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Digital communities of inquiry: How online communities support entrepreneurial opportunity development

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  • Peter Kalum Schou
  • Gilbert Kofi Adarkwah

Abstract

In recent years, scholars have argued that entrepreneurs develop opportunities through social engagement in communities of peers. These entrepreneurial communities of peers, so-called communities of inquiry, are moving from the physical to the virtual realm as digital technologies proliferate society and entrepreneurial processes. However, little is known about how entrepreneurs partake in online communities and how this partaking may affect opportunity development. To improve knowledge on this matter, we analyzed 18,670 comments from four different entrepreneurship communities on Reddit. We find that online communities support entrepreneurial opportunity development by providing feedback, emotional support, and models that reduce uncertainty. By unpacking how online communities may support opportunity development, the paper contributes to the nascent stream on the social aspects of opportunity development and to the growing interest in digital entrepreneurship.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter Kalum Schou & Gilbert Kofi Adarkwah, 2024. "Digital communities of inquiry: How online communities support entrepreneurial opportunity development," Journal of Small Business Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 62(5), pages 2364-2395, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ujbmxx:v:62:y:2024:i:5:p:2364-2395
    DOI: 10.1080/00472778.2023.2236177
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