Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the performance of incubators in the stages of formation and development of incubated business networks, especially in bottom-up and top-down network models.

Design/methodology/approach

The research is defined as qualitative and descriptive, with the application of multiple case studies, in which two networks of incubated businesses were investigated, one being top-down and the other bottom-up, which emerged within the incubation process of two business incubators (CIETEC and INCIT). To make the study operational, 11 semi-structured interviews were carried out and the thematic analysis of content was developed.

Findings

The results pointed out that in the top-down network the incubator performs a new assignment, the network orchestration, which corresponds to the actions of formation, coordination and governance of the group. In the bottom-up network, it was found that the role of the incubator was to expand the value offers usually practiced.

Research limitations/implications

As a limitation of the research, the very limitation of case studies is pointed out that is they do not allow for generalizations.

Practical implications

The research contributes to reflections on the effectiveness of the incubator and sheds light on the complementarity of networks in incubation processes, providing gains for incubators, incubated businesses and society.

Originality/value

The originality of this document is the new role of the incubator, which is orchestration, and its categorization. The results allow us to understand the effects of providing networks and relationships for incubated businesses. In addition, this study broadens the focus of traditional analyses of the incubator–incubated duo to consider the incubator–network–incubated trio.

中文翻译：

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网络编排：企业孵化器的新角色？

目的

本文的目的是分析孵化器在孵化的业务网络的形成和发展阶段的绩效，尤其是在自下而上和自上而下的网络模型中。

设计/方法/方法

通过多个案例研究的应用，该研究被定义为定性和描述性研究，其中研究了两个孵化企业网络，一个是自上而下，另一个是自下而上，它们出现在两个企业孵化器的孵化过程中（ CIETEC和INCIT）。为了使研究可行，进行了11次半结构化访谈，并对内容进行了主题分析。

发现

结果指出，在自上而下的网络中，孵化器将执行新的任务，即网络编排，这对应于组的组建，协调和治理行为。在自下而上的网络中，发现孵化器的作用是扩大通常所提供的价值。

研究局限/意义

作为研究的局限性，指出了案例研究的最大局限性，就是它们不允许泛化。

实际影响

该研究有助于反思孵化器的有效性，并揭示孵化过程中网络的互补性，为孵化器，孵化的企业和社会带来收益。

创意/价值

本文档的原创性是孵化器的新角色，即编排及其分类。结果使我们能够了解为孵化的企业提供网络和关系的效果。此外，本研究拓宽了对孵化器-孵化二人组的传统分析的重点，以考虑孵化器-网络-孵化二人组。