IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jtecht/v43y2018i5d10.1007_s10961-016-9551-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

On the structure of business incubators: de-coupling issues and the mis-alignment of managerial incentives

Author

Listed:
  • Ali J. Ahmad

    (University of Warwick)

  • Courtney Thornberry

    (University of Warwick)

Abstract

Business incubators are structurally complex and have resisted any major change to their internal structure, replicating throughout the world in large numbers, and delivering value through numerous models. A question, thus arises, what specific structural properties of incubators facilitate the organizational form’s replication and performance in a range of institutional contexts? In order to shed light on this question, an exploratory-inductive approach is adopted; and, utilizing the tools of organization theory, the internal environment of the business incubator is de-coded. This draws attention to attributes of the hybrid incubator-form’s internal structural properties that have not been discussed in the past, including de-coupling issues and the mis-alignment of managerial incentives with the actual role of incubating. These properties, rather than impacting incubators’ status, award incubators with ceremonial value and help their managements avoid close inspections of performance. This in turn, it is proposed, has allowed for their rapid replication in a variety of socio- cultural, economic and institutional contexts.

Suggested Citation

  • Ali J. Ahmad & Courtney Thornberry, 2018. "On the structure of business incubators: de-coupling issues and the mis-alignment of managerial incentives," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(5), pages 1190-1212, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:43:y:2018:i:5:d:10.1007_s10961-016-9551-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-016-9551-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10961-016-9551-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10961-016-9551-y?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. Sean M. Hackett & David M. Dilts, 2004. "A Systematic Review of Business Incubation Research," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 29(1), pages 55-82, January.
    2. Werner H. Hoffmann, 2007. "Strategies for managing a portfolio of alliances," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(8), pages 827-856, August.
    3. Susan Cohen, 2013. "What Do Accelerators Do? Insights from Incubators and Angels," Innovations: Technology, Governance, Globalization, MIT Press, vol. 8(3-4), pages 19-25, December.
    4. repec:dau:papers:123456789/7520 is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Bercovitz, Janet E.L. & Feldman, Maryann P., 2007. "Fishing upstream: Firm innovation strategy and university research alliances," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(7), pages 930-948, September.
    6. Phillip Phan & Donald S. Siegel & Mike Wright, 2016. "Science Parks and Incubators: Observations, Synthesis and Future Research," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Phillip H Phan & Sarfraz A Mian & Wadid Lamine (ed.), TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND BUSINESS INCUBATION Theory • Practice • Lessons Learned, chapter 9, pages 249-272, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    7. Capaldo, Antonio & Messeni Petruzzelli, Antonio, 2011. "In search of alliance-level relational capabilities: Balancing innovation value creation and appropriability in R&D alliances," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 27(3), pages 273-286, September.
    8. Svein Ulset, 2008. "The rise and fall of global network alliances," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 17(2), pages 267-300, April.
    9. Mas-Verdú, Francisco & Ribeiro-Soriano, Domingo & Roig-Tierno, Norat, 2015. "Firm survival: The role of incubators and business characteristics," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(4), pages 793-796.
    10. Yvrande-Billon, Anne & Menard, Claude, 2005. "Institutional constraints and organizational changes: the case of the British rail reform," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 56(4), pages 675-699, April.
    11. Emmanuel Raynaud & Loïc Sauvée & Egizio Valceschini, 2009. "Aligning branding strategies and governance of vertical transactions in agri-food chains," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 18(5), pages 835-868, October.
