Search Results (109)

The age of entrepreneurship calls for the evolving of learning and development (L&D) models to meet the dynamic demands of innovation, sustainability, and technology innovation. This study examines the trends and issues of L&D models for entrepreneurs, more so focusing on how these models influence business success in a rapidly changing global landscape. The research employs bibliometric analysis, VOSviewer cluster analysis, and co-citation analysis to explore the literature from 1994 to 2024. Data collected from the Web of Science Core Collection database reflect significant trends in entrepreneurial L&D, with particular emphasis on the use of digital tools, sustainability processes, and governance systems. Findings emphasize the imperative role of L&D in fostering entrepreneurship, more so in areas such as digital transformation and the adoption of new technologies. The study also identifies central regions propelling this field, such as UK and USA. Future studies will be centered on the role of digital technologies, innovation, and green business models within entrepreneurial L&D frameworks. This study provides useful insight into the future of L&D within the entrepreneurial domain, guiding academia and companies alike in the planning of effective learning strategies to foster innovation and sustainable business growth. Full article

This study investigated the key determinants of entrepreneurship in Ambato, Ecuador, through the application of predictive statistical models. The primary objective was to identify critical variables that influence the success and sustainability of entrepreneurial ventures in the region. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing multivariate statistical techniques, including decision trees, random forest, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Data were collected through structured surveys administered to local entrepreneurs, addressing variables including demographics, education, initial investment, and business operations. The analysis revealed that factors such as geographic location, the entrepreneur’s educational attainment, business tenure, and operational characteristics have a significant influence on entrepreneurial viability. On the basis of these findings, the study proposes a predictive model to assist both policymakers and entrepreneurs in evaluating and enhancing business development strategies. The insights gained offer practical implications: entrepreneurs can refine their strategies for greater effectiveness, while local authorities can craft supportive policies, such as training programs and improved access to financing. The study highlights the importance of entrepreneurship education and targeted support for underdeveloped areas, thereby contributing to broader economic inclusion and enhanced employment opportunities in the region. Full article

In today’s evolving society, meaningful development cannot be fully realized without acknowledging the vital role of the electronics sector, especially as it functions within informal markets. These markets have become more than just centers of commerce; they serve as informal learning grounds where many young people acquire entrepreneurial skills, develop resilience, and find alternatives to social vices. For many, informal entrepreneurship is not just an option but a means of survival and self-empowerment. Despite their growing relevance, the link between the entrepreneurial abilities nurtured in these informal markets and actual business performance has not been adequately examined. This study, therefore, aimed to explore how informal electronics entrepreneurs in a developing economy navigate their environment, overcome challenges, and create wealth through vision, innovation, and calculated risk-taking. Anchored in institutional theory, the research employed a qualitative approach, using cluster, purposive, and simple random sampling to select participants from key informal business units. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed using QSR NVivo 12, allowing for deep insight into the lived experiences of the entrepreneurs. Findings revealed that 78% of participants emphasized practical suggestions that aid informal business survival, such as customer-driven innovations, adaptive strategies, and avoiding confrontations with regulatory agencies. Key attributes such as foresight, adaptability, and risk management accounted for 66% of the variance in corporate success. Strategic and innovative approaches are enabling informal firms to endure and prosper, since 61% of respondents associated these competencies with organizational success. The new BSP framework, which integrates institutional and contingency theories, illustrates how informal enterprises endure by conforming to or opposing institutional pressures and adjusting to environmental changes. The results indicate that, when properly understood and supported, the informal electronics sector may develop sustainably. This study demonstrates that informal entrepreneurship is influenced by formal regulations, informal norms, and local enforcement mechanisms, therefore enhancing institutional theory and elucidating business behavior in developing nations. The Business Survival Paradigm [BSP] illustrates how informal enterprises navigate institutional obstacles to endure. It advocates for policies that integrate the official and informal sectors while fostering sustainable development. The paper advocates for ongoing market research to assist informal firms in remaining up-to-date. It implores authorities to acknowledge the innovative potential of the informal sector and to provide supportive frameworks for sustainable growth and formal transition where feasible. Full article

