The 5D’s: A New Framework to Understand and Overcome Interpersonal and Inter-institutional Challenges Facilitating Growth of Regional Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

In this paper, we overview the 5D’s framework (Distance, Diversity, Dilution, Demand, Disengagement), which shows promise for characterizing obstacles to developing regional entrepreneurial ecosystems. Drawing on experiences from two regions (the Aichi Prefecture of Japan and Northwest Arkansas in the U.S.), we discuss and illustrate each D in the framework, showing how they interrelate in regional ecosystems and relating them to professional communication research. We conclude by discussing how this framework can help professional communicators to spark and constructively manage regional deliberations about developing entrepreneurial ecosystems. Further, the effectiveness of the 5D framework to promote action to grow regional economic outcomes is illustrated by specific examples taken by both study regions.