Sport Entrepreneurship: A Synthesis of Existing Literature and Future Perspectives

Sport entrepreneurship is progressively emerging as an extremely significant stream of research. Accordingly, scholars are progressively assessing how sportspeople tend to have higher entrepreneurial orientation and intentions than the average. In a similar fashion, scholars have also observed how sport-related entrepreneurial ventures can have a positive effect on community development. This notwithstanding, this literature stream is still fragmented, lacks a proper systematization, and needs an identification of its intellectual structure and research themes. Hereby, we performed a bibliometric analysis on 86 papers and a systematic literature review on the most influential papers belonging to the pertinent literature. Results show that a 4-cluster structure exists for sport entrepreneurship: its theoretical definitions and internal factors fostering it (cluster 1), environmental factors which may foster it (cluster 2), pedagogical approaches and education (cluster 3), and finally its impacts, especially in terms of community development and social benefits (cluster 4). From these findings, a framework to help both scholars and practitioners approaching the topic was developed

Knowledge Management in the Fourth Industrial Revolution: Mapping the Literature and Scoping Future Avenues

Due to increased competitive pressure, modern organizations tend to rely on knowledge and its exploitation to sustain a long-term advantage. This calls for a precise understanding of knowledge management (KM) processes and, specifically, how knowledge is created, shared/transferred, acquired, stored/retrieved, and applied throughout an organizational system. However, since the beginning of the new millennium, such KM processes have been deeply affected and molded by the advent of the fourth industrial revolution, also called Industry 4.0, which involves the interconnectedness of machines and their ability to learn and share data autonomously. For this reason, the present study investigates the intellectual structure and trends of KM in Industry 4.0. Bibliometric analysis and a systematic literature review are conducted on a total of 90 relevant articles. The results reveal 6 clusters of keywords, subsequently explored via a systematic literature review to identify potential stream of this emergent field and future research avenues capable of producing meaningful advances in managerial knowledge of Industry 4.0 and its consequences

The internet of things in manufacturing innovation processes: development and application of a conceptual framework

Purpose: This study aims to contribute and enrich the scientific debate about the phenomenon called the Internet of Things (IoT) from a managerial perspective. Through the lenses of management and innovation literature, we investigate the main facts that characterize the IoT and developed a conceptual framework to interpret its evolution. The framework has then been applied to the case of a three-dimensional (3D) printing technology used for additive manufacturing. Design/methodology/approach: A theoretical analysis of the phenomenon of the IoT and its main elements has been performed to construct a conceptual framework in a managerial fashion able to describe the evolutionary impacts of the phenomenon on the manufacturing industry. Findings: Through consequential steps, namely radical, modular, architectural and incremental innovation, and by adopting and integrating the Henderson and Clark model, we explain the cornerstones of the evolutionary impact of the IoT on the manufacturing industry. Finally, we apply our framework to the case of additive manufacturing and 3D printing. Practical implications: Our framework’s practical value is related to its employability in interpreting and possibly forecasting the evolution of manufacturing industries thanks to the advent of the IoT, allowing managers to capture value arising from technological changes. Originality/value: This study offers a clear and simple model to interpret the impacts of the IoT. Such a goal has been obtained by systematizing the disconnected research on the topic and arranging such contributions into solid paradigms of the managerial literature

Italian entrepreneurial decision-making under lockdown: the path to resilience

Purpose – This study addresses current research gaps by integrating resilience literature with crisis management theories, focusing on SMEs. Specifically, we examine how the entrepreneurial decision-making process, via the interplay of causation and effectuation logic, impacts a firm’s ability to respond to unpredictable events. Our investigation seeks to unearth the potentially complex interplay between causation and effectuation logic in fostering organisational resilience, particularly in the face of unprecedented disruptions such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach – This study includes the responses of 80 Italian entrepreneurs operating in the hospitality sector. The paper deployed a joint analysis through a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling technique (PLS-SEM) and a Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) to assess how the decision-making logics impact the entrepreneurs’ decision when reacting to the pandemic. Findings – The findings show that how entrepreneurs make decisions influence how they react to the crisis. Causation was found as a direct cause of resilience and preparedness, and effectuation was a direct cause of resilience and agility. Moreover, causation indirectly caused resilience through preparedness, and effectuation indirectly caused resilience through agility. Finally, both preparedness and agility are direct causes of resilience. Practical implications – Our research generated insights into why and how some SMEs respond more effectively to uncertainty than others. It provides actionable strategies that business owners and managers can employ to enhance their ability to withstand and recover from crises. Originality – This study’s originality and novelty lie in its empirical investigation of the roles of causation and effectuation logic in entrepreneurial decision-making and, consequently, their influence on SME resilience. Focused on the Italian hospitality sector, it provides unique insights into resilience strategies under severe, real-world conditions, contributing to theoretical development and practical applications in crisis management

The relationship between knowledge management and leadership: mapping the field and providing future research avenues

Purpose: Effectively handling knowledge is crucial for any organisation in order to survive and prosper in the turbulent environments of the modern era. Leadership is a central element for knowledge creation, acquisition, utilisation and integration processes. Based on these considerations, this study offers an overview of the evolution of the literature regarding the knowledge management-leadership relationship published over the last twenty years. Design/methodology/approach: A bibliometric analysis coupled with a systematic literature review were performed over a dataset of 488 peer-reviewed articles published from 1990 to 2018. Findings: We discovered the existence of four well-polarised clusters with the following thematic focuses: human and relational aspects, systematic and performance aspects, contextual and contingent aspects, and cultural and learning aspects. We then investigated each thematic cluster by reviewing the most relevant contributions within them. Research limitations/implications: Based on the bibliometric analysis and the systematic literature review we developed an interpretative framework aimed at uncovering several promising and little explored research areas, thus suggesting an agenda for future knowledge management-leadership research. Some steps of the paper selection process may have been biased by the interpretation of the researcher. We addressed this concern by performing a multiple human subject reading process whose reliability was confirmed by a Krippendorf’s Alpha coefficient value > 0.80. Originality/value: To our best knowledge, this is the first study to map, systematise and discuss the literature concerned to the topic of the knowledge management-leadership relationship

