Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121Hermeneutical Praxeology & Human Action AnalysisHermeneutical Praxeology & Human Action Analysis1219599810.22059/jed.2024.364827.654265FAAliRostamianDepartment of Economic and Business Governance, Faculty of Governance, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranMahmoudMotevaseliDepartment of Economics, Faculty of Economics, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranJournal Article20240105<strong>Objective:</strong> This article seeks to explore the conceptual framework of praxeology through a hermeneutical perspective and evaluate its explanatory adequacy in analyzing entrepreneurial action. To this end, it begins by delving into the philosophical foundations of the cognitive principles underlying praxeology, contrasting the interpretive approaches adopted by later Austrian economists with the more rigid absolutism of Ludwig von Mises’s version of praxeology. It then emphasizes the role of hermeneutical apriorism, examining its significance in distinguishing Austrian economic thought from neoclassical economic theory. Through this exploration, the article introduces key problematics that contribute to reconceptualizing the cognitive aspects of praxeology. Praxeology, historically described as the study of the logic of human action, has been a central pillar in the epistemology of Austrian economics. This principle was initially articulated by Ludwig von Mises, one of the Austrian School’s leading figures. Mises positioned praxeology as the cornerstone of theorization in the social sciences, particularly in economics. He developed his interpretation of economic theory on the basis of praxeology’s cognitive implications, arguing that it provides the foundational epistemological principles for understanding human action. In Mises's view, praxeology functions as a framework of a priori reasoning, grounded in self-evident premises and categories such as causality and purposefulness. It establishes an epistemological domain that is universal and ahistorical, detached from the relativities and uncertainties of specific contexts and historical conditions. This logical foundation serves as a definitive, pre-empirical theoretical base. Historical analysis and evidence-based statistical methods, therefore, must be embedded within this framework to derive meaningful conclusions. By maintaining a reliance on absolute principles, Mises sought to ensure that praxeology could offer a stable and universally applicable theoretical foundation for the social sciences. Over the course of its intellectual development, however, the Austrian School of Economics has progressively moved away from the overt and covert dogmatism inherent in this Kantian-inspired interpretation of praxeology. Subsequent thinkers in the school have adopted a more nuanced and flexible epistemological stance, incorporating interpretive elements that align the construction of meaning in human action with the contextual and situational realities in which actions occur. This shift reflects the influence of hermeneutical methodologies often employed in the broader social sciences, where meaning is understood as inherently tied to specific historical and cultural contexts. Within this evolving perspective, praxeology is no longer viewed merely as a static and universally valid set of principles but as a dynamic framework that accommodates the complexities and contingencies of human behavior. This interpretive turn enhances its applicability to the analysis of entrepreneurial action, where decisions and behaviors are profoundly influenced by situational factors and the subjective interpretations of the individuals involved. By integrating these hermeneutical insights, praxeology transitions from an absolute epistemological framework to one that is more adaptable and reflective of the fluid nature of human action in real-world contexts. Ultimately, this article argues that the hermeneutical reinterpretation of praxeology not only resolves some of the epistemological challenges associated with Mises’s absolutist approach but also broadens the theoretical scope of Austrian economics. By embedding contextual relevance and interpretive flexibility into its framework, praxeology becomes a more robust and comprehensive tool for analyzing entrepreneurial dynamics and, by extension, the broader mechanisms of economic and social processes.
<strong>Method:</strong> The methodological foundation of this study is rooted in hermeneutical analysis, focusing on the historical evolution and varying interpretations of Misesian praxeology. By exploring primary writings that articulate the core theories underpinning heterodox conceptions of entrepreneurial action, the study delves into both the original framework and its subsequent critiques. Specifically, it addresses the concerns raised by Friedrich Hayek regarding the tautological and absolutist tendencies inherent in Mises’s formulation of praxeology. Hayek’s critiques provide a basis for questioning the rigid epistemological stance of the Misesian approach, opening the door for more nuanced interpretations. Building on this critique, the study draws attention to the exploratory contributions of Ludwig Lachmann and George Shackle. These thinkers emphasized the critical dimensions of time, uncertainty, and the embeddedness of human action within specific social, cultural, and economic contexts. Lachmann and Shackle’s perspectives highlight the limitations of static, universalist models by underscoring the dynamic and contingent nature of entrepreneurial behavior. Their work shifts the focus toward understanding how individuals navigate uncertainty and adapt to the constantly evolving conditions of their environments. Through this hermeneutical lens, the study seeks to bridge the absolutist framework of classical praxeology with a more interpretive and context-sensitive understanding of entrepreneurial action. By integrating the insights of later Austrian economists and critics, the analysis reframes praxeology as a tool capable of addressing the complexities and unpredictabilities of human behavior in the real world. This methodological approach not only enriches the theoretical discourse but also offers a more comprehensive foundation for examining the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship.
<strong>Results:</strong> It is shown that incorporating hermeneutical elements into the analysis of entrepreneurial action, while rejecting simplistic apriorism, achieves two critical objectives. First, it facilitates the introduction of features that highlight the creative dynamics of the human mind within the teleology of action. This integration emphasizes the role of imagination, innovation, and subjective interpretation in shaping purposeful behavior, moving beyond rigid, predetermined frameworks. Second, it situates the social embeddedness of action firmly within the domain of praxeology. By acknowledging the contextual and relational dimensions of human behavior, this approach recognizes that actions are not merely the result of individual decision-making but are also deeply influenced by social, cultural, and institutional contexts. This dual focus enriches praxeology, transforming it into a more comprehensive framework capable of addressing both the internal cognitive processes of the actor and the external structures that shape and constrain action. Together, these advancements mark a significant shift in the understanding of entrepreneurial behavior, grounding it in both the dynamic creativity of the individual and the interconnectedness of social reality.
<strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study argues that hermeneutical praxeology, with its emphasis on the dynamic nature of entrepreneurial action and decision-making, serves as an effective descriptive-explanatory framework for understanding entrepreneurship, which inherently involves uncertainty and ambiguity. By focusing on the evolving, context-dependent aspects of human action, hermeneutical praxeology offers a robust methodology for integrating new cognitive insights into the analysis of entrepreneurial behavior. In this study, the hermeneutical and contextual perspective is contrasted with the original absolutist stance of Misesian praxeology. This comparison not only underscores the epistemological strengths of the hermeneutical approach—its ability to accommodate complexity and subjectivity—but also highlights its theoretical significance in analyzing creative, innovative actions. By shifting the focus from rigid a priori principles to a more flexible, interpretive framework, hermeneutical praxeology demonstrates its relevance in capturing the nuances of entrepreneurial thought and action.
<strong>Objective:</strong> This article seeks to explore the conceptual framework of praxeology through a hermeneutical perspective and evaluate its explanatory adequacy in analyzing entrepreneurial action. To this end, it begins by delving into the philosophical foundations of the cognitive principles underlying praxeology, contrasting the interpretive approaches adopted by later Austrian economists with the more rigid absolutism of Ludwig von Mises’s version of praxeology. It then emphasizes the role of hermeneutical apriorism, examining its significance in distinguishing Austrian economic thought from neoclassical economic theory. Through this exploration, the article introduces key problematics that contribute to reconceptualizing the cognitive aspects of praxeology. Praxeology, historically described as the study of the logic of human action, has been a central pillar in the epistemology of Austrian economics. This principle was initially articulated by Ludwig von Mises, one of the Austrian School’s leading figures. Mises positioned praxeology as the cornerstone of theorization in the social sciences, particularly in economics. He developed his interpretation of economic theory on the basis of praxeology’s cognitive implications, arguing that it provides the foundational epistemological principles for understanding human action. In Mises's view, praxeology functions as a framework of a priori reasoning, grounded in self-evident premises and categories such as causality and purposefulness. It establishes an epistemological domain that is universal and ahistorical, detached from the relativities and uncertainties of specific contexts and historical conditions. This logical foundation serves as a definitive, pre-empirical theoretical base. Historical analysis and evidence-based statistical methods, therefore, must be embedded within this framework to derive meaningful conclusions. By maintaining a reliance on absolute principles, Mises sought to ensure that praxeology could offer a stable and universally applicable theoretical foundation for the social sciences. Over the course of its intellectual development, however, the Austrian School of Economics has progressively moved away from the overt and covert dogmatism inherent in this Kantian-inspired interpretation of praxeology. Subsequent thinkers in the school have adopted a more nuanced and flexible epistemological stance, incorporating interpretive elements that align the construction of meaning in human action with the contextual and situational realities in which actions occur. This shift reflects the influence of hermeneutical methodologies often employed in the broader social sciences, where meaning is understood as inherently tied to specific historical and cultural contexts. Within this evolving perspective, praxeology is no longer viewed merely as a static and universally valid set of principles but as a dynamic framework that accommodates the complexities and contingencies of human behavior. This interpretive turn enhances its applicability to the analysis of entrepreneurial action, where decisions and behaviors are profoundly influenced by situational factors and the subjective interpretations of the individuals involved. By integrating these hermeneutical insights, praxeology transitions from an absolute epistemological framework to one that is more adaptable and reflective of the fluid nature of human action in real-world contexts. Ultimately, this article argues that the hermeneutical reinterpretation of praxeology not only resolves some of the epistemological challenges associated with Mises’s absolutist approach but also broadens the theoretical scope of Austrian economics. By embedding contextual relevance and interpretive flexibility into its framework, praxeology becomes a more robust and comprehensive tool for analyzing entrepreneurial dynamics and, by extension, the broader mechanisms of economic and social processes.