    12. Jolink, Albert & Niesten, Eva, 2012. "Recent qualitative advances on hybrid organizations: Taking stock, looking ahead," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 149-161.
    13. Clarysse, Bart & Wright, Mike & Lockett, Andy & Van de Velde, Els & Vohora, Ajay, 2005. "Spinning out new ventures: a typology of incubation strategies from European research institutions," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 20(2), pages 183-216, March.
    14. Lindile Ndabeni, 2008. "The contribution of business incubators and technology stations to small enterprise development in South Africa," Development Southern Africa, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(3), pages 259-268.
    15. Evangelia Sofouli & Nicholas Vonortas, 2007. "S&T Parks and business incubators in middle-sized countries: the case of greece," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 32(5), pages 525-544, October.
    16. Rudy Aernoudt, 2004. "Incubators: Tool for Entrepreneurship?," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 127-135, September.
    17. Zhang, Haihong & Wu, Wenqing & Zhao, Liming, 2016. "A study of knowledge supernetworks and network robustness in different business incubators," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 447(C), pages 545-560.
    18. Barretta, Antonio, 2008. "The functioning of co-opetition in the health-care sector: An explorative analysis," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(3), pages 209-220, September.
    19. Sean M. Hackett & David M. Dilts, 2004. "A Real Options-Driven Theory of Business Incubation," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 29(1), pages 41-54, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jean C. Kouam & Simplice A. Asongu & Bin J. Meh & Robert Nantchouang & Fri L. Asanga & Denis Foretia, 2024. "Duration of Support and Financial Health of Business Support Structures in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Ghana: A Micro-Econometric Analysis," Journal of African Business, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(4), pages 728-746, October.
    2. Photchanaphisut Pattanasak & Tanyanuparb Anantana & Boontarika Paphawasit & Ratapol Wudhikarn, 2022. "Critical Factors and Performance Measurement of Business Incubators: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-39, April.
    3. Casarin, Veronica, 2023. "Calculative frames, compromising metrics, and the multiple values of innovation: The case of technology incubation in the UK," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    4. Roberto Vaz & Sandrina Francisca Teixeira & João Vidal de Carvalho, 2022. "Comfortable but Not Brilliant: Exploring the Incubation Experience of Founders of Technology-Based Startups," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, November.
    5. Nathasit Gerdsri & Boonkiart Iewwongcharoen & Kittichai Rajchamaha & Nisit Manotungvorapun & Jakapong Pongthanaisawan & Watcharin Witthayaweerasak, 2021. "Capability Assessment toward Sustainable Development of Business Incubators: Framework and Experience Sharing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-20, April.
    6. Roberto Vaz & João Vidal de Carvalho & Sandrina Francisca Teixeira, 2023. "Developing a Digital Business Incubator Model to Foster Entrepreneurship, Business Growth, and Academia–Industry Connections," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-29, April.
    7. Amba Maria Erkelens & Neil Aaron Thompson & Dominic Chalmers, 2024. "The dynamic construction of an incubation context: a practice theory perspective," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 583-605, February.
    8. Brian J. Bergman & Jeffery S. McMullen, 2022. "Helping Entrepreneurs Help Themselves: A Review and Relational Research Agenda on Entrepreneurial Support Organizations," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 46(3), pages 688-728, May.
    9. Klofsten, Magnus & Lundmark, Erik & Wennberg, Karl & Bank, Megan, 2019. "Incubator specialization and size: divergent paths towards operational scale," Ratio Working Papers 326, The Ratio Institute.
    10. Tasneem Sadiq & Rob van Tulder & Karen Maas, 2022. "Building a Taxonomy of Hybridization: An Institutional Logics Perspective on Societal Impact," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-22, August.
    11. Maryam Elbahjaoui & Abdelaziz Elabjani, 2021. "Incubation Process: A Key Innovation Lever for Successful Start-Up Businesses," Post-Print hal-03520325, HAL.
    12. Amandine Maus, 2024. "Finding My Place In The Collective: How The Individual Level Contributes To The Incubator'S Legitimation Process," Post-Print hal-04649151, HAL.

