From Ideas to Opportunities: Exploring the Construction of Technology-Based Entrepreneurial Opportunities

The transformation of business ideas into market opportunities is at the core of entrepreneurship. Nevertheless, the complexity of such a transformative process is seen to change depending on the variables influencing the opportunity-entrepreneur nexus. Although technology-entrepreneurship is regarded as a force of change and dynamism in socio-economic growth, it also depends upon an intricate process of opportunity development. The interest in understanding better how technology-based entrepreneurs simultaneously cope with technological uncertainty while trying to gain stakeholder support and access to resources, highlights a relevant research gap. The research described in this article uses the constructivist view to deepen our understanding of the technology-based entrepreneur’s conceptualization of the opportunity as a process of social construction. Our results show how initial consensus-building efforts and iteration with knowledgeable peers are an essential part of the emergence of the opportunity, changing both entrepreneur's and stakeholders' perceptions of the early business idea. Consequently, our results provide evidence in support of policy programs and measures that favour social-construction support mechanisms to foster technology-based entrepreneurship

Reveal or Conceal? Signaling Strategies for Building Legitimacy in Cleantech Firms

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Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out? Exploring the Venture Emergence in Technology-based Firms

Els emprenedors prenen decisions com la d’engegar o no la seva idea de negoci, adaptar-se i ajustar-se a les peticions del mercat, i desafortunadament la de continuar o deixar el procés de creació del nou negoci. Tot i que la constant progressió tecnològica obre oportunitats als emprenedors per engegar idees de negoci en base a noves innovacions tecnològiques, només alguns d’ells i elles aconsegueixen complir amb aquestes expectatives. Les investigacions prèvies en emprenedoria s'han centrat en entendre com els recursos poden explicar l'evolució de les empreses de nova creació. No obstant, quan es planteja l’estudi de l’emprenedoria de base tecnològica trobem dificultats per poder explicar les diferències de resultats si només ens fixem en les combinacions de recursos inicials. Aquesta recerca proposa introduir altres perspectives teòriques que ens poden ajudar a identificar factors per entendre millor com sorgeixen les organitzacions de base tecnològica. Fem servir un mètode mixt, combinant un estudi qualitatiu exploratori amb un estudi quantitatiu. En primer lloc explorem factors i accions que influencien el procés d’emprenedoria tecnològica. Seguidament, ampliem el marc teòric inicial per donar suport als aspectes que han aparegut en el treball qualitatiu, i formular les hipòtesis de recerca. Fem servir un set de dades longitudinals per testejar aquestes hipòtesis. Finament, es conclou el document reflexionant sobre la combinació dels resultats del treball qualitatiu i quantitatiu. Utilitzant la teoria de senyals expliquem que els recursos tecnològics poden tenir una funció com a símbol diferencial de qualitat. Observem que aquests recursos han de ser transformats per tal de generar valor pels potencials clients. Fent servir la perspectiva teòrica de màrqueting i del capital humà es detalla com l’experiència i la intensitat de les seves accions de creació de mercat tenen una influència positiva en el procés de sorgiment. Aquesta recerca contribueix al coneixement actual sobre el desenvolupament de les empreses de nova creació de base tecnològica. Es suggereix que l’orientació de les accions de l’emprenedor, en concret l’activació de capacitats d’interacció amb el mercat, influeixen en sorgiment d’aquest tipus d’organitzacions. Els resultats també tenen implicacions pràctiques per emprenedors, inversors i agents implicats en el desenvolupament d’emprenedoria tecnològica; es proposa que més enllà d’analitzar les combinacions inicials de recursos d’un emprenedor, s’ha de dedicar més atenció a la capacitat de transformar aquests recursos en propostes de valor, i la seva orientació a mercat.Los emprendedores toman decisiones como la de empezar o no su idea de negocio, adaptarse o no a las necesidades del mercado, y desafortunadamente la de continuar o dejar su proyecto. A pesar de que la constante progresión tecnológica abren oportunidades para generar ideas de negocio a partir de las innovaciones tecnológicas; sólo algunos de ellos y ellas logran cumplir estas expectativas. Las investigaciones previas en emprendimiento han observado como los recursos pueden ayudar a entender la evolución de las empresas de nueva creación. No obstante, cuando se plantea el estudio del emprendimiento de base tecnológica nos encontramos con dificultades para poder explicar las diferencias de resultados si nos limitamos a observar las combinaciones iniciales de recursos. Esta investigación propone introducir perspectivas teóricas que nos permitan identificar factores y su influencia para entender como surgen las organizaciones de base tecnológica. Utilizamos un método mixto, combinando un estudio cualitativo y un cuantitativo. En primer lugar exploramos factores y acciones que influyen en el proceso de emprendimiento tecnológico. A continuación ampliamos el marco teórico inicial para dar soporte a los aspectos identificados en el trabajo cualitativo, y formulamos las hipótesis de investigación. Usamos un set de datos longitudinales para testeas estas hipótesis. Finalmente, se concluyen el documento con una discusión de los resultados obtenidos. La teoría de señales nos permite entender como los recursos tecnológicos pueden tener una función como símbolo de calidad. Observamos que estos recursos deben ser transformados para generar valor para los potenciales clientes. Utilizando la perspectiva teórica de marketing y de capital humano detallamos como la experiencia y la intensidad de las acciones de creación de mercado tienen una influencia positiva en el proceso de creación de las empresas. Esta investigación contribuye al conocimiento actual sobre el desarrollo de empresas de nueva creación de base tecnológica. Se sugiere que la orientación de las acciones del emprendedor, en concreto la activación de orientación a mercado, influyen en desarrollo de estas organizaciones. Los resultados tienen implicaciones prácticas para emprendedores, inversores y agentes implicados en el desarrollo de emprendimiento tecnológico; se propone que más allá de fijarse en las combinaciones iniciales de recursos, debemos dedicar más atención a las capacidades de transformar estos recursos en propuestas de valor y su orientación a mercado.Despite the remnant promises that sustained technological progress offers to entrepreneurs eager to introduce disruptive technological innovations, we observe that only few of them live up to the expectations. In fact, there is a limited understanding on the factors underlying the transformation of promising technologies into viable organizations, and how they influence the decisions to turn on, tune in with the market, and drop-out or continue with their organizing efforts. Prior entrepreneurship research relying on the resource-based view finds difficulties to explain the technology-based firms' performance. We propose to complement the current understanding with additional perspectives that could help to identify factors that provide further insights on the emergence of new technology-based firms. We adopt a mixed-method approach to combine an exploratory qualitative field work with a quantitative research approach. First, we gather insights on the factors and actions that are seen to be influencing the technology entrepreneurship process, from the initial opportunity to the creation of a stable business. Then, we extend our initial theoretical framework on the technology entrepreneurship process to support the qualitative findings and build propositions; these are tested as hypotheses on a larger sample of technology-based firms. Finally, we combine the findings from the qualitative field work with the findings from the hypotheses test. Using the signaling theory we explain how some resources value goes beyond its direct impact on firm’s performance, suggesting that they are also used for their symbolic value. We observe that technological assets need to be transformed in order to generate value for the potential customers of the new venture. Marketing and human capital theory insights provide an explanation on how experience and market presence positively influence the venture emergence of new technology-based firms. We contribute to the current understanding of new technology-based firms with the introduction of human capital, marketing and technology commercialization theory. Describing how the orientation of entrepreneur's actions and the early development of market capacities influence on the venture emergence of this type of firms. The results also have implications for entrepreneurs, investors in technology startups, and stakeholders in technology entrepreneurship; as they suggest that further attention should be given to the market actions of the entrepreneurs, regardless of their initial combinations of resources

