1 Introduction
2 Methodology
2.1 Papers’ location and selection
Field of study | Keywords |
---|---|
Digital innovation | “digital*” AND “innovat*” |
Entrepreneurial firms | “entrepreneur*” AND (“firm” or “startup”or “start-up” or “young companies” or “new venture” or “newly-founded business” or “newly-founded companies” or “small and medium enterprise”) |
Description | Reason for inclusion | Reason for exclusion | Examples of excluded papers |
---|---|---|---|
Fit-for-purpose criteria | |||
Language | English | Not applicable | Not applicable1 |
“Business, Management and Accounting”, “Economics, Econometrics and Finance”, “Computer Sciences”, “Social Sciences”, “Decision Sciences” and “Engineering” | Not applicable | Not applicable1 | |
Conceptual boundaries | Entrepreneurship understood as starting and managing a new business | Entrepreneurship as an individual ability (synonymous of initiative) | Keane and Chen (2019) |
Digital innovation as the process of adoption or development of new digital technologies | Analysis of specific technologies and their effects on the business rather than the adoption or development process | Makridakis (2017) | |
Search terms | Boolean logic with regard to Start-ups, large companies and collaboration | Search terms are present in the title, abstract or keywords but the paper does not fit in the conceptual boundaries of this study | Carayannis and Von Zedtwitz (2005) |
Quality criteria | |||
Database | Scopus | Not applicable | Not applicable1 |
Type of documents | Empirical and theoretical articles published in peer reviewed journals | Books, book chapters conference proceedings | Not applicable1 |
2.2 Paper analysis
3 Results
3.1 Bibliometric analysis
Sources | Articles |
---|---|
Journal of Business Research | 9 |
Technological Forecasting and Social Change | 8 |
Sustainability (Switzerland) | 7 |
Emerald Emerging Markets Case Studies | 6 |
Business Horizons | 3 |
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research | 3 |
Journal of Business Strategy | 3 |
Journal of Information Technology Teaching Cases | 3 |
Journal of Small Business And Enterprise Development | 3 |
Long Range Planning | 3 |
Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal | 3 |
Technology Analysis and Strategic Management | 3 |
Technovation | 3 |
California Management Review | 2 |
Computers in Human Behavior | 2 |
Education and Training | 2 |
International Journal of Advanced Science And Technology | 2 |
International Journal of Innovation And Technology Management | 2 |
International Journal of Innovation Management | 2 |
International Journal of Innovation Science | 2 |
International Journal of Technology Management | 2 |
Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies | 2 |
Review of Managerial Science | 2 |
Authors | Year | Title | Source | Theory | Context | Content | Methodology |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ammirato, S., Sofo, F., Felicetti, A. M., Helander, N., & Aramo-Immonen, H | 2019 | A new typology to characterize Italian digital entrepreneurs | International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research | Individual-opportunity nexus; entrepreneurial profile | Italian Digital new ventures | Digital entrepreneur's profile | Quantitative analysis |
Autio, E., Kenney, M., Mustar, P., Siegel, D., & Wright, M | 2014 | Entrepreneurial innovation: The importance of context | Research Policy | National Innovation Systems | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital Innovation Ecosystem | Conceptual Model |
Autio, E., Nambisan, S., Thomas, L. D., & Wright, M | 2018 | Digital affordances, spatial affordances, and the genesis of entrepreneurial ecosystems | Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal | Entrepreneurial Ecosystems | REGIONAL BUSINESS INCUBATORS | Digital Innovation Ecosystems | Conceptual Model |
Bala, H., & Feng, X | 2019 | Success of small and medium enterprises in Myanmar: Role of technological, organizational, and environmental factors | Journal of Global Information Technology Management | Technology organization-environment framework | SMEs in Myanmar | Digital Ventures; digital entrepreneur's profile | Quantitative analysis |
Benoit, S., Baker, T. L., Bolton, R. N., Gruber, T., & Kandampully, J | 2017 | A triadic framework for collaborative consumption (CC): Motives, activities and resources & capabilities of actors | Journal of Business Research | Collaborative consumption | Digital platform operators | Digital Platforms | Conceptual model |
