Ecosystem Context Research Articles

Inside-out and outside-in: How entrepreneurial ecosystems can build legitimacy through signaling

ABSTRACT The entrepreneurial ecosystem is increasingly drawing the attention of scholars and practitioners, underscoring the importance of collective dynamics between entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial-support intermediaries in fostering entrepreneurial activity. The entrepreneurial journey is characterized by information asymmetry, with entrepreneurial actors sending signals as representations of their underlaying qualities, hoping to acquire necessary resources. Current entrepreneurship research predominantly applies signaling theory to individual and venture-level activities. However, studies that explore signaling within the broader context of entrepreneurial ecosystems are scarce. This paper aims to bridge the entrepreneurial ecosystem-signaling gap by offering insight into how emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems gain legitimacy. We analyze a nascent, privately governed entrepreneurial ecosystem located in Valencia, Spain. Employing a conceptual model based on our findings, we introduce a key boundary condition for the study of signaling in an entrepreneurship context.

Entrepreneurial Bricolage, Business Model Innovation, and Sustainable Entrepreneurial Performance of Digital Entrepreneurial Ventures: The Moderating Effect of Digital Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Empowerment

Digital entrepreneurial ventures are increasingly embracing a high-quality development trajectory that prioritizes green, low-carbon, and sustainable practices, necessitating ongoing environmental enhancements and the active assumption of social responsibilities alongside economic progress. Despite this, there is a significant disparity in the sustainable entrepreneurial performance among these ventures, highlighting the need for an in-depth exploration of the underlying factors. This study develops a theoretical framework that links entrepreneurial bricolage to business model innovation and ultimately to sustainable entrepreneurial performance, all within the context of a digital entrepreneurial ecosystem (DEE). The research focuses on 371 digital ventures operating within the DEE, examining the relationships and effects among the variables. The findings indicate that entrepreneurial bricolage has a positive impact on sustainable entrepreneurial performance. Furthermore, entrepreneurial bricolage is found to foster business model innovation, which in turn, enhances sustainable performance. The investigation demonstrates that business model innovation partially mediates in the link between entrepreneurial bricolage and the sustainable entrepreneurial performance. Additionally, the DEE’s empowering influence is shown to positively regulate the connection between entrepreneurial bricolage and business model innovation, as well as between business model innovation and sustainable entrepreneurial performance. The empowering effect of the DEE also exerts a positive moderating influence on the indirect impact of sustainable entrepreneurial performance mediated by business model innovation, stemming from entrepreneurial bricolage. This study underscores the significance of entrepreneurial bricolage and the digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, demonstrating that digital startups ought to augment their bricolage skills and leverage the ecosystem’s support to attain enduring sustainable entrepreneurial performance. The conclusions drawn from this research offer valuable insights and serve as a reference for strategies aimed at enhancing the sustainable performance of digital entrepreneurial ventures within the DEE.

Exploring AI technology and consumer behavior in retail interactions

AbstractThis research systematically reviews artificial intelligence (AI) effects in customer‐interfacing retail applications based on an ecosystem value co‐creation framework. We conduct a bibliometric and conceptual mapping analysis study, focusing on AI‐related implications for consumers' and other stakeholders' well‐being, social interaction, and societal welfare. A co‐citation network visualization of critical AI journal articles is generated, and a network visualization of AI keyword relationships and clustered topic areas is presented and discussed, along with a conceptual map of the relationships between key concepts and substantive AI themes. In an ecosystem context, the multidisciplinary‐based bibliometric and conceptual mapping findings of our analysis reflect the need to focus not only on the positive and negative effects on stakeholder well‐being, social interaction, and societal welfare but also on how effects created in one of these levels impact the value created in the other social layers. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary characteristics necessary in effectively implementing and managing AI technologies emphasize the need for collaboration among multiple organizational departments, technology partners, and other members of the business ecosystem. The findings of this research contribute to assessing both the positive and negative effects of AI and allow for its implementation in a way that is helpful to organizations, employees, consumers, and society. This study should also help managers decide which situations are best suited for using AI and which are not.