This study investigates the evolution of customer-centric innovations within modern business ecosystems through the lens of servitization, a concept gaining momentum in contemporary service delivery frameworks. Recognizing the limited exploration of servitization beyond manufacturing, particularly in the context of value-added services, this research employs a multiple case study methodology focused on the tea sector in India and Nepal. Drawing on seven diverse entrepreneurial cases and supported by a thematic analysis, the study identifies nine critical factors influencing successful servitization, including knowledge gaps, procurement strategies, market segmentation, and customer engagement. Central to this investigation is the transformative role of structured training interventions, exemplified by the Chaya School of Tea, which catalyzed innovation and performance improvements among participating businesses. The findings highlight how digital tools, customer education, and strategic planning contribute to product–service integration, yielding enhanced quality, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth. This research contributes to theory by refining the concept of “servitization of services” as a strategic approach for empowering ecosystems through complementary offerings that transcend traditional service delivery. This work provides both conceptual and empirical insights into how service firms, particularly in under-researched sectors, can leverage servitization to drive long-term competitiveness and ecosystem-wide value creation. Full article

Land mobility, particularly in the agricultural sector, is a critical factor for rural development and the maintenance of the supply chain. In the EU, the dominant form of agricultural land mobility is succession. This study examines the impact of formal and informal institutional factors on land mobility and the development of the agricultural sector in Greece, emphasizing their role in shaping succession and land mobility processes. This research introduces an innovative approach by analyzing both formal (legislation, EU policies, taxation) and informal (cultural ties, family traditions) institutional factors that influence land mobility. Within this framework, this study explores the attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors of farmers, acknowledging that the institutional environment—shaped by both official regulations and informal norms, often expressed by the family head—may influence younger family members to adopt similar behaviors and practices. It also highlights the impact of ineffective and underdeveloped formal and informal institutions, providing policymakers and young people seeking to engage in agriculture with a valuable guide. The methodology is based on qualitative research, using semi-structured interviews with 21 members of farming families to capture views, perceptions, and experiences related to land mobility. The findings highlight several major barriers, including fragmented land ownership, emotional attachment to inherited land, bureaucratic obstacles, and high tax burdens. At the same time, shifting attitudes among younger generations are evident, as they adopt a more entrepreneurial mindset in land management. The results point to an urgent need for institutional reforms, such as completing the land registry, simplifying land transfer procedures, and promoting land consolidation policies. Overall, this exploratory study underscores the need for increased research attention to the formal and informal institutional elements that influence rural economic and structural development through land mobility, providing important insights for policies aimed to enhance land mobility and ensure the sustainable development of the agricultural sector. Furthermore, it provides valuable input for understanding and addressing challenges such as family traditions, emotional attachments to inherited land, and land mobility. Full article

In the sustainable evolution of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the efficiency of early-stage capital allocation directly affects the intergenerational transmission capacity of innovation resources. The financing barriers caused by information asymmetry urgently require institutional solutions. This study, based on tracking data from 19,463 startups in China’s information technology sector (2016–2019), analyzes how government-certified incubators (GCIs) optimize the sustainability of the entrepreneurial ecosystem through signaling mechanisms. The empirical results show that collaboration with a GCI can significantly increase the likelihood of IT startups securing venture capital by approximately 25%. This effect is not only due to the strict screening and resource support provided by GCIs, but also due to their role in amplifying internal signals from startups, such as the experience of founders and intellectual property. Notably, in the IT sector, the impact of GCIs is more significant for startups traditionally disadvantaged, particularly those led by female founders. Our research demonstrates that GCIs drive the sustainable development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem through three signaling mechanisms: (1) institutional certification screening, which optimizes the intergenerational allocation efficiency of ecosystem resources; (2) the signaling validation–amplification mechanism, which enhances the value of intellectual property and founder experience, alleviating investors’ challenges in quantifying startup potential; (3) inclusive signal rebalancing, where GCI certification significantly improves the funding success rate of female founders, breaking traditional market biases in screening disadvantaged groups and supporting the inclusive and sustainable development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. These findings provide a new pathway for emerging economies to optimize the resilience of their entrepreneurial ecosystems through policy tools: for governments, GCIs achieve sustainable development goals at low institutional cost; for investors, the signal integration mechanism reduces investment information friction; and for entrepreneurs, certification endorsements accelerate market validation of sustainable business models. Full article

