Entrepreneurship education at LeBow College of Business was highlighted in a Philadelphia Business Journal article about the rise of startups among business students. Donna De Carolis, PhD, associate dean for strategic initiatives and head of the Management department, was quoted. The article also mentions that Drexel was recently ranked 15th in the country on The Princeton Review & Entrepreneur magazine’s list of graduate programs for entrepreneurship.

View all mentions

College News

What do you get when you put a room full of successful executives and great academic minds together? The Executive MBA Alumni Continuing Education Summit. Held May 17, the day-long event  attracted more than 60 alumni and notable presenters to discuss topics centered around “Entrepreneurial Thinking: A State of Mind for Success and the Future.”

When it comes to innovation, no company is nimble enough, rich enough or smart enough to go it alone, according to a panel of experts from Comcast, AT&T and Independence Blue Cross.