<strong>Method:</strong> The methodological foundation of this study is rooted in hermeneutical analysis, focusing on the historical evolution and varying interpretations of Misesian praxeology. By exploring primary writings that articulate the core theories underpinning heterodox conceptions of entrepreneurial action, the study delves into both the original framework and its subsequent critiques. Specifically, it addresses the concerns raised by Friedrich Hayek regarding the tautological and absolutist tendencies inherent in Mises’s formulation of praxeology. Hayek’s critiques provide a basis for questioning the rigid epistemological stance of the Misesian approach, opening the door for more nuanced interpretations. Building on this critique, the study draws attention to the exploratory contributions of Ludwig Lachmann and George Shackle. These thinkers emphasized the critical dimensions of time, uncertainty, and the embeddedness of human action within specific social, cultural, and economic contexts. Lachmann and Shackle’s perspectives highlight the limitations of static, universalist models by underscoring the dynamic and contingent nature of entrepreneurial behavior. Their work shifts the focus toward understanding how individuals navigate uncertainty and adapt to the constantly evolving conditions of their environments. Through this hermeneutical lens, the study seeks to bridge the absolutist framework of classical praxeology with a more interpretive and context-sensitive understanding of entrepreneurial action. By integrating the insights of later Austrian economists and critics, the analysis reframes praxeology as a tool capable of addressing the complexities and unpredictabilities of human behavior in the real world. This methodological approach not only enriches the theoretical discourse but also offers a more comprehensive foundation for examining the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurship.
<strong>Results:</strong> It is shown that incorporating hermeneutical elements into the analysis of entrepreneurial action, while rejecting simplistic apriorism, achieves two critical objectives. First, it facilitates the introduction of features that highlight the creative dynamics of the human mind within the teleology of action. This integration emphasizes the role of imagination, innovation, and subjective interpretation in shaping purposeful behavior, moving beyond rigid, predetermined frameworks. Second, it situates the social embeddedness of action firmly within the domain of praxeology. By acknowledging the contextual and relational dimensions of human behavior, this approach recognizes that actions are not merely the result of individual decision-making but are also deeply influenced by social, cultural, and institutional contexts. This dual focus enriches praxeology, transforming it into a more comprehensive framework capable of addressing both the internal cognitive processes of the actor and the external structures that shape and constrain action. Together, these advancements mark a significant shift in the understanding of entrepreneurial behavior, grounding it in both the dynamic creativity of the individual and the interconnectedness of social reality.
<strong>Conclusion:</strong> This study argues that hermeneutical praxeology, with its emphasis on the dynamic nature of entrepreneurial action and decision-making, serves as an effective descriptive-explanatory framework for understanding entrepreneurship, which inherently involves uncertainty and ambiguity. By focusing on the evolving, context-dependent aspects of human action, hermeneutical praxeology offers a robust methodology for integrating new cognitive insights into the analysis of entrepreneurial behavior. In this study, the hermeneutical and contextual perspective is contrasted with the original absolutist stance of Misesian praxeology. This comparison not only underscores the epistemological strengths of the hermeneutical approach—its ability to accommodate complexity and subjectivity—but also highlights its theoretical significance in analyzing creative, innovative actions. By shifting the focus from rigid a priori principles to a more flexible, interpretive framework, hermeneutical praxeology demonstrates its relevance in capturing the nuances of entrepreneurial thought and action.
https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_95998_95cb9839e3c9bd92ca2086d60b46d4c4.pdfFaculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121A Meta-synthesis of the Strategic Dimensions of Digital Platforms: A Lifecycle PerspectiveA Meta-synthesis of the Strategic Dimensions of Digital Platforms: A Lifecycle Perspective54779969610.22059/jed.2024.377405.654381FANiloofarNobariTechnology Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran,, Tehran, IranAtoosaEbrahimi Shah AbadiDepartment of Technology Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranJournal Article20240602Purpose: Today, digital platforms have transformed the structure of all industries and increased the role of digital services in people's daily lives. Considering the high failure rate of digital platforms, it is necessary to consider many factors for the success of a digital platform in today's environment. One of these factors is understanding the lifecycle of the digital platform. Therefore, the purpose of this study, while reviewing digital platforms based on their lifecycle, is to identify the strategic dimensions that improve the chances of success for digital platforms in today's environment. Based on these dimensions, a framework can be established to systematically review different strategic configurations at various stages of their lifecycle.<br /><br />Method: This research conducted a systematic and meta-qualitative literature review of digital platforms to achieve the research goals, with a special focus on the lifecycle of digital platforms. For this purpose, four steps were carried out: setting the goal for the research, systematically reviewing theoretical foundations (literature review), searching for and selecting articles related to the research, and extracting information from the articles. Finally, a morphological framework was created to organize and combine the research findings, which included four steps: identifying dimensions, listing factors, creating a framework, and achieving final conditions.<br /><br />Results: This research examined the lifecycles in the digital platforms literature and extracted key constructs from the literature. Then, using open and axial coding with a meta-combination method, a four-stage lifecycle (including birth-planning, start-up, growth, and maturity-evolution) based on four factors (market share, time, market growth, and ecosystem) was created, leading to the formation of necessary coherence in the stages of lifecycles in digital platform literature. The strategic dimensions of digital platforms were determined in six general dimensions (including key challenges, key objectives, strategies to deal with challenges, fundamental roles, evolution of the proposed value, and evolution of the platform ecosystem) from the literature over time, as a round-trip movement several times, and the completion of the reforms. Finally, this framework allows strategists and platform managers to make informed decisions that take a holistic view of potential scenarios, thereby improving strategic flexibility. This structured approach is critical to maintaining competitive advantage in the digital platform space, where strategic agility and ecosystem management are key to long-term success.<br /><br />Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of strategic alignment between strategic dimensions and the lifecycles of digital platforms. By systematically identifying and linking these dimensions, this study has provided a morphological framework to create a comprehensive view and guide owners, managers, and strategic leaders in the digital platforms industry. Additionally, in each stage of the lifecycle, according to the objectives of each stage, this study provides successful suggested strategies to overcome key challenges in each stage of the lifecycle of digital platform businesses, which can be used as a guide for researchers, managers, and platform business owners, helping them navigate the challenges of the dynamic digital environment and achieve sustainable success. Therefore, this framework has created a structured approach to strategic alignment in digital platforms, which is crucial to overcoming their high failure rate. Finally, using this framework, strategists and platform managers can make informed decisions that take a holistic view of potential scenarios, thereby improving strategic flexibility. This structured approach is critical to maintaining competitive advantage in the digital platform space, where strategic agility and ecosystem management are key to long-term success.Purpose: Today, digital platforms have transformed the structure of all industries and increased the role of digital services in people's daily lives. Considering the high failure rate of digital platforms, it is necessary to consider many factors for the success of a digital platform in today's environment. One of these factors is understanding the lifecycle of the digital platform. Therefore, the purpose of this study, while reviewing digital platforms based on their lifecycle, is to identify the strategic dimensions that improve the chances of success for digital platforms in today's environment. Based on these dimensions, a framework can be established to systematically review different strategic configurations at various stages of their lifecycle.<br /><br />Method: This research conducted a systematic and meta-qualitative literature review of digital platforms to achieve the research goals, with a special focus on the lifecycle of digital platforms. For this purpose, four steps were carried out: setting the goal for the research, systematically reviewing theoretical foundations (literature review), searching for and selecting articles related to the research, and extracting information from the articles. Finally, a morphological framework was created to organize and combine the research findings, which included four steps: identifying dimensions, listing factors, creating a framework, and achieving final conditions.<br /><br />Results: This research examined the lifecycles in the digital platforms literature and extracted key constructs from the literature. Then, using open and axial coding with a meta-combination method, a four-stage lifecycle (including birth-planning, start-up, growth, and maturity-evolution) based on four factors (market share, time, market growth, and ecosystem) was created, leading to the formation of necessary coherence in the stages of lifecycles in digital platform literature. The strategic dimensions of digital platforms were determined in six general dimensions (including key challenges, key objectives, strategies to deal with challenges, fundamental roles, evolution of the proposed value, and evolution of the platform ecosystem) from the literature over time, as a round-trip movement several times, and the completion of the reforms. Finally, this framework allows strategists and platform managers to make informed decisions that take a holistic view of potential scenarios, thereby improving strategic flexibility. This structured approach is critical to maintaining competitive advantage in the digital platform space, where strategic agility and ecosystem management are key to long-term success.<br /><br />Conclusion: This study emphasizes the importance of strategic alignment between strategic dimensions and the lifecycles of digital platforms. By systematically identifying and linking these dimensions, this study has provided a morphological framework to create a comprehensive view and guide owners, managers, and strategic leaders in the digital platforms industry. Additionally, in each stage of the lifecycle, according to the objectives of each stage, this study provides successful suggested strategies to overcome key challenges in each stage of the lifecycle of digital platform businesses, which can be used as a guide for researchers, managers, and platform business owners, helping them navigate the challenges of the dynamic digital environment and achieve sustainable success. Therefore, this framework has created a structured approach to strategic alignment in digital platforms, which is crucial to overcoming their high failure rate. Finally, using this framework, strategists and platform managers can make informed decisions that take a holistic view of potential scenarios, thereby improving strategic flexibility. This structured approach is critical to maintaining competitive advantage in the digital platform space, where strategic agility and ecosystem management are key to long-term success.https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_99696_1e2d4762b6147a52e70d79b3752b63dc.pdfFaculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121Development of a conceptual model of business accelerators: a Meta synthesis approachDevelopment of a conceptual model of business accelerators: a Meta synthesis approach781109968010.22059/jed.2024.367909.654289FAMohammad AminFarrokhDepartment of Technological Entrepreneurship - Faculty of Entrepreneurship - University of Tehran - Tehran - IranAbolghasemArabiunDepartment of Technology, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranJahangirYadollahi FarsiNew Business Department, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranMohammad RezaMeigounpooryDepartment of Technology, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranJournal Article20231110Over the past decade, accelerators have emerged as a distinct and popular new form of intermediary organization, playing a key role in supporting entrepreneurial and innovation activities. To date, despite significant growth in accelerator research, there is still little understanding of how different forms of accelerators work and the effects they create in different fields. This article reviews the existing scientific research on accelerators with the approach of examining the conceptual model of accelerators supporting business with a meta-synthesızes approach, and using the meta-synthesızes technique, 54 qualitative research articles on accelerators published in the previous decade Analyzed. Meta-synthesızes analysis identified ten themes, including support strategy, infrastructure, accelerator types, accelerator context, interventions, the value proposition of business accelerators, challenges of accelerators, results of accelerators, mechanism, and Accelerators program design. This article identified gaps in current research and provided suggestions for future research.