DIGITAL COMMUNICATION CHANNELS IN THE ENTERPRISE ECOSYSTEM

Digital communication channels have become a crucial factor in the modern business ecosystem of enterprises. This scientific article provides a systematic analysis of digital channels, their role, and significance within the context of the enterprise ecosystem. Based on a developed proprietary typology, the research scrutinizes diverse digital channels employed by various stakeholders to promote products and achieve their objectives. The analysis unveils the advantages and disadvantages of each channel type, emphasizing their role in ensuring effective communication within the enterprise ecosystem. The article also highlights an element of scientific novelty that can enrich the understanding of digital communication processes. The research calls for further exploration in the field of digital communication to gain a deeper understanding of its impact on enterprises and the development of contemporary business. This article represents a significant contribution to the study of digital communication issues in the context of the enterprise ecosystem.

Repeated large declines in the Barents Sea capelin population are associated with different ecosystem conditions

Abstract Although fluctuations in the biomass of small pelagic fish are strong and rapid, they are largely investigated as individual events or generalized to what is common across several species and populations. The Barents Sea capelin population, which experienced four large decreases in biomass between 1980 and 2016, can be used to compare the similarity of causes and sequence of events leading up to large biomass decline in the same population. Here, we used an age-structured state-space model to investigate the possible contributions from somatic growth, food availability, temperature, predation by Atlantic cod, herring interactions, and/or fisheries on the capelin biomass declines. We recalculated total biomass while perturbing these effects and assessed the change in total biomass. We did not find a single, common cause for the dramatic biomass declines. Although median biomass increased in several of the scenarios, a large decline in total biomass was mostly retained. Atlantic cod predation and food availability influenced adult capelin biomass. Food availability mainly impacted the first period, while the importance of Atlantic cod predation increased from the first period to the third period. Reducing larval mortality from herring interactions or temperature did not suppress the biomass declines. Recruitment failures were maintained due to a combination of process errors and uncertainty in the effect of spawning biomass, and thus fisheries, on age 0 abundance. The impact of each perturbation depended on the specific ecosystem context at the time of the biomass decline.

Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Innovative Sorbents in Restoring Enzymatic Activity of Soil Contaminated with Bisphenol A (BPA).

As part of the multifaceted strategies developed to shape the common environmental policy, considerable attention is now being paid to assessing the degree of environmental degradation in soil under xenobiotic pressure. Bisphenol A (BPA) has only been marginally investigated in this ecosystem context. Therefore, research was carried out to determine the biochemical properties of soils contaminated with BPA at two levels of contamination: 500 mg and 1000 mg BPA kg-1 d.m. of soil. Reliable biochemical indicators of soil changes, whose activity was determined in the pot experiment conducted, were used: dehydrogenases, catalase, urease, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, arylsulfatase, and β-glucosidase. Using the definition of soil health as the ability to promote plant growth, the influence of BPA on the growth and development of Zea mays, a plant used for energy production, was also tested. As well as the biomass of aerial parts and roots, the leaf greenness index (SPAD) of Zea mays was also assessed. A key aspect of the research was to identify those of the six remediating substances-molecular sieve, zeolite, sepiolite, starch, grass compost, and fermented bark-whose use could become common practice in both environmental protection and agriculture. Exposure to BPA revealed the highest sensitivity of dehydrogenases, urease, and acid phosphatase and the lowest sensitivity of alkaline phosphatase and catalase to this phenolic compound. The enzyme response generated a reduction in the biochemical fertility index (BA21) of 64% (500 mg BPA) and 70% (1000 mg BPA kg-1 d.m. of soil). The toxicity of BPA led to a drastic reduction in root biomass and consequently in the aerial parts of Zea mays. Compost and molecular sieve proved to be the most effective in mitigating the negative effect of the xenobiotic on the parameters discussed. The results obtained are the first research step in the search for further substances with bioremediation potential against both soil and plants under BPA pressure.