Seguiu-nos: estratègies de captura de tuits en català

Twitter és una eina de microblogging utilitzada arreu del món per generar i compartir informació. La comunitat catalana la utilitza des del Govern fins als mitjans de comunicació, passant per persones amb diferent formació i estils de vida. No obstant això, a dia d'avui, a Catalunya, hi ha poques actuacions clares per preservar-la des d'una perspectiva de gestió bibliotecodocumental de Catalunya. Aquest article proposa una estratègia de captura de tuits per a la Biblioteca de Catalunya, que inclou criteris de selecció, metadades de preservació i previsions de creixement. Metodologia: S'analitzen els aspectes legals i tecnològics del Twitter, de la informació de l'arxiu Twitter de la Library of Congress, del portal amb estadístiques Twiter'n'Català i del PADICAT (Patrimoni Digital de Catalunya), per descriure l'estat de la qüestió de les possibilitats de preservació dels tuits que té la Biblioteca de Catalunya. Resultats: Els resultats recollits mostren que actualment fer servir una única eina no és suficient per filtrar, capturar i preservar els tuits. Els requeriments d'una institució que té com a objectiu la preservació a llarg termini fan semblar insuficients les eines existents a Internet. No obstant això, la necessitat d'actuar immediatament per no perdre el patrimoni digital fa que s'hagi d'actuar amb les eines i els recursos disponibles. Amb una combinació d'eines existents es poden millorar les estratègies de captura de tuits actuals

Global banning of a diffused controversial practice: deinstitutionalization in the soccer industry

We study the deinstitutionalization of a controversial practice that had previously reached a level of international diffusion. We draw on international diffusion and deinstitutionalization theory to study the emergence and diffusion of the third-party ownership practice in the soccer industry. We use an inductive case study combining archival and interview data to study the determinants of the international diffusion of a controversial practice at a global scale, the contestation, and finally the deinstitutionalization process that resulted from the ban of the practice. We find that the opacity of the practice can be a diffusion driver, locally and at the international level, nevertheless the opacity also may lead to different meaning creation attempts and potential discursive battles between actors, and eventually to deinstitutionalization of the practice. This article advances our understanding of how controversial practices fare in different institutional environments

