Enablers of explorative and exploitative intellectual capital in entrepreneurial ecosystems

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to investigate the intellectual capital (IC) dynamics in entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) by conceptualizing EEs as systems whose purposes include the (re)generation of the intangible resources needed for effective entrepreneurship. The study proposes a taxonomy of the key enablers of IC and develops a model that captures the unfolding interdependencies across the enablers of explorative and exploitative human, relational and organizational capital in EEs.Design/methodology/approachThe authors purposefully selected a successful EE around an entrepreneurial university in Latin America as empirical case. Specifically, they investigated the IC dynamics of the EE in the context of a series of internationally awarded hackathons and related activities organized at the ecosystem level over three years (2019–2021). The research leveraged participant observations, in-depth interviews with multiple EE actors and archival documents. For the data analysis, this study combined the Gioia method with an abductive approach.FindingsFirst, the study identified 27 operationalizable enablers of IC at the EE level clustered into human, relational and organizational capital and further differentiated these enablers considering the explorative and exploitative facets of IC. Second, it determined that the dynamic interplay across IC enablers is critical for an EE to flourish and evolve adaptively. This study concludes that assessing IC enablers and their dynamics can aid the understanding, evaluation and management of EEs.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to conceptualize EEs as systems whose purposes include creating the conditions for an effective interplay of explorative and exploitative IC at the system level. The resulting taxonomy of IC enablers provides formative constructs that will benefit both scholars and practitioners investigating the crucial role of intangible resources in EEs and guide managers, entrepreneurs and policymakers in their decision-making processes.

Intellectual capital components and entrepreneurial orientation: the mediating role of absorptive capacity

“…An organization with a high level of HC supports continuous learning, seeks new knowledge and learns from experiences, which empowers it to detect emerging trends, respond proactively to market changes and seize opportunities. However, scholars confirmed that firms with excellent HC are more likely to exhibit entrepreneurial behavior (Paoloni et al, 2020;Grande et al, 2023). Therefore, it can posit: H1.…”

“…This intricate interaction between IC and EO has prompted recent studies (e.g. Hanifah et al ., 2022; Chaudhary et al ., 2023; Grande et al ., 2023) to call for further research to acquire a better understanding of the relationship between these dynamic capabilities. According to Basco et al .…”

“…This intricate interaction between IC and EO has prompted recent studies (e.g. Hanifah et al, 2022;Chaudhary et al, 2023;Grande et al, 2023) to call for further research to acquire a better understanding of the relationship between these dynamic capabilities. According to Basco et al (2020), while the connection between the components of IC and EO is a significant and continuously developing area of research, few studies have produced conclusive findings about this aspect, and further research is needed.…”

Guest editorial: Unveiling the roles of intellectual capital in entrepreneurial ecosystems: evidence from moderate innovative countries

“…Using a systematic lens to interpret the dynamics of IC in EEs, Grande et al (2023) propose a novel taxonomy of IC comprising explorative and exploitative enablers as the two main categories. Each category is further divided into three subcategories based on the three dimensions of IC, namely explorative/exploitative HC, explorative/exploitative RC and explorative/exploitative organisational capital (OC).…”

Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Mechanisms

“…An overview of the papers addressing the interdependencies within ecosystems is presented in Table 1. 5 The dynamics within ecosystems are driven by feedback and non-linear co-evolution between ecosystem elements and the wider socio-economic-historical context (e.g., Bessagnet, Crespo & Vicente, 2021;Bischoff, 2019;Daniel et al, 2022;Eichelberger et al, 2020;Grande et al, 2022;Hubner et al, 2022;Marinelli et al, 2022;Yamamura & Lassalle, 2020). By extension, this means that ecosystems are unique due to their co-evolving elements and historical, cultural, and institutional heritage (Mack & Mayer, 2016) and their configuration and the resulting feedback effects can vary significantly (Spigel, 2017).…”