Security and Privacy Concerns in Implementing a Unified Health Interface (UHI) in the Indian Context

The Unified Health Interface (UHI) holds immense potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery in India by enabling seamless data exchange between patients and healthcare providers. However, its successful implementation hinges on effectively addressing critical security and privacy concerns. This paper presents a critical analysis of these concerns within the unique context of India's healthcare ecosystem. Drawing on existing research and relevant Indian regulations, the paper delves into potential security vulnerabilities like data breaches, data manipulation, and insider threats. It further explores privacy anxieties surrounding unauthorized access, data sharing for secondary uses, and the potential for surveillance and profiling. Recommendations are proposed to mitigate these risks, including strengthening the legal framework through robust data protection laws, implementing advanced technological safeguards, and fostering public awareness and healthcare professional training. By addressing these concerns proactively, India can ensure a secure and trustworthy UHI environment that empowers patients and healthcare providers while safeguarding sensitive medical information. Keywords: Unified Health Interface (UHI) , Security concerns, Privacy concerns, Healthcare data, Patient privacy, Digital health.

ORCHESTRATION IN INNOVATION ECOSYSTEMS PRE-INITIATION STAGE

The orchestrator plays a vital role during the design, mapping, and analysis of the ecosystems’ pre-initiation stages, which will be important in shaping the ecosystem guidelines later. However, there is a lack of knowledge on how these firms plan entry strategies before innovation ecosystem (IE) building. So, this study aims to investigate which orchestration practices support orchestrators in the design of ecosystems. This work transposes innovation network practices to a more complex ecosystem context. We summarised these practices into four orchestration mechanisms. We draw on orchestrating innovation networks’ theoretical perspective and depict the orchestration mechanism into practices associated with understanding how orchestrators design IE in its very early stages of formation. This study contributes to the literature on uncertainty management at the IE level by showing practices for uncertainty management as one important driver for unlocking ecosystem emergence. Second, this study advances the configurational view of IE by depicting an underlying set of practices performed by IE orchestrators and members to foresee and design the IE before its emergence, addressing the dynamics of nascent ecosystem operations. Third, this study contributes to the shaping literature by showing ways to imagine future possibilities and acting proactively to realise those possibilities inside this actionable new structure of economic relationships that requires specific management to increase the probability of success for value proposition’s (VP’s) creation and delivery to the market.

Rethinking cluster under coopetition strategy: an integrative literature review and research agenda

AbstractThis study aimed to integrate the dimensions and elements of intra-cluster coopetition, identify the emergence of a complementary theoretical perspective to cluster theory and create an integrative research agenda to support the rethinking cluster approach based on coopetition. It is an integrative Systematic Literature Review that generates insights to move the topic forward. Results showed coopetition as context, process, or outcome. The research focus was grouped into six dimensions of intra-cluster coopetition: Strategic Adjustment, Perceived Benefits, Mediated Coopetition, Social Interaction, Coopetitive Orientation, and Temporality of Coopetition. Four hundred eighty-six elements used by scholars created a second-order coding to represent the variables of coopetition in clusters. From the integrative literature overview, a theoretical framework emerges with four dimensions: Conditional factors, Policies, Market commonality, and Formal supporting structure. These dimensions act as drivers, markets, or intensifiers of the intra-cluster coopetition strategy. At the same time, the dimensions suffer the influence of external, internal, and ecosystem contexts. Our literature review builds theory to advance cluster coopetition research and complement the Porterian perspective. The framework suggests the main elements to manage clusters under the coopetition strategy. These findings rethink cluster theory and deliver the business co-evolution perspective, considering the cluster as a business ecosystem with an open system based on coopetition. Findings offer an inductive-deductive pattern system to further research that represents the evolutionary trend of the topic itself.

Nutritional Physiology of Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) Fed on Different Wheat Varieties

Within the context of agricultural ecosystems, understanding the nutritional physiology of insects and their host plant preferences is essential for optimizing pest management strategies and improving crop production. In this study, we conducted an in-depth examination of the nutritional physiology of the fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in the context of different host plants, specifically wheat varieties, in comparison to maize. Our investigation focused on key parameters, including the Relative Consumption Rate (RCR), Relative Growth Rate (RGR), and Efficiency of Conversion of Ingested food (ECI) of S. frugiperda fed on different wheat varieties including: Dilkash-20, Fakhar-E-Bhakkar-17, Subhani-21, Faisalabad-08, and Akbar-19 in comparison to maize (NK-6654). The results revealed that S. frugiperda displayed a significantly (P < 0.05) higher RCR (8.08 g/g/day), RGR (1.50 g/g/day), and ECI (25.1 %) when feeding on maize, followed by Fakhar-E-Bhakkar-17 (RCR =7.00 g/g/day, RGR =1.24 g/g/day and ECI =21.4 %) and Akbar-19 (RCR = 6.06 g/g/day, RGR = 1.04 g/g/day and ECI =19.7 %) wheat varieties after 1 week of feeding. The lowest values of all these nutritional parameters were recorded on the Dilkash-20 variety (RCR = 2.98 g/g/day, RGR = 0.38 g/g/day, and ECI = 7.94 %). These findings offer valuable insights into the nutritional interactions between S. frugiperda and the host plants, shedding light on potential implications for pest management strategies and crop patterns.