<br />The Business Accelerator Framework is a program that provides business coaching and mentoring to early-stage startups. Startup accelerators help new companies succeed by providing funding, training, and mentoring. A business accelerator is a more effective way to help entrepreneurs create and launch new businesses. Companies that enroll in accelerator programs are quickly accelerated into successful corporate life through a fast-paced, comprehensive, and powerful training process, giving them in months the training that would have been gained over years of trial and error. Accelerators are growing widely, increasing the demand for startups for accelerator programs and attracting the attention of companies and governments. Goswami, Mitchell, and Bhagawatula observed that the number of business accelerators that provide entrepreneurial capital rather than financial investment has increased dramatically over the past 17 years. Entrepreneurial capital is a critical element, especially for start-up businesses. Emphasis on entrepreneurial capital rather than financial capital has been highlighted as a key difference between business accelerators and business ıncubators. Additionally, accelerators often do not provide financial resources such as office space or operating costs. Entrepreneurial capital, which includes market research, concept development, and investor relationship management, is prioritized by business accelerators. Accelerators are a different organizational form with a unique set of features based on the products they offer to their startup customers. are known to provide, which contrasts with some research that sees them as a specific type of business growth center. In addition, accelerators differ from incubators in that their support programs are for It last much shorter. Their goal is not to provide physical assets and office space for companies for a long time, also they have less emphasis than investment companies on the next source of financing, they seek to promote business growth by providing intensive and time-limited assistance. are.<br />There is a lot of research on accelerators, however, this phenomenon is relatively new. The research includes two types of analysis of business accelerators, one on innovation intermediates and the other on incubator intermediates. Early studies of accelerators and incubators have focused on measuring their impact, but the findings of these studies have varied greatly. On the one hand, several studies have reported positive results of acceleration on businesses, while on the other hand, some studies have reported less or even negative effects of accelerators and growth centers on businesses. Although there is much research on accelerators, there seems to be a need for systematic research to understand what accelerators are, how they work, and what role they play in supporting the development of their startups and shaping the innovative entrepreneurial landscape in general.Over the past decade, accelerators have emerged as a distinct and popular new form of intermediary organization, playing a key role in supporting entrepreneurial and innovation activities. To date, despite significant growth in accelerator research, there is still little understanding of how different forms of accelerators work and the effects they create in different fields. This article reviews the existing scientific research on accelerators with the approach of examining the conceptual model of accelerators supporting business with a meta-synthesızes approach, and using the meta-synthesızes technique, 54 qualitative research articles on accelerators published in the previous decade Analyzed. Meta-synthesızes analysis identified ten themes, including support strategy, infrastructure, accelerator types, accelerator context, interventions, the value proposition of business accelerators, challenges of accelerators, results of accelerators, mechanism, and Accelerators program design. This article identified gaps in current research and provided suggestions for future research.<br />The Business Accelerator Framework is a program that provides business coaching and mentoring to early-stage startups. Startup accelerators help new companies succeed by providing funding, training, and mentoring. A business accelerator is a more effective way to help entrepreneurs create and launch new businesses. Companies that enroll in accelerator programs are quickly accelerated into successful corporate life through a fast-paced, comprehensive, and powerful training process, giving them in months the training that would have been gained over years of trial and error. Accelerators are growing widely, increasing the demand for startups for accelerator programs and attracting the attention of companies and governments. Goswami, Mitchell, and Bhagawatula observed that the number of business accelerators that provide entrepreneurial capital rather than financial investment has increased dramatically over the past 17 years. Entrepreneurial capital is a critical element, especially for start-up businesses. Emphasis on entrepreneurial capital rather than financial capital has been highlighted as a key difference between business accelerators and business ıncubators. Additionally, accelerators often do not provide financial resources such as office space or operating costs. Entrepreneurial capital, which includes market research, concept development, and investor relationship management, is prioritized by business accelerators. Accelerators are a different organizational form with a unique set of features based on the products they offer to their startup customers. are known to provide, which contrasts with some research that sees them as a specific type of business growth center. In addition, accelerators differ from incubators in that their support programs are for It last much shorter. Their goal is not to provide physical assets and office space for companies for a long time, also they have less emphasis than investment companies on the next source of financing, they seek to promote business growth by providing intensive and time-limited assistance. are.<br />There is a lot of research on accelerators, however, this phenomenon is relatively new. The research includes two types of analysis of business accelerators, one on innovation intermediates and the other on incubator intermediates. Early studies of accelerators and incubators have focused on measuring their impact, but the findings of these studies have varied greatly. On the one hand, several studies have reported positive results of acceleration on businesses, while on the other hand, some studies have reported less or even negative effects of accelerators and growth centers on businesses. Although there is much research on accelerators, there seems to be a need for systematic research to understand what accelerators are, how they work, and what role they play in supporting the development of their startups and shaping the innovative entrepreneurial landscape in general.https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_99680_d1e85c99d2f173c0e1ea08b089602132.pdfFaculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121Phenomenology of the financial dimensions of startups with the aim of providing a model for entrepreneurship developmentPhenomenology of the financial dimensions of startups with the aim of providing a model for entrepreneurship development86979967510.22059/jed.2024.365272.654263FASajadNaghdiDepartment of Accounitng, Faculty of Economic and Management, University of Tabriz, TabrizRoghaeihJeddiDepartment of Accounting, Faculty of Economic and Management, University of Tabriz, TabrizJournal Article20230912<strong>Objective:</strong> In today's advanced world, it may seem easy and simple for many entrepreneurs to launch a <br />start-up business, but having a great business idea is not enough for entrepreneurs to survive and succeed. During the development life cycle of a start-up business, there are various challenges which emerge from different sectors such as finance, marketing, human resources and information technology and the main root of the most of these obstacles and challenges is financial and accounting issues. Financial and accounting issues such as financing, Investments, working capital, taxes, cash flow management, recording financial events, reporting procedures and capital budgeting are specialized and complex decisions that are beyond the control of entrepreneurs in the most cases, Therefore, the aim of the current research is to know the views and lived experiences of entrepreneurs about the financial dimensions of startups with the aim of providing a model for entrepreneurship development.<br /><strong>Method:</strong> This research is practical in terms of purpose, and in terms of data collection, it is a qualitative research of the phenomenological type. In this research, the central phenomenon is the view of entrepreneurs in relation to various financial and accounting dimensions governing the activities of start-up businesses. On the other hand, considering that the present research is in a way that requires exploring and examining the ideas and views of the research participants, the phenomenology method, which is one of the types of qualitative research methods, has been used. In this regard, the experiences, feelings, opinions and views of the participants were carefully evaluated and analyzed. The statistical population of this research includes two groups of entrepreneurs and managers of successful and unsuccessful start-up businesses. The first group consists of successful entrepreneurs and managers. The start-up businesses created by these entrepreneurs are currently active and have reached the stage of supply from the idea stage. The second group consists of unsuccessful entrepreneurs and managers. Businesses created by this groups have mostly failed due to various reasons including financial issues after establishment. The participants of this study were 26 entrepreneurs (including 12 unsuccessful entrepreneur and 14 successful entrepreneur) and were selected using the purposeful sampling method. In collecting the required data, a semi-structured interview method was used until reaching theoretical saturation. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data and the four concepts of credibility, transferability, confirmability and transferability were used to check the validity and reliability of the interviews.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> The findings of the research show that from the point of view of entrepreneurs and managers of failed and successful businesses, financial and accounting issues are considered to be the main challenges and obstacles to entrepreneurship development. The results indicate the identification of 3 main themes of obstacles and challenges of the start-up stage, obstacles and challenges of the growth stage and solutions to improve the financial dimensions of start-up businesses. In general, according to the experiences of <br />entrepreneurs, 7 unique sub-theme were extracted with 173 different narratives. The classified themes of financing, investment, working capital, budgeting, pricing, operational, accounting and reporting are among the financial dimensions of start-up businesses. Also, according to the opinions and suggestions of entrepreneurs, several codes such as income management through pre-receipt, business plan financial indicators, credit sales management, understanding the structure of fixed and variable costs, ignoring unrelated costs in decision making, internal controls and audit issues are the key findings of present study, because the research literature has not directly mentioned these codes. The results also show that unsuccessful entrepreneurs emphasize financial issues more than successful entrepreneurs in continuing their businesses. In addition, the growth stage in the life cycle of start-up businesses has the most financial and accounting challenges and obstacles.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The findings of the research indicate the important role of financial and accounting issues in the success of start-up businesses, therefore, financial management training and its techniques are suggested in the development of entrepreneurship in the country. The need for financial and tax advice is one of the most important issues raised by entrepreneurs. In this context, it is necessary for financial advisors to adjust their approaches and services according to the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs. These services may include adopting guidelines for budgeting, cash flow management, debt management and financing. The results of the research show that entrepreneurs consider the lack of accounting software suitable for start-up businesses as one of the challenges of recording and reporting their financial events, therefore accelerating the launch and development of software specific to start-up businesses at a reasonable price can solve this challenges.