Strategic entrepreneurship based model of latecomer university

The purpose of the paper was to help resolve the problem if only the universities possessing strategic entrepreneurship manage to advance significantly in their global ranking positions, while most of their competitors fail.

Conceptual part of the study introduces a new strategic entrepreneurial latecomer university framework, based on the combination of the resource-based view, dynamic capabilities, strategic innovation, strategic entrepreneurship and latecomer organization concepts. For verification of the proposed conceptual framework, case study of the Lausanne Federal Polytechnic Institute is considered by structuring the materials of its well-documented success story of its advancing in global rankings in terms of the construct dimensions.

The case study findings were identification of entrepreneurial mindset, managing human resources strategically and strategic innovativeness. It confirms conceptual findings that the presence of strategic entrepreneurship construct dimensions in latecomer university is instrumental in sensing business opportunities at most lucrative market segments of scientific research, carrying out its strategic innovation responsible for university difference in strategic transformational development and exploiting the opportunities ahead of its competitors so as to become more competitive and overtake them.

The main limitations of this study are that only one case of university transition to catch-up development is explored and not all strategic entrepreneurship construct distinctive dimensions are considered. The research will be further elaborated to incorporate all strategic entrepreneurship construct dimensions.

The approach introduced here has shown that to advance in global rankings, university should carry out its strategic innovation ahead of its competitors.

The study is supposed to be the first where university at the stage of its transition to catch-up development is considered using new framework based on strategic entrepreneurship construct dimensions.