Entrepreneurial Orientation and Transformational Leadership for the Development of Innovation Capabilities

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the impact of entrepreneurial orientation (EO) through the relationship of transformational leadership (TL) for the development of dynamic capabilities (DC) for organisational innovation. Methodology/Approach: Under a qualitative method, and a single case study strategy, data were obtained from interviews with 15 senior managers and leaders of innovation activities; the document review and data triangulation method was used to analyse causality relations proposed in the theoretical framework. Findings: The empirical results confirm that the EO and TL have a positive relationship with the development of innovation capabilities. Findings indicate that risk-taking, proactiveness, assimilation, and exploitation of internal and external knowledge remain the main difficulties in improving innovation capabilities and adaptability in the technological environment. Research Limitation/implication: The present paper gathered data from a specific organisation in the field of EO. The research allowed us to better understand the incidence of EO, TL, and DC regarding the relationship between variables, and it should be considered a potential source for enhancing innovation management capabilities. Originality/Value of paper: This work is the first that integrates the concepts of EO with other related disciplines into a single case strategy, within a specific entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem context in a large automotive industry.

The Rhizosphere Functional Microbial Community: A Key Driver of Phosphorus Utilization Efficiency in Karst Forest Plants

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in transforming and making phosphorus (P) available in soil through various mechanisms. However, their specific contributions to alleviating P limitation and enhancing P utilization efficiency in plants within the context of a P-deficient karst ecosystem remains unclear. In this study, eco-stoichiometric methods were employed to evaluate the P utilization efficiency of plants grown in the surveyed karst forest located in Guizhou Province, China. Metagenomic sequencing was utilized to further explore the functional genes and microorganisms involved in soil P cycling. The N:P ratio for 18 out of the 20 surveyed plants exceeded 16, indicating widespread P limitation in karst plants. Among them, plants with high P utilization efficiencies (Nandina domestica Thunb.; Mahonia bodinieri Gagnep.; Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) Li) exhibited higher relative abundances of genes involved in soil P cycling compared to plants with low P utilization efficiencies (Tirpitzia sinensis (Hemsl.) Hallier f.; Albizia kalkora (Roxb.) Prain; Morella rubra Lour.), indicating greater potentials within their rhizosphere microbiomes for soil P transformation. The relative abundance of these functional genes had a significant and positive effect on plant P utilization efficiencies. Structural equation modeling further indicated that microbial P cycling gene abundance directly drove the increase in plant P utilization efficiencies. Specifically, genes involved in soil organic P mineralization (G6PD, suhB, phoD, ppx) and the P uptake and transform system (pstS, pstA, pstB, pstC) contributed to the enhancement of plant P utilization efficiencies. Soil microbial communities involved in P cycling were predominately attributed to Proteobacteria (45.16%–60.02%), Actinobacteria (9.45%–25.23%), and Acidobacteria (5.90%–9.85%), although their contributions varied among different plants. The rhizosphere functional microbial community can thus alleviate P limitation in karst plants, thereby enhancing plant P utilization efficiencies. This study investigated the strong synergism between karst plants and rhizosphere microorganisms and their associated underlying mechanisms from genetic and microbial perspectives.

