Contribution of Complex Systems to Entrepreneurship

The purpose of the research is to demonstrate how recognition of complex systems or complexity science enhances recognition and achievement of entrepreneurial opportunities. A further objective is to provide an integrated source of readily available information about a number of research papers that demonstrate the role of complex systems in entrepreneurial activities. Papers reviewed include those by McKelvey, Andriani, Boisot, Dooley, Siggelkow, Chiles, Plowman, Lichtenstein, Carbonara, Crawford, and others. These papers illustrate how complex systems operate, and how this can be used to develop entrepreneurial emergence. The research also seeks to identify an integrated model of emergence to provide a framework for entrepreneurship researchers and provide assistance to entrepreneurs. Lichtenstein's Generative Emergence provides the most comprehensive model found to structure opportunity achievement. While Lichtenstein's comprehensive model has not been tested, vis-a-vis other comprehensive entrepreneurial models, the components of the model have been tested. Overall Lichtenstein's Generative Emergence model is strongly endorsed.