Bogers, M | 2011 | The open innovation paradox: knowledge sharing and protection in R&D collaborations | European Journal of Innovation Management | Transaction cost economics; resource-based view of the firm | R&D Collaboration | Startups collaboration networks | Multiple case study |
Bonfanti A., Del Giudice M., Papa A | 2018 | Italian Craft Firms Between Digital Manufacturing, Open Innovation, and Servitization | Journal of the Knowledge Economy | Open innovation and Servitization | Digitalization in entrepreurial firms | Digital ventures | Multiple Case Study |
Boudreau, K., & Lakhani, K | 2009 | How to manage outside innovation: Competitive markets or collaborative communities? | MIT Sloan Management Review | Collaborative consumption; Open innovation | Digital platform operators | Digital Platforms | Conceptual model |
Bunduchi, R., Crișan-Mitra, C., Salanță, I. I., & Crișan, E. L | 2021 | Digital product innovation approaches in entrepreneurial firms–the role of entrepreneurs’ cognitive frames | Technological Forecasting and Social Change | Entrepreneurial Cognitive Frames; perpetual incompleteness of digital products | Small digital entrepreneurial firms | The Digital Entrepreneur’s profile; Digital Ventures | Multiple case study |
Carayannis, E. G., & Von Zedtwitz, M | 2005 | Architecting gloCal (global–local), real-virtual incubator networks (G-RVINs) as catalysts and accelerators of entrepreneurship in transitioning and developing economies: lessons learned and best practices from current development and business incubation practices | Technovation | Entrepreneurial Ecosystems | REGIONAL BUSINESS INCUBATORS | Digital Innovation Ecosystems | Conceptual model |
Cavallo, A., Ghezzi, A., Dell'Era, C., & Pellizzoni, E | 2019 | Fostering digital entrepreneurship from startup to scaleup: The role of venture capital funds and angel groups | Technological Forecasting and Social Change | Organization growth lifecycle; venture financing | Italian Digital new ventures | Startups collaboration networks | Regression analysis |
Chalmers, D., Matthews, R., & Hyslop, A | 2021 | Blockchain as an external enabler of new venture ideas: Digital entrepreneurs and the disintermediation of the global music industry | Journal of Business Research | External enabler theory | Digital entrepreneurial firms in the music industry | The digital entrepreneur’s profile | Multiple case study |
Chesbrough, H | 2010 | Business model innovation: opportunities and barriers | Long Range Planning | Open Innovation; Business Model Innovation | Digital spin-offs | Business Model Innovation | Case study; Conceptual Model |
Corvello, V., Steiber, A., & Alänge, S | 2023 | Antecedents, processes and outcomes of collaboration between corporates and start-ups | Review of Managerial Science | Collaboration Models; Organization growth lifecycle | Swedish startups | Startups collaboration networks | Multiple Case Study |
Cosenz, F., & Bivona, E | 2021 | Fostering growth patterns of SMEs through business model innovation. A tailored dynamic business modelling approach | Journal of Business Research | System Dynamics; Business Model Canvas | E-commerce SME | Business Model Innovation | Case study |
Day G.S., Schoemaker P.J.H | 2016 | Adapting to fast-changing markets and technologies | California Management Review | Dynamic capabilities | Digitalization in entrepreurial firms | Digital Ventures | Case Study |
Dong J.Q | 2019 | Moving a mountain with a teaspoon: Toward a theory of digital entrepreneurship in the regulatory environment | Technological Forecasting and Social Change | Dynamic Capabilities | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital ventures | Case study |
Du, W., Pan, S. L., Zhou, N., & Ouyang, T | 2018 | From a marketplace of electronics to a digital entrepreneurial ecosystem (DEE): The emergence of a meta‐organization in Zhongguancun, China | Information Systems Journal | Digital entrepreneurship and ecosystem | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital Innovation Ecosystem | Case study |
Elia, G., Margherita, A., & Passiante, G | 2020 | Digital entrepreneurship ecosystem: How digital technologies and collective intelligence are reshaping the entrepreneurial process | Technological Forecasting and Social Change | Digital entrepreneurship and ecosystem | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital Innovation Ecosystem | Conceptual model |
