Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

9-2021

Abstract

The emergence of large-scale digital platforms such as Facebook, Google Play and Apple App Store around 2008 has created opportunities for independent entrepreneurs to offer their self-developed software applications (“apps”) to large groups of platform users. The development and release of tens of thousands of apps by thousands of independent developers has created dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems. This paper investigates whether and how learning by independent habitual entrepreneurs unfolds in substantively different ways in such dynamic platform-based environments. We argue that in these entrepreneurial ecosystems, the timing of learning efforts becomes essential. For Facebook app developers, we find that learning from their own prior app projects remains feasible. However, entrepreneurs have only a few months during which they can benefit from what they learned from a prior app project. This study supports the feasibility of time-contingent learning from prior app projects for increasingly prevalent dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems such as digital platforms. Implications for future research and management practice are outlined.

Keywords

Entrepreneurial ecosystems, Digital platforms, Habitual entrepreneurs, Dynamic environments, Prior project experience, Entrepreneurial learning

Discipline

Strategic Management Policy | Technology and Innovation

Research Areas

Strategy and Organisation

Publication

Journal of Business Venturing

Volume

36

Issue

5

First Page

1012

Last Page

20

ISSN

0883-9026

Identifier

10.1016/j.jbusvent.2021.106140

Publisher

Elsevier

Embargo Period

8-5-2023

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2021.106140

Download

Share

COinS