Recent scholarship has sought to develop a “scientific method” for startups. In this paper we contrast two approaches: lean startup and the theory-based view of startups. The lean startup movement has served an important function in calling for a normative and scientific approach to startups and venture creation. The theory-based view shares this agenda. But there are differences in the underlying theoretical mechanisms and practical prescriptions suggested by each approach. We highlight these differences and their implications for both research and practice. For example, we contrast lean startup’s emphasis on bounded rationality and entrepreneur–customer information asymmetry with the theory-based view’s emphasis on generative rationality and belief asymmetry. The theory-based view focuses on contrarian beliefs, associated problem formulation, and the development of a startup-specific causal logic for experimentation, resource acquisition, and problem solving. The right mix of entrepreneurial actions is contingent and startup-specific—guided by a startup’s unique theory. After pointing out differences between the lean and theory-based view of startups, we discuss opportunities for partial reconciliation, as well as opportunities for empirically comparing perspectives. Overall, we emphasize that a scientific method for startups needs to recognize the importance of contingent, discriminating alignment between entrepreneurial theories and the actions they prescribe (including different types of experimentation and validation, search, and forms of organization).

中文翻译：

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初创公司的科学方法

最近的学术研究试图为初创企业开发一种“科学方法”。在本文中，我们对比了两种方法：精益创业和基于理论的创业观。精益创业运动在呼吁对初创企业和风险创建采取规范和科学的方法方面发挥了重要作用。基于理论的观点也同意这一议程。但每种方法所提出的基本理论机制和实践方案都存在差异。我们强调这些差异及其对研究和实践的影响。例如，我们将精益创业对有限理性和企业家-客户信息不对称的强调与基于理论的观点对生成理性和信念不对称的强调进行对比。基于理论的观点侧重于逆向信念、相关问题的表述以及针对实验、资源获取和问题解决的初创企业特定因果逻辑的开发。创业行动的正确组合是偶然的，并且是针对特定初创企业的——以初创企业独特的理论为指导。在指出精益和基于理论的初创公司观点之间的差异之后，我们讨论了部分协调的机会，以及实证比较观点的机会。总的来说，我们强调，初创企业的科学方法需要认识到创业理论与其规定的行动（包括不同类型的实验和验证、搜索和组织形式）之间的偶然性、有区别的一致性的重要性。