IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/sae/jouent/v33y2024i2p365-392.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Fuzzy Methods in Entrepreneurship Research

Author

Listed:
  • Michael Olumekor

Abstract

The use of fuzzy theory has grown across many academic disciplines, including business, management and economics. In entrepreneurship research, methods such as Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (fAHP), fuzzy Delphi, fuzzy logic and fuzzy Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory are increasingly used. The emerging nature of these methods necessitates a synthesis of extant research in this field. Therefore, this research study aims to provide a comprehensive review of the growth of fuzzy methods in entrepreneurship via a bibliometric analysis. Using Scopus as the main data source, a systematic approach for data retrieval, screening and analysis was used. The results include a temporal analysis of citations, and analyses of influence and productivity. Furthermore, using a scientific mapping approach, the main thematic clusters and emerging themes are unpacked. Dominant themes include fsQCA, entrepreneurial orientation, female entrepreneurship, sustainability, entrepreneurial intention and innovation. Emerging themes include COVID-19, sports, ecosystems and the configurational approach. This article concludes with suggestions for future research.

Suggested Citation

  • Michael Olumekor, 2024. "Fuzzy Methods in Entrepreneurship Research," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 33(2), pages 365-392, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jouent:v:33:y:2024:i:2:p:365-392
    DOI: 10.1177/09713557241255415
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09713557241255415
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1177/09713557241255415?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
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Donthu, Naveen & Kumar, Satish & Mukherjee, Debmalya & Pandey, Nitesh & Lim, Weng Marc, 2021. "How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 285-296.
    2. Del Sarto, Nicola & Isabelle, Diane A. & Di Minin, Alberto, 2020. "The role of accelerators in firm survival: An fsQCA analysis of Italian startups," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 90.
    3. Brownell, Katrina M. & McMullen, Jeffery S. & O'Boyle, Ernest H., 2021. "Fatal attraction: A systematic review and research agenda of the dark triad in entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(3).
    4. Raminta Pranckutė, 2021. "Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus: The Titans of Bibliographic Information in Today’s Academic World," Publications, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-59, March.
    5. Sascha Kraus & Janina Burtscher & Thomas Niemand & Norat Roig-Tierno & Pasi Syrjä, 2017. "Configurational Paths to Social Performance in SMEs: The Interplay of Innovation, Sustainability, Resources and Achievement Motivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-17, October.
    6. David Audretsch & Maksim Belitski & Sameeksha Desai, 2015. "Entrepreneurship and economic development in cities," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 55(1), pages 33-60, October.
    7. Jacobson, P.D. & Wasserman, J. & Wu, H.W. & Lauer, J.R., 2015. "Assessing entrepreneurship in governmental public health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105, pages 318-322.
    8. Ana Pacheco & João J. Ferreira & Jorge Simões, 2023. "The Role of Higher Education Institutions and Entrepreneurial Orientation in the Creation and Development of Academic Spinoffs," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 32(3), pages 495-524, November.
    9. Elizabeth Hoffecker & Francisco Ramos & Gordon Adomdza & Dan Frey, 2023. "Strengthening Local Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems," Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Emerging Economies, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India, vol. 32(2_suppl), pages 89-116, November.
    10. De Crescenzo, Veronica & Ribeiro-Soriano, Domingo Enrique & Covin, Jeffrey G., 2020. "Exploring the viability of equity crowdfunding as a fundraising instrument: A configurational analysis of contingency factors that lead to crowdfunding success and failure," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 348-356.
    11. Du, Yunzhou & Kim, Phillip H., 2021. "One size does not fit all: Strategy configurations, complex environments, and new venture performance in emerging economies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 272-285.
    12. Ben Spigel, 2017. "The Relational Organization of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems," Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, , vol. 41(1), pages 49-72, January.
    13. David B. Audretsch & Maksim Belitski, 2021. "Towards an entrepreneurial ecosystem typology for regional economic development: the role of creative class and entrepreneurship," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 55(4), pages 735-756, April.
    14. Scheyvens, Regina & Banks, Glenn & Meo-Sewabu, Litea & Decena, Tracy, 2017. "Indigenous entrepreneurship on customary land in the Pacific: Measuring sustainability," Journal of Management & Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 23(6), pages 774-785, November.
    15. Secinaro, Silvana & Calandra, Davide & Lanzalonga, Federico & Ferraris, Alberto, 2022. "Electric vehicles’ consumer behaviours: Mapping the field and providing a research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 150(C), pages 399-416.
