Ecosystems require teams: a call for multilevel research on team performance in entrepreneurial ecosystems

Purpose Entrepreneurship scholars and practitioners increasingly adopt a contextualized and place-based approach, referred to as the entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) perspective, to understand how entrepreneurs are influenced by their local communities. Despite the unique team dynamics prevalent in ecosystems, the study of teams is virtually absent from EEs research. The purpose of this “viewpoint” study is to challenge scholars working at the teams and entrepreneurship interface to devote greater attention to the distinct dynamics and myriad types of teams in EEs. Design/methodology/approach To address this omission at the intersection of teams and entrepreneurship research, this study takes a multidisciplinary approach and proposes a multilevel model that positions the team as a critical level of analysis in EEs. Findings Tracing how EEs research has evolved reveals that it is a phenomenon replete with different types of teams and distinct team dynamics but that ecosystems scholars have effectively ignored teams. This study explains why insufficient attention to teams in EEs creates substantive problems and opportunities for entrepreneurship, teams research and practice. A path forward is offered based on an agenda of research directions focused on teams, entrepreneurship and ecosystems. Originality/value This paper responds to the consistent calls for more interdisciplinary, contextual and multilevel work on team performance management and explains how the team literature is uniquely suited to contribute to conversations about EEs and their team dynamics.