La gestió de la identitat digital: una nova habilitat informacional i digital

Objectius. Descriure la identitat digital a la xarxa i apuntar els avantatges d'una presència en línia gestionada eficaçment, així com els principals esculls d'una identitat no homogènia. Alhora, es pretén situar la gestió de la identitat digital com una nova habilitat fonamental en el marc de les habilitats informacionals i digitals i aportar exemples reals d'identitats personals a Internet. Metodologia. Anàlisi de casos i bibliografia existent. Resultats. La visibilitat, la reputació i la privacitat a Internet esdevenen aspectes clau per a la gestió eficaç d'una identitat digital. L'habilitat de gestionar la identitat virtual no és quelcom instrumental sinó que té a veure amb un aprenentatge al llarg de la vida i un aprofundiment en la cultura digital necessària per al ciutadà que viu en la societat xarxa.Peer Reviewe

Exploring interaction differences in Microblogging Word of Mouth between entrepreneurial and conventional service providers

In this study, we explore the interaction network properties of Microblogging Word of Mouth (MWOM), and how it is utilized by two different types of service providers, namely entrepreneurial and conventional. We use social network analysis, involving network metrics, sentiment, content and semantic analysis of real time data collected via Twitter, to compare two providers in terms of how they leverage MWOM in their social interactions. Results demonstrate that MWOM is utilized in an inherently different manner by an entrepreneurial provider, compared to a conventional one. Based on the findings, the study identifies distinctions between the entrepreneurial and conventional service providers in how they utilize MWOM on social media. Specifically, the entrepreneurial provider capitalizes on the interactive nature and dialogic capabilities of Twitter; whereas the conventional provider mostly relies on focal information sharing, thus neglecting the network members’ content creation and relationship building capability of social media networks. The study has significant implications as it provides key insights and lessons in terms of how companies should respond to emerging digital opportunities in their online social interactions

Digital transformation, for better or worse: a critical multi-level research agenda

For better or worse, digital technologies are reshaping everything, from customer behaviors and expectations to organizational and manufacturing systems, business models, markets, and ultimately society. To understand this overarching transformation, this paper extends the previous literature which has focused mostly on the organizational level by developing a multi‐level research agenda for digital transformation (DT). In this regard, we propose an extended definition of DT as “a socioeconomic change across individuals, organizations, ecosystems, and societies that are shaped by the adoption and utilization of digital technologies.” We suggest four lenses to interpret the DT phenomenon: individuals (utilizing and adopting digital technologies), organizations (strategizing and coordinating both internal and external transformation), ecosystems (harnessing digital technologies in governance and co‐producing value propositions), and geopolitical frameworks (regulating the environments in which individuals and organizations are embedded). Based on these lenses, we build a multi‐level research agenda at the intersection between the bright and dark sides of DT and introduce the PIAI framework, which captures a process of perception, interpretation, and action that ultimately leads to possible impact. The PIAI framework identifies a critical research agenda consisting of a non‐exhaustive list of topics that can assist researchers to deepen their understanding of the DT phenomenon and provide guidance to managers and policymakers when making strategic decisions that seek to shape and guide the DT

Digital transformation, for better or worse: a critical multi-level research agenda

For better or worse, digital technologies are reshaping everything, from customer behaviors and expectations to organizational and manufacturing systems, business models, markets, and ultimately society. To understand this overarching transformation, this paper extends the previous literature which has focused mostly on the organizational level by developing a multi‐level research agenda for digital transformation (DT). In this regard, we propose an extended definition of DT as “a socioeconomic change across individuals, organizations, ecosystems, and societies that are shaped by the adoption and utilization of digital technologies.” We suggest four lenses to interpret the DT phenomenon: individuals (utilizing and adopting digital technologies), organizations (strategizing and coordinating both internal and external transformation), ecosystems (harnessing digital technologies in governance and co‐producing value propositions), and geopolitical frameworks (regulating the environments in which individuals and organizations are embedded). Based on these lenses, we build a multi‐level research agenda at the intersection between the bright and dark sides of DT and introduce the PIAI framework, which captures a process of perception, interpretation, and action that ultimately leads to possible impact. The PIAI framework identifies a critical research agenda consisting of a non‐exhaustive list of topics that can assist researchers to deepen their understanding of the DT phenomenon and provide guidance to managers and policymakers when making strategic decisions that seek to shape and guide the DT.</jats:p

Digital girl:Cyberfeminism and the emancipation potential of digital entrepreneurship in emerging economies

Digital entrepreneurship has been described as a “great leveler” in terms of equalizing the entrepreneurial playing field for women. However, little is known of the emancipatory possibilities offered by digital entrepreneurship for women constrained by social and cultural practices such as male guardianship of female relatives and legally enforced gender segregation. In order to address this research gap, this paper examines women’s engagement in digital entrepreneurship in emerging economies with restrictive social and cultural practices. In so doing, we draw upon the analytical frameworks provided by entrepreneurship as emancipation and cyberfeminism. Using empirical data from an exploratory investigation of entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia, we examine how women use digital technologies in the pursuit of entrepreneurial opportunities. Our findings reveal that women in Saudi Arabia use digital entrepreneurship to transform their embodied selves and lived realities rather than to escape gender embodiment as offered by the online environment