A framework and databases for measuring entrepreneurial ecosystems

Scholarly literature on the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems has increased sharply over the past five years. The surge in interest has also heightened the demand for robust empirical measures that capture the complexity of dynamic relationships among ecosystem constituents. We offer a framework for measurement that places collaborative relationships among entrepreneurs, firms, government agencies, and research institutions at the center of the ecosystem concept. We further emphasize the four roles of the federal government as a catalyst, coordinator, certifier, and customer in shaping these relationships. Despite the central importance of these firm-government interactions, there is surprisingly little research on suitable methodologies and appropriate data for systematically and reliably incorporating them into measures of ecosystem health. Our study aims to address this gap in the literature by first developing a conceptual framework for measuring entrepreneurial ecosystems and then describing an array of accompanying databases that provide rich and detailed information on firms and their relationships with government organizations, accelerators, and research institutions. A major advantage of our approach is that all the underlying databases are drawn from non-confidential, publicly available sources that are transparently disclosed and regularly updated. This greatly expands the potential community of scholars, managers, and policymakers that may independently use these databases to test theories, make decisions, and formulate policies related to innovation and entrepreneurship.     

Reprint of: Capturing conversations in entrepreneurial ecosystems

This paper examines a novel and innovative methodological approach and dataset for measuring the complex relational dynamics underpinning entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs). Existing measurement techniques have largely failed to yield sufficiently nuanced data or insights to inform robust policy recommendations within this research field. To rectify this situation, this paper sets out a novel approach to assessing the relational connectivity within EEs by capturing entrepreneurial "conversations". Drawing on real-time data extracted from an event-based social media platform, in combination with social network analysis and qualitative interview data, we provide an in-depth assessment of the relational connections within the city of Edinburgh at three analytical levels. Overall, the paper demonstrates that the analysis of conversations and conversational spaces is an important mechanism for exploring and mapping the relational connectivity within EEs. As well as producing novel empirical insights, this approach provides policy makers with vital strategic policy intelligence to help better inform public policy frameworks and associated interventions.     

Intermediaries for the greater good: How entrepreneurial support organizations can embed constrained sustainable development startups in entrepreneurial ecosystems

Sustainable development startups (SDSs) are important to help overcome societal challenges. However, starting an SDS or investing in them is a high-risk endeavor. Hence, policymakers are trying to make entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) more favorable for SDSs. A critical component of any EE is a financial support network, through which startups receive investments and business knowledge most importantly from private venture capitalists (VCs), among other finance providers. To be successful, SDSs thus need to become embedded in the financial support network. This embeddedness also allows SDSs to serve as network brokers between VCs and other startups, which is beneficial for the entire EE. Entrepreneurial support organizations (ESOs) can help build a sufficiently dense financial support network by introducing startups to other actors. However, there are often not enough promising SDSs in an EE to meaningfully influence the financial support network. This places ESOs that promote SDSs in the dilemma of which startups to admit: they can either focus their efforts exclusively on SDSs or give their unfilled spots to non-SDSs, with the latter facilitating network brokering among startups. Therefore, this paper answers the following research question: What is the effect from ESOs’ support mechanisms and admission regimes on the number of investments in SDSs? Using an agent-based model, I demonstrate that ESOs are a necessity for EEs with many constrained SDSs, particularly when the constraints are technology-based. Without ESOs, the presence of such SDSs negatively influences the entire EE due to a loss of brokering in the financial support network. ESOs can help repair this damage by having the right admission regimes and helping tenant SDSs overcome some of their constraints. Ultimately, the most effective way to do this is to have an admission regime under which only SDSs are accepted and receive twice as much support from the ESO.     