<br /> <strong>Objective:</strong> In today's advanced world, it may seem easy and simple for many entrepreneurs to launch a <br />start-up business, but having a great business idea is not enough for entrepreneurs to survive and succeed. During the development life cycle of a start-up business, there are various challenges which emerge from different sectors such as finance, marketing, human resources and information technology and the main root of the most of these obstacles and challenges is financial and accounting issues. Financial and accounting issues such as financing, Investments, working capital, taxes, cash flow management, recording financial events, reporting procedures and capital budgeting are specialized and complex decisions that are beyond the control of entrepreneurs in the most cases, Therefore, the aim of the current research is to know the views and lived experiences of entrepreneurs about the financial dimensions of startups with the aim of providing a model for entrepreneurship development.<br /><strong>Method:</strong> This research is practical in terms of purpose, and in terms of data collection, it is a qualitative research of the phenomenological type. In this research, the central phenomenon is the view of entrepreneurs in relation to various financial and accounting dimensions governing the activities of start-up businesses. On the other hand, considering that the present research is in a way that requires exploring and examining the ideas and views of the research participants, the phenomenology method, which is one of the types of qualitative research methods, has been used. In this regard, the experiences, feelings, opinions and views of the participants were carefully evaluated and analyzed. The statistical population of this research includes two groups of entrepreneurs and managers of successful and unsuccessful start-up businesses. The first group consists of successful entrepreneurs and managers. The start-up businesses created by these entrepreneurs are currently active and have reached the stage of supply from the idea stage. The second group consists of unsuccessful entrepreneurs and managers. Businesses created by this groups have mostly failed due to various reasons including financial issues after establishment. The participants of this study were 26 entrepreneurs (including 12 unsuccessful entrepreneur and 14 successful entrepreneur) and were selected using the purposeful sampling method. In collecting the required data, a semi-structured interview method was used until reaching theoretical saturation. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the data and the four concepts of credibility, transferability, confirmability and transferability were used to check the validity and reliability of the interviews.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> The findings of the research show that from the point of view of entrepreneurs and managers of failed and successful businesses, financial and accounting issues are considered to be the main challenges and obstacles to entrepreneurship development. The results indicate the identification of 3 main themes of obstacles and challenges of the start-up stage, obstacles and challenges of the growth stage and solutions to improve the financial dimensions of start-up businesses. In general, according to the experiences of <br />entrepreneurs, 7 unique sub-theme were extracted with 173 different narratives. The classified themes of financing, investment, working capital, budgeting, pricing, operational, accounting and reporting are among the financial dimensions of start-up businesses. Also, according to the opinions and suggestions of entrepreneurs, several codes such as income management through pre-receipt, business plan financial indicators, credit sales management, understanding the structure of fixed and variable costs, ignoring unrelated costs in decision making, internal controls and audit issues are the key findings of present study, because the research literature has not directly mentioned these codes. The results also show that unsuccessful entrepreneurs emphasize financial issues more than successful entrepreneurs in continuing their businesses. In addition, the growth stage in the life cycle of start-up businesses has the most financial and accounting challenges and obstacles.<br /><strong>Conclusion:</strong> The findings of the research indicate the important role of financial and accounting issues in the success of start-up businesses, therefore, financial management training and its techniques are suggested in the development of entrepreneurship in the country. The need for financial and tax advice is one of the most important issues raised by entrepreneurs. In this context, it is necessary for financial advisors to adjust their approaches and services according to the unique challenges faced by entrepreneurs. These services may include adopting guidelines for budgeting, cash flow management, debt management and financing. The results of the research show that entrepreneurs consider the lack of accounting software suitable for start-up businesses as one of the challenges of recording and reporting their financial events, therefore accelerating the launch and development of software specific to start-up businesses at a reasonable price can solve this challenges.<br /> https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_99675_6f2676d94a3c7f3ef545c887c5a37443.pdfFaculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121Investigating the influencing factors on the formation and development of circular economy businesses: a multiple case study of medical equipment refurbishment companiesInvestigating the influencing factors on the formation and development of circular economy businesses: a multiple case study of medical equipment refurbishment companies1731979968210.22059/jed.2024.370961.654325FAAliMohabattalabTechnology & Innovation Policy department, National Research Institute for Science Police, Tehran, IranAbolfazlBagheriTechnology & Innovation Policy department, National Research Institute for Science Policy, Tehran, IranJournal Article20240126Objective: The transition to a circular economy paradigm, where production chains operate in a closed cycle minimizing waste and pollution, necessitates transformative changes in regulatory frameworks, institutional structures, cultural norms, and organizational practices, as well as innovation in products and processes. Consequently, successful implementation of the circular economy relies on supportive government policies and the emergence of circular economy businesses. Effective policymaking in this domain is contingent upon comprehensive research to understand the multifaceted aspects of the issue and to develop policy solutions that facilitate this transition. The present study aims to investigate the factors influencing the formation, growth, and development of businesses in the refurbishment sector, a critical area within the circular economy. In the refurbishment process, with the aim of returning obsolete equipment to the production cycle or increasing the efficiency and lifespan of used equipment, these products are renovated and updated in terms of hardware and software and companies undertaking refurbishment operations typically guarantee the proper functioning of the refurbished equipment for a period of one to three years. Over the past decade, the circular economy has garnered significant attention from researchers, yet the refurbishment sector, a key strategy within the circular economy, has received relatively less attention so there is a pressing need to examine the various dimensions of refurbishment, particularly in developing countries such as Iran.<br />Method: The present study employs a qualitative methodology, and the strategy used is multiple case study. The case studies were selected from companies that participated in the joint call of the Ministry of Health and the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology to refurbish medical equipment. Data collection involved conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the CEOs of the selected firms, as well as with all relevant managers from the Ministry of Health and the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology who were involved in the refurbishment program from 2019 to 2021. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using qualitative content analysis and data coding. <br />Results: The establishment and development of medical equipment refurbishment companies are influenced by a complex interplay of various internal and external factors. External factors include government support, conflicts of interest among stakeholders, public procurement policies, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, legal and regulatory infrastructure, ownership structure of medical centers, and availability of spare parts. Internal factors consist of communication networks within the company, knowledge and expertise of personnel, leadership and management, project management capabilities, and pricing strategies. The study also identified factors that contributed to the failure of some companies to enter the medical equipment refurbishment market, such as lack of resources during the pandemic, insufficient economic incentives for refurbishment, and ambiguity in business models for refurbishment. Results also show the establishment of these businesses has resulted in numerous economic, social, and environmental benefits and has caused formation of new soft institutions. The economic benefits include preventing currency outflow by reducing medical equipment imports and providing access to refurbished equipment at approximately one-fifth the price of new equipment. The social benefits encompass the accessibility of refurbished medical equipment with high efficiency and reasonable prices for medical centers in less developed cities. Preventing valuable equipment from becoming scrap metal and waste, as well as saving costs related to the re-production of these products, are some of the environmental benefits. The institutional changes carried out at the national level include the formation of new regulations governing the activities of medical equipment refurbishing companies and public procurement policies mandating the use of these services by government medical centers<br />Conclusion: The findings indicate that the identification and exploitation of opportunities by companies to reintroduce obsolete medical equipment into the usage cycle has fostered circular entrepreneurship. Based on the findings, the process of formation and development of refurbishment companies is presented in the form of a conceptual model, which includes factors effective in identifying the opportunity, internal and external factors influencing the exploitation of the opportunity (formation of related businesses) and The results of the formation of these businesses. The research findings highlight the need for policymakers and industry stakeholders to consider this process and its constituent factors when developing strategies to promote sustainable and effective refurbishment practices. In this regard, policy suggestions for implementing circular economy strategies and helping to form related businesses, especially in medical equipment field, are presented.Objective: The transition to a circular economy paradigm, where production chains operate in a closed cycle minimizing waste and pollution, necessitates transformative changes in regulatory frameworks, institutional structures, cultural norms, and organizational practices, as well as innovation in products and processes. Consequently, successful implementation of the circular economy relies on supportive government policies and the emergence of circular economy businesses. Effective policymaking in this domain is contingent upon comprehensive research to understand the multifaceted aspects of the issue and to develop policy solutions that facilitate this transition. The present study aims to investigate the factors influencing the formation, growth, and development of businesses in the refurbishment sector, a critical area within the circular economy. In the refurbishment process, with the aim of returning obsolete equipment to the production cycle or increasing the efficiency and lifespan of used equipment, these products are renovated and updated in terms of hardware and software and companies undertaking refurbishment operations typically guarantee the proper functioning of the refurbished equipment for a period of one to three years. Over the past decade, the circular economy has garnered significant attention from researchers, yet the refurbishment sector, a key strategy within the circular economy, has received relatively less attention so there is a pressing need to examine the various dimensions of refurbishment, particularly in developing countries such as Iran.