SHARED IDENTITIES AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM DYNAMICS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW FOR UNVEILING COLLABORATIVE PATHWAYS TO SUCCESS

Abstract

Entrepreneurial ecosystems, as an artificial metaphor, have been extensively discussed. However, a comparable comprehensive review of the relationship between shared identity and the collaboration levels of entrepreneurial participants within Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (EE) is lacking. To address this gap, this paper employs the PRISMA method to systematically review literature on how shared identity relates to participant collaboration levels within EEs. Major databases were searched for studies published between 2016 and 2023. The screening of 10 selected papers indicates that shared identity impacts collaboration among EE participants through both top-down and bottom-up social dynamics, reflected respectively in institutions and social networks. We summarize the influence patterns revealed by these two paths into three aspects: information sharing, knowledge exchange, and resource circulation. These three aspects appear crucial in driving EE success. Findings reveal that research on building shared identity and its effect on participant collaboration remains fragmented. This study contributes to the literature by highlighting patterns and gaps in past research on how shared identity drives participant collaboration in EEs, providing insights for future research.