STRONG STRUCTURATION THEORY APPLIED TO UNIVERSITY BUSINESS INCUBATORS AND A MULTI-LEVEL ANALYSIS USING INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

There has been an increasing development in understanding the role of University Business Incubators (UBIs) in developed and developing countries. Several scholars have posited the need for UBIs and the roles they play in regional economic development. Extant literatures of the UBI concept spans across several branches of studies: management, finance, innovation, education and social science. However, there is need to integrate empirical literatures and the UBI body of knowledge to understand the relative objects, components, agents, actors, important constructs and causal relationships on a multi-level analysis and within a dynamic network. Using an integrative review of UBI quantitative studies on a multi-level analysis this study creates a theoretical framework for further research agenda and a classification of constructs.
Using specific cases, Strong Structuration Theory (SST) is applied as a theoretical lens to show the impact of conditions of actions at the meso level within the UBI structure and how the agents and actors within the internal structure respond to changes. The SST is an update on the Giddens’ Structuration theory which builds on structures and agents in a recursive relationship and position-practice i.e., subjects, objects and macro, human agency are reciprocally related. Based on a quadripartite, SST views a structure as human agents linked in a dynamic network of position practice and there are 4 categories according to SST: External structure, Internal structure, agents, actors and outcomes.