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Digital innovation in entrepreneurial firms: a systematic literature review

Author

Listed:
  • Alberto Michele Felicetti

    (University of Calabria)

  • Vincenzo Corvello

    (University of Messina)

  • Salvatore Ammirato

    (University of Calabria)

Abstract

Entrepreneurial firms are central actors in the process of the generation and diffusion of digital innovation which, on the other hand, provides a wide range of opportunities for entrepreneurs. Although existing research has produced several contributions on both topics, the knowledge generated in the field appears fragmented and the findings are sometimes ambiguous. The reason for this fragmentation can be traced back to the lack of reference frameworks that clarify the most used concepts, thus providing a shared language. This study aims to consolidate the state-of-art of scholarly research published over the past 20 years at the intersection of the innovation and entrepreneurship fields of study. To this aim, we carried out a systematic literature review by analyzing a set of 185 papers in order to find what are the relevant topics in the investigated research domain. This activity was performed using MySLR software. Besides a descriptive picture of the scientific activity, a map of the literature published to date that simultaneously addresses the two themes, is provided. In particular, we characterized the six relevant topics in the investigated research domain: start-ups’ collaboration networks, business-model innovation, digital platforms, digital ventures, the digital entrepreneur’s profile, and digital-innovation ecosystems. Based on these results the article proposes three main research directions for future research: multi-level analysis of Digital Innovation in Entrepreneurial Ventures; interdisciplinary approaches; development of specific theories for igital Innovation. Overall, the value of research is to provide a framework for analyzing the phenomenon of innovation in and with entrepreneurial firms that can be used as a reference model for both entrepreneurship and innovation management researchers.

Suggested Citation

  • Alberto Michele Felicetti & Vincenzo Corvello & Salvatore Ammirato, 2024. "Digital innovation in entrepreneurial firms: a systematic literature review," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 315-362, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:rvmgts:v:18:y:2024:i:2:d:10.1007_s11846-023-00638-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s11846-023-00638-9
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Digital innovation; Entrepreneurship; Digital transformation; Start-ups; Digital technology;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L26 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Entrepreneurship
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation

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