This research examines how sustainability driven innovation and performance factors influence Nepali tourism-oriented small and medium enterprises (SMEs) operating with limited resources. It investigates the relationships between entrepreneurial leadership (EL), network orientation (NO), and entrepreneurial orientation (EO) by integrating the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Strategic Fit Theory. The study positions strategic flexibility (SF) as a moderator between EL and NO in shaping startup performance (SP), with technological innovation capabilities (TIC) acting as a mediator. EO plays a critical role in startup success, helping businesses overcome resource constraints and adopt sustainable practices such as green technologies and energy-saving methods. Through TIC, SMEs convert strategic orientations into competitive advantages, enabling them to address environmental and social sustainability challenges. In Nepal’s fragmented tourism sector, NO and EL do not directly affect organizational performance. However, the findings confirm that SF’s adaptive capability bridges EL and SP, underscoring adaptability as a key driver of sustainable growth. The research provides valuable insights into tourism and entrepreneurship in resource-scarce settings, highlighting adaptive strategies and technological advancement as critical for resilience and long-term sustainability. To explain how tourism SMEs in resource-constrained contexts, such as Nepal, achieve sustainable growth, the study integrates the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Strategic Fit Theory. The findings indicate that strategic flexibility (SF) and technological innovation capabilities (TIC) play significant mediating and moderating roles in linking entrepreneurial strategies to performance within fragile ecosystems. While previous research has primarily focused on advanced economies, this study demonstrates how SF and TIC mediate entrepreneurial strategies in fragile environments, offering practical implications for sustainable development in emerging markets. Full article

This study explores the marketing challenges perceived by aspiring entrepreneurs, focusing on undergraduate business students’ perspectives. Drawing on an empirical qualitative approach, this research utilizes data from semi-structured interviews with 31 students at a midwestern U.S. university to examine key barriers that hinder business development and growth. The research identifies five key themes: budget constraints, customer identification and engagement, branding and market differentiation, digital marketing barriers, and the role of education. The findings reveal that financial limitations and resource constraints hinder students’ ability to implement effective marketing strategies, while limited practical experience complicates customer engagement and market research efforts. Additionally, participants emphasized challenges in establishing distinct brand identities and adapting to rapidly evolving digital marketing tools. These insights align with existing entrepreneurial marketing theories, reinforcing the role of adaptability and resourcefulness in early-stage business ventures. Education emerged as both a strength and an area for improvement, with students valuing theoretical foundations but identifying gaps in hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. This study contributes to entrepreneurial marketing literature by highlighting the interplay between resource constraints, creativity, and adaptability in understanding marketing challenges. It further underscores the importance of integrating digital marketing competencies and alternative financing strategies, such as crowdfunding and fintech solutions, into entrepreneurship education. It also emphasizes the need for educational reforms that integrate practical applications, mentorship, and digital marketing training to prepare students for real-world entrepreneurial endeavors. By addressing these gaps, the findings offer actionable insights for educators, policymakers, and entrepreneurial support systems to better equip aspiring entrepreneurs for sustainable success. Full article