FISHERIES ECONOMICS-A LITERATURE REVIEW

Fisheries economics refers to the study of economic activities related to the management, production, and distribution of fishery resources. It involves analysing the economic aspects of fishing, aquaculture, and the overall seafood industry. This field explores topics such as resource allocation, market dynamics, policy implications, and sustainability within the context of fisheries and aquatic ecosystems. Fisheries economics refers to the branch of economics that focuses on the economic aspects of the fishing industry. It involves the study of the production, distribution, and consumption of fish and seafood, considering factors such as market dynamics, resource management, trade, and policy implications. The goal is to understand and analyse the economic behaviour and decision-making within the fisheries sector to promote sustainable practices and efficient resource utilization. Fisheries economics is a field of study that focuses on the economic aspects of fisheries and aquaculture. It involves analysing the allocation of resources, production, distribution, and consumption of fishery-related goods and services. This discipline examines the economic behaviour of individuals, businesses, and governments within the context of fisheries management, sustainability, and the impact of policies on the fishing industry.

Development of Contextualized Learning Activity Packets in Biodiversity for Grade 10 Learners

The study aimed to develop Contextualized Learning Activity Packets (CLAPs) in teaching biodiversity. Biodiversity is a difficult subject in high school as it requires a deep understanding of ecological concepts and complex issues (Suryanda et al., 2020). There are no existing studies that used the mangrove ecosystem as a main input to teach biodiversity. The developed CLAPs would help students gain a conceptual understanding of biodiversity within the context of the mangrove ecosystem. It would also help them understand the topic better since the lesson is localized. This clap contains various activities that involve reading, solving, species identification, poster making for invasive species, drawing, teamwork, and decision-making. The two (2) least mastered competencies from the study of Santos et al. (2021) in the K-12 science curriculum guide, specifically biodiversity, served as a foundation of this lesson. Based on the results of the needs assessment, it was evident that there is a need to develop CLAPs for the participating school. The CLAPs were rated as very satisfactory with an average mean of 3.87 in terms of content, format, presentation, accuracy, and up-to-dateness information. Therefore, based on the findings and analysis, it is considered valid and acceptable supplementary material for classroom use.

Identification of research areas in fuel sales forecasting within the business ecosystem context: A review, theoretical synthesis, and extension

Aim/purpose – This paper aims to explore both fuel sales forecasting and the business ecosystem, subsequently reversing the focus to examine the business ecosystem in the context of fuel sales forecasting. Accompanying this research objective are the following research questions: 1) Does the order in which the topics of “business ecosystems” and “fuel sales forecasting” are searched affect the search results? 2) Which keywords frequently co-occur in publications related to “business ecosystems” and “fuel sales forecasting”? 3) What is the relationship between the terms “fuel sales forecasting” and “business ecosystem”? Design/methodology/approach – The study employs a hybrid review methodology, utilizing specific queries within the Scopus database to identify research themes and motifs. This hybrid form of literature review integrates the tenets of both bibliometric and structured reviews. In this study, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Re- views and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework was employed. The visual analysis was conducted using VOSviewer bibliometric software, with a focus on keywords relevant to the relationship between fuel sales forecasting and business ecosystem terms. Findings – Key findings include the identification of co-occurring keywords in fuel sales forecasting and business ecosystem theory literature. The study reveals research gaps and potential areas for future study in business ecosystems, highlighting the impact of fuel sales forecasting in various economic sectors beyond traditional ones, like forestry, agriculture, and fisheries. Utilizing a hybrid literature study research method, the paper analyses data from scientific publications in the Scopus database and employs VOSviewer software to develop bibliometric maps of keyword co-occurrences. Research implications/limitations – The research underscores the broad implications of fuel sales forecasting within a business ecosystem context and identifies areas lacking in-depth study. This study maps scientific publications, identifying the intellectual structure and cur- rent research trends. This study contributes to the understanding of fuel sales forecasting within the business ecosystem context as a part of the energy sector transition. Originality/value/contribution – This paper contributes to the field of science and practice by identifying research areas integrating fuel sales forecasting within the busi- ness ecosystem construct. It indicates future promising research avenues for researchers and industry professionals, aiming to guide ongoing research. The article addresses a significant theme that warrants scholarly attention. This study allows researchers to define the research gaps covered by published articles and indicate the directions of scientific development. Keywords: fuel sales forecasting, business ecosystems, hybrid literature review, petro- leum products. JEL Classification: Q41, L71, C83, M21, O13

