Why Research Impact Starts with Problem Definition

Academic studies often fail to solve real-world business challenges—largely because of how research problems are defined. This paper shows that impactful entrepreneurship research doesn’t begin with a fixed question; it evolves through four key stages: worthiness, divisibility, centrality, and specificity. Success depends on refining the problem collaboratively, not just focusing on solutions.​

Two Pathways to Actionable Insights

The authors identify two distinct processes that lead to truly relevant research: the inward-looking iterative pathway, where academics refine the problem themselves, and the outward-looking joint pathway, where researchers and practitioners partner from the outset. Early practitioner engagement ensures findings are practical, actionable, and closely aligned with real needs in business and society.​

Making Collaboration Count

For business leaders, this means engaging with scholars at the start—not just after results arrive. For policymakers, it’s about funding collaborative problem-formulation, not just outputs. For researchers, partnering closely with practitioners ensures your work delivers tangible, lasting impact on entrepreneurship practice.