Qual-Quant-Quant/Qual-Qual Mixed Method: Autoethnography in Building System Dynamics’ Causal Loop Diagram

This article develops a novel mixed methods research framework to investigate the corporate-backed, university-based Indonesian innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The framework integrates autoethnography and system dynamics, combining qualitative and quantitative research approaches to capture the dynamic interactions within the ecosystem. Autoethnography provides deep insights into entrepreneurs’ lived experiences through personal narratives and observations, while system dynamics models complex interactions, identifying leverage points and evaluating policy impacts. This study contributes to the field of mixed methods research by demonstrating how the integration of interpretivist and constructivist approaches through autoethnography with the empirical rigor of system dynamics enhances the modeling of complex systems. The research offers a methodological innovation that addresses a gap in the mixed methods research literature, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding entrepreneurial ecosystems and for informing policy development in similar contexts. This approach exemplifies how mixed methods research can be leveraged to produce actionable insights, particularly in contexts requiring both rich qualitative data and robust quantitative modeling.