Incubation - An evolutionary process

Abstract

This study presents a two-step approach, combining bibliometric analyse with a literature study investigating incubation as an evolutionary process. Incubation is a vast and multi-phased subject. In order to identify and classify articles we used a theoretical framework consisting of life cycle, underlying evolutionary process and resource-based theory, and dimensions of incubation. Through the bibliometric analysis we collected 429 articles in step one. Generating an attempt to bring a fragmented topic in to a systematic logic by using a literature study, we closely examined the subject matter in step two, summarizing and categorizing our findings into sub-themes and component themes. In so doing, we offer a reliable, ontologically constructed, and practical insight into the incubation evolutionary process is. We discuss the phenomena as an ecosystem that generates an interim debate on which new theory on incubation may be built and research may be conducted. We conclude that conceptualizing incubation as an evolutionary process has potential for future research and theory development.