    16. Vivek Kumar Singh & Prashasti Singh & Mousumi Karmakar & Jacqueline Leta & Philipp Mayr, 2021. "The journal coverage of Web of Science, Scopus and Dimensions: A comparative analysis," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 126(6), pages 5113-5142, June.
    17. Muñoz, Pablo & Kibler, Ewald, 2016. "Institutional complexity and social entrepreneurship: A fuzzy-set approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 1314-1318.
    18. Douglas, Evan J. & Shepherd, Dean A. & Prentice, Catherine, 2020. "Using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis for a finer-grained understanding of entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(1).
    19. Nowiński, Witold & Haddoud, Mohamed Yacine, 2019. "The role of inspiring role models in enhancing entrepreneurial intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 183-193.
    20. Beynon, Malcolm J. & Jones, Paul & Pickernell, David, 2019. "The role of entrepreneurship, innovation, and urbanity-diversity on growth, unemployment, and income: US state-level evidence and an fsQCA elucidation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 675-687.
    21. Fritsch, Michael & Mueller, Pamela, 2004. "The effect of new firm formation on regional development over time," Freiberg Working Papers 2004/01, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration.
    22. Deutscher, Franziska & Zapkau, Florian B. & Schwens, Christian & Baum, Matthias & Kabst, Ruediger, 2016. "Strategic orientations and performance: A configurational perspective," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 849-861.
    23. Martina K Linnenluecke & Mauricio Marrone & Abhay K Singh, 2020. "Conducting systematic literature reviews and bibliometric analyses," Australian Journal of Management, Australian School of Business, vol. 45(2), pages 175-194, May.
    24. Isabella Hatak & Manling Chang & Rainer Harms & Johan Wiklund, 2021. "ADHD symptoms, entrepreneurial passion, and entrepreneurial performance," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(4), pages 1693-1713, December.
    25. Coduras, Alicia & Clemente, José Antonio & Ruiz, Jesús, 2016. "A novel application of fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis to GEM data," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 1265-1270.
    26. Marcus Dejardin & Hélène Laurent, 2024. "Entry-regulation and corruption: grease or sand in the wheels of entrepreneurship? Fresh evidence according to entrepreneurial motives," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(3), pages 1223-1272, March.
    27. Goodell, John W. & Kumar, Satish & Lim, Weng Marc & Pattnaik, Debidutta, 2021. "Artificial intelligence and machine learning in finance: Identifying foundations, themes, and research clusters from bibliometric analysis," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Finance, Elsevier, vol. 32(C).
    28. Muñoz, Pablo & Kimmitt, Jonathan, 2019. "Social mission as competitive advantage: A configurational analysis of the strategic conditions of social entrepreneurship," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 854-861.
    29. Ragin, Charles C., 2000. "Fuzzy-Set Social Science," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226702773, June.
    30. John Haltiwanger, 2022. "Entrepreneurship in the twenty-first century," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 58(1), pages 27-40, January.
    31. Sascha Kraus & Domingo Ribeiro-Soriano & Miriam Schüssler, 2018. "Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) in entrepreneurship and innovation research – the rise of a method," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 15-33, March.
    32. Michael Fritsch & Pamela Mueller, 2004. "Effects of New Business Formation on Regional Development over Time," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 38(8), pages 961-975.
    33. Nees Jan Eck & Ludo Waltman, 2010. "Software survey: VOSviewer, a computer program for bibliometric mapping," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 84(2), pages 523-538, August.
    34. Douglas, Evan J. & Shepherd, Dean A. & Venugopal, Vidhula, 2021. "A multi-motivational general model of entrepreneurial intention," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 36(4).
    35. Ole Ellegaard & Johan A. Wallin, 2015. "The bibliometric analysis of scholarly production: How great is the impact?," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 105(3), pages 1809-1831, December.
    36. Maria J. M. Ladeira & Fernando A. F. Ferreira & João J. M. Ferreira & Wenchang Fang & Pedro F. Falcão & Álvaro A. Rosa, 2019. "Exploring the determinants of digital entrepreneurship using fuzzy cognitive maps," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(4), pages 1077-1101, December.
    37. Ragin, Charles C., 2006. "Set Relations in Social Research: Evaluating Their Consistency and Coverage," Political Analysis, Cambridge University Press, vol. 14(3), pages 291-310, July.
    38. Beynon, Malcolm J. & Jones, Paul & Pickernell, David, 2020. "Country-level entrepreneurial attitudes and activity through the years: A panel data analysis using fsQCA," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 115(C), pages 443-455.
    39. repec:ucp:bkecon:9780226702766 is not listed on IDEAS
    40. Covin, Jeffrey G. & Rigtering, J.P. Coen & Hughes, Mathew & Kraus, Sascha & Cheng, Cheng-Feng & Bouncken, Ricarda B., 2020. "Individual and team entrepreneurial orientation: Scale development and configurations for success," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 1-12.
