Analysis of the Configuration of Success Factors in the Startup Product Development with a Digital Entrepreneurship Approach | ||
| پژوهش های کتابخانه های دیجیتالی و هوشمند | ||
| Article 2, Volume 11, Vol 4 , Series 43, January 2025, Pages 17-32 PDF (1.21 M) | ||
| Document Type: Research Paper | ||
| DOI: 10.30473/mrs.2025.74786.1633 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Ali Badizadeh* 1; Reza Bazgir2; Mohamadreza Sanaei3; Rouhollah Zaboli4 | ||
| 1Ph.D. Student Department of Entrepreneurship, Qa.c., Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran. | ||
| 2Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Qa.c., Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran. | ||
| 3Assistant Professor, Department of Information Technology Management, Qa.c., Islamic Azad University, Qazvin, Iran. | ||
| 4Associated Professor, Department of Health Management Research Center, BMSU, Tehran, Iran. | ||
| Abstract | ||
| The goal of many startups is rapid growth and market expansion, but previous studies have rarely analyzed the causal configurations of factors affecting their success. The aim of this study was to present a configuration analysis of the success factors in product development of startups with a digital entrepreneurship approach. The research method was descriptive-exploratory and conducted in a survey manner. The statistical population of the study included all startups active in the field of digital technology in the Iranian entrepreneurial ecosystem that have developed a specific product to the market launch stage. From this population, using a simple random sampling method, 190 single-product startups were selected, whose selection criteria were activity in the digital field and focus on developing a specific product. The research constructs, including dimensions of product development with a digital entrepreneurship approach in startups, which were obtained based on qualitative structural-interpretive analysis and MICMACK, include risk variables (entrepreneurial innovation and competitor analysis); influential variables (fundamental foundations, ideation and validation, development and optimization); regulatory variables (commercialization and marketing, environmental factors, focus on agility, digital leadership, development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem); secondary levers (user experience) and influential ones (scalability and sustainability, digital ecosystem integration). The required information was collected using a researcher-made questionnaire based on the Likert scale. The findings show four configurations of success: Configuration 1: Emphasizes the central role of digital leadership and organizational agility as key success factors. This includes digital leadership attributes such as support, technical knowledge and adaptability, alongside organizational agility components like data-driven decision-making and rapid response to change. Additionally, effective digital strategies are critical. Configuration 2: Highlights the significance of innovative ideas and competitor analysis, often without prioritizing sustainability. In certain scenarios, product-centric and market-centric approaches may take precedence over customer-centricity. Success in this configuration can occur without a focus on user experience, particularly in emerging markets (like groundbreaking technologies) or B2B products, where buyers prioritize technical functionality over user experience. Configuration 3: Focuses on cost optimization and collaboration with platforms. Key strategies include leveraging automation, reducing research and development expenses and partnering with accelerators and research labs as essential conditions for product development. Configuration 4: Centers on technology-driven approaches and risk management, emphasizing advanced technology and environmental risk management as crucial factors, regardless of regulatory influences. Based on the findings of this study, future research should explore the impact of various digital leadership styles on the development of dynamic digital capabilities in startups, analyze how organizational agility contributes to the long-term sustainability of startups across different industries and investigate specific contexts where neglecting user experience can lead to success—such as in B2B markets with technical buyers or pioneering products in their early phases. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Digital Entrepreneurship; New Product Development; Startups; Fuzzy Qualitative Comparative Analysis (FSQCA); Factor Configuration | ||
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