Entrepreneurial approach for open innovation: opening new opportunities, mapping knowledge, and highlighting gaps

Purpose – Since the first definition of Open Innovation (OI), the indivisible relationship between this concept and entrepreneurship was undeniable. However, the exact mechanisms by which an entrepreneurial approach may benefit OI processes and vice versa are not yet fully understood. The study aims to offer an accurate map of the knowledge evolution of the OI-entrepreneurship relationship and interesting gaps to be filled in the future. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopted a bibliometric analysis, coupled with a systematic literature review performed over a data set of 106 peer-reviewed articles published from 2005 to 2020 to identify thematic clusters. Findings – The results show five thematic clusters: entrepreneurial opportunities, organisational opportunities, strategic partnership opportunities, institutional opportunities, and digital opportunities for OI. Investigated each of them, the authors created a framework that highlights future avenues for further developing the topic. Originality/value –This study is the first of its kind to systematise, analyse and critically interpret the literature concerned to the topic of the OI-entrepreneurshi

Locally focused and digitally oriented: examining eco-museums’ digitization in a service quality management perspective

Purpose: Eco-museums safeguard the cultural authenticity and the historical identity of the place in which they operate. Conventional organizational models and management practices are generally employed to achieve this institutional aim. Conversely, innovative solutions – such as digitization – are overlooked. Adopting a service quality management perspective, the article intends to examine the role of managerialization and professionalization in triggering eco-museums’ digitization. Methodology: An empirical analysis involving 126 eco-museums operating in Italy as of 2018 was designed to investigate the implications of managerialization and professionalization on the eco-museums’ propensity to embark on a digitization process. Two different forms of digitization were examined: 1) the presence of eco-museums in the digital environment; and 2) the exploitation of digital tools for service delivery. The mediating role of two “soft” Total Quality Management (TQM) practices, i.e. people centredness and strategic focus on visitors’ experience, was contemplated in the empirical analysis. Findings: The research findings suggest that managerialization and professionalization have ambiguous effects on eco-museums’ digitization. Nevertheless, they indirectly contribute to a greater digital presence of eco-museums and to a larger use of digital tools for service delivery through an increased use of soft TQM practices. Practical Implications: Managerialization and professionalization are likely to foster the digital transition of eco-museums, which advances their ability to protect and promote the local cultural heritage. Soft TQM practices intended to achieve people-centredness and to enhance the visitors’ experience should be exploited to stimulate the eco-museums’ digitization. Originality: The article examines the triggers of eco-museums’ digitization, providing some food for thought to scholars and practitioners

Serial entrepreneurs: A review of literature and guidance for future research

Little research has been conducted regarding serial entrepreneurship compared to entrepreneurship research more broadly, despite research that suggests that asmany as 50% of all entrepreneurs are serial entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship research shows that most new ventures fail, yet serial entrepreneurs continually exit previous ventures and start new ones. Our study explores 118 scholarly articles indexed in Web of Science and Scopus databases on serial entrepreneurship through multiple correspondence analysis. Through our analysis, we identify key areas for future research, explore and consolidate the theoretical foundations used, and provide a review of academic literature for future researchers to utilize. Our perceptual map has identified four key research areas that researchers should focus upon: heuristics in entrepreneurship, entrepreneurial capabilities, the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and technological development and resources

A Philosophical Approach to Entrepreneurial Education: A model based on Kantian and Aristotelian thought

In the field of entrepreneurship education, how to develop an effective program to teach entrepreneurship has been widely debated. However, an inductive approach based on analysis of educational program experiences and outcomes has led to mixed conclusions about the appropriate scope and structure of entrepreneurship education. In contrast, we take a deductive approach to develop a comprehensive entrepreneurship education model based on concepts from two schools of philosophical thought: the Kantian debate about freedom versus determinism, and the Aristotelian concepts of praxis and poïesis. These philosophical concepts are related to scope and structure dimensions that delineate the soft (art) and hard (science) of entrepreneurship education, their components and interrelationships. Pedagogies associated with each component as well as integrative pedagogies are identified to guide the development of entrepreneurship education programs and teaching. Theoretical propositions are presented for future research

The Human Side of Open Innovation Adoption in SMEs: A Configurational Approach

SMEs' willingness to adopt Open Innovation largely depends on managerial cognitive configurations. The present study inquiries a scarcely explored aspect of Open Innovation, namely the human side of Open Innovation. As a result, we study the cognitive configurations leading toward willingness or unwillingness of OI adoption, specifically focusing on the cognitive side of the decision-makers. In doing so, we explore the role of Rational and Intuitive cognition, together with the NIH and NHS syndromes. Also, we study the effect of perceived barriers and perceived benefits that are able to affect the decisional outcome of managers in deciding to adopt, or not, Open Innovation. The present is grounded in a survey among 442 qualified and experienced managers working in SMEs. Results of a fsQCA analysis outlines different decisional profiles associated with willingness and unwillingness to adopt OI