The influence of IT and knowledge capabilities on the survival of university IT startups

Authors: Divinus Oppong-Tawiah, Yolande E. Chan

Publication: International Journal of Technoentrepreneurship

Abstract: 

Despite continuing interest in the role of university incubators in fostering IT entrepreneurship, empirical evidence on the link between incubation and IT startup survival has been mixed. This paper offers a fresh, unifying perspective by examining how university startups' IT-enabled agility relates to their survival. We use the resource-based view, dynamic capabilities and new product development (NPD) literatures to create a conceptual framework of the impact of startup firms' knowledge assets, technology capabilities, agility and innovation on their survival. Our framework suggests that startups' survival rates increase when they use dynamic IT knowledge capabilities to pursue innovations with emerging technology capabilities in rapidly evolving IT markets. Implications for university incubator research, policy and management are discussed.

Read full abstract: International Journal of Technoentrepreneurship