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This study aims to theoretically discuss and empirically investigate to what extent the interplay between the domains of knowledge complexity (managerial, strategic and operational) facilitates firm performance and the role of organizational resilience in this relationship.

This paper uses primary data collected from 102 European small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) in Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain and the UK during 2012–2015 and 2010–2020. This study corrects for potential data disclosure and technology adoption bias in two survey ways.

First, compared to other acumens of knowledge complexity, managerial and operational acumens contribute most the most to a firm’s performance (sales and productivity). Firm resilience positively moderates managerial skills and negatively moderates inter-organizational collaborations. Taking SMEs and their inter-organizational relationships, skills and resilience in focus, considering that they are transitive organizations whose business model is based on innovation and productivity to outcompete larger counterparts it is found that resilience and agility in SMEs are important to leverage the effect of knowledge complexity on firm performance.

One of the limitations of this study is that SMEs are expected to face more problems in achieving organizational ambidexterity with all three acumens, as they have restricted managerial expertise, less structured procedures and fewer resources than larger firms. In addition to regression analysis which is limited in answering “how” and “why” knowledge complexity is managed within and outside a firm, future research will consider a mixed-method approach of both interviews with high growth SMEs and online surveys. To unveil the role that firm resilience in SMEs and in the volatile environment, future research may focus specifically on firms that lack resources, skills and time, however, continue innovating, commercializing new knowledge and create new jobs.

One of the most important mechanisms which facilitate the managerial acumen was found to be information technology (IT) investment and management decision-making, exploitation of new information and communication technology trends and markets, innovating business models and driving change management, innovating new mobility and digital technologies, as well as use inter-disciplinary staff and knowledge to influence external stakeholders. The most relevant elements of the operational acumen of knowledge for performance in SMEs are various mechanisms and forms of inter-organizational collaboration such as collaboration on business and IT applications and infrastructure, administration and operations with data and information exchange, collaboration on data availability, accumulation and exchange.

The findings call for innovation policy to account for the need for interactions between various elements of strategic, managerial and operational acumens of knowledge complexity in SMEs. Prime support should be focused on facilitating inter-organizational collaboration and providing “soft support” in the time of agility and adversity. This paper founds that lack of budget, skills and resources would significantly affect a firm’s resilience, potentially “locking in” within an organization.

First, it emphasizes that the returns from inter-organizational collaboration as part of the operational acumen of knowledge complexity depend upon the firm’s ability to manage infrastructure, mobility and data. The relationship is negatively moderated by firm resilience, which means that the most resilient firms may focus on the exploitation of internal resources and substitute it for inter-organizational collaboration. Second, this study demonstrates that SMEs’ growth and productivity strategy should be management skills and competencies driven, rather than strategy-driven, with strategy facilitating managerial decision-making on business and IT.

This paper aims to advocate for a paradigm shift that prioritizes a human-centered approach in the pursuit of innovation during crises, urging a departure from the prevailing dominance of the technology-centric approach. The incorporation of emotional capabilities as a dynamic capability is posited as a pivotal contribution, in harmony with the tenets of Society 5.0 and imperative for establishing a robust knowledge management foundation. This research underscores the significance of the human-centered approach, portraying women as exemplars in a novel paradigm of innovation development amid crises.

This research uses the framework of knowledge management for innovation to focus on the challenges presented by complex crises, now considered the new normal. The study employs a distinct, human centric approach to explore the nexus of gender, opportunities and innovation, during crises, with an emphasis on the founders’ emotional capabilities and resources as catalysts for innovation development.

This research utilizes mixed methods; qualitative findings driven from AI analyses reveal women’s positive approach toward innovation development in adversity, showcasing the influence of their emotional resources in their innovation pursuits. The subsequent quantitative findings, derived from a sample of 464 tech-founders navigating complex crises, emphasize the role of emotional capabilities as activators of opportunity exploitation for enhancing innovation development during crises, particularly among female founders.