Elia, G., Margherita, A., Ciavolino, E., & Moustaghfir, K | 2021 | Digital Society Incubator: Combining Exponential Technology and Human Potential to Build Resilient Entrepreneurial Ecosystems | Administrative Science | Entrepreneurial Ecosystems | Digital Incubators | Digital Innovation Ecosystem | Systematic literature review |
Ferreira J.J.M., Fernandes C.I., Ferreira F.A.F | 2019 | To be or not to be digital, that is the question: Firm innovation and performance | Journal of Business Research | Antecedents of Digital Transformation | Portugueses digital firms | Digital Ventures; Business Model Innovation | Multivariate quantitative analysis |
Gagliardi D | 2013 | Next generation entrepreneur: Innovation strategy through Web 2.0 technologies in SMEs | Technology Analysis & Strategic Management | Digital entrepreneurship | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital ventures | Quantitative analysis |
Gawer, A., & Cusumano, M. A | 2014 | Industry platforms and ecosystem innovation | Journal of product innovation management | Network Effects and Multisided Markets | digital platform operators | Digital Platforms | Multiple Case Study |
Ghezzi, A., & Cavallo, A | 2020 | Agile business model innovation in digital entrepreneurship: Lean startup approaches | Journal of Business Research | Business Model Innovation; Lean Startup; Agile development | Digital Startups | Business Model Innovation | Multiple Case Study |
Granstrand, O., & Holgersson, M | 2020 | Innovation ecosystems: A conceptual review and a new definition | Technovation | Digital entrepreneurship and ecosystem | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital Innovation Ecosystem | literature review; multiple Case study |
Gupta, G.; Bose, I | 2018 | Strategic learning for digital market pioneering: Examining the transformation of Wishberry’s crowdfunding model | Technological Forecasting and Social Change | Strategic Learning; digital capabilities | Digital Businesses | Digital Ventures; digital entrepreneur's
profile | quantitative analysis |
Haaker, T., Ly, P. T. M., Nguyen-Thanh, N., & Nguyen, H. T. H | 2021 | Business model innovation through the application of the Internet-of-Things: A comparative analysis | Journal of Business Research | Business Model Innovation | IoT Startups | Business Model Innovation | Multiple Case Study |
Hagiu, A. and Wright, J | 2015 | Multi-sided platforms | International Journal of Industrial Organization | Network effects | Digital multi-sided platforms | Digital Platforms; Business Model Innovation | Mathematical Model |
Hair, N., Wetsch, L.R., Hull, C.E., Perotti, V. and Hung, Y.-T.C | 2012 | Market orientation in digital entrepreneurship: advantages and challenges in a web 2.0 networked world | International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management | Market orientation | Digital Businesses | Digital ventures | Quantitative analysis |
Hartmann, P.M., Zaki, M., Feldmann, N. and Neely, A | 2016 | Capturing value from big data—a taxonomy of data-driven business models used by start-up firms | International Journal of Operations and Production Management | Business Model | Big Data Digital Startups | Business Model Innovation | Two step cluster analysis |
Hsieh, Y. J., & Wu, Y. J | 2019 | Entrepreneurship through the platform strategy in the digital era: Insights and research opportunities | Computers in Human Behavior | Open Innovation and Entrepreneurship | digital platform operators | Digital Platforms | Conceptual Model |
Hull, C. E. K., Hung, Y. T. C., Hair, N., Perotti, V., & DeMartino, R | 2007 | Making advantage of digital opportunities: a typology of digital entrepreneurship | International Journal of Networking and Virtual Organisations | Entrepreneurship typology | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital Ventures; Business Model Innovation | Conceptual Model |
Kamberidou, I | 2020 | Distinguished” women entrepreneurs in the digital economy and the multitasking whirlpool | Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Gender attitudes | Female digital entrepreneurs | Digital entrepreneur's profile | Literature Review |
Kapoor, K., Bigdeli, A. Z., Dwivedi, Y. K., Schroeder, A., Beltagui, A., & Baines, T | 2021 | A socio-technical view of platform ecosystems: Systematic review and research agenda | Journal of Business Research | Socio-Technical view | Digital platform operators | Digital Platforms | Systematic literature review |