<br />Method: The present study employs a qualitative methodology, and the strategy used is multiple case study. The case studies were selected from companies that participated in the joint call of the Ministry of Health and the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology to refurbish medical equipment. Data collection involved conducting in-depth, semi-structured interviews with the CEOs of the selected firms, as well as with all relevant managers from the Ministry of Health and the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology who were involved in the refurbishment program from 2019 to 2021. The collected data were subsequently analyzed using qualitative content analysis and data coding. <br />Results: The establishment and development of medical equipment refurbishment companies are influenced by a complex interplay of various internal and external factors. External factors include government support, conflicts of interest among stakeholders, public procurement policies, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, legal and regulatory infrastructure, ownership structure of medical centers, and availability of spare parts. Internal factors consist of communication networks within the company, knowledge and expertise of personnel, leadership and management, project management capabilities, and pricing strategies. The study also identified factors that contributed to the failure of some companies to enter the medical equipment refurbishment market, such as lack of resources during the pandemic, insufficient economic incentives for refurbishment, and ambiguity in business models for refurbishment. Results also show the establishment of these businesses has resulted in numerous economic, social, and environmental benefits and has caused formation of new soft institutions. The economic benefits include preventing currency outflow by reducing medical equipment imports and providing access to refurbished equipment at approximately one-fifth the price of new equipment. The social benefits encompass the accessibility of refurbished medical equipment with high efficiency and reasonable prices for medical centers in less developed cities. Preventing valuable equipment from becoming scrap metal and waste, as well as saving costs related to the re-production of these products, are some of the environmental benefits. The institutional changes carried out at the national level include the formation of new regulations governing the activities of medical equipment refurbishing companies and public procurement policies mandating the use of these services by government medical centers<br />Conclusion: The findings indicate that the identification and exploitation of opportunities by companies to reintroduce obsolete medical equipment into the usage cycle has fostered circular entrepreneurship. Based on the findings, the process of formation and development of refurbishment companies is presented in the form of a conceptual model, which includes factors effective in identifying the opportunity, internal and external factors influencing the exploitation of the opportunity (formation of related businesses) and The results of the formation of these businesses. The research findings highlight the need for policymakers and industry stakeholders to consider this process and its constituent factors when developing strategies to promote sustainable and effective refurbishment practices. In this regard, policy suggestions for implementing circular economy strategies and helping to form related businesses, especially in medical equipment field, are presented.https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_99682_b13cc3a4ca1b71024a7fac2186cf5797.pdfFaculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121Identification and prioritization of factors affecting the export of ICT services of Iranian knowledge-based companies to regional marketsIdentification and prioritization of factors affecting the export of ICT services of Iranian knowledge-based companies to regional markets1982229969710.22059/jed.2024.373905.654346FAMohammad AliShahHosseiniDepartment of Business Strategy and Policy, Faculty of Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranZohaHaji Ebrahim ZargarDepartment of Organizational entrepreneurship, Faculty of entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran0009-0009-3964-7147Journal Article20240313Purpose:<br />Information and communication technology (ICT), in addition to its intrinsic importance, is considered a platform for the growth of businesses. The development and increasing diversity of technologies have provided many opportunities for exporting ICT products and services to regional markets and the effective presence of knowledge-based companies in international arenas. This research aims to identify and prioritize dimensions and factors affecting the export of ICT services to regional markets by Iranian knowledge-based companies. <br />Method:<br />This research is applied in terms of purpose and is survey research from the perspective of strategy. To achieve the goal of the research, first, by conducting library studies, the factors affecting the export of ICT services by knowledge-based companies were identified. Then, to screen and localize the identified factors for Iranian knowledge-based companies in the ICT industry, 20 companies sampled through purposeful method managers were surveyed using the Delphi algorithm. Since the final factors did not have the same weight and degree of importance, to evaluate and measure the importance of each dimension and factor, the Group Analytic Hierarchy Process (G-AHP) method was applied. <br />Findings:<br />The results of the research indicated that three dimensions such as price, technology and technical, and managerial and organizational with weights of 0.252, 0.179, and 0.162 respectively were key dimensions and three factors such as the global price of products, costs related to exports, and official and free exchange rates with weights of 0.1515, 0.0708, and 0.0561 respectively were the most important factors affecting the export of ICT services of Iranian knowledge-based companies to regional markets. Finally, appropriate solutions were suggested to strengthen and improve each of these dimensions. <br />Conclusion:<br />By examining and analyzing the findings of the research, it can be concluded that due to the weakness of the Rial, the price of technological and engineering products in the country has a significant gap with foreign competitors. A large amount of expenses in the field of exporting engineering products and information and communication technology is from wages, which despite the increasing inflation, the manpower in Iran is much cheaper than in the countries of the region, even for specialists, and it should be considered as an irreplaceable competitive advantage. In addition, the existence of international sanctions has doubled the incentive to internalize and strengthen the capacities of the domestic elite to localize ICT infrastructures. Unfortunately, due to the lack of deep knowledge of the joint chambers of commerce of Iran and other countries in the field of information and communication technologies, a large amount of export development is focused on food and construction products and raw materials of industries. Therefore, if the authorities' policy in supporting technologists in this field is severe, experts in this field should be used in diplomatic delegations and Chamber of Commerce trips to provide the basis for developing the export of information and communication technology products and services.Purpose:<br />Information and communication technology (ICT), in addition to its intrinsic importance, is considered a platform for the growth of businesses. The development and increasing diversity of technologies have provided many opportunities for exporting ICT products and services to regional markets and the effective presence of knowledge-based companies in international arenas. This research aims to identify and prioritize dimensions and factors affecting the export of ICT services to regional markets by Iranian knowledge-based companies. <br />Method:<br />This research is applied in terms of purpose and is survey research from the perspective of strategy. To achieve the goal of the research, first, by conducting library studies, the factors affecting the export of ICT services by knowledge-based companies were identified. Then, to screen and localize the identified factors for Iranian knowledge-based companies in the ICT industry, 20 companies sampled through purposeful method managers were surveyed using the Delphi algorithm. Since the final factors did not have the same weight and degree of importance, to evaluate and measure the importance of each dimension and factor, the Group Analytic Hierarchy Process (G-AHP) method was applied. <br />Findings:<br />The results of the research indicated that three dimensions such as price, technology and technical, and managerial and organizational with weights of 0.252, 0.179, and 0.162 respectively were key dimensions and three factors such as the global price of products, costs related to exports, and official and free exchange rates with weights of 0.1515, 0.0708, and 0.0561 respectively were the most important factors affecting the export of ICT services of Iranian knowledge-based companies to regional markets. Finally, appropriate solutions were suggested to strengthen and improve each of these dimensions. <br />Conclusion:<br />By examining and analyzing the findings of the research, it can be concluded that due to the weakness of the Rial, the price of technological and engineering products in the country has a significant gap with foreign competitors. A large amount of expenses in the field of exporting engineering products and information and communication technology is from wages, which despite the increasing inflation, the manpower in Iran is much cheaper than in the countries of the region, even for specialists, and it should be considered as an irreplaceable competitive advantage. In addition, the existence of international sanctions has doubled the incentive to internalize and strengthen the capacities of the domestic elite to localize ICT infrastructures. Unfortunately, due to the lack of deep knowledge of the joint chambers of commerce of Iran and other countries in the field of information and communication technologies, a large amount of export development is focused on food and construction products and raw materials of industries. Therefore, if the authorities' policy in supporting technologists in this field is severe, experts in this field should be used in diplomatic delegations and Chamber of Commerce trips to provide the basis for developing the export of information and communication technology products and services.https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_99697_d3db3a954bedd14169468acaf1bb2148.pdfFaculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121The effect of digital readiness dimensions on the performance of digital innovation by moderating the role of employees' digital competenceThe effect of digital readiness dimensions on the performance of digital innovation by moderating the role of employees' digital competence2232529916510.22059/jed.2024.376792.654372FAJavadSadeghiDepartment of New Business, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranHosseinSadeghiNew Business Department, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranBabajZiyeaDepartment of Organizational Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranJournal Article20240520<strong>Objective:</strong> Today, businesses need to leverage new technologies and embrace digital transformation in various processes to maintain and enhance their competitive advantage. Improving digital innovation performance, as one of the most critical factors for organizational success, not only boosts productivity and efficiency but also enhances their ability to respond to environmental changes. This is especially crucial in situations where technological advancements and market shifts occur rapidly. Moreover, aligning with digital transformations and having the necessary readiness to face these changes are among the key concerns of business leaders. To achieve successful digital innovation, businesses must focus not only on digital technologies and infrastructure but also on factors such as human capital's digital skills and competencies. Skilled employees with digital competencies can effectively utilize new technologies and implement digital innovations within the organizational framework. In this regard, the present study aims to examine the impact of digital readiness on the digital innovation performance of businesses. Additionally, this research considers the moderating role of employees' digital competencies in this relationship. In other words, we believe that digital readiness alone cannot improve digital innovation performance, and the skills and competencies of the workforce, as a moderating variable, play a decisive role in the success of this process.
<strong>Method:</strong> The current research is practical in terms of purpose and seeks to provide solutions to improve the performance of digital innovation in organizations, especially in the field of insurance companies. In this regard, this study is defined as a quantitative research based on the nature of the research. Research is usually conducted to measure relationships between observations and data analysis, which in this case is also used for the relationship between digital and digital innovation performance. According to the method of data collection, this research is a descriptive-correlation type of research. In correlation research, the main goal is to investigate international relations and determine their intensity and direction. In this study, the relationship between digital and digital innovation performance has been investigated, and the moderating role of digital competence has also been reviewed. The statistical population of this research includes all new business insurance companies. This company is owned by Tejarat Bank, Iran Post Bank and several other shareholders and is one of the many insurance companies in Iran. The total number of people in this company is 497, which is considered as a statistical population. To select the statistical sample, a simple random sampling method was used and 100 people were selected as a sample. This sampling method has been used in order to make it possible to generalize the results and reduce biases. The data collection tool in this research was an online questionnaire, which was created to facilitate access and increase the speed of information collection among users. The questionnaire included questions for digital measurement, digital competence, and digital innovation performance. After data collection, data analysis was done using two powerful statistical software, namely Smart PLS 4 and SPSS. Smart PLS software was used for structural equation modeling, allowing researchers to examine complex relationships between latent and observed variables. SPSS software was used for descriptive analysis and correlation analysis.