The potential for future research lies in exploring diverse emotional dimensions, employing various measures and methodologies. Envisioning upcoming studies that extend our findings across institutional, national and crisis contexts, emotional capabilities and skills may emerge as critical assets relevant to all entrepreneurs, transcending gender boundaries. This paper’s framework sets the stage for promising avenues at the nexus of gender and emotional capabilities in the innovation pursuits, shaping entrepreneurial performance in both challenging and stable conditions.

This research contributes significantly in several key areas. Firstly, it explores innovation development and knowledge management within Society 5.0 during a polycrisis, emphasizing the crucial role of emotional capabilities in activating opportunity exploitation. Secondly, it champions a human-centric premise in innovation, highlighting women as role models for innovation during crises and introducing pathways to tap into external resources, ultimately enriching knowledge management. Thirdly, the innovative methodological approach using Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to construct synthetic personas is groundbreaking. Finally, it advances effectuation, bricolage and dynamic capabilities frameworks, enriching their theoretical foundations and affirming their relevance for innovation development amid instability.

Aim of the present monograph is the economic analysis of the role of MNEs regarding globalisation and digital economy and in parallel there is a reference and examination of some legal aspects concerning MNEs, cyberspace and e‐commerce as the means of expression of the digital economy. The whole effort of the author is focused on the examination of various aspects of MNEs and their impact upon globalisation and vice versa and how and if we are moving towards a global digital economy.

This chapter studies how entrepreneurship research has evolved at the Latin American level. Using the database available in the Web of Science Core Collection, a period-by-period bibliometric analysis is carried out to identify possible changes in research trends over time. On the one hand, the results show that in the period 2000–2006, research focuses mainly on rural development, community development and financial resources. On the other hand, in the period 2007–2013, the research priority is related to international entrepreneurship, private capital raising and studies based on the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM). Finally, during the period between 2014 and 2020, research focused mainly on self-employment, family businesses, promotion of angel investor networks, venture capital, and female entrepreneurship. The results of this study may be of interest to academics, researchers, and policymakers to understand the evolution of this topic in recent decades and to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the region.

Purpose – The purpose of this chapter is to advance understanding of regional industry or innovation clusters and the opportunities that the cluster framework provides policymakers for delivering economic impact, clarifying economic priorities, and coordinating disparate programmatic efforts, and to articulate some basic principles for formulating cluster strategies.

Methodology/approach – As the cluster concept enters its third decade and the body of related literature reaches a new level of maturity a consensus has emerged among academics and policy thinkers on the economic benefits of clusters. In fact, clusters have emerged as major focus of economic and policy discussion just now – in what the authors dub a “cluster moment” – by dint of their demonstrated practical impact, their value in paradigm discussions, and their potential utility in policy reform. The chapter reviews the benefits of clusters and traces their ascendance – and re-emergence post-recession – among policy thinkers.

Findings – New research confirms that strong clusters tend to deliver positive benefits to workers, firms, and regions. As a paradigm, they reflect the nature of the real economy and as a matter of policymaking, clusters provide a framework for rethinking and refocusing economic policy. In pursuing cluster-based economic development strategies, policy leaders should not try to create clusters; use data to target interventions, drive design, and track performance; focus initiatives on addressing discrete gaps in performance or binding constraints on cluster growth; maximize impact by leveraging pre-existing cluster-relevant programs; align efforts vertically as well as horizontally; and let the private sector lead. All three tiers of the nation's federalist system have distinct and complementary roles to play in advancing the cluster paradigm.

Research limitations/implications (if applicable) – The paper includes no new/original data.

Practical implications (if applicable) – Given that clusters have emerged as a major focus of economics and policy, this chapter lays out a core set of general principles for pursuing cluster-based economic development strategies – and for avoiding common pitfalls – to which policymakers can adhere.

