Analytical Hierarchy Process: An Optimal Methodology for Research in Entrepreneurship

This paper aims to propose the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) as a mathematical tool for research in entrepreneurship trough an example of its application in which the expected requirements of governmental policies to promote the creation of startups are identified. The study is structured on a model of AHP, in order to dispose quantitative and qualitative analytical foundations to determine the alternatives that best fit the criteria to achieve multiple objectives. The results show the priority of governmental policies that best promote the creation of startups, according to the directors of a set of Mexican University Business Incubators (UBIs). The research in entrepreneurship could be complemented with analytical tools that consider subjective judgments. The proposal of applying AHP models allowed obtaining refined assessments by selecting alternatives that accomplish the established criteria in order to reach an objective. This research provides evidence about the methodological advantage that represents the process of hierarchy of alternatives based on mathematical analysis. The results of the applied scenarios exhibit the AHP as a valuable resource to resolve problems that include relations between involved qualitative and quantitative variables in the entrepreneurial framework.