Resource configurations among digital academic spin-offs: finding the technology-market fit
International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research
ISSN: 1355-2554
Article publication date: 24 October 2023
Issue publication date: 11 March 2024
Abstract
Purpose
Managing resources is crucial for firms to gain competitive advantages and succeed, particularly for startups with limited resources. It is important to understand how digital startups in general and digital academic spin-offs (ASOs) in particular may orchestrate their resources to optimize value. This paper integrates the resource-based perspective with digital entrepreneurship to analyze the resource configurations leading to success of digital ASOs.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts an inductive approach and applies qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) on a longitudinal dataset of digital ASOs to identify the resource configurations for a successful outcome.
Findings
The authors' paper identifies two main paths to success among digital ASOs, consisting of five distinct resource configurations. The first path is termed “market exploiters” that operate in favorable market conditions where specific technological resources and research collaboration resources are lacking. The second path involves “technology explorers” that combines both technological and commercial resources to achieve success.
Research limitations/implications
By outlining distinct pathways to the success of digital ASOs, this paper contributes to the digital academic entrepreneurship literature and the resource-based view of entrepreneurial firms. The paper also suggests implications for policymakers and managers in managing resources for the success of digital ventures.
Originality/value
By exploring the resource configurations leading to the success of ASOs commercializing digital technologies, the paper shows that favorable market conditions and complementary resource configurations can be alternative pathways to success.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for Prof. Christopher Hayter, Arizona State University for providing us with insightful and valuable comments for this paper's development.
Since acceptance of this article, the following author(s) have updated their affiliations: Phuc Huynh Evertsen is at SINTEF.
Citation
Evertsen, P.H. and Rasmussen, E. (2024), "Resource configurations among digital academic spin-offs: finding the technology-market fit", International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, Vol. 30 No. 2/3, pp. 520-547. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-10-2022-0937
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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