Originality/value of paper – The chapter advances cluster thinking and cluster strategies as a paradigm with the potential to accelerate regional economic growth and assist with the nation's needed restructuring and rebalancing toward a more productive post-recession economy.

This chapter critically discusses the many positive aspects that are ascribed to gazelle firms by exploring the external effects and dark sides of high firm growth. On the background of the more general debate on purpose versus profit as a firm’s mission, the chapter theoretically elaborates on the dichotomy between quantitative and qualitative growth of gazelles. This is followed by a case-based illustration and exploration as to how quantitative and qualitative growth interrelates in gazelles and what are impediments for high growth that is purpose driven. The chapter closes with a discussion of the Janus-faced nature of gazelles and how their corporate citizenship can be enhanced.

Entrepreneurs nurture their ambitions of founding tech start-ups that facilitate significant innovations despite vulnerability and considerable uncertainty by resolutely addressing multiple challenges to avert failures. The paper aims to answer how soon do tech start-ups fail, given their lifecycle comprising multiple stages of formation and what attributes hasten failure of tech start-ups over their lifecycle? These questions have not been answered adequately, particularly in the context of India's emerging economy, where an aspiring start-up ecosystem is striving to flourish at an exceptional rate.

The study addressed two specific objectives: (1) Does life expectancy vary between life-cycle stages? and (2) What attributes impact tech start-ups' failures? Primary data were gathered from 151 cofounders (101 who have experienced failure and 50 who are successful and continuing their operations) from India's 6 leading start-up hubs. The survival analysis techniques were used, including non-parametric Kaplan–Meier estimator, to study the first objective and semi-parametric Cox proportional hazard regression to explore the second objective.

The survival probability log-rank statistics ascertain that life expectancy is different across the life-cycle stages, namely emergence, stability and growth. The hazard ratios (HRs) throw light on attributes like stage, revenue, conflict with investors, number of current start-ups, cofounder experience, level of confidence (LoC) and educational qualifications as the key attributes that influence start-up life expectancy over its lifecycle.

The empirical study on tech start-ups' life expectancy has practical implications for entrepreneurs and investors besides guiding the ecosystem's policymakers. First, the study helps entrepreneurs plan for resources and be aware of their start-up journey's potential pitfalls. Second, the study helps investors to establish the engagement framework and plan their future funding strategy. Third, the study helps policymakers to design and establish progressive support mechanisms that can prevent a start-up's failure.

First and foremost, start-up life expectancy study by life-cycle stages provide detailed insights on start-ups' failures. The theoretical framework defined is replicable, scalable and distinctly measurable for studying the start-up failure phenomenon. The life expectancy of tech start-ups by life-cycle stage is a critical empirical contribution. Next, the attributes impacting start-up life expectancy are identified in the context of an emerging economy.

In recent years, entrepreneurship education has become increasingly popular to promote economic development and encourage entrepreneurship. This chapter aims to review the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education and the mode of delivery. This review will help understand the effectiveness of entrepreneurship education (entrepreneurial skills, entrepreneurial intention, enhanced entrepreneurial mindset and greater business success). It will also help understand the mode of delivery (classroom instruction, experiential learning, mentoring and coaching and online learning) Using the traditional review methodology, the chapter focusses on the outcomes of entrepreneurship education on students and their attitudes, intentions and behaviours towards entrepreneurship. The chapter also evaluates the various modes of delivery, including traditional classroom-based instruction, experiential learning and online education. The review compared the United States of America and South African points of view on entrepreneurship education to posit significant directions on how to effectuate entrepreneurship education. The chapter further reviews the sustainable development goals that are aligned with entrepreneurship. Overall, the chapter concludes that entrepreneurship education is effective in promoting entrepreneurial attitudes, intentions and behaviours, and its mode of delivery significantly influences its impact. The chapter recommends the integration of active and experiential learning methods into entrepreneurship education, and the development of innovative modes of delivery to reach a wider audience. Policymakers should also support the integration of entrepreneurship education into the formal education system to promote economic development.