An evaluation of group concept mapping as an integrative method to identify and analyze an entrepreneurial ecosystem
This paper presents an evaluation of the group concept mapping technique as an integrative method, in the study of an entrepreneurial ecosystem where microenterprises and business support providers are considering actions to be taken to energize and densify the entrepreneurial activity within a region. Group concept mapping is a bottom up and participatory mixed method (qualitative and quantitative). It makes use of group discussions and multivariate statistical techniques (multidimensional scaling, hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis). Participants, managers-entrepreneurs (n = 25) and members of business support groups (n = 12) sorted and rated a set of 82 action statements for importance and feasibility. The concept map obtained is a shared conceptual framework, that is, a systemic representation of complex interrelationships and interdependencies amongst intervention domains of the entrepreneurial ecosystem examined. The use of this approach allows for a number of observations, on three fronts, about its relevance in the study of an entrepreneurial ecosystem. Conceptual front, the results show their adequacy with the entrepreneurial ecosystem concepts, hence the possibility of empirical semi-regularities for results generalization. On the theoretical front, the latent constructs obtained from the concept mapping results help deepen our understanding about endogenous variables and exogenous factors related to entrepreneurial actions. The evaluation of the group concept mapping method contributes a number of managerial implications, as it provides measures of the perceived importance and feasibility of proposed actions. The results of this evaluation foster a better understanding of the major themes of actions entrepreneurs, within their microenterprises, and business support providers may put into place to support entrepreneurial development.