A Framework for Developing Entrepreneurial Learning: A Study in Blockchain-based Businesses

This research attempts to propose a conceptual framework for developing entrepreneurial learning among blockchain entrepreneurs with an interpretative approach and event-based interviews. Researchers think of blockchain as a new revolutionary technology similar to the Internet. Given the changes that blockchain technology is capable of making, it has gained importance to identify entrepreneurship opportunities and put them into use. Dismissing this matter might lead to a loss of entrepreneurial learning opportunities and improving the methods used for guiding entrepreneurs to identify opportunities, start a business, and keep it. Therefore, it will be vital to identify the resources and learning and educational methods for entrepreneurial development. To do this, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 entrepreneurs or senior managers of the blockchain industry living in Iran. After coding the interviews, a framework was detected for developing entrepreneurial learning. The results show that entrepreneurial learning resources and methods consist of four sections including work-task, education-publication, imitation-modeling, and human-social interactions, each consisting of numerous methods. In this framework, in addition to learning resources and methods, six facilitating factors were identified, including motivation, interest, personal life process, business nature, nature of the business environment, and personal traits. Also, the identification of six limiting factors including economic obstacles, blockchain ecosystem obstacles, technological obstacles, government obstacles, personal obstacles, and finally institutional obstacles were another part of this framework.