数字技术驱动的创业机会进化:一个基于人工物视角的理论模型

A Theoretical Model from Perspective of Artifacts for Entrepreneurial Opportunity Evolution Driven by Digital Technology

数字技术重构了创业的时空边界,颠覆了创业的底层逻辑,驱动了创业机会的持续进化,但数字创业机会进化的过程和机制有待深入探索。借鉴Herbert Simon的人工科学理论,基于人工物视角对创业机会的内涵、要素和特征进行界定;明确创业机会进化概念,并基于人工物视角提出创业机会进化的内在动因;阐述数字技术驱动下创业机会进化的过程和类型,明晰数字技术在其中的角色和作用,围绕内在逻辑、基本作用路径和作用机制等,构建数字技术对创业机会进化的驱动机制理论模型。

Digital entrepreneurship is the process of developing or using digital technology to implement entrepreneurship,connecting technology,industry and market,and is the key to the prosperity of the digital economy.One of its most significant characteristics is the evolution of entrepreneurial opportunity,but the mechanism by which this evolution is driven by digital technology is not clear.It is essential to analyze the evolution process of entrepreneurial opportunity driven by digital technology and construct a theoretical model for entrepreneurial opportunity evolution,but most existing theories related to entrepreneurial opportunity assume that there are stable boundaries in the process of identification,development and utilization of entrepreneurial opportunities,which is not enough for the mechanism analysis and theoretical development of digital entrepreneurial opportunity evolution.Moreover,research on digital entrepreneurship is still in its infancy,and there are few studies focusing on entrepreneurial opportunity evolution.The leading role of digital technology in the evolution of entrepreneurial opportunities has not been systematically studied.Meanwhile,in view of the limitations of existing theoretical perspectives on entrepreneurial research,some scholars have adopted and developed the artificial science theory of Herbert Simon,and proposed that entrepreneurship can be regarded as a design science and entrepreneurial opportunities can be taken as a kind of artifacts.In order to provide an analytical framework and theoretical model for in-depth and systematic research on the evolution of entrepreneurial opportunity in digital entrepreneurship,this paper follows the writing paradigm of constructive review in the logic of"What-How-Why".First,the connotation of entrepreneurial opportunity is analyzed by integrating the perspective of artifacts,and the characteristics and nexus of entrepreneurial opportunity are clarified.Second,the concept of entrepreneurial opportunity evolution is defined,and the dynamics of entrepreneurial opportunity evolution are clarified based on theories of artifacts.Third,the process,types,and characteristics of entrepreneurial opportunity evolution driven by digital technology are summarized,the roles of digital technology are clarified,and the theoretical model of entrepreneurial opportunity evolution is constructed around the internal logic,action path and in-depth mechanism.Finally,future research directions are discussed.The main conclusions are as follows.First of all,from the perspective of artificial science and design science,it is proposed that entrepreneurial opportunities can be regarded as a kind of artifacts,and they are the product of internal and external systems derived from the interaction of subjective and objective elements,and the nexus is entrepreneurial agency,entrepreneurial environment and entrepreneurial opportunity.Secondly,entrepreneurial opportunity evolution is a process of continuous iteration,optimization and derivatization of entrepreneurial opportunity,including a process of continuous improvement within the same opportunity prototype,and a process of developing into a new opportunity prototype,the essence of which is interacting with each other to achieve the best matching state.Types of entrepreneurial opportunity evolution driven by digital technology include chain evolution,cluster evolution,iterative evolution,and disruptive evolution.The dynamics of entrepreneurial opportunity evolution from the perspective of artifacts lie in the persistent breakthrough of locality and the continuous use of contingency.Digital technology exists in the core element system of entrepreneurial opportunity with roles of digital tools,digital products,digital context,and various combinations,constantly enhancing the above breakthrough and utilization levels and forming mechanisms of acceleration,reconstruction,diffusion mechanisms,and promotion for entrepreneurial opportunity evolution through digital innovation driving mode and digital value co-creation driving mode.In summary,this paper constructs a theoretical model for the mechanism of entrepreneurial opportunity evolution driven by digital technology,and it reveals the phenomenon,process and mechanism of entrepreneurial opportunity evolution in digital entrepreneurship,enriching and expanding the theoretical system of digital entrepreneurship.Firstly,it clarifies the connotation,essence and dynamics of entrepreneurial opportunity evolution,which is helpful to further promote the research of entrepreneurial opportunities from a process perspective.Secondly,theories of information system and design science are integrated into entrepreneurial research,which provides new theoretical perspectives and elements for entrepreneurial opportunity research,and inspiration for subsequent research.Thirdly,the theoretical model of the evolution mechanism of entrepreneurial opportunities driven by digital technology is constructed,and the corresponding driving paths and mechanisms are proposed,which improves the adaptability of entrepreneurial opportunity research to the development of digital entrepreneurship practice,and forms a theoretical foundation for future empirical research.