This thesis examines stakeholder relationships in entrepreneurial ecosystems by focusing on the importance of sustainability, education and culture in this context. A three-staged research approach on the topic is employed. First, based on a systematic literature review the relevance of stakeholder theory for the creation of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems that encourage sustainable entrepreneurship is examined as conceptual approach. Second, a qualitative empirical stance is used to investigate stakeholder involvement from the entrepreneurial ecosystem at 20 higher educational institutions in 19 European countries with regard to entrepreneurship education. Third, comparative, quantitative empirical research is conducted to identify cross-cultural and stakeholder-related factors that determine the perceived strength of the sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems in Austria and Germany. The findings of this thesis indicate that stakeholder theory, sustainability, education and culture all matter for developing strong entrepreneurial ecosystems. These results can be of interest for policy makers, entrepreneurship educaters, entrepreneurs and other entrepreneurial stakeholders, who aim at strengthening regional entrepreneurial ecosystems.
The Way Forward for Entrepreneurship Around the World We are in the midst of a startup revolution. The growth and proliferation of innovation-driven startup activity is profound, unprecedented, and global in scope. Today, it is understood that communities of support and knowledge-sharing go along with other resources. The importance of collaboration and a long-term commitment has gained wider acceptance. These principles are adopted in many startup communities throughout the world. And yet, much more work is needed. Startup activity is highly concentrated in large cities. Governments and other actors such as large corporations and universities are not collaborating with each other nor with entrepreneurs as well as they could. Too often, these actors try to control activity or impose their view from the top-down, rather than supporting an environment that is led from the bottom-up. We continue to see a disconnect between an entrepreneurial mindset and that of many actors who wish to engage with and support entrepreneurship. There are structural reasons for this, but we can overcome many of these obstacles with appropriate focus and sustained practice. No one tells this story better than Brad Feld and Ian Hathaway. The Startup Community Way: Evolving an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem explores what makes startup communities thrive and how to improve collaboration in these rapidly evolving, complex environments. The Startup Community Way is an explanatory guide for startup communities. Rooted in the theory of complex systems, this book establishes the systemic properties of entrepreneurial ecosystems and explains why their complex nature leads people to make predictable mistakes. As complex systems, value creation occurs in startup communities primarily through the interaction of the "parts" - the people, organizations, resources, and conditions involved - not the parts themselves. This continual process of bottom-up interactions unfolds naturally, producing value in novel and unexpected ways. Through these complex, emergent processes, the whole becomes greater and substantially different than what the parts alone could produce. Because of this, participants must take a fundamentally different approach than is common in much of our civic and professional lives. Participants must take a whole-system view, rather than simply trying to optimize their individual part. They must prioritize experimentation and learning over planning and execution. Complex systems are uncertain and unpredictable. They cannot be controlled, only guided and influenced. Each startup community is unique. Replication is enticing but impossible. The race to become "The Next Silicon Valley" is futile - even Silicon Valley couldn't recreate itself. This book: Offers practical advice for entrepreneurs, community builders, government officials, and other stakeholders who want to harness the power of entrepreneurship in their city Describes the core components of startup communities and entrepreneurial ecosystems, as well as an explanation of the differences between these two related, but distinct concepts Advances a new framework for effective startup community building based on the theory of complex systems and insights from systems thinking Includes contributions from leading entrepreneurial voices Is a must-have resource for entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, executives, business and community leaders, economic development authorities, policymakers, university officials, and anyone wishing to understand how startup communities work anywhere in the world
An essential guide to building supportive entrepreneurial communities "Startup communities" are popping up everywhere, from cities like Boulder to Boston and even in countries such as Iceland. These types of entrepreneurial ecosystems are driving innovation and small business energy. Startup Communities documents the buzz, strategy, long-term perspective, and dynamics of building communities of entrepreneurs who can feed off of each other's talent, creativity, and support. Based on more than twenty years of Boulder-based entrepreneur turned-venture capitalist Brad Feld's experience in the field?as well as contributions from other innovative startup communities?this reliable resource skillfully explores what it takes to create an entrepreneurial community in any city, at any time. Along the way, it offers valuable insights into increasing the breadth and depth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem by multiplying connections among entrepreneurs and mentors, improving access to entrepreneurial education, and much more. Details the four critical principles needed to form a sustainable startup community Perfect for entrepreneurs and venture capitalists seeking fresh ideas and new opportunities Written by Brad Feld, a thought-leader in this field who has been an early-stage investor and successful entrepreneur for more than twenty years Engaging and informative, this practical guide not only shows you how startup communities work, but it also shows you how to make them work anywhere in the world.