The Startup Cartography Project: Measuring and mapping entrepreneurial ecosystems

This paper presents the Startup Cartography Project (SCP), which offers a new set of entrepreneurial ecosystem statistics for the United States from 1988 to 2016.  The SCP combines state-level business registration records with a predictive analytics approach to estimate the probability of “extreme” growth (IPO or high-value acquisition) at or near the time of founding for the population of newly-registered firms.  The results highlight the ability of predictive analytics to identify high-potential start-ups at founding (using a variety of different approaches and measures). The SCP then leverages estimates of entrepreneurial quality to develop four entrepreneurial ecosystem statistics, including the rate of start-up formation, average entrepreneurial quality, the quality-adjusted quantity of entrepreneurship, and the entrepreneurial ecosystem performance associated with a given start-up “cohort.” These statistics offer sharp insight into patterns of regional entrepreneurship, the correlation of quality (but not quantity) with subsequent regional economic growth and the evolution of entrepreneurial ecosystems over time.  The SCP includes both a public-access dataset at the state, MSA, county, and zip code level, as well as an interactive map, the U.S. Startup Map, that allows academic and policy users to assess entrepreneurial ecosystems at an arbitrary level of granularity (from the level of states down to individual street addresses). The SCP and accompanying datasets may be found at: https://www.startupcartography.com/.     

Open creative labs as functional infrastructure for entrepreneurial ecosystems: Using sequence analysis to explore tempo-spatial trajectories of startups in Berlin

By analyzing the tempo-spatial trajectories of startups, this paper proposes a new method to benchmark functions in entrepreneurial ecosystems based on longitudinal data. To demonstrate this novel method, a regional case study of the ecosystem infrastructure in Berlin is considered, for which tempo-spatial trajectories of startups are analyzed with quantitative sequence methods. It is explored empirically how open creative labs such as co-working spaces or seed accelerators supply core functions within entrepreneurial ecosystems based on the aspects of regional integration and trans-local connection. Open creative labs do not only provide important resources for startups and entrepreneurs but also have systemic functions within entrepreneurial ecosystems. Namely, they provide conditions under which critical links within regional entrepreneurial ecosystems can be formed and they facilitate inter-ecosystem ties between regions.     

Local entrepreneurial ecosystems as configural narratives: A new way of seeing and evaluating antecedents and outcomes

This paper develops and applies a new evaluative approach to local entrepreneuriale cosystems, as configural narratives. We examine how configurations of local entrepreneurial ecosystem attributes, as evaluated by local experts, support or hinder the emergence of new and innovative firms. Drawing on sociology of place, we present a novel configurational comparative analysis of local experts' evaluation of their ecosystems in Chile. Our proposed approach to entrepreneurial ecosystems helps us uncover two counterintuitive findings and so elaborateon interferences that have not yet been addressed through conventional concepts, methods and data. First, we reveal three distinct ecosystem types explaining different local levels of new firm activity: Active self-propelled, Indulged and Passive self-absorbed. The internal composition of these types change when only innovative and high growth firms are taken into consideration. Second, we show why, when seen as configural narratives, ecosystem attributes that have been assumed necessary play only a peripheral role. Our study demonstrates a split picture against seemingly similar outcomes and homogenous local contexts, contributing to the advancement of entrepreneurial ecosystem theory, observation and assessment.     

创业激情对创业成功的作用机制研究

  近年来,创业激情作为影响创业行为和创业成功的关键情感因素日益受到学者关注,但有关创业激情对创业成功影响机制的相关研究较少。本文提出“创业激情-创业坚持-环境动态性-创业成功”的路径作用过程,以236位创业企业主为研究对象,通过问卷调查法收集数据,利用SPSS24.0以及AMOS24.0等数据处理软件进行实证检验。研究结果表明：创业激情对创业成功有积极影响;创业坚持在创业激情对创业成功的作用机制中起到中介作用;环境动态性会对创业坚持和创业成功间的关系产生消极影响;环境动态性调节创业坚持在创业激情与创业成功间的部分中介效应。本研究有助于更进一步探索创业成功的影响因素,揭示创业激情向创业成功转化的有效途径。     

