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A mechanisms-driven theory of business incubation
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Ahmad, Ali (2014) A mechanisms-driven theory of business incubation. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research, Volume 20 (Number 4). pp. 375-405. doi:10.1108/IJEBR-11-2012-0133
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-11-2012-0133
Abstract
Purpose
– Following recommendations by scholars for further research on the business incubation process, the purpose of this paper is to build new theory on incubation using the social mechanisms approach – a well-developed body of theory on social processes.
Design/methodology/approach
– A critical review of dominant theoretical approaches in the area highlighted that researchers in the past have not studied incubation as a social “process.” In order to study a social process such as incubation, a case is made for the value of social mechanisms theory. In order to study incubation as a social mechanism, an inductive-qualitative research design based on ethnography was used. Data were collected over six months each at two Dublin-Ireland-based business incubators.
Findings
– Results highlight the significant role of a positive relational bond between the incubator manager and client entrepreneurs. Incubation is triggered in a sophisticated normative environment under the prevalence of ground rules, subtle signals and the interplay of personal histories. These contribute to the incubation mechanism's non-linearity, thereby, making the prediction of outcomes difficult.
Originality/value
– A contribution of this research comes in the form of a new conceptualization of incubation based in mechanisms reasoning. The mechanisms approach was found to be versatile and helped in extending the work of previous researchers who proposed advancements in the area based on dyadic theory, social capital theory and social network theory. Further, a new, and it is argued, more fruitful direction for incubation process-related research is also highlighted; one which takes on board the often glossed over idiosyncrasies of incubation as a social mechanism for promoting early stage entrepreneurship.
| Item Type: | Journal Article | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor H Social Sciences > HF Commerce |
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| Divisions: | Faculty of Science, Engineering and Medicine > Engineering > WMG (Formerly the Warwick Manufacturing Group) | ||||||||
| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Business incubators, New business enterprises | ||||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research | ||||||||
| Publisher: | Emerald Insight | ||||||||
| ISSN: | 1355-2554 | ||||||||
| Official Date: | 2014 | ||||||||
| Dates: |
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| Volume: | Volume 20 | ||||||||
| Number: | Number 4 | ||||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 375-405 | ||||||||
| DOI: | 10.1108/IJEBR-11-2012-0133 | ||||||||
| Status: | Peer Reviewed | ||||||||
| Publication Status: | Published | ||||||||
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
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