Organizations face a pressing challenge in today's rapidly evolving economies: navigating the ethical complexities of adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI) and related technologies. As AI becomes increasingly integral to operations, transparency, fairness, accountability, and privacy concerns are more critical than ever. Organizations need practical guidance to develop and implement AI ethics strategies effectively. Cases on AI Ethics in Business offers a comprehensive solution by examining AI Ethics through theoretical lenses and innovative practices. It provides a roadmap for organizations to address ethical challenges in AI adoption, offering insights from leaders in the field. With a focus on theory-to-practice, the book equips readers with actionable strategies and frameworks to navigate the ethical implications of AI, ensuring responsible and sustainable AI deployment.
With the need for sustainability, a focus on developing an economic system that aims at minimizing waste, commonly referred to as the circular economy, is emerging. Circular economy and studies related to it have gained worldwide attention, as it seems to be an effective alternative economic system. Naturally, the circular economy will impact enterprises and will shift how entrepreneurship development and entrepreneurial opportunities are perceived, developed, and resourced. The Handbook of Research on Entrepreneurship Development and Opportunities in Circular Economy is a collection of pioneering research that advances the understanding of entrepreneurship development, identifies the opportunities, and manages the entrepreneurship development, policies, and programs in order to further a circular economy. In addition to entrepreneurship development and entrepreneurial opportunities, the book will cover and discuss a number of other factors necessary for a successful transformation, such as entrepreneurship and innovation, entrepreneurship and change, and entrepreneurship education. While highlighting topics including consumer consumption, knowledge management, and linear economics, this book is ideally designed for entrepreneurs, small business owners, managers, consultants, organization development specialists, policymakers, researchers, industry experts, academicians, and students.
The media and entertainment industry (MEI) differs significantly from traditional industries in many respects. Accordingly, the management of strategy, marketing and other business practices in the MEI necessitates a unique approach. Sunghan Ryu offers students focused and relevant insights into critical topics, illustrated by vivid examples from the MEI. Unlike typical introductory textbooks on business and management, this book does not overemphasize complicated layers of theory. Instead, it presents essential concepts and frameworks in a digestible manner and supplements them with opportunities to apply this knowledge to real-world cases. The textbook demonstrates how knowledge can be constructively implemented in business and management scenarios. It is structured into 12 chapters, divided into five core modules: (1) Overview of the MEI, (2) The Fundamentals of Management, (3) Marketing Management, (4) Digital Business and Management, and (5) New Business Models and Entrepreneurship. Students will gain the ability to explain key concepts and frameworks across core business and management domains and develop analytical skills through diverse real-world cases in the MEI. Based on this knowledge, they will be equipped to identify management-related issues in the MEI and arrive at practical and effective solutions. This book is an essential guide for students who wish to understand business and management in the dynamic world of the MEI.
This book engages ongoing debates about the nature, manifestation and purpose of entrepreneurship education (EE). It presents theoretical and practical perspectives on the challenges and opportunities that entrepreneurship educators face globally to equip undergraduate students with entrepreneurial skills, and more generally, develop their entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities taking advantage of programmes and curricula available in their ecosystem. Divided into three sections, the chapters, written by recognized experts, deliver distinctive approaches to undergraduate EE, an analysis of entrepreneurial mindset-building perspectives, and cases and proposals of undergraduate entrepreneurship programs that go beyond the traditional higher education milieu. This volume provides entrepreneurship educators with a voice to explain how they participate in the topic of entrepreneurship, how undergraduate students engage and respond to EE, and how institutional frameworks for EE, and more generally the entrepreneurship education ecosystem, support undergraduate EE.
Entrepreneurship, a dynamic force driving economic growth and innovation, faces multifaceted challenges in today's global landscape. Small firms, vital for economic diversity and innovation, need more resources and technological capabilities to compete with larger enterprises. Moreover, the rapid pace of technological advancement, while offering growth opportunities, also presents complexities in adoption and integration. Cultural, regulatory, and institutional differences further compound these challenges, hindering entrepreneurial success and regional development. Real-World Tools and Scenarios for Entrepreneurship Exploration offers a comprehensive solution to the complexity entrepreneurs and small businesses face. The book equips readers with the latest trends and insights into entrepreneurial practices worldwide by presenting real-world scenarios. Through comparative analyses, it provides a deep understanding of the institutional frameworks impacting entrepreneurship and offers strategies for overcoming technological burdens. The book also delves into the psychology of successful entrepreneurs, fostering an entrepreneurial mindset crucial for navigating challenges and seizing opportunities.
This volume presents theoretical and empirical research on universities and their entrepreneurial ecosystems to better grasp the connections between universities and their surrounding environments and their engagement with sustainability. The book provides a better understanding of the entrepreneurial characteristics of universities. It examines the ways in which universities’ collaboration and participation in an ecosystem support business and industry transformation. It also investigates how universities function within the university/industry/government/third sector relationship nexus. The book enables the systematisation of the literature while simultaneously builds theory, empirically testing existing theories, and contributes towards a future research agenda geared towards sustainability. The book gathers contributions from varied geographical contexts providing an international perspective.
