Opportunity domains: Invisible boundaries of entrepreneurial opportunities

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the current paper is to provide a review of the researches on the most important typologies of entrepreneurial opportunities and to suggest an individual-based typology of entrepreneurial opportunities. Design/methodology/approach: The literature review method is used in the current paper to review the most important typologies of entrepreneurial opportunities and their contributions. Findings: Considering the three essential concepts of perceivability, exploitability, and desirability of entrepreneurial opportunities, this paper suggests an individual-based definition of the concept of entrepreneurial opportunity. In addition to the implications of the suggested framework for future studies and regarding its potential applications, the policies to move people from one domain of opportunity to another and also recommendations for entrepreneurs and investors are presented. Originality/value: This paper introduces the concept of opportunity domain, and suggests a three-level (domain) typology based on the role of individual(s) in identification and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities.

Keywords

• typology
• entrepreneurial opportunities
• opportunity domain
• perceivability
• exploitability
• desirability
• policy