Figure 1
The conceptual framework diagram is organized into five vertical columns arranged from left to right: “Macro Context (Why rural entrepreneurship is enabled or constrained)”, “Firm Capabilities (What enterprises can mobilize)”, “Community Embeddedness (How access is facilitated)”, “Dynamic Process (How change and learning occur)”, and “Integrated Outcomes (Why it matters)”. In the first column, a hexagon labeled “Institutional Theory” appears below the heading. Beneath it is an oval labeled “Formal and informal institutions”. Two boxes appear below, labeled “Policies, regulations, incentives” and “Norms, legitimacy, governance”. At the bottom are three arrow bars labeled “E 5: Institutional and Policy Support”, “E 1: Finance Connectivity”, and “E 2: Market Connectivity”. In the second column, a hexagon labeled “Resource-Based View” appears under the heading “Firm Capabilities”. Below it is an oval labeled “Strategic resource deployment”. Three boxes follow labeled “Financial capital”, “Human capital”, and “Infrastructure and technology”. At the bottom are arrow bars labeled “E 1: Finance Accessibility”, “E 3: Infrastructure Support”, and “E 4: Skill Development and Training”. In the third column, a hexagon labeled “Social Capital Theory” appears under the heading “Community Embeddedness”. Below it is an oval labeled “Networks and trust mechanisms”. Two boxes appear labeled “Community engagement” and “Social norms and cooperation”. At the bottom are arrow bars labeled “E 1: Finance Accessibility”, “E 2: Market Connectivity”, and “E 6: Social Capital and Community Engagement”. In the fourth column, a hexagon labeled “Diffusion of Innovation Theory” appears under the heading “Dynamic Process”. Below it is an oval labeled “Innovation adoption and adaptation”. Two boxes appear labeled “Learning and experimentation” and “Imitation and risk tolerance”. At the bottom are arrow bars labeled “E 2: Market Connectivity”, “E 4: Skill Development and Training”, and “E 7: Innovation and Adaptability”. In the fifth column, a hexagon labeled “Sustainable Livelihood Framework” appears under the heading “Integrated Outcomes”. Below it is an oval labeled “Integrated sustainability outcomes”. Two boxes appear labeled “Economic viability and Social inclusion” and “Capability enhancement and Long-term rural livelihoods”. At the bottom are arrow bars labeled “E 1: Finance Accessibility”, “E 3: Infrastructure Support”, “E 4: Skill Development and Training”, and “E 6: Social Capital and Community Engagement”.Theoretical foundations. Source: Authors’ own work