<strong>Results:</strong> The results of data analysis show the confirmation of the main and sub-hypotheses of the research. First, the main hypothesis of the research, which examined the impact of digital readiness
dimensions on the performance of digital innovation with the moderating role of employees' digital competence, was confirmed in a meaningful way. This finding indicates that the digital readiness of organizations alone cannot lead to the improvement of digital innovation performance, rather the digital skills and competencies of employees play a key moderating role in this relationship. In other words, organizations with employees with high digital skills use their digital readiness more effectively and have better innovative performance. In addition to the confirmation of the main hypothesis, the results of the statistical analysis indicate the confirmation of the sub-hypotheses of the research. These hypotheses have investigated the impact of different variables of digital readiness on the performance of digital innovation. The findings showed that all dimensions of digital readiness, including: 1. organizational structure: As a framework that facilitates decision-making and distribution of resources in the organization, it has a significant impact on the performance of digital innovation. More flexible and dynamic structures allow for more innovation. 2. Organizational culture: organizational culture that is receptive to change and innovation has a significant impact on the success of digital innovations in the organization. Innovative organizational culture helps to adopt new technologies faster and create an environment for employees' creativity. 3. Human power: the skills and capabilities of employees play a decisive role in the success of digital innovations. Expert manpower with digital competencies is able to successfully implement innovative initiatives. 4. Digital strategy: the organization's digital strategies, which are clearly and precisely defined, help guide and advance digital innovations and have a significant impact on digital innovation performance. 5. Digital technologies: access to new digital technologies and their use is one of the important factors in increasing the performance of digital innovation. Organizations with more advanced technologies will be able to provide more innovative products and services. 6. Market: market conditions and opportunities also play an important role in determining the direction and intensity of digital innovations. Competitive markets and demand for digital innovations drive organizations to improve innovation performance. All these variables significantly affect the performance of digital innovation and research findings show that comprehensive and comprehensive digital preparation, along with the digital competencies of employees, can lead to significant improvement of innovation performance in organizations.
<strong>Conclusion:</strong> As employees' digital readiness increases, digital innovation performance also improves, and this relationship is moderated by employees' digital competence. These results can help organizations to provide the infrastructure and environment to promote digital innovation in their organization, with regard to the development of employees' digital competence. By increasing the digital competence of employees, their ability to be flexible and create innovative solutions in the face of challenges also increases. This ability is presented as a commitment to individual and organizational development, and people can create innovative improvements in the organization's processes and products by benefiting from digital tools and technologies. As a result, organizations can significantly improve their digital innovation performance by properly combining the dimensions of digital readiness and digital competency development. Also, paying attention to creating an enthusiastic work environment and encouraging innovative activities can be effective so that employees can improve their digital skills and abilities automatically. Overall, these results show that individual and organizational digital enhancement increases digital innovation and commitment to digital competence, as one of the key factors in this process, can help improve organizational performance.<strong>Objective:</strong> Today, businesses need to leverage new technologies and embrace digital transformation in various processes to maintain and enhance their competitive advantage. Improving digital innovation performance, as one of the most critical factors for organizational success, not only boosts productivity and efficiency but also enhances their ability to respond to environmental changes. This is especially crucial in situations where technological advancements and market shifts occur rapidly. Moreover, aligning with digital transformations and having the necessary readiness to face these changes are among the key concerns of business leaders. To achieve successful digital innovation, businesses must focus not only on digital technologies and infrastructure but also on factors such as human capital's digital skills and competencies. Skilled employees with digital competencies can effectively utilize new technologies and implement digital innovations within the organizational framework. In this regard, the present study aims to examine the impact of digital readiness on the digital innovation performance of businesses. Additionally, this research considers the moderating role of employees' digital competencies in this relationship. In other words, we believe that digital readiness alone cannot improve digital innovation performance, and the skills and competencies of the workforce, as a moderating variable, play a decisive role in the success of this process.
<strong>Method:</strong> The current research is practical in terms of purpose and seeks to provide solutions to improve the performance of digital innovation in organizations, especially in the field of insurance companies. In this regard, this study is defined as a quantitative research based on the nature of the research. Research is usually conducted to measure relationships between observations and data analysis, which in this case is also used for the relationship between digital and digital innovation performance. According to the method of data collection, this research is a descriptive-correlation type of research. In correlation research, the main goal is to investigate international relations and determine their intensity and direction. In this study, the relationship between digital and digital innovation performance has been investigated, and the moderating role of digital competence has also been reviewed. The statistical population of this research includes all new business insurance companies. This company is owned by Tejarat Bank, Iran Post Bank and several other shareholders and is one of the many insurance companies in Iran. The total number of people in this company is 497, which is considered as a statistical population. To select the statistical sample, a simple random sampling method was used and 100 people were selected as a sample. This sampling method has been used in order to make it possible to generalize the results and reduce biases. The data collection tool in this research was an online questionnaire, which was created to facilitate access and increase the speed of information collection among users. The questionnaire included questions for digital measurement, digital competence, and digital innovation performance. After data collection, data analysis was done using two powerful statistical software, namely Smart PLS 4 and SPSS. Smart PLS software was used for structural equation modeling, allowing researchers to examine complex relationships between latent and observed variables. SPSS software was used for descriptive analysis and correlation analysis.
<strong>Results:</strong> The results of data analysis show the confirmation of the main and sub-hypotheses of the research. First, the main hypothesis of the research, which examined the impact of digital readiness
dimensions on the performance of digital innovation with the moderating role of employees' digital competence, was confirmed in a meaningful way. This finding indicates that the digital readiness of organizations alone cannot lead to the improvement of digital innovation performance, rather the digital skills and competencies of employees play a key moderating role in this relationship. In other words, organizations with employees with high digital skills use their digital readiness more effectively and have better innovative performance. In addition to the confirmation of the main hypothesis, the results of the statistical analysis indicate the confirmation of the sub-hypotheses of the research. These hypotheses have investigated the impact of different variables of digital readiness on the performance of digital innovation. The findings showed that all dimensions of digital readiness, including: 1. organizational structure: As a framework that facilitates decision-making and distribution of resources in the organization, it has a significant impact on the performance of digital innovation. More flexible and dynamic structures allow for more innovation. 2. Organizational culture: organizational culture that is receptive to change and innovation has a significant impact on the success of digital innovations in the organization. Innovative organizational culture helps to adopt new technologies faster and create an environment for employees' creativity. 3. Human power: the skills and capabilities of employees play a decisive role in the success of digital innovations. Expert manpower with digital competencies is able to successfully implement innovative initiatives. 4. Digital strategy: the organization's digital strategies, which are clearly and precisely defined, help guide and advance digital innovations and have a significant impact on digital innovation performance. 5. Digital technologies: access to new digital technologies and their use is one of the important factors in increasing the performance of digital innovation. Organizations with more advanced technologies will be able to provide more innovative products and services. 6. Market: market conditions and opportunities also play an important role in determining the direction and intensity of digital innovations. Competitive markets and demand for digital innovations drive organizations to improve innovation performance. All these variables significantly affect the performance of digital innovation and research findings show that comprehensive and comprehensive digital preparation, along with the digital competencies of employees, can lead to significant improvement of innovation performance in organizations.
