Borrowed from biology, the metaphor of an entrepreneurial ‘ecosystem’ is increasingly used by scholars to help describe entrepreneurial activity within a region. The academic literature on entrepreneurial ecosystems has flourished recently and is now a popular focus of analysis. However, there are gaps in the emergent literature. Research into entrepreneurial ecosystems often focuses on documenting the presence of system components and is largely typological and atheoretical. Within the literature there has been a limited focus on the interactions and relationships between key domains/elements/actors within ecosystems.
The rationale and aim of this study
To advance knowledge on entrepreneurial ecosystems, the aim of this research is to propose how, and importantly why the domains and dimensions can and should be modelled and illustrated. Specifically, we use Isenberg’s “The Domains of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem” to frame a study of an ecosystem in Ireland. We propose that although an entrepreneurial ecosystem will align with an extended version of the six domains proposed by Isenberg (2010), each individual ecosystem must be studied to identify its complex system of unique dimensions and relationships.
Our approach to the study of entrepreneurial ecosystems
This study started with the six domains proposed by Isenberg (2010). The six domains are policy, finance, culture, supports, human capital and markets. The work of an expert panel extended the list to ten domains. We initially believed that due to cultural, geographical and infrastructural differences the relative importance and impact of the ten domains would differ. The intention was to provide a measure and weighting for each domain. However, statistical analysis identified a more complex ecosystem of sixteen dimensions. This study presents a data collection process that allows the operation of an entrepreneurial ecosystem to be profiled and analysed. Our method is based on the view that collecting entrepreneurial ecosystem metrics involves developing a methodology that provides insight into the extent to which dimensions can be interdependent and how this relates to entrepreneurial outcomes.
What we learnt in this study
Although we wish to advance the model proposed by Isenberg it is not our intention to propose a more complete model. Instead, we wish to show that an adapted version of the model (constructed with the help of an expert panel) will exist in individual ecosystems. Our theorizing about the importance of the relationships between the multiple dimensions of an entrepreneurial ecosystem has several implications for scholars and policy makers. The data and approach presented in this paper shows that in-depth research is needed to first, identify the dimensions of individual ecosystems and secondly, to measure the relationships that exist between the dimensions. We cannot assume that ecosystems are the same or be understood using a standard framework. Although we can consider a homogenous set of domains as a starting point, each ecosystem will have a different number and different types of dimensions. The dimensions will take many forms and require customised naming. The dimensions will not share the same level of importance and the relationships between dimensions will vary.
What we want others to do
Using the approach presented in this paper, new research can be undertaken to show that the entrepreneurial ecosystem concept is capable of explaining entrepreneurial dynamics in a variety of contexts. Our key contribution is to challenge scholars to pause their attempts to describe the elements and domains of ecosystems and instead move our research agenda to the study of ecosystems so that through multiple case studies and empiricism we can start to identify the multiple domains, dimensions and relationships that exist within unique ecosystems.
Full article: Entrepreneurial ecosystems: multiple domains, dimensions and relationships.
Authors Bio
Simon Stephens, Senior Lecturer in Small Business Economics at the Faculty of Business, Atlantic Technological University.
Christopher McLaughlin, Teaching Fellow in Business Analytics, Department of Global Business and Enterprise, University of Ulster.
Leah Ryan, Digital Innovation Ecosystems, ERNACT, Donegal.
Manuel Catena, Lecturer, Faculty of Business, Atlantic Technological University.
Aisling Bonner, Lecturer, Faculty of Business, Atlantic Technological University.
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