CARGO EFFECT IN ENTREPRENEURIAL EDUCATION: RISKS OF IMITATION BEHAVIOR OF NOVICE ENTREPRENEURS AND PEDAGOGICAL WAYS TO OVERCOME IT

Abstract

The article explores the phenomenon of the cargo effect, which is the imitation behavior of aspiring entrepreneurs who copy the external attributes of successful business models without understanding the cause-and-effect relationships. The relevance of the study is due to the high "mortality rate" of startups and the urgent need to improve the entrepreneurial education and career guidance system. The author substantiates the need for a targeted study and "debunking" of the cargo effect in educational programs (including for high school students of specialized classes and university students) to develop critical thinking and sustainable entrepreneurial competencies. The purpose of the work is to identify the risks of imitation behavior and develop pedagogical approaches to overcoming cargo behavior. The methodology includes a synthesis of the anthropological concept of cargo cults, theories of information cascades, and institutional isomorphism. The empirical base consists of statistical data, case studies of individual Russian startups, and expert assessments. The practical significance of the work consists in the development of pedagogical and methodological recommendations for transforming educational programs, introducing the analysis of failed cases, and building effective mentoring in SME support institutions and the system of specialized school education.