<strong>Conclusion:</strong> As employees' digital readiness increases, digital innovation performance also improves, and this relationship is moderated by employees' digital competence. These results can help organizations to provide the infrastructure and environment to promote digital innovation in their organization, with regard to the development of employees' digital competence. By increasing the digital competence of employees, their ability to be flexible and create innovative solutions in the face of challenges also increases. This ability is presented as a commitment to individual and organizational development, and people can create innovative improvements in the organization's processes and products by benefiting from digital tools and technologies. As a result, organizations can significantly improve their digital innovation performance by properly combining the dimensions of digital readiness and digital competency development. Also, paying attention to creating an enthusiastic work environment and encouraging innovative activities can be effective so that employees can improve their digital skills and abilities automatically. Overall, these results show that individual and organizational digital enhancement increases digital innovation and commitment to digital competence, as one of the key factors in this process, can help improve organizational performance.https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_99165_f7e535f2af21a6977822a3db8d2cbccd.pdfFaculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121Designing a Model for Educational Businesses development in Kindergartens in Tehran CityDesigning a Model for Educational Businesses development in Kindergartens in Tehran City2542759968410.22059/jed.2024.371327.654322FASomayeDaraajatiDepartment of Educational Management, Islamic Azad University, Damavand Branch, Damavand, Iran0009-0003-9520-809XSeyed RasulHosseiniDepartment of Educational Management, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran0000-0001-9471-129xMasoumehOladianDepartment of Educational Management, Islamic Azad University, Damavand Branch, Damavand, IranJournal Article20240119Purpose: Entrepreneurs, investors, and others involved in the education industry are increasingly interested in investing in educational businesses, including kindergartens. Educational business entrepreneurs face many risks when starting an educational business. Education business managers need to be able to predict that their business will do well in the future. Knowing the factors that drive this type of enterprise is crucial. There are continuous and rapid changes in the current business environment. In such a setting, kindergarten centers, on the one hand, focus on delivering top-notch instruction, and on the other, they strive to maximize their revenues and grow their business by retaining the trust of their patrons. Managers at kindergartens are looking for ways to make sure customer choices lead to financial viability and long-term viability in business challenges. According to the material presented, it can be said that kindergarten centers, like other businesses, are facing fierce competition in the educational market, issues such as the threat of fewer customers, diverse demands of parents, powerful competitors, which are a threat to the continuation of the business of existing educational institutions. This indicates the existence of a problem that requires providing a model for the development of educational businesses in kindergartens. In other words, we are looking to identify the influencing factors on the development of kindergartens in Tehran, and with this question (what is the model of educational businesses development in kindergarten centers?). According to the point above presented, it can be said that kindergarten centers, like other businesses, are facing fierce competition in the educational market. Issues such as the threat of fewer customers, diverse demands of parents, and powerful competitors are a threat to the continuation of the business of existing educational institutions. <br />Method: This research is practical from the point of view of purpose and qualitative in terms of data collection method. This research focuses on managers of kindergarten centers with two characteristics, being active and having at least 5 years’ experience in setting up and continuing the successful management of a kindergarten center, as well as academic expert. Semi-structured interviews used to gather the data by analyzing the interviews’ content and extracting the codes, the dimensions and components of the educational business development model in the kindergarten centers identified and extracted. The dimensions and components of the educational business development model identified and extracted. Triple open, axial and selective coding of data done through MaxQda software version 2020. <br />Findings: The research findings showed that at the end of the open coding process, 117 concepts labeled. At the end of the open coding stage, the primary concepts reviewed, analyzed and categorized to identify subcategories. Based on this, in axial coding, 30 subcategories extracted from 117 open codes. Finally, in the selective coding stage, 9 main categories were identified. The classification of the obtained results is focused on the design of the model, and this model has nine main categories: kindergarten brand awareness (with 4 components of using social media, promoting brand awareness through the distribution of educational information, raising awareness of parents about the kindergarten brand, raising awareness of stakeholders of kindergarten brand), marketing strategy (with 7 components of product, location, physical environment, promotion, price, people, process), interactions with parents (with two components of parents' participation in educational processes, sharing information with parents), educational content (with 3 components of skill-oriented and targeted educational content, providing educational services to parents, using the opinions of experts in the field of children's education in the field of kindergarten educational materials), financial resources (with 2 components of developing supplier financial resources, financial partnerships with educational organizations), networking with stakeholders (with 2 components of interaction with stakeholders, benefiting from the potential of the stakeholders' community (parents, local community, virtual platforms), image position (brand) of the kindergarten (with 6 components of convincing parents, effective content about kindergarten services, developing attractions The appearance of a special kindergarten brand, introducing a constructive educational environment, introducing the kindergarten brand with advanced facilities and expert staff, introducing the kindergarten through the local community), organizing online educational events (with 2 components of using virtual infrastructure for education, online programs raising parents' awareness), designing the physical environment (with 2 components of physical design appropriate to children's feelings and opinions, environmental design standardization). <br />Conclusion: Early childhood education can help build a countries growth and development. Educational businesses play a vital role in preparing these infrastructures at the kindergarten level. There are few studies that examined educational business development, particularly at the level of preschool centers.Purpose: Entrepreneurs, investors, and others involved in the education industry are increasingly interested in investing in educational businesses, including kindergartens. Educational business entrepreneurs face many risks when starting an educational business. Education business managers need to be able to predict that their business will do well in the future. Knowing the factors that drive this type of enterprise is crucial. There are continuous and rapid changes in the current business environment. In such a setting, kindergarten centers, on the one hand, focus on delivering top-notch instruction, and on the other, they strive to maximize their revenues and grow their business by retaining the trust of their patrons. Managers at kindergartens are looking for ways to make sure customer choices lead to financial viability and long-term viability in business challenges. According to the material presented, it can be said that kindergarten centers, like other businesses, are facing fierce competition in the educational market, issues such as the threat of fewer customers, diverse demands of parents, powerful competitors, which are a threat to the continuation of the business of existing educational institutions. This indicates the existence of a problem that requires providing a model for the development of educational businesses in kindergartens. In other words, we are looking to identify the influencing factors on the development of kindergartens in Tehran, and with this question (what is the model of educational businesses development in kindergarten centers?). According to the point above presented, it can be said that kindergarten centers, like other businesses, are facing fierce competition in the educational market. Issues such as the threat of fewer customers, diverse demands of parents, and powerful competitors are a threat to the continuation of the business of existing educational institutions. <br />Method: This research is practical from the point of view of purpose and qualitative in terms of data collection method. This research focuses on managers of kindergarten centers with two characteristics, being active and having at least 5 years’ experience in setting up and continuing the successful management of a kindergarten center, as well as academic expert. Semi-structured interviews used to gather the data by analyzing the interviews’ content and extracting the codes, the dimensions and components of the educational business development model in the kindergarten centers identified and extracted. The dimensions and components of the educational business development model identified and extracted. Triple open, axial and selective coding of data done through MaxQda software version 2020. <br />Findings: The research findings showed that at the end of the open coding process, 117 concepts labeled. At the end of the open coding stage, the primary concepts reviewed, analyzed and categorized to identify subcategories. Based on this, in axial coding, 30 subcategories extracted from 117 open codes. Finally, in the selective coding stage, 9 main categories were identified. The classification of the obtained results is focused on the design of the model, and this model has nine main categories: kindergarten brand awareness (with 4 components of using social media, promoting brand awareness through the distribution of educational information, raising awareness of parents about the kindergarten brand, raising awareness of stakeholders of kindergarten brand), marketing strategy (with 7 components of product, location, physical environment, promotion, price, people, process), interactions with parents (with two components of parents' participation in educational processes, sharing information with parents), educational content (with 3 components of skill-oriented and targeted educational content, providing educational services to parents, using the opinions of experts in the field of children's education in the field of kindergarten educational materials), financial resources (with 2 components of developing supplier financial resources, financial partnerships with educational organizations), networking with stakeholders (with 2 components of interaction with stakeholders, benefiting from the potential of the stakeholders' community (parents, local community, virtual platforms), image position (brand) of the kindergarten (with 6 components of convincing parents, effective content about kindergarten services, developing attractions The appearance of a special kindergarten brand, introducing a constructive educational environment, introducing the kindergarten brand with advanced facilities and expert staff, introducing the kindergarten through the local community), organizing online educational events (with 2 components of using virtual infrastructure for education, online programs raising parents' awareness), designing the physical environment (with 2 components of physical design appropriate to children's feelings and opinions, environmental design standardization). <br />Conclusion: Early childhood education can help build a countries growth and development. Educational businesses play a vital role in preparing these infrastructures at the kindergarten level. There are few studies that examined educational business development, particularly at the level of preschool centers.https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_99684_0459576e500a8231666871ff297209f4.pdfFaculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121The role of lean start-up approach on new product development project performance in biotechnologyThe role of lean start-up approach on new product development project performance in biotechnology22539967710.22059/jed.2024.376137.654366FAFirouzehTabibzadehDepartment of Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Management and Economics Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IranSeyed RezaHejaziTechnological entrepreneurship department, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. Faculty of Entrepreneurship, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranMortezaMousakhaniDepartment of Management, Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, IranJournal Article20240505<strong>Objective</strong>: Biotechnology is one of the leading and growing industries in the world, contributing significantly to the economic growth of many countries. Bio-entrepreneurs always face many challenges in commercializing and developing their new products; so much so that the startup stage of biotechnology companies is basically called the "valley of death for companies". To support risky technological startups, Lean Startup offers a set of methods for testing and validating ideas and products, which help them respond more quickly to market changes. The Lean Startup method is a popular framework for creating innovative and pioneering companies and is increasingly attracting the attention of entrepreneurs and large organizations around the world. Since understanding the relationship between lean startups and biotechnology is also important, this study systematically and purposefully examines the relationship between lean startup trends and new product development project performance in biotechnology for the first time in Iran.<br /><strong>Method:</strong> This is a qualitative-research with a case study strategy with Observation, semi-structured in-depth interview and audio material tools. The statistical population of the interview consists of 18 experts and specialists and professors in the field of biotechnology in various trends and managers of biotechnology start-ups as well as managers of biological science accelerators who had expertise and experience in related fields. To standardize the measurement tool, the validity of the combination of six strategies and the reliability of the test and the reliability between two coders have been used. