The Phoenix Innovation Study

The Phoenix Innovation Study, initiated by the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, is a core project of the Entrepreneurship at Arizona State University Initiative. The research team, led by professor Sander van der Leeuw, is exploring the entrepreneurial landscape of the Phoenix Metro Area. To spur increased innovation in the Phoenix metropolitan area, we must first understand our community's assets. The investigators are conducting a study of the community's entrepreneurial composition and needs that will serve as a research tool to support ASU's investment strategy. The team, comprised of faculty members from the Center for Population Dynamics, the Global Institute of Sustainability, the Institute for Social Science Research, the School of Geographical Sciences, the School of Human Evolution and Social Change, the School of Justice and Social Inquiry, the School of Social Work and the W. P. Carey School of Business, brings together wide-ranging expertise for understanding the dimensions of metropolitan Phoenix.

Mapping—Using social, economic and geographical approaches we are creating a multi-dimensional map of the various categories of entrepreneurs in the Phoenix Metro Area. This map shows how small businesses reflect replicative and/or innovative business strategies and will identify barriers to business growth for individuals operating small and micro-enterprise ventures. The research pays particular attention to the ways in which entrepreneurial experiences or approaches are framed by gender, race/ethnicity, resources and family status.

Interviews—A detailed interview process for a selected group of entrepreneurs will illuminate their decisionmaking processes. The interviews will enable the research team to analyze the entrepreneurs' environments and understand the circumstances that have influenced their business decisions. Analysis from these interviews will help determine the conditions that may alter their decisions, such as increased opportunities for networking or mentoring.

Brownbags—ASU faculty and researchers meet twice per month to share their approaches towards the study of entrepreneurship. Different disciplines have unique research interests, research language and research techniques. We explore questions such as: do researchers have shared vocabulary? Where do interests overlap and diverge? What are unique disciplinary approaches for the study of entrepreneurship?

Lecture Series—A joint endeavor between the School of Human Evolution and Social Change and the W.P. Carey School of Business, the "Lectures in Innovation and Entrepreneurship" bring in top researchers to present various topics related to research on entrepreneurship.