IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jinten/v22y2024i3d10.1007_s10843-025-00385-w.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Challenges of smaller entrepreneurial enterprises aiming to generate higher values by adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and competing in the rapidly evolving AI industry

Author

Listed:
  • Hamid Etemad

    (McGill University)

Abstract

The rapid introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) by highly capable firms has changed the nature of global competition and the rapidly evolving ecosystem, which have made it harder for small and medium-sized international enterprises (iSMEs) to enter the AI industry and compete globally. This article examines the journey of an entrepreneurial firm’s challenges in gaining higher global competitiveness by augmenting its current conventional strategic capabilities by adding AI to its existing capabilities. The focal case study also demonstrates that adopting AI capabilities (and expertise) needs pre-training to support its AI capabilities to predict focal artifacts or phenomena, to generate potent strategic solutions to resolve the challenges facing its clients, or to exploit potential opportunities. This research is based on an in-depth longitudinal case study of a firm attempting to add AI capabilities to gain higher global competitiveness for higher growth internationally. Initially, it attempted to identify the potential causes of defects in airplanes causing partial or total failure. Due to operational difficulties, it re-focused on two other opportunities, before achieving success in identifying the actual beginning and potential causes of pre-mature roof failures in high-rise commercial buildings in highly damaging and harsh environmental conditions that made repairing or replacing damaged roofs costly, dangerous, and time-consuming. However, it took the firm relatively long experiential learning to succeed in fine-tuning its technologies through pre-training of its AI capabilities to generate reliable results for saving costs, damages, discomforts, and time and generating higher values. The comparative and longitudinal analysis of the focal firm in this article points to the management of other successful firms in the AI industry posing to potent adverse forces, and insurmountable challenges for smaller entrepreneurial firms aspiring to succeed in gaining more competitiveness in the global AI industry unless they start prudently early on and upgrade their capabilities continually to remain competitive. The cautionary conclusion of this article provides both instructive and precautionary lessons for aspiring iSMEs in analyzing potentially difficult challenges before entering and committing to actively compete in the rapidly evolving AI industry, although AI-based generative recommendation can provide transformative solutions for resolving difficult challenges.