This study investigates the determinants of superior long-term business performance in Thai digital entrepreneurship through an innovative mixed-method approach combining Rough Set Fuzzy Theory and Second-order Confirmatory Factor Analysis. This research addresses a significant gap in the existing literature by incorporating business strategies, product innovation, social media adoption, and entrepreneurial orientation into a comprehensive framework, extending beyond traditional Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) models. This study analyzes seven key factors that influence digital business success: technology, organization, external environment, social media adoption, business strategy, product innovation, and entrepreneurial orientation. The methodological approach employed for this study utilized expert consensus validation and model verification techniques to develop a novel integrated model specifically tailored for Thailand’s digital SME context. The findings reveal that business strategy and entrepreneurial orientation are primary drivers of business success. This research provides valuable insights for practitioners in the Thai digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, offering a structured approach to achieving sustainable long-term business success. Full article

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role in fostering economic growth and sustainability, requiring a deliberate emphasis on innovation and applying knowledge to navigate ever-changing markets. This study, grounded in resource-based view (RBV) theory, explores the synergy of entrepreneurial leadership and team diversity, exploring pathways to entrepreneurial success in Pakistan’s SMEs. This study employed a cross-sectional design, utilizing a non-probability convenience sampling approach to survey 350 owners, supervisors, managers, and employees of SMEs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Data were gathered through a survey questionnaire and subsequently analyzed using SPSS and SMART-PLS to validate the measurement model and examine the hypotheses for moderated analysis. The results indicated a significant moderating influence. Entrepreneurial leadership accounted for 15.8% of the variation in entrepreneurial success, while team diversity contributed 8.5%. Moreover, the moderating influence of team diversity substantially affected ES (59.7%), underscoring the pivotal role of team diversity in the interplay between EL and ES. Drawing from RBV theory, this study advances the framework by acknowledging that team diversity is a crucial element that strengthens the connections between EL and ES. This study enhances the existing literature by clarifying the mechanisms by which leadership and diversity collaboratively promote entrepreneurial outcomes. This highlights the necessity for SME leaders and policymakers to utilize team diversity as a strategic asset to improve competitive advantage and ensure sustainable success. Full article

This paper investigates points of vulnerability in the decisions made by backers and campaigners in crowdfund pledges in an attempt to facilitate a sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem by increasing the rate of good projects being funded. In doing so, this research examines factors that contribute to the success or failure of crowdfunding campaign pledges using eXplainable AI methods (SHapley Additive exPlanations and Counterfactual Explanations). A dataset of completed Kickstarter campaigns was used to train two binary classifiers. The first model used textual features from the campaigns’ descriptions, and the second used categorical, numerical, and textual features. Findings identify textual terms, such as “stretch goals”, that convey both elements of risk and ambitiousness to be strongly correlated with success, contrary to transparent communications of risks that bring forward worries that would have otherwise remained dormant for backers. Short sentence length, in conjunction with high term complexity, is also associated with campaign success. We link the latter to signaling theory and the campaigners’ projection of knowledgeability of the domain. Certain numerical data, such as the project’s duration, frequency of post updates, and use of images, confirm previous links to campaign success. We enhance implications through the use of Counterfactual Explanations and generate actionable recommendations on how failed projects could become successful while proposing new policies, in the form of nudges, that shield backers from points of vulnerability. Full article

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are pivotal in driving economic growth and sustainability, necessitating a strategic focus on innovation and knowledge application to navigate dynamic markets effectively. Grounded in the Natural Resource-Based View (NRBV) and Knowledge-Based View (KBV) theories, this study investigates the interplay between sustainability innovation, knowledge application, environmental awareness, and entrepreneurial success among SMEs in Turkey. The research adopts a cross-sectional design, using purposive sampling to survey 402 SME owners and managers from Istanbul and Ankara. Data were collected via electronic surveys and analyzed using SPSS and AMOS to validate the measurement model and test hypotheses through the PROCESS macro for mediation and moderated mediation analysis. The findings reveal that sustainability innovation significantly enhances entrepreneurial success by allowing businesses to develop products and services that address environmental and social concerns. Essentially, by integrating sustainability innovation, entrepreneurs create a growing market demand for eco-conscious solutions. Moreover, knowledge application positively influences entrepreneurial success and mediates the relationship between sustainability innovation and entrepreneurial success. Environmental awareness moderates this mediation, with the indirect effect being stronger for SMEs with higher environmental awareness. These results underscore the critical role of integrating sustainability and knowledge-driven strategies in achieving entrepreneurial success. Practical implications include fostering eco-innovation, enhancing knowledge-sharing practices, and promoting environmental awareness to achieve sustainable business growth and competitiveness in resource-constrained environments. This research provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners to support sustainable entrepreneurship. Full article

