The buzz before business: a design science study of a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem

Gregory O’Shea (), Steffen Farny () and Henri Hakala ()
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Gregory O’Shea: LUT University
Steffen Farny: Aalto University
Henri Hakala: LUT University

Small Business Economics, 2021, vol. 56, issue 3, No 10, 1097-1120

Abstract: Abstract This paper examines how entrepreneurial opportunities co-evolve within a sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem (SEE). Most of the literature on entrepreneurial ecosystems falls short on integrating the entrepreneurial process in empirical research. To analyze data collected from pre-start-up teams within a nascent SEE on high-tech cellulose-based materials over 3 years, we apply a design science approach that helps understand actors’ collaborative sensemaking in designing and structuring ecosystem features and relationships. Our findings show that the SEE can be seen as a design artifact which evolves by ecosystem actors collectively engaging in new venture ideation and developing opportunity confidence. Furthermore, the paper presents a novel SEE framework, which elaborates on phases and enablers of the opportunity co-evolution process within an emerging ecosystem. We contribute to the literature on sustainable as well as general entrepreneurial ecosystems and offer a new theoretical foundation for a process view on ecosystems.

Keywords: Design science study; Entrepreneurial ecosystem; Buzz; Opportunity process; Sustainable entrepreneurship (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L26 L73 M13 O31 O35 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (14)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11187-019-00256-4

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