Kraus S, Palmer C, Kailer N, Kallinger FL, Spitzer J | 2018 | Digital entrepreneurship: a research agenda on new business models for the twenty-first century | International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research | Digital entrepreneurship | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Business Model Innovation | Systematic literature review |
Kuester, S., Konya-Baumbach, E. and Schuhmacher, M.C | 2018 | Get the show on the road: go-to-market strategies for e-innovations of start-ups | Journal of Business Research | Signaling theory | Digital Startups | Business Model Innovation | systematic literature review |
Larios-Hernández G.J | 2017 | Blockchain entrepreneurship opportunity in the practices of the unbanked | Business Horizon | Traditional unisystemic views for financial inclusion | FINANCIAL BLOCKCHAIN firms | Digital Platforms; Business Model Innovation | Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis |
Lin, Y. K., & Maruping, L. M | 2022 | Open source collaboration in digital entrepreneurship | Organization Science | Collaboration Models; Organization growth lifecycle | Digital Startups | Startups collaboration networks | Quantitative analysis |
Mancha, R. and Shankaranarayanan, G | 2021 | Making a digital innovator: antecedents of innovativeness with digital technologies | Information Technology & People | Entrepreneurial digital competencies; entrepreneurial orientation | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital entrepreneur's profile | PLS-SEM |
Matricano, D., Castaldi, L., Sorrentino, M., & Candelo, E | 2021 | The behavior of managers handling digital business transformations: theoretical issues and preliminary evidence from firms in the manufacturing industry | International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research | Knowledge-Based View | Digital Businesses | Digital Ventures; digital entrepreneur's profile | Multiple Case Study |
McAdam, M., Crowley, C., & Harrison, R. T | 2020 | Digital girl: Cyberfeminism and the emancipatory potential of digital entrepreneurship in emerging economies | Small Business Economics | Entrepreneurship as emancipation | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital entrepreneur's profile | Multiple Case Study |
Nambisan, S., Siegel, D., & Kenney, M | 2018 | On open innovation, platforms, and entrepreneurship | Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal | Open Innovation | Digital platform operators | Digital Platforms | Conceptual Model |
Ngoasong, M.Z | 2018 | Digital entrepreneurship in a resource-scarce context: A focus on entrepreneurial digital competencies | Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development | Entrepreneurial digital competencies | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital entrepreneur's profile | Multiple Case Study |
Nwankpa, J. K., & Datta, P | 2017 | Balancing exploration and exploitation of IT resources: the influence of Digital Business Intensity on perceived organizational performance | European Journal of Information Systems | Resource based view; dynamic capability | Digital Businesses | Digital ventures | Quantitative analysis |
Piaskowska, D., Tippmann, E., & Monaghan, S | 2021 | Scale-up modes: Profiling activity configurations in scaling strategies | Long Range Planning | Scale-up models | Digital Businesses | Digital Ventures; digital entrepreneur's profile | Quantitative analysis |
Pinkow, F., & Iversen, J | 2020 | Strategic objectives of corporate venture capital as a tool for open innovation | Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity | Open Innovation; Ambidexterity | Corporate Venture Capitalists | Digital Innovation Ecosystem | Literature Review |
Quinton, S., Canhoto, A., Molinillo, S., Pera, R., & Budhathoki, T | 2018 | Conceptualising a digital orientation: antecedents of supporting SME performance in the digital economy | Journal of Strategic Marketing | Digital orientation theory | Digital Businesses | Digital Ventures; digital entrepreneur's profile | Conceptual Model |
Rachinger, M., Rauter, R., Müller, C., Vorraber, W. and Schirgi, E | 2019 | Digitalization and its influence on business model innovation | Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management | Dynamic Capabilities; Business Model Innovation | Digitalization in entrepreurial firms | Business Model Innovation | Multiple Case Study |