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the findings and the findings were coded into three main themes and nine sub-themes. Finally, five theorems were obtained from the intersection of the observed pattern, which is the result of the practical field of research, and the research theoretical pattern, which is the result of the theoretical literature of research.<br /><strong>Findings:</strong> After the coding process, a total of 46 primary codes, 9 sub-themes and 3 themes have been obtained. The themes and sub-themes in this research, which are related to the entrepreneurial process, are: the theme of the lean start-up cycle including the sub-themes of hypothesizing and customer orientation, construction, measurement and learning; The theme of the moderators of the lean startup cycle includes the sub-themes of uncertainty, degree of innovation and marketing approach and the theme of product development project performance including the sub-themes of success of the product development project and a good position in the market.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> The discussion about the findings led to the formation of 5 propositions and suggested that the Orientation of businesses, especially start-ups and new technology companies in the field of biotechnology, to lean startup method can be influential. on the performance of their new product development projects. This influence comes from the lean startup components that include thinking, building, measuring and learning. Also, the type of innovation (fundamental or incremental), the level of market uncertainty, the level of technological uncertainty and finally the type of marketing approach (B2B or B2C) can also play an effective role on this relationship and increase or decrease it in a positive direction. An important conclusion is that, given the limitations of using the lean startup method in places where mistakes may have a negative impact on the vital activities of customers, such as in the field of health and organisms, the results of this research showed that the elements of the lean startup cycle in biotechnology, as in other fields, are effective in the successful performance of the new product development process and can be used in this field as well, with some considerations.<strong>Objective</strong>: Biotechnology is one of the leading and growing industries in the world, contributing significantly to the economic growth of many countries. Bio-entrepreneurs always face many challenges in commercializing and developing their new products; so much so that the startup stage of biotechnology companies is basically called the "valley of death for companies". To support risky technological startups, Lean Startup offers a set of methods for testing and validating ideas and products, which help them respond more quickly to market changes. The Lean Startup method is a popular framework for creating innovative and pioneering companies and is increasingly attracting the attention of entrepreneurs and large organizations around the world. Since understanding the relationship between lean startups and biotechnology is also important, this study systematically and purposefully examines the relationship between lean startup trends and new product development project performance in biotechnology for the first time in Iran.<br /><strong>Method:</strong> This is a qualitative-research with a case study strategy with Observation, semi-structured in-depth interview and audio material tools. The statistical population of the interview consists of 18 experts and specialists and professors in the field of biotechnology in various trends and managers of biotechnology start-ups as well as managers of biological science accelerators who had expertise and experience in related fields. To standardize the measurement tool, the validity of the combination of six strategies and the reliability of the test and the reliability between two coders have been used. Thematic analysis method was used to analyze the findings and the findings were coded into three main themes and nine sub-themes. Finally, five theorems were obtained from the intersection of the observed pattern, which is the result of the practical field of research, and the research theoretical pattern, which is the result of the theoretical literature of research.<br /><strong>Findings:</strong> After the coding process, a total of 46 primary codes, 9 sub-themes and 3 themes have been obtained. The themes and sub-themes in this research, which are related to the entrepreneurial process, are: the theme of the lean start-up cycle including the sub-themes of hypothesizing and customer orientation, construction, measurement and learning; The theme of the moderators of the lean startup cycle includes the sub-themes of uncertainty, degree of innovation and marketing approach and the theme of product development project performance including the sub-themes of success of the product development project and a good position in the market.<br /><strong>Results:</strong> The discussion about the findings led to the formation of 5 propositions and suggested that the Orientation of businesses, especially start-ups and new technology companies in the field of biotechnology, to lean startup method can be influential. on the performance of their new product development projects. This influence comes from the lean startup components that include thinking, building, measuring and learning. Also, the type of innovation (fundamental or incremental), the level of market uncertainty, the level of technological uncertainty and finally the type of marketing approach (B2B or B2C) can also play an effective role on this relationship and increase or decrease it in a positive direction. An important conclusion is that, given the limitations of using the lean startup method in places where mistakes may have a negative impact on the vital activities of customers, such as in the field of health and organisms, the results of this research showed that the elements of the lean startup cycle in biotechnology, as in other fields, are effective in the successful performance of the new product development process and can be used in this field as well, with some considerations.https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_99677_8971b5fc44449a2b9a45b63b7298c2c9.pdfFaculty of Entrepreneurship, University of TehranJournal of Entrepreneurship Development2008-226617320241121Presenting the Maturity Model of Knowledge-based Companies in the Food Industry with the Approach of the Fourth-Generation Industry with Meta-Synthesis and Cross Impact AnalysisPresenting the Maturity Model of Knowledge-based Companies in the Food Industry with the Approach of the Fourth-Generation Industry with Meta-Synthesis and Cross Impact Analysis1381729969810.22059/jed.2024.99698FAAliMohagharDepartment of Operations Management and Decision Sciences, Faculty of Industrial and Technology Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranFatemehSaghafiDepartment of Technology and Innovation Management, Faculty of Industrial and Technology Management, University of Tehran, Tehran, IranMohammad HasanMalekiDepartment of Management, Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences, University of Qom, Qom, IranDaryamehrKeshaniDepartment of Industrial Management, Kish Campus, University of Tehran, Kish, IranJournal Article20240919Objective: The food industry is one of the vital industries for the health and well-being of society. The aim of the current research is to provide a model of factors affecting organizational maturity in knowledge-based companies of the food industry in Iran with the approach of the fourth-generation industry. The research consists of two qualitative and quantitative parts, in the first part, the main and secondary factors of the model were obtained through metacomposition. In the second part, the relationships between the main factors were determined through cross impact analysis.<br /><br />Method: The current research is applied in terms of orientation and is a mixed study in terms of methodology. Also, the current research is a pragmatic study in terms of philosophical foundations and exploratory research in terms of the goal. The theoretical population of the research is the experts of the food industry and the sampling was mainly done in a judgmental and purposeful way. In the judgmental sampling method, cases and samples are selected based on the expertise of experts. In this research, the meta-synthesis method was used to extract factors and the cross-impact analysis was used to determine the relationships between the main factors. Validation of articles was done by CASP tool. The extracted articles were screened step by step to identify the most qualitative articles for study.<br />In this research, meta-synthesis method was used to extract factors and cross impact analysis technique was used to determine the relationships between the main factors. In order to get experts' opinions about the relationships between the research factors, influence evaluation questionnaires were used. The experts were asked to express their opinions on a scale of 0 to 3. Also, to measure the validity of the meta-synthesis part, the Lawshe content coefficient was used, and the Kappa coefficient was used to measure the reliability of the codings. Validity and reliability values in this research were appropriate.<br /><br />Findings: This research was done in two steps. In the first step, factors affecting organizational maturity were extracted using a systematic background review and meta-combination method. The output was 6 main factors and 27 secondary factors. The main factors affecting organizational maturity were: structural factors, training and learning, technological factors, factors related to the nature of governance, factors related to innovation, and factors related to decision-making. In the following, these factors were evaluated with the approach of structural analysis of cross impact analysis. The results of this technique showed that decision-making, structural and governance factors are effeinfluential variables. Also, technological and innovative factors were evaluated as impressionable variables.<br /><br />Results: Practical suggestions of the research were developed based on the influencing factors. Some suggestions were: the use of data-driven technologies such as business intelligence and big data to strengthen data-driven decision-making, paying attention to the compatibility and integration of technologies and information systems in knowledge-based companies in the food industry, and the use of technologies such as blockchain to improve governance and improve the transparency of knowledge-based companies in the food industry. By using technologies such as big data, a large amount of data can be collected and analyzed, and based on that, many risks and threats can be identified and managed. Business intelligence can be used to classify and predict key variables. Blockchain is also a key technology to enhance transparency and develop smart contracts. It should not be forgotten that the fourth-generation technologies are mainly integrated and systemic, so before the introduction of new technology, attention should be paid to system adaptation.Objective: The food industry is one of the vital industries for the health and well-being of society. The aim of the current research is to provide a model of factors affecting organizational maturity in knowledge-based companies of the food industry in Iran with the approach of the fourth-generation industry. The research consists of two qualitative and quantitative parts, in the first part, the main and secondary factors of the model were obtained through metacomposition. In the second part, the relationships between the main factors were determined through cross impact analysis.<br /><br />Method: The current research is applied in terms of orientation and is a mixed study in terms of methodology. Also, the current research is a pragmatic study in terms of philosophical foundations and exploratory research in terms of the goal. The theoretical population of the research is the experts of the food industry and the sampling was mainly done in a judgmental and purposeful way. In the judgmental sampling method, cases and samples are selected based on the expertise of experts. In this research, the meta-synthesis method was used to extract factors and the cross-impact analysis was used to determine the relationships between the main factors. Validation of articles was done by CASP tool. The extracted articles were screened step by step to identify the most qualitative articles for study.<br />In this research, meta-synthesis method was used to extract factors and cross impact analysis technique was used to determine the relationships between the main factors. In order to get experts' opinions about the relationships between the research factors, influence evaluation questionnaires were used. The experts were asked to express their opinions on a scale of 0 to 3. Also, to measure the validity of the meta-synthesis part, the Lawshe content coefficient was used, and the Kappa coefficient was used to measure the reliability of the codings. Validity and reliability values in this research were appropriate.<br /><br />Findings: This research was done in two steps. In the first step, factors affecting organizational maturity were extracted using a systematic background review and meta-combination method. The output was 6 main factors and 27 secondary factors. The main factors affecting organizational maturity were: structural factors, training and learning, technological factors, factors related to the nature of governance, factors related to innovation, and factors related to decision-making. In the following, these factors were evaluated with the approach of structural analysis of cross impact analysis. The results of this technique showed that decision-making, structural and governance factors are effeinfluential variables. Also, technological and innovative factors were evaluated as impressionable variables.<br /><br />Results: Practical suggestions of the research were developed based on the influencing factors. Some suggestions were: the use of data-driven technologies such as business intelligence and big data to strengthen data-driven decision-making, paying attention to the compatibility and integration of technologies and information systems in knowledge-based companies in the food industry, and the use of technologies such as blockchain to improve governance and improve the transparency of knowledge-based companies in the food industry. By using technologies such as big data, a large amount of data can be collected and analyzed, and based on that, many risks and threats can be identified and managed. Business intelligence can be used to classify and predict key variables. Blockchain is also a key technology to enhance transparency and develop smart contracts. It should not be forgotten that the fourth-generation technologies are mainly integrated and systemic, so before the introduction of new technology, attention should be paid to system adaptation.https://jed.ut.ac.ir/article_99698_3467cbba8dfeebd179e272ba78396a0d.pdf