What the study found
The study found that research on artificial intelligence (AI) affordances and adoption in entrepreneurial practice has grown sharply, especially over the past five years, with 2024 showing notable acceleration. It also found that the field is concentrated mainly in Europe and Asia, with Africa and the Middle East underrepresented.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that the study provides a synthesized view of influential authors, journals, institutions, and themes in this area. They say it can help foster interdisciplinary engagement and guide future research trajectories.
What the researchers tested
The researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis, which is a quantitative way of mapping publication patterns and research trends. They analyzed 114 Scopus-indexed publications from 2000 to 2024 using Microsoft Excel for performance metrics and VOSviewer for science mapping.
What worked and what didn't
The analysis showed increasing publication volume, citation impact, co-authorship networks, institutional contributions, and changes in methodological preferences. Quantitative methods dominate the field, while qualitative and mixed-methods studies are gaining traction; the main theoretical bases remain adoption models such as TAM (Technology Acceptance Model) and UTAUT (Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology), with some newer studies using institutional and entrepreneurial lenses.
What to keep in mind
The analysis was limited to Scopus-indexed literature, so it does not cover all possible research in the area. The abstract also notes gaps in geographic coverage, methodological variety, and theoretical expansion.
Key points
- Research on AI affordances and adoption in entrepreneurial practice increased sharply, especially in the last five years.
- Europe and Asia account for most of the activity, while Africa and the Middle East are underrepresented.
- The study analyzed 114 Scopus-indexed publications from 2000 to 2024 using bibliometric methods.
- Quantitative methods dominate, but qualitative and mixed-methods studies are increasing.
- TAM and UTAUT are the main theories used, with some newer studies drawing on institutional and entrepreneurial lenses.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- AI adoption in entrepreneurship has grown sharply since 2020
- Authors:
- Joshua Nii Akai Nettey, Monica Baffowaa, Acheampong Owusu
- Institutions:
- University of Ghana
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-07
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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