创业激情对创业坚持行为的影响机制研究

创业坚持被认为是创业者成功实现目标最重要的影响因素之一,但现有文献对于是什么因素使得创业者坚持或者退出知之甚少。本文在社会认知理论的基础上,构建创业激情、创业自我效能和创业坚持的关系模型,并通过实证研究发现：和谐激情与执念激情均正向影响创业坚持行为;创业自我效能在和谐激情和创业坚持行为间起完全中介作用,但在执念激情和创业坚持行为间起部分中介作用;随着先前创业经历的增加,和谐激情对于创业自我效能的正向影响不断增强,而执念激情对于创业自我效能的正向影响减弱。     

不同创业环境下的机会认知和创业决策研究

在回顾和评述创业机会认知和创业决策研究的相关文献的基础上,指出其存在的问题;进而分析不同创业环境的特征,指出这些不同环境的特征对创业机会认知方式和创业决策方式的选择有重要影响,并提出创业者在三种不同创业环境下的创业机会认知和创业决策模型;认为当环境及创业者自身能力发生变化时,创业者的决策行为也应进行相应的调整。     

Contextualizing entrepreneurial innovation: A narrative perspective

We review literatures that inform entrepreneurial innovation, paying particular attention to different conceptualizations of contexts. Early research explored micro and macro approaches with some scholars taking an actor-centric perspective and others a context-centric perspective. Bridging these perspectives, different scholars proposed multilevel approaches, arguing that opportunities are “found” or “made” by entrepreneurs whose efforts are moderated by contexts. More recent constitutive approaches, such as those informed by structuration, complexity and disequilibrium theories, have viewed entrepreneurial innovation as a process wherein actors and contexts are co-created. We add to constitutive approaches by examining how entrepreneurs contextualize innovation through narratives. A narrative perspective considers entrepreneurial innovation as an ongoing process involving embedded actors who contextualize innovation through performative efforts. We discuss the implications of this perspective for policy, entrepreneurs, and research.     

学术型企业家特质及其创业行为与创业环境分析

本文从分析"学术型企业家"的本质着手,分析了"学术型企业家"的特质,阐述了"学术形企业家"兼备科学家创造力与企业家创新精神的特质,继而论述了学术型企业家的创业行为,分析了其特殊的创业环境。     

制度复杂性、创业导向与创新型创业———一个基于跨国案例的组态分析

创新型创业是实现经济高质量发展的重要引擎,如何提升创新型创业水平是中国亟待解决的重要问题。基于制度复杂性和创业导向理论,本文提出了探究创新型创业驱动路径的整合性分析框架,并且采用模糊集定性比较分析方法对全球50个经济体进行组态分析。研究发现：(1)政府政策、金融资本、创业教育、创业文化、风险承担性和创新性,均不是产生高创新型创业的必要条件,但加强创业教育对高创新型创业的产生发挥着较普适的作用。(2)3条路径可以产生高创新型创业,包括政府主导下的教育驱动型、政府与文化助力下的资本-教育-风险承担驱动型和文化主导下的资本与教育驱动型,不同路径代表着不同经济体高创新型创业的多重实现方式。(3)5条路径导致非高创新型创业,并且与产生高创新型创业的路径存在非对称关系。本文的研究结论有助于揭示多因素并发影响创新型创业的复杂因果机制,深化对制度复杂性的认识,并为提升中国创新型创业水平提供有益的政策启示。     

国外创业团队研究综述

对国外创业团队研究状况作简要回顾,并指出不足和未来的研究方向.     

