Diagnosis relevance for the categorization of Ecuadorian enterprises and decision-making

Abstract

Introduction: This research addresses the need to diagnose the development level of entrepreneurial ventures in Tungurahua, Ecuador, to improve decision-making and business sustainability. It identifies that many entrepreneurs are unaware of the actual stage of their businesses. Materials and methods: A mixed-methods approach (qualitative and quantitative) was used, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design and an action-research approach. The Ministry of Production's Business Diagnostic Form was administered to 24 entrepreneurs affiliated with a university incubation center. Dimensions such as project development status and innovation were evaluated, categorizing the businesses into pre-entrepreneurial, entrepreneurial, and post-entrepreneurial levels. Results: The results showed that the majority of ventures (17) were in the entrepreneurial phase, with critical performance at this stage (5.56% in several areas), revealing gaps in commercial validation, operational management, and technology adoption. Discussion: It is emphasized that, although the training workshops provided theoretical knowledge, their practical focus was insufficient to overcome operational challenges, reflecting a disconnect between learning and real-world application. Conclusions: It is imperative to reorient the support methodology toward a practical approach, with early market validation, financial simulators, continuous post-workshop follow-up, and greater integration of technology to strengthen the sustainability of ventures in critical phases.