    41. Douglas, Evan & Prentice, Catherine, 2019. "Innovation and profit motivations for social entrepreneurship: A fuzzy-set analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 69-79.
    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. Kumar, Satish & Sahoo, Saumyaranjan & Lim, Weng Marc & Kraus, Sascha & Bamel, Umesh, 2022. "Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) in business and management research: A contemporary overview," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    2. Marie Romuald Pouka Pouka & Viviane Ondoua Biwolé, 2024. "Does causal analysis improve the understanding of entrepreneurial support for SME performance?," Journal of Global Entrepreneurship Research, Springer;UNESCO Chair in Entrepreneurship, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Muñoz, Pablo & Kibler, Ewald & Mandakovic, Vesna & Amorós, José Ernesto, 2022. "Local entrepreneurial ecosystems as configural narratives: A new way of seeing and evaluating antecedents and outcomes," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(9).
    4. García-Lillo, Francisco & Seva-Larrosa, Pedro & Sánchez-García, Eduardo, 2023. "What is going on in entrepreneurship research? A bibliometric and SNA analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    5. David Bruce Audretsch & Maksim Belitski & Georg Maximilian Eichler & Erich Schwarz, 2024. "Entrepreneurial ecosystems, institutional quality, and the unexpected role of the sustainability orientation of entrepreneurs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 62(2), pages 503-522, February.
    6. He, Wei & Prentice, Catherine & Wang, Xuequn, 2024. "Symmetrical and asymmetrical approaches to brand loyalty– The case of intelligent voice assistants," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    7. Dušan Nikolić & Dragan Ivanović & Lidija Ivanović, 2024. "An open-source tool for merging data from multiple citation databases," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 129(7), pages 4573-4595, July.
    8. Sureka, Riya & Kumar, Satish & Colombage, Sisira & Abedin, Mohammad Zoynul, 2022. "Five decades of research on capital budgeting – A systematic review and future research agenda," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    9. Pérez-Fernández, Héctor & Cacciotti, Gabriella & Martín-Cruz, Natalia & Delgado-García, Juan Bautista, 2022. "Are interactions between need for achievement and social networks the driving force behind entrepreneurial Intention? A trait activation story," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 149(C), pages 65-76.
    10. Sascha Kraus & Domingo Ribeiro-Soriano & Miriam Schüssler, 2018. "Fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) in entrepreneurship and innovation research – the rise of a method," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 14(1), pages 15-33, March.
    11. Du, Yunzhou & Kim, Phillip H., 2021. "One size does not fit all: Strategy configurations, complex environments, and new venture performance in emerging economies," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 272-285.
    12. Migliavacca, Milena & Patel, Ritesh & Paltrinieri, Andrea & Goodell, John W., 2022. "Mapping impact investing: A bibliometric analysis," Journal of International Financial Markets, Institutions and Money, Elsevier, vol. 81(C).
    13. Laouiti, Rahma & Haddoud, Mohamed Yacine & Nakara, Walid Adam & Onjewu, Adah-Kole Emmanuel, 2022. "A gender-based approach to the influence of personality traits on entrepreneurial intention," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 819-829.
    14. Ifra Bashir & Ishtiaq Hussain Qureshi, 2023. "Analysing Literature on Financial Well-being: A Bibliometric Approach," Paradigm, , vol. 27(2), pages 111-135, December.
    15. André Cherubini Alves & Bruno Brandão Fischer & Nicholas S. Vonortas, 2021. "Ecosystems of entrepreneurship: configurations and critical dimensions," The Annals of Regional Science, Springer;Western Regional Science Association, vol. 67(1), pages 73-106, August.
    16. Marisol Carvajal-Camperos & Paloma Almodóvar & Ignacio Danvila-del-Valle, 2024. "Examining the conditions for signing a strategic alliance contract: a configurational approach to the biotechnology sector," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 44-68, February.
    17. Oana Daniela Lupoae & Riana Iren Radu & Mihaela-Carmen Muntean, 2022. "Capturing Entrepreneurial Opportunities in the Romanian Equine Sector: an Fs-Qca Approach," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 455-472, March.
    18. Ahmed, Shamima & Alshater, Muneer M. & Ammari, Anis El & Hammami, Helmi, 2022. "Artificial intelligence and machine learning in finance: A bibliometric review," Research in International Business and Finance, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    19. Kier, Alexander S. & McMullen, Jeffery S., 2020. "Entrepreneurial imaginativeness and new venture ideation in newly forming teams," Journal of Business Venturing, Elsevier, vol. 35(6).
    20. Juan Wu & Yaokuang Li & Daru Zhang, 2019. "Identifying women’s entrepreneurial barriers and empowering female entrepreneurship worldwide: a fuzzy-set QCA approach," International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, Springer, vol. 15(3), pages 905-928, September.

    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:sae:jouent:v:33:y:2024:i:2:p:365-392. 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: SAGE Publications (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.ediindia.org/ .

    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.