New world, or out of this world? Columbus – an exploratory study of HASS and STEM success factors in the first “space” race

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which interdisciplinary (HASS, i.e. non-STEM) factors—in particular, accounting, stakeholder management and accountability—enable, influence and motivate large human exploration ventures, principally in maritime and space fields, utilizing Columbus’s and Chinese explorations of the 1400s as the primary setting.Design/methodology/approachThe study analyzes archival data from narrative and interpretational history, including both academic and non-academic sources, that relate to two global historical events, the Columbus and Ming Chinese exploration eras (c. 1400–1500), as a parallel to the modern “Space Race”. Existing studies on pertinent HASS (Humanities and Social Sciences) and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) enablers, influencers and motivators are utilized in the analysis. The authors draw upon the concepts of stakeholder theory and the construct of accountability in their analysis.FindingsFindings suggest that non-STEM considerations—politics, finance, accountability, culture, theology and others—played crucial roles in enabling Western Europe (Columbus) to reach the Americas before China or other global powers, demonstrating the pivotal importance of HASS factors in human advancements and exploration.Research limitations/implicationsIn seeking to answer those questions, this study identifies only those factors (HASS or STEM) that may support the success or failure in execution of the exploration and development of a region such as the New World or Space. Moreover, the study has the following limitation. Relative successes, failures, drivers and enablers of exploratory ventures are drawn almost exclusively from the documented historical records of the nations, entities and individuals (China and Europe) who conducted those ventures. A paucity of objective sources in some fields, and the need to set appropriate boundaries for the study, also necessitate such limitation.Practical implicationsIt is observable that many of those HASS factors also appear to have been influencers in modern era Space projects. For Apollo and Soyuz, success factors such as the relative economics of USA and USSR, their political ideologies, accountabilities and organizational priorities have clear echoes. What the successful voyages of Columbus and Apollo also have in common is an appetite to take risks for an uncertain return, whether as sponsor or voyager; an understanding of financial management and benefits measurement, and a leadership (Isabella I, John F. Kennedy) possessing a vision, ideology and governmental apparatus to further the venture’s goals.Originality/valueWhilst various historical studies have examined influences behind the oceangoing explorations of the 1400s and the colonization of the “New World”, this article takes an original approach of analyzing those motivations and other factors collectively, in interdisciplinary terms (HASS and STEM). This approach also has the potential to provide a novel method of examining accountability and performance in modern exploratory ventures, such as crewed space missions.

China’s space sector, firm CSR and patent quality

“…Diana (2021) and King et al (2023) identify that while civil space firms feature private investment, project ownership, beneficiaries and commercial applications, they commonly require government policy and agency support to stimulate and encourage engagement. Broader issues considered in the accounting-related space literature include business model innovation (Vecchi and Brennan, 2015), commercialisation processes (Barbaroux, 2016), financing plans (Pomeroy et al, 2019), international collaboration (Qian and Liu, 2020), sector-wide uncertainty and risk (Kim, 2018) and the importance of accountability frameworks that address outcomes (Kerslake and Krishnamurti, 2024).…”

“…Consistent with the space economy’s growth is an expansion in the quantum and diversity of topics considered in its literature, including recognising understanding the New Space Age requires adopting inter-disciplinary and Humanities and Social Sciences (HASS) as well as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) analytic approaches (Tucker and Alewine, 2022a; Kerslake and Krishnamurti, 2024). This extends to exploring accounting-related issues in space industry operations and the need to adopt collaborative inter-disciplinary perspectives in accounting’s emerging space economy literature (Alewine, 2020; Tucker et al ., 2021).…”

“…Broader issues considered in the accounting-related space literature include business model innovation (Vecchi and Brennan, 2015), commercialisation processes (Barbaroux, 2016), financing plans (Pomeroy et al. , 2019), international collaboration (Qian and Liu, 2020), sector-wide uncertainty and risk (Kim, 2018) and the importance of accountability frameworks that address outcomes (Kerslake and Krishnamurti, 2024).…”