Suggested Citation

  • Hamid Etemad, 2024. "Challenges of smaller entrepreneurial enterprises aiming to generate higher values by adopting artificial intelligence (AI) and competing in the rapidly evolving AI industry," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 269-287, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jinten:v:22:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10843-025-00385-w
    DOI: 10.1007/s10843-025-00385-w
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10843-025-00385-w
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10843-025-00385-w?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Danny Miller & Peter H. Friesen, 1982. "Innovation in conservative and entrepreneurial firms: Two models of strategic momentum," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 3(1), pages 1-25, January.
    2. Ajay Agrawal & Joshua S. Gans & Scott Stern, 2021. "Enabling Entrepreneurial Choice," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 67(9), pages 5510-5524, September.
    3. Lupp, Daniel, 2023. "Effectuation, causation, and machine learning in co-creating entrepreneurial opportunities," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 19(C).
    4. Saras Sarasvathy & Nicholas Dew, 2005. "New market creation through transformation," Journal of Evolutionary Economics, Springer, vol. 15(5), pages 533-565, November.
    5. Lumpkin, G. T. & Dess, Gregory G., 2001. "Linking two dimensions of entrepreneurial orientation to firm performance: The moderating role of environment and industry life cycle," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 16(5), pages 429-451, September.
    6. Daron Acemoglu & Pascual Restrepo, 2018. "The Race between Man and Machine: Implications of Technology for Growth, Factor Shares, and Employment," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 108(6), pages 1488-1542, June.
    7. Bessen, James & Impink, Stephen Michael & Reichensperger, Lydia & Seamans, Robert, 2022. "The role of data for AI startup growth," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(5).
    8. Hamid Etemad, 2020. "Managing uncertain consequences of a global crisis: SMEs encountering adversities, losses, and new opportunities," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 125-144, June.
    9. Scott Shane, 2000. "Prior Knowledge and the Discovery of Entrepreneurial Opportunities," Organization Science, INFORMS, vol. 11(4), pages 448-469, August.
    10. Wiklund, Johan & Shepherd, Dean, 2005. "Entrepreneurial orientation and small business performance: a configurational approach," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 20(1), pages 71-91, January.
    11. Jeffrey G. Covin & Dennis P. Slevin, 1991. "A Conceptual Model of Entrepreneurship as Firm Behavior," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 16(1), pages 7-26, October.
    12. Choonwoo Lee & Kyungmook Lee & Johannes M. Pennings, 2001. "Internal capabilities, external networks, and performance: a study on technology‐based ventures," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(6‐7), pages 615-640, June.
    13. Danny Miller & Peter H. Friesen, 1978. "Archetypes of Strategy Formulation," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 24(9), pages 921-933, May.
    14. Danny Miller & Jean-Marie Toulouse, 1986. "Chief Executive Personality and Corporate Strategy and Structure in Small Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 32(11), pages 1389-1409, November.
    15. Hamid Etemad, 2018. "Early strategic heritage: The carryover effect on entrepreneurial firm’s life cycle," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 16(4), pages 441-455, December.
    16. Brown, Terrence E., 2017. "Sensor-based entrepreneurship: A framework for developing new products and services," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 60(6), pages 819-830.
    17. Danny Miller, 1983. "The Correlates of Entrepreneurship in Three Types of Firms," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 29(7), pages 770-791, July.
    18. Johan Wiklund & DEAN Shepherd, 2003. "Knowledge‐based resources, entrepreneurial orientation, and the performance of small and medium‐sized businesses," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 24(13), pages 1307-1314, December.
    19. Martin Obschonka & David B. Audretsch, 2020. "Artificial intelligence and big data in entrepreneurship: a new era has begun," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 55(3), pages 529-539, October.
    20. Jeffrey G. Covin & Dennis P. Slevin, 1989. "Strategic management of small firms in hostile and benign environments," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 10(1), pages 75-87, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Hamid Etemad, 2024. "Transformative potentials of generative artificial intelligence: Should international entrepreneurial enterprises adopt GEN.AI?," Journal of International Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 22(2), pages 141-163, June.
    2. Andreas Rauch & Johan Wiklund & G.T. Lumpkin & Michael Frese, 2009. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance: An Assessment of past Research and Suggestions for the Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 33(3), pages 761-787, May.
    3. Erik Lundmark & Anna Krzeminska & Dean A. Shepherd, 2019. "Images of Entrepreneurship: Exploring Root Metaphors and Expanding Upon Them," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 43(1), pages 138-170, January.
    4. Wales, William J. & Kraus, Sascha & Filser, Matthias & Stöckmann, Christoph & Covin, Jeffrey G., 2021. "The status quo of research on entrepreneurial orientation: Conversational landmarks and theoretical scaffolding," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 564-577.
    5. Bradley A. George & Louis Marino, 2011. "The Epistemology of Entrepreneurial Orientation: Conceptual Formation, Modeling, and Operationalization," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 989-1024, September.
    6. Lavlu Mozumdar & Valentina C. Materia & Geoffrey Hagelaar & Mohammad Amirul Islam & Gerben van der Velde & S. W. F. (Onno) Omta, 2022. "Contextuality of Entrepreneurial Orientation and Business Performance: The Case of Women Entrepreneurs in Bangladesh," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 8(1), pages 94-120, January.
    7. Danny Miller, 2011. "Miller (1983) Revisited: A Reflection on EO Research and Some Suggestions for the Future," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 873-894, September.
    8. William Wales & Erik Monsen & Alexander McKelvie, 2011. "The Organizational Pervasiveness of Entrepreneurial Orientation," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 895-923, September.
    9. Nida Nazar & Sara Ravan Ramzani & Temoor Anjum & Imran Ahmed Shahzad, 2018. "Impact of Entrepreneurial Orientation of Bank Performance in Pakistan," Business Management and Strategy, Macrothink Institute, vol. 9(1), pages 290-309, December.
    10. Jintong Tang & Zhi Tang & Birton J. Cowden, 2017. "Exploring the Relationship between Entrepreneurial Orientation, CEO Dual Values, and SME Performance in State–Owned vs. Nonstate–Owned Enterprises in China," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(6), pages 883-908, November.
    11. D’Angelo, Alfredo & Presutti, Manuela, 2019. "SMEs international growth: The moderating role of experience on entrepreneurial and learning orientations," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 613-624.
    12. Gabriel Linton, 2019. "Innovativeness, risk-taking, and proactiveness in startups: a case study and conceptual development," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 9(1), pages 1-21, December.
    13. Rodney C. Runyan & Baoshan Ge & Baobao Dong & Jane L. Swinney, 2012. "Entrepreneurial Orientation in Cross–Cultural Research: Assessing Measurement Invariance in the Construct," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 36(4), pages 819-836, July.
    14. Michael H. Morris & Justin W. Webb & Rebecca J. Franklin, 2011. "Understanding the Manifestation of Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Nonprofit Context," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 947-971, September.
    15. Kohtamäki, Marko & Heimonen, Jesse & Sjödin, David & Heikkilä, Vili, 2020. "Strategic agility in innovation: Unpacking the interaction between entrepreneurial orientation and absorptive capacity by using practice theory," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 12-25.
    16. Milovanović Bojan Morić & Bubaš Zoran & Mikić Mihaela, 2021. "Entrepreneurial Orientation, Strategic Networking, and Croatian SMEs Performance: A Configurational Approach," Business Systems Research, Sciendo, vol. 12(2), pages 236-252, December.
    17. Antonio Rodríguez-Peña, 2021. "Assessing the impact of corporate entrepreneurship in the financial performance of subsidiaries of Colombian business groups: under environmental dynamism moderation," Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Springer, vol. 10(1), pages 1-27, December.
    18. Patrick M. Kreiser, 2011. "Entrepreneurial Orientation and Organizational Learning: The Impact of Network Range and Network Closure," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 35(5), pages 1025-1050, September.
    19. Saadat Saeed & Shumaila Y. Yousafzai & Andreas Engelen, 2014. "On Cultural and Macroeconomic Contingencies of the Entrepreneurial Orientation–Performance Relationship," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 38(2), pages 255-290, March.
    20. Johan Wiklund & Holger Patzelt & Dean Shepherd, 2009. "Building an integrative model of small business growth," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 32(4), pages 351-374, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jinten:v:22:y:2024:i:3:d:10.1007_s10843-025-00385-w. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.