基于知识观的企业家人力资本系统研究

本文在企业家人力资本知识本质的统领下,提出其组成要素并构建系统,它们包括企业家的"描述性"知识、"流程性"知识、能力(创业、管理能力)和社会资本四部分。文章通过描述四要素间的联结,进一步讨论了企业家人力资本系统的特征。     

企业动态能力与企业创业绩效关系实证研究——以270家孵化企业为例分析

 企业动态能力是目前创业研究中聚焦的一个关键问题,企业的创业绩效也是研究得比较多的一个问题。本文以270家孵化器入孵企业为样本,探究在中国背景下,进行初创企业动态能力与企业创业绩效关系的实证研究,通过结构方程建模分析,结论对我们初创型企业发展具有重要借鉴意义。     

基于CPSED的创业活动影响因素实证研究

 基于CPSED项目的调查结果,通过对创业活动影响因素方面文献的梳理和研究,发现创业风险、创业资本、创业环境三个因素对创业活动具有影响。在此基础上构建了感知的创业风险、创业资本的可获得性、创业环境的支持性对创业活动具有影响的结构方程模型,并对之进行了检验。检验结果表明创业风险对创业活动具有负向影响,创业资本的可获得性、创业环境的支持性对创业活动具有正向影响。     

A clarification of confirmatory composite analysis (CCA)

Confirmatory composite analysis (CCA) is a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique that specifies and assesses composite models. In a composite model, the construct emerges as a linear combination of observed variables. CCA was invented by Jörg Henseler and Theo K. Dijkstra in 2014, was subsequently fully elaborated by Schuberth et al. (2018), and was then introduced into business research by Henseler and Schuberth (2020b). Inspired by Hair et al. (2020), a recent article in the International Journal of Information Management (Motamarri et al., 2020) used the same term ‘confirmatory composite analysis’ as a technique for confirming measurement quality in partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) specifically. However, the original CCA (Henseler et al., 2014; Schuberth et al., 2018) and the Hair et al. (2020) technique are very different methods, used for entirely different purposes and objectives. So as to not confuse researchers, we advocate that the later-published Hair et al. (2020) method of confirming measurement quality in PLS-SEM be termed ‘method of confirming measurement quality’ (MCMQ) or ‘partial least squares confirmatory composite analysis’ (PLS-CCA). We write this research note to clarify the differences between CCA and PLS-CCA.     

优化期刊评价指标体系的五维路径——对《中文核心期刊要目总览》的建议

【目的】 针对《中文核心期刊要目总览》期刊评价指标体系的结构性不足,提出优化期刊评价指标体系的五维路径,以完善期刊评价体系。【方法】 以期刊评价指标的属性特征为切入点,在剖析《中文核心期刊要目总览》现有评价指标维度的基础上,指出其在整体性、重要性、完整性、时效性和网络传播力5个维度的不足。【结果】 在分析现有评价指标研究成果的基础上,提出通过区分不同期刊引文质量差异,深化整体性评价指标;考量重要论文的数量与强度,凸显重要论文影响力;引入反向指标,健全评价指标体系;补充时效性指标,呈现期刊生命周期;充实网络计量指标,促进引文指标与网络指标的平衡。【结论】 五维路径优化期刊评价指标体系的建议有助于达到多主体、多维度、科学合理地评价期刊的目的。     

创业战略导向、高管团队垂直对差异与创业绩效关系研究

本文立足于资源配置视角,从整体上将创业战略导向、高管团队垂直对差异与创业绩效纳入统一理论框架,剖析了三者变量之间的作用机理和影响关系模式,并进一步选取我国中小企业板2006－2010年上市公司作为样本进行实证检验。聚类分析结果表明,样本公司创业战略导向存在三种不同的结构维度：“内部研发”型、“外部投资”型,以及“内部研发＋外部投资”型,但大多偏好“外部投资”型创业战略导向。层次回归分析结果表明：其一,创业战略导向会对成长性和盈利性绩效会产生差异性影响,不过分组层次回归结果却进一步揭示,“内部研发”型创业战略导向尚未对企业成长性绩效产生显著影响;其二,高管团队垂直对差异会对成长性和盈利性绩效产生显著调节效应,不过年龄和任期垂直对差异仅部分产生调节效应。本文的研究结论对于高管团队培育、公司治理结构和机制优化以及研发投资方向选择等具有积极的启示作用。