Art Discourse in Modern Fine Arts in Surabaya: An Analytical Historical Research

This research aims to understand the art discourse that is the foundation for developing modern fine arts in Surabaya. Art discourse represents the fundamental ideas behind the creation of artworks, which are developed and dialectically discussed within the context of the art ecosystem in Surabaya. The research design is based on an analytical, historical research method with a sociohistorical approach. The findings reveal the existence of continuity and change in art discourse from the Aksera generation (Academy of Fine Arts Surabaya) in the 1970s to the post-Aksera generations, namely the 1980s and 1990s generations. Three bases of art discourse emerged as the core expressions of aesthetics in modern fine arts in Surabaya during the 1970s to 1990s: 1. The discourse of nationalism (identity) underlies the art discourse of the Aksera generation; 2. The discourse of the market (commodification of art) becomes the main concern of the 1980s generation; 3. The social-political discourse serves as the platform for the art discourse of the 1990s generation. These three discourses demonstrate similarities and differences within the context of art discourse that evolved in modern fine arts in Indonesia.

AGING IN THE RIGHT PLACE: HOUSING AND SOCIAL SUPPORTS FOR OLDER ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS

Abstract The Aging in the Right Place (AIRP) framework recognizes that secure housing for older adults should support one’s unique vulnerabilities and lifestyles. Applying the AIRP framework to older people experiencing homelessness (OPEH) reveals limited access to the types of living environments and supportive services that promote dignity, health, and inclusion in later life. This symposium aims to use the AIRP framework to examine the places, meanings, and opportunities experienced by diverse groups of OPEH striving to secure housing and promote their well-being. The first paper uses photovoice interviews and thematic analysis to broaden the current conceptualization of AIRP by exploring how feelings, actions, and place inform the meaning of AIRP for older adult residents of one temporary housing program in Vancouver, CA. The second examines the housing and support needs of older adult veterans in Calgary, CA residing in temporary congregate housing through a multi-methods approach involving document reviews, environmental audits, and in-depth interviews. The third paper uses interviews with OPEH and service providers in Columbus, OH to look across the continuum of housing occupied by older adults before, during, and after an episode of late-life homelessness and to investigate the mechanisms that allow OPEH to identify and access the housing they consider optimal. Finally, the discussion positions AIRP for OPEH within the broad context of Age-Friendly ecosystems to highlight the role of coordination between housing providers, government leaders, health services, university researchers, and residents to ensure that AIRP is achievable for precariously housed older persons.

Do knowledge and personality traits influence women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce venture? Testing on the multiple mediation model

PurposeWomen’s involvement in business is growing and positively impacting the national economy, especially in developing countries. Women entrepreneurs’ success has shown women’s abilities to empower and support national policies and agendas. Efforts and tenacity in a consecutive e-commerce business require innumerable tactics since the business ecosystem has become more challenging and complex. Therefore, this study aims to identify the multiple mediation influence of the need for achievement and locus of control towards the relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures. The theory of planned behaviour provides excellent opportunities for understanding and envisaging entrepreneurial actions. The study pre-supposes that the interaction of these variables ultimately defines women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures.Design/methodology/approachThis study used a cross-sectional design, and the survey data were collected from 259 valid women entrepreneurs. The study population covers the Klang Valley area, composed of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia. The instrument used in this study was adapted from previous studies. Structural equation modelling was used to establish the measurement model and examine the direct and causal path models.FindingsFirstly, results show a positive relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures. Secondly, the results show that the need for achievement and locus of control plays an intermediate role in the relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures.Research limitations/implicationsThere are some limitations to this study. Firstly, the main limitation is that it is impossible to generalise the study’s findings since it only examines the sample in the Klang Valley area. Therefore, it would be better for future research to conduct similar studies in other areas. Next, the data were collected cross-sectional, and considering the changes in time that might influence human behaviour, future studies might consider a longitudinal research technique. Thirdly, this study model is limited; hence, future studies can advance and develop the current research model by including more variables, such as moderating and mediating variables.Practical implicationsEducation is one of the driving factors that help increase entrepreneurs’ knowledge and skills. Lifelong learning programs must be implemented for women entrepreneurs to increase their knowledge. The relevant parties, including the government, entrepreneurial bodies, training institutions and universities, must provide and develop a more affordable, flexible and inclusive short-course training program and activities for women entrepreneurs.Originality/valueEmpirical studies have proposed reconsidering the effect of entrepreneurial personalities for a better understanding of entrepreneurship engagement. These unique characteristics could act as an enabler for a capable entrepreneur. Many studies have examined the direct relationship between predictor and intention or between predictor and behaviour. Nevertheless, only a few studies have identified the influence of mediating variables in the theory-based framework. By adding the role of personality traits (i.e. need for achievement and locus of control), this study delivers fascinating insights into the current entrepreneurship research and literature. This study also makes a meaningful contribution to entrepreneurship literature, especially in Malaysia’s context of entrepreneurship ecosystems, considering there are still few studies on women entrepreneurship. This study also provides exposure and explanation of the function of the need for achievement and locus of control as the mediators for the relationship between entrepreneurial knowledge and women entrepreneurs’ e-commerce ventures.