Richter, C., Kraus, S., Brem, A., Durst, S., & Giselbrecht, C | 2017 | Digital entrepreneurship: Innovative business models for the sharing economy | Creativity and innovation management | Sharing Economy; Business Model Innovation | German speaking entrerpreneurial firms in the sharing economy sector | Business Model Innovation; Digital Platforms | Multiple Case Study |
Romero, D., & Molina, A | 2011 | Collaborative networked organisations and customer communities: value co-creation and co-innovation in the networking era | Production Planning & Control | Collaborative Networks | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital Innovation Ecosystem | Multiple Case Study |
Sambamurthy V., Bharadwaj A., Grover V | 2004 | Shaping agility through digital options: Reconceptualizing the role of information technology in contemporary firms | MIS Quarterly | Dynamic Capabilities; Business Model Innovation | IT Firms | Business Model Innovation | Conceptual Model |
Satalkina L., Steiner G | 2020 | Digital entrepreneurship and its role in innovation systems: A systematic literature review as a basis for future research avenues for sustainable transitions | Sustainability | Digital entrepreneurship | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital Innovation Ecosystem | Systematic literature review |
Soetanto, D. and van Geenhuizen, M | 2015 | Getting the right balance: university networks’ influence on spin-offs’ attraction of funding for innovation | Technovation | Social Capital Theory | spin-offs from technical universities | Digital Innovation Ecosystem; Startups collaboration networks | Regression Analysis |
Solberg, E., Traavik, L.E. and Wong, | 2020 | Digital mindsets: recognizing and leveraging individual beliefs for digital transformation | California Management Review | entrepreneurial mindset | Digital Businesses | digital entrepreneur's profile | Conceptual Model |
Spender, J.-C., Corvello, V., Grimaldi, M. and Rippa, P | 2017 | Startups and open innovation: a review of the literature | European Journal of Innovation Management | Open Innovation; Organization growth lifecycle | Startups | Startups collaboration networks; Digital Innovation Ecosystem; | Systematic literature review |
Steiber, A., Alange, S., & Corvello, V | 2021 | Evaluating Corporate-Startup Co-Creation: A Critical Review Of The Literature | International Journal of Innovation Management | Collaboration Models; Organization growth lifecycle | Startups | Startups collaboration networks; Digital Innovation Ecosystem; | Literature Review |
Sussan, F. and Acs, Z | 2017 | The digital entrepreneurial ecosystem | Small Business Economics | Digital Ecosystem | Digital entrepreneurial firms | Digital Innovation Ecosystem | Conceptual Model |
Teece, D.J | 2010 | Business models, business strategy and innovation | Long Range Planning | Business Model | Digital Businesses | Business Model Innovation | Conceptual Model |
Troise, C., Matricano, D., Candelo, E. and Sorrentino, M | 2021 | Entrepreneurship and fintech development: comparing reward and equity crowdfunding | Measuring Business Excellence | Digital Platforms | |||
Zhu, Z., & Lin, S. F | 2019 | Understanding entrepreneurial perceptions in the pursuit of emerging e-business opportunities: The dimensions and drivers | Computers in Human Behavior | Subjectivist theory of entrepreneurship | Digital Businesses | Digital entrepreneur's profile | Two-stage least square |
Topic | Main research lines | Main contexts of application | Main theoretical foundations | Main methodological approaches |
---|---|---|---|---|
Startups collaboration networks | Reasons for engaging in collaborative-based innovation initiatives with other digital startups Structural aspects of collaboration Open innovation projects between digital startups and large companies | Digital Startups Academic Spinoffs of technical universities | Transaction cost economics; Resource-based view Social Capital Theory Open Innovation; Organization growth lifecycle Collaborative Networks; | Multiple Case Studies; Literature Reviews Regression Analysis |
Business Model Innovation | Performance drivers of business model innovation for digital entrepreneurial firms Novel approaches to business model design as tools to support innovation for digital enterprises | Digital spin-offs Digital businesses Digital companies in specific sectors (e.g. e-commerce, IoT, Big Data, Financial blockchain, sharing economy,…) Digital companies in specific regions (e.g. Italy, Portugal, German speaking countries,…) | Business Model Innovation/Business Model Canvas System Dynamics Dynamic Capabilities Lean Startup/Agile Development Signaling theory Unisystemic views for financial inclusion | Conceptual Models Case studies/multiple case studies Systematic Literature Reviews |