There is a close connection between university student entrepreneurship programs and sustainable development, which are mutually reinforcing: university student entrepreneurship programs provide innovation and vitality for sustainable development, while concepts related to sustainable development can guide the development direction of university student entrepreneurship programs. College students are the driving force of innovation and entrepreneurship. In view of the problems of the failure rate of college students’ entrepreneurial projects, this article constructs a fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model based on the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method. Then, this study uses the hierarchical analysis method to clarify the comprehensive evaluation indexes affecting the maturity of college students’ entrepreneurial projects and takes a student entrepreneurial project of Qingdao University of Technology as an example. Ultimately, specific suggestions are offered to optimize the maturity of college students’ entrepreneurial projects based on the evaluation results so as to improve the probability of success of college students’ entrepreneurship. Great importance is placed on the quality of university entrepreneurship projects and the sustainability of society in this study. Full article

This study explores how Myanmar’s sustainable business environment influences entrepreneurs’ performance, focusing on the mediating role of knowledge spillover effects of foreign direct investment (KFDI). Data were gathered from 308 entrepreneurs across micro, small, medium, and large enterprises in Myanmar using online surveys via Google Forms and Microsoft Forms. The analysis employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SPSS 29 and SmartPLS 4. The results reveal that (i) the economic environment exerts a substantial positive influence on entrepreneurs’ performance; (ii) access to credit and the social environment show no discernible impact on entrepreneurs’ performance; (iii) both economic and social environments positively influence KFDI; (iv) access to credit has no effect on KFDI; and (v) KFDI partially mediates the relationship between the economic environment and entrepreneurs’ performance while fully mediating the relationship between the social environment and entrepreneurs’ performance. However, KFDI does not mediate the effect of access to credit on entrepreneurs’ performance. These findings underscore the critical role of sustainable economic and social environments in enhancing entrepreneurs’ performance and attracting foreign firms. Policymakers should prioritize these dimensions of the business environment to foster growth, maximize KFDI, and support long-term entrepreneurial success. This approach will not only ensure the economic vitality of Myanmar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem but also contribute to broader social and environmental sustainability. Full article

This study explores the motivations and constraints of Iranian women entrepreneurs within a restrictive socioeconomic and cultural landscape. It adopts a qualitative approach and utilizes semi-structured interviews to investigate the complex interplay between financial limitations, gender biases, and regulatory challenges entrepreneurs face. These findings underscore the importance of resilience, adaptability, and creativity for entrepreneurial success. Women entrepreneurs in Iran adopt incremental growth strategies, utilize digital platforms for market access, and cultivate informal networks to manage risks and scale their ventures. They also creatively integrate family responsibilities into their business models, highlighting the cultural shaping of their entrepreneurial activities. The concept of regulatory adaptation was introduced to illustrate how entrepreneurs restructure their operations to comply with stringent government regulations while sustaining growth. The emotional burden of navigating these hurdles is also evident, emphasizing the need for support mechanisms that address mental health and well-being. Policy implications are discussed, and enhancements in financial access, gender equality, digital entrepreneurship, and mental health support for women entrepreneurs are recommended. This study contributes to the entrepreneurship theory by understanding how sociocultural contexts influence women’s entrepreneurial activities and resilience strategies. Full article