Representations of Entrepreneurship in Local Media: A Comparative Analysis

Entrepreneurial culture is a key element of the success of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Previous studies have shown that regional levels of entrepreneurial activity tend to remain persistent over long periods of time and that cultural attitudes in favour of entrepreneurship and rooted in the history of the region can influence innovation activity and new business formation today. Prior research has studied the entrepreneurial culture investigating individuals’ perceptions, attitudes, values, and entrepreneurial personality fit. However, such approaches fail to address the importance of social representations of entrepreneurship as a part of entrepreneurial culture. The aim of this study is to increase understanding about the local entrepreneurial culture within entrepreneurial ecosystems by analysing local media representations of entrepreneurship as indications of local entrepreneurial cultures in the entrepreneurial ecosystem context. The research was carried out as a comparative study of two Finnish regions: Päijät-Häme and South Karelia. The primary research data consists of 120 newspaper articles from regional daily newspapers. The results suggest that in the studied regions local media particularly helps transmit entrepreneurial success stories as an ecosystem service. Also, narratives of entrepreneurial ambition, innovativeness and risk acceptance were transmitted to the local audiences. Some regional differences were also detected, which might reflect the different historical backgrounds and regional levels of entrepreneurial activity. This paper presents the preliminary results of the study which are of value for both ecosystem actors and policymakers designing initiatives to strengthen the local entrepreneurial culture and public discourse promoting entrepreneurship.

Plant mycorrhizal associations mediate the zoogeochemical effects of calving subsidies by a forest ungulate.

Animals interact with and impact ecosystem biogeochemical cycling-processes known as zoogeochemistry. While the deposition of various animal materials (e.g. carcasses and faeces) has been shown to create nutrient hotspots and alter nutrient cycling and storage, the inputs from parturition (i.e. calving) have yet to be explored. We examine the effects of ungulate parturition, which often occurs synchronously during spring green-up and therefore aligns with increased plant nitrogen demand in temperate biomes. Impacts of zoogeochemical inputs are likely context-dependent, where differences in material quality, quantity and the system of deposition modulate their impacts. Plant mycorrhizal associations, especially, create different nutrient-availability contexts, which can modify the effects of nutrient inputs. We, therefore, hypothesize that mycorrhizal associations modulate the consequences of parturition on soil nutrient dynamics and nitrogen pools. We established experimental plots that explore the potential of two kinds of zoogeochemical inputs deposited at ungulate parturition (placenta and natal fluid) in forest microsites dominated by either ericoid mycorrhizal (ErM) or ectomycorrhizal (EcM) plants. We assess how these inputs affect rates of nutrient cycling and nitrogen content in various ecosystem pools, using isotope tracers to track the fate of nitrogen inputs into plant and soil pools. Parturition treatments accelerate nutrient cycling processes and increase nitrogen contents in the plant leaf, stem and fine root pools. The ecosystem context strongly modulates these effects. Microsites dominated by ErM plants mute parturition treatment impacts on most nutrient cycling processes and plant pools. Both plant-fungal associations are, however, equally efficient at retaining nitrogen, although retention of nitrogen in the parturition treatment plots was more than two times lower than in control plots. Our results highlight the potential importance of previously unexamined nitrogen inputs from animal inputs, such as those from parturition, in contributing to fine-scale heterogeneity in nutrient cycling and availability. Animal inputs should therefore be considered, along with their interactions with plant mycorrhizal associations, in terms of how zoogeochemical dynamics collectively affect nutrient heterogeneity in ecosystems.