Research Article

RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES

Volume: 26 Number: 4 September 23, 2026
EN TR

RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES

Abstract

The aim of this research is to investigate the tendency of lean startups established in Technology Development Zones to prefer countries with high technological and market uncertainty in the international market entry process and the moderating effect of cluster resources provided by Technology Development Zones on this relationship. The unit of analysis of the study is organizations. In this context, the data obtained through questionnaires from 120 start-up firms operating in a total of 10 different Technology Development Zones established in Ankara, Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa and Kocaeli, the five largest cities of Turkey, were tested with Structural Equation Modeling. While the findings indicate a positive and significant relationship between lean enterprise and uncertainty levels, no significant results were obtained regarding the moderating relationship, which constitutes the main contribution of the study. While the evidences show a positive and significant relationship between lean practices and the tendency to prefer risky country markets in entering the international market, no significant results were obtained regarding the moderator relationship, which constitutes the main contribution of the study. These results show that technology development zones do not serve their founding purposes.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

TUBITAK

Project Number

TUBITAK 3005_SOBAG 323K043

Thanks

This study is derived from the doctoral thesis " Lean Enterprise Strategies and Host Country Uncertainty in Start-up Firms: The Moderating Effect of Cluster Resources " prepared within the scope of the 1001 project managed by Professor Tulay Ilhan Nas and numbered SOBAG-323K043 supported by TUBİTAK. We would like to thank TUBITAK for their support.

References

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  5. Bortolini, R. F., Nogueira Cortimiglia, M., Danilevicz, A. D. M. F., & Ghezzi, A. (2021). Lean Startup: A Comprehensive Historical Review. Management Decision, 59(8), 1765-1783.
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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Business Administration

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

September 23, 2026

Submission Date

July 15, 2025

Acceptance Date

April 2, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 26 Number: 4

APA
İlhan-Nas, T., Şahin, H., & Sarı Aytekin, S. (2026). RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES. Ege Academic Review, 26(4), 645-662. https://doi.org/10.21121/eab.202600240
AMA
1.İlhan-Nas T, Şahin H, Sarı Aytekin S. RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES. ear. 2026;26(4):645-662. doi:10.21121/eab.202600240
Chicago
İlhan-Nas, Tülay, Havva Şahin, and Selcen Sarı Aytekin. 2026. “RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES”. Ege Academic Review 26 (4): 645-62. https://doi.org/10.21121/eab.202600240.
EndNote
İlhan-Nas T, Şahin H, Sarı Aytekin S (September 1, 2026) RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES. Ege Academic Review 26 4 645–662.
IEEE
[1]T. İlhan-Nas, H. Şahin, and S. Sarı Aytekin, “RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES”, ear, vol. 26, no. 4, pp. 645–662, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.21121/eab.202600240.
ISNAD
İlhan-Nas, Tülay - Şahin, Havva - Sarı Aytekin, Selcen. “RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES”. Ege Academic Review 26/4 (September 1, 2026): 645-662. https://doi.org/10.21121/eab.202600240.
JAMA
1.İlhan-Nas T, Şahin H, Sarı Aytekin S. RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES. ear. 2026;26:645–662.
MLA
İlhan-Nas, Tülay, et al. “RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES”. Ege Academic Review, vol. 26, no. 4, Sept. 2026, pp. 645-62, doi:10.21121/eab.202600240.
Vancouver
1.Tülay İlhan-Nas, Havva Şahin, Selcen Sarı Aytekin. RISK PREFERENCES OF LEAN STARTUPS IN INTERNATIONAL MARKET ENTRY: THE MODERATOR EFFECT OF CLUSTER RESOURCES. ear. 2026 Sep. 1;26(4):645-62. doi:10.21121/eab.202600240