    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. Jolink, Albert & Niesten, Eva, 2012. "Recent qualitative advances on hybrid organizations: Taking stock, looking ahead," Scandinavian Journal of Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 149-161.
    2. J. Piet Hausberg & Sabrina Korreck, 2020. "Business incubators and accelerators: a co-citation analysis-based, systematic literature review," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 151-176, February.
    3. Amandine Maus & Sylvie Sammut, 2018. "Business model innovation in incubators: the role played by dynamic capabilities theory," Post-Print hal-02466175, HAL.
    4. Marijn van Weele & Frank J. Rijnsoever & Chris P. Eveleens & Henk Steinz & Niels Stijn & Menno Groen, 2018. "Start-EU-up! Lessons from international incubation practices to address the challenges faced by Western European start-ups," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(5), pages 1161-1189, October.
    5. Albort-Morant, Gema & Ribeiro-Soriano, Domingo, 2016. "A bibliometric analysis of international impact of business incubators," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(5), pages 1775-1779.
    6. Mian, Sarfraz & Lamine, Wadid & Fayolle, Alain, 2016. "Technology Business Incubation: An overview of the state of knowledge," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 50, pages 1-12.
    7. Surana, Kavita & Singh, Anuraag & Sagar, Ambuj D, 2020. "Strengthening science, technology, and innovation-based incubators to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals: Lessons from India," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 157(C).
    8. Baraldi, Enrico & Ingemansson Havenvid, Malena, 2016. "Identifying new dimensions of business incubation: A multi-level analysis of Karolinska Institute's incubation system," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 50, pages 53-68.
    9. Chris P. Eveleens & Frank J. Rijnsoever & Eva M. M. I. Niesten, 2017. "How network-based incubation helps start-up performance: a systematic review against the background of management theories," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(3), pages 676-713, June.
    10. Sansone, Giuliano & Andreotti, Pietro & Colombelli, Alessandra & Landoni, Paolo, 2020. "Are social incubators different from other incubators? Evidence from Italy," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    11. Mingfeng Tang & Grace Sheila Walsh & Cuiwen Li & Angathevar Baskaran, 2021. "Exploring technology business incubators and their business incubation models: case studies from China," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 90-116, February.
    12. Christina Theodoraki & Karim Messeghem & Mark P. Rice, 2018. "A social capital approach to the development of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems: an explorative study," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 153-170, June.
    13. Catarina Roseira & Carla Ramos & Francisco Maia, 2014. "Understanding Incubator Value – A Network Approach to University Incubators," FEP Working Papers 532, Universidade do Porto, Faculdade de Economia do Porto.
    14. Good, Matthew & Knockaert, Mirjam & Soppe, Birthe & Wright, Mike, 2019. "The technology transfer ecosystem in academia. An organizational design perspective," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 82, pages 35-50.
    15. Amezcua, Alejandro & Ratinho, Tiago & Plummer, Lawrence A. & Jayamohan, Parvathi, 2020. "Organizational sponsorship and the economics of place: How regional urbanization and localization shape incubator outcomes," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(4).
    16. Angelo Cavallo & Antonio Ghezzi & Alessandra Colombelli & Gian Luca Casali, 2020. "Agglomeration dynamics of innovative start-ups in Italy beyond the industrial district era," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 239-262, March.
    17. Julie Vardhan & Madhuri Mahato, 2022. "Business Incubation Centres in Universities and Their Role in Developing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 8(1), pages 143-157, January.
    18. Pauwels, Charlotte & Clarysse, Bart & Wright, Mike & Van Hove, Jonas, 2016. "Understanding a new generation incubation model: The accelerator," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 50, pages 13-24.
    19. Ratinho, Tiago & Amezcua, Alejandro & Honig, Benson & Zeng, Zhaocheng, 2020. "Supporting entrepreneurs: A systematic review of literature and an agenda for research," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    20. Silvia Sedita & Roberto Grandinetti, 2014. "Relationships at work in a networked business incubator: the case of H-Farm," "Marco Fanno" Working Papers 0190, Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche "Marco Fanno".

    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:jtecht:v:43:y:2018:i:5:d:10.1007_s10961-016-9551-y. 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.