Identifying the Strategic Drivers of Entrepreneurial University by a Meta-Synthesize

The aim of this study was to identify the strategic drivers of entrepreneurship in the entrepreneurial university through the analysis and combination of previous research. In this research, using the Meta-Synthesize qualitative method, a systematic study of research published in reputable national and international databases was conducted from 1998 to 2020, and 652 articles were obtained for initial review. Considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 129 articles were reviewed in full text. The findings of the systematic review of selected research studies by qualitative research method (meta-combination) led to the identification of 4 components, 99 characteristics, 15 sub-components, and 4 components that were considered as strategic drivers of the entrepreneurial university. Findings confirm that strategic drivers as the determining parameters of the entrepreneurial university are closely related to the components of entrepreneurial strategy, committed leadership, internal capacities and environmental conditions of the university. The rankings of related characteristics based on Shannon entropy analysis showed the characteristics of entrepreneurial human resources, leadership with commitment and entrepreneurial orientation, financial capital, distinct management type and style, and soft and hard physical and commercial resources. These characteristics rank the highest among inferred characteristics. The results of this study provide a deeper understanding of the literature available in entrepreneurial universities in the relevant field by organizing its components in a comprehensive, coherent and systematic way.