Digital Platforms | Modeling frameworks for digital platforms Digital platforms supporting innovation processes | Digital platform operators Digital platform users Digital platform in specific sectors (e.g. fintech, crowdsourcing, blockchain, and non-fungible tokens) | Collaborative consumption/sharing economy Open innovation Network Effects and Multisided Markets Socio-Technical view Unisystemic views for financial inclusion Business Model Innovation | Conceptual Models Multiple Case Studies |
Digital Ventures | Antecedents contributing to the birth of innovation-oriented digital entrepreneurial firms Strategies for digital entrepreneurial firms’ success Critical success factors for digital enterprises | Regional Digital Ventures (e.g. Italy, Myanmar,…) Digital entrepreneurial firms in specific industries (e.g. music, tourism) Digital entrepreneurial firms/digital businesses | Dynamic Capabilities Resource-based view; Knowledge-based view Antecedents of Digital Transformation Market orientation Strategic Learning Intellectual Capital Theory | Quantitative Analysis (Regression Analysis—SEM) Case Studies/Multiple Case Studies |
The Digital Entrepreneur’s profile | Reasons for starting digital entrepreneurial firms Factors characterizing successful digital entrepreneurs entrepreneurial behaviour and the motivation to start digital ventures the traits of the innovator in the digital environment Gender studies in digital innovation entrepreneurship | Regional Digital Ventures (e.g. Italy, Myanmar,…) Female digital entrereneurs Digital entrepreneurial firms in specific industries (e.g. music, tourism) Digital entrepreneurial firms | Individual-opportunity nexus; entrepreneurial mindset/entrepreneurial profile/Entrepreneurial Cognitive Frames/entrepreneurial orientation; subjectivist theory of entrepreneurship digital capabilities/entrepreneurialdigital competencies/digital orientation theory Knowledge-Based View Gender attitudes/Entrepreneurship as emancipation | Quantitative Analysis (Regression Analysis—SEM) Multiple Case Studies |
Digital Innovation Ecosystems | Contextual aspects of digital innovation ecosystems Performances of digital innovation ecosystems Impact of innovation ecosystems on digital entrepreneurial firms performances Collaboration between digital new ventures and other stakeholders | Regional business incubators Regional Innovation Systems Corporate Venture Capitalists Spin-offs from technical universities | Social Capital Theory Digital entrepreneurship and ecosystems Collaborative Networks Open Innovation | Conceptual Models Systematic Literature Reviews |
3.2 Presentation of the main topics
3.2.1 Topic 1. Start-ups’ collaboration networks
3.2.2 Topic 2. Business-model innovation
3.2.3 Topic 3. Digital platforms
3.2.4 Topic 4. Digital ventures
3.2.5 Topic 5. The digital entrepreneur’s profile
3.2.6 Topic 6. Digital-innovation ecosystems
4 Discussion
5 Conclusions
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Multi-level Analysis future research should provide a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon of digital innovation in entrepreneurial firms at a multiple level, the individual (entrepreneur), organizational (entrepreneurial ventures and business models), and ecosystem levels.
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Interdisciplinary Approach research should take into account contributions from other areas of investigation, in particular, the fields of innovation and technology management. By taking an interdisciplinary approach, the digital innovation process in entrepreneurial ventures can be analyzed from multiple perspectives, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the phenomenon.
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Development of Specific Theories for Digital Innovation future research should aim to develop specific theories, constructs, and models for the new context generated by digital transformation. This will provide a more robust understanding of the digital innovation process in entrepreneurial ventures and help to fill the gap between the literature on technological innovation and digital innovation.